Random thoughts: A rat’s teeth never stop growing. That means they just get broken off. ewww! ouch!
Ever since June or so we have been getting phone calls from people that’ve been charged money out of their accounts (always a debit card, mastercard or visa I think) and their bank information says “HM” or “HM Magazine” or “HM” and then “magazine subscriptions” in the details. I’ve followed up on these and they don’t have anything to do with us. We obviously aren’t randomly picking stolen credit card #s and charging them. Fortunately for us, it’s easy to tell it’s not us, as the prices are oddball, like $49.99, $32, etc. These are prices that don’t reflect any of our products. As you can imagine, some of these people are piping hot when they call. Usually I’ll get a voicemail and I’ll call back. I’m extremely grateful that people understand me when I patiently identify myself and explain what the situation is. I have contacted the Texas Attorney General’s Office, to get a paper trail started. No one from that office has contacted me back. One of the caller’s, who started off really mad, explained that they called the number listed on the bank statement detail (usually they only reach me after googling HM Magazine) and heard people in a “foreign country.” I wonder who’s behind this.
I’ve found that the pain I have in my neck (a pinched nerve between a couple vertebrae, according to an MRI done in 2009), which travels into my left shoulder, is relieved quite a bit when I get a decent night’s sleep. I think a regular regimen of exercise will help me get those muscles stronger and perhaps help my sleep cycle. The dang pinched nerve seems to keep me up most nights. Aggravating. But feeling better and stronger this morning makes me think that rest and posture have a LOT to do with it. You know, when you get tired you slouch more…
I’ve known about Groupons for awhile, but it wasn’t until recently that I signed up myself. Today’s special is pretty awesome. It’s a hardcover 20-page book made from your photos. I’m going to make one with images from HM Magazine. Maybe 20 classic covers. It’ll be like my own little private coffee table book. If you’d like to check them out, go here: http://www.groupon.com/r/uu14110941 Apparently, I’ll get $10 credit if anyone joins using that code. That’s cool. If you like it, get yourself referral points doing the same. I need to set aside some time and get HM Magazine more involved with affiliate programs. I think I’ll start by putting more reviews online and linking them to an online store (like amazon or itunes).
I found myself rooting for a rival last night (Arkansas) in the Sugar Bowl. For some reason I wanted Ohio State to lose and I like the fire I saw in the Razorbacks in the second half. I so wish that blocked punt would’ve bounced more perfectly into that d-back’s hands, so he could have run that in for the winning touchdown. That would’ve been sweet.
I digress. Back to the advice column. Here’s what came in:
Dear Dan,
I’m having a hard time keeping an open mind to all of the metalcore bands that are out now and all of the many new ones that keep debuting. It seems like most of them don’t do anything new, and are very cliche. I want to keep an open mind to their music and message (especially when I know some of them), but I’m finding it hard. Help!
-Camden
Hey, Camden!
My name is not Dan, but that’s okay. My first reaction is to recommend seeing For Today live. Or even search out some of their youtube’d performances. Their attitude and stage presence and confidence and passionate musical performance separates them from a lot of the pack. Like any genre that “works” and thus becomes popular, there will be repetition and duplication. I find myself not getting bored when I focus in on bands that do what they do well. They may not be reinventing the wheel (granted, inventing a new sound is an exciting thing), but bands like Times of Grace are a new act that excites me. I don’t want to hear exact riffs I’ve heard before, but similar dynamics and even formulated song structures don’t turn me off − not when I like the formula and it’s done well. A bad imitation is just that, but a good performance in familiar territory outweighs any lamenting I do over anything resembling cliche.
Not sure what else to say. Music and taste are obviously totally personal. Sometimes hearing what other people say about an artist can help, though. Some people can help you “discover” something or “hear” something from an angle you had not perceived. Danielson was an extreme example for me. I understood from the first time I heard the guy that this was like performance art. Reminded me of art school or art class or college. I got that. I appreciated the very out-of-the-box thinking that went behind the music and live performance. But seeing other people latch on and singing along to his songs in concert actually somehow opened my mind to appreciating his songs. The melodies became something I enjoyed in spite of my initial reaction of mild interest. Again, that’s an extreme example.
Sometimes something like seeing the Project 86 dvd,
Subject to Change, will endear the band and/or the songs to my heart more − simply because I think I know the band more. Having a glimpse of a story that’s behind a certain song will bring that song to life for me.
Sometimes when you get bored it’s time to go back to an old favorite or read a book or watch a movie or see a live show. These aren’t always options, but we should be grateful for the vast catalog of music we have access to now. Wait ’till Spotify becomes big in the US. Then it’ll be like having access to a virtual jukebox via your phone. It’ll change delivery of media in a whole new way. It will probably become comfortable and a taken-for-granted part of our musical landscape eventually.
Here’s a few tips on what NOT to do:
Don’t complain about everything you hear in a genre that’s got you tired. Just delete, change the dial or leave the show.
Don’t steal someone else’s joy. One example from my long ago distant past: Once I realized that Kiss was kinda cheesy and/or like sweet candy (they have their place. they’re good at writing catchy songs, like the Ramones were, but they’re very simple songs, like ’50s do-wop speeded up and electrified), then I sort of “graduated” to bands with a little more depth and soul (Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, etc). But it wasn’t my job at that point to go and find Kiss fans and talk them into hating something they enjoy. Even if I felt like they were consuming “second best” or inferior art, they were enjoying it. Happiness and joy are things I should think twice about snatching from someone else.
Alright. That’s it. I’ve gotta finish the Jan/F issue this week. Back to work.
And … another line from the greatest movie of all-time (The Jerk): “Whattya think I do? Sit around all day and write letters?”
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