Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Take It or Leave It

Is it rude if you cut in line, grab a girl around the neck, shoulder your way past a crowd, or is it just take what you want? At the very least it's clear how you feel about things.

Is it respectful if you wait in line, wait your turn to speak, address everybody in a deferrent - if slightly formal - manner? Is it clear to everyone what you want, if you do it this way? Wouldn't it make you vulnerable to getting pushed over? Isn't this just lazy, leaving it up to social conventions whether you achieve what you want or not?

In life, career and love you need to balance out clearly stating what you want, versus showing respect while doing it. It's the renegade way of doing things, versus the grinding way of doing things. One way takes some risks, takes some short cuts. Sometimes it requires a sense of fearlessness. Sometimes it requires smarts and wit. Often it requires luck. But the potential payoff is very big.

The other way is safer, quieter, more docile but also slower; you have to work harder, endure more frustration for a longer period of time, and success rates are mediocre. If you scare easily, or stick to stuff you know, this is the way to go. Just don't complain when some people around you go wizzing by.

I want what I want, and I know what I am prepared to do to get what I want. I'm not a cheater and not a grinder. But I'm also not a complainer, and remain fully aware of where I am.

I am here. Take It of Leave It.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Greed is Up in the Air

here's what's wrong with the world, summed up in a little airline policy...

in the past calendar year I've taken off and landed 24 times.

I've moved through 17 airports in 11 countries on 4 continents.

I have travelled almost three times the circumference of the earth.

And still I can't get a bloody upgrade?!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The Music of 2011

This year there's a distinct Asian slant in the annual music review. Not too strange considering I spent over four months there. What you learn is this: Dutch/European music tastes generally don't change as much. You could leave Holland for two months, hear no music even remotely relating to the Dutch charts during that time, and when you come back you'll hear the same old stuff all over again. There's still Rihanna on the radio, Bruno Mars, Adele, Coldplay, and Racoon.

The year's MVP is David Guetta. His collaborations have ranged from Flo Rida and Snoop Dogg to Sia and Jennifer Hudson, and all of these became chart toppers. The sound of 2011 definitely belongs to a Frenchman.

The Singer du jour: Krystl. Enormous crush on this one. Cute as a button. Music is slightly too sweet and happy though. So sweet, the glaze jumps off your teeth. So happy, it makes Hello Kitty look like Rambo.

Top 10
  1. Adele - Rolling in the Deep
  2. Adele - Set Fire to the Rain
  3. Bad Meets Evil - Fast Lane [youtube]
  4. Lenka - Two [youtube]
  5. Birdy - Skinny Love [youtube]
  6. LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem (but gets overplayed waaaaaay too much)
  7. Don Omar ft Lucenzo - Danza Kuduro
  8. Selah Sue - Peace of Mind
  9. Krystl - Leaving Home
  10. Sara Bareilles - Uncharted
Notable tracks from Asia:
  • Kan Miyoun - Paparazzi
  • Girls Generation - Mr Taxi
  • Girls Generation - The Boys (worldwide release on same day I moved to Korea)
  • T-ara - Roly Poly
  • Wonder Girls - Nobody