Garth Brooks via last.fm

I guess they don't have Internet down in Oklahoma.

Or maybe Garth Brooks is still on dialup, or is too busy taking his kids to school to know what's really going on.

Apple destroyed the music business. Apple must be stopped.

Isn't that like fighting in Afghanistan when Al-Qaeda is in Pakistan?

Oops!

But this is the same government Mr. Brooks wants to protect and save the music business.

That damn Apple, allowing people to BUY single tracks! Things were much better prior to the iTunes Store, when listeners just STOLE THEM! Hell, why don't we wipe out not only iTunes, but Amazon, let's forgo licensing any Internet distribution, that'll solve the problem! I hate this crap. I write for a living and I think I am entitled to be paid for that.

As for half a day of silence... Only an old fart residing in the nineties would believe that radio still has that kind of power, that everybody's still listening. Under the first sale doctrine, we own our music, and we're listening on our iPods without worrying about what the broadcasters are purveying in between the twenty two minutes of commercials per hour.

Well, we've got to ban the iPod too!

But didn't the RIAA already try that? Suing to stop its predecessor, the Diamond Rio? They didn't win that one...

I sympathize with where Mr. Brooks is coming from. Creators should be compensated. Then again, how much? Just because you're a musician, are you entitled to be rich, to fly on a private jet?

Tell that to every other industry that's been mauled by the Internet...

No more online travel booking! You can't use Orbitz, you must go to a travel agent!

And while you're at it, no more Internet news. You've got to buy the aged news in the newspaper every morning. Or worse, listen to the inane talking heads on TV. Less information is better!

Funny how those who used to have power don't like the Internet flashlight, that sends a beam into the nooks and crannies of the power elite's business.

While we're at it, why don't we bring back Tommy Mottola! And J. Lo! You can't watch videos online, you've got to sit endlessly in front of the television, waiting for them to come up on MTV! And if you like a niche act, not a superstar like Mr. Brooks, if you like Steve Earle more than Brad Paisley, you never get to see him at all! Tough noogies!

Vegas is the right place for you Garth. It's where all the has-beens go.

I don't mind a conflicting opinion. It's ignorance I abhor.

You've got to start with the facts. People can steal music at will. How do you create a better mousetrap, that allows everyone to partake whilst paying? That's the Spotify model, that's the MOG model, that's the future we're working towards.

But you'd rather jet us back to the past.

It's like Michael J. Fox sitting at home watching reruns of "Family Ties", doomed to endure the terrible effects of Parkinson's disease. Mr. Fox didn't ask to get sick. Just like the Internet was not founded to allow people to steal music. But rather than accept his fate and stay in the past, Mr. Fox has established a foundation, he's fighting Parkinson's, he wants to go back to the FUTURE! Where he's no longer twenty, but he's older and disease free.

You get to a better place not by quelling rebellions, by denying technology, but by starting in the present and working towards the future. Isn't that the model you employed Garth? Seeing KISS and recasting their success in country music?

I've seen you perform. You're phenomenal.

But like the progenitors, your inspiration, the men in make-up, you're a has-been. And few want your new music. The way you earn our trust is making it less about you, and more about us. Hey, isn't that what the Net's about? Stop talking horseshit about retirement and truly get in the game. Create some great new material. Start tweeting, employ Facebook to get the message out. See what it's really like out there before you start running your mouth, commenting when you're clueless.

http://www.cmt.com/news/nashville-skyline/1624496/nashville-skyline-garth-brooks-goes-back-to-work.jhtml

Am I a rich person or a poor person?

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Am I a rich person or a poor person?

I've been having ongoing pain when I bite. But the dentist couldn't figure out exactly which tooth it was. Until it got so bad fifteen months ago that it was clear it was the rear molar and he put a crown on it and voila!, the pain was gone.

Not going away, and me going away, across the ocean, I made an emergency appointment with the dentist. Who was going on a trip himself, to Alaska, for three months, imminently. Thank god I caught him.

It wasn't clear. He gave me the name of the endodontist, or I could tough it out.

I come from the tough it out school. I learned from my father. It's illegal to be sick. But what if you actually are?

The pain subsided, then returned, but not with a vengeance. At my regular cleaning stop, which I delayed until the dentist returned from his trip, I asked him. I figured he'd say to continue to wait. Alas, he did not. He said to see the endodontist, right away. The pain had gone on too long.

So I drove to a low-slung building in downtown Santa Monica where a doctor without a tie probed with what looked like dry ice, it was smoking, and when I jumped at the cold he told me I needed a root canal.

Welcome to the club, as Joe Walsh would say.

And today was the day.

Actually, yesterday was the day. But the doctor had to cancel, he had to go to a funeral. Today's appointment was much too early, but I didn't want to delay, I wanted to get it over with.

What I hate about shit like this is they think everybody's an expert, like everybody's been through it before. Ever been stopped for drunk driving? They speak in code. FST means "Field Sobriety Test". But that's just the tip of the iceberg. You might be sober, but locked up anyway, because you couldn't comprehend the acronyms.

Bottom line, they build a construction site in your mouth. Truly. They put up structural reinforcements and then erect a tarp, so the debris doesn't go down your throat. I'm a mouth-breather. So, of course, I start to gag.

This wasn't surprising to the assembled multitude, happens on a regular basis. Maybe they needed to call in an anesthesiologist.

Huh?

You said I could walk out in ninety minutes as good as new. Maybe a little numb. Now you're telling me it would be like my colonoscopy, and I'll be screwed up all day? How am I gonna drive home? What about that appointment later in the day?

With me flummoxed, the doctor bridged the silence by saying he'd reconstruct, and leave me a little space to breathe. Operational word "little". Could I sit for an hour like this?

Turns out I didn't have to.

After poking and drilling for ten minutes, the doctor stopped. Houston, we've got a problem.

There's a severe crack in the tooth. He didn't use the word "severe", but whatever he said it was clear that this was about as bad as it could get. He was issuing no guarantees. I could buy maybe two to five years at best with a root canal. But maybe the root canal wouldn't fix the problem at all!

So, being the methodical patient with OCD, I start asking questions. calculating the odds.

Here's the story. I can risk the root canal, or I can have the tooth pulled, MAYBE THIS AFTERNOON! And then an implant installed.

Not that the implant goes in quite that fast. It's almost a year-long process. And it costs $5,000 by time you're done.

Do you need that rear molar? My regular dentist said many have it pulled and leave the space blank.

The endodontist said in this neighborhood, people have "discretionary income", and tend to replace it.

So, who am I? Am I the guy with discretionary income or the guy who lives in a rent-controlled house?

Worse, I'm a guy who's got to get it right. What's the right decision here?

Meanwhile, I'm trying to talk through the tarp. And the doctor complains it's starting to rip.

And I can tell he's getting frustrated, because I'm messing up his schedule, he's gonna be behind all day.

But this isn't a minor question for me.

He says it's not his fault. That he couldn't see the crack until he removed the crown.

I can think about it while he does a bit more drilling.

And I'm sitting there thinking. I don't want to be stupid. But the doctor says personally, he'd try and save the tooth, but then he says his view is skewed, because he's an endodontist.

Well...

Meanwhile, he keeps drilling. How much is THIS gonna cost me? To abort the procedure?

Then I think of my father. A self-made man who knew where every dollar was. He'd skimp here, and save there, but when it counted, he'd lay down his money, it was important to get it right. I decided on the root canal.

But I didn't tell the doctor this. Hell, I couldn't speak. But when he removed the tarp one more time, I asked him one more question. If we stopped now, how much was I in for?

Four hundred bucks.

Four hundred versus $1550 for the finished procedure. Basically, I'm making a thousand dollar bet.

LET'S GO!

Not so fast buddy. Now the guy tells me he's not sure he can do it today. I'm gonna have to come back one more time. He blames it on me not keeping my mouth open wide enough, but I know it's a timing issue.

Fuck, DO YOU THINK I'M GONNA COME BACK?

And he's discouraged. But I tell him to just tell me what he wants, and I'll give him what he needs.

So I've got my mouth open so wide and it hurts so much that I know I can never be a girl, because there's no way I could give head. And I'm hoping and praying we can finish today. But I'm also worried he's gonna rush and fuck it up. Although he said he needed to do a professional job, he needed to get it right.

And it doesn't hurt as much as the rep. He loaded me up with novocaine. Still, I'm clutching my knees to my chest, but I will not complain, because I don't want to come back.

Then the doctor kicks back and says we're making "good progress".

Ultimately, he told me I was "wonderful".

Great, where's my check?

So we finish up. After x-rays and a discussion about world music with the hygienist, I lay down my credit card and walk out feeling...defeated.

I thought I'd emerge triumphant. But did I make the right decision?

At least I made A decision. Which can be quite difficult for me.

But if you don't live in Santa Monica, if, like me, you don't have dental insurance, are you really gonna have an implant or are you just going to go for extraction?

Is health care a right or a privilege, based on your bank account.

You need a heart transplant, do you need a dental implant?

Top Producer Leaves Legacy Behind

We laid Noel Taylor, a top producer and close friend of mine to rest today in Forest Hills, NY. Noel, burdened with the death of his son recently was on overload and took his life with an overdose of sleeping oills.

Together, over the years, we produced many sound tracks together. Noel, your spirit will be be missed. My heart goes out to you. Hopefully you will find the warmth of God wherever you are. Truly He will overlook this deed in favor of all the joy we brought to many with our music here on earth.

You will truly be missed by all of us. Travel safely in the hereafter and do drop in on me. As you know I am in routine communications with the other side. Your visits will be welcome to help me complete some of the unfinished work I have have the task of completing. I will look in on your daughter Rebecca every now and then to see to it that she makes it through this tragedy. She is a mess. Drop in on her, let her know, you have finally found peace. I love you brother.

How To Turn Your Desires Into Action by Pat Melfi

Image of Geoff Watson

Today we are going to discuss a little formula that I have devised when a close friend of mine Geoff Watson asked me to create a plan of action for a significant change in my life. I am going to start out by making what I feel will be one of the most powerful statements you may ever read, so read it, over and over agin, until it sinks into the very fiber of your body. Here we go:

"Your Greatest Enemy according to Pat Melfi

" Negative thinking is a sneaky little enemy that silently steals its way into a man's consciousness and, like a thief in the night, steals not only his purse but, through robbing him of power, makes him poor indeed. Negative thinking is a sinister influence that works night and day to prey on a man's soul. It is a man's worst enemy, and life's meanest foe. It is worse than war, and largely, the cause of war. It is the curse of the human race. It robs a man of reason. It stirs up hate, greed, selfishness, anger, suspicion, jealousy, revenge, lust and envy. It tears down confidence, undermines health, impairs character and causes poverty."

WOW !!! Did I say all that? Often, I find myself sparring with God because He continuosly wakes me up at the strangest hours to write this stuff. Last night I asked him if He could find someone else beecause I was really tired...His response went something like this...you want me to call a plumber to do this writers job? Haha I said, gracefully got out of bed and did the assignment I was given in exchange for a promise that He would let me get a full night's sleep tomorrow. Imagine that, even God will negotiate with you if you have Him at the core of all you do !!!

This thing we casually refer to as "negative thinking" is indeed powerful... and just think as simple as it sounds the opposite "positive thinking must be equally powerful in the opposite manner. Positive thoughts are creative and negative thoughts are destructive. I often compare positive thoughts to light, and negative thoughts to darkness. Darkness is nothing. It is the absence of light. Turn on the light, and there is no darkness. Positive thoughts are based on understanding and faith. Negative thoughts are based on ignorance and doubt. There is no problem or condition that fails to disappear in the light of positive thoughts. Positive and creative thoughts will burn holes in problems, as a lighted cigarette will burn holes in tissue paper.

Pretty simple huh??? Then why is the world, the media and everything around us filled with so many negative thoughts? I have been asked by many people why I watch so much news and take in so many negative thoughts. My response is always the same. I look through the negativety in search of a way to find methods that I can share that will help my fellow man. Yes that is dangerous, but is it not our responsibility to serve our fellow man? All too often we fail to capture that as the very foundation of any plan we put into action. Self-serving actions are negative thoughts. I am not a religious man but consider myself more spiuritual than the average guy that goes to church every week, professes to have God at the wheel of their journey or even quotes scripture on a daily basis.

Consider this formula: "Positive thoughts will knock out your worst enemy--negative thinking."

As always, I like to offer solutions to my points of view. In no way, do I believe my way is the right way, however I always invite my point of view into your hearts and minds, simply for consideration, so I am going to give you 8 things to do that will re-focus you on your journey to positive thoughts, so here we go: Take note of #1, re-read it over and over again until you get the idea that ALL things belong to God to begin with.

1. Meditate and ask God if there is any reason why you should not have the things you desire. Dismiss your desires for a few days and if it is right for you to have it, the desire will become more intense. This removes doubt and uncertainty, and inspires determination and action. (RE-READ THIS FIRST STEP OVER AND OVER AGAIN)

2. Make a strong mental picture of what you desire, and affirm it several times each day.

3. Be "specific", not general about what you desire. If you desire money, visualize the amount and FEEL it in your pocket. If you desire customers, visualize the number and SEE them doing business with you. If you desire things, visualize the kind of thing you want and see yourself with it. If you desire a position, visualize the kind and it will soon makes its appearance in your experience.

4. Relax, meditate and be POSITIVE when you visualize your desire.

5. Be aware that ideas are infinite and the ways to manifest them are as uncountable as the stars of the heaven. Make your selection.

6. Insert a feeling of kindness into your desire. It sends out vibrations of love that are a souce of attraction (THE LAW OF ATTRACTION)

7. Remember--an idea based on good backed by a sincere desire held to by faith NEVER FAILS TO MATERIALIZE.

8. Back to the beginning: Thank God for the abundance that is yours now...REPEAT DAILY !!!

A secret and underlying thought to all of this that you might consider is this: The Law of Wealth is ALWAYS on the job, don't call in sick. ALWAYS believe that you shall receive the things you desire, and you shall have them...and your final questions to all you seek should be "Is this the will of God for me?"

The Changing Environment by Pat Melfi

Image via Wikipedia

Americans Are Living Longer and That Gets Costly

Life expectancy fo Americans is generally on the rise. Many retirees can expect to live twenty years more in retirement, and with the rapid medical and scientific developments we see today, the trend is likely to continue. In 1998, only 40,000 people were 100 yeards old or older. But experts predict that by 2050 nearly one million people will live to be 100.

This is certainly a sign of progress. Yet longer life, with its added years of retirement, requires greater financial assets. Retirement can be a time of deteriorating health. Insurance and other medical safety nets will often cover a portion of these costa. But in many cases, the remainder can only be defrayed by the retiress's personal resources.

According to a 1999 study of saving across generations, nearly half of all Americans in their 50'2 or early 60's---49 percent--believe strongly that they should have begun to save for retirement much earlier than they did. When asked to identify the ideal time to start retirement planning, the "group picked age 22...eight years earlier than they themselves began to plan."

Learn more about retirment planning at http://reinvestorsolutions.com/composer62

Education Is The Answer, What's The Question !!!