Category Archives: Logic

Logic: trying to make the world make sense, and make it valid

Artists’ Emo Energy

March 9, 2009 d dot b 1 Comment

Emotional Energy

Ever wonder why you are just attracted to a certain entertainer? Even if they have lacklustre skills? Above average skills? One of the key components that one can rock to a ‘Soulja Boy’ and a Kanye West, is the fact that these artist’ bring something more than lyrics and beats – emotional energy. Really it is emotions that is transformed into energy, that is then absorbed by the audience. When you get chills after hearing a song by Kanye or Tupac, its partly because the emotions that they breathed on the track was so energetic, potent, that it sent a chill down your body. When Soulja Boy yells ‘Youuuu’, you know that you gotta move; these artists’ energy, through songs, brings you INTO the song so that you can experience what they are saying. You get the vantage point of the artist, Tupac brings you to the Oakland blocks, Kanye takes you on an acid trip in hip-hop electro music, and Rick Ross takes you on a ride in Dade County. Once I understood the concept of emotional energy, it built my ideal that there is a reason why certain artists exceed:

Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes
One of hip-hop’s best live performances

Papoose

Papoose
Lyrically gifted; very potent MC, but will never go anywhere because his bars lack feelings

Talib Kweli

Talib Kweli
A grassroots, social minded MC, very lyrical, but lacks emotional energy.

Kanye West

Kanye West
Pretty much the emotional energy of a Busta Rhymes, taking down a notch, and the lyrical skills of a Talib; the Louis Vutton Don gets it in; even though he is very arrogant.

Canibus

Canibus
Was very hot in the late 90’s with mindblowing lyrics, but lacked energy to sustain the masses

You know, it is kinda funny that maybe emotional energy can be tied to the overall intelligence of an audience; for example, very lyrical rappers rarely make it to superstar status because it takes a higher intellect to understand their lyrics. Yes, you may be saying that Lupe and Kanye are the exception, but these artists only broke the fold with emotionally charged singles – Lupe’s ‘Superstar’, and Kanye’s ‘Jesus Walks’.

.:: LiBM ::.

Logic, Social

Life 101: Taxes, not pissing off authority

March 4, 2009 d dot b Leave a comment

Life 101

Taxes, Leasing, and Not pissing off the man

There are many things that we learn in high school that we probably will never utilize in our adult lives; like Geography, History, Chemistry, Biology – unless you plan to to practice in one of those disciplines, chances are, the information will be useless to you. However, there are some things that I thought about that we all need to learn no matter if you are just going to start working after high school or are planning post secondary education.

Taxes:

This whole Western System is essentially designed for people to support the government. We go to school to equip us with the skills to work, and as we work, we pay taxes to the government, which in turn the government uses to provide social services. So, if taxes are going to be something that we are going to have to do until the end of our lives, why don’t we provide a mandatory tax preparation course so that we all can get a better idea to fill-out those retarded difficult forms.

Leasing:
So many young adults get pulled into the idea that Leasing is so easy; I know many who lease everything from their cars, apartment, electronic equipment, et cetera. Leasing fulfills the appetite of those people that ‘must have’; they must have the latest car, technology, fashion, and the like. But most don’t understand compound and principal interest that are key elements of leasing agreements. If people learned about what ‘leasing’ really comprises if, then we can probably reduce the amount of young adults who go into debt or have their items repossessed because of debt.

How to NOT piss off the Man:

If you are black or Latino, listen up here. This should definitely be taught like every year of High School; especially for males. The ‘Man’ in this term is for the law enforcement officers, and the golden rule is ‘respect’. When you are pulled over, whether you feel it was warranted or not, just answer the officer’s question with common courtesy and respect. Using vulgarity and having a rude attitude will get you nowhere.

I am sure there are other Life 101 skills that need to be a mandatory component of high schools, if you have any ideas, share your thoughts.

Hip-Hop, Logic, Popular Culture

Ironies in Hip-Hop

February 23, 2009 d dot b Leave a comment

Image source by: http://godelite.deviantart.com/

Ironies in Hip-Hop

An ‘Irony‘ is a literary or rhetorical device, in which there is an incongruity or discordance between what one says or does and what one means or what is generally understood. Irony is a mode of expression that calls attention to the character’s knowledge and that of the audience; it can be said that hip-hop music uses many literary devices as rappers use vivid and colorful language to paint a canvas; the brush used is a combination of blunt dialogue, metaphors, simile’s, syllabic rhyming, and cross textuality references. However, the culture itself – the artists behind the music, and the lifestyle, presents some interesting irony; everything from lines in songs, to certain artists making business decisions, to events that have transpired. Hip-Hop definitely presents some interesting ironies such as:

Tupac dying while being signed to Death Row Records

Notorious B.I.G. making a song on his last album called ‘Going back to Cali’

Lil Wayne being the biggest artist in the game

50 Cent being very rich

Eminem being White (there are no white M&M’s)

OutKast having commercial success

T.I. (really T.I.P.) got arrested and convicted because of a tip to the authorities

.:: LiBM ::.

Logic, Work

Presenteeism

February 22, 2009 d dot b Leave a comment

Presenteeism

I am here, but not here

Presenteeism can be defined as the following:

“20 to 30 days out of the year, people show up for work, but accomplish very little”

Presenteeism is the opposite of absenteeism. In contrast to absenteeism, when employees are absent from work, presenteeism discusses the problems faced when employees come to work in spite of illness, which can have similar negative repercussions on business performance. It can also refer to the expectation of employers for their employees to be present at work regardless of whether any work is available or accomplished.

After thinking about this concept, I thought of a few industries/professions where this behavior may run rampant, such as:

Government Workers

– If you ever tried to pay a parking ticket, or get something from a government office, it seems like its workers are lethargic, and definitely don’t show no real interest in providing prompt customer service.

IT Professionals

– Ever tried to call your work’s technical support line? Ever noticed that though they are well connected with Blackberry’s and computers, but are never available to assist you? IT dudes seem to always be ‘there’ but are not ‘there’ for you when you need it.

Call Centres

– Ever worked in one of these disaster zones? I have, and I recall being physically there, but mentally in another atmosphere.

Presenteeism is only really applied when one is working at a job that they do not really enjoy – Dr. Ron Kessler of the Harvard Medical School, published a journal that outlined the relationships to depression in the workplace and presenteeism. His study calculated the costs to the employer when staff show up to work and are not productive as they should be. I

am sure that many people can relate to this behavior of ‘presenteeism’ as you are most likely reading this blog at your job!

.:: LiBM::.

Sources:
1. http://www.depressionisreal.org/podcast/transcript_show46.php
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presenteeism

Health, Logic, Social

Mad Dashes

February 12, 2009 d dot b Leave a comment

Mad Dashes

Situations that you gotta get out of ASAP

Watching a bad performance can be gruesome – not only for the performer whom may not know that they are bad, but it is bad for the viewer. From live performances or even on T.V., I cringe whenever I see someone giving it their all – and they suck; and the genuinely are trying, but the performance is so bad, that you must change the channel or distract yourself immediately. Part of me feels for the individual as we all know how hard it can be to come to the stage, but then another part of me feels like such lack of talent should not be viewable (to anyone). Not only does it apply to performances, but their are other situations in life, where I just got to get the hell out – As Soon As Possible.

Change Room

I don’t know why, but in the fitness gym environment, old men like to walk around nude as if it is their own house. Old, fat, and the like all just put out their junk in the gym, around a bunch of men, and there is something kinda gay about that – that is why, when I get to the change room – its no time to ‘relax’ or ‘cool down’ … I get the hell outta that place fast.

Friend’s Washroom

You know when you just gotta go, you gotta go – and it can hit at anytime. But it is bad when you have to go at your friend’s house. Of all things that people are particular about – the bathroom is very paramount. To many, the bathroom is one’s throne; their thinking space, their relaxing space, and people usually do not welcome ‘foreigners’. Thus, if I have to do my business, I handle my business and go – no time for the usual relaxing and reflecting as I do on my own throne.

Doctor’s Office

Whenever I go, this place feels like a place of walking bacteria and viruses. Living on every seat, door knob, mandatory reno magazine, and airborne through the dull colored walls of the office. To the left and right of me, everybody is sick – and the reasons to why they are sick (the reasons that they are there) run rampant in my mind: are they contagious, is it easily communicable, et cetera. Just in that environment, sick people, staff that is over-worked, under-funded, and under-appreciated, makes me want to get out of there ASAP.

I am sure there are other universal mad dashes, leave comments below.

Peace,

.:: LiBM ::.

Logic

The Litigious Era

February 3, 2009 d dot b 2 Comments

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The Litigious Era

A passenger on the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ sues

The miracle on the Hudson, where the pilot miraculously landed a plane on the cold water in New York City. Most times when you hear of an aviation accident, it usually results in passengers and crew members perishing. However, the decades of aviation training and safety experience, resulted in everyone on the flight being saved – no casualties. Everyone on the flight should be grateful that they are allowed to breath another day – and even the airline, which are only liable up to $3300 dollars for each passenger in the event of death or loss luggage, made the good faith gesture of giving each passenger $5000. However, one passenger wants to file a lawsuit against the airline, as he claims that he is not ‘whole’ – as if still having a life isn’t reward enough. This Douche bag wants to exercise America’s long propensity of litigious behavior – suing for every and anything. But this guy has to be the Douche of the year – as he should be thankful that he even has life to cast such a frivolous suit.

But Karma will hopefully get him, appropriately.

.:: LiBM ::.

Cre8ive Abstract, Logic

Time Mgnmt for the Yuppy

January 28, 2009 d dot b Leave a comment

Image source Cartoon Stock

Time Management for the Yuppy

Techniques to get the most done

The Yuppies (Young Urban Professionals), especially the creative ones, their Achilles heel has to be that their isn’t enough time in a day to match and/or sustain their ideas. Juggling work, school, family, and social relationships, the Yuppy can at times feel flustered; upstairs, the mind is working at light speed, but there just does not seem to be an abundant amount of time to keep up with the ideas. So the key to this problem, must be trying to organize the ideas into manageable tasks and goals, then creating a plan to attack such. At times, that may be easier said than done, so I have compiled a list of some practiced time management techniques that can help make you the ambitious, creative, and innovative individual that you seek to be:

Contemporary Time Management

First generation: reminders (based on clocks and watches, but with computer implementation possible) can be used to alert of the time when a task is to be done.
Second generation: planning and preparation (based on calendar and appointment books) includes setting goals.
Third generation: planning, prioritizing, controlling (using a personal organizer, other paper-based objects, or computer- or PDA-based systems) activities on a daily basis. This approach implies spending some time in clarifying values and priorities.
Fourth generation: being efficient and proactive (using any tools above) places goals and roles as the controlling element of the system and favors importance over urgency.

For the Yuppy, and much of the younger generation, I think we are currently in the fourth generation where we use the tools in the first to third generation, and we prioritize goals based on its significance to its overall effect or processes.

Task lists are often tiered. The simplest tiered system includes a general to-do list (or task-holding file) to record all the tasks the person needs to accomplish, and a daily to-do list which is created each day by transferring tasks from the general to-do list.

Task List Organization by Prioritization:

An early advocate of “ABC” prioritization was Alan Lakein (See Books below.). In his system “A” items were the most important (“A-1” the most important within that group), “B” next most important, “C” least important.
A particular method of applying the ABC method assigns “A” to tasks to be done within a day, “B” a week, and “C” a month.
To prioritize a daily task list, one either records the tasks in the order of highest priority, or assigns them a number after they are listed (“1” for highest priority, “2” for second highest priority, etc.) which indicates in which order to execute the tasks. The latter method is generally faster, allowing the tasks to be recorded more quickly.

ABC analysis

This technique that has been used in business management for a long time is the categorization of large data into groups. These groups are often marked A, B, and C—hence the name. Activities are ranked upon these general criteria:

A – Tasks that are perceived as being urgent and important.
B – Tasks that are important but not urgent.
C – Tasks that are neither urgent nor important.
Each group is then rank-ordered in priority. To further refine priority, some individuals choose to then force-rank all “B” items as either “A” or “C”. ABC analysis can incorporate more than three groups. ABC analysis is frequently combined with Pareto analysis.

Pareto analysis

This is the idea that 80% of tasks can be completed in 20% of the disposable time. The remaining 20% of tasks will take up 80% of the time. This principle is used to sort tasks into two parts. According to this form of Pareto analysis it is recommended that tasks that fall into the first category be assigned a higher priority. The 80-20-rule can also be applied to increase productivity: it is assumed that 80% of the productivity can be achieved by doing 20% of the tasks. If productivity is the aim of time management, then these tasks should be prioritized higher.

POSEC method

POSEC is an acronym for Prioritize by Organizing, Streamlining, Economizing and Contributing. The method dictates a template which emphasizes an average individual’s immediate sense of emotional and monetary security. It suggests that by attending to one’s personal responsibilities first, an individual is better positioned to shoulder collective responsibilities.

PRIORITIZE-Your time and define your life by goals.
ORGANIZING-Things you have to accomplish regularly to be successful. (Family and Finances)
STREAMLINING-Things you may not like to do, but must do. (Work and Chores)
ECONOMIZING-Things you should do or may even like to do, but they’re not pressingly urgent. (Pastimes and Socializing)
CONTRIBUTING-By paying attention to the few remaining things that make a difference. (Social Obligations)

In the end, it comes down in really spitting out all of your ideas fully, in its totality, and then methodically attacking each task until its completion – easier said than done, trust me I know, but equipped with the right tools, and the right mindset, and a reduction in the wrong stresses/stressors, any task can be meet.

.:: LiBM ::.

Health, Logic

Lefties

January 27, 2009 d dot b Leave a comment

Lefties

I was watching President Obama sign a few executive orders this week, and noticed that he was left-handed. And then upon further research, some 5 out of the last 7 U.S. Presidents were lefties including Ford, Reagan, Father Bush, Clinton, Obama. The prevalence of left-handed people in the U.S. population hovers around 7 to 10 percent; so it is unique in a sense that more than 1/2 of the presidents in the last century have been left-handed. The cause of left-handedness can range from high levels of testosterone during pregnancy, genetics, and/or learned preference by observing which hand the child uses most often during infancy. In a historical sense, lefties were frowned upon by society, and were subjected to ridicule and hardships; currently in today’s society, most tools and products are oriented for a right-handed world. It has been well documented that in the early 20th century, many schools discouraged children from writing with their left hand; this may have lead to detrimental learning affects on the child’s development.

In terms of intelligence, a study out of the University College London argues that the proportion of left-handed people as a group have historically produced an above-average quota of high achievers. Chris McManus argues that left-handers’ brains are structured differently in a way that widens their range of abilities, and the genes that determine left-handedness also govern development of the language centres of the brain(1). This may explain why a good amount of academic achievers, entertainers, politicians, are left-handed, such as:

Music and Entertainment

Angelina Jolie, movie star
Jerry Seinfeld, comedian
Paul McCartney, musician
Jimi Hendrix, guitar player
Ringo Starr, musician
George Burns, comedian
James Cameron, Hollywood bigshot
Drew Carey, comedian
Tina Fey, writer, performer, producer
Steve Harvey, comedian

Art, Science, Technology

Leonardo da Vinci, genius of the Renaissance
Matt Groening, The Simpsons cartoonist
Benjamin Franklin, inventor
Marie Curie, physicist
Linus Pauling, biochemist
Bill Gates, businessman

Sources:
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-handedness#cite_note-33

Hip-Hop, Logic

Biggie Smalls Influence: Formula & Posse Syndrome

January 15, 2009 d dot b 1 Comment

Picture source: Lowrider Art

Biggie Smalls Influence: Formula & Posse Syndrome

As with the launch of the movie ‘Notorious’, a tale of Notorious B.I.G.’s life and times, let us take time to reflect on not only his great talent, but on the impact that he had on the game.

A rundown of his accomplishments:
Ready to Die
Released 1994
RIAA citified 4x Platinum

Life After Death
Released 1997
RIAA certified Diamond (10x Platinum)

Born Again
Released 1999
RIAA certified 2x Platinum

Duets: The Final Chapter
Released 2005
RIAA certified Platinum

Greatest Hits
Released 2007
RIAA certified Gold

No wonder Bad Boy is still eating, you got to really take a look at what Life After Death did, because it was dropped as a double disc (so it was priced higher than a single CD), and it sold 10 million worldwide. In terms of the influence, Ready to Die and Life After Death both changed the direction of Hip-Hop by mastering the art of creating a ‘crossover’ hit (mixing hardcore lyrics with an R&B singer on the chorus), and it laid the groundwork of how to maintain ‘keeping it real’. Before an album was released, Biggie was wise to work the mixtape DJ market – that would involve leaking tracks to DJ’s with national distribution, and giving certain DJ’s exclusive freestyles. All of this was for the goal that when the album dropped, those in the underground would be attracted to Biggie’s lyrical ability, and the general market would be taken in by the crossover appeal. This formula has since been copied exponentially by the likes of Jay-Z, Nas, 50 Cent, Eminem, and the like.

Bring the Posse Syndrome

Another pervasive influence that Biggie had on the hip-hop genre was the ‘bring the posse syndrome’, that is, once you get successful, create a label, and have your friends release albums and songs under your new label. Biggie only had a chance to try this out with now defunct group Junior M.A.F.I.A., that had a successful album (going Gold) and spawned the careers of Lil’ Cease and the infamous Lil’ Kim. Biggie had an understanding of how the music industry game worked; similar to the Pimp trade or a Pyramid scheme – the higher you are at the top, the more you can make off of others. Well, in the music game, it works that if you can sign them to your label, you can get a piece of their recording and publishing deals. Current circa, every rapper that is somewhat successful has copied this blueprint, from:

Dr. Dre
> Eminem
>> D- 12
>> 50 Cent
>>> G-Unit
>>> Llyod Banks, Young Buck, Tony Yayo

Nelly
> St. Lunatics
> Murphy Lee

Jay-Z
> Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel, Freeway
> Kanye West
>>Jon Legend

** Every Bold name has a label **

As you can see, some of these worked out very well in the cases of Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, Eminem, and 50 Cent, and not so well as with the case of Nelly, Snoop, and others.

Trying to figure out a witty way to end this piece, but I will just end it by saying the demise of Biggie and Tupac taught us what REAL beef is, and what can happen – and I don’t think that none of these Internet Gangsters want to see that. Biggie will always be remembered, and his influence lives on in the current generation of hip-hop and beyond.

.:: LiBM ::.

Logic

Obama & the Midnight Regulators

January 7, 2009 d dot b Leave a comment

Midnight Regulations

Added work from the Bush Administration

As if Obama doesn’t have enough to deal with: war in Iraq/Afghanistan, recession, eroding environment, and the Mideast now in chaos, the proponent for ‘change’ also will have to handle Midnight Regulations. Midnight regulations is a term for United States federal government regulations promulgated by executive branch agencies in the lame duck period of an outgoing President’s administration. Presidents Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush have made the most extensive use of midnight regulations; as it allows an outgoing President to put through the motions of regulatory changes at any branch of the government, and since U.S. federal law mandates a 60-day waiting period before any major regulatory changes, the elected President will have to deal with any beauracies regarding the law. All accountability to either pass or renege the law lies now on the elected President, even though the outgoing president put the law in motion. Democratically speaking, this is a sneaky way for an outgoing President to try to pass all the laws that he/she couldn’t during their presidency.

Thus, some Presidents try to publish new major regulations on November 21, 60 days before the new President’s inauguration on January 20. “Minor” regulations, those that have less than US$100 million in effect on the economy or do not have major social policy significance, have a similar 30-day waiting period

Already, it has been reported that the Bush Administration is feverently midnight regulating, touching everything from business practices, to removing environmental emissions caps for businesses, and even touching sensitive topics like Abortion. With the thought of Midnight regulations at the back of his mind, it is no wonder he has hit the ground running trying to deal with the Auto bailout, and stimulus packages, because come January 20, 2009, the weight of the world is on his shoulders.

.:: LiBM::.

Life in B Major

Category Archives: Logic

Artists’ Emo Energy

Emotional Energy

Ironies in Hip-Hop

Ironies in Hip-Hop

Presenteeism

Presenteeism

The Litigious Era

The Litigious Era

Time Mgnmt for the Yuppy