Fall Back and get some of this Lineup

The Lineup: September ‘11

What I can’t live without: Beyond Scared Straight.  Or as I like to call it, crack for your eyeballs.  It’s a more intense version of the Scared Straight show that we used to watch when we were younger and thank goodness for that because Bad Ass Kids + Jail = Comedy.  There is nothing funnier than watching some wannabe gangster get reduced to tears at the hands of a criminal who threatens to sell him off for a pack of cigarettes.  The best part however, is watching these kids realize they are throwing their lives away with these bad decisions and making a change.

(Related: Breaking Bad – The start of this season could be misconstrued as being “slow” but those first episodes were only the fuses tied to the mountain of dynamite that’s about to explode.)

Henna tattoos are for sissies.

Inked.

My tattoos represent the essence of hard work – temporary pain and discomfort for a lifetime of pleasure and satisfaction.

My tattoos are not fashionable and are not a response to any trend. 

9/11/01

Nine Eleven. Ten.

Ten years ago terrorists waged war on our country.  Images of planes, fires and collapsing buildings forever burned in our minds.  Now, a decade later, our country mourns and remembers.  Newspapers dedicated weeklong spreads, exclusive interviews with President Bush and Mayor Giuliani and Facebook was filled with people’s feelings and opinions.  Even the hit show Rescue Me, which was in part dedicated to the lives of the 343 firefighters that died, had its series finale. While many felt sadness or anger, one particular emotion ran through me deeper than all others… Disappointment.

The best business advice ever... or the simplest

People Power

Business advice seems to take the same form nowadays – stripped down and covered in a shroud of lists and mystery.  There’s no real way to tell if the keys to managing your company can be narrowed to “5 keys” or a “secret formula” but there is genius in simplicity.  Removing the complexity of an issue allows us to focus on what’s really important and helps prioritize.  So in order to provide the best business advice possible with this post, I’ll attempt to explain how you can build and sustain a successful company with only one word.

No earthquake or hurricane can stop The Lineup!

The Lineup: August ‘11

What I can’t live without: E, Vinny, Drama, Turtle & Ari Motherf**king Gold.  The 8^th and final season of Entourage is currently on and it is the most ambitious season (in terms of writing) yet.  Gone are the adolescent jokes and pranks and instead we have actual drama (no pun).  Don’t get me wrong, you still get your fill of laughs but this season is the most emotional and personal.  Definitely going out on a high note.

(Related: Curb Your Enthusiasm – Larry David is simply operating on a higher level this year. Might be the best season ever.)

(UNrelated: True Blood – this will be the final season that I’ll be watching.)

Want to watch a movie?

Analyze This.

It’s kind of funny actually.  If I’m visiting someone’s place for the first time and I’m in their living room, one of the first things that I do is check out their DVD collection.  I’ll notice them from my seat and like a moth to a flame I’m pulled from my seat, eyes wide with excitement.  I can easily spend 5 minutes hunched, surveying each item. (If I know the person well, I’m liable to grab a few and read the backs of the cases.)  This quirky little habit of mine continues to entertain me because one, I am a movie buff, and two, I discovered that you can learn a lot about someone based on the DVD’s that they own.

An entire river of consciousness...

Blocked.

Sometimes the hardest thing to do in the world is write.  I’m not talking about adverbs or discovering a synonym to help articulate a particular thought, I’m referring to the simple concept of finding an idea to write about.