tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375Fri, 30 Aug 2024 08:59:05 +0000GripesPoliticsRandom Musin'iPunditIn the NewsMarketTripSeen/ObservedConsumerismMarketingTech/GadgetsMusicPoetry ;)Pop CultureDad LifeEnvironmentalInexcusable TrendQuestions of ConductReviewsSportingA space. A place. To ponder, question, profess, vent and tell stories. Isn't this what the internet is ALL about? What's here is a casual, haphazard, and only very loosly connected compilation of what's on my mind - a FUSION of different MUSINGS.http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)Blogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-3453602730348165863Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:25:00 +00002008-10-06T16:28:34.217-04:00In the NewsiPunditAt this point, I've got to wonder whether we're psyching ourselves deeper into the hole... I hold as evidence:"Group-think" is generally regarded as a bad thing but what would happen I wonder if everyone who's in the market just decided "$%#&amp; it!" and "enough is enough" and put $10 back into the market today. With 100 million individual investors in the US, that's $1 billion. Might that http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2008/10/thank-you-sir-may-i-have.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-5985216698408042378Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:10:00 +00002008-08-10T15:41:02.301-04:00iPunditPoliticsPop CulturePolitics and pop-culture often cross paths, or, when fund-raising is involved, run in similar circles. Rarely though do they collide in a way that affects the trajectory of either. All that changed this past week...when John McCain climbed down from The Straight Talk Express and into the mud and in doing so tempted the wrath...or rather the opportunism of Paris (no need to even mention the http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2008/08/literal-collision-of-politics-pop.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-7457627155235729189Wed, 12 Sep 2007 18:17:00 +00002007-09-19T17:22:25.492-04:00ConsumerismMarketingMarketTripRandom Musin'Seen/Observed There's something fishy going on at Glaceau...at least as far as its VitaminWater product lineup goes. Consumers are starting to talk about it and some folks are getting pretty upset.It seems, at least people are speculating, that Glaceau has been messing around with the formula for "Revive" - its popular Fruit Punch flavor. It looks a little funny (less deep red/purple) and it tastes a little http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2007/09/vitamin-water-creates-loyalty.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-7769242021288056784Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:01:00 +00002007-09-06T10:36:59.702-04:00In the NewsMarketTripPop CultureWe were reminded today that what really drives the media is money - not the sharing of ideas, a duty to report or society's need for journalism as a means of enlightenment of the masses. Time Inc. announced that after 9 years on newsstands, Business 2.o will bite the dust. The culprit is shrinking ad revenue in the form of ad pages per issue.Seems that with issue sales of under a million copieshttp://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2007/09/it-really-is-all-about-benjamins-rip.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-885696393415530716Tue, 03 Jul 2007 14:18:00 +00002007-07-03T10:38:49.748-04:00iPunditPoliticsHiring a crony who'll cow tow to your every whim - $250,000 (per year; to the American people)Having someone do your administration's dirty work - $2.8 million (cost to investigate/prosecute; to the American people)Commuting your crony's sentence to keep the base loyal and reassure the next one that you'll protect him too - PricelessIt's good to be a President without morals.http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2007/07/its-good-to-be-king.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-7721131904731878000Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:39:00 +00002007-04-20T16:05:24.398-04:00MarketingMarketTripMusicTech/GadgetsA couple of years ago, I spoke at a business conference on the topic of “How to build a brand through advertising” and to introduce the discussion, I presented the top 5 truisms of advertising as I defined them. My number one truism was and still is to remember that advertising can’t make you something that your not. The same thing can be said about products. In both cases, and interpreted http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2007/04/markettrip-ipod-challenge-and-why.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-8342649165224291479Tue, 20 Mar 2007 20:24:00 +00002007-03-20T21:24:33.677-04:00Random Musin'Seen/ObservedYou can experience the wonders of weightlessness riding the same kind of "Vomit Comet" that NASA uses for astronaut training with scientific legend Dr. Stephen Hawking. eBay is auctioning off this experience... the winner will join Hawking on a 90 minute flight during which you'll experience several periods of near or total weightlessness.This, for me, raises two big questions.First, does it http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2007/03/brief-history-of-negligence.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-8303806183921239881Sat, 24 Feb 2007 21:02:00 +00002007-02-25T10:14:49.574-05:00MusicPoetry ;)Seen/ObservedThanks Dan...Thanks DanDan Dan Guitar ManFor putting a big-ol smile on my face at the end of the dayYour stummin' makes the stress and the shit on my mind just melt awayElectric blues, funk and jazz flowin' melodically from your ampYou rock Back Bay Station from the Track 3/4 (stairwell) ramp.I wish I had the time to linger longerDoing so would make my appreciation for your sound no doubt even http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2007/02/me-dan-dan-guitar-man.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-8992233258520364382Sat, 20 Jan 2007 19:44:00 +00002007-02-21T17:21:17.899-05:00Random Musin'Seen/ObservedUsually, the descriptors "evil" or "genius" are reserved for extremes and those people or things designated as such by popular culture (or at least your side of the Culture War) are pretty much generally accepted to be true. A few examples:Hitler = evilEinstein = geniusTaxes = evilThe PC = geniusBut every so often, in the course of our daily travels, we come across something that confounds us http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2007/01/evil-or-genius-or-evil-genius.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-116741033166919354Fri, 29 Dec 2006 15:22:00 +00002007-09-20T17:09:54.234-04:00ConsumerismMarketingMarketTripTech/GadgetsI have a 2 year old iPod. I have a 6 month old Motorola Razr. I have a 27 inch flat screen CRTV. All work flawlessly, look good, totally fit my lifestyle and are paid for. And yet I want to replace all three.As such, I habitually read the Sunday circulars from Best Buy, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Circuit City, CompUSA...grabbing them first as I sip my coffee. As a new dad with precious littlehttp://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/12/markettrip-perpetual-product-optimism.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-116654995366881014Wed, 20 Dec 2006 04:22:00 +00002007-01-12T16:30:48.825-05:00In the NewsRandom Musin'CNN reports that the Vatican is pondering creating a World Cup-level soccer team. Apparently, the Pontiff and several Cardinals with the power to create are huge Football fans. Don't believe me?That a small Nation-state would have a football club is not unprecedented - San Marino and Andorra (yes, I needed to Wiki them too!) have fielded teams for years albeit with decidedly lack-luster resultshttp://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/12/holy-see-united.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-115884859816893740Fri, 15 Dec 2006 03:22:00 +00002007-01-13T19:17:19.523-05:00GripesInexcusable TrendRandom Musin'In the spirit of Esquire's "The Indefensible Position" column, I offer up "The Inexcusable Trend" - an exploration of those fads, furors and tendencies in vogue which fly in the face of good taste, logic or simply defy justification.How many times have you found yourself smack in the middle of crap day and thought to yourself that sometimes, you wish you could have a dog's life?Dogs have it http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/12/inexcusable-trend-treating-dogs-like.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-116291622517142071Tue, 07 Nov 2006 16:06:00 +00002007-02-15T23:06:15.851-05:00GripesiPunditPoliticsTech/GadgetsI just voted. And in a nostalgic nod to the 1980s that I can appreciate on some levels, I used a pencil to color in ovals next to the candidates of my choice. But this means of doing my civic duty was completely unexpected and the whole process, decidedly underwhelming. My wife summed it up perfectly on our way out of the polling place when she exclaimed to me "that was it?"In the months and http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/11/where-heck-is-my-diebold-accuvote.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-115958873471231650Sat, 30 Sep 2006 03:58:00 +00002007-01-12T16:35:45.351-05:00GripesPop CultureReviewsYou hear it uttered all of the time about just about everything... "There are no new ideas anymore!" My Gramps used to say it...and that was way back in the 80s!In our more rational moments, we know that not to be true. We can cite as evidence, technological advances like the internet, societal trends like social networking, the emergence of Rap and new Aaron Sorkin dramas...ok, ignore that last http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/09/pimpin-same-thinkin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-115712448495858214Fri, 01 Sep 2006 15:21:00 +00002007-01-12T16:36:31.930-05:00GripesIn the NewsTech/Gadgets Logical and safe? Sure. Futuristic and inspiring? No. NASA chose Lockheed Martin to build Orion - a bell shaped "crew delivery vehicle" which will replace the Space Shuttle as the primary exploration vehicle for the next "decade" (read "quarter century" judging by the lifespan of the Shuttle). It may get the job done but who's not just a little bit disappointed that Orion looks just like http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/09/backto-future.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-115616717690539630Mon, 21 Aug 2006 13:32:00 +00002007-01-12T16:37:09.057-05:00GripesiPunditPoliticsRandom Musin'Yes Dick. It's all a massive mega media conspiracy...this whole Iraq quagmire thing. Thank goodness we have calm, rational and forthright leadership in you to expose it. And Fox News.We, the "lemmings" (no, you didn't call us that, but if we're buying what they are selling so easily, doesn't that make us lemming-like too?!), appreciate it. Sincerely. In fact, we really should do something nice http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/08/dick-why-you-illin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-115573530167249753Wed, 16 Aug 2006 13:34:00 +00002007-01-12T16:38:23.637-05:00Poetry ;)Random Musin'Pluto, you dog.Playing planet.Counting on distanceto mask your true stature.More like lessand less like the rest.Downgraded to dwarf.Bummer.http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/08/biting-cosmic-dust.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-115523322863975557Thu, 10 Aug 2006 17:25:00 +00002007-01-12T16:38:45.417-05:00iPunditPoliticsTo: Senator Joseph LiebermanAs a former CT resident, supporter and intern in your Washington DC office, your recent Democratic Primary loss pains me. Why? Because you're a good man - good for CT and good for the country and the right person for the job. Are you too close to the President? A Republican in Democrat's clothing? Of course not. You're a politician and a prudent, talented and http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/08/sorry-joe-but-now-its-time-to-go.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-115143508469375458Tue, 27 Jun 2006 19:04:00 +00002007-01-12T16:39:27.307-05:00EnvironmentalGripesIn the NewsPoliticsWhen I was growing up, a neighbor installed solar panels on his roof. They were ugly, he was weird and the whole situation carried the aura of fanaticism. "Alternative energy" hadn't yet entered the American lexicon. Neighbors scoffed that the panels were just "a waste of money" and "pointless" (because they were notoriously inefficientin the early 80's) but the single biggest gripe was that theyhttp://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/06/blowing-off-wind.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-114709596585528522Mon, 08 May 2006 13:44:00 +00002007-01-12T16:40:02.955-05:00ConsumerismMusicThe sound is an ode to the influences of Ledbelly, Robert Johnson and Howlin' Wolf. The visual is that of 20-something Redbull guzzling skaters. The sound and the visual don't equate (which makes them all the cooler) but the music is transcendent and they just plain ROCK. The Black Keys are my signature indy "find." I stumbled across them several years ago I can't remember how...and they're my "http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/05/connected-to-sound-indy-finds.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-114572833998947764Sat, 22 Apr 2006 17:38:00 +00002007-01-12T16:40:31.678-05:00Seen/ObservedAs I began my daily commute home last Thursday evening and descended the steps into the Copley Square T Station, I passed the same kindly old homeless gentleman I pass just about every day. Sitting at the top of the steps on his overturned milk crate, he's always quick with a "hello" and a "god bless you" if you decline to give him your spare change. But on this day, he was offering up neither. http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/04/panhandling-goes-high-tech.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-114502935123466667Fri, 14 Apr 2006 15:38:00 +00002006-04-14T11:42:31.250-04:00In testimony to Congress as Fed Chairman, date unknown"I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."Further confirmation that the man is freaky-smart. Read it a few times and you'll see that it's completely logical...http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/04/in-todays-installment-of-well-said.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-114484929267006688Wed, 12 Apr 2006 13:22:00 +00002007-01-12T16:41:07.858-05:00GripesQuestions of ConductRANT: People Singing Audibly on the Train/Bus/In PublicWhy? For you? For us? To make a statement? Your music so loud from your earphones that I can identify the song and learn the lyrics - fine. They're your eardrums...and maybe you're partially deaf already which explains why you've got the volume jacked to 9. But your duet with 50 Cent or Rush? Please. I respect the artist. But you aren't him.http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/04/questions-of-conduct-part-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-114476896582861978Tue, 11 Apr 2006 15:22:00 +00002007-01-12T16:41:31.759-05:00Poetry ;)SportingFormer Yankee fan -Adopted Boston's home teamNew fanhood joy found.http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/04/baseball-confession-in-haiku-form.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24226375.post-114355594445274110Tue, 28 Mar 2006 14:19:00 +00002007-01-12T16:41:53.281-05:00GripesIn the NewsiPunditPolitics2008. What's in a year? That depends...for the soldiers in Faluja and Baghdad, it's at least how much longer the Bush Administration says that they'll be in Iraq. For the President though, it'll be "Miller Time" as the timing for their withdrawl "will be decided by future presidents." How convenient. This would just about do it. I don't think it's a stretch to call this the official start of http://musinfusion.blogspot.com/2006/03/bushs-first-pardon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Seth Levine)0