Episode 40: What is your career path? Does it involve being location specific, or can you be a digital nomad? Have you ever been to France? Has a rodent with a furry tail been spotted in your bedroom? Well, we talk about it, and interview our special guest, Kyle Del Bonis.

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Meandering Rant: “Career Path” by Christian

Book Report: Interview with special guest, Kyle Del Bonis, digital nomad, couch surfer, life-as-a-social-experiment warrior.

Music Segment: Zaz, brought to you by Patty, featuring the song “Je Veux”

By the way, “Je Veux” means “I want” not “I see”, as mis-stated by Patty on the podcast. Apparently, both she and Christian should stop pretending they know French.

Links to stuff that Kyle spoke about:

• Couch Surfing Social Network
• Tim Ferris’ Blog
• The 4-Hour Work Week Book on Amazon
• Mint.com
• Kyle’s Blog: OneLifeStand.info

The Slacker Factor podcast is recommended for anyone who wants to know something about many things.

Episode 39: The power of words, small-town crime, baked goods as weapons, to share or not to share, internet intelligence, and Swedish music a la West Virginia. Isn’t that enough?

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Meandering Rant: “Words make the World” by Patty

Book Report: Personal Cloud, information presented by Christian

Music Segment: First Aid Kit, brought to you by Rob

During the conversation on Personal Cloud, the band Patty couldn’t think of was Vampire Weekend. Here’s the story about use of photos, in AdWeek.

The movie mentioned is “The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia” [video trailer]

Listen to The Slacker Factor and grow your brain. Then, rave about the podcast in iTunes comments.

Episode 38: Want to live a long time?  Plug into life.  Get stuff done.  Enjoy music, especially loud guitars.  Learn something.  Keep yourself interested and interesting.  Listen to The Slacker Factor.

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Meandering Rant: “Do, Then Learn” by Rob

Book Report: A conversation on Longevity, hosted by Patty

Music Segment: Chickenfoot “Sexy Little Thing”, brought to you by Christian

Four out of Five Dentists surveyed say they’d rather be listening to The Slacker Factor podcast than cleaning your teeth.  Floss, brush, and listen.

Now, before you start thinking I’m elitist, or a diva, or even a picky bitch, hear me out…

When I go to the movie theater to see a film, I have certain expectations.  I pay the movie theater a reasonable rate of my hard-earned money.  I would like the theatre and the theatre bathrooms to be clean, the temperature to be pleasant, my seat to be comfortable, and the quality of the projection and sound to be top notch.  I am there to relax and be entertained.  I am not there to complain that the sound is too low, or the lights are still turned up in the theater while the movie is playing, or the bathroom needs more paper towels.

At a restaurant, I have certain expectations.  I would like to be greeted pleasantly when I arrive, be shown to a clean table, be waited on promptly, and eat deliciously prepared, well-seasoned, fresh food.  I am there to relax and enjoy a nice meal.  I am not there to ask for another fork because the tines are all bent and twisted, or request a different coffee cup because of lipstick stains, or send back my soup because it came out cold.

I pay for health insurance and my expectations are that I can go to a doctor, he or she can recommend a therapy for my health concern, I can choose that therapeutic course to address my health condition, and the insurance company will pay.  I have not given them my money so that, when and if I do have to go to the doctor, they can refuse payment and I have to fight for reimbursement.

You get the point.  My examples are few of many you have probably experienced in your own life.  They could apply to the retail industry, the airlines, your internet provider, your bank, the place you get your haircut or your car fixed, your government.

Don’t get me wrong.  I wrote these words not to complain, and, although I claim I want things my way, it is not, really about me.  This is about you, and me, and all of us making things better – together – by doing two, simple things.

The first is to deliver your work, and yourself, with pride.  I know you’re stressed; so am I.  But, we all need to remember and realize that everything we do – EVERYTHING we do – has an impact on others around us and on the world.  When you’re working, ask yourself if you’ve done all you can to make what you’re delivering the best it can be.  Have you?  Did you look at that knife to make sure there was no food on it before you brought it to the table?  Did you check to ensure your vendor is getting back to your client?  Do you think you’re going to get a new job if you don’t wear a tie and jacket to the interview?  Do you feel like you did your best, despite the world crumbling down around you?  If you bring your best to the table, you are setting the stage for others to do the same.  It is not about competition, or arrogance; it is about creating a positive experience for all involved.

The second is to set the tone that you expect the best.  It is about having no fear to ask for what you want, and taking the time to patronize businesses who deliver on your expectations.  It is about thanking people who are good at what they do, or tipping them well, or telling their manager that they are doing an excellent job.  When is the last time you sent a note to a coworker’s boss expressing your gratitude about their helpful contributions?  When something less-than-quality is presented to you, do you take the time to ask for something better or do you settle for what has been given to you out of fear or embarrassment?  When you see someone skipping steps to the detriment of a deliverable, do you step up and ask them why?  It is not about being bossy, or bitchy, or condescending; it is about being grateful for the good things and not settling for the bad.

No matter where you are in life – speak up; Ask, thank, deliver – there is always room for improvement. Want things your way and make things better for others.

< Listen to this, and more on The Slacker Factor podcast TSF23: Soup It Up. >

Portlandia is a television series that debuted on the Independent Film Channel (IFC) on January 21, 2011. The show, produced by Andrew Singer and Jonathan Krisel, is set and filmed both in and near Portland, Oregon and features Saturday Night Live cast member Fred Armisen as well as Carrie Brownstein, a member of the now-defunct band Sleater-Kinney and current lead guitarist/singer for Wild Flag.

The name Portlandia refers to the sculpture of the same name above the entrance of the Portland Building on Fifth Avenue in downtown Portland. The statue also appears in the opening montage title sequence.

TSF Episode 21 – Expressive Textplexing began with a rant from writer, chef, production professional and father-extraordinaire, Steve Angiolino.  Listen to the podcast here and read his insights, below.

I am so sick of the textification of the American Language. Of course by now everyone is used to the LOL’s and OMG’s and they are accepted additions to the vernacular. It’s the forty-five year old men who ask about my “avails” for an upcoming meeting. Or the woman who is definitely not in line for tickets to Justin Bieber, telling me she is going to send along the “deets” for a project we’re working on. I’m also sick of the “whatevs,” “probs,” and the “ushe.” Finish the damn word! It’s as if everyone is so overworked and exhausted they not only can’t finish sentences, but they haven’t enough stamina to finish words longer then six letters.

I get it when you are handcuffed by the 160-character limit and you don’t want to buck up the extra five for unlimited texting. That’s cool, I can get behind that, but when you send me an email where the sky is the limit and you can be as verbose as the annoying person on the 5:46 with the cell phone embedded in their ear, then I get annoyed. You’ve got the space, unless your fingers are cramping so hard from carpal tunnel, that you look like that weird lobster boy at the freak show in the county fair, then please take those extra few seconds and finish the words!

Trust me; I’ll be _available_ to get the _details_ _whatever _time works best for you. I won’t quit mid- sentence. I have the wherewithal to read the word right down to the last letter. I’m no Edwin Newman. I’m not on a crusade to reinstate proper American English. I just ask us forty-something’s to give up talking like 15 year olds, madly pecking away on their Blackberries about how hot Tommy looks in his basketball uniform.

Enough already, and that’s enough with a GH and not two FFs.

___________________________________________________________

Steve Angiolino has finally come to the realization that sarcasm is not a great business model. He currently lives in the Jersey suburbs with his wife and two kids and spends long periods of time staring out the back window of his house wondering, “What’s going on in Hoboken right now?” Steve is easily annoyed and often gets into odd conversations with the elderly at the local ShopRite grocery store.

Yes, I was hit on by the body fully-pierced-with-safety-pins guy at the Jim Rose Circus Side Show. No, I didn’t go there. Yes, I considered Clown College after high school. No, I didn’t go there. Yes, I’m strangely attracted to things with birds on them. Yes, I found the crazy Harajuku fashion in Japan all glittery and fascinating. Yes, I have declared things “Over” and, most sadly, have probably been a catalyst for things being over, too.

We love Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein and Jonathan Krisel for their absurd and brilliant creation, and we secretly loath them for reminding us of our sometimes lame ways.

~pp

Train wreck alert!

I’m embarrassed to admit this.  I really am.  But… I’m on the drug too.  The Charlie Sheen drug.

The Charlie Sheen slow-motion train wreck has captured my attention and I’m not exactly sure why.   I don’t watch his TV show, feel no connection at all, and really don’t think he is an especially talented actor.  Certainly not the caliber of his father.  Perhaps its the anticipation of what he may say next.  Or maybe its waiting to see who comes out next to support him.  Thank God for friends like Mel Gibson.  A real stand up guy who obviously has Charlie’s best interest in mind.  It just adds to the freak show.  Maybe Lindsey will step up for Charlie too?

No, for me I think it’s more the astonishment.  The astonishment that Charlie Sheen, is a famous actor, and ultimately just a person like you and me (but with a lot more money), yet no one can help him.  Scenarios like this happen every day to non-famous people and often end in tragedy.  The Charlie Sheen tragedy is being played out on every tabloid and news media with what seems to be hourly updates and no one can seem to help.

I really don’t want to sound like a “bleeding heart” but this all says to me that there is something wrong with the system if this can happen every day and more often than not ends in tragedy. 

Sure, Charlie may ultimately end up in a rehab center and hopefully get the help he needs (but I’m not putting money on that).  But how many people don’t have the means or the social support to get the help they need?  These are the people we may hear about in the back pages of the local paper or maybe we see them wandering the streets with their shopping carriage.  Unfortunately I don’t know what the answer is other than to try and raise awareness I guess.  I suspect that with the budget cuts every state and city are facing that this issue won’t be on the top of their list.

Well I guess until this ends I’m just like you and will wait for the next news break about Charlie, anxiously anticipating the next nonsensical rambling about his greatness, sobriety, and mental stability.  Or maybe I’ll even go to the next level and follow him on Twitter so I can beat CNN to the punch!

Good luck Charlie, we wait in the shadow of your (self proclaimed) greatness!  ~cg

That was then...

At that time, Al Bundy and his misfit, unmotivated family ruled the airwaves and, I suppose , there was something empowering about this klan.  They were sarcastic, selfish, and non-trendy – a huge counterpoint to the buttoned-up, Izod clad yuppies that were so prevalent in those post-Disco, Regan “Just Say No” days.  Al, Peg, Kelly, and Bud, in their slovenly simplicity, were harbingers and ambassadors for the soon-to-come Seattle grunge and slacker movement of the early 90’s.  They were the original couch potatoes.

But, as ground-breaking as they were in the late 80’s, I’m here to tell you don’t be like Al Bundy.  As fresh as “Married…With Children” may have felt back-in-the-day, Al Bundy was stale.  He was the embodiment of living life for yesterday and not for today.  A hostage to the past glory of his high school football successes, Al didn’t and couldn’t enjoy his life.  He hated his job, wasn’t attracted to his sexually-willing wife, and, so, he resigned himself to apathy.  Maybe he wasn’t the brightest man on the block, but, he didn’t have to live as a sad-sack, either.  Sure, he loved his family and had his Bundy pride, but fat, drunk, and bored is no way to go through life.

...this is Now.

Fortunately for us, the actor Ed O’Neill and the people who write his characters are genius, and they’ve given us a new, reworked, better version of the every-day-dad that is more reasonable and forward looking – Jay Pritchard, the patriarch on ABC’s sitcom “Modern Family”.  Jay, like Al, is not a perfect father.  He also has a sarcastic attitude and may embrace values and ideas that feel a little dated, but he is a forward-looking character.  He isn’t hung up on what happened in his life when he was a teenager; he is, instead, learning to do right for his family.  And, unlike Al, Jay is way into his beautiful wife and looks to make her happy, even when he disagrees with her perspective.  His approach is a modern one of learning and growing into acceptance, instead of shrugging his shoulders and living in the past.

So, thank you, Ed O’Neill, for giving us two fathers for two different eras of our lives.  And, thank you, Jay Pritchard and all of you other men out there, for not being Al Bundy.

< Listen to this meandering rant, and more, on the Tasty Televisionary podcast TSF18 here or on iTunes >

Episode 21:  This expansive episode of the podcast welcomes guest Rantologist and fellow slacker Steve Angiolino, explores our Constitution and Julian Assange, and vibes with the beats of Maceo Plex. Oh, and Patty surprises Christian and Rob, once again, with a real story of our modern world.

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Meandering Rant: “Textification of American Language” by Steve Angiolino

Book Report: The First Amendment and Freedom of Expression

Music Segment: “Vibe your Love” by Maceo Plex.  Here’s the sexy video!

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