What I Did On Winter Break

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What I Did On Winter Break


… and … We’re Back!

Ah! It’s good to take some time away to make you appreciate things.

So, what’s been up on the break?

Glad you asked!

Here’s a short list:

  • Ate, Drank, Was Merry
  • Reconnected with friends and family
  • Started writing a novel
  • Got new acoustic panels for my recording space
  • Collaborated on some new projects with other artists
  • Planned out my show reel for Live! from E.V.I.L.
  • Began singing lessons with a new teacher

Whew! Glad I’m back at the grindstone, huh?

Anywho, I’ll once again be posting regular Dumps every Monday morning…

See you all in a week 😉
Joe

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The Adaptability Problem

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The Adaptability Problem

Adaptability has enabled humans to rise to the top of the food chain, and individuals, groups, companies and governments to accomplish amazing things.

So… Where’s the problem with adaptability?

In short, when we adapt to small, incremental negative changes, the end result is that, over time, we’re putting ourselves in a worse position than where we started.

Let’s take “Pay-To-Play” services for voice over jobs as an example. Incrementally, these services have slowly limited the number of auditions available, lowered the pay per project, restricted access to information, and taken a larger fee for renewal and other charges. Had they implemented all these changes at once, they would have been rejected outright. But by staging these changes in gradual steps, it gives individuals time to adapt and hides the trend that the company is headed. Worse, those joining now who don’t research the history think that the current state of affairs is the norm.

This same strategy is employed by companies, governments, political parties and religious organizations. As we blindly adapt without standing up for ourselves, we allow them to gain a greater control over our lives. We even adapt to things like climate change, political correctness, a rise in violence, and a decline in our living standards. Without even thinking about it, we accept the current state of affairs as normal.

For me, this is unacceptable.

But there is a solution.

We must look to the past to see if we’re improving or declining. And we must plan for the future before blindly accepting what we’re told as being the only truth.

As individuals, we can wield an amazing amount of power and control over our own future, and the future direction of our companies, our society, and even our planet.

All it takes is a willingness to be aware. To stand up for ourselves and others. And to take action when needed.

True freedom requires individual responsibility.

 

All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com

 

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Happy AllTheDays! (er, Holidays)

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Happy AllTheDays! (er, Holidays)

a short poem by Joe J Thomas
in honor of holidays in California, 2015

It’s one week after Halloween
No chill is in the air
With temperatures in the eighties
And skies sunny and fair
Although the tinseled trees displayed
At stores across the town
I just can’t feel the spirit
With two months counting down
Each year the holidays come sooner
I’m pretty sure we’ll see
December having fireworks
And May with Christmas trees
So here’s a plan that I’ll enact
I hope you’ll follow suit
All holidays are on my house
From the basement to the roof
St Nick is on the rooftop
Skeletons by the street
The Easter Bunny’s in the yard
With Dreidels by his feet
A Leprechaun is by the fountain
With American flags in his gold
The New Year’s baby crawls on the porch
And a turkey leg he holds
With all the other holidays
Displayed around my house
The grass will wither soon and die
That’s good news for the drought!

Happy AllTheDays

 

All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com

 

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Carving Meat Loaf

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Carving Meat Loaf

In honor of Meat Loaf‘s upcoming birthday on Sept. 27th (Happy Birthday Mr. Loaf!!!)…

Today I’d like to dissect his song “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad“.
Meat Loaf: Two Out of Three Ain't Bad
It’s a great rock ballad from 1977. Packed with deep emotions and hidden meaning, it strikes a chord in me every time I hear it.

But what if we look at it from a few different perspectives:

  • His viewpoint (he’s a romantic)
  • Her viewpoint (he’s a jerk)
  • Neutral viewpoint (psycho-logical)

Here’s how the song is seen in each of these cases:

Continue reading

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Long Feet, Short Femurs

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Long Feet, Short Femurs

Shopping for socks. Why is it that whatever ones I buy always seem to grab my toes like some boa constrictor? Are my feet abnormally long or something? I mean, I know my second toe is longer than the big toe. That’s normal, right? Based on sock manufacturers, I have to conclude that everyone just has smaller feet than me. Or they’re fine with their feet being bound, unable to wiggle their toes.

Shopping for a sofa. Why is it that whatever sofa I sit on, the seat is always way too deep? It’s the perfect depth between being an actual couch, and a couch with an ottoman. I guess I could buy some throw pillows so my back can actually touch something when my feet are on the floor. Maybe that’s it! It’s a conspiracy between the couch makers union and the throw pillow makers union. (checks online for throw pillow makers union) Nope. I guess that’s not it. I guess I just have to conclude that everyone else has longer femurs than I do.

So, to all of the long-legged, short-footed people buying stuff out there… Congratulations! You’ve flooded the market with your merchandise and I can’t find anything!

Now then, on to more important matters.

Why are my sleeves always so long?!?!?!?

 

All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com

 

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Comedy Saved My Soul

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Robin Williams, Sam Kinison, and a Demon walk into a bar…

Is this a joke?

No. It’s a dream I had.

Robin Williams and Sam Kinison

You see, in the dream, the Demon was there for my soul.
He came into the bar while I was chatting with Robin and Sam.
Being a well mannered spawn from hell, he joined in on the conversation.
Continue reading

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Digital Legacy

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Digital Legacy

I am immortal.
Well, at least my data is.
Blog posts, emails, social media…
Videos, photos, and audio recordings.
Government and industry data.
Medical and financial records.
Radio and TV broadcast around the earth and into space.
How much will be left after I’ve gone?
And yet…
Before any of these technological marvels.
It was the memory of family and friends where one lingered.
That’s still true today.
I think I may prefer that to immortality.

 

All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com

 

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Quantum Human Entanglement

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Quantum Human Entanglement

a mostly non-scientific, unverifiable theory by Joe J Thomas

Quantum Einstein
Hook Me Up!

Connection. As humans we seek it on a variety of levels. Be it spouses, family, friends. And on a wider view, pets, nature and even inanimate objects (got a favorite chair or mug?).

But what if humans, and everything else for that matter, are already connected on a much deeper level?

No, I’m not talking about “The Force“… although, by the time I’m done I might be.

Let me start at the beginning.

We Are Star-Stuff

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(conspiracy theory)

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Conspiracy Theory: Conspiracy Theory

Conspiracy from the halls of power
Governments, Religions, Industries
They meet in secret
Secured in VPN tunneled chats
In person at clandestine locations
Guarded by muscle, money and technology
The powerful ones decide
Which Conspiracy Theory to foster
Keep the masses busy… Preoccupied
Angry at something, or someone else
Like jingling the keys in front of an infant
We watch, and talk, and argue
While they do whatever they want
And they get away with it
Because we are easily led
Conspiracy Theories
Terrorists, Vaccines, UFOs, Planetary Alignment
They push them out to the publicity machine
Like drug dealers to the junkies
And the truth is buried under a mountain of meaningless noise
This is my Conspiracy Theory Conspiracy Theory

Guardian of the Internet

 

All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com

 

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Dump Gold! (2014 Edition)

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Dump Gold!

(2014 edition)

Joe's Dump Store - Memorial Day Sale!

Joe’s Dump has been around over 2 years. With more than 100 posts, it’s time for a bit of Dump Digging to harvest out some of my favorite posts from the past year…

Organized by category for your convenience below – Enjoy!

Business:
V321.ru – The Story
Moth or Flame?
Technology Rising, Quality Sinking
You Actor
Good, Fast, Cheap – A New Take
Branding Versatility
The Myth Of Conversational VO
Silent Computer
Continue reading

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