A Sense Of Entitlement

NOTES FROM THE CUBICLE
A Sense Of Entitlement

How can you be angry about something that wasn’t yours to begin with? I’m starting to understand why some people just don’t believe in giving gifts (monetary or otherwise). People seem to take offense at gifts… or the fact that they don’t receive a gift that someone else gets. So, because they can’t give to everyone, they don’t give at all.

Some folks don’t understand… if someone gives you a gift, it is just that - a gift. It doesn’t matter whether it is a pencil or a quarter of a million dollars. It may be a free lunch. It may be a CD. It may be two tickets to a Spurs game. It may be a beer. If it wasn’t something that you worked towards or had an agreement on receiving… it’s a gift and the amount is the sole decision of the gift-giver.

If a friend or co-worker receives a gift, can’t you just be happy for them instead of judging their worthiness? It wasn’t your gift to give. It wasn’t their intention to get something that wasn’t offered you. They are just a person who happened to be the recipient. The gift-giver didn’t mean to piss you off by not giving you the same thing. If he did, that’s a bribe or power-play… not a gift.

I kind of feel the same way with tips at a restaurant. Tips are for good service. People are expected to tip 20% of the bill for good service. That’s a suggestion, not a rule. Now, before I get into this too much…I’ve waited tables. I know. I used to make $2.13 an hour + tips…so I’ve been there. I think if tips are expected income… they should be automatically added to the bill. Not just for parties of 6 and up. But, to all bills. Or, pay minimum wage to servers and don’t allow tipping.

I think all of the waiters and waitresses just balked at that. Why? Because many times, people tip way above the percentage that is suggested and above minimum wage. It’s all up to the diner’s discression. But… to be fair to waiters… 20% is the agreed upon standard for good service so maybe that should be the rule. Take the guesswork out of it.

To be honest, I think that’s a horrible idea. But, I also think it sucks to be a diner who had bad service, who didn’t tip the “suggested amount” and be cursed by the waiter. I was actually chased out of a restaurant once in San Marcos, Texas for not tipping a crappy waitress. She guilted my friend into giving her a tip. I’ve never been back to that place… and I really liked the food there too. Damnit.

In the same thought…how can someone be so down on people who hold signs on the corner asking for money? “Oh, they’ll take that cash and buy alcohol or drugs.” You know... they might. They might just take that cash and turn it into liquor… but they might also use the cash to feed their family. They may get a bus ticket to return to a long lost love. They may buy a cheeseburger. And yes… they might get high.

While at church last Sunday we talked a little about this. One member shared her perspective. “If they use the money for drugs, and that allows them to live another day, maybe something will happen in that day to bring them closer to God and they may make a life-changing decision.” I thought that was pretty profound.

But, my point is, if I am going to give you something… my say in what is done with my gift ends when it is given. If it makes a difference, if it doesn’t… that is not my concern. If I am to get anything in return, again, not my intention. It’s a gift. Not a free gift with certain expectations.

And, please don’t have a sense of entitlement. Don’t think that you deserve anything above what you have worked towards and earned. If talking about a job, I’m not talking about earning an office with a window view. That is a perk. You are compensated for doing a job. Your reward for doing a good job is the fact that they keep paying you… perhaps you get insurance… perhaps a vacation… the things that are detailed out in your job description that you agreed to when you took a job.

If you get a bonus, it’s just that, a bonus. The amount shouldn’t matter. It’s unexpected money. If your co-worker gets a bonus and you don’t, be happy for them. Don’t get pissy and think “I should have gotten that money.” It wasn’t yours to give. It wasn’t theirs to demand. It was a gift.

You work for what you get, and you have what you earned. Anything above that is a bonus, a lagniappe, a gift… and should be seen as such. If people would just understand that, there would be a lot less anger in the world.

Austin Bands, do you DO512?

DO512.com is a great tool to promote shows and network around. If you're not aware of it... you should be. The basis is... you can post all of your band information and/or show information and it creates a page for you complete with a linkable, repostable "poster" of the image you uploaded or the list of the bands that are going to be there. Now.. it gets put in the hands of the "people" next... as folks who are members of do512 can click "I like it" to any show... and the more votes a show gets, the more likely it'll rise to the top of the day's search.. and/or be included in the end of the week's "Top Picks" that is e-mailed out to the list of do512'ers.

INsite Magazine, has teamed up with DO512 and they are working together to produce the listings* that run in the magazine. They are also using do512 for the promotion of their INsite Nights. Here's the next 4 INsite Night links... you'll see examples of both with poster and without. If you are a do512 member, please click "I Like It" on these. It would rock.

INsite Night - Point of Contact, Under the Gun, Hazard of the Industry and Unnamed Project for Revenge
Squint, She Craves, Dented, Forever Falls, Call Me Sensei - INsite Night
Full Service + Friends - INsite Night
INsite Night - The Banner Year, She Craves, 6 Pack Deep, Litany For The Departed

*Deadline for inclusion of listings in INsite is always the 21st of the month for the next month. So... use do512 for promoting your gigs... it's easy... and a pretty cool tool... and you may end up doubling your promotional efforts by ending up in INsite.

Austin' Texas July Music Listings

July INsite Page 13
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

This is from INsite Magazine.
http://www.insiteaustin.com

Click the photo to download full page... or go to the Website to download the full PDF of the issue.

OZZEST TICKETS ON SALE TODAY!

Tickets to Ozzfest 2008, which will be a one-off show in Dallas, will be available at 10:30a.m. today at Ticketmaster.

Click here: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0C0040AEDA69830F?artistid=821241&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=200


OZZFEST 2008
Saturday, August 9 at Pizza Hut Park, Dallas, Texas:

Main Stage:
OZZY OSBOURNE
METALLICA
SERJ TANKIAN
HELLYEAH
JONATHAN DAVIS
CAVALERA CONSPIRACY
SHADOWS FALL
APOCALYPTICA
IN THIS MOMENT


Second Stage:
SEVENDUST
DEVILDRIVER
KINGDOM OF SORROW
SOILENT GREEN
WITCHCRAFT
GOATWHORE

Texas (Third) Stage: *
THE SWORD
DROWNING POOL
RIGOR MORTIS
THE DESTRO
WITHIN CHAOS

Backwoods Bash Wrap-up

It was a fantastic weekend of music. If you were there, you may spot yourself in one of these shots... if you weren't, this is what you missed. Hope to see you next year for the Second Annual Backwoods Bash, Memorial Day Weekend 2009.

Friday's Photos - 74 shots

Saturday's Photos - 205 shots

If you'd like to watch the videos I shot:  Visit this link.




Here's a few of the 279 photos I took:

Matt Jostes, Trevor Lane, Damien Hartzell, and Sean Claes. Four men with a mission to create a Memorial Day Weekend Concert just outside Tulsa, Oklahoma. We did it. Backwoods Bash 2008 - www.backwoodsbash.com.


Cosmic Rush


Will Porter/Damien Hartzell


Greg Schroeder


Todd Davis


Steve Liddell


ValerieStar


Cannonball Sunday


Ben Sumner and Sean Claes


The Banner Year


Full Service


Ghosts

Wiener Dog Races on KLRU's Docubloggers

I went to the Buda Wienerdog Races this year... it was great. I took a few videos of the races just to document it and was going to upload them to my YouTube but for some reason it wouldn't upload. So... today I was talking to someone at work who said that KLRU's Doccubloggers was going to do (or has done) a spot on the races.

Being the Google fiend I am... I went searching. Apparently they were uploading it to their YouTube as we were talking about it. I think I was the first viewer of this particular upload. So... I thought I'd share. It's VERY well done and it captures the idea and excitement that is the Buda Wiener Dog Races.

Hope you enjoy. It was produced by Domenique Bellavia.


What they have to say:
Each year in Buda Texas the Lions Club host the County fair, and one of the featured activities are the wiener dog races. Now, people from all over the US bring their Dachshund to dress up and run!

Buy this tape... but as a digital Download

You can download this album for just $5 at:http://cdbaby.com/cd/backwoodsbash2008.
The $$ will go directly towards the gas money for the bands playing the first ever Backwoods Bash at the Thundermoon Ranch in Mannford, Oklahoma.. this weekend (May 23-25, 2008)

Austin Band Tungsten Coil gets Gear Stolen

On Monday May 12 at 5:30am Austin band, and INsite May Cover story, Tungsten Coil's rehearsal space was broken into (Public Storage 10001 N. IH35 in Austin). Two men made off with a good amount of the band's gear.

Including:
- M-Audio Axiom 61-key MIDI Controller (dark grey; 5th volume slider is broken off)
- Roland AX-7 Keytar (white; black duct tape along bottom edge, Tungsten Coil sticker, sanded-down thumb-button on handle) Serial#: ZU48734
- Marshall AVT50H Head - 50watt "AVT Valve State" (black; rip along top, was covered by grey duct tape)
- Big Briar Theremin (black)
- Roland Volume/expression pedal (black; clear tape over volume adjuster knob)
- Yamaha sustain foot pedal (black)
- Ampeg B2RE amp (rack mount; medium grey) Serial#: DGADS50052
- SVT 4x10 Ampeg Cabinet Serial#: DWADS40047
- ESP LTD C305 5-string bass guitar (see-thru blue: could see wood through paint)
- ESP LTD F250 6-string guitar (black; rusted out hardware; Gibson neck pickup)
- Yamaha RGX 520 FX 6-string guitar (red maple top)
- Schecter Hellraiser series 7-string guitar (flat black; 2 marks on back--top and bottom; EMG active pickups)
- 3"x60"x24" carpeted carrying case (black carpet outside, dark grey foam inside)
- 4"x60"x24" carpeted carrying case (black carpet outside, dark grey foam inside)
- 3 Yamaha BR12 black carpeted monitors Serial#: #013934028 13935844 13936600 13936472
- Vanilla 6-plug power strip with "Tungsten Coil" written on the back
- Universal power adapter attached to power strip with zip-ties
- Power supply for Big Briar Theremin attached to power strip with zip-ties
- 15-minute Energizer battery charge
- 2 Whirlwind IMP2 Standard Direct boxes (black, zip-tied together)
- Midiman 2x2 Midi Merge (pink)



Although the video cameras were on.. all they got was fuzzy video.
They have uploaded all of the information they've been able to gather to help a)find their gear and b) bust these 2 individuals who stole it. Click the gear list to go to Tungsten Coils list complete with pictures of gear missing... and other information

Backwoods Bash - Line-up and Album Release

Backwoods Bash Releases Benefit Concert Band List
And 20-Track $5 Digital Download Album


TULSA/ AUSTIN – The buzz is building surrounding the first-ever Backwoods Bash which will happen Labor Day Weekend at Thundermoon Paintball in Mannford, Oklahoma. Entertainment, Camping, Music, and Good times will abound at the festival that has adopted the motto Be Good.

Organizers of the event, Sean Claes (seanclaes.com) of Austin, and Trevor Lane (trevorlane.com) and Damien Hartzell (myspace.com/damiennchamp) of Tulsa have announced the full line up for the Saturday, May 24, 2008 Benefit Show. All of the following bands have donated their music and services for the sake of the charities (TC Lane Foundation and Vertical Life) and for the sake of the song.

The Official Line-up for the 2008 Backwoods Bash
Noon - Will Porter (http://www.myspace.com/willporter)
1:00PM - Greg Schroeder (http://www.myspace.com/gregschroeder)
2:00PM - Joel Wade (http://www.myspace.com/jwadeband)
3:00PM - Steve Liddell (http://www.myspace.com/steveliddell)
4:00PM – ValerieStar (http://www.myspace.com/valeriestar2006)
5:00PM - Cannonball Sunday (http://www.myspace.com/cannonballsunday)
6:00PM - The Banner Year (http://www.myspace.com/thebanneryear)
7:00PM - Somewhat Lucky (http://www.myspace.com/somewhatluckyband)
8:00PM - Full Service (http://www.fullservicemusic.com)
9:00PM – Ghosts (http://www.myspace.com/ghosts2002)

Each band has also donated music for an Album Backwoods Bash 2008 – Good Music. Good People. Good Times. that was released on Cdbaby.com on Tuesday, May 5, 2008. For the next 90 days, this 20-song album will be available for a $5 digital download. “We want to make sure everyone has a chance to listen to these great bands. Most of money raised from the downloads will go right back to the bands in order to pay for their gas and expenses,” Trevor Lane said. “These guys are coming from as far away as Dallas and Austin on their own dime.”

Fine folks everywhere will be downloading the album by visiting http://cdbaby.com/cd/backwoodsbash2008 and clicking on the “add MP3 to cart” button.

TRACK LISTING
Backwoods Bash 2008 – Good Music. Good People. Good Times
1. Songwriter’s Manifesto Will Porter (3:31)
2. Cold Eyes Will Porter (2:26)
3. Nutz N Boltz Ghosts (3:40)
4. Zarro Ghosts (6:34
5. Perception and Belief ValerieStar (3:12)
6. Soul of Me Haunted ValerieStar (5:33)
7. Daylight Robbery The Banner Year
8. A Long Time Coming The Banner Year
9. Blueberry Full Service
10. Hi Ho Full Service
11. Carry Me Home Cannonball Sunday (2:58)
12. Fall Out of Love Cannonball Sunday (3:37)
13. Walk on Water (W.O.W.) Steve Liddell (3:13)
14. Good Love Steve Liddell (3:49)
15. It’s Easy Somewhat Lucky (3:04)
16. Talking Somewhat Lucky (2:53)
17. Dove into a Dive Abaiyo (3:03)
18. Just Breathe Day Dreamer (5:01)
19. Someone’s Waiting Joel Wade (3:41)
20. Fool Greg Schroeder


Backwoods Bash is a 3-day charity event that has been put together for the people and by the people with an independent spirit and a good heart. The entertainment is free, there is a $5 a day or $15 3-day pass fee for parking. For full details and information about the charities we are supporting and the organizations who are sponsoring, please visit http://www.backwoodsbash.com.

About TC Lane "Make a Difference" Foundation
This foundation is dedicated to "Making a Difference" in memory of TC Lane, who was killed by a man who tried to hide with a history of drinking and driving on Christmas Eve. The mission and aim of this foundation is to support Crime Victims' Rights and Educational Initiatives like "Laptops for Leaders." TC Lane was a political science major, who would have "been a senator, sooner in life, rather than later" according to Stetson University faculty and staff. To learn more please visit: www.tclane.org

About Vertical Life Youth Initiatives & Awareness
Vertical Life works with youth social clubs and students. This non-profit organization is designed to enhance the education experience of students and to prepare them for lifestyles of realized potential. Through enhanced education supplements, youth social integration strategies, community service and personal value enrichment programs, we help ordinary students restructure their priorities, redefine their value systems, become socially well adjusted young men and women with an above average education, moral integrity and personal self worth.

May 2008 INsite Austin Magazine

May 2008 INsite Austin Magazine
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

This is the cover for the May 2008 INsite Magazine. The cover is Austin band Tungsten Coil with Fox7's Joe Bickett. They are releasing their "Alpha & Omega" on 5/10/08 @ Emo's Lounge in Austin, Texas.

At the show, Fox7's Good Day Austin anchor Joe Bickett will play his guitar on stage for a song.

Cover photo by Jay West