June 27, 2023 - Tacos, Pixies, Suffering, Scooter
Hello beautiful people! If this newsletter can make just one person's day better, then I'm really not doing a good job. Also, I need your help with a creative challenge - go to the end for details.
Nuggets of Information: Taco Cat Backwards Is Still Delicious
Around the world, across all cultures, Tuesdays are associated with one thing – Boo's N.E.W.S. releases. But apparently a much smaller subset of the population associates Tuesdays with tacos. Taco Bell has filed a lawsuit against rival chain Taco John’s, who owns the trademark for “Taco Tuesday” - not because they want to own Taco Tuesday, but because they believe no one should own the concept. It belongs to the world.
According to a statement on Taco Bell’s website. “Taco Bell wants Taco Tuesday to be free for all restaurants and taco vendors to use without fear of a cease-and-desist letter or lawsuit.” Celebrities, including Lebron James, have sided with Taco Bell. Website tacotuesday.com, initially created with the noble mission of helping people find tacos in their communities, is also on-board with this.
While future generations may study the “Great Taco Legal Wars” of 2023, those of us living through these perilous times can find solace in the knowledge that the supply chain of innovative tacos remains strong. One recent taco recipe hack pulls in yet another fast food titan – McDonald's – by adapting their most famous burger to create a “Big Mac Taco.” We truly live in a miraculous time!
Enrichment: Where is My Mind?
Last week, my good buddy David and I went to the Roxy to see the Pixies, with opening act Franz Ferdinand. Great venue, great show. The crowd was really into it, and everyone there seemed to be having a blast. We met up with several of David’s friends – they all used to go see the Pixies “back in the day” which made it even more fun.
For those of you not familiar with the Pixies, they are widely considered one of the most influential bands of the 80’s and 90’s, helping usher in the alt-rock & grunge era, and pioneering the “quiet-loud” or “loud-quiet-loud" sound embraced by many other bands. Kurt Cobain, in a 1994 Rolling Stone interview, was very open about their influence on him while writing Nevermind: "I was trying to write the ultimate pop song. I was basically trying to rip off the Pixies. I have to admit it. When I heard the Pixies for the first time, I connected with that band so heavily that I should have been in that band—or at least a Pixies cover band. We used their sense of dynamics, being soft and quiet and then loud and hard.”
In addition to Nirvana, other musicians who have credited the influence of the Pixies include Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, Mudhoney, PJ Harvey, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, the Strokes and Modest Mouse. David shared with me that even David Bowie was inspired. “I found [the Pixies] just about the most-compelling music outside of Sonic Youth in the entire 1980s,” Bowie said. “I always thought there was a psychotic Beatles in them.”
When you see a teenager wearing a Nirvana shirt, or a Radiohead shirt, ask them what their favorite Nirvana or Radiohead song is. If they have an answer, they are allowed to continue wearing the shirt. If you ask that same kid what their favorite Pixies song is, and they have an answer, they are cool, and you can go ahead and buy them beer at the 7-11.
Check out this site for ten interesting facts about the band the Pixies. And here is a link to them playing at Glastonbury in 2014 - Where is My Mind?
Workshop: I Want You to Suffer
As part of my ”might as well make myself a better person” kick, I’ve been pondering the concept of willful suffering. Fitness expert Jordan Syatt distinguishes between two types of suffering: willful and unwilful. Willful suffering involves embracing temporary discomfort for long-term benefits. Examples include regular exercise, healthy eating habits, personal development, and financial discipline. By actively choosing our own suffering, we can shape our lives, minimize unwilful suffering, and experience resilience, growth, and inner strength.
While it's essential to acknowledge that some suffering is unavoidable, such as unforeseen tragedies or external circumstances, actively choosing your own suffering allows you to exert control over your life and work towards furthering your goals.
If you’d like to read more about this, including how this concept aligns with Buddhist teachings around suffering, check out my article at focustransform.com.
Selected Content: New Good Boy
Last week I wrote about the Ugliest Dog Contest and showed last year’s winner. This past Friday a new dog won the title! Meet Scooter - a 7-year-old bald Chinese crested dog with backward-facing legs who has a “special love for sausage.” Finally, I have found my spirit animal!
***Boo’s N.E.W.S. logo help – I found the current little logo online when first creating this newsletter, and I love it. But I’d like something unique to Boo’s N.E.W.S.. Ideally, it would have the same general look – an open skull with pretty items growing out of the brain. If you are artistic & creative, or know someone who is, I’d love to work with you on a refresh.