So I guess I have to comment on SOPA/PIPA since everyone else is. :-) You guys know me, I'm the FIRST to tell Gov't to get the h*ll out of our lives. They've certainly slimed their way into just about every aspect/industry they can under the pretense of recovery. And the Internet is NO exception. We cannot/should not hamper the innovation and job creation that comes from our nations' fastest growing business sector. And I work in this sector! Ready for the big butt?....

HOWEVER (the big butt)...as a 'creative' guy, I'm tremendously passionate about protecting the rights & Intellectual Property of folks whose business/livelihood(sp) is based on creating content (i.e. movie, music, publishing, etc...). The Internet makes it easy for this content to be downloaded shared/illegally(the entertainment industry lost millions in revenue last year in sales/ad revenue because of this-I see people pirating copies of movies pre-release all the time) Case & point, Napster...which in my mind was the beginning of the end of the recording industry. Also you have offshore pharma companies falsely selling meds and undercutting our own industry. And yes, sorry, but Internet sites should have some level of accountability for the content made available on their page. Censorship or no...if one person thinks having relations with a sofa cushion is art, that doesn't mean they should have a right to post it. And whether this should be managed by the public or private sector...that’s a whole separate discussion.

One more big butt and the Big Finish...SOPA is definitely not the answer. It is correct in intent, but falls way short in execution...goes too far and is too broad in reach. Find a middle ground...find a way to protect IP, prevent piracy & counterfeiting, but NOT at the expense of the vitality and innovation of the Internet.

I have been trying very hard not to do this, but alas...given recent developments in Oakland I have to comment (vent really) on this whole “Occupy” movement, or as I call it...”Entitlement Mindset”. Not sure when/how this started, but the fact that it’s gotten this far I think is a real indication of our current leadership, or lack thereof. And the fact that certain elements of our own Government, along with Labor Unions are actually embracing and supporting these “people” is beyond maddening.

Those who would defend Occupy say that it is just a natural and proper result of frustration. Frustration about the supposed lack of opportunities...frustration towards those who are successful despite economic conditions...frustration that our Government has not done more to provide the things these “people” feel they’re owed...money, health insurance, property, education. But here’s the thing...we’re all frustrated!

My wife and I have been working very hard for nearly two decades now, trying to make ends meet month to month, to pay bills, to keep our three children fed and clothed. Sometimes it’s a struggle. Often we have to get creative...but in the end we do what we have to do for ourselves and our family. Are we out marching with a sign, pointing fingers and flinging blame at those who live in a bigger house or drive a nicer car? No! Are we calling for the end of Capitalism so that everyone can get an equal share of the pie regardless of our effort? NO!  We all know that’s been tried before...we all know where and when, and we all know it doesn’t work. And the fact that we’re even having this discussion on merits of socialism is, to me, beyond belief!

And I don’t understand where the breakdown happened. Are parents not raising their children with the proper perspective on history, what works, and what doesn’t? Our schools succumbing to revisionist history, strategic agendas and political correctness? Let’s check with that all important but sadly forgotten document, the US Constitution. It really boils down to one of the most simple yet eloquent and important phrases in the history of mankind.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

And what is the most important, and most over-looked word in the phrase? ”PURSUIT”. Whether intentional or not, this word seems to have been omitted in the bong resin-filled “minds” of those who are all too ready to hold their hands out and demand from their government and from those who have more.

Well I, like the millions of others who HAVEN’T forgotten what made this country great, say NO!   Don’t demand from ME...don’t demand from THEM...DEMAND FROM YOURSELF! Push harder, work harder, think harder!  There IS opportunity out there...perhaps harder to find, but out there none the less! And isn’t this the Land of Opportunity?  Go get it!  Don’t wait for someone to find it for you or take you to it...GO GET IT!  Capitalism WORKS!  It’s the ONLY thing that works!

But CAPITALISM only works if YOU work!

Take a lesson from past generations who had it SO much harder than us...in a world-wide depression, in a World War...what did they do?  They picked themselves up by the bootstraps, rolled up their sleeves and went on to forge the world's greatest economy! 

Government is not the solution, it is the PROBLEM!  So look INWARD, not OUTWARD!  Create...Innovate...Inspire...Work...Earn...Improve...

DO!

Sorry I haven't been blogging as much as I should...but that's going to change soon!  Lot's coming down the pipe, stand by for the new and improved...

B.log!

Is this thing on?  More treble!  Just testing my website social-network sync function. 

Happy Friday!

www.bobbrunson.com

Dear Friends:

Happy almost Thanksgiving! Most of you have been hearing me rant about my KISS Tribute Song/Charity project Friends With Painted Faces for a few years now. Long story short, after my appearance on Gene's show, I put out a call to KISS Fans everywhere asking them to tell my why they (& I) were so passionate about the group. I got SO many inspirational stories, from all walks of life. I used that, and my own experience as inspiration to write/record Friends With Painted Faces. I knew for this to be a credible, worthwhile project, the right thing to do would be to partner with a charity for them to also benefit. In thinking about the intent of the song (believe in yourself and your dreams, no matter what), and looking at groups KISS has supported, the obvious choice was AmeriFace...the country's leading Support organization for children/individuals with facial differences, like Cleft or Craniofacial issues. (visit their site here www.ameriface.org  )

I also thought for this project to really work, from a visibility standpoint, that I should try and team up with a mainstream artist to get their involvement, either re-recording my version, or at least helping to market it. Well, after years of trying to everyone from KISS to Bret Michaels to Garth Brooks, (we've been targeting artists who work with KISS and are active with charity), I guess I just wasn't able to sell it. And a few weeks back, I got so frustrated and decided to pull the plug.

And that's when I remembered the most important thing in life is never, ever...EVER giving up on your dreams. Between that, and wanting to keep my promise to Ameriface, I've decided to move forward with this project WITHOUT artist support...I'm gonna do it myself!!! SO, starting December 1st, my Friends With Painted Faces demo will be available for purchase/download on my website, here. www.bobbrunson.com/fwpfthesong  

Here's where you come in! I really need help promoting this and spreading the word, so I'm looking for folks that would be willing to post the banner below to your won personal website and link to the FWPF page! Or if not the banner, just a simple text link? I will absolutely give you credit on my site...creating a section called FRIENDS OF FRIENDS WITH PAINTED FACES! With a link back to your page. (I believe in the golden rule) :-)

SO...please respond to this note, or send me an email to bob@bobbrunson.com if you're game for getting involved! I really want to make this work, for me yes, and for the AmeriFace kids! And truly, hopefully you'll agree it's a really catchy tune too! So whether you're a KISS fan or not, I'm hoping you'll help me out.

Thanks so much for reading this, and always...LIVE LOUD!

Warm regards,



Bob Brunson

Tonight We the People have spoken, and we make that first step towards taking our country, and our future back!  Now let's roll up our sleeves and get to work! 

Spent a great day at Corona Del Mar beach yesterday with the family and my kid sister who was visiting from Jersey.

Moderated a terrific CFO/Executive Finance Roundtable today for TechAmerica, with presenters by senior partners at Moss Adams.  The Topic...Upcoming changes to expect from Healthcare reform and the impact to individuals/companies bottom lines.  The take away...be afraid...be very afraid.

Caught my all-time FAVE Western last night, "The Magnificent Seven". Got me to thinking...where are all of our larger than life heros?
 
The Steve McQueens, Yul Brynners, Frank Sinatras, John Waynes, Humphry Bogarts, Jimmie Stewarts, Gary Coopers, etc... Something we're sorely lacking, and could ...desparately use these days, IMHO. Unfortunately, the prob is our culture has evolved into one that scoffs at the idea, turning the classic 'hero' into a cliche, and instead idolizing/embracing the non-traditional, sensitive, inward/quiet type who is in touch with his feelings, and hugs first, shoots second. :-)

In my best John Wayne accent - "Well pilgrim, that's a god-damn shame!"

By KISS - sung by the late/great Eric Carr.  (and words to live by)

Ten million stories in the city, ten million backs against the wall...
Desperation's out tonight, you can cut it with a knife,
Everybody wants to have it all...
Well they tell you that the world is rough
But they never rocked it hard enough

Hey little Caesar, nobody messing with you
Hey little Caesar, go show 'em what you can do

Nobody said that it was pretty, you haven't got a penny or a prayer...
You know it's gonna be a fight, if you wanna see your name in lights,
Ain't nobody gives a damn out there...
Well you got your guts, you got your pride
But you'll never let them see inside

Hey little Caesar, nobody messing with you
Hey little Caesar, go show 'em what you can do