Capitalogix

A Bohemian Rhapsody in Three Parts

Compare the original to the Muppets' version and a parody. Some things are classic. Some things are good enough to stand-up no matter who performs it.  You be the judge. 

A Little Background.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song written by Freddie Mercury, originally recorded by the band Queen for their 1975 album A Night at the Opera.

The song is a parody of a rock opera and has a very unusual musical structure for a piece of popular music. Its three different sections have no chorus but both a cappella and heavy metal arrangements. Despite this, it was released as a single and became a huge commercial success, marking a decisive point in Queen's career.

The single was accompanied by a groundbreaking "promotional video", which helped establish the visual language of the modern music (and helped make the music video a must have accessory for any performer).

Muppets - Video of Bohemian Rhapsody:

The Muppets have created their own version of Queen's classic song and video.  This version has very quickly gone viral, as people around the world flock to see it.

The Muppets released their version of Bohemian Rhapsody as a funny and endearing tribute marking the 18th anniversary of Freddie Mercury's untimely death. 

While there will never be another Freddy Mercury, neither will there be another Gonzo, Fozzie Bear nor Miss Piggy.  Here is their attempt at rock opera:

Bohemian Bankruptcy - A Tragedy by Drag Queen.

This, completely different, take on the classic is a witty parody of our economic times.

The Original: I Saved the Best for Last.

Here is the original.  After all this time, it still speaks for itself.

Here is a link to that video with the lyrics superimposed.

This Video Made Me Smile

Watch a soldier being greeted by his dogs after returning home after 14 months in Iraq.  I suspect even cat people will be touched by this.

I learned something from the dogs, and the man.  Hope you enjoy it too.
 

Microsoft's Surprising Windows 7 Promotion

Microsoft released Windows 7 last week.

Being an early adopter, I found this exciting, challenging, and frustrating all in the same week.

Speaking of Windows 7, I saw an interesting ad where Microsoft was promoting the launch in Japan through a cross-promotion with Burger King. Here's the ad.

Who knew that the best way to promote a new operating system and your expected user experience was with seven congealing meat patties and the smell of onions? 

Maybe Apple took out that ad?

This is almost as funny as their Songsmith ads.

Brazil's Campaign Video

If you're still trying to figure out why Chicago lost the Olympic bid, this RIO 2016 commercial might explain it. 

Nicely done; short and compelling.  It certainly makes me want to visit.

How To Keep Track of the National Debt

The Big Red Calculator.

I've known Matt Miles for years; and he does what's necessary to make a point.  He is also a smart and successful entrepreneur.  The result, a new company called Big Red, that makes a calculator with enough digits to display the national debt.

In his own words: "The Big Red Calculator, a 16-digit calculator, makes your old calculator extinct!  First we owed millions.  Then it was billions!   And now-thanks to those wonderful people who brought you deficit spending, we've shattered the trillion-dollar ceiling.  It truly is a proud moment.  But how can the average American keep track of such an incomprehensible number?  The answer is Big Red Calculator.  It is  "the official calculator of the national debt".  Endorsed by professional spenders! Ensuring that "no digit is left behind",  this calculator displays the largest collection of zeros ever assembled."  Yes, you can buy one at Amazon.

The Marshmallow Test: What Kids Teach Us About Temptation

Here is a brief video that reminds me that the difference between men and boys is often just the price of their toys.

It's fun to watch these kids and the temptation of one marshmallow in the hand vs two marshmallows in the bush.  To eat, or not to eat?  ... That is the question.

Oh, The Temptation from Steve V on Vimeo.

Here's a List of Fun iPhone Apps Worth Using

I wanted to create a list of the coolest iPhone apps. However, cool doesn't necessarily mean useful. Instead, this is a list of the applications that I use most.

This week I'm listing the lighter and more fun iPhone apps.  Here is the link to the list the business and productivity apps that I use most.

I limited myself to the top two applications per category.  Hope you find some cool stuff in here.

Social Media

• Facebook
• TweetDeck

Food & Fun Finders

• Yelp
• IWant

Games: Strategy

• Flood-It
• Block-Out

Games: Puzzle

• Sudoku
• DropSum

Games: Pattern Matching

• Moonlight Mahjong
• Triazzle

Games: Text

• TextTwist Turbo
• Scramble

Music

• Pandora
• Rhapsody

Photo Fun

• Photo fx
• ColorSplash

Health & Fitness

• iFitness
• Lose It!

Relaxation

• Pzizz Relax
• Ambiance

Sports News

• Sportacular
• Plusmo Football Plus

Shopping

• SnapTell
• Amazon.com

Even if you don't have an iPhone, check-out the links to see what is available.  I am amazed at how much of my computing and basic research are now done on a Smartphone.

That's it for now.  Let me know if I forgot your favorite or you found something worth sharing.

The Power of Old Habits

Seeing my mother made me feel young ... like I was twelve.

This past Friday I organized and cleaned things more thoroughly than usual.  Why?  Because my mother was coming to town; and I still want her to think I'm a good boy. How funny?

Here's another anecdote worth sharing. At breakfast today - my wife, Jennifer, dropped some food and responded by saying something in Indonesian.

My mother asked her if she just swore. Jennifer replied that she didn't.

So my mom asked what she would have said if she swore in Indonesian. Jennifer explained that Indonesians swear in English.

So there you have it, in case you think jazz music is the only form of expression that we've invented, now you know we also brought swear-words to the world.

Augmenting Reality

Sometimes new technology seems like science fiction. Other times, science fiction introduces us to new technology.

I remember watching Minority Report and having a sense that I was watching a future closer than it seemed. There's a scene where Tom Cruise is walking through a shopping area and each time he passes a store there is a personalized ad; and in other scenes there is a "Terminator-Like" text that overlays the physically real world. That is called "Augmented Reality". 

Well, your phone may not be as cool as that, yet; however it's getting there pretty quickly.

The next picture doesn't look like much; but it's using the iPhone's built-in camera and GPS unit to recognize highly rated restaurants in real time. The application doing this is Yelp. This feature is currently hidden by default; but you can turn it on by shaking your phone vigorously, until the "Monocle" feature activates.

Soon, I imagine this will be enhanced further with a discount coupons and the ability to place orders before you walk in the door. Nonetheless, it's an example of what's coming.

Where Else Will This Be Useful?

Imagine what this could do to the real-estate industry (as price per square foot, tax rates, etc. overlay the properties as you drive by). Or, imagine traders looking at a chart displaying the most relevant indicators, patterns, setups, and triggers for the company or market they are analyzing.  It gives a whole new meaning to real-time business intelligence.

What If You Outsourced Your Job Overseas?

News satire from The Onion. It is funny, well done, and like most good humor ... it has an insightful kernel of truth.  This one provides a different perspective on employment and outsourcing.

More American Workers Outsourcing Own Jobs Overseas