Jogging is good for the mind and the body, but sometimes, it can get a little boring. When you jog around your neighborhood, you only have so many options for where you can go and you probably have a specific path you take. Sometimes this is out of habit, but for most people, this happens because they have found the smoothest and perhaps the safest areas. The same area each day can lead to boredom and that is why many people like to have some good jogging music to accompany them on their daily run.

There are a few things to consider when you are choosing jogging music. You have to choose something that you like, but you don’t want something too fast or too slow. You may end up trying to keep up with the beat of the music or perhaps slowing down. You want to find jogging music that you can keep pace with comfortably as you go about your daily run. You don’t want to over exert yourself and you certainly don’t want to slow down so that you aren’t getting much out of your run.

When you are contemplating your jogging music, you also have to decide what type of player you want to use. If you have an MP3 player, you don’t have too much to worry about. Though I don’t have one, I don’t think you have to worry about them skipping and they are lightweight and easy to manage. If you don’t have one and you want to take a CD player with you, you have to get one that is skip resistant and can stay in a pouch so you don’t have to worry about it as you run. Just remember that if you use a CD for jogging music, you are probably going to get bored with the same CD day in and day out, so make sure you switch it up.

Also think about safety when you are listening to jogging music. You have to watch out for traffic if you run in your neighborhood and you don’t want to have your music so loud that you can’t hear anything else. If you listen to your jogging music too loudly, not only will you put yourself in danger with oncoming traffic, you might also damage your hearing. Keep the music at a comfortable level and enjoy your run.

Everyone wants to have the best car sound system and everyone selling one wants people to think that theirs is the best. Yet finding out what are the best car speakers can be a very difficult task. Usually, it comes down to who you are and what you want. For example, the best car speaker system for a young person listening to a lot of rock ‘n roll or rap music might be different than the ones that an older person prefers to use when listening to classical music.

For me, the best car speakers are the ones that provide the best combination of fidelity and power. Audio car speakers targeted towards older customers tend to emphasize the treble range. They will have crystal clear sounds, no small feat inside of a car, and very little distortion. Unfortunately, they will also have very little body. The best car speakers for older audiophiles tend to have mediocre midrange and terrible bass sound quality. As people get older, you see, there ears tend to attenuate higher frequencies. This is why the best car speakers for older people emphasize high frequency above everything else.

Then again, sound system speakers targeted towards younger audiences tend to have just the opposite philosophy. A lot of young people, especially if they are fans of hip-hop music, think the best car speakers are the ones with the biggest subsonic boom. These speakers will literally shake the car and the cars nearby with the sound and feel of the bass thumping. In reality, these are not the best car speakers unless you are trying to lose your hearing. They don’t preserve very much of the original sound and they distort it quite a bit in the name of increasing the bass power. These may be the best speakers car for having a party.  They are terrible for listening to any, but the most simplistic music.

This is why I like to have a compromise in my car audio system. The best car speakers are neither too heavy on the bass, nor too heavy on the treble. I like to have some bass to my music, as well as some good midrange.  I also like to hear the music and not ruin my hearing. This is why I like to combine great tweeters, woofer and even a sub-woofer in back. This gives you the full experience of the sound, perfectly balanced for your listening enjoyment.

A seating chart is of great benefit when a major event is coming to town and planning is necessary. When an event such as a sports game, a touring concert, or a popular musical is being held in a stadium, ticket purchasers are able to view a seating chart of the facility. This lets them know how nice a view they have and which seats are really worth paying for.

Some people would rather buy more expensive tickets closer to the stage while others would prefer cheaper seats farther away from the action, as long as the seating chart promises a decent view. Having the ability to view the venue before committing to seats allows the customer to choose the seats that both afford them the view they want, while at the same time fit into their budget.  It not only helps customers, but also assists the management of the stadium or hall. When a seating chart is shown ahead of time, perhaps on a website or a brochure, it results in fewer misunderstandings and more satisfied customers, who know the kind of seats they’re reserving in advance.

A seating chart is a visual depiction of a stadium or hall’s seating arrangements as relates to the stage. The stage is usually at the top or bottom of the page and a group of elongated triangle shapes above that represent the different levels of seats. They are usually arranged alphabetically, the beginning letters of the alphabet representing the closest seats to the stage and so on until the letter Z. If there are sub-levels then sometimes ground level seats are referred to with A-Z, while high level seats are identified with double letters from AA to ZZ. Many seating charts also give exact measurements of the chairs and entire seating area.

These charts are not just for informational purposes. Weddings planners and teachers can also use a seating chart to better organize their days. A wedding planner might depend on a seating chart as a blueprint to physically arrange the chairs. A teacher likewise might want to create a seating chart not only for desk organization, but also to measure the progress of students.

Thanks to the Internet, seating charts are now viewable online. Beyond that, you can even create your own seating chart for planning your next event, whether it is a classroom, wedding or party. You can customize the details of your seating chart, map out a blueprint and use it as a physical reference.  Need a seating chart? The Internet can help you organize your day.

There are singing competitions all over the country now, where young singers can compete for cash prizes, and the chance of fame and fortune. American Idol is the best known of these singing competitions, but there are many others as well. There is one in Las Vegas with a $50,000 cash prize just for winning the singing contest. Besides that, there is European Idol, which is sweeping much of the rest of the world with it’s unprecedented popularity.

My friends and I all love to sing, but we basically completely ignore these singing competitions. I don’t even think the singing is particularly good. It is all bad pop music, saccharine sweet and completely without soul. We have our own singing competitions and although no one ever gets 50 grand for winning them, I think that they are a lot more fun anyway.

Sometimes after several rounds of drinks, we will pick a song and compete, doing different renditions of it. Whoever can sing it in the loudest, grittiest, most raucous and audacious intonation automatically wins, and everyone has to buy him or her a drink. By the next round of that contest, the winner of the previous one has a clear advantage, and usually whoever wins the first one wins all night, or until he passes out.

Because we are classically trained vocalists, our singing competitions are not always quite so ridiculous. Sometimes we form duos, trios or quartets among ourselves, and entertain our other non-singing friends at parties. They have to vote on which piece is best or perhaps we informally decide among ourselves.

Since we are in professional choirs, we sometimes attend real singing competitions. They receive little attention and many professionals shun them.  Nonetheless they are in fact singing competitions where choirs from all over the state compete for a prize and the recognition of their peers. The best thing about these singing competitions isn’t actually the trying to win, it’s the festive atmosphere of the whole thing. It is wonderful to spend all day just singing some classics with some of the best singers in the country.  These singing competitions are always the highlights of the seasons because it is such an opportunity to be around other great artists, hear what they are doing, and pick up new ideas.

If you love movies or modern electronics, you’ve probably set foot in a Best Buy store.  These rewarding superstores, containing everything from plasma televisions to quality refrigerators, are packed with a wide selection.  I recall getting hooked on Best Buy after I purchased my first DVD player.  Suddenly I needed that ideal movie supplier that could offer me a great variety of DVDs.  Well, it didn’t take long to realize that my local Best Buy was the place.

A key benefit to Best Buy is the location.  It is not difficult find a Best Buy in your immediate area.  Unless you reside out in the boon-docks, Best Buy is likely just around the corner.  Once you survey their selection of music and home entertainment, you will have a relationship for life.  I always enjoy their plethora of televisions, which offer such amazing quality pictures these days.  It’s fun to stand in front of that spectrum of widescreens and pretend that it will one day grace the wall of your living room.  Wow, that would be every man’s dream come true.  Best Buy offers a price range suitable for most families when it comes to purchasing a new home theater or stereo system.  These are products that really have to be tested and analyzed in person, so that we can be certain of what we’re dropping a chunk of money on.

Best Buy has incomparable prices from what I’ve experienced.  Have you ever spent some time browsing through the music store down at the mall?  A CD runs for 20 bucks these days.  Pop into your local Best Buy and you’re sure to find a better deal.  Why should we spend more than we have to?  DVDs offer the same kind of savings.  You’ll save considerable in comparison to those big movie chains, that typically offer a poor selection.

While Best Buy can provide you with great deals and savings, a prime benefit to their company is the service.  I’ve never entered a Best Buy without being greeted at the door.  In addition, employees always offer their assistance when they spot me browsing for a certain DVD.  This is refreshing in a world that has virtually forgotten about the customer.  No matter what your electronic or entertainment need, Best Buy is a good place to have a look when you consider the savings and numerous possibilities.

Not many singers start a professional career at seven years of age but Michael Jackson is no ordinary artist. He wowed his audiences as lead vocalist with the Jackson 5 and went on to forge a solo career as one of the best selling artists of all time. Despite a turbulent personal life, court cases and controversy, Michael Jackson songs fill the airwaves and the dance floors. The glory days may be over but a comeback is expected and he always surprises.

The debut solo album, whilst still a member of the Jacksons, was released on the Tamla Motown label in 1971. The title song was “Got To Be There” and other notable tracks were “Rockin’ Robin” and “Ain’t No Sunshine”. His most iconic albums would be on the Epic label. In 1979, Off The Wall hit the stores and included “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” and “She’s Out of My Life”, reaching number three in the US album chart. Thriller came in 1982 and was a number one hit in the US and Great Britain. Stand out tracks were the singles, “Beat It” and “Billie Jean”. Some of the best Michael Jackson songs are collaborations and this album also featured his duet with Paul McCartney, “The Girl Is Mine”. Another duet with McCartney, “Say Say Say”, appeared on McCartney’s album, Pipes of Peace.

Another number one on either side of the Atlantic occurred in 1987 with the release of Bad, which included the tracks, “The Way You Make Me Feel” and “Man In The Mirror”. This success was repeated when the hits compilation, HIStory - Past, Present and Future came out as a double album. The collection included a duet with sister, Janet Jackson, called “Scream” and the theme song from the movie, Free Willy 2, called “Childhood”. An even more ambitious compilation came out in 2004. Titled The Ultimate Collection, it contained four discs and a DVD disc. Other greatest hits albums featuring the best of Michael Jackson songs have appeared over the years.

Jackson has always worked with the best writers and producers, such as Quincy Jones. His songs have been supported by high quality promotional videos. Michael Jackson songs are a mixture of foot tapping dance tracks and moving ballads that display that wonderful voice. He has received thirteen Grammy Awards and scored thirteen number one singles in the US. His inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is as a member of the Jackson 5 and as a solo artist.

When I was growing up, tapes were the thing. CDs eventually came around, but you couldn’t do everything with a CD. You couldn’t make copies and you couldn’t make mixes either. Even when CDR’s came out, they were pretty limited. You really need a tape player for many things.  Today however, MP3 media players are where it is at. They combine the high quality digital sound of a CD with the ability to record of a tape. If you don’t have an MP3 media player, you are probably missing out. You can’t really be a music fan without one.

If you use a Windows PC, Windows media player MP3 is probably the center of your musical universe. More and more, people don’t even keep CD collections. They simply burn their CDs onto their computers. That way, they can listen to them, trade them, play them for friends and make mixes on them. If you don’t have an MP3 media player, you can’t do anything with any of these mixes. You can listen to them at home, of course, but that is about it. Without MP3 media players, it is impossible to take your music on the road with you.

Figuring out which portable media players to use can be a little bit difficult. Not all of them work as MP3 media players. You see, there are a variety of competing digital musical formats. MP3 media players are fine if you use MP3, but if you use other kinds of digital encoding, they won’t work for you.  iPods for example have their own format. Ideally, you should get a media player that is compatible with all of the different digital formats. That way, you can listen to your music and your friends music as well.

A lot of people are dedicated fans of the Apple media player. To me, it doesn’t really make sense. I think that the biggest thing that Apple iPod has going for it is an aesthetically pleasing design and great marketing. The iPod isn’t really any better than most of the MP3 media players out there. As a matter of fact, some of them have a greater degree of compatibility than it does. The only difference is that everyone is using iPods, so there is that peer pressure to get one. Don’t give into it. You should do a lot of research before you pick out which MP3 player you want.

Country music is certainly one of the most popular genres there is. Part of the appeal comes from the true to life lyrics that you often hear in a country song. Although the faces of country music have changed over the years, you can still hear the strong influence of some of the music pioneers within the lyrics. One of those who set the standard for what country music should be is Johnny Cash. One just needs to listen to Johnny Cash music to hear what a gifted and influential trailblazer he was.

In recent years the music of this American legend has once again taken certain stage. Although he has left this world, Johnny Cash music is going strong. Some of that can be attributed to an award winning movie which detailed his rise to fame. The movie is filled with Johnny Cash music, albeit sung by Joaquin Phoenix who takes on the daunting role of the man in the black.  The movie itself spurred a whole new generation to listen to and enjoy the music of this master.

Unlike when he first burst onto the scene, music isn’t sold on cassette or vinyl any longer. It’s now the age of the CD and that is even becoming a distant memory in favor of an MP3 player and an Internet connection. Johnny Cash music can be downloaded from many sites and it’s not uncommon to find a Johnny Cash song within the top ten downloads on any given site.  The songs all have a story to them. They touch so many people because they are incredibly genuine and raw. Johnny Cash faced some difficult times in his life and much of that was captured in his music. The songs are timeless and speak to generation after generation.

Of course you can listen to this music in other ways besides downloading it or running out to buy a CD. There are many DVD’s now available that also feature Johnny Cash music. Many of them come complete with footage of Johnny and his wife June Carter Cash performing. For any fan of their music it’s an extra special treat to watch them singing together. They had a rare chemistry that transcended into their music.  Musicians aren’t out of luck either when it comes to the music of Mr. Cash. Many songbooks have sheet music for the songs of Johnny Cash. Being able to play Johnny Cash music is an inspiration to those who hope to one day follow in his footsteps. Although anyone who was lucky enough to see Johnny Cash in person would tell you that he was definitely one of a kind.

When I first heard of 0 interest credit cards, I was shocked and amazed. I mean, why would they offer that to you, it was like a free loan for months at a time. I got a credit card and at first tried to exercise restraint, but soon I was using it for practically everything. I bought vacations, my groceries, my new guitar, everything in it, thinking I’d pay it back later.At the time I was 18 years old and playing in a rock and roll band, and I thought I could pay it all back later. How niave I was, but what fun those days were. We traveled all around the country, paying for our hotels and our rock star living using our 0 interest credit cards for years, thinking we were about to make it big until our irresponsible spending caught up with us. We played shows from Amsterdam to Arizona, from Berlin to Belgium, but in reality we weren’t making very much money. Just barely above breaking even, we did it for the love of the music.

By the time I went home, I was so greatly in debt that I was on the verge of getting my house repossessed for delinquent credit card payments. By that point, it wasn’t a 0 interest credit card anymore! I almost had to file for bancruptcy, and as it was, a lengthy legal battle ensued. Fortunately, my bandmates bailed me out, paying for part of my debt so that I could get it taken care of and get back on the road for our fall tour. After that, however, I lived differently. No more staying at the Ritz Carleton, no more caviar with our Jack Daniels.

From then on, I was living cleanly and within my means. I’d stay at budget hotels and spend responsibly. After the shows, we wouldn’t even drink the customary bottle of $150 champagne anymore. All of us were feeling the burn of our success. Sure we had fans and groupies, but we had gotten deeply into debt and besides, our rock and roll life style was ruining our health. Our drummer had cirrhosis of the liver, our guitarist had emphysema and our keyboardist had several broken ribs from a fight. You may think, when you’re young, that you can spend what you want and do what you want, but in reality you’ve got to be careful. You can end up a washed up has been like me when once you were a rock and roller. Your 0 interest credit card certainly can’t buy back your youth.

It is not possible for humans to go or grow backwards.  We cannot undo what we have done, cannot unsay what we have said.  We are existential, physical and metaphysical victims of entropy and cannot re-live, as far as we know, rethinking value judgments and statements.  A matched burned is spent.  An egg broken is cracked.  So where does Michael Jackson go from here?

Just as do many child stars, Michael Jackson made audiences coo and giggle at how adorable he was and impressed them with his talents.  Which at first were token up-stagings to his brothers also on stage as the Jackson Five.  Sure, he had a dynamic little dance and song that was very good, but what about hunky Jermaine, whose voice was smooth as caramel and who was in this writer’s teen year opinions, the most gorgeous of the group?  Somehow, just as Donny did and then Marie did, taking exile and autonomy from The Osmonds, Michael Jackson went solo and made his group old news in a matter of Pop Chart weeks.

Okay, so Michael Jackson’s a star in his own right.  The Jackson Four, after Jermaine and Jackie each tried the solo route to little acclaim become ordinary Joes, no pun intended. Now Marlon’s a real estate broker, Tito’s turning his own kids out into a fairly good boy band and doing some blues singing on his own.  And Randy is running the official Michael Jackson website.

Michael is the superstar.  He sells out his first albums “Off the Wall”, “Thriller”, and “Bad”.  He starts an innovative choreography craze that includes original moves and vocals imitated the world over.  He starts fashion trends — one glove, black and white and white.  He starts cosmetic alterations.  And he starts commenting on his own greatnesses.  First he is king of pop, then he is a picked on victim, hence his responsive “Bad” single.  Then he is Jesus Christ.  In one magazine the photos show Michael Jackson onstage, hands outstretched in mock crucifixion and reveal his comments as more than implying he is the second coming.

Other opportunities to speak have Michael Jackson leaning a bit high up on the grandeur scale.  “I love E. T. ‘cus it reminds me of me. Someone from another world coming down and you becoming friends with them and this person is, like, 800 years old and he’s filling you with all kinds of wisdom and he can teach you to fly.”  “…But still I must achieve. I must seek truth in all things. I must endure for the power I was sent forth, for the world, for the children. But have mercy for I’ve been bleeding a long time now.”

On one web page, titled “Michael: Who is Like the Lord,”  there are two pictures, two buttons for voting whether you believe in him, yes or no.  And one quote, from Proverbs 3:6: “In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy path.”  The climb up has been controversial, dangerous and telling.  But now that Michael has lived the public life, the vilified life, the circus freak life and the persecuted life, how does he get any higher?  How does he, conversely, get to a place where he is not the Michael Jackson of Michael Jackson fame?

Some of us make efforts to return to simpler ways and times.  Rather than making recycling our reason for being, we consume less and thereby use less plastic, paper, wood, metal, aluminum, etc.  Rather than get all tendentious about saving the whales and the rainforests and the beasts of human consumption, we avoid man made items, become vegetarian and grow our own foodstuffs.  And instead of fighting this or that pollution, we limit our mileage or ride bikes, we turn down the noise and we take in less consumer targeted TV.  But we know we cannot move backwards, as a collective.  We know we cannot devolve.

So how will Michael Jackson start again, re-inventing himself, masking the masks with more masks, coming down off the cross of that which he himself has said he is on?  How do you go from billionaire martyr to hermit in a nice, simple hut?  Inculcated as a sheik?  Disguised as an Arab woman behind his favorite black chador?