​On a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience (ep. #1347) Astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, spoke as one of the many famous figures who are gravitating towards Tesla automotive engineering and the technology behind these futuristic vehicles.

"What kind of car you driving?" Joe asks.

"I now have a Tesla X," Tyson replies.

He comments on how the vehicle has, "very high acceleration," a characteristic of the car that is as infamous as its auto driving features.

"There's no maintenance on it, no oil change...the only moving part is what your turning the wheels with. No pistons. Nothing."


"Cars really should have been this a hundred years ago," Tyson continued, "and then we would have had a hundred years of clever engineering to perfect that."

Rogan then went on to ask if Tyson had seen the documentary, Who Killed the Electric Car.

Tyson, who reported he had heard of the documentary, reported he was only familiar with the history of the content matter in the documentary. "Electricity was all the rage a hundred years ago," Tyson explained. "'Let's electrify the cities!' There's Edison, there's Tesla...everybody wants to do everything electric, and the car had just come out. They said, 'let's do it electric.'"

"So this was not a new concept and it's unfortunate that more innovative thinkers hadn't been brought to task on how to perfect the electric car."


Joe Rogan, a huge car enthusiast and recent Tesla owner himself after a nearly three hour podcast conversation with Tesla creator Elon Musk, has since stated many times on his show that the vehicle is the best car he has ever owned and often mocks all other cars as "stupid" in comparison to the Tesla's efficiency, performance, and technological sophistication.

In his podcast with Brian Redban (ep. #1238), Redban asks his thoughts on Rogan's Tesla.

"It's preposterous," Rogan replied. "It's a fucking space ship. It's the weirdest thing I've ever driven in my life. It doesn't even make sense. There's not a single car that I've ever driven that's even close to as fast. Nothing. It seems like it's punching its way through a wormhole using alien technology. Like something Bob Lazar snuck out of Area 51."

"Do you like all the tech in it?" Redban asks.

"It's insane." Rogan replies. "That fucking car is the future. Tesla is the future."

More and more Tesla cars are making headway in popular culture, blowing the doors off what was conventionally thought was possible with a daily commuter. From autopilot capability, zero gas emission, almost no typical maintenance associated with traditional vehicles (excluding wheels), zero gas and fossil fuel emission, continues software and technology updates to keep the system current...everything points to this type of vehicle being the future of what cars could, and should, be. The two biggest questions that remain are, one, is Tesla sustainable as a automotive company, and two, how will the company effect other automotive giants who capture the bulk of the consumers in this space, especially in the coming age of electric cars as the standard. Time will tell.

-Stefan

What are your thoughts on Tesla? Have you driven one or own a Tesla yourself? Leave a comment below.

The final podcast was with Stephen Anderson again and Southland Music Line writer and, now co-host with me on The Gulf Coast Music Scene, Johnny Cole for a year in review. In this show, Johnny and Stephen told stories from performances of 2015, travels in and out of state, discussions with artists they met, and what the future holds at the Music Line for the coming year. It was a great conversation which marked the first full video broadcast of the Coastal Noise Podcast, a method of delivery I hope to continue for future episodes.

So that’s what has been going on with me the last couple weeks. I’ll be making regular updates to our progress with the new show, future podcasts and music performances I will be doing, album updates, and all other related affairs, so please follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, or, you can follow Coastal Noise on Facebook or Twitter. Of course, your likes are always hugely appreciated. If you have suggestions of where you’d like to see us shoot our next episode of the Gulf Coast Music Scene, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

Wes Lee. We disucssed a range of blues related topics and Wes told stories of his many years in the music business. After the podcast, Wes and I took turns playing a mix of originals and oldies for a great crowd. It was as near a perfect night as you could as for and a hell of a lot of fun. To top it all off, our friends at the Southland Music Line took some great shots and put together an article that really put the icing on the cake. You can view the article at the Southland website here. Be sure to check out the other works that their team has put together, including articles on the 2015 artist of the year, featuring the Mulligan Brothers, and a readers choice awards. I'll put a few of the photos up here, but be sure to check out that rest over at the Southland site. Thanks to Johnny Cole, Stephen Anderson, and Robbie Amonett for all their hard work. 

​Stefan

http://thesouthlandmusicline.com/the-blues/coastal-noise-goes-live-at-the-shed-with-bluesman-wes-lee/

      In a recent response, he addresses a fan who asks him about his philosophy of NOT following your passion in life. I heard Rowe speak on this topic several years ago on a television interview and found his stance to be very interesting in a world where everyone is encouraged, from childhood on, to "follow your passion" and "never give up on your dream". Considering Rowe is such a seemingly hard working guy himself, you might find his argument bewildering, but read his response below and you may think differently. 

The writer sent this message to Rowe: 

“Hi, Mike. Let me begin by saying that I love what you and your foundation are attempting to do. However, I’m confused by your directive to NOT “follow your passion.” I think it can be safely argued that if no one followed their passion, companies like Apple, Microsoft, Dow, and many more wouldn’t exist. If no one follows their passion, who innovates? Who founds companies that provide jobs for the outstanding workers that your foundation aims to help?”

Rowe’s responded:

Hi Stephen

A few years ago, I did a special called “The Dirty Truth.” In it, I challenged the conventional wisdom of popular platitudes by offering “dirtier,” more individualistic alternatives. For my inspiration, I looked to those hackneyed bromides that hang on the walls of corporate America. The ones that extoll passersby to live up to their potential by “dreaming bigger,” “working smarter,” and being a better “team player.” In that context, I first saw “Follow Your Passion” displayed in the conference room of a telemarketing firm that employed me thirty years ago. The words appeared next to an image of a rainbow, arcing gently over a waterfall and disappearing into a field of butterflies. Thinking of it now still makes me throw up in my mouth.

Like all bad advice, “Follow Your Passion” is routinely dispensed as though it’s wisdom were both incontrovertible and equally applicable to all. It’s not. Just because you’re passionate about something doesn’t mean you won’t suck at it. And just because you’re determined to improve doesn’t mean that you will. Does that mean you shouldn’t pursue a thing you’re passionate about?” Of course not. The question is, for how long, and to what end?

When it comes to earning a living and being a productive member of society – I don’t think people should limit their options to those vocations they feel passionate towards. I met a lot of people on Dirty Jobs who really loved their work. But very few of them dreamed of having the career they ultimately chose. I remember a very successful septic tank cleaner who told me his secret of success. “I looked around to see where everyone else was headed, and then I went the opposite way,” he said. “Then I got good at my work. Then I found a way to love it. Then I got rich.”

Every time I watch The Oscars, I cringe when some famous movie star – trophy in hand – starts to deconstruct the secret to happiness. It’s always the same thing, and I can never hit “mute” fast enough to escape the inevitable cliches. “Don’t give up on your dreams kids, no matter what.” “Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t have what it takes.” And of course, “Always follow your passion!”

Today, we have millions looking for work, and millions of good jobs unfilled because people are simply not passionate about pursuing those particular opportunities. Do we really need Lady GaGa telling our kids that happiness and success can be theirs if only they follow their passion?

There are many examples – including those you mention – of passionate people with big dreams who stayed the course, worked hard, overcame adversity, and changed the world though sheer pluck and determination. We love stories that begin with a dream, and culminate when that dream comes true. And to your question, we would surely be worse off without the likes of Bill Gates and Thomas Edison and all the other innovators and Captains of Industry. But from my perspective, I don’t see a shortage of people who are willing to dream big. I see people struggling because their reach has exceeded their grasp.

I’m fascinated by the beginning of American Idol. Every year, thousands of aspiring pop-stars show up with great expectations, only to learn that they don’t have anything close to the skills they thought they did. What’s amazing to me, isn’t their lack of talent – it’s their lack of awareness, and the resulting shock of being rejected. How is it that so many people are so blind to their own limitations? How did these peope get the impression they could sing in the first place? Then again, is their incredulity really so different than the surprise of a college graduate who learns on his first interview that his double major in Medieval Studies and French Literature doesn’t guarantee him the job he expected? In a world where everyone gets a trophy, encouragement trumps honesty, and realistic expectations go out the window.

When I was 16, I wanted to follow in my grandfathers footsteps. I wanted to be a tradesman. I wanted to build things, and fix things, and make things with my own two hands. This was my passion, and I followed it for years. I took all the shop classes at school, and did all I could to absorb the knowledge and skill that came so easily to my granddad. Unfortunately, the handy gene skipped over me, and I became frustrated. But I remained determined to do whatever it took to become a tradesman.

One day, I brought home a sconce from woodshop that looked like a paramecium, and after a heavy sigh, my grandfather told me the truth. He explained that my life would be a lot more satisfying and productive if I got myself a different kind of toolbox. This was almost certainly the best advice I’ve ever received, but at the time, it was crushing. It felt contradictory to everything I knew about persistence, and the importance of “staying the course.” It felt like quitting. But here’s the “dirty truth,” Stephen. “Staying the course” only makes sense if you’re headed in a sensible direction. Because passion and persistence – while most often associated with success – are also essential ingredients of futility.

That’s why I would never advise anyone to “follow their passion” until I understand who they are, what they want, and why they want it. Even then, I’d be cautious. Passion is too important to be without, but too fickle to be guided by. Which is why I’m more inclined to say, “Don’t Follow Your Passion, But Always Bring it With You.”

Carry On
Mike


What do you think of Mike's reply? Comment below. 

     This may be your last chance to enter to win the 2 VIP tickets for the Kress Live grand opening! Go to the Coastal Noise Facebook and Like, Share, or Comment on any of the posts regarding CNP #35 with Chase Taylor and Nick Quave of Kress Live.  The more you interact with the posts the more chances you have to win!

   Coming up soon is the new podcast we did with the folks at the Rejuvenation Station, a hydration spa, where me and Daniel Mark got hooked up to oxygen masks, saline I.V. lines, and B12 shots while lounging about in leather recliners. All the while recording the podcast with the owners. 

   You can get your chance at the same treatment (which is called "A Day On The Boat) by entering to win the free session we are giving away when we release the episode. Just head to our Facebook page to enter when the episode goes up. 

   Listen to CNP #36 to hear us talk about the treatment and to learn, in depth, what the Rejuvenation Station is. Check out the pics to see how awesome me and Daniel look attached to all kinds of devices while hooked up to our usual podcasting equipment. I would upload more right now but the wifi I am borrowing is SO DAMN SLOOOOW. If we start to sound a little spacey by the end of the show, it's because the therapy was working. 

        Hell of a good time last night at The Grocery in Ocean Springs. Kudos goes to the crowd who, in my opinion, made the night what it was. The audiences have been steadily picking up these last few months it seems like, and it goes back to the fact that more and more good talent is showing up on the scene in combination with the dedication that Alvin, the shows MC, puts into making sure everything runs smoothly each week. 
        Accompanying me last night was Ryan Vanskiver, who, with his very improv stand-up style provides a different experience every time he goes up. Feeding off the rowdy, energetic crowd, he worked through a 15 minute set where, at one point, a musician fellow actually came on stage at Ryan's request and played a tune. Afterwards, the two steadily engaged each other in friendly banter that had everyone laughing. Ryan went on to relay stories of his childhood in a bit I call the "Porno Sting" where his parents bust him and a friend watching late night naughty shows. Other stories include tales of Ryan's body builder cousin, a bad trip to Vegas, and woman problems. 
          Outside, we joked about playing dodgeball as kids, which I used this morning to write several pages of material on a new bit. However, last night I reconnected with my slide guitar as it's been to long since I've brought it up. The audience was alive in rare form as I plugged in to play whatever came to mind. On this night, it happened to be a warm up of Led Zeppelin's take on "Travelling Riverside Blues", followed by a strong start with "Rollin' and Tumblin'" mixed with lines pulled from Robert Johnson, Robert Plant's "When The Levee Breaks", my own verses, and, of course, the man R.L. Burnside himself. Other songs included original number "Dog On Water", Jack White's "Little Bird" and a closing of Son House's "Death Letter". 
        All in all, it was a solid ride and it's hard to imagine I almost didn't show up. Thanks go to Ryan, who put fuel to the fire and inspired a great night. Me Ryan and Daniel are currently working with Mezo's Juke Joint to make a new open mic geared toward stand-up comedy that will hopefully lunch next month. More on this later. Be sure to check out Ryan on the Coastal Noise Podcast page. We've done two episodes with him and they have both been a really fun time. A new episode is in the works over the next couple of days, so please come back for more good ole-fashioned chit chat, music, and more. 

     In my last post, I talked about my recent travels to Colorado in my longest entry so far, complete with pictures. During my last night there, I taught some new friends a game I learned in college called, "Killers & Villagers", a psychological mystery game that only requires people to play. The first time it was taught to me, we played till three o'clock in the morning. The great thing about this game, is that the more you play it, the more you understand how your friends operate and manipulate one another, which  you can use to your advantage in future rounds. It's also a lot of fun to hold "lynching" sessions during the game's "day" period in which you vote on players to eliminate. Below, I will outline the rules for this addictive game and give a brief history of its fascinating development by Russian, Dmitry Davidoff, who dates the first game back to 1986 at the Psychology Department of Moscow University. 
     
     Killers & Villagers

Players Needed: 6 or more

Player Types: 2 Killers. The rest are Villagers.

Set up: The game consists of two teams (Killers and Villagers). Both teams work to eliminate the other. Roles are chosen at random by drawing folded, labeled strips of paper out of a hat. Make sure nobody knows what the other players' roles are. Once everyone has gotten their role, fold the paper back, and have the papers collected again and set aside. The first round can now begin. 

     Elect someone to be the "moderator". This will be the person who dictates the flow of the rounds as described here. Have all players "go to sleep" by putting their heads down and secularly closing their eyes. At this time, the two killers in the game will learn each others identity to better work against the villagers. The moderator will now say: "Will the two killers acknowledge each other". The two killers will lift their heads and seek each other out in the group. Once they know each other, they will put their heads back down to "sleep". This should take no more than five seconds. Players can make tapping noises to help avoid hearing the killers move about, which could ruin the game. After a few seconds, the moderator will say: "Everyones' head should be down...and now, all players wake up." The game now goes into its second phase of "day time". 

     This time is now spent with players analyzing, questioning, and accusing each other as they try to figure out who the killer is. Players can communicate to one another why they are innocent and who they believe is guilty. Players will call for votes to eliminate who they believe one of the killers is. Once more than half of the players vote for one particular person, that individual is eliminated and is now out of the game. He or she is now a spectator from then on. It is VERY important that spectators, who will now be able to see who the killers are, does not reveal their identities, give hints to still living villagers, or anything that would compromise the remainder of the game. 

It should be noted that killers, though they work on the same team, can turn against each other if they feel their own life is threatened and they need to divert the heat elsewhere. 

      The game cycles back into the night time period, in which the killers will, once again, look at each other, so that any eliminated villagers can know their identities. The game then cycles back into the day period, in which questioning and voting recommence. The process continues in this fashion until one team is eliminated. It will be the duty of those previously killed off, to confirm which side is eliminated first. 

(*In regards to the moderator, a individual can play WHILE being a moderator if they know what they are doing. You can also have a person who does NOT play the game, and acts solely as a moderator who has no influence on the game.)

     Like I said, the more you play, the more you learn how twisted your friends minds are as they lie, deny, and turn the tide. Seeing what mannerisms your friends adapt as they prove their innocence or lie to your face. I hope you get a chance to try it, as it can keep your party entertained for hours. Enjoy, and please check out my last post, "Colorado Travels" to read all about my time in the Rockies. 

     Here's some more info about this game, originally titled, "Mafia (party game)" sourced from wikipedia:



Mafia (Russian: Ма́фия, also known as Werewolf) is a party game created in the USSR by Dimitry Davidoff in 1986,[2] modelling a conflict between an informed minority (the mafia) and an uninformed majority (the innocents). At the start of the game each player is secretly assigned a role affiliated with one of these teams. The game has two alternating phases: "night," during which the mafia may covertly "murder" an innocent, and "day," in which surviving players debate the identities of the mafiosi and vote to eliminate a suspect. Play continues until all of the mafia has been eliminated, or until the mafia outnumbers the innocents.

Dmitry Davidoff (Russian: Дми́трий Давы́дов, Dmitriy Davydov) is generally acknowledged as the game's creator. He dates the first game to spring 1986 at the Psychology Department of Moscow State University, spreading to classrooms, dorms, and summer camps of Moscow University.[3][Note 1] Wired attributes the creation to Davidoff but dates the first game to 1987,[4] with 1986 being the year in which Davidoff was starting the work which would produce Mafia. He developed the game to combine psychology research with his duties teaching high school students.[4] The game became popular in other Soviet colleges and schools and in the 1990s it began to be played in Europe and then the United States. By the mid nineties a version of the game became a Latvian television series (with a parliamentary setting, and played by Latvian celebrities).[5]
Andrew Plotkin gave the rules a werewolf theme in 1997,[6] arguing that the mafia were not that big a cultural reference, and that the werewolf concept fitted the idea of a hidden enemy who looked normal during the daytime.[4] Mafia and a variant called Thing[Note 2] have been played at science fiction writers' workshops since 1998,[7] and have become an integral part of the annual Clarion[8]and Viable Paradise[9] workshops. The Werewolf variant of Mafia became widespread at major tech events, including the Game Developers Conference, ETech, Foo Camps, and South By Southwest.[4] In 1998 the Kaliningrad Higher school of the Internal Affairs Ministry published the methodical textbook Nonverbal communications. Developing role-playing games 'Mafia' and 'Murderer' for a course on Visual psychodiagnostics, to teach various methods of reading body language and nonverbal signals.[10]
In March 2006 Ernest Fedorov was running a Mafia Club in Kiev, using his own patented variation of the rules. The club organizes games, rates players, and awards prizes (including a Sicily trip for their tournament-series champion).[11]
In June 2006, a Rockingham school inquiry was launched after parents complained of the traumatic effects classroom Mafia was having on their fifth-grade children. Davidoff responded to the reports, saying that as a parent who had studied child psychology for 25 years, he felt that the game could "teach kids to distinguish right from wrong", and that the positive message of being honest could overcome the negative effects of an "evil narrator" moderating the game as if it were a scary story.[12]
Mafia was called one of the 50 most historically and culturally significant games published since 1800 by about.com.[13] Although the game can be played with a deck of poker cards or slips of paper, Looney Labs successfully marketed a commercial version of the game as Are You a Werewolf?, which was later followed by Asmodee Editions' Werewolves of Millers Hollow, Mayfair Games' Lupus in Tabula and Bezier Games' Ultimate Werewolf.[citation needed] A Cthulhu Mythos variant (Do You Worship Cthulhu) was published in 2006.[14]