Darwin didn't say 'survival of the fittest.' He said 'survival of the most adaptable.' Because we have big brains, humans are highly adaptable. But still, we're fallible. From disease to famine to harsh changes in our environment, humans with DNA that has adapted and refined itself over time are the likeliest to successfully continue the human species. Survival of the most adaptable. Keep in mind, this well-adapted DNA has nothing to do with ethnicity (at least not for the purposes of this irrelevant argument) since we accept the human animal as physically universal. Nor does well-adapted DNA favor a specific gender. However, because human females require nine months to gestate, a woman with well-adapted DNA doesn't have the same impact on Darwin's theory as does a male. Which begs the question - for the sake of the human race, shouldn't society encourage men from 'good stock' to reproduce?
My wife is going to kill me, I can hear it now. But the fact is - I've got really good DNA. No, it's true. People in my family are like workhorses. However, I'm a monogamous swan - so unless my daughters have litters of children, my work on earth is done. Nonetheless, I also know enough about my family tree to know that we are definitely from hearty stock: Irish, Welsh, French, Scottish, Native American, and some of the far off bows of the tree have whispered African. Regardless of the geography in my own human tree, most of what I know about our family is that we're not from royalty. Basically, we were peasants. So, not unlike the resilient cockroach that has endured every chemical known to man (literally) - human DNA that has endured more opportunity to adapt over time becomes equally resilient. Thus, I guess I'm more like a cockroach than a prince. So I've got that going for me. Which is nice.
Jim Mitchem is a copywriter, father, husband, American and founder of smashcommunications, llc. You can follow him on Twitter at @smashadv
Earlier this year when we learned that Paul Green was opening a 'School of Rock' in Charlotte my wife and I were hopeful that our eldest daughter's dream to play the electric guitar might have wings. But because she's my daughter, I can't even teach her to play checkers - much less a musical instrument. So I contacted Mr. Green, welcoming him to Charlotte and doing a little more sucking up about his business concept before asking the big question - 'Do you instruct girls?' I had to ask because their website doesn't look to have any pix of females. Then again, maybe there are some - you never know. But the way it presents - the brand appears to be limited to testosterone-driven teenage boys who worship Angus Young.
So I waited a week or two, then inquired again - this time with a cc to someone else at the company. Still nothing. You'd think that at some point Mr. Green would have actually seen the movie based on his business concept, and noticed that there were girls in the class that Jack Black taught. Or maybe he's never heard of Ann and Nancy Wilson, Evanescence, Dusty Springfield or Kelly Clarkson? The list goes on, obviously. But clearly, Mr. Green has his mind on building his business and opening new schools instead of considering whether girls should be allowed to learn how to play rock and roll.
I can just see it now - trying to tell our 7-year old that instead of a screaming electric guitar, she should probably focus on something more....girly. Like needlepoint. Trust me - this will NOT do. As Ozzy once said, 'You can't kill rock and roll...'
Jim Mitchem is a copywriter, father, husband, American and founder of smashcommunications, llc.
From: Jim Mitchem
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2008 3:04 PM
To: Jeff Suthoff
Subject: coffee shop signs or nametags
Let's make some sign/nametags that we can pull out and hang around our necks when we go to meet people we don't know, at coffee shops. I’m thinking an unobtrusive placard on a simple chain. This way, you don't have to look around to see if you make eye contact with someone who might be looking at you too.
Without Coffee Shop Nametag: When you think you've made eye contact you point at the person while raising your brows and mouthing their name. They stand up. You smile and excuse yourself as you pass the latte people at condiments bar. And just as you offer your hand to your ten-thirty, the person you thought you were meeting walks right past you on their way for a refill. You quickly improvise as if to flick a poppy seed off of your knuckle in an effort to make people believe you weren't just totally dissed just now by a complete stranger. Dude, that's pain.
With Coffee Shop Nametag: You walk into the shop, put the nametag/sign around your neck and get in line for coffee, go to the bathroom to wash up, or rudely talk on the phone - all the while never worrying for a second whether the person you're meeting has arrived or not. They'll find you! It's quite efficient don't you think? Let's do it!
Cool-branded nametag neck signs for blind coffee shop meetings = trendy!
Jim Mitchem is a copywriter, father, husband, American and founder of smashcommunications, llc.
It’s one of those days – when mid-fifties with shifting
breezes means it's too cool to wear shorts, and a sweatshirt is more comfortable than a
tee. A late October day in North Carolina when it gets dark around 6:30 and the
leaves are nearing peak.
In a week - the trees will be a bowl of Trixx and it
will be getting dark an hour earlier. It’s one of those days when you stand mesmerized
in the dying orange of the day and watch leaves drift and dance on invisible
roller-coaster tracks all around you.
It’s a beautiful day. A lonely day. The kind of day when you miss your
kids. Or your own childhood.
October.
Jim Mitchem is a copywriter, father, husband, American and founder of smashcommunications, llc.
A tightly wound knot of paranoid emotional energy which manifests itself as words that I manipulate for money.
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