To commemorate the Beatles’ remastered catalog (which I will not be buying, especially since its CD only), I thought it an appropriate time to cash in on the uptick in Beatlesmania interest, some 40 years after the band broke up. So without further adieu, I give you: The top five greatest Beatles tracks sung by George Harrison. He may have only canaried 30 songs of hundreds, but when he did—man were they good.

5. “I’m happy just to dance with you” – Written by Lennon specifically for George to sing (so he could boost his song writing confidence), this little ditty from 1964 is classic Beatles pop. Upbeat. Short. And Sweet. Admittedly it’s not the best Harrison has ever sung. But it comes from one of the most rockin’ Beatles albums, A Hard Day’s Night.

4. “While my guitar gently weeps” – If this song has a different feel to it, it’s because Harrison isn’t playing guitar on it. Eric Clapton is. But Harrison wrote it. And its widely regarded as one of the greatest guitar songs ever written. It’s only fitting then that the Beatles’ lead guitarist sung it.

3. “Something” – Life isn’t fair. Paul McCartney and John Lennon received all the Beatles’ glory. Lennon once said Harrison wasn’t even in the “same league” as a song writer. That changed in 1969 with the release of “Something,” Harrison’s first and only American chart topper. Featuring a gentle mood, climatic breakdown, and one oh-so soothing solo, it’s my favorite Beatles love song.

2. “Taxman” – I hate big government. So does George Harrison, apparently. Written at a time when Harrison began realizing that “most of” his money was going to taxes, “Taxman” is a scathing criticism of overzealous government. “Let me tell you how it will be,” he sarcastically sings as the taxman, “There’s one for you, 19 for me,” he adds. By far the most passionate, politically-fueled, and energetic song recorded by the Beatles.

1. “Here comes the sun” – Is there a more beautiful song from the swinging ’60s? I think not. Written after an English winter that “seemed to go on forever” as Harrison said, the track is as relevant today as it was then. Although darkness can be a scary thing, the sun eventually comes up. And this song is the anthem to prove it.

1. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai (1984)
2. Bubble Boy (2001)
3. Gojira (1954)
4. Three O’Clock High (1987)
5. Brannigan (1975)
6. The Ringer (2005)
7. End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones (2004)
8. Real Life (1979)
9. Time After Time (1979)
10. The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (2007)

I’ve always admired Michael Jordan’s athleticism, style, and grace in the air. He was the greatest basketball player ever. And even though I only owned a single pair of his pricey Air Jordans (version IV, thanks Mom!), I’ve always like the form factor of his shoes, especially the earlier models. So stick your tongue out, poke your air pocket, and check out the top 5 Air Jordans all time:

With the King of Pop’s new summer tour announcement recent death, I can’t think of a better time to list his best hits. There are 20 other songs equally worthy of the honor, but in terms of what gets me moving the most, these are the top 10 Michael Jackson songs of awesome:

10. Break of Dawn. I doubt many people have listened to Jackson’s 2001 album Invincible, but there’s no excuse to miss this track. MJ croons over silky bass lines just like days of old. Cliche lyrics aside, it just might be the most groovin’ song of the decade, it’s so good. Too good, in fact.
9. Rock With You. If there’s one pre-80s song to get people on the dance floor, it’s this one. From Off the Wall, Jackson’s first mature album, he urges “Let the rhythm get into you, don’t try to fight it, there’s nothing you can do.” And he’s right. Resistance is futile, the beat is so infectious.
8. Thriller. While the killer video steals the spotlight, the song itself is a choreographer’s dream. Like most of Jackson’s songs, it’s especially difficult to avoid dancing while listening to this one. And the Vincent Price break down, requested by Michael himself, is just brain gravy.
7. One More Chance. Another lesser known favorite from his Number Ones album, One More Chance is filled with Jackson’s signatures “uhs” and “whys,” which never get old. After listening to this one, I’m convinced no one sings as punctual as MJ.
6. Black Or White. Wait! Don’t let the silly intro fool you. Black Or White is most awesome, thanks to the punchy guitar, sliding bass, and of course, Jackson’s “woo!”s of plenty.
5. I Want You Back. Recorded with the Jackson 5 in 1969, I Want You Back features the greatest pop chord progression of all time. It’s also the definitive sound of sunshine, Afros, bell bottoms, and summer love in my book. Good stuff.
4. Human Nature. I love this song. I love its lyrics. I love its ’80s contemporary sound—the kind that reminds me of riding in my mother’s 1984 station wagon, the same year in which Thriller was release. When they ask why, give them the greatest excuse of all time: “Tell ‘em that it’s human nature.”
3. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing). Oh snap! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the funkiest Jackson song ever recorded. It’s upbeat, it has freaking robots singing back up vocals, and it features the only bassline Herbie Hancock was known to covet (not true, but it should be). If you don’t move your feet when hearing this, you have no soul.
2. Man In The Mirror. Most singers are lame activists. They generically demand everyone to make love not war. But Jackson cuts to the core and gets candid with this one. “I’m starting with the man in the mirror,” he sings. “I’m asking him to change his ways,” he concedes “And no message could have been any clearer: If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then make the change.” Stop waiting for everyone else to change the world. Do it yourself.
1. Billie Jean. Since Jackson is so versatile, picking a single track that best embodies his style is near impossible. But if a hermit were to ask me, “Who is this Michael Jackson you speak of?” I would slide him a copy of Thriller, and play track number 6. This is ultimate Jackson. The anthem of moon walk. And easily one of the top 10 songs of all time.

Honorable mention, and an oh-so close number 11: Leave Me Alone

Originally published Mar 17, 2009

So far, 2009 is shaping up to be a good year for new album releases. There’s been a new Phoenix album, a new Mat Kearney one, and new releases from Paolo Nutini, Eminem, and the Beastie Boys right around the corner. Still, there’s a handful of artists I listen to so much, I wish they had already released a new album. Here a five of my most-wanted:

1. Vampire Weekend. Last album, 2008. I know, I know. It’s only been a year, but VW is so freakin’ good, I can’t wait for new material. I’ll even take an entire album remix like this, I’m so invested.
2. Air. Last album, 2007. I listen to a lot of Air. I think they’re probably even more versatile than Daft Punk, their French comrades. Pocket Symphony was good, but I’m still waiting for a proper follow-up to the excellent Talkie Walkie.
3. Daft Punk. Last album, 2005. I need more Daft Punk in my life. I really do. I can recite Homework, Discovery, and Human After All from my tiny robotic heart. So I’m very anxious for new beats.
4. Spoon. Last album, 2007. Best. Indie. Band… of all-time. Their last, Ga Ga Ga Ga, was incredible. A fan of their music since 2002, Spoon is simply a delight. And I want more.
5. DeadMau5. Last album, January. Being the most innovative techno producer since Daft Punk’s 1997 debut, DeadMau5 has the most infectious beats, one album is simply not enough. Even if it was released four months ago.

Honorable mentions: Blink-182, Magnet. Wishful thinking: Michael Jackson

See also: My favorite music of early 2007

1. Multi-color LED alerts. One of the best features of the BlackBerry is the ability to glance at it from afar without activating the screen to see if you have an unread message. For example, the little LED in the upper right corner blinks red when I have a new message. But I wish I could set different types of messages to display different color alerts. For example, the Curve’s LED blinks blue when in Blue Tooth mode, and green when fully charged. Why not put those colors to good use?
2. Connection scheduling. In my continued efforts to show my smart phone who’s boss, I’d do cartwheels if I could control when and where I receive data like emails or any other non-call messages. For example, I’d like to schedule my BlackBerry to stop receiving emails (but continuing receiving calls) from 6 pm to 7 am and on the weekends, with the ability to override if I choose. It would also be great if I could automate this by location, say override any schedule when I’m at a desired location.
3. Background downloads. Maybe it’s just me, but I wish my BlackBerry would download entire emails as opposed to downloading sections of bigger ones. “Continue scrolling to download more” is annoying. Just download the whole thing once an email arrives, m’kay?
4. Shazam support. Quite possibly the coolest portable application ever made, Shazam is music recognition software that lets iPhone users discover news songs by recording a short sample of music, which then returns the name of the sampled song. That’s awesome.com. There’s a rumor this is coming to BlackBerry, but it’s an old rumor. Wishful thinking most likely.
5. App store. Research in Motion says a centralized store is “coming soon” to BlackBerry, but I wish it were here already. And I hope it’s as nifty as the iPhone store—one of the pros of Apple’s device over RIM’s—but I doubt it will be. Keep hope alive, I guess.

See also: BlackBerry on Smooth Harold

1. The next big thing. Newsflash: “the next big thing” doesn’t exist. The market determines “the next big thing,” and you don’t control the market (but you can influence it). Stick to what you know, do it well, and you may or may not become a millionaire, but you’ll almost certainly make some money.
2. Google-killer. Fact: Google was founded on the idea of creating the best search engine — that is a search engine that returns the most relevant, non SEO’d results. They succeed, but it wasn’t until Eric Schmidt came around and embedded ads in said results when “Don’t be evil” Google became “Evil” Google. Provide a valuable product or service and the business model will follow. It doesn’t work the other way around.
3. A win-win situation. A business transaction isn’t a zero sum game, unless you’re involved in gambling or scams like multi-level marketing companies. Consequently, a product, service, or deal is attractive to all parties involved or it’s not. It appeals to two or more parties or it doesn’t. That’s all. If you must, use “mutually beneficial” instead. Just know you don’t have to.
4. At the end of the day. Not so long ago, this used to be called “bottom line,” which is more concise and business-oriented but still trite. Use “ultimately” instead.
5. Think outside the box. This phrase is used by non-creative people in an attempt to classify their efforts as creative. For the most part, you’ll be much more successful thinking inside the box; improving something as opposed to reinventing the wheel or designing an unwanted square one. Use “creative” or “innovative” instead.
6. Intuitive. This one has lost meaning over the last year due to overuse. Use “instinctive” or “natural” for greater clarity.
7. Multitask. I hope I don’t have to tell anyone that multitasking is a lazy man’s way of making himself feel busy. Don’t multitask. Prioritize your deadlines and meet them one at a time.
8. Drinking the Kool-Aid. First used by a radio DJ quoted in the Washington Post in 1987, “drinking the Kool-Aid” lays reference to a 1978 Jonestown, Guyana tragedy, in which a deranged creature of darkness lead hundreds of cult followers to commit suicide by drinking cyanide-laced Kool-Aid. Not only is this phrase glaringly dated, it’s more grave in meaning than the way most businessmen casually use it.
9. Six Sigma. This is a recent concept backed by American dinosaur companies hoping to improve efficiency and reduce bureaucracy. The only problem: Toyota, one of the most efficient manufactures in the world, doesn’t even know what the term means, while fading companies like General Motors, Merrill Lynch, and Motorola could school you on the notion. Go figure. Use “quality control” or “process improvement” instead.
10. My plate is full. Are you in the business of selling widgets or eating hot dogs? As with no. 7, finish what’s “on your plate” before moving on. When necessary, and if you need to make yourself feel important, use “on deadline” or “hefty workload” instead. Otherwise just say “no” when asked for an unrealistic favor.
11. Good to great. Let’s work on getting from nothing to good first, m’kay? A majority of companies are unproven, so the phrase doesn’t even apply.
12. We plan to dominate the “space.” This is a fancy word for “industry.” Use that instead.
13. Viral. Few things in business are viral. Stop kidding yourself by overusing the term. Use “popular” or “highly marketable” instead.
14. Advertising is my business model. No, creating a highly sought after free product that can be fragmented by paid creative is your business model. No one wants your useless inventory if there isn’t a large audience alongside it.
15. Core competency. Can “a punch to the face” be a core competency? That’s what I’m giving to the next person to use that corporate speak. Why not say “advantage” instead? I’ve gotten along fine without saying “core competency” since graduating in ‘04. You can too. Promise.
16. Cutting edge. If you want to sound like you just purchased “Technology for Dummies,” then use this expression. Otherwise, say “leading” or “the latest.”
17. Beta (or worse: perpetual beta). There’s no shame in using the public to debug your product. But if you don’t have a launch timetable for your software or website, you’re not even trying. Consequently, your product will fail. My advice: Determine your hook (aka “value proposition,” for the long-winded in the room) and how you plan to make money before launching publicly.
18. Community (in the abstract, business de facto sense). Starting online communities rarely makes money (lofty valuations, maybe, but not real dollars). Just ask Facebook and YouTube. On the other hand, selling valuable stuff to existing communities does make money. Still think “community” development is a good idea? Go plan a suburb or build cookie-cutter homes 30 minutes from society and see how far that takes you.
19. Disruptive technology. Contrary to what the Harvard Business School would have you believe, there is no such thing as “disruptive technology.” In simpler times, this was known as “innovation.” Use that instead.
20. Web 2.0, 3.0, or beyond. If you like having smart developers roll their eyes at you, keep using this marketing lameness. Otherwise, say “new website.” Or cyberspace. Or the information superhighway. Or the internets. In fact, never say web “point” anything. It’s just the web now.

Smart sounding words won’t make you a success in business. Clear communication will. If you do what you love passionately (or happen upon the right thing at the right time), “the next big thing” will find you, even if it’s not a “Google-killer.” I speak from experience.

About the author: Blake makes a comfortable living as a freelance journalist and small-fry business owner. He has never been a millionaire, so don’t take his advice if you’re aiming to be a millionaire.

I used to watch a lot of wrestling when I was in elementary school. Saturday mornings with my buddy Chris and a box of Fruit Rollups was always a good time. My interest for macho soap operas later waned in middle school, but I briefly rekindled my love for pro wrestling as a sophomore and junior in high school when WCW was at its peak. Call it a guilty pleasure. I haven’t watched it since.

While “the sport” is pure trash now (in the 80s it was only part trash), I still have fond memories of those fake-baked, bad actors with muscles and lots of fluorescent tights. Here are my favorites. Do share yours.

5. Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka

I liked Superfly for one reason: the man got crazy air from the turnbuckles, like a mix between a luchador and Michael Jordan. It never got old watching this guy crash into fallen opponents from high above.

4. The Ultimate Warrior

His war paint was ridiculous, and it would always crumble off with sweat as a match wore on, but I always got pumped seeing the Ultimate Warrior get pissed, shake his fist, and go crazy on someone. He was living proof that you’re never entirely out of a fight.

3. Randy “Macho Man” Savage

Mach Man is crazy. He’s also trashy. But much like Superfly, he’d get mad air from the ropes and he talked like I thought every wrestler should: with a 2-packs a day growl. Plus, he had a hot girlfriend who doubled as his manager.

2. Hulk Hogan

It’s impossible to make a list of top pro wrestlers and not include Hulk Hogan. Sure he was goofy, and his special move was a boring leg drop. But he could also rip a ridiculously thin tank top from his torso like it was nothing. And he beat Andre the Giant.

1. The “Nature Boy” Ric Flair

Ric Flair is everything a wrestler should be: loud, conceded, arrogant, funny, and quick on his feet. “To be the man, you gotta beat the man,” and nobody beats him in terms of charisma. Wooooo!

Lindsey and I have been blessed with many genuine friends — ones that make us laugh, can celebrate our accomplishments, and extend considerate help.

This week, while visiting one such family, we discovered that they’ve been dealing with some “friends” that reputedly became envious and judgmental of our friends’ recent good fortune. For shame — time is too precious to waste on such superficial friends.

With that in mind, here’s my proven guide to ditching and avoiding fake friends, so you can better enjoy your days in the sun.

1. Respect and appreciate the difference between friends, colleagues, and associates. It’s meaningful and healthy to have all three, but only trust your free time and personal information to friends.
2. Avoid people who “size you up.” Likewise, don’t size up others (i.e. “Do you rent or own?” is a useless question, unless of course you’re a loan officer). Sincere friendship is built on fellowship, not comparison.
3. Surround yourself with people who are kind to strangers, especially waiters and cab drivers. (I used to be good at this, but could definitely do better).
4. If a “friend” pauses, becomes physically jealous, or feigns excitement when you share some genuinely exciting news, kindly show them the door and wish them well. A true friend will always be excited with your achievements.
5. Avoid people who brag about how busy or tired they are — it’s a cheap way of saying they’re more important than you, and you don’t want to be around people like that for extended periods of time.
6. Avoid “one-uppers,” or at least let them know that you’ll only continue the relationship so long as they stop one-upping.
7. Surround yourself with good company that will fight over the restaurant tab with you. Avoid those who pretend like mom and dad are around to pay for everything.
8. Avoid people who feel entitled to something from you or who constantly seek favors without return. This is good indication that said person is selfish, not to mention rife with ulterior motives.
9. Avoid people who brag about materialism or how often they travel. Not only are they likely to be up to their eyeballs in debt, hating their chosen profession, or miserably alone, they’re bad friends.
10. If you have “friends” that make you feel uncomfortable in any way, drop ‘em like a bag a dirt. Set the expectation early with douche bags that you’re no longer interested in pursuing the relationship. You can tactfully accomplish this by not reaching out and/or declining further requests to hang out. They’ll get the message.

Interests may come and go, but authentic friends are constant. Have the courage to find and maintain the keepers in life while exiling the duds. You’ll be much happier for it.