The Dane

I'm Choosing Ignorance

I have never been a politically savvy person. In fact, for most of my life I never really understood how the government really affected my personal life. It was pretty easy to be ignorant and ride on the opinions of my father and older brothers. Sadly, I’ve never even voted in a Presidential election. I guess Utah is so conservative that I wasn’t worried about my vote making a difference.

As I’ve gotten older I realize the importance of being an involved and active American citizen. I’ve tried to follow the recent presidential race and primaries as best I could. The problem is that it’s even easier to be ignorant.

The way I consume media is much different from my parents (and even my older brothers). Most of what I see comes from my social channels: Twitter, Facebook, Flipboard, LinkedIn. Getting information has never been easier. Personal insights from one of my favorite sportscasters? Click follow and I get his every tweet. Make sure I am up to date on the latest in the Advertising industry? With another click my Flipboard aggregates all the top articles and content shared by the top agencies.

Unfortunately, avoiding it is just as easy. Don’t feel like studying graphs and polls on the latest election? Ok, don’t click anything and my feed is empty of updates. Is CNN tweeting way too much from the New Hampshire primarie and annoying me? Click unfollow and those tweets disappear only to be replaced with Conan O’Brien’s musings and Ellen’s humor. And unless I feel compelled, CNN will remain absent from my consumption.

Perhaps that’s the bane of me. Maybe I am too consumed with the wrong politics. I try to gain more followers, likes, shares, or hope to make my video go viral. I gladly add my insight to the Bengals game plan, typography and those Doritos Super Bowl commercials that I can’t stand, but that everyone else seems to love (Pug attack? Really?). But I offer nothing on the future of my country. 

I don't think I am the only one where politics of the social world have overshadowed the politics of our country. And although I dislike politics all together, the latter should always be more important.

1 Year at StruckAxiom

In my very first advertising class I was told to always carry an idea or thought journal around with me. I did so, and this led to me doodling on the inside covers of my moleskins. 

My latest represents 1 year at StruckAxiom. 

Sure, I can Tell you what Christmas is all About.

Amongst the many bizarre and immovable traditions established by my family, Christmas owns the most patents to Rahlf traditions.

Christmas does not begin until after Thanksgiving dinner. This means no Christmas music, no decorations, not even Christmas movies are enjoyed until the last piece of pie has been consumed. Then, we promptly kick off the season by watching A Christmas Story that evening. 

Our nation has developed a tradition of it’s own in Black Friday, which also kicks off the holiday season immediately after Thanksgiving and urges us to buy things. Between all the shopping, eating and commercialism we are reminded by several TV specials to “what Christmas is all about.” 

Each TV special, conversation and radio program seems to have its own take on what the true meaning of Christmas. Of course it’s not about the getting, the shopping or the food. In heartwarming and perhaps even tear-jerking moments we are reminded about love, giving, family and service. I have enjoyed many a messages and insights and conversations that remind me of these important things. But that’s still not what Christmas is all about.

Of all the TV specials and other executions in the mainstream media there has only been one instance I can think of where someone got it right. And that someone was a little boy who held onto a blue blanket.

A Charlie Brown Christmas is not only a timeless classic because of the Peanuts characters, incredible music and snoopy perching on the top of Lucy’s head in what we can only think is a vulture impersonation, but it’s the only show that has the grace, boldness and simplicity of putting aside what is politically correct and stating the truth. Christmas is about Christ.

There is something about the innocent voice of Linus as he takes center stage and recites scripture from Luke chapter 2, recounting the visitation of angles to the shepherds as they announce the birth of the Savior of the world that moves me to tears. Most likely because of what it means to me personally, but also with a gratitude and hope that there are children out there teaching us adults what Christmas is all about. I can only hope that we are raising our kids to know what Linus does. So simply and plainly. And I hope that we might boldly proclaim truth in the spotlight where everyone else seems to shy away from saying it so strait forward

Yes, family, love, giving, service, these are all things we can focus and enjoy in the spirit of Christmas. But let us not forget the actual spirit of Christmas, which is Jesus Christ.

Steve Jobs: The Digital Kate Middleton

I stopped and really thought about it. I came home and wanted to read as much as I could. My wife watched in confusion as I read and read on my iPad. She asked why all of the sudden I was so affected by the death of a Public Figure. I thought for a moment, and realized that Steve Jobs and Apple strongly shaped a lot of my childhood.

My Father, in specific has always been a Macintosh man. All we have ever owned were Macintosh Products. From one of the original Macintosh Computers, to the iPad 2 and everything in-between my father has always advocated their products and brought me up to love them. He even sent out a family email talking about the passing of Steve jobs:

"The Rahlf Family has had nothing but Apple products in our home, starting with our first home computer, the Macintosh!...So here’s to a true pioneer, our life has been enhanced because of him.  I look forward to seeing who will be the next tech visionary! " 

I have always looked up to my father. I try to follow closely in his footsteps. He has raised me to embrace creativity, no matter how weird or unconventional (Tim Burton and Millions). I remember in the PC boom and days of Napster how I desperately wanted a Gateway computer for our home. I was THAT close to talking him into it, when he bought a first Gen iMac instead telling me about how incredible Apple was. He told me about Steve Jobs. I saw an excitement for creativity and technology and from then I was an Apple Loyalist.

My first purchase with my first paycheck was the 2nd Gen iPod with touch buttons and wheel. My first computer was an iBook which I was ridiculed for on campus during 2005 only to return from my mission two years later and find that MacBooks were the hottest thing ever. I have owned several Apple products since, and honestly, was even down-right proud to hear my wife-to-be had stock with Apple. Win, win.

My Dad and I have continued to stay close for our love of creativity and technology. From building a home theater to helping select computers for my younger siblings the creativity of Steve Jobs sparked a lasting relationship with my father that I will never forget.

I suppose that's why Steve's passing meant so much to me. My Father looked up to him, he believed him. He embraced his products and embraced his other creative ventures like Pixar. Apple to me meant several memories with my Father.

So I guess I can relate now to people who react over the death of a celebrity, or even follow their every move. Steve Jobs was a great visionary who changed the way I saw and communicated with the world. And now, I work at a digital agency which bleeds with Apple products and software. Steve's innovation has always been a part of my life, and an inspiration to my Father. And that makes it all the more important to me.

Very Inspirational

Today has been a day of videos that have made me ponderous, inspired, or otherwise warm inside. Here are some so you may feel the same.

Conan O'Brien Kinetic Typography from Jacob Gilbreath on Vimeo.

Shared by the Salt Lake Egotist

Shared by Chad Rogers

Shared by NBC

I'm a Fool

Yes, tis that beloved time of day when sarcastic people like myself are tolerated into pranks, jokes, mishaps and puns ranging from the terrible and cheesy to down right brilliant.

Being a Fool is necessary to being awesome.

As Edward Bloom put it in Big Fish, " There is a time when a man needs to fight, and a time when he needs to accept that his destiny is lost... the ship has sailed and only a fool would continue. Truth is... I've always been a fool."

I think that is the difference between people who make a difference and people who never get anywhere. Fools make mistakes. Perhaps hundreds and hundreds. But the fool doesn't know when to quit, and that is what makes them great. 

I'll let Micheal Jordan leave you with a final thought.

The Magic of 37.

Today is March 7th, also known as Three-Seven Day. (3/7/11)

My obsession with the number 37 came as a sophomore in high school. I played football and did not have the option to choose my number, it was assigned to me.

I remember going to my locker and finding I had been assigned 37-- I was not impressed. What awesome football player in history ever wore the number 37? It had no value, no worth to me. But it was done, chosen. I was number 37. And I decided then and there, that 37 would be mine. And I would make it a number to be remembered.

So it began. I used 37 at every opportunity I could. When it appeared on the clock, when we were watching the Mountain Network (channel 37 on Comcast) and of course anytime there was a number to be chosen, I used 37.

It began to spread. My friends and family began to notice the number 37 everywhere. Their gas bills came to $37.37. They rode on bus #37, their train ticket had them in row 37. 

We even celebrated the first formal Three-Seven Day at my early morning seminary. Luke Warnock took the stage with a rendition of Green Eggs and ham, re-written to express how often 37 appears in his life. He then shared many a scripture:

• 1 Nephi 3:7- a classic, and scripture mastery
• Amos 3:7- another classic and scripture mastery
• Ezekiel 37- Chapter in the Bible that foreshadows the coming for the Book of Mormon.
• Psalms 37- A poetic and beautiful chapter of comfort and praise.
• Alma 37:37- perhaps the greatest scripture on prayer in the standard works.
• LDS Hymnbook # 37-  The Wintry Day, descending to it's close (Winter begins to change to spring in early March)

I have since learned much more about the number. Besides pretty much anyone close to me knowing that 37 is Dane Rahlf's number, it has a scientific and almost heavenly association.

From Wikipedia: 

•  It is a prime number, the fifth lucky prime, the first irregular prime, the third unique prime and the third cuban prime 

• It is a factor of all 3-digit base 10 repdigits, such as 111. 37 is the smallest prime that is not also a supersingular prime. It is a centered hexagonal number and a star number.
• 37 and 38 are the first pair of consecutive positive integers not divisible by any of their digits.
• Every positive integer is the sum of at most 37 fifth powers (see Waring's problem).
• 37 appears in the Padovan sequence, preceded by the terms 16, 21, and 28 (it is the sum of the first two of these).
• Since the greatest prime factor of 37² + 1 = 1370 is 137, which is obviously more than 37 twice, 37 is a Størmer number.
• 37 is the only two digit number in base 10 whose product, when multiplied by two, subtracted by one, and then read backwards, equals the original two digit number: 37×2=74, 74-1=73, 73 backwards is 37.
• 37 is the only two digit number in base 10 with the following property: The difference between the two digits equals the square root of the difference between the number itself and theleast common multiple of the two digits.

• The atomic number of rubidium.
• The normal human body temperature in degrees Celsius.
• Messier object M37, a magnitude 6.0 open cluster in the constellation Auriga

• The New General Catalogue object NGC 37, a spiral galaxy in the constellation Phoenix
• The Saros number of the solar eclipse series which began on -1794 June 25 and ended on -496 August 12. The duration of Saros series 37 was 1298.1 years, and it contained 73 solar eclipses.
• The Saros number of the lunar eclipse series which began on -1492 April 3 and ended on -194 May 22. The duration of Saros series 37 was 1298.1 years, and it contained 73 lunar eclipses.
• The number of as-of-yet unidentified radio signals that have been received from outer space

I had no idea of its omniscient importance, yet it feels like I have known all along.

All day today I will be sharing facts about 37 from a site devoted to the number 37: http://thirty-seven.org/index.html

And I promise you, after reading this post, you will notice 37 for the rest of your life.

5 Things I learned from Ochocinco about Social Media

My love and support for the Bengals and reciever Chad Ochocinoc is no secret. But besides being a professional athlete, this cat is one smart social marketer and if sports/social marketers were smart, they’d be taking notes:

1-Name Dropping

• Chad is never shy to suggest who to follow, who to call out, or name those that have an impact on what he does or what he is interested in. It builds his reputation as someone to trust and even becoming a thought leader. 

2-Mobile Applications

• This guy has his own network application that aggregates pretty much everything he does from the football field to the shoes he buys. He posts updates for it often meaning the bugs are fixed, current information, and a dependable product that can be used and passed on with confidence. 

3-Micro Sites

• “MadChad,” is a microsite and mobile game that is outrageous and fun. It adds another level to draw people into his entertainment to connect with him and football.

4-Constant Interaction

• Ochocinco is always posing questions, sharing photos, streaming live video, providing specific location and doing whatever he can to let others engage with him. He invites us to influence him and then rewards his followers with more photos, games, applications, or even a free Dinner.

5-Not always about Football

• As a football player for the Bengals he shares much about his career, the season, and behind the scenes information that sports fans love. But Ochocinco also talks about fashion, food, gaming and other topics that influence him as a person and a player. This drives deeper and truer connections with his followers. 

Ochocinco’s presence in the social world has helped the Bengals more than many realize.  Chad drives more results, more interaction and recognition with the Bengals and the League year round rather than when the season starts to pick up. His antics and social media presence have lead many to recognize him out of uniform. People stay engaged with the NFL through him, even if he’s looking for love on a VH1 reality show. And despite the drama, that’s a good thing.

So take another bow Ochocinco, or do a dance, or “kiss da baby.” They won’t fine you. In fact (at least in the digital world), they should start replicating you. 

Re-Dedication

It's been much too long since I have sat down and opened up my jumbled and bizarre musings on this my blob. I literally StumbledUpon this picture today:

Seeing a man so dedicated to write despite being eaten by an alligator.... or crocodile.... I became inspired to again write, no matter the circumstances.

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