Now What?

There are a wide range of charities out there, with each one possessing a unique mission and purpose in life. During the Christmas season, these charities come to the forefront of our minds as our hearts and prayers go out to the unfortunate. When we think of charities helping people, our thoughts go to the organizations that make it their goal to feed the homeless. Helping the homeless – whether it be by clothing them or feeding them – is perhaps your quintessential charitable organization.

However, some go beyond the financially unfortunate and focus their efforts on raising funds for research to cure various diseases in various parts of the world. From the most common of illnesses to the obscure viral infections ravaging third world countries, there is always someone sick and a group trying to cure them.

Then, of course, there are organizations that don’t really “do” anything specific. They merely exist to make others aware of what is going on. These awareness charities want to inform people of a problem. To help their cause, they will usually name a whole month as their own.

Breast Cancer Awareness.

AIDS Awareness.

HIV Awareness, which is kind of like AIDS Awareness, only it usually occurs the month before.

They don’t necessarily want to cure the disease (they prefer to have others do it); instead, they want you to sport a colored ribbon that lets others know you are aware that there is a problem and this is what you are going to do about it. Namely, you are going to wear the ribbon and occasionally walk with a large group of people wearing the same white t-shirt. Some will even sport fanny packs to help fight the fight.

In my spare time, I have discovered a fight out there that has so far gone unfought.

I feel there is an infestation in this world that people may not be aware of. I don’t have the money to go about ridding the world of this problem, let alone the actual time and effort needed to eradicate it. So I’m doing the next best thing and have decided to use this platform to launch my foundation to make others aware of what is going on.

Today, I would like to announce the formation of the Now Awareness Foundation.

The Now (that’s what I call music!) CD collections are still being released today with the 29^th edition hitting store shelves everywhere.

The 29^th edition!!!

The original Now (that’s what I call music!) was released back in October 1998 and featured such classic tunes as “MMMBop,” “Zoot Suit Riot,” and the venerable “Flagpole Sitta” by Harvey Danger.

Over the years, the Now brand expanded into Teen music, Latin music, Christmas music, Country music, 80s music, Classic Rock music, and a lot of other stuff they’re playing now-a-days. Throughout the years, Now has continued to grow as it reaches its 29^th edition. I must have blacked out for editions 9^th through 28^th. If it weren’t for a late night infomercial, I would have never realized that Now has made it to the teens, let alone is now pushing 30.

I was unaware of what was going on.

As I dwelled on this confounding release, I quickly realized that the only reason they are still releasing Now is because people are still buying these compilations.

Now got its start by offering the most popular singles of the year and offering them in one convenient package. While most normal people just started to download the songs that they wanted, others were compelled to get them all on one CD and to go get them right now!

Need “Wat Da Hook Gon Be” by Murphy Lee coupled with Stacie Orrico’s “(There’s Gotta Be) More to Life?” Scoop up Now 14.

Are you concerned that “Raise Up (All Cities Remix)” by Petey Pablo would look ridiculous next to Adema’s “Giving In” in your iTunes playlist? Well Now 9 managed to successfully pair the odd couple.

And if it weren’t for Now 21, we would be living in a world void of the musical pairing of Dem Franchize Boys and Kelly Clarkson along with their seemingly separated-at-birth musical compatriot – T-Pain. Consider yourself aware that such a grouping is in existence and that it could be bumping in your Sony Walkman.

As you scan the track list on the back of the CDs, you can’t help but notice that these collections of singles are so eclectic they are created by essentially burning a radio station on a disk and shrink wrapping it. Despite iTunes and the Amazon MP3 store and other alternative means, Now is still somehow in business releasing what they call music (it says so in the title).

It could be that moms looking to buy their kids some music will dole out the cash for Now. Perhaps Now has reached the level of “classic gag gift.”

I’ve been more of a stair-man recently, but are building managers turning to Now for their elevator music?

I sincerely doubt people are voluntarily purchasing these CDs. As I thought about launching my Now Awareness Foundation, I was unaware of any other reason why someone would buy Now now or later.

After 29 editions of different songs but the same in-your-face font on all of the CD covers, the Now brand has managed to survive the wave towards digital music and satellite radio. The purpose of the Now Awareness Foundation is to spread the word that after 10 years, there is still Now. A decade of musical mishmashes has gone by without most even blinking an eye.

But my Now Awareness Foundation will look to change all of that.

With this posting, we are off to a roaring start! Thousands and thousands of eyeballs will scan the words on this page. Some will turn to flabbergast others will fall back in a stupor over the revelations that my foundation is bringing forth.

My Now Awareness Foundation has laid the foundation for others who are now aware to go out in the world and do something about this musical sacrilege.

People, you are aware of what is going on. The ball is in your court.

Now what?