McCain's VP choice is a gimmick

Wow! So in the span of about 2 hours I went from sitting on my couch having a glass of water and posting an iReport video, to having it shown on CNN, having it posted to the CNN homepage, and later this afternoon I will be doing a live call-in on CNN International. (7p Eastern, 5p Mountain should you get that channel.) In 4 hours since I've posted the video, it's had over 80,000 views.

Thanks to everyone who is stopping by as a link from my CNN iReporter profile.

I just wanted to take a minute to better flesh out what I'm saying about Sarah Palin as McCain's VP choice.

She absolutely deserves congratulations, there is ZERO doubt about that. It is, hands down, an historic choice.

Many comments on my video have started with the inexperience arguments. I don't want to make that one quite yet, even though I briefly mentioned in my video. The larger point is that the only way to view this pick is as a political gimmick. When Hillary Clinton was not chosen as the Vice President, Republican strategists clearly picked that as an opportunity to steal disgruntled voters. McCain is just trying to bait voters into voting for his ticket because he has a woman on it. This has zero other motivation than she's a woman.

This is clearly a political gimmick. It's as simple as that. If she were a man with these qualifications, she never would have been chosen. That alone shows that all McCain is doing is playing a political game. He thinks American's are dumb, and that those who wanted to see a woman in the White House wanted it simply because she was a woman, and that's not the case. Clinton Supporters were such because they supported her as a strong woman, AND her policies. Sarah Palin could not be farther from Hillary Clinton as a politician.

It makes me sad. John McCain thinks that America is stupid and will fall for this. He doesn't care about making our country better, he just cares about getting votes so he can get to the White House. He said it himself in his own books, he has the ambition to be President and that's why he's running. It's unfortunate, we need better than political gimmicks and a candidate who only wants to play games at such a trying time as this for our country.

Olympic Mettle

I've been hearing an awful lot about the medal race between China and the United States, and a lot of griping about judging in different sports, and dominance of certain athletes in certain categories. (ahem, michael phelps, and the chinese "women's" gynmastics team.)

And while that's all well and good, we have to remember that it's not all about dominating. In some respects it's become almost jingoistic. I understand the problems some people have with things, especially with the judging of some of the women's gymnastics, and I fully fully believe the IOC should be investigating the Chinese possible use of underage girls. The IOC investigates possible cheating in the form of doping, why should they not investigate this form of rules breaking?

But I digress. Let us not forget the point of these games: recognizing the amazing feats of human ability. HUMAN ability. Yes it's nice to get some national pride by a swimmer (or gymnast or martial artist or whatever,) beating the competition, but why aren't we satisfied with how amazing they are in general? Yes Alicia Sacramone screwed up, it happens. But she still owns a silver medal. Do you? No, you don't. She's still a gymnast that's 1,000x better than 99.99% of the rest of the WORLD. She can say, without question, that she is better at what she does than more than six and a half billion people. Why can't that be great in and of itself? Why do we have to bitch about judging and complain that we should have been the best but we weren't? She's still absolutely AMAZING. They all are. Whoever finished last in gymnastics? They're amazing too.

Whoever finished last in kayaking? Whoever finished last in table tennis? Whoever finished last in the most obscure summer olympic sport? They're all amazing. Every single person who went there and competed with no other help than their natural ability is an absolutely amazing person.

I especially want to take a second to recognize the athletes who have won first ever medals for their countries. Yes, I'm aware I just railed about the unfortunate nature of jingoism and excessive national pride in the Olympics, but that mostly applies to the countries who are head and shoulders above others in the medal count every two years. We should take time to really point out these feats, and recognize athletes from countries like Mongolia and India who represent considerable Olympic spirit and have finally seized their opportunities and have won their first gold medal, or in some cases first ever medal.

How must that feel? The first ever person in history from an entire country who has won an Olympic medal. That's national hero stuff, right there. It really makes me want to put aside petty differences, illegal occupations, and shake hands with someone different than me. Could you imagine what we could do if we constantly possessed the best in Olympic spirit all the time?

These people are amazing. Let us not forget that.

Yahoo Fails

Sometimes even Yahoo fails. (and we're not talking about stocks here.)

Unemployment Update

Nearly a month after I was let go, my old boss is finally sending me a check for the $3300 in back pay I'm owed. About fkn time. Give it another week and according to Colorado State Law, I'm entitled to recouping up to 150% of my total unpaid earnings.

Or something like that. I didn't read the form fully.

There are 17+ resumes sent out and only one call back. That job only pays $12 an hour, and they've said they can't budge on that. I told them I'd call them back and let them know after I do some math, if I think it'll be worth either of our time to pursue the opportunity with each other any further.

But here's my question -- why are companies so bad about calling people back? So many places explicitly say no phonecalls, so how am I supposed to follow up? I should skip the middleman and just throw my resumes directly into the trash. Because it honestly seems like people just get resumes, and never do anything with them. I'm skilled, I have a bunch of experience -- both specialized and diverse, so I know that I'm a desirable employee to at least SOME outlets...yet I never hear jack shit.

So hear I am during the fourth week of unemployment questioning my skills, my worth, and whether or not I'll run out of money before I find a job that's right for me.

Feces occurs, I suppose.

hello again

It has been a very very long time...

Not that anyone has missed me, but it has been.

A quick update for y'all. I'm unemployed. Lost my job due to "walking out" on the job. Another editor told me to "get the fuck out" so I did. Not sure how following directions and/or being treated like shit gets me fired, but whatever. Some pretty unprofessional behavior on their part (and depending on your perspective, mine too.) Shit happens, It's behind me now, and I'm not going to worry about it. I wasn't going to stay that much longer anyway -- just not a good working environment.

So now my days are spent applying to jobs...going to the gym...playing xbox...looking for more jobs...watching food network, etc.

That's where we sit now. Currently frustrated and fighting depress, you know, the unusual. I'm sorting through business ideas and opportunities and trying to keep life in some semblance of order.

More later.

Rock...Chalk....You're an idiot, Kansas

I'll admit it, I was rooting for Bill Self and his boys. Why? Not really sure. Maybe because this website I'm working on has some video clips with Bill Self in them. Other than that, I'm really not sure.

I've got a friend or two who went to Kansas, but that didn't really influence my rooting preferences. Let it be known here, however, that I had to try incredibly hard just to root for someone. I abhor college basketball. It's so amazingly boring.

In any event I'd just like to say: Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk? Really? That's it? That's the best you could do? Leave it to the fkn idiots in Kansas to come up with something as insanely stupid as "Rock Chalk Jayhawk."

Months ago a friend from Kansas excitedly regaled me with the tale of how "RCJ" came to be, with all the exuberance expected if we'd just landed on Mars. Apparently "Chalk" is a "Rock" prevalent in the ground of Kansas, and Jayhawk is of course the KU mascot.

Really Kansas? This is what you did? You were so excited to find not one but TWO!!! words that rhymed with Jayhawk you just had to make that your school chant?

Fucking morons.

Apparently the chant used to be "Rah Rah Jayhawk," according to Wikipedia, but an English professor suggested it be changed to "Rock Chalk Jayhawk."

Holy christ I've just discovered proof of evolution, albeit reverse evolution. You people in Kansas managed to make a bad cheer worse! You're all idiots.

Look, I've come up with some other fantastic cheers in the spirit of "Rock Chalk Jayhawk!"

*ahem*

Tree Pine BlackBears!
Mountains Rocky Pioneers!
Rafts Cubans Miami!
Mediocre Banal IUP!

Fkn Kansas. You're a bunch of idiots.

Denver Open Media MIxers

To the DOM Community CD Swappers: Thanks!

Thanks for grabbing my mix tonight, April 4. An additional thank you for leaving your mix.

Some I've enjoyed thus far, some I've wondered what in the hell you were smoking when you made it -- but such is the beauty of mixing. Some of us mix sounds and burn it, some of us mix music, and burn it, some of us simply mix different songs on a disc, and burn that. Whatever it may be, we're entitled to our own delicious art.

Some notes about my mix: Yes it's mainstream-y. It's supposed to be that way. I wasn't feeling organic when I made it, so I stuck to things that were produced and quite literally ready to rock.

It starts heavy, slows a touch, gets bigger again then just sort of pulls you in a wagon slowly down a snow-covered road to the end -- soft and leisurely. I hope you find it enjoyable.

One last thanks for stopping by my blog. Digg it, stumble it, whatever you can do is appreciated. Read some posts and see what you think, it's just a little place I call cyber-home. Feel free to also check out an art-rambling blog about my new journey as an artists at justaddjason.wordpress.com.

Comments and emails are always appreciated.

Oh, and just in case all the track info doesn't come through, I've listed it here:

1. Slow Suicide by JamisonParker
2. The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows by Brand New
3. Sore Thumb by The Format
4. Come Pick Me Up by Ryan Adams
5. 0% Interest by Jason Mraz
6. So Much Trouble by Matt Pond PA
7. When I Get Home You're So Dead by Mayday Parade
8. Let's Get Fucked Up and Die by Motion City Soundtrack
9. Simple Song by Rustic Overtones
10. Left and Leaving by The Weakerthans
11. Brothers on a Hotel Bed by Death Cab for Cutie
12. Untitled 3 by Sigur Ros
13. The Trapeze Swinger by Iron and Wine
14. Jesus on the Radio by Guster


And I guess if you have no idea what I'm talking about but read this post anyway -- put this mix together, and tell me what you think. Email your comments to the email address listed in my blog profile.

best,

~J

Mom can be so cute

It's funny how some parents can easily get disconnected from advances in technology. The most troubling digital divide (I like to incorrectly think) is not necessarily a have and a have not between rich and poor, but an understanding and a complete lack thereof between the young and old.

My dad understands email, my dad understands sharing pictures, but the ideas behind web2.0 and social networking techniques and motivations (that surround things like del.icio.us, digg, blogs, flock, writewith, reddit, technorati and all sorts of other social networking platforms) he doesn't quite get. To him, I'm pretty sure it's all just some sort of creepy avenue to cybersex.

But I consider his advances a success.

Mom on the other hand....

Mom hasn't used a computer in ages. It's not wholly her fault, there are some extenuating circumstances that preclude her headlong exploration of computers and the 'net. But one thing I'd think she'd be able to grasp would be voicemail. She gets the concept of email -- for a while she used the local public library to say hi and tell me what the cats did that day. And the day before. And the day before that. And what she thought they might do the following day.

But she doesn't get voicemail.

I have an iPhone. Trying to explain to her what it can do, was a formidable and ultimately futile challenge. I tried to explain visual voicemail, and what that means. All she understands is that one can leave a message. Unfortunately in her technologically immature mind, she sees voicemail on a cell phone as pretty much the same as an answering machine.

This means that every voicemail I get from mom goes just like this: "Hello....Hi. Hello? You there? It's me...your mom. Anyway...."

Anyone who has a cell phone understands that you can't even pick up the phone once the call goes to voicemail, let alone being able to hear the message as it's being left.

But alas, such are the consequences of the parental digital divide.

Oh mom. I still love ya.

It's been a while...

Sorry folks, it's been a while. Been doing the vacation/back to work/back to school thing. Once the schedule gets to where I can plan/understand what's happening all the time -- we'll be good. Keep an eye out for new posts.

In the meantime, feel free to follow on twitter: JinDenver.

Posts coming soon, I promise!

Thanks A Lot Ohio!

Fucking flatlanders. The only thing you're good for is Roller Coasters, hell and even then most of your damn thrill rides were designed by foreign companies.

I know it's early...7:33 Mountain Time as I type these words. There's still time, but given the early results it's hard to see a big turn.

Jesus fuck, you stupid idiots from Ohio. I understand where you're coming from, really, I do. I'm from Maine. We're poor, NAFTA hurt us too, but honestly, you think Clinton is th fix to this? The bun to the hotdog in the most divisive Democratic family since the Jesus's's (What's that? Not their last name? Fuck you.) gets your vote? How in the hell did you fall for that stupid NAFTA commercial bullshit? Her husband passed NAFTA (the single most damaging trade bill in American History)!!!!!!!!!! SHE LOVES IT!!!! My lord you fuckers are idiots.

There's no check mark next to Hilldawg yet on that CNN screen cap, but c'mon -- that's a pretty solid indicator (I pray to all things holy that I'm wrong and tomorrow morning I have to put some crow in the toaster)

Sorry for the profanity. Actually, no, I'm not. I'm pissed. I should be reading right now, instead I'm drinking a beer and trying to think of something worse to call Ohioans than Midwesterners but I can't. Being from the Midwest is insult enough.

Look, I've got nothing against HRC, I don't. I think she's smart, competent...looks really owns the room when she wears a nice pantsuit... But she's less progressive than Richard Nixon. How is it you idiots in the middle of the country don't understand the progressive revolution -- you know, the one where we make sure everyone has the right to medical care, everyone has the right to an education, everyone has the right to stay safe from your dumb fuck neighbor's guns, everyone has the right to enjoy clean water/air/hiking trails/wildlife refuges (not to mention the animals!) and an assload of other things that are good for America...

You're as bad as Republicans. I wonder if Canada wants to buy you. Asshats. You go to the polls, vote for Hillary, and help to prolong this race? You know what's more important than which individual takes the White House this year? Which Party Does. This election is more important than Hillary or Obama. Fact is, Hillary's easier to beat than Obama is. She's more divisive and is able to split Democrats themselves, whereas Obama is able to not only get Democrats, but also Independents and Republicans(!!!!!) to vote for him.

You, Ohio, may have singlehandedly fucked us. Hillary may still be kept from obtaining the nomination, but your delegates may cause this race to go on much longer than it should, further dividing America.

You, Ohio, may have singlehandedly ruined the future of my kids (holy shit I wish I could say I was kidding.) If McCain wins this thing, we're asking for more wars! We're asking for more terrorist attacks! We're asking for terrible impressions of him on SNL!

You, Ohio, may have fucked this up. I swear to god, if you did, right after I come ride your excellent roller coasters one more time, I'm going to shit on your entire state. Just gonna drop a great big Wendy's influenced deuce all over it.

Fuckers.

I hope I'm wrong.

Whoa! Beer's empty! lolrz rotfl!!!!

~J