So the Obama infomercial thing has come and gone. I must say, I was a fan. Many people enjoyed it more than I did, but I think that's understandable. I've already reached a point where my research about him and his policy positions (and even the shortcomings thereof) mean that his speeches don't impact me as much as they might otherwise.
That being said, the vignettes featured in the half-hour program were poignant and did a good job connecting with "heartland" voters. There's this illogical idea that somehow values voters are only those who turn to the church before all else -- but Obama helped to show that values voters are regular people, not just the bible thumpers. Moms who care about kids, husbands who care about their wives, wives that care about their families, teachers who care about everyone -- these are the real value voters, and the people Obama aims to help the most.
I actually thought the vignettes could have been longer. The editor did a good job cutting footage to create the story, but they felt short. I felt like I wanted to hear more about the stories of these people long after their segment had ended. At the same time, throughout the ad I found myself excited for the live event at the end only to be disappointed with it when it came about. It was just the usual Obama speech we've seen time and time again. I really thought they could have done without the live portion, but it didn't necessarily take away from the piece as a whole.
There are those who think all his commercials put him on our television screens too much, but from what I'm hearing from my little sample of the voting public while we're ready for this political season to be over (and yes, we really are) we don't necessarily get tired of seeing Obama. We get more comfortable with him, and pieces like last night's ObamaMercial help give comfort to Undecided voters all across the country.
I'm looking forward to waking up next Wednesday morning. I'm not buying victory cigars yet, but I'm checking out brands.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
7 years ago today
7 years ago today I was woken up by a friend from across the hall in my dorm because some people from a rogue group flew a plane into one of the tallest buildings in America, and he didn't have a television to watch this horrible story unfold. Before long, some people from a rogue group flew a second plane into the other tall building, a plane reportedly headed for the White House crashed into a field in PA, a plane allegedly hit the Pentagon, the tall buildings collapsed and thousands of Americans (and some non-Americans) were dead. The members of the rogue group were almost all Saudi, led by a US trained and formerly US funded militia leader (also Saudi) who was installed to defeat an intangible form of government in its physical form of the Soviets in Afghanistan many years previous. 7 years later we have not caught him, have scaled back our efforts to find him, and have instead started an unfounded war and tortured people in a country almost 1000 miles away from the country where that US trained and formerly US funded Saudi is most likely thought to reside. We also haven't so much as had a quiet word with the Saudis over what their rogue citizens have done. Think of it like this: In 2021 a group of rogue Americans hijack a jet and fly it into the Burj Al-Arab in Dubai. The UAE spend the next five years invading Canada and torturing citizens, eventually leaving 50,000+ dead.
How does that make any sense? This is a crucial time for America when our President has not made us safer, or really kept us safe at all and has done his best to make the world more dangerous for Americans. We have one candidate for President who wants to "stay the course" when it's clearly worked so well for us thus far, and one candidate who wants to shift our battle to catch the US trained and formerly US funded militia leader who started this debacle in the first place, and then stop invading sovereign nations (which only helps to make more terrorists) and work on repairing the cracks in our own country.
Honestly, which one sounds like the best for America? (and if the fucking Republicans can use 9/11 for political purposes, so can I. So GFY.)
How does that make any sense? This is a crucial time for America when our President has not made us safer, or really kept us safe at all and has done his best to make the world more dangerous for Americans. We have one candidate for President who wants to "stay the course" when it's clearly worked so well for us thus far, and one candidate who wants to shift our battle to catch the US trained and formerly US funded militia leader who started this debacle in the first place, and then stop invading sovereign nations (which only helps to make more terrorists) and work on repairing the cracks in our own country.
Honestly, which one sounds like the best for America? (and if the fucking Republicans can use 9/11 for political purposes, so can I. So GFY.)
Friday, August 29, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, August 15, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, July 18, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, April 4, 2008
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
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
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
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.
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.
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