30 Reasons

If you are yet undecided on which way you'll sway on November 4th, allow me to help.
Check out a great Internet campaign called 30 Reasons. It's an effort to get-out-the-Obama-vote which has enlisted 30 graphic designers with one simple mission: use design to portray a reason to vote Barack. Each day, a new poster is shared, giving one more argument in the pro-Obama arena.

I love the 30 days campaign because it is so simple, effective, and to the point. Each day a new design is posted for the world to see. And that's it. One image per day. Nothing more, nothing less. Can you imagine if this was the way our candidates campaigned, rather than the endless and intelligence-insulting TV ads, harassing phone calls, and radio commercials we are all bombarded with this time of year? Imagine driving down the road and seeing one of these billboards as you enjoy your morning commute. Or how about, instead of entire commercial breaks dedicated to obnoxious campaign commercials, there was just a simple, 10-second, audio-less image flashed on the screen, and then back to programming as usual? Instead of those wasteful campaign mailers that have been hijacking my mailbox, wouldn't it be great to get a simple postcard, with one of these artistic designs, to greet you among your bills and junk? It's like free art right in your mail box. You could even collect it, tack it to your wall, and create a mini-gallery right there in your living room. It'd be like a political debate with no words. That would be awesome.


A few of my favorites for your viewing pleasure:








I encourage you to check out the 30 Days campaign and take a look at the rest of the great designs these artists have submitted. There's a lot of awesome posters, (30 days worth, in fact), and even more reasons to cast your vote for Barack.
Print them out, paste them up on your wall or cubicle, set them as your desktop background, whatever your little heart desires. And vote on Nov 4th.

Lessons of the Sigmoid Curve

One of my favorite guilty pleasure Blogs is Dumb Little Man (link to the right!). Recently DLM posted an interesting tid-bit on the Sigmoid Curve. Much like chaos theory, the Sigmoid Curve is a way of defining the natural ebb-and-flow of all things. As I read the article, The Lesson of the Sigmoid Curve, I began to think of the countless things in life that can be measured via the curve. Seasons, stages of life, one's career, the political landscape of our country, etc.

The Sigmoid Curve

Michael Miles, in his article, describes the stages of the curve, and the subsequent "S" shape it emulates. The first stage of the curve, the learning curve, is when the curve slowly begins to increase. This is a frustrating phase, because the upward-motion requires much hard work with seemingly-little immediate payoff.

The second stage, the Growth Phase, is when that hard work begins to bear some fruit. Times are good during this phase. All that hard work has paid off and things are going great. It's a period of prosperity and abundance. But we all know that all good things must eventually come to an end.

That leaves us with the decline phase. As the "S" begins to take a downward spiral, prosperous times become more scarce and hard work once again does not produce immediate results. It is at this time, Miles explains, that one should learn to recognize when their sigmoid curve is reaching decline, and use that as an opportunity to move to a new curve which is on the up-and-up. He writes, "Successful individuals and organizations are self-reflective and constantly monitor their own position on the Sigmoid curve. However, to be truly successful is to go even further – it is to jump off the current curve when it is nearing its peak and start on the bottom of another curve." So, essentially, curve-surfing is the secret to success.

That makes me think of the election and how, as we all know by now, change is the new big thing and we all want a piece of it. America's sigmoid curve is on the decline. I don't think that's hard to argue. Look at our economy, our unemployment rate, the war we aren't winning, and the state of our education system. No matter if you are Republican, Democrat, Green or none-of-the-above, I think we can all agree that we need a change. Its time for us to jump on a new curve. Our current curve is on the downward spiral and we need to recognize it, before it's too late. We only have a small window of opportunity for ditching our current curve and making home on a new one. That new curve has a name. I like to call it Barack Obama.

I'm jumping to the Obama curve on Nov 4th. I hope to see you there.

The Quarter-Life Quandry

"I'm just a little bit
caught in the middle
Life is a maze
and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go
I can't do it alone
(I've tried)
and I don't know why

Slow it down
make it stop
or else my heart is going to pop
'cuz it's too much
Yeah, it's a lot
to be something I'm not

I'm a fool
out of love
'cuz I just can't get enough

I'm just a little bit
caught in the middle
Life is a maze
and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go
I can't do it alone
(I've tried)
and I don't know why

I am just a little girl
lost in the moment
I'm so scared
but don't show it
I can't figure it out
it's bringing me down
I know
I've got to let it go
and just enjoy the show

The sun is hot
in the sky
just like a giant spotlight
The people follow the sign
and synchronize in time
It's a joke
Nobody knows
they've got a ticket to that show
Yeah

I'm just a little bit
caught in the middle
Life is a maze
and love is a riddle
I dont know where to go
I can't do it alone
(I've tried)
and I don't know why

I am just a little girl
lost in the moment
I'm so scared
but don't show it
I can't figure it out
it's bringing me down
I know
I've got to let it go
and just enjoy the show

oh oh
Just enjoy the show
oh oh

I'm just a little bit
caught in the middle
life is a maze
and love is a riddle
I dont know where to go
I can't do it alone
(I've tried)
and I don't know why

I am just a little girl
lost in the moment
I'm so scared
but I don't show it
I can't figure it out
it's bringing me down
I know
I've got to let it go
and just enjoy the show

dum de dum
dudum de dum

Just enjoy the show

dum de dum
dudum de dum

Just enjoy the show

I want my money back
I want my money back
I want my money back
Just enjoy the show

I want my money back
I want my money back
I want my money back
Just enjoy the show"

Summed up nicely, Lenka.

P.S. These lyrics are from a song called "The Show" by Lenka, whose first album is being released in the US on Sep. 23rd. Check her stuff out, she's pretty nifty.

Indian Summer

Just 'cuz its starting to get colder and 'cuz Jason Mraz is hot. 

Hide or Seek

1...2...3...4...

I will not see things in just black or white.
Colorfast.
My world is more than hues of grey.
I embrace the spectrum of both night a day.

Become.

5...6...7...8...

I demand choice and
for it I want respect
I will speak my mind.
I cannot be silenced.

Listen.

9...10...11...12...

I have already started my trek,
please guide me and keep me company.
I will venture off your path sometimes
as my own intersects
Always a way back to-
place.
I love my country
(and yours).

Evolve.

13...14...15...16

I am not apathetic.
I have not lost hope in my generation
(or yours).

Acknowledge.

17...18...19...and a half...

My decision will be influenced.

20.

I am the future.

Ready or not, Here I come.

Kidney stones, underage girls, buttafaces, and dissing Uranus

Ok, so its been a while. I know, I know, my blogging took a nose dive for a while. July was weird for me. My car decided to go all anti-social on me, things got a little hectic at work, wedding stuffs galore, a cabin trip, old and new friends visiting from out of town, a few visits to the doc AND the hospital, and a little biatch of a kidney stone (worth what feels like a gajillion dollars in medical bills). Stupid little stone and you rack up hundreds of dollars. It took me a while to find my balance again (literally and figuratively), but I think I finally have a grasp on it.

Then, August came and the Olympics pretty much consumed my life. I stay up late to watch the games and then am a zombie during the day cuz I got so little sleep. What's not to love? There's the 14 year old gymnasts, WTF-scoring from 'cough-cough-ahem-biased-cough' judges, cute little girls with ugly little voices (and vice versa) and a buttaface god-swimmer-man, who could resist? Heck, they ought to give me a gold medal for crazy-obsessive-olympic-watching. I'd so win that shit.
(btw, I'm trying to come up with a male-version of the term "butta face"...ya know, like, "shes hot but-her-face." Whats a male equivalent called? Ummm..'Michael Phelps' is all I can come up with right now).

So anyways. That just about brings us to the present.

I was reading Perez today and he posted the below excerpt regarding Madonna's upcoming World Tour. Man, props to that woman for being 50 and still totally smokin and actually RELEVANT, but the carbon footprint and excessive waste she's got goin' ain't so kewl.

Read on my dearies:

"And, in anticipation of the first show on Saturday, the Queen of Pop's publicist has just released this most amazing list of stats and info on the new world tour.

It states:

"3500 Number of individual wardrobe elements for tour

653 Hours of rehearsal time for Madonna and band

250 Number of travelling personnel

200 Triangle sponges used to apply makeup

180 Q-Tips used for entire tour (3 per night)

120 Powder puffs

100 Pairs of out of stock fishnet, pantyhose in old style weave,
purchased for Madonna via ebay and local dance shops

100 Pairs of kneepads

69 Guitars

36 Different Designers contributed to the onstage wardrobe

30 Wardrobe Trunks travel to each venue

28 Maximum number of performers onstage

20 Nationalities represented in touring stuff (including Japanese, Israeli, Russian, Romanian, Australian and Algerian)

18 Racks of Clothing for Band, dancers and gypsies

16 Caterers

12 Seamstresses working non stop in Cardiff to finish
costumes for opening night

12 Travelling trampolines used in training by Madonna and dancers

10 Large flight cases of medical supplies

10 Number of guitars Madonna will travel with

9 Number of people working in wardrobe department

8 Major Madonna Costume changes

5 Number of people it takes to change Madonna into next
costume

5 Keyboards on stage for Kevin Antunes, Musical Director

4 Large freezers to carry ice packs for Madonna and dancers

4 YSL Lipsticks will cover entire tour

3 Romanian gypsy musicians playing acoustic instruments

3 Racks of Clothing contain Madonna's stage wardrobe

3 Shu Uemura eyelash curlers

2 Rigs for DJ set up

2 Stages

1.5 Minutes - Shortest time required to change Madonna's costumes between numbers

1 Chiropractor

1 Personal trainer

1 Masseuse

1 Set of Swarovski crystal ear phones for DJ

Madonna's Sticky & Sweet Tour Kicks Off This Saturday In Cardiff

Madonna, currently putting the finishing touches to her fabulous new Sticky & Sweet Show in Cardiff, is readying herself and the 250 travelling personnel for the opening night this Saturday at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Hot on the diamante shaped heels of her phenomenally successful' Hard Candy' disc, 'Sticky & Sweet' promises two pulsating hours of non stop hits in a show that features 16 dancers, a 12 piece band, more than 8 costume changes for the lady herself and £l million of Swarovski crystals."

Ok, so I am still trying to figure out what her publicist was thinking. Is this supposed to be a good thing? Only thing I can figure out is that said publicist was trying to get the point out that Madonna is pretty big stuff. As if the whole world doesn't already know that. Like, we didn't get the memo or something. I'm told it was stuck in the pile with the TPS reports. Anyways, I suppose if you are Madonna's publicist you have to just create shit to occupy your time, because, really...what else is there to do? She's already a friggin one-woman empire.
Anywho, getting to my point, I promise. I get that Madonna is crazy-famous and all, but what's the message here? Like, being the biggest pop star on the face of the planet isn't enough for you, Madonna? You tryin' to prove it to Mars or Uranus or something? (haha..uranus!) Maybe Madonna felt a little one-upped by the fantastical eye pleasing awesomeness that was the Beijing opening ceremony and now she's gonna try to show them who's boss. Girl's gotta represent. 50 is the new...umm...50.

A Treehugger from the start

Trees are cool, I may have mentioned that already. I recently had an opportunity to help the organization that I work for plant some trees at local schools. It's a neat concept - work with the students, teach them how to plant a tree, and subsequently plant dozens of trees in the school yard, to create outdoor learning areas and a more beautiful and natural landscape. Anyways, during such events I am reminded of how much I love getting my hands in the dirt and helping to plant a life form that will grow and enrich the environment and beings around it. My little apartment balcony-turned-garden of assorted plants and flowers does the job, but there is nothing like planting a tree.


Here's a photo of me from back in the day. I just planted my very own tree (Ok fine, I had some assistance from Grandpa, but the plastic bucket and shovel is ALL mine). To this day, the tree still stands. While we have since moved and no longer live on the property the tree was planted, I still drive by my old backyard every once in a while to see 'my tree'. Every year it is a bigger, bolder, and stronger version of it's previous self. It has now become a substantial refuge and home for birds, squirrels, and other furry friends, as well as the home to one of my most cherised childhood memories.

If I could go and give that tree a big hug, I would. (I don't, for fear of the fact that I would be tresspassing on some new family's backyard, groping a tree, and that would be kinda creepy), but I get to drive by from time to time and admire from afar. And every time, I am reminded of the proud sense of accomplishment and awe I felt that very morning I planted the tree.

Moral of the story: Parents, plant a tree with your kids. It will provide for many great memories, time to bond as a family, and teach your kids (and yourself) about the awesomeness that is the world around us. I still look back on that day, and on that tree, with smile.

Do it for the children, and do it for the trees. Everybody wins!

Get Globally Naturalized

So simple, yet so cool.

The Global Mind

Don't brush off the coolness. I'm an internet nerd and totally proud of it.

Who loves recyclable shoes?

Every girl loves herself a cute pair of shoes, and I must admit I am now one of them. (...Wait...am I actually blogging about shoes?....wtf...) Anyways, Oka B sandals have become my new faves. These sandals are the coolest things ever. Not only are they super comfy, easily washable (dishwasher, folks!) and totally cute; they also have some mad reflexology skillz (check out their website and read about your soon-to-be new best friends, the fancy little refloxology beads on the soles of the shoes). But the BEST, BEST part is that you can actually send your old and used pairs back to the company, who will ground and mix the recycled shoe material into brand new sandals for other folk. Cute shoes, happy feet, snazzy colors to brighten your day, and less old shoes in the landfills. What more could a girl ask for?


In other news, something I learned today was that one should always, always check the weather forecast for windy-ness before one decides to wear her cute little wrap dress.

And, much to my dismay, apparently cheesy-ass pick up lines are also still quite popular. Hum. The mystery continues.

Thankfully, the latter two events were entirely unrelated :)

The grass is always greener, and the stars are always brighter...

I'd like to rest my heavy head tonight
On a bed of California stars
I'd like to lay my weary bones tonight
On a bed of California stars
I'd love to feel
Your hand touching mine
And tell me why
I must keep working on
Yes I'd give my life
To lay my head tonight
on a bed
Of California stars

I'd like to dream
My troubles all away
On a bed of California stars
Jump up from my starbed
Make another day
Underneath my California stars

They hang like grapes
On vines that shine
And warm the lovers' glass
Like friendly wine
So I'd give this world
Just to dream a dream with you
On our bed of
California stars

I'd like to rest my heavy head tonight
On a bed of California stars
I'd like to lay my weary bones tonight
On a bed of California stars
I'd love to feel
Your hand touching mine
And tell me why
I must keep working on
Yes I'd give my life
To lay my head tonight
on a bed
Of California stars

I'd like to dream
My troubles all away
On a bed of California stars
Jump up from my starbed
Make another day
Underneath my California stars

They hang like grapes
On vines that shine
And warm the lovers' glass
Like friendly wine
So I'd give this world
Just to dream a dream with you
On our bed of California stars
So I'd give this world
Just to dream a dream with you
On our bed of California stars

California Stars by Billy Bragg & Wilco

I have a crush on the iPod touch

This weekend I finally Mac-ified myself and got a new macbook and iPod touch. I am completely in love with the iPod touch. I can totally forsee this thing taking over my life in the coolest possible way. What more could I want in a 4 x 2.5 piece of metal/plastic/electronic awesomeness? Youtube, check. Instant Gmail, check. Music, check. Videos, check. Pics, check. Games, check. Internet, check. Weather, check. Total sweetness.

A few weeks ago I got my stimulus check, and a few weeks before that Apple yet again offered their back-to-school special, buy a macbook and get an iPod and printer for free. Coincidence? Not in my mind! Moreover, what kind of an American would I be if I didn't go and just stimulate the hell out of the economy? Exactly. So that's just what I did. I 'thought not what my country could do for me, but what I could do for my country.' And for Apple. And for myself. See, everybody wins. Well, except for the gazillion-dollar-debt we have as a country. But other than that, score!!!

G'night!

-iJessica

The day the sun stands still

Yay for Midsummer. Happy Summer Solstice!
Go burn a bonfire, dance and sing and be merry. We are the closest to the sun we'll be all year.

Enjoy the summer and all the brightness it will bring.
Party and celebrate this big crazy spinning ball we call home.
Get dizzy.
Sing an ode to the sun.
Revel in the bright shining ball of light that unites all cultures and peoples from all times past and all those yet to come.
Dance in it's rays
Enjoy it's warmth
Draw life from it's light.

The cycle of life is a beautiful one.