Let's be honest...

Politics are so political

2011-09-08T09:11:00.001-07:00

I’m not into politics. I don’t pretend to be. I prefer to stay out of most conversations because politics are so political.

The one thing I remember most from American Heritage class in college was that George Washington himself thought political parties would be the downfall of this nation. That has always had a lasting impact on me. Sometimes I wish everyone would stop arguing and just get together for one big democratic-republican group hug.

But I do care about improving our nation and understanding the challenges that we face. I also understand my civil duty as a citizen and a taxpayer. So I did the American thing and watched the Republican presidential candidate debate.

I learned a lot. Almost too much. But mostly, I learned a few things about presidential candidates.

No one answers the questions they are asked. Ever. Instead, they answer the question they wish they were asked, no matter how far of a stretch the connection might be.

I noticed a fairly consistent pattern in most of their answers: First, they preface by saying they will answer the question at hand after they address a previous question they had been itching to talk about. Next, they give a round about transition away from the question toward something else they’d like to discuss. After doing so, they find some way to bring up when and where they were Governor/Senator/Representative before or currently and what they did in that position to solve a completely different problem. Last, they try and cram as many run-on sentences as possible in one final breath after the commentator tells them, “time.”

Other ‘political’ people might understand what they were doing from a strategic angle, but I was mostly confused by their answers and left wondering what on earth their response had to do with immigration. Or Health Care reform. Or Anything. Meanwhile, they would move on to the next question while I was still waiting for the answer to the last one.

I respect these men for the things they do for our country and our freedom. It was probably just me more than anything. I was never cut out for something like politics. I’ll stick to nerdy things on the internet.

Go America!

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According to Plan

2011-09-06T14:14:00.001-07:00

Do you have a plan? Short term? Long term? 5-year? 10-year? Life plan?

So what is it? What's your plan?

But let me ask you this: How often has your plan changed? My guess is that you've been forced to readjust your plans several times along the way. If you hadn't, most of us would have ended up as firemen, scientists, and astronauts, or ballerinas for the girls. Isn't that what most children want to be at some point? Or something along those lines? At what point do you give up that plan and change it for a new one?

When things don't go 'according to plan,' we are forced to abandon them and start over. But that's usually the first thing we do when something major changes or something deviates from its original course. We start to plan every detail. How things are supposed to go, or supposed to look, or supposed to happen. As if our happiness is somehow determined by the amount of life that happens according to plan.

What if you were so locked in on one plan that you missed the chance to make an even better plan? What if a door opened on plan B, but you never even bothered to stray from plan A? You never even bothered to look up and examine your surroundings.

I think it's a natural tendency for humans to try and plan everything. Whether you realize you are doing it or not. But why? Why can't we just let life take it's natural course? If you're so set on planning everything, why not just plan to let life happen? Plan for change.

Don't try and plan everything. You might miss something.

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Natural Disaster Aplenty

2011-09-01T13:32:00.001-07:00

The entire country tuned into the east coast for a riveting week of natural disasters. I had never experienced an earthquake before. I had been through a hurricane while living in Texas, but never prepared for one just days after another of Earth’s disasters.

Needless to say, it was a crazy week. I survived, unscathed. While most of the east coast dealt with emotional scars from the overhyped frenzy. I learned that people back east are much more dramatic. Which is probably why Californians and tropical residents said everyone was overreacting.

As far as the earthquake goes, it was kind of a cool experience. I felt like I was back in elementary school going through drills. Only this time for real, and with no teacher to report to once the building was evacuated. All the government employees got the rest of the day off, but people in my office decided they would go back to work within 15 minutes of standing outside.

The media blew Hurricane Irene out of proportion. I understand the risk was a lot higher because of the higher population in a dense area, but people were preparing for the nuclear holocaust.

It got me thinking about which natural disasters would the most terrifying to experience. For some reason, tornadoes are the ones that scare me the most. I used to have nightmares about getting caught in a tornado. And yet I loved the movie Twister still.

Volcanoes are another one of my bigger fears. Something about that lava freaks me out.

I’ve seen avalanches, but never been in one. I’ve been in floods, but never anything too extreme. Tsunamis would be pretty freaky. Blizzards happen in Utah (but can also be overhyped, e.g., storm of the century last year).

I think I've also always been scared of a 100-foot tidal wave coming right at me, like in the cartoons or something. Not sure when I'd ever be in that situation, but you can imagine how terrifying it would be.

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Cost of being homeless

2011-08-22T13:01:00.001-07:00

If there is one thing I have learned over the past month, it's that being homeless is a lot more expensive than I thought.

Well, at least being a hybrid homeless person is.

I moved to DC about 3 months ago. I had a great apartment and work situation. But my apartment sublease was only 2 months long. I figured at that point, I would either be hired full time by the agency I work with or I would be heading home to Utah to find something else. Instead, I was offered an extension to keep working month to month until they had more of a long-term solution for me. I didn't quite expect it to turn into what it has become now.

I didn't want to sign any sort of apartment lease until I knew at least my not-too-distant future.

And ever since, I've kinda been homeless. There have been a number of people kind enough to take me in and give me shelter. I've already jumped to almost half a dozen couches, all the while living out of my few suitcases. Currently, I am staying with family of friends outside the district with 3 small children. I've become a live-in babysitter. Didn't see that one coming.

It wouldn't be too bad, except I don't have a car either. Which has made things a bit more tricky. I have to carefully plan out where I'll be and how I will be able to get 'home'.

Being homeless has been quite the adventure. I have definitely had my fair share of never-before experiences and run ins. But what I didn't plan for was the same thing I mentioned earlier—the cost.

Imagine having to pay for public transport everywhere and eating out for every meal. It starts to add up quickly. I have already gained a new appreciation for grocery shopping. Luckily I have an employer that pays me hourly, so I haven't gone hungry or anything. Not yet at least. The only benefit to this situation is not having to pay rent on an apartment.

And if that's not enough, throw in the added pressure of being a young, single and LDS. That means dating. Which in turn means paying for two instead of just one. It can be hard enough with a home and car, but try taking both away. Call me old fashion, but it never gets less awkward to ask a girl out and then ask if she wouldn't mind picking you up too.

I am learning to enjoy the situation. It's definitely once in a lifetime—in the sense that as soon as I have a family/wife, not having a guaranteed roof over our heads won't fly.

Maybe the opportunity cost will be worth it in the end. Until then, call ahead if you want to come visit, because I could be in any number of locations.

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Investigative Citizen Journalism

2011-08-10T10:55:00.001-07:00

If you know me at all, you know I’m a die-hard Utah Jazz fan. I feel personally invested in their success. When they lose, it physically hurts sometimes. Deep down.

So when I thought someone tried to pull a fast one on other Jazz fans like myself, I put a stop to it.

Here’s what happened.

Gordon Hayward became a fan favorite at the end of the season last year. After being the 9^th overall pick by the Jazz last year, he started slowly and struggled to find success. But now he is viewed as one of the building blocks for the future of the franchise.

He is fairly active on Twitter, and I have been following him since the day he became a Jazzman. I knew the things he would usually talk about and the way he would typically say them.

Well, one day, I caught wind of a Gordon Hayward profile on Facebook. Not a fan page like most athletes have, but one that anyone could actually request to be friends with. This was the first red flag. For a professional athlete to only have that many friends was strange. And for those of you who don’t already know, Facebook puts a stop to people who reach a certain limit of friends.

But it was worse than just having a profile. He was actually responding to almost every wall post and comment on his page. That’s when it started to get really out of ordinary. No way he would have time to respond back to everyone. I talked with other people about it, but most of them seemed to believe it was real.

To me it seemed obvious it was a fake. All of the pictures were taken from a Google image search. He would post the weirdest things. Stuff that not even a dumb NBA player would write about the NBA commissioner, let alone a class act in Gordon Hayward. And he would never even mention his girlfriend, which he never stops talking about on Twitter. Plus there were no real pictures of the two together. He pretty much just seemed like a different person.

Well, Gordon fever seemed to be taking off in the Salt Lake area. Every day it seemed like more and more of the people I knew were becoming friend too. So even if it was real, the exclusivity and cool factor of being friends with an NBA player was gone.

So I decided to do some investigating/experimenting. I wrote on his wall that the account was fake. And very soon after that the comment was deleted, I was defriended, and he had blocked my account from viewing his.

Seems strange for a real person to be worried about something like that. I mean, if someone called me out for not being the real me, I’d just comment and ask what they were talking about. The guilty are always more nervous.

That’s when I knew. So I updated my status to let everyone else know. And even then, a lot of people still believed him. At least, they didn’t really have any other reason not to believe him.

So I decided to go right to the source. Luckily, on Twitter, celebrities have a little blue check next to their name to prove they are a verified account. I figured it was a long shot, but told him what was up. Here’s what happened:

And the rest is history. Mystery solved.

So I guess I can always try a career in detective work if nothing else works out.

Don’t worry Gordo. I got your back.

Go Jazz.

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What's in a name

2011-08-08T14:35:00.001-07:00

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I’m not the first. With a name like Scott Stevens, I can’t expect it to be very unique. I love my name, but Scott, and Stevens are both very common names. Put them together and it doesn’t get much better.

But that’s not the worst part.

I always liked having a famous athlete share my name growing up, even if it was a hockey player. That just meant I could never Google my own name like most people and see what came up. But that was a minor sacrifice. I could live with that.

But it gets worse.

Most people can’t say they are the only ones in the world with their full name. A few more in their own country, and again in their own state. But what about their own family? You’d think everyone should at least be unique among family members. Not including deceased members, and making an exception for George Foreman’s children.

That’s what most people don’t know about me.

I’m not even the first Scott in my own family.

I have a hand-me-down name from my older brother.

I’m sure if my mom ever reads this, she’ll have some sort of explanation. But there may always be some scar tissue.

My older brother is named Nathan Scott Stevens. My parents wanted both of those names for their boy. But when they ended up having another boy just three years later, they decided they could actually use Scott as a first name.

It’s been recycled.

It never dawned on me growing up. It wasn’t until I was older that I started to realize how cheated I had been. You might ask, so why not go by your middle name? Well, that’s a tough decision for a child to make on his own. Self-imposed name changes never seem to go over too well. It’s like trying to give yourself a nickname.

When you share the same name as your older brother, I guess you learn to be more creative in other areas to try and stand out.

Despite obvious copyright infringement, I still like my name. Plus I am the only one in the family named after a relative other than our father—Lloyd comes from my grandpa. So that will just have to make up for the rest.

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Salesman

2011-08-04T13:05:00.001-07:00

I met this girl yesterday and she asked what I do. When I told her advertising, she immediately asked me to try and sell her on something.

I then proceeded to slap her in the face.

I’m not a salesman.

And advertising should be more than just a sales pitch.

I got one of my first jobs because they told me I’d be working with advertising. But all it turned out to be was making cold sales calls. I quit after two weeks. Ironically, I got into advertising because I hated ads. It sometimes makes no sense. But I plan to make a difference.

Advertising doesn’t have to be the annoying 30 seconds you fast-forward on DVR to get back to the good stuff. Why not make advertisements the good stuff in the first place? Then, people will want to interact with your brand rather than fast-forwarding through it.

She apologized when I explained all of this.

Of course, I didn’t actually slap that girl in the face. It was a metaphor for me slapping her in the face metaphorically.

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The social media party and brand booty calls

2011-08-02T09:32:00.001-07:00

It’s a party for all of your friends. Even for some people who aren’t your friends, but still claim to be. They come from all different stages of your life; they each have different backgrounds and personalities. Some of them aren’t even real people, they only pretend to be.

This is the Social Media party, and everyone’s invited. (Except Google+, they still have VIP passes. And they met their quota for the moment. But stay tuned for more invites shortly.)

Just like any real party, you have all different types of guests. There are the ones that show up awkwardly early to the party, and every party for that matter. But they don’t bring a whole lot to the party—neither friends nor personality. But there aren’t enough other people there yet to ignore them. So you stand there, uncomfortably shifting from eye contact down to the drink in your hand and back, occasionally nodding your head in acknowledgement while throwing in a courtesy laugh to make them believe you are actually listening.

There are also the people talk way too much. They may occasionally ask your opinion, but ultimately do so just to spin the conversation back to themselves. It’s overwhelming. And because of it, rather than actually listening to them, you are looking for any sign of taking a breath between sentences so you can excuse yourself and move to another side of the room.

There are the ones that show up once the party is already full-steam. They can’t be there on time, because that would be so faux pas. But rather than helping to make the party into a success, they piggy back on the conversations of others, often trying to steal the spotlight. And then head for the exit at the first sign of the party slowing down.

There are the complete randoms that no one seems to know. Everyone simply assumes that person must have been invited by someone else. Also known as “randos.”

Similar to the randos are the hoverers. You may know them or you may not. They don’t fully join the conversation, but they hover just behind everyone in the circle, laughing on cue with the rest of you. Never leading or contributing, but they are always there. And it makes you uncomfortable.

Every once in a while you may experience the ‘elderly’ at your party. Elder in the literal sense of being older than you. Not the cool kind of the older, though. The bad kind. This might be a parent dropping by unannounced, or something similar to that time you saw your 3^rd grade teacher outside of class at the grocery store. It just didn’t feel right.

Then there are always the ones who stay way longer than welcomed. They can’t seem to let it die and continually beat it like a dead horse. That’s animal cruelty people, c’mon.

Of course, if the party is good enough, then brands will start to show up. This can be a good or a bad thing. Some get it, but most don’t. It depends on the party and it depends on the people attending. For example, when the Redbull girls show up to an outdoor event/concert/dance party, they are usually well received. It fits the context. But I don’t care to hear what a pet food might do for me while at that party. More often than not, it seems that brands show up to a party because one was happening. Nothing more. I may even be a pet lover, but that doesn’t make it okay. Certain brands are getting it right. They might even be the ones throwing the party in the first place.

As an advertiser, and a party-goer, I’m okay with brands joining the party. But I don’t want the ones who have nothing else going on this weekend, so they find the first party they see. Don’t call me at 11 PM on Friday and expect anything. I’m not your brand booty call. If you want to see success with social media, it takes careful planning ahead of time. It requires strategy and a game plan. I’ve often felt that the success of my weekend can be directly related to the amount of preparation during the week.

There is no real way of knowing where the next big party is going to happen. But I am at this party because my friends are there. So if you’re a brand, listen to what’s going on around you before you start talking and throwing your own parties.

Did I miss any party personalities? Let me know if you think of any others.

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Copy-righter

2011-08-01T13:04:00.001-07:00

Most in advertising probably sees this title and thinks, "Amusing. But overplayed."

Most in other professions probably assume this has legal ramifications. Think C with a circle around it.

Most of my friends outside of work/school probably think that it's actually what I do.

Most other people have no idea what just happened.

Which is why I try to avoid the full title of 'copywriter' in most conversations. I tell people I'm a writer. That's what I do. And that's really all they need to know in most cases. I obviously do the whole writing thing specifically in advertising, but details tend to confuse people for some reason.

The only reason I bring this up is because I've finally experienced a slight shift in my goals as a writer. For the longest time, I always tried to steer clear of being a 'writer.' I enjoyed writing and always had a fun time expressing myself through the written word. But I always thought of writers as people that tried to separate themselves from society and considered their intellect to be far superior to the vast majority of the human race. (maybe a slight exaggeration). And I am not like that. I like to come up with and write things that apply to as many people as possible and help bring them together. I consider myself to be more of an ideator (an idea guy) than an actual writer anyway.

Writers seem to always be in the quest for their next screenplay or complex novel idea. Even in advertising, it seems like a lot of copywriters dabble with this kind of writing. I think it would be fun if I had all kinds of money, but for some reason, the huge appeal was never there. Until recently.

I finally had the desire to write my own book someday. I have one idea already, but I'm keeping it under wraps. But I'm accepting others if anyone has any. I don't know why the sudden change. It may be because I've been reading a lot more since I've been out of school. This is probably a good of time as any for a shameless plug for my mom's book. If you haven't heard of ParentFix before, check it out. It will change your view on life through parenting.

Well, I guess I've got a new item for the bucket list. After all, I am a writer.

And I may need a copyright for this one.

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One down, NBA to go

2011-07-26T09:34:00.001-07:00

The NFL is back. And I really am excited about it. But I’d be more excited if we were going to have an NBA season too. It got me thinking about where sports rank for me.

The NBA is at the top of my list as far as sports go. (Go Jazz).

Then I’d put college football.

Then the NFL.

Then college basketball.

The Washington Nationals have recently helped me rekindle my love of baseball, but it is still a bit down the list.

Then all the rest, like Hockey, UFC, and Nascar tie for an abysmal last place. We could get rid of these sports all together and I wouldn’t be too upset.

When it comes to sports seasons, I’d rank them as follows:

1. Fall – Baseball playoffs, NFL/College Football Season, NBA begins, plus the weather is wonderful.

2. Spring – Basketball season finale/playoffs, March Madness, Baseball spring training/season.

3. Winter – Skiing, NBA action, NFL playoffs/Super Bowl, Bowl Games.

4. Summer – This can vary, if it’s at all like this summer, a definite last place. But last summer was the world cup, next summer is the 2012 Olympics, which can increase the value. Other than that, Mid-season baseball and the WNBA just make me a little upset.

My favorite sports months follow suit with the seasons:

1. October

2. March

3. December

So you can imagine how awful it would have been for me to have both the NFL and NBA locked out this year. It would have thrown off my entire ranking system. This summer might have been one of the worst in history as far as watching sportscenter is concerned. The only things that made it worthwhile were Hope Solo and Alex Morgan during the epic Women’s World Cup.

It does feel nice to have NFL highlights again in preparation for the season. But I wish they’d get the NBA going soon.

As long as I’m wishing for things though, I might as well pick and choose the super combination of sports. If it were up to me, I’d always have it be December. Great sports month. Fresh snow on the ground. NFL is wrapping up. Bowl games full swing. My birthday and Christmas fall in that month. The only thing that would make it better would be to somehow move March Madness into December. It need a new name obviously. But that would just be the most glorious month of sports ever. I’d never want it to end.

One more thing—Go Jazz!

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I Would Jump

2011-07-19T14:45:00.001-07:00

I walk to work everyday across the Key Bridge into Georgetown. And for nearly two months, I’ve asked myself the same question: Would I jump off?

Not in a weird, suicidal way. But more in the I-think-I-could-survive-slash-thrill-seeking sort of way. I look over the green guard rails into the misty Potomac River and wonder.

From the top, it doesn’t seem too far. At least a drop that high shouldn’t kill me or anything. But sometimes your vision can be misleading. From down on the river, the height to the top seems a lot more daunting. I went canoeing on the Potomac a few weeks ago and got a different perspective. From the water up, it definitely looks a lot higher. Which probably factored into why it has taken me so long to make a final decision.

Here are some of the stats I looked up for the bridge: It was built in 1923 and is now the oldest standing bridge into the district. Most importantly, it stands at just under 100 feet from the top. That sounds even worse now that I’m typing it myself. There is no research that has actually been done in this area, for obvious reasons. But I’m sure you could somehow calculate it with physics somehow. The highest recorded jump into water is something like 172 feet. The Golden Gate Bridge is 220 feet, and people almost always die from that fall.

Part of my decision may be skewed based on the weather patterns of DC. In the summer time, it is usually over 90-100 degrees every day, and I walk across this bridge two times. It can get pretty sweaty out there. So a flowing river beneath me seems very appealing on most days.

This was a difficult process despite the fact that I will never actually get the chance to do it. They would need to make a space between the rails to jump from, I would need to be in a swimming suit, and I need to make sure it is deep enough.

Regardles, after weighing my options and considering the pros and cons of this entirely hypothetical situation, I have decided that I would jump.

Wish me luck.

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The World We Live In

2011-06-09T12:55:00.001-07:00

I know everyone always talks about how terrible the world is, but I also think we live in a miraculous time. Especially in our modern digital world.

My whole outlook was slightly altered by one simple girl yesterday. And then by the millions of people that followed. If any of you were on Twitter yesterday, you may have seen that a certain trending topic. You may have had several people in your timeline mention it. Hopefully you were even decent enough to mention it yourself.

#alicebucketlist

A 15 year old girl who is terminal with cancer made a bucket list. One of her wishes was to trend on Twitter.

That was all she wanted.

And all it took from the millions of Twitter users around the world was a simple tweet, or a retweet. And it could possibly make this one girl's life that much better. And within a matter of minutes, the Twitter army had done its work, and #alicebucketlist was trending worldwide. It's nice to know that we were able to make someone's life better, and make the world a more united place. Even just 5 years ago, I probably never would have even heard of Alice or her illness. But I like to think I helped her cross this one thing off her list. That's how the world has improved.

So as much as the evil in this world continues to grow, there is also a strong force of good out there.

Why don't we all look for some way we can change someone else's life for the better. Even if it's just a simple retweet.

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Who's that new kid?

2011-06-06T10:32:00.001-07:00

Most people are thinking this very question in my office today. They will probably continue thinking it for the rest of the week. Well, other than the handful of people that I was introduced to and shook hands with in passing in my inaugural office tour. Those people are probably thinking to themselves, "What's that kids name again?"

And so goes my first real internship.

It's like being the new kid at school after your parents moved you to a new city. Which I never actually experienced. So I'm really just assuming that this is what that feels like.

I'm excited to get to work. I just wish I was 2 weeks in already. I'm sure we'll be sipping on champagne (figurative) and looking back on the "good 'ol days" amidst deep rolling laughter (literal) in no time. Until then, we'll just exchange awkard glances and "hello's" until either they or I must up the courage to re-introduce ourselves.

(sigh) Life is good.

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A girl and a mustache

2011-04-11T22:34:00.000-07:00

Two of my favorite things. Preferably not together. I like a good girl, and I like a good mustache.

But let me clarify what I mean by this. I've decided that the girl I marry will let me grow a mustache. I feel like that previous sentence also needs to be clarified. I do not want to grow a mustache. I appreciate a good mustache as I stated before, but I do not personally need to grow one. So why even bring it up? Well, I would like the assurance that if I ever wanted to grow a mustache, I could. That says so much more.

This might seem crazy, and sometimes when I say it loud, I agree. But for the type of girl I am looking for, she will understand the weird obsession that men have with wearing a nice little blanket on your upper lip. I know that I personally do not look respectable while I have one, nor do most men. This is obvious. Sometimes, though, it's about more than outward appearance. A man with a mustache is much funnier than a man without one. It says something about a man's character to walk around in public with one. But it says a lot more about the girl on his arm.

Any girl that understands this is welcome to apply for the job. I let my mustache do the talking.

Future, here I come

2011-04-11T22:30:00.001-07:00

Graduation is just over a week away. For a long time, I didn't know where I'd be when school ended. But the right place came around and I couldn't be more stoked about it.

Check them out: AKQA.com

And as long as we're being honest, I still have no idea what the letters stand for. But that doesn't matter, because everything else is just what I I was looking for. AKQA is ideas first. They are all about innovation.They are a fairly small sized shop, and the creative department is a really close knit group. I feel like I am going to fit in just fine.

I contacted the recruiter through Twitter and found information about applying for internships. She asked me to send her my portfolio. A few weeks later, they contacted me about doing a phone interview with one of the teams from the DC office. The three guys I interviewed with were super awesome and I got an awesome vibe from their office. I've always found myself in a niche area for advertising, and everything they talked to me about seemed right down my alley. They said it might take a few days for them to make a decision, but that they felt comfortable letting me know that it was just between me and one other person. And the next morning, I had an email with an internship offer to join them.

So from June to August I will be a resident of our Nation's Capitol.

Come visit if you'd like. Or not. Whatever.

Just don't fax me please.

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Monopoly Money

2011-02-02T08:45:00.001-08:00

I'm curious if I'm alone on this opinion, or if others feel the same way.

Cash feels like Monopoly money to me.

Anytime I have it in my wallet, I spend it. When you're playing Monopoly, you usually just drop the cash, buy up everything you can, and hope to land on free parking every once in a while. There's no accountability. Because ultimately, if you run out of money, you just get to step out of a meaningless game that takes up 16 hours of your life anyway.

I've grown so accustomed to swiping my card, that now it almost feels like my real money, and the real stuff feels fake. Here's my biggest problem: I hate receipts. I don't want to hold on to a flimsy, worthless piece of paper. Not even in my pocket. But I know that if I don't keep it, I won't remember where I spent that money. At least when I use my credit or debit card, every penny of it shows up on my bank statement. So it's like I have to deal with spending the money twice. Which keeps me in check. Spending the money once with cash isn't enough anymore. Some people may hate that because they feel guilty, but I'd rather feel guilt now than feel bankrupt later.

Sorry Mr. Washington, I hate you.

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California Christmas

2010-12-26T20:49:00.001-08:00

For a change of pace this year, our family decided to forego presents and rent a beach house in California. We just happened to settle in Capitola, California, about an hour south of San Francisco. I had never heard of it until we came here. But I"m glad we came.

There's something about the coast that keeps calling my name. People are more friendly in a small coastal city like this because they seem to be more content with their lives. Example number one is the drivers. They are more than willing to wait a little while longer while a group of 9 people and a baby stroller cross where they aren't supposed to. Then they give you a smile and a wave. I could get used to that.

I think more people would appreciate that sort of behavior. The world would be a much happier place if we all started living that way. So if I don't see you sometime soon, consider this my smile and wave.

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Warming of the house

2010-08-31T07:14:00.001-07:00

I have a few weird traits. Maybe alot. And one of them is a love for unpacking. Moving somewhere new, and figuring out where I'm going to put things. I can't figure out why I like it so much, I just know that I enjoy myself very much while doing it. Know what I mean? I consider it one of my pleasure pains. You know the type of thing You love to do but are never really sure why you keep doing it. Like having a bruised fingernail, for example, and continuously pushing on it even though you know it will hurt. As if for a split second you convince yourself the pain actually feels good. Because it hurts so good.

In my recent move to a new house, I've had the opportunity to fully embrace my corkiness. I'm sort of a pack rat, and I love to collect all sorts of useless junk. I might need it someday, you never know. It's also a somewhat bitter sweet feeling. I'd like to just dive in and solve the puzzle or game of tetris, but I know that the sooner I do so, the sooner it's over. Then I'm just an ordinary guy living in a different location again. Like the feeling of reaching the final hundred pages of a really good book, and even though you want to get answers, you don't ever want it to end as to face the reality of life without being able to read it anymore. Anyone who watched the TV show LOST probably knows the feeling.

As for right now, I'm still "moving". Which, again, seems more fun to me. I'm sure my roommates are not thrilled about this side of me. I have spilled out into the living room with all of my belongings. Clinging to the last few items that remain to be put away. I'll get around to it. I really will. I guess I like change.

Just give me a minute.

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Get used to it

2010-08-27T15:21:00.001-07:00

I walk past it every morning on my way to school now. The aroma is intoxicating. And I debate stopping every single time. I may have to find a new way to campus

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Creativity

2010-07-16T09:04:00.001-07:00

From Hey Whipple Squeeze This:

“Creativity is like washing a pig. It’s messy. It has no rules. No clear beginning, middle or end. It’s kind of a pain in the ass, and when you’re done, you’re not sure if the pig is really clean or even why you were washing a pig in the first place.”

The creative process is basically chaotic at its core and, for me at least, the washing-a-pig metaphor works on several levels.

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Life on the road?

2010-07-01T15:45:00.001-07:00

I've always kind of wondered if I could actually pick up my life and live out of a suitcase. After a 2 week vacation from coast to coast, i'm starting to second guess myself with that kind of lifestyle. I think there is a reason why people started going on vacation rather than just moving from place to place. It feels good to get back home and have some order in my life and not have to eat out every single meal. Or maybe I was just exhausted after 2 weeks of non-stop tourism. Although my wallet took a hit and got a lot smaller, so did my bucket list. I think a simple list of everything I did should suffice for the rest of this:

Road trip to San Fran

Client pitch to Haagen Dazs

Cal Berkley campus tour

Lombard Street

Fisherman's Wharf

Car robbery (Sorry Jeff)

Japan Town

Haight/Ashbury

Agency visits with DDB and Goodby, Silverstein, and Partners

Authentic Mexican Food.

US OPEN

Drive home

NYC flight

Central Park

Tom's Restaurant

Statten Island Ferry

Rocaway Beach

Lost on the Subway

Brooklyn Bridge

H&M

Movie in Bryant Park

Canal Street

Strand Bookstore

Donut Plant

Times Square

Jersey Boys on Broadway

Stardust Diner

South Street Seaport

Puma City

World Cup game

Coney Island

Agency visits to Ogilvy and BBDO

Manhattan Temple

Rockafeller Plaza

NBA Draft

NYU

Washington Square

La Guardia Airport - 17 hours, no flight

Try again

Chicago

Green Bay

Lambeau Field

Lombardi Trophy

Chicago Airport - 13 hours

Home.

I never thought I'd be so happy to go back to work and have a regular schedule again. Yikes.

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He does it again

2010-06-03T14:59:00.001-07:00

I spend every 2-3 years waiting for Jack Johnson to release a new album.

I'm not going to take a stand about downloading music off the internet (and by downloading, I mean without paying), but there are certain guidelines when it comes to favorite musicians. I am definitely paying full price for this album. No stealing. I feel like anyone who considers themselves to be a musician, even in the slightest sense, needs to do the same. The best part is that he is donating 100% of his concert tour profits to the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation.

For some reason, Jack took some grief for his last album, but I still loved it. It's more than just the music, it's the feeling and attitude that comes with it. Well done on this latest album, Jack. Well done. I love it already.

Jack is back. Life just got that much better.

You can listen to the new album here: http://www.spinner.com/new-releases#/1

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Best spot ever?

2010-05-21T08:38:00.001-07:00

For any company to claim that something they have just produced is "among the best they have ever done" is no small statement. And for a company like Nike, who is known for captivating TV spots and other advertisements, to make such a statement sparks an interesting question. If you haven't seen the new spot produced by Weiden + Kennedy, Amsterdam, here is the link: http://adage.com/article?article_id=144010.

So what do you think? Is this really among the the best Nike has ever done? The spot is no doubt very well done. In fact, it may actually be one of my favorite spots, personally. But why would Nike go out on a limb and make a statement like this before the spot even launched?

Here's one reason I thought of—what was your first reaction when you heard that Nike itself thought it was the best? Did you want to see it? Did you think to yourself, "I'll be the judge of that?" If you are anything like me, you made sure it was the first thing you watched when you woke up in the morning. My guess is that millions of other people around the world will do the same thing. Nike made a believer out of me.

I don't want to suggest that this was only a tactic used by Nike to increase the exposure of the ad, because maybe they really do think this is one of the best. If it is, then the statement solidifies their position as a brand and the impact it has over sports fans worldwide, and the spot will become an instant internet sensation. Well done, Nike. Well done, Weiden + Kennedy.

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Guilty Pleasures

2010-05-11T14:14:00.001-07:00

Let's be honest...

We've all got at least one. I realized one of mine recently. Ellen. And I'm not ashamed of it, because it is one of the funniest talk shows I've ever seen. If you agree with me, then I know you'll be excited for this blog. If you think I'm crazy, then you have obviously never watch this show. But you owe it to yourself to watch it. Take this for example:

Even though I am a Droid user, I am secretly very jealous of every iphone owner. Just because they have some 'exclusivity' deal with sucky AT&T, I will have to wait. But I always love when people are able to poke fun at the big guy. In this case Apple.

This is just one example why I think Ellen is hilarious. Call me crazy, but I think you will too.

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Do we even need the penny anymore?

2010-05-03T14:16:00.001-07:00

Let's be honest...

When was the last time you thought a penny was useful?

What's the point of the penny anymore? They are annoying. That's about it. I dug through my backpack today and found enough change to venture to the vending machines. Five quarters, three dimes, two nickels, and five pennies. If you haven't been adding the total amount in your head, it ended up being $1.70. It was just the right amount for some chocolate milk and a snack since I didn't have enough time for a real lunch.

Well turns out that vending machines don't even accept pennies. So rather than having the perfect amount of change to tide me over, I was left with five pennies again, followed by a memory flashback to the reason they were in the bottom of my bag in the first place. I definitely don't want them, and if vending machines won't even accept them, then who will? Why can't we just abolish them? Round it off to fives. Nickels are at least bigger and not as annoying. And although dimes are smaller in size than pennies, they are still worth ten times more than a measly penny. I can handle that. Is there anything that costs less than five cents anymore anyway? Honest Abe is already holdin' it down on the five dollar bill, so it's not like a service to him or anything. If I were him, I know I wouldn't want to be associated with something that everyone hated.

All I'm asking is that we find a solution to this problem. Because I don't feel justified in throwing money away, even if it's just a penny or two. So don't make me feel guilty, because I can't hold out much longer.

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Change the world with cookies

2010-05-02T19:32:00.001-07:00

Let's be honest...

Inspiration comes in unexpected places.

I found some inspiration this week when I wasn't really expecting it. We were watching the movie "Stranger than Fiction" starring Will Farrell, and I learned a really cool lesson. Or rather, I found a great way to express myself in what I hope to accomplish in life.

There is a scene with maggie gyllenhaal's character where they are eating cookies. She is explaining how she got started as a baker. It was surprising because of the rebellious nature of her character, but she explained how she was attending Harvard Law School at the time. She enjoyed baking, and would spend time preparing snacks for the other students in her law study groups. She enjoyed it so much that she started looking for more and more recipes and spent less time studying than baking. Many more people started showing up for the study sessions. After a while, she was left with multiple books full of recipes, and a "D" average in school. That's when she said she realized that she wasn't going to change the world by becoming the next great lawyer, but that she could change the world with cookies.

Click here to download:

stranger_than_fiction_clip_(cookies_).mp4 (12673 KB)

Change the world with cookies.

For some reason, that resonated with me all night. Some people are meant to be world leaders and politicians, some scientists and doctors, others are simply meant to improve the lives of those around them by whatever means possible.

Change the world with cookies.

As I enter the world of advertising, there are many things I'd like to accomplish. Even if I never find the cure to cancer or win the Nobel Peace Prize, there are still many things I can do. I can change the world. My "cookies" may be bringing laughter and happiness to other people. To create things that enlighten the lives of others. Advertising has a reputation of being unethical, but I feel like that is only in the eyes of the beholder. It can be done in an effective and worthwhile way. I'm going to change the world...one cookie at a time?

Here's the link for the video if it doesn't work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rCmX-TAl1w&feature=related

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Playoffs Playoffs Playoffs

2010-04-29T19:01:00.000-07:00

Where does amazing happen? In the NBA Playoffs.
Where does beating a team that had your number all year happen?
Where does winning a best of 7 without your best of defender happen?
Where does advancing to the second round without 2 starters happen?
The answers to all of the above are of course with the Utah Jazz.

Where does free tickets for the playoffs for the first time ever happen?
Where does 10 jumbotron and 3 national TV appearances happen?
These answers come from being a Utah Jazz Rowdy.

After struggling in game one, dominating for three straight games and pushing the Nuggets to the brink of elimination, the jazz now find themselves with the pressure to win game 6. It is an essential game 7 considering the circumstances if we lose this one. And I'll be there to cheer them on every play of the game.

GO JAZZ!

Stress Fractures

2010-03-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

I want to make a connection between two types of stress fractures, one dealing with physical health and the other with the emotional side. Let's say I get a stress fracture in my leg or foot, what led to that? Repeated pounding and pressure was placed on it until it, quite literally, reached a breaking point. And the result? Constant pain and discomfort. The only real way to fix it is by resting it, staying off it.. Until you do, nothing will get better.

The other kind of stress is something that everyone deals with. Things pile up, get too hard or too much, never stop. That's part of life. So can this stress cause a fracture too? I would have to say yes. If you allow yourself to become overwhelmed or consumed by the events in your life, you will probably hit an emotional breaking point. And rather than demobilizing just a body part, you will render your entire self useless.

I'm not suggesting that there is a sure fix for this problem. Life will continue to be challenging. I get stressed just like everybody else, but I see a difference in how one might handle the situations they are faced with. As a student, employee, boyfriend/girlfriend, family member, and any other sort of responsibility or relationship we are engaged in, the bombardment of commitments will never stop. That part I am sure about.

I'm no doctor, but i'm sure there is a way to avoid a stress fracture of a body part. At the first sign of pain or discomfort, proper steps should be taken before there is a problem, not after. It may require more work, but in the end, the benefit will be greater. Here's what I've noticed in my own experiences when it comes to dealing with stress:

In most cases, stress doesn't hit all at once, but adds one thing on top of another. Think of it like holding a stack of books with your arms stretched out in front of you. Try starting with a stack of 20 books from the beginning, and you won't last long. But start with one, then another, and then another, until you've got all 20. At first, one book is a cake walk—even two or three books. But the more you add, the more the strain starts to wear on your muscles. I've often wondered how it ever got to that point. Even more, I start wondering why on earth I would be walking around holding 20 books with my arms stretched out. Who does that? It's your life, and who's to say you can't stop and set each book down as you go. Let the librarian pick them up.

Rather than freaking out, and stop functioning when a stressful situation hits, slow down. Take a step back. Then a deep breath. Now think about similar situations in the past, because I know it's not the first time that this has happened. And it won't be the last. In the end, things will work themselves out. They always do. How often have you been faced with a challenge and felt like you came up short of expectations? Almost never. That's not to say that you are perfect, or even that things will go exactly according to plan each and every time. Sure, you may have to spend a few sleepless nights, skip a few meals or maybe even sacrifice working on something else that's a little less important. But you'll find a way to get it done. Because you always do. Spending time stressing about something means you are wasting time that could be better spent doing something productive. It doesn't help anyone. It all comes down to how you react when these things come. I view stress as something you choose to let into your life, not something that is forced upon you.

So do yourself a favor and take care of those injuries before they become stress fractures. In the words of songwriter, Bobby McFerrin, "Don't worry, be happy." You might regret it if you don't.

How do you spell rowdy? . . . J-A-Z-Z

2010-03-14T17:43:00.001-07:00

Let's be honest...when does being a Jazz fan ever actually pay back?

Until last week, I had only ever been rewarded with, well, nothing for my Jazz loyalties. But that all changed on Tuesday, March 9. I decided to go on a date to watch one of the Jazz road games on the big screen at Jordan Commons. I had heard that they were choosing two more members of the Jazz Rowdies, but it wasn't a focus for me, especially since i was on a date, and even more because I had already gone all out the first time they held tryouts, only to come up short. For those who don't know anything about the Jazz Rowdies, let me explain. About a month ago, the Jazz held auditions for the craziest, most intense Jazz fans to win free tickets for the rest of the season. They showed another of the Jazz road games at the Gateway theatre, and encouraged fans to dress up and be as "rowdy" as possible. Somehow my full jazz apparel, face paint, giant green sombrero and running antics were not enough for the audition. But out of the 400 or so fans in attendance, 75 were chosen for the Rowdy section tickets.

But I guess my time had come this past Tuesday. Since they were only choosing 2 more Rowdies, I didn't really think I had much of a chance this time. Not after the outcome of the previous attempt at least. But lucky for me, my date decided to be a champion, because I never would have won without the help of another person. As the game went on, we got louder and louder. It helped that the Jazz were playing fantastic against the Chicago Bulls. When they started to announce the two winners at the end of the game, I didn't think we really had any chance of winning. But then they called out what we were wearing, and I was totally blown away. We were the 2 newest Jazz Rowdies! And along with it, we got tickets to the rest of the home games for this season.

So who says it doesn't pay off to be a dedicated, die-hard Jazz fan? I have tickets at will call waiting for me that beg to differ with anyone who disagrees. So go ahead, look for me at the next Jazz home game. I'll be in the Rowdy section.

Born this way

2010-02-16T13:40:00.000-08:00

Let's be honest...will we ever be satisfied with where technology is at?

What an age we live in. Everything in the world you could ever want to know is basically within your fingertips, just a mouse click away. And the better it gets, the more spoiled we become. A prime example was on my way home from New York last weekend. Apparently they have wifi on airplanes now, which was news to me. That was just icing on the cake after a glorious weekend, especially because our flight was right during the Super Bowl. (I'm not even going to mention how difficult that was for me since it was the first year that the Saints had ever made it to there. WHO DAT). But as you would expect, the connection was anything but spectacular and the coverage we got was spotty at best. At one point I started get upset that we couldn't watch even one play without a glitch or delay. That's when I realized what it was I was actually getting mad about. Before this trip, I didn't even know that internet existed on airplanes yet, and yet within just a few hours I was already complaining about it. It was a great surprise to even get to see some of it.

The other reason I was thinking about this topic was because of a computer programming class I am taking. It is a lot of work to design an interface that works properly and allows the user to navigate without any problems. Basically, the purpose is to create something that allows someone to click on anything they want and not find any bugs or loopholes in the code. And the reason is because people, just like my experience on the airplane, demand perfection with technology and get upset with anything short of that. It made me think a lot about the difference between children and adults. Here's why:

At what point do kids stop wanting to discover and begin demanding timeliness. Have you ever seen a young child get frustrated that things don't work as well as they should? No, because they are just happy to have something in front of them. The only thing that young children get upset about is if someone next to them has something that they want, and that is typically just because they know they don't currently have it. We aren't born the way we are, that is something we learn from society. So, when do kids start to get that mentality? When do their values switch? When do they need more than a box with cut out shapes to fit in corresponding slots?

Let's be honest...I think we can all start to appreciate how far we've come this far, and start to appreciate the more important things in life. The next big "necessity" will be waiting for you if you change your mind or feel differently.

Empire State of Mind

2010-02-10T19:45:00.001-08:00

Let's be honest...Where else you want to spend an all-expenses paid weekend?

I was thinking the same thing. L'oreal flew me out to NYC to interview for an summer internship in their luxury product division. It was amazing! I hadn't been to New York since I was like 12 years old, and we only stayed one night. I think it might be one of the only places that actually gets bigger rather than smaller the older you get.

There were about 75 students from all across the country that came for the weekend. They pampered us pretty much the whole time. This is right after we had dinner in Grand Central Station. There were students from all across the nation, places like NYU, Duke, Harvard, Howard, Northwester, and dozens more. It was awesome to hang out with kids from different places like that and see how their experiences are different than mine. While BYU is technically a fairly diverse campus in terms of where people come from, lets be honest...it lacks completely in the diverse category. I even got to explain our church's beliefs to some of the others at dinner one night and basically taught a first lesson.

The first night there, we went through some orientation meetings and got to know some of the head honchos of our divisions. And the best part was the cocktail party they held on the opening night. I had never been to anything like that before, so I was definitely a little out of place. But the whole night was designed to let us ask questions to people who worked there and get some interesting feedback. After that was all over, we had some extra time, so we met some of the other kids, one of which was from NYC, and he showed us around. Rockafeller Plaza, Times Square, and everything inbetween. It was awesome.

They put us in teams depending on the specific product division we were interested in for our Saturday events. I was a part of the Georgio Armani team. The whole day was dedicated to different case studies and basically planning a rough outline for an entire marketing campaign. They gave us very limited time for each case, so it was a lot of pressure. For each session, there were different employees there to observe and judge us. It was even more pressure for that. And then after that we would try and pitch our ideas to them in a logical, yet concise manner. It was an interesting element to be thrown into a team with people you have never even met before and be forced to collaborate with them. Think about taking a bunch of kids who have been leaders most of their lives, throwing them together in a room, with potential bosses looming over, and then watch them sort it out. It was quite the dynamic.

Part of our day was to go out and do some store visits. They wanted us to see first hand how their products reach the consumer and get some insights for our campaigns. This was pretty cool because we got to walk around the city and see everything. I think the biggest disadvantage was that our whole case was for a new women's fragrance for Maybelline. Needless to say, I was a rookie in this area. At first it was a challenge. But I think it actually worked out well because I made sure that everything we did was for the right reasons, because I had no preconceived notions about anything.

That night after all was said and done, we went to the ESPN zone in Times Square and watched the Jazz beat the Nuggets. Take that DENVER.

The next day was the big kahuna. It was our interview day. I was excited for this cause I think I could do better one on one than in a group. And it went really well. I felt good about it. And it felt like it went really fast, which seems like that would be a good thing, right? Well they are supposed to let us know in the next 2 weeks. So keep your fingers crossed til then...

Cause Let's be honest...Who wouldn't want an internship with a huge international company in the city that is basically the center of the universe?

To buy or not to buy

2010-01-29T17:56:00.000-08:00

Let's be honest...

...you should own things that you love. And I LOVE the Utah Jazz! Now obviously it would be ridiculous to suggest that I should own the Jazz, so let's just settle for season tickets. I have always said that I will one day own season tickets. I always thought I would just have to wait until I was older and had something more of an expendable income. But things have changed recently, let me explain why:

I bought a pair of tickets on KSL the other day because I am taking a girl to the game against the Blazers next week for her birthday. They are on the front row of the upper bowl, which are pretty good seats. Individually, tickets of that range go for about $50 a piece. I paid the guy the $30 a piece for them. But if you by season tickets in that area, they go for $25. So the guy actually made a profit on those seats. And of course, that got me to thinking. Why couldn't I buy season tickets at a discounted price, and simply resell most of them at a profit. That way, I could still go to at least 10 games or so and try and make enough off of the other tickets to cover the cost of those. I don't think I would even try to make money off of this deal, but I would be happy if even just came out even from the whole thing. The benefit comes from having great season tickets to watch my favorite team. When they play big name teams like Lebron and the Cavs or Kobe and the Lakers, I could easily sell them for more. Not to mention the bonus I could make from playoff games.

No one goes to a sporting events by themselves though. Which means I would go in on this whole deal with at least one other person, maybe 3. I wouldn't get to go to as many games that way, but at least the financial risk wouldn't be as great if I did. I have the tendency of wanting to jump the gun on crazy financial decisions like this, so I really think I should sleep on it before I decide for sure one way or the other. Luckily, I have half of the current NBA season to think about it too, so that should give me more than enough nights of sleeping on it to decide.

We could get into the whole "wants and needs" argument and what is really essential for me, but let's be honest...I really do NEED this.

Is this why privacy wasn't included in the Bill of Rights?

2009-10-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this blog is not as much to inform as it is more of a general inquiry.

We are all in agreement that social media has changed a lot of things in the world. But I can't seem to figure out how. It seems like before Myspace and Facebook first hit the internet, everyone wanted their privacy. Everyone seemed a little timid to give out any information on the internet.

So what changed? Rather than keeping to themselves, people now send updates via twitter every few hours to let the entire world know what happens to them. Most the time the stuff doesn't even matter anyways. People post pictures and videos from every aspect of their lives. And nearly anyone can look at these things. Sure, they have blocks and security features, but there are always flaws in the system.

Is this uniting society? Or drawing us apart? While we all meet at the same place, none of us are physically there. Maybe it is simply because the benefits finally outweigh the risks.

Any thoughts?

What if @the_Real_MartinLuther were here?

2009-09-28T15:08:00.000-07:00

I have a feeling that if Martin Luther were alive today, his 95 theses wouldn't have been posted on the door of a church cathedral, but more likely a status update. I wonder if I would follow @the_Real_MartinLuther or not?

Why did he post them on the doors of a church? Because that is where everyone would see it. I don't think doing the same thing today would have an equal effect (unless you wanted to reach BYU religion students, because then the JSB might be just as good). Where is everyone else? On the internet, of course. What does it take to inspire the masses nowadays? How about a YouTube video that goes viral, or a twitter account with thousands of followers? These are the thought leaders of our day. They are the ones that drive us to act.

So it would make sense then for marketers to congregate there. "There" of course being a metaphorical term spreading the globe. I think the most effective part of this new social media type is the operational costs. Marketing and advertising can now be done for next to nothing. Hire someone that knows his social media stuff, and set him loose.

I saw this in action from the people who work as publicists and marketers for certain players of the Utah Jazz. Deron Williams and Kyle Korver recently hosted a charity dodge ball event called the "Dodge Barrage" in Salt Lake City.

How did they spread the word? It all started with this video on YouTube. They both tweeted about it and had blogs posted on their individual websites. Once the buzz started and they got enough hits on their sites, the TV news stations came calling--some at the national level. Within a few days, every opening for the charity dodgeball tournament was filled. The only way to get a team after that was to sponsor the event as a company, which many ended up doing. And just like that, publicity followed. This was only for charity, think of what a company could do with a continued effort.

I hate to make a comparison, but I think @D_Will_8_4real might have more followers than @the_Real_MartinLuther had people who actually saw the Theses posted on the door.

300 Million user may not be enough

2009-09-28T15:04:00.000-07:00

I'm sure many have now all heard about the recent milestones for Facebook, one of the head honchos in social media. 300 million users--Impressive! Especially how they reported 250 million only a few short months ago. Not to mention that they are now finally beginning to turn a profit. But is that enough? Is all really well in Wonderland? Or does it appear as a duck in a pond, calmly sitting on the surface while its legs kick in a frenzy beneath the water to keep it afloat. Now I'm not suggesting that the downfall of Facebook is upon us, or anything close to that really. But there was an interesting article in a recent issue of the New York Times concerning some changes taking place. Apparently Twitter has made some interesting changes to the entire dynamic that is social media, and Facebook hasn't let them go unnoticed. In fact, they have even made several changes to more closely resemble their mini-blog counterpart. New York Times Article A few people, on behalf of Facebook, have downplayed the changes, suggesting that the changes simply came as a result of following trends and demands of users. But if you ask me, they're scared. Looks like the small peasant uprising is beginning to make a stir in the King's court. Twitter is the new fad. Joining Facebook has become a thing of the past. Everybody who is anybody in this world is already a user. But many people with Twitter accounts can be considered cutting edge. Just listen to what people are saying around you, and you'll notice the puzzling inquiries, "So you're on Twitter? What is it exactly?" It sparks a buzz. It creates headlines. And Facebook doesn't like the attention going elsewhere. Maybe Facebook got in over their heads. Maybe they created too many options. No matter how you look at it, Twitter is simple, and Facebook is jealous that people somehow keep buying into it. So they mimic the competitor and copy their success. After all, anything you can do, I can do better, right?. Well, let's see. Because when all is said and done, the users will decide. Their success is ultimately in the hands of the consumer. And when videos like this start popping up on the internet, you might look to make a few changes as well. So do you blame them? I'll admit I am just as much a Facebook user as the next person. I'm just glad I'm not the one calling the shots.

Back in the 801

2009-09-09T20:02:00.000-07:00

That's when I realized...

...I wasn't living in paradise anymore. Reality had struck. I was back in the real world. Well, I was in Provo, however you want to interpret. No more swim suits and flips flops. Beard had to go; Hair lasted not much longer. Here's how it all happened.
For my few current readers, you all should remember that our darling sister tied the knot and became Mrs. JJ Anderson not too long ago. I arrived back in the states with not an extra minute to spare in time for the wedding. I'm not sure my family expected to pick up a homeless looking man at the airport. They soon found out that Grizzly Adams-- did indeed have a beard. The free-spirit that had overcome me while being gone left me slowly in part in the form of small, surprisingly red, hairs in the bathroom.

And so life went on. I moved home and packed up bags for the journey down south. PROVO! I was holding on to the little dream I had left on my head. School started on Monday, and I kept it going. With the help of two twisties and an oversized hat, you would never have known that my hair was anything but honor-code appropriate. I unfortunately found a job on campus and got hired. They were quite ready to inform me that hats would not be allowed on the job. And so the dream died. And it was Fantastic Sam's that killed it.
I was a new man. But my feelings about most of BYU's standards didn't change. I 'm not sure what it is about this place, but it just tends to make me angry. Or at least the administration does. I'm pretty sure my hair looked more respectable than many of the other "honor-code abiding" students. Not all, but at least a few. Here is a picture of the glory days (last week).One day i won't be in school, and nobody will tell me how to wear my hair. Until then, I will just keep my mouth shut and act like I'm supposed to. I guess no one told them that long hair inspires creativity. I mean, think about all those famous, popular people. My road to stardom has just hit a few speedbumps and a minor detour.

Dedication

2009-09-09T19:58:00.001-07:00

This is the start of a second revolution. The blogging for 2009-2010 will officially begin from here on out. No more cop-outs on my part. I'm dedicating myself...

I know exactly what Jake is thinking right now.

Just Stay Tuned

A much needed break

2009-04-19T21:05:00.000-07:00

So I have been in school now for a year and a half straight with no breaks more than a week or two at a time. I am ready to do something a little different. And especially to take a step out of the cougar spotlight. Don't get me wrong--I have enjoyed my time at BYU very much, but there is only so much I can handle. I am ready to read something other than a text book for the first time in 3 1/2 years. To celebrate, I have thought of a list of things that I cannot stand about BYU and Provo, and will take the time to vent about them.
-Dress and Grooming standards (so what if i like long hair? i'm not a bad person)
-BYU girls
-Professors that need to get off their high horse cause they teach at BYU
-Provo drivers
-BYU pedestrians who walk into the road without looking
-zoobies
-being stereotyped as a zoobie
-university parking enforcement
-textbook sell-back policies
-no spring break
-required religion classes being my lowest grades in college. (i'm pretty sure i understand the book of mormon better than the fall of rome)
-couples holding hands and cuddling as they study on the grass outside the library
-girls who ask why you seem distant after you kiss them, when you have only known them a week
-"So how long have you been back from your mission?"
-"what's your major?"
-people wearing capes around campus as part of the medievil club
-I'm not looking to marry someone after a first date, so stop asking
-paranoid BYU students who spend way too much time studying and forget that they are in college
-The testing center
-rape hill (well i'll kinda miss it)
-the look certain people give you when you cross the street while the blinking red hand is still showing on the walking sign
-when people take a test and make a huge display about saying a prayer beforehand. Hat off, check. folded arms, check. head bowed, check. eyes closed, check.
-people praying out loud over lunch in the student center
-anything to do with BYUSA
-paying $150 for a paper/spiral bound textbook

feel free to add any of your own, I know those of you from outside Provo may have even more than me.

Freedom, here i come. for 4 full months!

To blog or not to blog...

2009-03-23T21:46:00.000-07:00

So the many followers of this blog (i believe there are now 3 of you) have probably been wondering why the author has been seemingly absent from his own blog for an extended period of time. You may be asking yourself, "Hey what gives?" Well, i have no answer for any of these questions. It comes down to pure lack of effort. I believe my brother Jake predicted my near undeniable failure as a blogger, and throughout the past month or two, I half to admit I agreed with him. Why is it that I sometimes stare at the update blog tab on my computer only to turn away or simply browse Youtube aimlessly for 45 minutes to an hour? What was pulling me away from the world of bloggers with an almost physical force? Could I not accept the social tag that came with it? Did I really have it in me? I have come to a few realizations though... and I think the most important question I could really ask myself right now, is why not?

That is what life can come down to. Why not? why not aim for greatness? Why not shoot for the stars? If you think about it, you can aim for the treetops and realistically drag your feet in the mud, or you can aim for the stars and drag your feet in the treetops. I can be a moderate, blog-when-convenient type, or I can buckle down and give my readers what they want to hear. But I'm not just doing it for you, I'm doing it because sometimes I need to put my thoughts on paper (or in cyberspace for this case) to really understand what I'm thinking.

Does any of this really make sense? probably not. But "whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them? To die: to sleep; No more!"

So here it is, my inner struggle: To blog or not blog

Adventures of a lifetime

2009-01-16T13:23:00.000-08:00

Usually when working on a project with specific deadlines, the experiences you have along the way can be brushed over or under appreciated. But by in the process of making my latest application video for school, it was anything but the norm.
It all started with a "quick" visit to the salt flats, or at least what I thought would be. Turns out the Salt Flats are a lot farther away than I had anticipated. I ventured out with my childhood amigo, Scotty Barth. I'm glad at least one person was there to share this moment with me. Everything was going well on the way out there: good company, even better playlist, and the smell of the Great Salt Lake for the majority of the ride. We arrived at what we only could assume were the salt flats, (we had driven forever and didn't have a whole lot of time to make it back). So we set up shop and shot the footage we need.
Much to our surprise, what came on right as we started the car? That's right...the gas light. For anyone who has been to the salt flats, you know that there aren't many signs of life for about an hour in either direction. And I have now grown to hate exits that post small blue signs below them reading, "no services." Several times we were excited when we saw a sign for the next town, only to be devastated at the news. So on we went, with hopeful thoughts and a prayer that the gas tank would run on fumes for as long as possible. You can see from the picture what we were going through.
Thank goodness for early gas light warnings, because we drove for over 40 miles with the light on before we found a gas station about 45 minutes outside of Tooele. It was a salt flats miracle. And it made for a hilarious memory.
The next weekend, we trekked out to Tooele again, this time not quite as far. We found an abondoned building and trolley car to use for a couple other shots in the video. This place was super awesome. Everything was tagged in bright colors everywhere. It made for great shots. It is funny how something that is considered junk or useless can be used so artistically. There were actually several other photographers out there doing similar things.
All this work went into a 60 second self-advertisement. It was a lot of work for a short video, but hopefully it will be creative enough that the Advertising department likes it and accepts me.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Here goes nothin...seriously

2009-01-07T22:28:00.000-08:00

Well, where do I begin. I am new to this blog world. It was mostly a new years resolution to document the happenings in my life better. I have taken from the great examples of two of the three important women in my life. My sister, Stacie, and my sis-in-law, Lindsey. I am pretty comfortable with the fact that they may be the only two people reading this blog for the first several months. I hope to grow this audience steadily of course, and maybe even start my own small cult from it...if all goes well.
So look out bloggers, there is a new kid on the block. I am terribly sorry to those of you that receive a fewer number of hits on your own page because your friends are busy reading mine. I'll make this short and leave the genius for next time.