a R-E-D R-U-M moment

Campaign ADs...let's talk politics!

Today its September 28th and i've decided that i've waited long enough...it's time to get political. Now I'm not going to give you my diatribe or stump speech as to who I'm voting for, rather I think I'd simply like to discuss the "game" of politics that I see being played on the national landscape.








Let's talk political ADs...nothing more, just ADs...

This year's presidential race has had more negative campaigns than I can remember in my short, 10 year stint, of voter-ship. I've always been of the persuasion that if you tell someone what you stand FOR, you build true fans, support, and create great movement. However, when you run a trash campaign AGAINST someone else, you run a shallow campaign full of questions, possible slander/libel, and risk.

In the past 4 days I've received 3 mailers from the democratic party, listing all of McCain's supposed failures, political history, lack of internet knowledge, even one dedicated to the fact that he owns a $500 pair of loafers. Now I'm no political strategist, but $500 loafers? Whether he owns them or not, if someone votes against a candidate for that reason is shallow and pathetic. But what's even more pathetic is that campaign dollars (millions of dollars) are being spent running this trash. Leadership role #1 is stewardship...hmmm.

McCain isn't innocent of running these ads either, but in the past month (since he's named Gov. Palin as VP), his campaign has moved to the positive. Rather than trash Obama's experience or shady political dealings, he's focused on naming the things that he stands for and will work to accomplish - even if its not popular (like a spending freeze in light of the 700 billion dollar bailout - a novel idea...not spending money that you don't have).

Imagine for a couple minutes that YOU are running a campaign to persuade the majority of any given group to pick you as "most favorable." You can spend your time, energy, and money 1 of 2 ways. 1, you can tell people why you are the most favorable, what you've done in your past, what you believe of the future, etc. OR, #2, you can put other people down, run ad after ad with ominous music running facts like, "candidate X spent $4000 on a espresso machine...," and in the end hope that in light of candidate X's bad press, that you'll be the name with less dirt attached. Well, I just don't buy that. I don't think negativity is healthy, and I don't think it determines voter turnout. People want to vote FOR something. And simply saying you are the face of change doesn't mean you actually have a plan for what that change looks like. Change, how, what, when, how much, who (or is it whom?)...I don't know, because you've never told me.

What I do know, though, is that McCain spends too much on shoes, that he's old, and he struggles to google just about anything. I'm sorry, but that won't get me to the polls. And frankly, I think Obama's campaign does offer some great stuff for this country, but unfortunately we'll never know.

I hope that voters go to the booths with a list in their minds of what they're voting for, what policies will best suit their communities and the world, what leadership style they believe in, and most of all trust in their candidates character.

Between now and the election do your best to get out the positives, the stuff that makes you want to vote FOR one of these guys, and spread that word! If you're an Obama fan, tell everyone what change is good, what it will mean for the future, and how his plan for America is best. If you're a McCain fan, tell your friends why you think he's the guy to put the country first. If they won't do it, you be the ADs.

So vote for whomever you wish, just promise me 1 thing, vote FOR a candidate, not AGAINST one.

-Ross

Cora Says it All

tid bit of info...

i'm always searching for new wisdom to pass along to anyone willing to listen. so today i found out that infants can be taught to "swim." i say swim loosely because its more like floating on their back...but nonetheless, its pretty impressive. i suppose i never thought about the need for an infant to "swim." perhaps its just michael phelps hype, but maybe not.

i found this video and it is not right at all. so watch it. and agree with me how not right it is.



welp, i told you so.

-ross

Cora

Isn't she the cutest thing ever?? That's all I have to say about that.

Getting THE RIVER CHILD in the mail...

I would last 1 min., 6 sec. against a velociraptor

My friend Brandon bragged about his survival skills and found this awesome site that asks you questions to determine how long you'd last versus a velociraptor. Frankly I'm surprised I lasted as long as I did. How long would you last?

I could survive for 1 minute, 6 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

Word of the Week...#1

I'm a word guy. I love new and great words. We'll be talking and someone will use a good one, and i'll be like, "oh, good word."

So this week Kate and I decided that we're kicking off a new, weekly post, that will encourage folks to use the "word of the week" at least a handful of times throughout their week.

Without any further adieu, the word this week is: besmirch.

I'll define it...
besmirch
–verb (used with object)

1.	to soil; tarnish; discolor.

2.

to detract from the honor or luster of: to besmirch someone's good name. here's an example: (heated conversation happening at work) BOSS: "Hey, I told you that the report was due at 7AM, not PM!" ME: "Look buster, don't you besmirch my good name and blame me for your scheduling error!" BOSS: (taken a-back and put in his/her place) ok, now its up to everyone to use it properly this week in conversation, writings, etc. peace for now, ross & kate p.s. we'd love to hear how you were able to use it.

The Great Escape

Here's the situation.

We've been outside all day. But it was a beautiful day, so we just lounged around, ate whenever we wanted, drank more than we should have. You get the idea.

Still though, we were being lured away from our setting. So in a matter of minutes we broke through the fence and decided to venture out and about. We ran for a while - at least until our legs got tired. But what I didn't realize is that his legs must have gotten tired before mine. He was long gone and I didn't even notice until it was too late.

I continued on my way; looking here and there for him, but who knows where he went at this point. So i'm almost to the rec center and decide to head for the highway. I'm getting to HWY 44 and this idot in a car flies past me, nearly hitting me. That was freakin' scary!

I kept walking towards 44 when I noticed the guy in the car that about laid me flat. He's getting out of his car and walking to me. He must know me because he's calling my name. Funny thing, he looked familiar and was willing to give me a ride back to "safety." Nice guy really.

Little did I know that my friend ALSO got picked up and went with his friend all the way to Ladue. I guess he was mad at me for losing him. My bad.

All in all, we arrived back at home 4 hours and $76 dollars later.

Oh wait...that wasn't about me. I almost forgot. That was a story about my stupid dogs!!!!!!! So, if anyone wants (FREE OF CHARGE), an adult, un-trained, pain in the ass dog (or dogs), just shoot me a line.

Word.

-Ross

8 Months Ago Yesterday...

WOW...can you even believe that 8 months ago yesterday we were rushing to the hospital and having Cora?!?!?! 8 months ago, monday, she wasn't even here...how time flies!

-r&k

9/9/08...coolness

I wish I was talking about me. But I'm not. I'm not that cool.
But...today I walked out of the house to head to work and the brisk morning air (sub 50 degree) caught me off guard. I returned inside to grab a jacket. I LOVE it! And I'm one of those visual-auditory-memory-types. The coolness, the light jacket, the breeze made my mind jump to Rocky Mountain National Park. The thought of Rocky Mountain National Park brought the soundtrack of Dave Matthew's, Some Devil to mind. Kate can vouch for me. (i love the word vouch)
We were driving the winding roads, listening to Some Devil. It was a perfect soundtrack. Now whenever I hear one of those songs, I immediately am back in RMNP. And so I made the trip again this morning. From the coolness to Dave Matthews to RMNP...its a perfect start to a beautiful day!

So with a mug of coffee in hand and Some Devil circulating in the background, things are good!

-Ross

so...

so we are hosting a small group party tonite at 7:30, its 7:45 and no one is here. what is that about???

Ross and Sharks?

So this is my dream from last nite...

Ross wants to go to this ice island in the middle of the ocean (near Antarctica) to summon a frenzy of sharks. He says if we go and then throw food out they will come in the thousands. Ross gets to this island in our canoe. I, on the other hand, have to take an inflatable raft (about the size of a baby tub) to the island. The water is so rough that I cannot get up close to the island in my "raft" so, terrified, I jump in and try to swim to it, still can't get there. Finally I arm paddle back in the raft and get to the island, Ross has to drag me up the ice to the middle of the island (which is like 10 feet long- so tiny). We then have to fit the canoe and raft up on the island as well. As I settle onto the island I see that the food or chum Ross brought to attract the sharks is rubber worms!! I was like, do you think sharks will come to rubber worms???? you have to use real bloody fish...

Explain that one...

Gov. Sarah Palin...love her or hate her???

So last night Gov. Sarah Palin gave her VP acceptance speech at the GOP convention. If you haven't already seen it, watch it just for history's sake.

If you did catch it, what do you think? "Home-run" or "condescending?" Is she what the Republican's were missing from the ticket or will she take the ship down?

Personally I think the political chess game is being played PERFECTLY by the Republicans. That's not to say who I'm voting for or against, but a day after Obama's home-run speech in Denver, all anyone was talking about was Sarah Palin. She's had the most non-stop media coverage and viewership on the major networks since hurricane Katrina over 3 years ago...not a bad stat.

As for quelling the rockstar Dem ticket, she's succeeded. Will her personality and history be what America is looking for...who knows? What do you think?

-Ross

Key Changes

Confession to make here. I HATE KEY CHANGES IN SONGS!!! Please, please, please get more creative than bumping the song up a step to intensify the last chorus. Wow, its l-a-m-e. I was driving in less-than-optimum-radio-frequency areas this weekend and found myself stuck between CHEESE BALL Christian radio and the best of the worst adult contemporary. Every song was the same. Surely there was a mid-late 80's through 90's manual that went out telling everyone how to write music.

It goes something like this:

Intro (4-6 bars)
Verse 1 (mellow)
Chorus (a little more intense)
Verse 2 (kicks a bit of a groove)
Chorus (step up the intensity again a notch)
Solo (cue the sax or guitarist from the "Somewhere Out There" theme)
Chorus (1 time - but kind of subdued)
KEY CHANGE...
HUGE CHORUS that makes me want to puke!

You know I'm right,
Ross