I found this cool little flash creation when I noticed a new referring site in my stats. It’s an interactive collage of blog posts, videos, art, and all things that were election and will be inauguration. Anyway, on it is a link to a post I did just after election day. Go check it out…
http://news.jacksonville.com/interactives/create08/
OMG, it’s really real isn’t it?
America has spoken and we are ready for change. Finally, after 8 years of piss-poor leadership, the clouds have broken and a golden ray of hope is shining down on us.
It sounds overdramatic but if you think about it, it truly is a new era in America. Over the years we’ve gone from being one of the most beloved and respected nations to a punchline in the international community. In my travels I’ve seen it first-hand. We should never cater to other countries and make decisions based on their opinion of us, but you can’t be a world leader if no one respects you. Our reputation has been dragged through the mud, but no longer. There is a reason why most of the global community wanted Obama to win. Other countries know the influence we have and the power we hold and they want a qualified person leading us just as much as we do. And now we’ve taken the first step to rebuilding this great country of ours into the symbol of hope and democracy that it began as.
I know it won’t be easy but it still feels really good. Not just being able to claim the winning team but feeling confident that the decisions our new President will make will be in our best interest and the interests of the world at large and not as the result of string pulling from large corporations and personal vendetta. And enough with the Socialism and terrorsit accusations already. If you haven’t figured out that all that was fear-mongering and name calling aimed at the uneducated who are too lazy to do the research to prove otherwise, then it’s time to wake up. Watch closely and you’ll see the Washingtonians who made those claims are still going to work with both sides in the coming years because they know that the campaigning is all a game and now that it’s over it’s time to get down to the real work at hand (at least I hope they will anyway).
I really hope that people on both sides can accept this change, put aside their differences and be a unified America again. Things are about to get ugly and we need to work together to get through this. I’ve heard a lot of dumb shit come out of people’s mouth from both sides over the past 18 hours or so and I hope that it stops or at least abates soon so we can get on with the work that needs to be done. So, as a general rule, if you are about to open your mouth and what is coming out has been said on the news or in some bullshit chain e-mail a thousand times, just shut the fuck up. Seriously, election season is over and I know I’m not alone when I say that I’m sick of the talking points and Joe the Plumber and the slogans and all that other horseshit. Let’s talk issues and let’s talk progress!
I’m really curious to see if all the mud-slinging that has gone on in the past few years will continue. The neo-con talking heads love to label liberals and independents as anti-American for not supporting the Iraq war or GWB in general. Well, ladies and gentlemen, we’re about to prove you wrong! You see, we never hated America. Au contraire, we love the shit out of her. But when our government tricks us into going to war, engages in fear-mongering to gain control and steals our personal freedoms, we get a little upset. And we aren’t so petty as to rally behind images or lame country songs to prove our patriotism. So we tell Washington that we’re angry! And that, my friends, is the strongest form of patriotism there is. That is what democracy is all about. And now we have a government that we can believe in, one that will listen to us, and by us I mean the people, not just the liberals or the Democrats.
And by the way, we won’t call you un-American if you don’t support the President. I, for one, will be the first to cry foul when I don’t like a policy or decision because I have fought for the right to do so. It’s your right to dissent and I support your ability to do so, even though you chastised me and called me names when I did. Not bitter, I promise.
So please, even if you didn’t vote for Obama, at least give him a chance. You might be surprised at the result. We can only do this right if we all work together and I pledge to you, here and now, that I won’t be a dick about the next Republican who gets elected President. So long as he is not a total douchebag at least 
Hey, look at that, it’s Super Tuesday already! Hopefully you were smart enough to early vote and saved yourself from the election day chaos and long lines. But if you didn’t, now’s your last chance, and let’s be real – this one is worth putting up with a little chaos.
Pretty obvious who this cat is voting for. I’m full of HOPE and ready for CHANGE, but honestly all I care about is that you get out there and vote for your candidate of choice and let your voice be heard. And you can even get some free shit out of the deal!
I don’t know how it is for the rest of you but I can actually feel the world changing lately. It’s subtle and easy to overlook with all the distractions we’ve filled our lives with but it is definitely there. There is an energy about and I see it in people’s faces and I feel the electricity in the air when they get excited. And it isn’t all just about Obama, it’s everywhere. Maybe it’s the recession that is causing folks to reevaluate their needs and what truly matters in their lives or maybe it’s some wacky astrological cosmic rays cooking our brains. Don’t know, don’t care. Fact is, nothing significant has happened on a social level in this country in about 40 years so I’d say we’re about due.
The economy may suck but it’s a pretty awesome time to be alive.
According to The Urban Core, there is a little somethin-somethin going down at the BBB Warehouse tomorrow evening. Starts at 5pm, guest speaker at 6pm, and then Shantytown. More info here.
Comics and Classics, the best little comic shop at the beach, has decided to close its doors due to the current state of our faltering economy. This is particularly upsetting news considering the vision of C+C included bringing together and showcasing local artists. I received this rather upsetting email yesterday and had to find out what was up:
Hello, All-
It is with great sadness that I must inform all of our pull list customers that Comics & Classics will be closing in the near future. At this point, I do not have a clear idea of when that will be. I am very sorry to let you know that I am unable to accept Diamond’s shipment this Wednesday and will not be able to fill your pull list from this point forward. Any comics from previous shipments are in your pull and will be held until Oct. 31st. We have greatly appreciated the loyal support of the customers who discovered us and enjoyed the experience we tried to bring to Jacksonville. This was a dream Percy and I had since our dating years together and we were very happy running our little store. I am deeply apologetic for not being able to bring you your comics this week and in the future. We did not expect to have to make this decision as suddenly as we have. We ask for your understanding. If there are any collectibles, works of art, books or other merchandise you are interested in, I am happy to negotiate a discounted price for you, so that we can pay our creditors.
Much Joy and Peace-
Kimberly Johnson
Apparently the banks just aren’t lending any money and with a place as new as C+C, it takes money to make money. I’m extremely bummed about this and what it means for small businesses, particularly those just getting started. I can’t imagine how it must feel to have a dream, follow it, and then have it crushed due to shady lending practices and bad decisions on the part of politicians.
Even though this article spells out some of the benefits of our current situation, these are hard times folks. Dark days and all that gloom and doom stuff. For me, this whole economic crisis business hadn’t really hit home until now. Being in the military, I can depend on a steady paycheck and even a cost of living raise just about every year. But in just a few months when that pay stops I have a feeling it is going to be heavy seas indeed.
In the meantime you can go by Comics and Classics and help them get rid of their inventory to pay off their creditors. They are offering some amazing sales from 30-80% off on selected items. I bought a big ol’ stack of trades all for 30% off. There are tons of back issues for just $1 as well. And there is still a ton of art on the wall from local artists such as EdBot5000, Squid Dust, Toy Crusher and Brian Gray, like this piece of his I purchased yesterday. Very cool…
So, screw the economy! I’m putting it in the axis of evil for messing with my favorite comic shop.
Wednesday is the October Art Walk downtown and it looks like it’s going to be a good one.
This will be my first trip down so I’m hella excited. Top priority is checking out Partisan the Sea since I missed the first showing. Also might have to check out this show at Burrito Gallery.
The after party is at The Ivy and you get a free drink if you bring a flier. Click here for the October map and list of events. See you there!
