Alpha India Charlie: The Blog

Alpha India Charlie: The Blog http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com Most recent posts at Alpha India Charlie: The Blog posterous.com adamchernowhttp://feedburner.google.com Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:24:00 -0800 2012: Same shit, new year http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/2012-same-shit-new-year http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/2012-same-shit-new-year <p> <p> <p>Oh look.  January first.  Who cares?  Another year. Another month older.</p> <p>Sure, I'm in a new city with a new job, but I still feel this sense of "meh." Twitter and Facebook have been lighting up since 11 last night when the east coast changer over happened with people wishing everyone a happy new year, but honestly, it doesn't feel like I should be happy.  Especially when my financials still suck, my girlfriend/bestie is still half a country away, and yeah...a whole host of other stuff still keep nagging at me.</p> <p>So yeah.  Happy new year.  Excuse me while I sulk in the corner.</p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/2012-same-shit-new-year">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/2012-same-shit-new-year#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=VvG5Ol-IsKE:4iIpSZ5IdIM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=VvG5Ol-IsKE:4iIpSZ5IdIM:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=VvG5Ol-IsKE:4iIpSZ5IdIM:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=VvG5Ol-IsKE:4iIpSZ5IdIM:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:44:00 -0800 Year Enders: Why I Hate This Time of Year http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/i-hate-this-time-of-year http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/i-hate-this-time-of-year <p> <p>It's the time of year when people start compliling lists.   Top stories of 2011, top trends of 2011, top top list of 2011, etc.  Whatever the list is, it's never the same for two people, and there's never transperancy to how it was developed.  For all we know, someone put 10 topics into a hat and the order in which they were pulled out is the "order of importance" on the list.</p> <p>Which brings me to one of the bigger annoyances...  The fact that everyone is quick to blame "the corporate media" when there are stories that go under reported throughout the year.  Case in point, Dan Patterson, formerly of ABC News Radio, <a href="https://plus.google.com/108865224681518296173/posts/PGrLNVzTqxm">shared a link on Google Plus</a> to an Alternet article recapping the "8 Stories Buried By the Corporate Media That You Need to Know About."</p> <p>I reshared the link, because I think they were under reported stories, however, I added the following comment:</p> <p><em><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I hate these kinds of articles.... </span></em><p /><em><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For the most part newsrooms are largely independent from meddling with by corporate owners. That said, with the sharply reduced size of newsrooms, a lot of things fall through the cracks because they're not on "the wires," not of importance / relatable to the local community, or get lost in the day-to-day news that local media has a job to cover.</span></em><p /><em><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Then again... Places like the networks, their cable news outlets, independent outlets such as Current, and the major print publications such as the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Time, etc. really don't have much of an excuse for not covering this. While the NYT and Trib are still mostly news-of-record publications, both of them have a national reputation for reporting stories of major national interest and the magazines are largely nationally oriented by design.</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">It's not because of owenership these stories are not being reported.  It's because of decreased staffing, and general lack of interest from the American public, that these stories don't get reported in the major national publications and on networks and their cable news outlets.</span></p> <p>Sad as it may sound, this country would much rather read about a Kardashian than global warming, trafficing of women and children and anything about our military than stories of families being reunited when soldiers come home from deployment.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/i-hate-this-time-of-year">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/i-hate-this-time-of-year#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=PFtH3XbcBCI:NIHeOf1Zb1o:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=PFtH3XbcBCI:NIHeOf1Zb1o:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=PFtH3XbcBCI:NIHeOf1Zb1o:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=PFtH3XbcBCI:NIHeOf1Zb1o:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:38:00 -0700 Let's talk role models for a minute http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/lets-talk-role-models-for-a-minute http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/lets-talk-role-models-for-a-minute <p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Attached is a picture of the Disney Princesses which points out all of the flaws of each character. This has sparked some debate on Facebook over whether or not the princesses are good role models for children. It's my opinion that they are not. I think there are better role models out there for kids. As much as I loved the Disney cartoons as a kid, I can see now how the messages that they're giving kids can be 1) a bit old fashioned and patriarchally oriented and 2) could be potentially sending a dangerous message, especially to young girl-identified children.<p />Ok. Let's open the floor to debate.<br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-10-21/ldnfCEfwHmnAgssehshlzwAbspBdFDnqwEgiejuFfzAwtyrDbpythjeAEebj/293623_2477928509060_1277933081_3079021_601380837_n.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="293623_2477928509060_1277933081_3079021_601380837_n" height="413" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-10-21/ldnfCEfwHmnAgssehshlzwAbspBdFDnqwEgiejuFfzAwtyrDbpythjeAEebj/293623_2477928509060_1277933081_3079021_601380837_n.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> Photo Credit / OP: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anna.bandfield" class="ot-anchor" style="color: #3366cc; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">https://www.facebook.com/anna.bandfield</a></span></p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/lets-talk-role-models-for-a-minute">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/lets-talk-role-models-for-a-minute#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=4oqXdUKgefA:kgy33NwQByw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=4oqXdUKgefA:kgy33NwQByw:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=4oqXdUKgefA:kgy33NwQByw:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=4oqXdUKgefA:kgy33NwQByw:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:24:00 -0700 Hive! I need your help. http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/hive-i-need-your-help http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/hive-i-need-your-help <p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Mom's Mac Mini.  It keeps freezing up at random.  She's running Lion, all the updates, etc and it's been upgraded from 2GB to 8GB of RAM, so it shouldn't be a memory issue.<p />I find that most of the time it's when Safari, Mail, iTunes and <em>insert next program name here</em> are open.  What usually happens is that she gets the beach ball and then Finder and the dock lock up to the pont where I can't right click to force-quit anything and when I go onto the Apple menu and select force quit and try to relaunch Finder, it just quits and never comes back on me.<p />I'm stumped.  At first I thought it was XMarks that was having issues... Uninstalled that and they're still there.  Could it be the TimeMachine backups causing the issues?  I've noticed TimeMachine is doing a backup about 80-90% of the time the computer locks up.<p />Or maybe it's WiFi sync to her iPhone?  I haven't checked to see if when things lock up iTunes is trying to sync her iPhone via WiFi. </span></p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/hive-i-need-your-help">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/hive-i-need-your-help#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=TEqu5ICBNDM:BKQ6uBqq1Mw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=TEqu5ICBNDM:BKQ6uBqq1Mw:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=TEqu5ICBNDM:BKQ6uBqq1Mw:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=TEqu5ICBNDM:BKQ6uBqq1Mw:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Tue, 27 Sep 2011 22:37:43 -0700 What is the trick to selling yourself these days? http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/what-is-the-trick-to-selling-yourself-these-d http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/what-is-the-trick-to-selling-yourself-these-d <p> <p>I can direct a television show.  I can edit a promo.  But it appears that I am lacking in the ability to market myself.  I'm not sure entirely, though, why this is.  I have skills that are in demand in the industry, hell, there are even places outside of the industry where I could probably find a job using these skills.  I guess...I'm just not sure how to make someone or a company or whoever realize that 1) I have the skills they need and 2) that they need me.  This is where I wish I could just scream out "Save me Obi-Wan Kenobi" and hope for someone to come and rescue me.  But that's not me.  I want to dig deeper into this whole "how do I market meyself" thing.</p> <p>There has got to be an expert in my network who has been in this spot.  </p> <p><strong>Let's break myself down....</strong></p> <ul> <li>I have directed news broadcasts for the last 7ish years.  If you want to count the work I did in college, I have directed things other than news.  Hell, I directed a music series that spanned 2 seasons on the campus television station.  And even outside of college, I hate to admit it, but I've directed a Sunday church service that was broadcasts to the northwest corner of Illinois every week</li> <li>I can edit on a number of different platforms.  I started out learning how to edit using an old-school tape-to-tape linear system.  The edit controller was a Sony RM-450 and I edited onto 3/4" UMatic tapes!  My first NLE was a system that no one has ever heard of, Media 100.  No trust me, you've never heard of it.  I'm self-taught in Final Cut Pro and have picked up a lot of Avid experience as that's what the television stations I've worked for have used.</li> <li>I know how to run cameras, light a set, switch a broadcast.  I can even use these new fangled "Automated News Production Systems" that  are all the rage these days.  I even got OverDrive to do things that other operators gave up on trying to do.  </li> <li>I even have a demo reel...ok yeah, I know, it's not the sizzleist, but it's a basic overview of what I've worked on.</li> </ul> <p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/O6tq6aZ-a2k" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p> <p>But yet... I still can't seem to convince people that they need me.</p> <p>So if any of the hive out there has any tips, let me know!</p> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/what-is-the-trick-to-selling-yourself-these-d">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/what-is-the-trick-to-selling-yourself-these-d#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=xNi1uJ5oT8g:IwIz0ypL7IU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=xNi1uJ5oT8g:IwIz0ypL7IU:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=xNi1uJ5oT8g:IwIz0ypL7IU:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=xNi1uJ5oT8g:IwIz0ypL7IU:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Mon, 26 Sep 2011 03:45:01 -0700 Quickhit: DreamWorks snubs HBO, goes to Netflix http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/quickhit-dreamworks-snubs-hbo-goes-to-netflix http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/quickhit-dreamworks-snubs-hbo-goes-to-netflix <p> <p> <p><a href="http://www.deadline.com/2011/09/report-dreamworks-animation-picks-netflix-over-pay-tv/">Deadline.com is reporting</a> that the New York Times is reporting that DreamWorks is moving in 2013 to using Netflix, not pay tv, as it's outlet of choice in the "pay tv" window of their films.  While the editors at Deadline.com don't feel this is a big deal, I think it's a bigger deal than they think.</p> <p>While DreamWorks is no Warner Brothers or Fox, they're still the owners of a couple of very popular franchises (Shrek and Kung Fu Panda) and if they're willing to forgo HBO, et. al., who is to say that the big boys in the industry won't at least consider it as an option in the future?</p> <p>Remember... It only takes one to get the ball rolling and be disruptive to the establishment and you better bet that the outcome of this deal will be watched very, very closely by that establishment.</p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/quickhit-dreamworks-snubs-hbo-goes-to-netflix">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/quickhit-dreamworks-snubs-hbo-goes-to-netflix#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=qILCiJP0Sss:uJKVTT9C6g4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=qILCiJP0Sss:uJKVTT9C6g4:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=qILCiJP0Sss:uJKVTT9C6g4:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=qILCiJP0Sss:uJKVTT9C6g4:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Sun, 25 Sep 2011 22:01:00 -0700 Dissenting Eagle: This is one of those odd situations http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/dissenting-eagle-this-is-one-of-those-odd-sit http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/dissenting-eagle-this-is-one-of-those-odd-sit <p> <p> </p> <p>So I was browsing through the feeds this afternoon and stumbled upon <a href="http://jezebel.com/5843701/post+bar-heckling-bristol-palin-declares-shes-no-homophobe">a blog post from Jezebel</a>. If you haven't read the article, the main takeaways are that: </p> <p>1) Bristol Palin was riding a mechanical bull </p> <p>2) She was verbally assaulted by a drunk person over the views of her mother </p> <p>3) She used a rather homophobic insult as a retort to the verbal abuse</p> <p>Now, I'll be the first to tell you that I'm in no way a fan of Sarah Palin.  In fact, I can't stand her at all.  Nor, really, am I that big of a fan of Bristol, especially since she seems to just be in the spotlight because of being her mother's daughter and not for any meaningful contribution on her own.  But that doesn't really mean, either, that I think the drunk guy was right for what he did.</p> <p>This would be easier for me to write if Bristol hadn't of called the guy a homosexual, since I honestly don't think this guy was in the right at all.  Just because she's Sarah's daughter does not make it right for him to go off on her.  She, from what I've read, is not her mother, nor should she be expected to be.  Similarly, just because of who her mother is, does not make it right to verbally assault her.  (Even if the subject of the abuse was Sarah herself.)</p> <p>Of course, I think Bristol could have handled the situation a lot better.  There was no need to insult the guy.  She could have just walked away and ignored it.  Of course, cameras for her reality show were rolling, so for all we know, this could have been a plant.  And well, the reaction could have all been for the cameras too.  Still, though, I know it makes for lousy TV, but she could have and should have walked away.</p> <p>Oh...and the other thing that got me writing this is... After seeing her on the bull, I want to see her take a stab at the mechanical pepper at La Perla in Milwaukee.  Seriously, I can't be the only one whose thinking that!  And that'd make for some entertaining television anyway.</p> <p>If you want to view the video, it's at the Jezebel site.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/dissenting-eagle-this-is-one-of-those-odd-sit">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/dissenting-eagle-this-is-one-of-those-odd-sit#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=2bwyaWFB2jY:eKgaxb1tlvs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=2bwyaWFB2jY:eKgaxb1tlvs:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=2bwyaWFB2jY:eKgaxb1tlvs:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=2bwyaWFB2jY:eKgaxb1tlvs:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Sun, 11 Sep 2011 21:22:00 -0700 Dissenting Eagle: My Reflection on the Past 10 Years http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/dissenting-eagle-my-reflection-on-the-past-10 http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/dissenting-eagle-my-reflection-on-the-past-10 <p> <p> <p>In the decade following 9/11, we have seen a terrible rollback of our civil liberties, in the name of security, of course.</p> <p>In the decade following 9/11, we have seen ourselves get into 2 wars, 1 justified, 1 not, in the name of rooting out terrorism.</p> <p>In the decade following 9/11, we took far too long to stand up and challenge the policies of a nearly dictatorial president and the Congress who went along with him.</p> <p>In the decade following 9/11, we ignored the fact that our military was treating captured enemies not as prisoners of war, subject to the Geneva Conventions, but as "enemy combatants" who were tortured, held in horrendous conditions, and generally mistreated.</p> <p>In the decade following 9/11, my generation has watched far too many kids of our age die because of unjust policy.</p> <p>In the decade following 9/11, we've gone from a country who can work together, to a country divided over the most stupidest of crap.</p> <p>For many people of my age, we watched it, in our dorm rooms, unfolding live on our TV screens.  It's a day that not many people will soon forget.  However, we need to sit back and take a good, long look at the state of our country.  In the last 10 years, we've gone from a prosperous country following the Clinton years, to a country that is fighting among the parties on whether or not we can pay our bills.  Polarized on everything.  The pundits might go up on Fox News or CNN or MSNBC and declare that "we won" or "mission accomplished" but really, have we?  I remember a TV spot following 9/11 that said something along the lines of "On 9/11/01 the country changed" and showed to shots of a "main street" with houses and then the same street with houses decorated with flags.  The reality is that we have changed, and not in a good way.</p> <p>The country is broken.  We're constantly living in a media-driven fear.  The only thing that's changed is that we've gone from being able to work together, to being at each others throats.</p> <p>So my big question is...   Who really "won" this?</p> <p>Now... Of course the decade following 9/11 has also done one big thing: It's brought us the technology to democratize the process of getting out information.  Before, the only way information got out was if it was in the paper, or on the nightly news.  Now, we have the likes of Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, etc.  Now, the majority of people are carrying phones that have better cameras, in a smaller package than what we had in 2001.  If things like the Arab Spring, or the Tehran demonstrations had happened without the advent of this technology, there's a very good chance to say that we might not have hear about them.  The same can be said for some of the more damaging things that have come out over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  In the decade following 9/11, it seemed as thought the networks and the major papers became more of followers and sheep than the voice of the people.  They did almost nothing in the years following 9/11 to question the Bush administration.  No one challenged him over things like the Patriot Act.  Or why he thought we *had* to invade Iraq.  They just rolled along with the administration, feeding back it's propaganda to the people.</p> <p>But of course, that's just my opinion.  And thankfully, they haven't yet taken away my rights under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States to express it.  Well, not yet anyway.</p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/dissenting-eagle-my-reflection-on-the-past-10">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/dissenting-eagle-my-reflection-on-the-past-10#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=IkeoBNug7zI:ck6GU9buNl0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=IkeoBNug7zI:ck6GU9buNl0:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=IkeoBNug7zI:ck6GU9buNl0:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=IkeoBNug7zI:ck6GU9buNl0:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:42:00 -0700 Why does this feel like I'm making a stupid mistake? http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/why-does-this-feel-like-im-making-a-stupid-mi http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/why-does-this-feel-like-im-making-a-stupid-mi <p> <p>Tonight was one of those bad nights where I was bored, without the distraction of the internet because the internet here is slower than dial-up, I swear, and because of the fact that I was watching a video on the iPad while the MacBook was working on doing a house clean and maintenance because for some reason it's going as slow as it possibly can and locking up at random and for no good reason right now.</p> <p>Right now I'm in one of those states where I think this whole "quit my job and move to LA" thing is the stupidest move I've ever made....and I haven't even left Madison yet.  I'm walking away from a paycheck, with little money and massive student loan debts, to hope that I can make it in a city that eats people alive.  And lest not forget that I don't have a job lined up out there, I don't have much of a network of friends and what not to help me find a job out there, and oh yeah, as of right now, I don't even have a couch to crash on until I can find a job.  And then of course, health insurance...it's not 2014 yet, so I'm still on the hook for that myself.  And I still need to figure out how to put my loans on hold for this.  And there's so much stuff to do.  And it's just frustrating.</p> <p>I think the biggest problem with this, though, is the fact that I don't have a job lined up.  I don't have something waiting for me.  I'm venturing into the unknown and that's extremely scary for me.  Especially given the fact that the stupid heads in Washington D.C. are playing with fire and ready to plunge the nation back into a recession right as I'm going to be working my final days in Madison and getting ready to head out of here for good.</p> <p>And then there's the people here.  I don't have many friends here, but I have several GOOD friends here.  People I feel bad about just saying "bye" to and leaving.  And that includes the people in the spotter group, even though I disagree with a LOT of them on their politics.  But yeah.</p> <p>I just wish I had some knowledge that everything will be ok when I get out to LA.  That I'll find a job and won't have to head back to Chicago in 6 months or a year even more broke than I am now and really screwed.  Or that I don't have to resort to working at WalMart and living in the ghetto.  Frankly, I'm sick of having to live paycheck-to-paycheck.  I'm willing to work hard to get where I need to be, but fuck universe, I'd like something to give back to me for a change.  </p> <p>But the fact of the matter as I look at it is, I need to get out of Madison.  Hell, I needed to get out of here in 2008.  While I'm glad I got the experience I did working where I'm at now, there's been more than one time where I've felt that the move to Madison was one of the worst things I did.  Not only did my relationship completely collapse (ok to be fair, it was pretty much dead before we moved) but my savings account was wiped out in 2009 when we got furloughed and well, because of how damn expensive this city is, my balance sheet hasn't ever recovered from it.</p> <p>Ugh.  So many issues...so disorganized.  Meh.  I think it's bed time.  Oh and... Where's Candace when I need her?  I could really use a hug right now.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/why-does-this-feel-like-im-making-a-stupid-mi">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/why-does-this-feel-like-im-making-a-stupid-mi#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=-PDeVthd5fs:UQSg5hwpt-c:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=-PDeVthd5fs:UQSg5hwpt-c:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=-PDeVthd5fs:UQSg5hwpt-c:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=-PDeVthd5fs:UQSg5hwpt-c:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Tue, 12 Jul 2011 07:42:05 -0700 Only in Madison will you see a Prius with a trailer on it. http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/only-in-madison-will-you-see-a-prius-with-a-t http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/only-in-madison-will-you-see-a-prius-with-a-t <p> <a href="http://instagr.am/p/HgX-Q/"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/achernow/hjqschFoffkpBBAkJEyrvCoyplhoubJApgdtjEqcsculnvxGneAfEIbCardD/media_httpimagesinsta_HHIeo.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Media_httpimagesinsta_hhieo" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/achernow/hjqschFoffkpBBAkJEyrvCoyplhoubJApgdtjEqcsculnvxGneAfEIbCardD/media_httpimagesinsta_HHIeo.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </a> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/only-in-madison-will-you-see-a-prius-with-a-t">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/only-in-madison-will-you-see-a-prius-with-a-t#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=E_P_SG1McoA:xW5pAb_Ne9A:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=E_P_SG1McoA:xW5pAb_Ne9A:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=E_P_SG1McoA:xW5pAb_Ne9A:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=E_P_SG1McoA:xW5pAb_Ne9A:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Mon, 04 Jul 2011 17:25:35 -0700 750° maybe? But who cares... Fire! Fire! http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/750-maybe-but-who-cares-fire-fire http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/750-maybe-but-who-cares-fire-fire <p> <a href="http://instagr.am/p/G-xGB/"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/achernow/oxbCystHopozyDBkiEIzwlgGJHsxkiaofjcnjarobcAelhuewJnqhfcadgnF/media_httpimagesinsta_zsAmz.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Media_httpimagesinsta_zsamz" height="500" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/achernow/oxbCystHopozyDBkiEIzwlgGJHsxkiaofjcnjarobcAelhuewJnqhfcadgnF/media_httpimagesinsta_zsAmz.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </a> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/750-maybe-but-who-cares-fire-fire">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/750-maybe-but-who-cares-fire-fire#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=7jgTnyAfwYU:vpPKjXLZKKw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=7jgTnyAfwYU:vpPKjXLZKKw:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=7jgTnyAfwYU:vpPKjXLZKKw:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=7jgTnyAfwYU:vpPKjXLZKKw:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:40:13 -0700 Haven't had one in forever!! http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/havent-had-one-in-forever http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/havent-had-one-in-forever <p> <a href="http://instagr.am/p/G9aUd/"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a 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src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=180mw9Wws8U:5FQUo5SpNug:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=180mw9Wws8U:5FQUo5SpNug:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:55:56 -0700 I get to click the graphics for Brian today as he's out on the patio for wx. http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/i-get-to-click-the-graphics-for-brian-today-a http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/i-get-to-click-the-graphics-for-brian-today-a <p> <a href="http://instagr.am/p/GkvUH/"><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a 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src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=knKpuAG3yFw:xl4VwooEp9Q:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=knKpuAG3yFw:xl4VwooEp9Q:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Fri, 10 Jun 2011 10:52:09 -0700 Review: @LadyGaGa's "Born This Way" http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/review-ladygaga-born-this-way http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/review-ladygaga-born-this-way <p> <p>The album that Lady GaGa has been teasing us with for the last few months finally dropped last month.  I, like quite a few people I know, took advantage of the 99-cent Amazon MP3 gold box deal to get the album, and then filled in the missing tracks to get the deluxe version of the album, all-be-it in MP3 format.  It is a very excellent album.  It shows off GaGa's WIDE range of musical talent.  Born This Way is not just a pop album, it's a rock album, it's a country album, it's an everything album.  A few songs stand out from the rest, and I'll get to those in a second.  Like most albums she puts out, there are hidden gems among the singles that you hear on the radio. </p> <p><em>Born this Way</em> is the anthem that the "rest" of us can turn to.  It's the title track to the album and is the glue of the whole album.  GaGa sends home the message that everyone should love themselves for who they are no matter what anyone else things.  It's a song and a message that plays well to people like myself who were the targets of bullies in school.  </p> <p><em>The Edge of Glory</em> is another great song off the album.  Doing some research for this post, I see that she composed it as a tribute to her dying grandfather.  The song has a lot of rock styling to it and it a great song.  I have to admit that I've played this song quite a bit.  This, like <em>Hair</em> also has that feeling that this could almost be a rock song more than a pop song.  Especially with the awesome, almost Springsteen like, sax part right in the middle of it.</p> <p>All of those are radio singles off the album.  But there is at least one non-single, as of writing anyway, that I think is a "must listen to" song off this album, and that's <em>You and I.</em>  This song sounds like something that I would have expected to have come out of Nashville.  In fact, I bet if I played it for you, without telling you who composed / sung it, I bet you would probably mistake this for something that Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood had put out.  It's raw, it's emotional, it's legitamtely a country song.  By far I think this is one of the best song she's put out, that hasn't been featured as a single on an album.  It shows her range of styling as an artist.</p> <p>Honorable mentions, by the way, need to go out to <em>Hair a</em>s well as the song that I played on repeat for quite a while, but yet still don't quite understand, <em>Judas</em>.  Both songs are great, solid, pop radio friendly songs.  Both are catch and I like them.</p> <p><em><span style="font-style: normal;">I've played this album almost non-stop since it came out and can say this is by far one of Lady GaGa's greatest works to date.  If you haven't heard it, I suggest you head over to iTunes or Amazon and grab a copy of it.  I love it, and I think you will too, even if you're not a fan of Lady GaGa.</span></em></p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/review-ladygaga-born-this-way">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/review-ladygaga-born-this-way#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=wHmZpn7ajPY:D7QpYInRTc4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=wHmZpn7ajPY:D7QpYInRTc4:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=wHmZpn7ajPY:D7QpYInRTc4:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=wHmZpn7ajPY:D7QpYInRTc4:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Sat, 04 Jun 2011 12:02:04 -0700 Cars on State http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/cars-on-state http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/cars-on-state <p> <div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/achernow/tFrCzzlhrvGHtowdkzsDgdubihhusBgliFyDwoBAnpnazguDpFFCdlrsmnwE/media_https2i1picplzt_fcreD.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Media_https2i1picplzt_fcred" height="299" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/achernow/tFrCzzlhrvGHtowdkzsDgdubihhusBgliFyDwoBAnpnazguDpFFCdlrsmnwE/media_https2i1picplzt_fcreD.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> <p /> Taken with <a href="http://picplz.com">picplz</a>. </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/cars-on-state">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/cars-on-state#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=G1uRfxrpd60:TcBVJhCfM_A:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=G1uRfxrpd60:TcBVJhCfM_A:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=G1uRfxrpd60:TcBVJhCfM_A:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=G1uRfxrpd60:TcBVJhCfM_A:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Sun, 15 May 2011 09:23:32 -0700 Going Loopy http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/going-loopy http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/going-loopy <p> <p>So... I picked up a <a href="http://www.groovemaker.com/home/">looping app</a> for my iPad.  </p> <p>Here's my fun, little creation.</p> <p><div class='p_embed p_audio_embed'> <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/going-loopy"><img alt="" src="http://posterous.com/images/filetypes/mp3.png" /></a> <div class='p_embed_description'> <span class='p_id3'>goingloopy.mp3</span> <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/going-loopy">Listen on Posterous</a> </div> </div> </p> <p>Oh...and for historical reference...here's the loop I made back in BREC 121: Sound Design.  That's back when I had access to <a href="http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/acidpro">Acid Pro</a> and had to make this for class.</p> <p><div class='p_embed p_audio_embed'> <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/going-loopy"><img alt="" src="http://posterous.com/images/filetypes/mp3.png" /></a> <div class='p_embed_description'> <span class='p_id3'>chernow_techno.mp3</span> <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/going-loopy">Listen on Posterous</a> </div> </div> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/going-loopy">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/going-loopy#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=rpt4WhWmY9w:TRxuNN0jFZ8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=rpt4WhWmY9w:TRxuNN0jFZ8:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=rpt4WhWmY9w:TRxuNN0jFZ8:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=rpt4WhWmY9w:TRxuNN0jFZ8:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Sun, 08 May 2011 00:30:00 -0700 1 "new", 2 old. That was my Saturday night. http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/1-new-2-old-that-was-my-saturday-night http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/1-new-2-old-that-was-my-saturday-night <p> <p>Tonight I deemed it "movie night" because, well, I had the night off and really didn't feel like being social.</p> <p>First up was <span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Social Network</span>.  I wasn't sure what to think of the movie going into it.  I've heard glowing reviews of the movie and well, had high expectations.  It didn't disappoint at all.  I'm not entirely sure how much of the story in the movie is factual to the actual founding of Facebook, but damn it's a great story.  I see a lot of myself in the Mark Zuckerburg character in the movie.  Of course, now I also just feel like I've let myself go.  We're both brilliant nerds...  He's a zillionaire, I'm uh..well let's just say far from that.</p> <p>For the next 2 I decided rather than watch one of the new movies I've got waiting to be watched, I'd go into my back catalog.  First up was <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Chasing Amy</span>.  For those who have never seen it, by all means watch it.  I'm a huge fan of Kevin Smith's films and I think this is one of his best in the Jay and Silent Bob series.  (For those who don't know already, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Dogma</span> is my favorite.)</p> <p>The last movie I watched was <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Heathers</span>.  Yeah...you probably either haven't heard of it or don't remember it.  It's one those 80's teen drama movies.  Candace is the first person to have shown it to me.  I bought a copy when I found it in the discount bin at Walmart a long while ago.  I haven't watched it in a while and figured that since Christian Slater is back on TV, I might as well break it out.</p> <p>Wait.  So were you like expecting movie reviews or something?</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/1-new-2-old-that-was-my-saturday-night">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/1-new-2-old-that-was-my-saturday-night#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=tx0SNPq9yxw:MJUItpgHgR4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=tx0SNPq9yxw:MJUItpgHgR4:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=tx0SNPq9yxw:MJUItpgHgR4:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=tx0SNPq9yxw:MJUItpgHgR4:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Sun, 17 Apr 2011 23:40:00 -0700 Follow-up Meta Post http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/follow-up-meta-post http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/follow-up-meta-post <p> <p>The WI Supreme Court election didn't go as I had hoped.  Maybe.  At the end of election night it looked like my candidate was going to win, but in the official vote certification stage, we see that somehow, out of thin air, the other guy got a ton of votes that had been "forgotten" to be counted.  We'll see how this turns out.  Deadline to apply for a recount is Wednesday.</p> <p>Actually, I was  1 for 3 in the big races.  The candidate I voted for in the city's mayoral election was defeated as well...by the guy he defeated 8 years ago.</p> <p>Another mom-blogger posted about an experience where her "princess boy" meets another.  <a href="http://raisingmyrainbow.com/2011/04/04/c-j-john-perfect-playdate/">Read it here</a>.  Coincidentally, her blog was the one I was trying to find when I was writing my original post.</p> <p>Also, this <a href="http://www.jcrew.com/womens_feature/Jennaspicks.jsp">non-controversial J. Crew ad</a> was <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/crew-ad-boy-painting-toenails-pink-stirs-transgender/story?id=13358903">turned into a controversy</a> by the internet...because OMG a boy is getting his toes painted.  I'm sure if she'd of been playing oh say baseball or basketball with her daughter, this would have just blown over.  The only good thing is that it is at least sparking some sort of discussion on the topic. Anyway, I still don't see how the ad is at all controversial.  And well, the fact that there is an alleged controversy surrounding the ad just further re-enforces gender stereotypes and gender roles.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/follow-up-meta-post">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/follow-up-meta-post#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=1jvCfEv8OH4:9Z5QvgI2VK4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=1jvCfEv8OH4:9Z5QvgI2VK4:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=1jvCfEv8OH4:9Z5QvgI2VK4:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=1jvCfEv8OH4:9Z5QvgI2VK4:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Mon, 04 Apr 2011 23:31:00 -0700 Wisconsin Spring Election Day 2011 http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/wisconsin-spring-election-day-2011 http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/wisconsin-spring-election-day-2011 <p> <p>I'm going to take a second here to encourage everyone in Wisconsin to go out and vote today.  This is an important election and it's imparative that you participate in it.  A number of key issues will hinge on the outcome of a few races, however, the most crucial of them is the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.</p> <p>I'm not taking sides publicly in most races, however, please vote responsibly in this election and weigh the fact that in races like the WI-SC, the conservative, incumbant candidate is more likely to side with Walker on issues like the current "budget repair" union busting bill.</p> <p>Whoever you vote for, though, the important thing to remember is to VOTE.  If you don't, I don't want to hear you bitching later about what is happening in the state.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/wisconsin-spring-election-day-2011">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/wisconsin-spring-election-day-2011#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=8GZbZDxLxmM:WgQchCuLxLo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=8GZbZDxLxmM:WgQchCuLxLo:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=8GZbZDxLxmM:WgQchCuLxLo:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=8GZbZDxLxmM:WgQchCuLxLo:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow Mon, 04 Apr 2011 23:27:00 -0700 Girls will be boys and boys will be girls http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/girls-will-be-boys-and-boys-will-be-girls http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/girls-will-be-boys-and-boys-will-be-girls <p> <p>In the last few months, an interesting debate is starting to happen regarding gender roles, gender appropriateness and gender stereotypes. You might remember the "<a href="http://myprincessboy.com/index.asp">Princess Boy</a>," both the book and the namesake young boy who likes to look pretty and wear dresses.   Or maybe the mother who wrote the "<a href="http://nerdyapplebottom.com/2010/11/02/my-son-is-gay/">My Son is Gay</a>" blog post talking about her son's decision to go as Daphne from Scooby Doo.  (She's been in the news again recently, this time because the church she attends <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/son-gay-blog-brings-ultimatum-local-church/story?id=12858929">doesn't like the blog post</a>.)  Or the <a href="http://childrenshospitalblog.org/father-of-a-transgender-tween-speaks-out/">father who had to defend his transgender tween daughter</a>.</p> <p>I 100% completely support these parents and their kids for both allowing them to express themselves and be who they are, and for defending their kids' actions and not, in the least, bowing down to the societal pressures that exist right now to fit into some "black" or "white" mold of how the concept of gender should be presented and rationalized.  Most people who I've talked to are well aware of the fact that gender isn't the nice, defined boxes of "male" and "female" but a fluid, changing, rainbow of gender, so to speak.</p> <p>Looking through the blogosphere (yes, I still use that term, and yes, I'm still one of those quacks who uses a RSS reader to stay on top of news) it seems that one of the countries top, so called "experts" on all things people, has a difference of opinion.  Dr. Phil, whom I refuse to watch on TV, has allegedly <a href="http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/02/09/Dr_Phil_No_Girls_Toys_for_Boys/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+AdvocatecomDailyNews+(Advocate.com+Daily+News)">told a concerned parent of a 5-year-old son who likes to play with Barbies</a> to "take away the girl things and buy him boy toys."  Um... What?  To me it sounds like Dr. Phil is advocating the line that most people want to hear...there is a such thing as a "boy toy" and a "girl toy" and that it's somehow inherently wrong for a boy to be playing with something labeled a "girl toy."  (I'm sure he'd have no opposition, however, to a girl say picking up and playing with a football.) </p> <p>And since the Dr. Phil article and show were published, more people have taken a look into the marketing of toys to children...and surprise, surprise, it's a very gendered marketplace out there.  A very awesome new "female geek" blog that has sprung up recently, The Mary Sue, has a <a href="http://www.themarysue.com/gender-marketing-toys/">beautiful pair of word cloud info graphics</a> that illustrate the way that marketers are targeting children based on their gender.  I can't say that it shocks me the least to see that the toys that are being targeted to boys have marketing that is filled with words that suggest power or dominance, while the toys being targeted towards girls have words that suggest motherhood, submissiveness, and beauty.  Another article that has been recently published, too, show how kids can be bullied for having toys, or <a href="http://www.geekosystem.com/why-little-girls-get-teased-for-liking-star-wars/">in this case a water bottle</a>, that isn't "gender appropriate."</p> <p>From personal experience, I can tell you that I had a kitchen set as a kid.  I never was interested in GI Joes, Ninja Turtles, etc.  I suck at most Nintendo games.  Though, I did have my Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars, however.  Oh and with a few exceptions, my best friends have been girls.  (OMG!!!)  So what?  Seriously!  So what?  Of course, in retrospect, I'd love to have seen what the reaction would have been if I'd wanted to go as one of the girls from Scooby Doo.  (Totally think I could pull off <span style="line-height: 19px; font-family: sans-serif;">Velma</span>, no?)</p> <p>Anyway, enough kidding around...  The bigger picture to all of this is not that there should or needs to be a line drawn between what is appropriate for each gender.  The bigger picture is that we need to accept the differences that lie with-in each of us.  We need to stop worrying that Johnny wants to wear a dress, or that Suzie likes to play with GI Joes.  (Do they even still have those?)  Varience is a natural part of our existence.  So is self expression.  Neither of those scenarios are odd, or mean that a kid (or an adult) is in particular going to "turn out" some way.  They're natural parts of life.  We should take this as a chance to be able to learn tolerance and acceptance of life's differences.  Because it's that which makes us each unique and not just another sheep in the herd.</p> <p>(And yes... I've been working on this for 2 months.  I can't say I'm the fastest blogger in the world.  Oops!)</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/girls-will-be-boys-and-boys-will-be-girls">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.alphaindiacharlie.com/girls-will-be-boys-and-boys-will-be-girls#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=K7x4VizaBqE:wu3KN5_xS0Q:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=K7x4VizaBqE:wu3KN5_xS0Q:2jbJwBH4QMg"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?i=K7x4VizaBqE:wu3KN5_xS0Q:2jbJwBH4QMg" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?a=K7x4VizaBqE:wu3KN5_xS0Q:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/adamchernow?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/543088/17979_619828930894_20300498_36166082_5302118_n_copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AvAENP38d8J A Chernow achernow A Chernow