x.

It's a Beautiful Day!

"Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you can destroy."

-Barack Obama, Inauguration speech

Is it just me or does the world seem like a better place today? It has only been about 24 hours since Barack Obama was offically sworn in as the 44th President of the United States and already I can't help but look to the future with amazing optimism (even if I'm not American).

After watching Obama over the course of the last few years (and let it be known that I said Barack Obama would be the next President way back in 2004), I've seen a man that has the amazing ability of instilling hope and confidence in not only Americans, but people all around the world. Watching people in Kenya, Indonesia, New York, Ottawa and so many other cities and countries celebrate his historic inauguration made me feel safe, a feeling of safety i have never felt from any President, Prime Minister, King, Queen, or any other political power you can think of. He will have his enemies just as everyone does, but he has gained even more supporters and people willing to march in the same direction.

Obama makes you believe; whether in is his quest for change, his promise of rebuilding a once economically powerful and globally trusted country or his search for racial equality, the words that effortlessly spill from Obama's mouth make you stop and look within. They resonate and bury themselves in your mind. They make you want to be better.

I don't know what it is about Obama that automatically makes me put my trust in him, it quite possibly could be because he has so openly put his trust in us, whether American or not. He is one of us, not the arrogant, I think I'm better than you President we've seen for the last 8 years. He's cool, he dances, he has this swagger when he walks. He doesn't sugar coat anything, and he doesn't ram anything down our throats. He truly is a President of the people, for the people and by the people.

He has done nothing yet has done everything.

I'm not saying that Obama will walk on water or that he is the world's savior. What I am saying is he is the closest thing to it that I have seen in my lifetime. What we all saw yesterday on Capital Hill was history happening before our eyes. We don't have to wait to read about it in books and we don't have to ask our parents or grandparents to tell us stories. We will be the ones who write about it, and we will be the ones to tell our children and grandchildren the story of the day we all watched the world change.

w.

The Mickey Rourke Club.

I am offically on the Mickey bandwagon. Last night I watched his new film "The Wrestler". I liked it, not the greatest of endings but Mickey Rourke gave one of those performances that leaves you not being able to picture anyone else playing the part.

Throw in his awesome too cool for school acceptance of his Best Actor Award at the Golden Globes and Mickey has officially been added to my favorite actors list. I'm not sure if it was the hair, the shiny scarf, the almost fall going up the stairs, but the speech made me wanna see every movie he's ever made.

Welcome back to being famous Mickey, welcome back.

v.

A Severe Caca Mouth

Everyone swears. If you say that you don't, then you're a liar. Everyone has their favorites, from shit to bitch to asshole; like a pair of comfortable sweatpants, people tend to find the one they like and stick with it.

Once the training wheels are taken off and people move past the baby bad words like the ones mentioned above, swearing always seems to lead to arguably the most famous swear of all, and maybe my favorite (for those keeping track at home), FUCK. But it's so much more than a simple four letter word. So listen, learn and most of all, enjoy...for fuck sake!

u.

George, I'm gonna miss you

With only 14 days left in one of the worst presidencies EVER...ANYWHERE, here are some of the best quotes from good ol' W. I wonder if these sounded right in his head.

-"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." - September 2000, explaining his energy policies at an event in Michigan.

-"Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning?" - January 2000, during a campaign event in South Carolina.

-"They misunderestimated the compassion of our country. I think they misunderestimated the will and determination of the commander-in-chief, too." - Sept. 26, 2001, in Langley, Va. Bush was referring to the terrorists who carried out the Sept. 11 attacks.

-"There's no doubt in my mind, not one doubt in my mind, that we will fail." - Oct. 4, 2001, in Washington. Bush was remarking on a back-to-work plan after the terrorist attacks.

- "It would be a mistake for the United States Senate to allow any kind of human cloning to come out of that chamber." - April 10, 2002, at the White House, as Bush urged Senate passage of a broad ban on cloning.

- "I want to thank the dozens of welfare-to-work stories, the actual examples of people who made the firm and solemn commitment to work hard to embetter themselves." - April 18, 2002, at the White House.

-"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again." - Sept. 17, 2002, in Nashville, Tenn.

-"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." - Aug. 5, 2004, at the signing ceremony for a defence spending bill.

-"Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." - Sept. 6, 2004, at a rally in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

- "Our most abundant energy source is coal. We have enough coal to last for 250 years, yet coal also prevents an environmental challenge." - April 20, 2005, in Washington.

- "We look forward to hearing your vision, so we can more better do our job." - Sept. 20, 2005, in Gulfport, Miss.

-"I can't wait to join you in the joy of welcoming neighbours back into neighbourhoods, and small businesses up and running, and cutting those ribbons that somebody is creating new jobs." - Sept. 5, 2005, when Bush met with residents of Poplarville, Miss., in the wake of hurricane Katrina.

-"It was not always a given that the United States and America would have a close relationship. After all, 60 years we were at war 60 years ago we were at war." - June 29, 2006, at the White House, where Bush met with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

-"Make no mistake about it, I understand how tough it is, sir. I talk to families who die." - Dec. 7, 2006, in a joint appearance with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

- "These are big achievements for this country, and the people of Bulgaria ought to be proud of the achievements that they have achieved." - June 11, 2007, in Sofia, Bulgaria.

- "Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your introduction. Thank you for being such a fine host for the OPEC summit." - September 2007, in Sydney, Australia, where Bush was attending an APEC summit.

-"Thank you, Your Holiness. Awesome speech." April 16, 2008, at a ceremony welcoming Pope Benedict to the White House.

-"The fact that they purchased the machine meant somebody had to make the machine. And when somebody makes a machine, it means there's jobs at the machine-making place." - May 27, 2008, in Mesa, Ariz.

-"And they have no disregard for human life." - July 15, 2008, at the White House. Bush was referring to enemy fighters in Afghanistan.

- "I remember meeting a mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office." - June 26, 2008, during a Rose Garden news briefing.

-"Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have helped transform 13 small colonies into a great and growing nation of more than 300 people." - July 4, 2008 in Virginia.

- "This thaw - took a while to thaw, it's going to take a while to unthaw." Oct. 20, 2008, in Alexandria, La., as he discussed the economy and frozen credit markets.

t.

Umm...

s.

Time for Dick Clark to Drop His Balls

As I enter the final 29 hours of 2008, I have found myself looking back on arguably the most up and down year of my life and anxiously await the clean slate that is 2009.

2008 was a year that tested me like no other. After two failed jobs, one of which almost destroyed me financially and sent me into a deep depression, I have found a job that holds the most potential of any I have ever had and have officially gotten back on track money wise. This past month I have found myself missing my grandparents more then ever. Even though it was the second Christmas without them, this one was even more difficult. Yet, with the emptiness that came over my families home over the holidays, I have never felt closer to all of them.

I also met some amazing people, especially over the summer. The crew from Newfoundland (and Mikhail I throw you into that group) is severely missed and I can't wait for them to come back to Montreal. Some of the best and funniest moments from 2008 were courtesy of the new faces in my life.

For the first time in 3 years, I lived with a family member, and though i put her in a position to nag the hell outta me...a lot, I've had a blast living with my sister. The other half of the great memories from '08 are thanks to the crazy shit that went on in apt 25. I'm actually kinda sad to see you go.

And as my blank sheet that is 2009 quickly approaches, I can't help but be excited for the endless possibilities and all the things that I want to do this year. There's one thing I know for sure...it can't be any worse than last year.

r.

They fought the Jason and the Jason won!

After 6 days of no Hotmail and no Facebook, everything is right with the world again as both are back in my life. All it took was for me to resend the EXACT SAME ANSWERS as when it got rejected. That's a tight ship they run over there at Hotmail.

q.

My Geniuses of 2008
(in no particular order)


Tina Fey


TV on the Radio


Heath Ledger


Amy Millan

Land of Talk

Russell Brand

The Ratio On This One is 100%

(I told myself I would never do this, but I also said I would never have a blog).

Zooey Deschanel

Jennifer Connelly

Kristin Bell

Lauren Conrad

Scarlett Johansson

It's good to know that I have a chance with none of them.

Mikhail, are you shocked none of them are 18?

p.

Jason vs. James Lipton

1. What is your favorite word?
Catalyst

2. What is your least favorite word?
Vague

3. What turns you on?
Honesty

4. What turns you off?
Being fake

5. What is your favorite curse word?
Fuck

6. What sound or noise do you love?
Skates carving the ice

7. What sound or noise do you hate?
Screeching tires

8. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
Musician

9. What profession would you not like to attempt?
Police officer

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say to you when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
You earned all of it

o.

Where is Bob Saget when you need him?

Who would have thought that young Stephanie Tanner would have become a meth addict and an alcoholic who still lives with her parents. Who says there's nothing wrong with becoming a child star, just ask Britney, Lindsay and Macaulay.

"Jodie Sweetin is not allowed to see her 8-month-old daughter without supervision. Moments ago, an Orange County, Ca. judge made the explosive ruling after Sweetin's estranged husband Cody Herpin accused the "Full House" star of being an unfit mother -- citing an alleged incident where Sweetin drove intoxicated with their baby in the car. The couple faced off in open court today for an emergency custody hearing at Cody's request. Jodie, an admitted meth addict and alcoholic who lives with her parents, will not be allowed to be with the child unless one of her folks is present. A doctor also took the stand and claimed that Jodie had recently fallen off the wagon. However, the doc confirmed Jodie has been in touch with her sponsor and is attending AA meetings. The doctor said she does not believe the baby is at risk at the moment. A judge ordered both Cody and Jodie to submit to drug tests before the next hearing"

...but don't take my word for it.

I'm in a quote copying mood today. Here are some I found on the world wide web.

"All our young lives we search for someone to love. Someone who makes us complete. We choose partners and change partners. We dance to a song of heartbreak and hope... all the while wondering if somewhere, somehow, there's someone perfect... who might be searching for us"

"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next"

"On the sixth day, God created man in his own image. Now it's up to us to figure it all out. Right, wrong. Good, evil. In each of us is the capacity to decide what drives our actions. So what is it that makes some choose selflessness, the need to devote oneself to something greater, while others know only self-interest? Isolating themselves in a world of their own making? Some seek love, even if unrequited, while others are driven by fear and betrayal. There are those who see their choices as dark proof of God's absence, while others follow a path of noble destiny. But in the end, good, evil, right or wrong, what we choose is never what we really need. For that is the real cosmic joke. The real gift that God has left behind"

"You do not choose your destiny, it chooses you. And those that knew you before fate took you by the hand cannot understand the depth of the changes inside. They cannot fathom how much you stand to lose in failure...that you are the instrument of flawless design. And all of life may hang in the balance"

Don't ask me what the picture has to do with anything, I just liked it. Sad but exciting.

Day 4 of NO Hotmail and NO Facebook and now I'm really starting to get frustrated