http://www.jasonpettus.com/ Personal journal of Chicago-based arts administrator and travel writer Jason Pettus. en-us ilikejason@gmail.com 2009-07-10T15:26:09-06:00 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:26:09 -0600 http://www.jasonpettus.com/archives/000990.html A reader asked me recently when I was going to do another journal entry on futurism; and that's all it took for me to sit down and write it. Today, detailed thoughts on what I think is coming in America's next "era" (25 to 75 years), "age" (marked by technological change), "period" (marked by philosophical change), and "epoch" (as in we're in the middle of the "Scientific" one right now). 990@http://www.jasonpettus.com/ History 2009-07-10T15:26:09-06:00 http://www.jasonpettus.com/archives/000989.html I just had an experience the other day that reminded me of this again, plus just finished a book by Neal Stephenson called Anathem that deals in general with the same subject; so since I haven't updated this main personal... 989@http://www.jasonpettus.com/ Computers 2009-06-03T14:26:12-06:00 http://www.jasonpettus.com/archives/000988.html Things still suck with money and dating, but at least I'm very productive these days; and that had me thinking recently about what I might take on as new challenges this summer, coming here to Chicago in just a few weeks finally. Today, my conclusions. 988@http://www.jasonpettus.com/ CCLaP (my arts center) 2009-04-12T20:52:33-06:00 http://www.jasonpettus.com/archives/000987.html I'm trying to get more work these days as a futurist; and that means among other things trying to come up with my own quirky theory about the arts, that I too can write a cultishly popular book about and get invited to South by Freaking Southwest too. Today, first thoughts about that theory, and how it applies to the remarkable developments within the television industry in the last decade. 987@http://www.jasonpettus.com/ Business 2009-04-05T15:17:09-06:00 http://www.jasonpettus.com/archives/000986.html It's my 40th birthday; and much like a lapsed Jew at Passover, I'm not planning on celebrating it. Today, the reasons why. 986@http://www.jasonpettus.com/ My Life 2009-03-06T09:36:27-06:00 http://www.jasonpettus.com/archives/000985.html Uh-oh; it's another entry just for nerds! Today in fact concerns a new research project I've taken on, to eventually present this summer through my arts center, wherein I read a thousand Wikipedia entries on the subject of the 19th Century then present them in 3D "mind-map" form, or in other words a "cloud" of information. Click through for a lot more on what I mean. 985@http://www.jasonpettus.com/ Business 2009-02-08T07:21:13-06:00 http://www.jasonpettus.com/archives/000984.html All right, motherfuckers; I JOINED FACEBOOK. Happy? Here, some thoughts on how strange it's been to get reacquainted with a whole series of old college friends there, in some cases for the first time in decades. 984@http://www.jasonpettus.com/ My Life 2009-01-31T23:33:47-06:00 http://www.jasonpettus.com/archives/000983.html Yesterday I found myself once again doing what I've done on numerous pleasurable Saturdays -- making my way through thousands of random photos and indie-rock songs and blog entries and podcast episodes from amateur artists around the world. Why? And why so pleasurable? Today, some thoughts on the subject. 983@http://www.jasonpettus.com/ Business 2009-01-25T16:51:02-06:00 http://www.jasonpettus.com/archives/000982.html I haven't really talked about this online yet, but in recent years (since opening my arts center) I've been slowly coming up with a new "Grand Unified Theory" about the arts, that every medium in history has actually gone through a remarkably similar series of steps in terms of how it's perceived and used by the general public. Today, my first detailed thoughts on the matter, as it pertains to the history of the television industry. 982@http://www.jasonpettus.com/ Business 2009-01-22T17:25:38-06:00 http://www.jasonpettus.com/archives/000979.html I've been trying to write my "Obama Wins" entry this week, but have been having a hard time finding something unique to say about it all. So instead, this entry, on why Obama's victory was also a loud repudiation of Bush and his policies, and why I think he and his cronies are just as guilty of fascism as any Nazi in the 1930s was. 979@http://www.jasonpettus.com/ History 2008-11-09T14:14:21-06:00 http://www.jasonpettus.com/archives/000978.html Good Christ Almighty, my arts center's first-ever original book is finally out, after a year of constant plans and constant delays. Today, all about it, what I think of it, and by the way why I will never accept one of those dirty corporate major-press book-editor jobs. 978@http://www.jasonpettus.com/ Business 2008-10-31T13:24:05-06:00 http://www.jasonpettus.com/archives/000977.html So did I mention that I've started writing poetry again, for the first time since my "slam days" in the 1990s, but this time actual formal poetry instead of performance work? Um, yes, I have. Today, all about it. 977@http://www.jasonpettus.com/ My Life 2008-09-14T22:32:07-06:00 http://www.jasonpettus.com/archives/000976.html Today, part 3 of my recent thoughts about this weird little commercial mini-space that recently up for rent in my neighborhood here in Chicago, and all the various cool book-oriented things I could do with such a space. 976@http://www.jasonpettus.com/ Business 2008-09-02T13:18:08-06:00 http://www.jasonpettus.com/archives/000975.html I'm having a particularly crappy year this year, so one of my only highlights these days are of the recurrent pleasant fantasies I keep having each time I pass this empty tiny commercial space in my neighborhood. Today, part 1 of more on what I would build there, and how I would sell the things found within. 975@http://www.jasonpettus.com/ Business 2008-08-29T18:49:09-06:00 http://www.jasonpettus.com/archives/000973.html Yes, it's true; like millions of other Americans, I seem to be hooked on the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in a way I never have with any other Olympics. Why? Well, that's complicated. Click through for more. 973@http://www.jasonpettus.com/ History 2008-08-23T19:43:45-06:00