Today I've launched my first project as Creative Director for the RGA. It's a campaign to get Jerry Brown, the former two-term governor of California, to release his public records from when he was in office three decades ago. Since he is seeking a 3rd term in office, it seems logical that we should know what he did while in office.

The concept, design, branding, and social media was designed and created by yours truly. The video was directed and co-produced by an amazing talent, Lucas R. Baiano. Erik Rapprich was the interactive and development genius who put this all together, making this project a reality. And of course, the masterful script from wordsmith Tim Murtaugh.

This was a real team effort, and I couldn't be happier with the final results!

WEBSITE: http://whatsbrowndone.com
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/WhatsBrownDone
VIDEO ON YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Okd2JCq5dg

WATCH THE VIDEO (starring yours truly) IN HD HERE:

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Read the official RGA press release here: http://www.rga.org/homepage/rga-website-exposes-jerry-brown%E2%80%99s-record-demands-release-of-papers/

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I look forward to showing you everything I create going forward. Let me know your thoughts on this one!





 

Labels: 2010 Election, Advertising, California, design, FOI, Jerry Brown, Justin Schuck, politics

Over the last two centuries, members of congress from across the political spectrum have forged compromises that elevated our civil debate, moved our country forward, and gave the world a model for democracy. Sure, at times we did not live up to our highest ideals, but never in my lifetime have I seen such a sustained effort to undermine the function of our government. Government doesn't possess all the answers, but to say that a government has no answers is to fundamentally misunderstand the definition of democracy. When Americans work and sacrifice together in the battle for a better future, we solve tremendous problems.

CONSERVATIVE GRUMBLINGS
Led at its core by the vociferous anti-government rantings of conservative politicians and pundits, Americans' distrust of Washington has hardened the fringe elements of both parties, obliterating comity.

What remains in the crater of goodwill is a depression of courage. We, the American people--not the Republican people or the Democrat people--have systematically hacked off our head and limbs. No longer have we hands for the shaking or legs for the crossing of aisles. No longer have we a head filled with reasoned thought, engaged spirited debate. All that remains is a thrashing stump drenching the public discourse with venomous hate.

CHANGE IS NIGH
What will the U.S. Senate and House resemble after the 2010 mid-term elections? Vultures looking to amplify their stature in order to secure lucrative post-congressional lobbying positions are likely to vastly increase their numbers. These creatures are not interested in serving the greater good; the louder the voice the more lucrative the offers that come their way.

Tea baggers and their allies have such a fundamental distrust of government institutions that they will proudly elect vultures incapable of compromise, and vote out the few members with proven bipartisan track records.

The coming change is the final death blow to reality. Already hardened political lines will be pushed further to the fringes, offering more peril than reward for defying base ideology. The coming change is an even less productive congress, a more feckless administration, and a further weakened trust in public institutions.

WHERE DID WE GO WRONG?
I have worked for the last four years as an independent political strategist serving mostly Republican candidates. Although I am proudly a registered Democrat, I see value in productive and constructive opposition. I maintain a dim hope that sensible forces within the American right will survive the coming congressional massacre to help guide America through our time of national crisis.

When I was 15 I was really excited about the '96 Dole-Kemp campaign--yes, I was excited about Bob Dole and Jack Kemp--my political philosophy guided by a sense that government entitlements desperately needed reform, and in some cases, elimination. Social Security needed massive changes, preferably with full privatization for young workers like myself.

In 2000 I enthusiastically supported Sen. John McCain in his Republican presidential primary bid. He demonstrated that bipartisanship was a badge of honor, earned with decades of honorable service to our country. I worked for "McCain Youth 2000" in Long Island, New York, making signs, organizing rallies, handing out palm cards, and performing hundreds of other tasks. John McCain was the first presidential candidate to use the internet as a grassroots organizing tool, a fact for which he receives little credit. The forces of hate and political destruction now afoot are using tactics learned from this and subsequent campaigns to mount their attacks.

McCain was indeed a maverick in 2000. He rightly voiced his opinion and fought for comprehensive reforms that helped remove special-interest money from political campaigns. Yet McCain now faces the toughest reelection battle in his political career simply because we was willing to make hard compromises and work with Democrats. That is the poison of the tea bag.

POLITICAL GROWTH SPURT
Even though I had been leaning in the direction for some time, in 2003 I officially changed my registration to Democrat from Republican because the Democratic Party best represents core American values of hard work, justice for all and courage in the face of tyranny.

Seven years later, America is at a dangerous crossroads with peril lurking down every road. With the election of Barack Obama, I, like many Americans, believed that we were entering a period of broad cultural healing, and that he was the one leader who could successfully navigate the ship of state on its treacherous journey. I am not so naive to think that rainbows and unicorns were going to descend from the heavens and sprinkle fairy dust over Washington, replacing distrust and division with peace and cupcakes. However, what I did not expect was that the anti-government movement would be so successful in carrying their message of intolerance to facts and ignorance of history to the forefront of American debate.

Civil discourse is as lost an art form as the hand-written letter. Sure, people still write with their hands, but eloquent words on stationery are replaced with incoherent messages on poster board. The ingenuity and tenacity of the tea party forces has deeply confounded educated progressives, producing victories for dubious agents of change. This clearly presents the fundamental flaws of progressive political strategy.

The right responds most effectively to emotional messages which pull at their heartstrings. (This is why I enjoy working for Republican candidates.) The left, on the other hand, seeks to engage in a professorial debate of the facts. Throughout our history, Americans have never been concerned first and foremost with facts because facts ignore the notion of faith. The most direct route to winning the mind of a voter is through the heart.

Barack Obama wasn't elected president because he presented logical reasons for his election--though he did. He was elected president because the idea of a black president with a soft, palatable, progressive message fundamentally appealed to the hearts of Americans who wanted to believe that racism and segregation were ghosts of the past. While Obama was by far the best choice in 2008, America needed to seat 535 more Barack Obamas in desks at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue to effect real change in Washington. Sadly, there is only one Barack Obama.

MR. SMITH RUNS FROM WASHINGTON
As radical elements dip their tea bags in the well of America's future, they sit on the face of moderate members of congress with the solitary goal of preventing progress. These fundamentalists chase away the few good men and women left in our government. As retiring Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana said in his surprise retirement announcement Monday, "I do not love congress." How could anyone love congress when every day is an election, and no real work can commence?

Mr. Bayh is not the first politician, nor will he be the last, to run from the poisoned game of congressional politics.

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS
For years I have advocated change in how we elect our representatives in Washington and how they perform their duties. Unfortunately, the current system prevents real progress from occurring because no congressional majority would vote to change the rules of the game.

Here are a few common sense solutions that would truly change the way Washington works:

• Members of the U.S. House of Representatives should be elected to a single six-year term
• Members of the U.S. Senate should be elected to a single eight-year term
• U.S. Supreme Court justices could serve no more than a single 15-year term
• Members of congress would be prevented from working as a lobbyist for 10 years after they complete their term
• Presidents would be elected to a single eight-year term
• Eliminating the senate filibuster and instituting majority rules
• Judiciary positions would not be elected, rather appointed by the chief executive of that government level
• All federal, state and local campaigns would be 100% publicly financed, and corporations would be barred from advertising, endorsing or supporting any candidate

Swift implementation of these ideas would by no means solve all of our country's myriad problems, but they would go along way to improving its function and restoring public trust.

GET GOVERNMENT OUT OF MY SOCIAL SECURITY
Since 1995 I have paid into this broken system--and likely will continue to do so for another 60-70 years--to receive a sharply negative return on my investment. By contrast, the de facto 0% interest rate I receive for any overpayment in my income taxes (tax refund) is a far more sound investment than any contribution to Social Security. Why should anyone have such an outrageous return on investment forced on them for a program that will eat up the largest share of our GDP in the decades to come?

As a long-time self-employed individual, I have paid a significantly higher percentage of my income to the federal government when compared to salaried individuals with similar compensation, but I don't have the benefit of social safety nets. There is no unemployment insurance for me to collect when business dries up; I can't afford health insurance premiums for myself or my employee-contractors; and my access to credit started shrinking in 2007 and early 2008 before the economy took a complete nose-dive. Like many other casualties of our broken system, I was forced to close my business and lay-off workers. Where was my bailout?

These sentiments are a large part of what is fueling the harsh rhetoric of the tea party movement. My greatest concern with the tea baggers is not that they are thoughtfully voicing the concerns of people like me, but that they are supporting candidates who have no interest in actually improving the function of government. These candidates engage in public temper tantrums reminiscent of the ineffectual anti-Iraq war movement, rather than debate the specifics of an issue. This repulsion of civil discourse is not going to usher in an age of better government; it will only make rational citizens less inclined to tune in to their message.

CHANGE WE CAN'T BELIEVE IN
With no end in sight to the perverted dialog, these are among the many changes we shouldn't expect to see in the future:

• The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
• Marriage equality for all
• Comprehensive climate change legislation
• Social Security and Medicare reform
• Education reform
• Broad and inclusive employment non-discrimination legislation
• Restoration of balance to the American system of taxation
• Making pay-as-you-go rules a constitutional amendment
• Instituting a robust single-payer public health care system
• A coherent national energy, infrastructure and technology policy

The strongest impediment to American progress is the political stagnation of the perpetual campaign. Without fundamental change to the idea of how the governement operates, we can't expect to place new people in a broken system and somehow expect different results. With the departure of centrist, reasonable individuals from the halls of political Washington, it's time to wave the white flag of our castrated democracy.

Justin Schuck is an independent political media strategist, and served as a senior policy adviser to the 2006 Scott Rolle for Attorney General campaign in Maryland. He was the founding editor of PoliticsAside.net and the executive director of The Center for Independent Dialog in Washington D.C.

Labels: Barack Obama, Budget, Democratic Party, Editorial, Evan Bayh, Government, John McCain, politics, Republican Party, washington dc

In just the last 24 hours I have gratefully received a surprising number of responses to my call to action in Haiti. JustinSchuck.com/haiti has been visited by over 400 unique visitors since the site went live with 1,290 page views so far; over 100 of those people went on to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund website where I hope many of them gave a contribution.

Several people sent me emails pledging their cooperation on my service projects. I am genuinely moved by the enthusiasm these friends and Twitter followers have shown. (If you're interested, email info@JustinSchuck.com with "HAITI SERVICE PROJECT" as the subject.)

Ideas for the Justin Schuck Haiti Project
In addition to interest generated in giving money, I was was surprised to receive many responses from people wanting to join me in service projects on the ground in Haiti once the immediate recovery is complete and the job of rebuilding the country can begin. Some very good ideas have been sent my way and I would like to share some of them with you now.

1. Working with the World Society for the Protection of Animals
2. Starting a non-profit to facilitate donations for the project. (The downside is that administration of a 501(c)3 would be complicated and I would need a lot of help from more experienced people to make this a reality.)
3. Volunteering for the Red Cross
4. Organizing Washington a national DC-based drive for air mattresses and home goods
5. Building physical structures, including a school, small apartment building, homes and/or commercial buildings using green technology (especially utilizing ICF for its strength and energy efficiency)
6. Organizing trips for mental health professionals to provide much needed care
7. Creating a website where people in the U.S. can sign-up to host a Haitian family in their home, and provide access to jobs, health care, and education.

There are so many great ideas, even I have had a few. :) But, I want to hear more. Regardless of which projects we embark, we will need people who have compassionate hearts and a willingness to help—experience in construction is an obvious plus.
Read more »

Labels: Charity, Haiti, Justin Schuck, Volunteer

This weekend President Obama called on us to do whatever we can to raise money and help the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that devastated the capital city of Port-au-Prince and much of the surrounding area. I now call on my friends to do the same, and join me in this effort and help me organize the first of several service projects in Haiti.

In the immediate aftermath of the 2005 gulf coast hurricanes that devastated parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, I launched a similar awareness campaign on JustinSchuck.com. Now I come to you again asking for your help and compassion. As we move forward I will provide additional resources on my dedicated Haiti page.

The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund
On Saturday, President Clinton and President Bush announced the creation of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund as a central resource to donate money towards the recovery and rebuilding efforts in Haiti. I feel very proud that these two former presidents have taken this call to action. Their presence will lend a unifying credibility to the fundraising effort. The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund will ensure that all funds raised go directly to the organizations and groups that need it the most. We are being asked to send only money at this time so that people on the ground can decide for themselves exactly what they will need to save lives.

Please visit their website to learn more: http://www.clintonbushhaitifund.org

We've come a long way, baby.
Since the 2004 South Asian tsunami and the 2005 gulf coast hurricanes, we have seen great advances in technology and fundraising capabilities. The U.S. State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the American Red Cross used the power of mobile communications to raise an unprecedented amount of money via text messaging. By texting "HAITI" to "90999," users will be charged $10 on their phone bill, the money going directly to relief efforts. The swift action on the part of the government and Red Cross in launching this innovative program made it easy for people to give what they can.

In the months to come, I hope we continue to remember to text our donations so that we can provide a sustained stream of revenue for aid.

Where do we go from here?
Like many I feel restless to help, donations to aid organizations do not ease these tensions. Words eloquent enough to describe the range of emotions I feel for the Haitian people have not found my tongue. I want to be on the ground, getting my hands dirty, clearing rubble, building homes and comforting the impoverished of spirit. It will be several months before we are able to fully understand the scope of this tragedy, but my convictions are simple: I plan to organize, with the help of friends and partners, service projects in Haiti once the immediate crisis calms and the journey of rebuilding a nation begins—as early as this spring if the stars align.

I urge you to heed my call to action and join me in helping the people of Haiti. If you are interested in volunteering or contributing in any way to this effort, please email me directly with the subject "HAITI SERVICE PROJECT" to info@justinschuck.com.

Haiti Tags
To stay up-to-date on the latest from me, use this link to find my blog posts on Haiti.

Twitter Hashtags
I am asking my friends and followers to use the "#JustinSchuckHaiti" hashtag at the beginning of tweets to provide an easy way to follow the conversation on the web.

Labels: AIDS, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Bush Clinton Haiti Fund, Catholic Relief Services, George W. Bush, Government, Haiti, Justin Schuck, JustinSchuck.com, News, Twitter, USAID, Volunteer, Website

Check out this delicious-sounding recipe from a food blogger I follow. If you haven't followed the "Adventures of a Florida Girl in DC," then you're missing out.


adventures of a florida girl in dc...: Sweet Potato Panko Patties

Labels: Food, Recipe

As I gear up for more dramatic life changes in the near future, I wanted to freshen-up JustinSchuck.com and launch version 6.4. I know I've neglected the site at different intervals through the years, so I've given it a much-needed face-lift. The feel I was going for was upscale men's lounge utilizing elements from some of my recent magazine and print designs. And since you know that I listened to a single song on repeat for hours while I worked on this little project, I want to share that with you now: "In The Shadows" by The Rasmus.  



I launched the new design this morning so I could take advantage of the uniqueness of today's date: 01.10.2010. (Maybe I'll launch ver 7.0 on 10.10.2010).


The changes to version 6.3 (launched 10.10.2009) include:

• New "logo" treatment using a combination of my signature and lightweight Helvetica for the name
• Redesign of the navigation making the text easier to read in all states
• Creation of a new dark wood-panel "floor" background
• Simplification of the layout and back-end coding
• Elimination of complicated box shadowing
• New header graphics for each section
• Updated selection of albums listed on my play list
• Copy editing and refinement
• Contact information listed in the footer of every page and blog entry
• Modification of Blogger blog template

While these changes might appear to be significant, the modifications were relatively easy to implement. It's a new year and there are some big things in store for the future. Now I feel closer than ever to having a site that truly reflects my design perspective. So please, take some time and check out the newly-updated website and let me know what you think of the new look.

Labels: design, Justin Schuck, JustinSchuck.com

On any given day if you were to ask me my favorite month I would probably tell you October. I'm a fall baby who always loved the color and crispness of an October afternoon. I love the way a gentle breeze tangos with my hair as the scent of a distant fireplace begs for a reprieve and a warm cider. Spring's renewal can't take hold without the ritual autumnal slumber. And in between comes January.


This month of rebirth was given its status by papal decree in the 16th century, named for Janus, the Roman god of gates (or beginnings and endings). This January marks the end of the first decade of the third millennium of the common era; a time of great upheaval in my life. In the last ten years I've made a lot of money and I have lost a lot of money. I've moved from DC to NY to San Francisco to DC to NY and back to DC, with some short-term international moves thrown in there for good measure. I've started new companies and closed them down. I've known loss on a scale most could not imagine. But in this perdition I have known the generosity of friends to an extent so profound that they may never know how truly appreciative I am for their support.


Over the last several years, the size of my family shrunk greatly, but those of us who remain are forging tighter bonds. I just returned from a long trip to Seattle to visit my aunt, and cousins where I was able do do something I haven't done since before the start of the last decade: I played in the snow with the reckless abandon of a 10-year-old boy. Bumps and bruises be damned! Even on the short icy hills of Leavenworth, I let go of my formal persona to pursue unadulterated bliss. As an almost-30-year-old though, the bumps were harder and the bruises were bigger than 20 years ago.


On the third day of my trip, we went to a tubing hill near "downtown" Leavenworth. Few things in life compare to the exhilaration of a speedy decent down a snow-covered mountain in a rubber tube. Near the main hill, there were several people scooting down an unofficially-sanctioned icy shoot forged from the repeated slide of smooth bums and nervous feet. (The owners wouldn't let us use our own sleds on their property.) Ever-wary of my lack of health insurance, I was careful not to deliberately put myself in a position of peril. However, three times a pretty young girl (about 16 or 17) seemed to "accidentally" nearly crash into me at the bottom of the hill. Her timing became increasingly suspect by the third go 'round, but I thankfully avoided undue awkwardness each time. How fruitless her endeavors at spontaneous love were, not even because I am twice her age. But this affection provided a healthy and needed boost to my self-image. Maybe it's this Zac Efron-esque thing I have going on with my hair now. Who knows?


My snow adventures were all the more spectacular because I was creating memories with my family that will last a lifetime. I have long preferred to ring in the new year quietly with family, and although this year wasn't as quiet as I had imagined--what with the fierce game of Phase 10 happening in the living room--I spent it with my family and a diverse group of crazy canines.


I carry with me the souvenir of friendship and love into this new year as I embark on my next great adventure. Ever the optimist, I know 2010 has great things in store for us all. Just don't forget to stop and play in the snow.

Labels: Family, Holidays, Justin Schuck, Travel

Let me just start out by saying that my Justin's Famous Hush Puppies are like no other hush puppy you've ever experienced, I can promise you that. My recipe was achieved by trial and error based off of the recipe from my favorite brand of cornmeal: Indian Head. (They don't have a website that I've been able to find.)


So without further delay my gift to you this holiday season is one of my most cherished recipes. I hope that you and your family can enjoy this as much as I have. Some of you might plan on putting this recipe in a restaurant menu, which is fine, but all that I ask is that you call them Justin's Famous Hush Puppies.



Justin's Famous Hush Puppies

INGREDIENTS
1 cup white cornmeal (I prefer Indian Head brand)
1/2 tsp. salt (Salt to taste. I usually use a bit more than this.)
2 1/4 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. sugar
2 egg whites
1 egg yolk
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1/2 cup milk (anything but skim or soy, whole cow's milk preferred)
1/2 cup finely chopped green onion
Sunflower or Vegetable Oil for frying

TOOLS YOU WILL NEED
2 medium-to-large mixing bowls
Hand mixer or stand mixer
Medium-to-large saucepan

INSTRUCTIONS
In a large bowl whisk together cornmeal, salt, baking powder, and sugar; set aside. In a small bowl whisk together egg yolk, vegetable oil and milk, then combine with dry ingredients. Add chopped onions and set batter aside.

Bring oil to between 350 and 375 degrees Fahrenheit. You can conserve oil by using a medium saucepan which can typically fry 3-4 hush puppies at one time. Once the oil has reached the optimal temperature, it's time to work on the egg whites.

Beat egg whites to stiff peaks with an electric hand mixer. (This is the most important part and it is what sets my hush puppies apart from all the rest.) Gently fold the eggs whites into the mix. (It is absolutely key to fold the egg whites into the batter just before frying to maximize airiness.) Scoop tablespoon or small ice cream scoop-sized dollops into frying oil. Hush puppies should cook for about 3-5 minutes until medium brown on the outside.

Set fried hush puppies aside in a paper towel-lined bowl and sprinkle with sea or kosher salt. These hush puppies are sufficient on their own and taste great with hot sauce. Recipe can be doubled or tripled.When making larger quantities you will need to add more oil for frying as the hush puppies use quite a bit of oil while cooking.

More Justin's Famous recipes on the web: JustinsFamous.com


JUSTIN A. SCHUCK - Since 1980
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Labels: Holidays, Hush Puppies, Justin Schuck, Justin's Famous, Recipe

Check out this interesting from  ReadySetDC!

Poly-centricity: How Streetcars Will Change Urban Mobility in DC

Posted using ShareThis

Labels: Blog, Metro, Transit, washington dc

Happy Halloween people! Before you get the slaves kids out the door to fetch candy for you them, it might be a good idea to have a hearty, rib-sticking meal in their stomach. My two-bean chili is a great recipe that keeps little ghosts and goblins full and happy.

It's not often I divulge some of my favorite and best recipes, but I want to share my chili with the masses. This recipe is an evolved version of my mother's "recipe," but neither of us have ever written this down. It's one of those things we just know how to make. So from time to time I make changes, omit something, or add something, but this is the recipe as I made it most recently. 

Justin's Famous Two Bean Beef Chili 

INGREDIENTS
2-3 pounds of 80-90% lean ground beef (you can substitute ground turkey, but you will need to add approximately 3-6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil)
1 Large Red Onion, chopped
3 tbsp of fresh garlic, minced
1 cup of diced green onions (2-3 supermarket bunches)
2 cups of fresh cilantro (1-2 supermarket bunches of fresh Cilantro)
1 pound of sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 cups Goya Black Beans (blue label, from the can)
2 cups Goya Red Kidney Beans (blue label, from the can)
1 28-ounce Hunts Whole Tomatoes can (do not use Contadina!)
2 29-ounce Hunts Tomato Sauce cans (do not use Contadina!)
1 cup of Daisy Sour Cream
1 cup of original RO*TEL-brand diced tomatoes and green chilies
1-4 Serrano peppers, cut into 1/8 wide pieces (substitute less-hot jalapeños; both are optional) 

SPICES FROM McCORMICK GOURMET
3 tbsp Ground Cumin
6 tbsp Chili Powder
1 tbsp Garlic Powder
4 tbsp Smoked Paprika
2 tsp Ground Cayenne Red Pepper
2 tsp Sea Salt or Kosher Salt (Salt to taste. You can always add but never remove salt from a dish)
1 tbsp Coarse Black Pepper (freshly ground is best; I disagree with reviewer about his opinion of the salt.)

TOOLS YOU NEED TO PREPARE THE CHILI
A very large 8-12 qt. pots like this one from Calphalon
Large pan to brown the beef 

Total estimated cooking time: 3 hours 

In a small bowl, whisk together all the dry spices and spread evenly in a large pan bringing the heat up to sweat the spice mix. This will help release moisture in the spices and add a subtle smokiness to the chili—very similar to the process of creating a proper Cajun roux. After about 3 minutes of heating, add beef and brown. Once your meat is brown, but still pink in the middle, remove from heat and drain half of the fat and juices—save some for flavoring. Heat up your stock pot and toss your chopped onions and minced garlic in the pan. After a minute or so, toss in the beef and the remaining juices.

Now, in no particular order, add the RO*TEL, canned tomatoes, canned tomato sauce, serrano peppers, and 1 cup of chopped cilantro. For each can of tomatoes/tomato sauce, add one can of water. I just fill the cans up with warm water and add to the pot. Bring the chili to a boil, stirring occasionally. [Now is when you would prepare the hush puppies.] Keep chili boiling uncovered for at least one hour. The objective is to boil the chili down. Let simmer uncovered for an additional hour. Then the chili is ready to serve. You may continue to simmer covered for up to one additional hour, but if it will be longer before you eat it is best to turn the heat off.

I usually turn the chili off 20 minutes prior to serving to allow it cool while I prepare the sides. With each bowl of chili, add (in this order) a healthy-sized dollop of sour cream, a big sprinkle of cilantro, lots of cheddar cheese and a sprinkle of diced green onions. Voila! The perfect rib-sticking chili.

SPECIAL NOTE: This recipe can be made as far ahead as one day before it will be eaten for the first time. If I know that I don't want to slave in the kitchen with guests, then I will start the chili in the morning and sit on the stove (with the gas turned off) for as many hours as needed before dinner—a trick my mom taught me. But no matter when you decide to make my chili, you will need at least two solid hours of simmering time for all the flavors to come together.

Justin's Famous Hush Puppies


You didn't seriously think I was going to give this one away. Haha! Maybe if you're lucky I'll put this recipe in your Christmas stocking. But ask anyone who's tasted my hush puppies and you'll hear that my puppies are without equal in the world. They are airy and delicate yet crunchy and substantial. To achieve such hush puppy perfection, all ingredients must be in harmonious balance.


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Check out more photos from this dinner on my Flickr Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/justinschuck/tags/chili/

More recipes to come at JustinsFamous.com (one day). Until then, find my published recipes here.

Labels: Chili, Food, Justin Schuck, Justin's Famous, Recipe

Tonight I made a grilled London Broil for friends, and I wanted to do something a different with my marinade. So I threw together some smart ingredients and created a rich, smoky marinade that would translate well for all types of game. The key with this marinade is that whatever you are cooking, it needs to be grilled. Real open flame is what I'm talking about people. But regardless of how you make it, here's the recipe for my marinade:

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup lime juice (2-4 limes depending on size)
4 tbsp. yellow mustard
2tsp. ground ginger
5 whole cloves of fresh garlic (substitute 3 tbsp minced garlic)
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp freshly ground or cracked black pepper
4 tbsp. finely-ground Starbucks Sumatra Coffee or espresso beans (substitute traditional commercial ground coffee—the darker the roast the better) *
1tsp. sugar
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar 

*No, the coffee/espresso will not make your meat taste like coffee. It burns off and adds a smokiness to the meat that feels natural on your palate, rather than chemical like some sauces. Ahem, Liquid Smoke.

Combine all ingredients into a blender and puree on high for 3-5 minutes until smooth. Coffee/espresso grounds may be visible in the mixture if you used pre-ground coffee like Folger's Classic Dark Roast; just make sure all the ingredients are well blended. Pour some marinade into the bottom of whatever pan or dish you will use to marinate your meat. Then place your meat in the pan, smother with marinade and place in the refrigerator, allowing the meat to marinate for at least 4-6 hours prior to cooking. Meat can marinate up to 14 hours, but should not sit much longer.

This will marinade about three or four pounds of meat, depending on the cut. It's always a good idea to make more marinade and set some aside to freeze for another time, than to make too little

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Tonight we had a tenderized 3lb. London Broil that marinated for about 4 hours. I threw the meat on an oiled-up white-hot grill on each side for 8 minutes to achieve perfect medium-rare/medium. (I learned a trick a while back to brush the grill with a bit of olive or vegetable oil to keep the meat from sticking and to help achieve those perfect grill marks. For non-marinated meats, a sprinkling of sugar on the meat will achieve the same effect—and no, it won't make your meat taste sweet.) No picture for tonight's dinner. Zero to stomach in 10 minutes. Sorry, but it was really friggin' good!

Enjoy! 
(And please follow me on Twitter!) 

*I did also discover that I still have not learned how to properly prepare rice. You would think that with all my culinary skills and knowledge of food history that I could prepare this most basic staple. But no, I ruin rice. Someone want to teach me? Now accepting applications.

Labels: Food, Justin Schuck, Justin's Famous, Recipe

Today I was styling food photography images for Marion's Smart Delights-brand gluten-free goodies for her new packaging that is being designed by my L/A Events partner Andrea's design firm After5 Design. Amazing shots we caught (here are a few sneak peeks).


But I had quite a few lemons leftover that were used for props, so when photo shoots give you lemons, make lemonade. Or Justin's Famous Amazingade Lemonade. It's really simple. (Recipe below images)






Justin's Famous Amazingade Lemonade


INGREDIENTS
2 cups sugar
8 cups water (1/2 gallon)
3-1/2 cups fresh lemon juice with pulp (10-16 lemons depending on size)
1 lemon sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds


Bring 2 cup of water and two cups of sugar to a boil making a simple syrup. In a one-gallon container combine simple syrup, 6 cups of cold water, lemon juice with pulp and stir until well mixed. Add lemon slices and pour over ice. If you want to be real fancy, you can garnish with a mint sprig.




This makes for a very tart and very sweet lemonade. Use 2 cups of lemon juice to make for a less tart lemonade. You may also add up to 4 cups of additional cold water to temper the sweetness. Me personally, I like my lemonade intensely tart and sweet, the kind that tickles your cheeks after a heard day of work.


Enjoy.

Labels: Food, Justin Schuck Photography, Justin's Famous, Lemonade, photography, Recipe

Labels: Gay Issues, Gay Marriage, Maine, No on 1

I guess if you liked it than you should have put a [nipple] ring on it.

Check out my DanceJam.com profile!

Labels: Humor, Music, Video

Today I am proud to announce that the latest iteration of JustinSchuck.com (ver 6.3) is now online and ready for your happy consumption. With this latest version you will notice the most stark change to the website since Version 1.0: the absence of the Justin Schuck Photography logo. There are now sections for my bio, photography, design, social media and marketing, charity work, and contact information. The JSP logo is also gone from the various social networking websites to reflect a change in the business.



As many of my close friends and a few of my favorite clients know, I have been winding down my business over the last 9 months to allow me to concentrate on my design and marketing projects. The last 18 months have been challenging for the business, and will continue to be so in the near term, but I feel a great sense of pride with the work I have produced. I am working hard to get "caught up" loading content into my Flickr account, as well as tying up as many loose ends as possible.


Since 1997 I have had the honor and privilege of working with amazing families, companies and individuals. My work has taken me to New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Athens, Mykonos, Scotland and Dubai. I have been so fortunate that so many people have shared in the experience with me and I look forward to growing in more creative ways going forward.


I've taken some time to ask (and answer) some question you may have about the future:


What will you do now that you won't be a photographer?
I will always be a photographer, just as I will always be a designer. I'm actually really excited that I will have loads more time to focus on my many pet projects that have taken a back seat to my production work. This includes especially my Guerrilla Photo Shoots project.


What if I want you and only you to take my photo?
Well, I'm not ruling out taking the occasional photo, even for an old client, but in terms of a business, there will be no more Justin Schuck Photography. Anyone wishing to hire me may contact me directly by email. Each inquiry will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.


Will you shoot my wedding?
Absolutely not. No way. No how. Tough toenails. Sorry. Long before I made the decision to shut down Justin Schuck Photography I made a pledge to accept no new wedding clients. I photographed my last wedding on October 3rd 2009 in Boston.


So does this mean you're going freelance?
No. I have new endeavors and projects in the pipeline that will be my primary focus.


What does this mean for Justin Schuck Photography clients?
JSP will exist until all outstanding client obligations have been met. This may require additional time to complete certain elements of pre-paid packages. I am working very hard with the limited resources available to accomplish these in a reasonably timely manner under the current circumstances.


I have sent emails or letters to my clients recommending photographers whom they can turn to for outstanding imaging services. The four individuals I most recommend are Noah Deveraux (weddings and editorial work; New York-based), Henry Villarama (weddings, commercial, public relations events and individual portraits; Washington DC-based.), Tony Veloz (fashion photography and individual portraits; Washington DC-based) and my friend Michael Dumlao (all of the above except weddings; Washington DC-based).


Wait, why are you doing this again?
I'm doing this because I love photography so much that I choose to not make work of it. I want to get back to the excitement I used to feel every time I picked up a camera. Some of that has been lost in the last couple of years, not that there haven't been many great moments because there have been great ones.


Why is your Facebook fan page still called "Justin Schuck Photography?"
Unfortunately Facebook will not let me change the name. The only way to do that would be to make a new fan page and that would take a lot of work. I hope that will be clear. If it turns out that people do not understand the purpose of the page—that is to showcase the photography of Justin Schuck—then I will address that issue if it comes up.


What's the status of Justin Schuck and Company, LLC?
I will maintain the LLC for the foreseeable future to afford the protection that it provides in all my endeavors. Since I will still be operating JSDS and L/A Events, there is still a place for the company. Soon Justin Schuck Photography will not be a part of the mix.


What happens next?
We all walk forward. That's all we can do.

Labels: Big News, design, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company, Justin Schuck Photography, JustinSchuck.com, News, Newsworthy, Website, Wedding

I've taken some time to upload a few images from various recent gigs, including the last wedding of my career. Take a look and stay tuned for a big-news update. There's also a picture of me on what I termed my "mandatory union break."


I want to also say that I am so thankful to my clients and I am proud of the work I have produced over the years and I hope you will continue to enjoy viewing my work.

Labels: Flickr, Justin Schuck, Wedding

Labels: Senator Edward Moore Kennedy, Ted Kennedy

It's Friday, I'm delirious from work and a friend sent this as part of this long back-and-forth email. I laughed out loud and had to share with you!

Also, I have some new work that I will be posting soon both here, on Flickr, on my Facebook fan page and on my website, so stay tuned!

Labels: Fail, Failblog, Humor, Justin Schuck

My friend and immensely gifted jazz musician Reginald Cyntje wrote a blog titled "Dreams" and I felt it was appropriate to syndicate his post here. To read the full blog, please visit http://cyntjemusic.wordpress.com.

At 12, I had a dream that I will one day become a great trombonist and share wealth with family and friends. I awoke surprised and energized by my dream. Each morning before school I would practice, again at lunch, after school then at home. Music was not a natural thing for me. It did not come easy so I worked hard. I was on a mission to learn and grow.

In the 11th grade I signed up for a Life Arts Class that talked about self love. In this class we talked about daily affirmations (a far fetch thought for a high school junior). The instructor of the class was also a jazz vocalist. My purpose was being presented without me grasping what was happening.

As I grew musically, I became more fascinated with jazz. While in high school my main focus of study was European Classical music but American Classical music caught my attention. I have discussed this in other writings. As I indulged in the jazz idiom along with reggae and calypso I met many enlightened beings that talked about something deeper than the technical aspect of creating music.

As a kid, I dreamed the impossible and in some ways made it happen. When I transitioned into adulthood and started seeing harsh realities of many I respected I did not invest in the dreams the same way I did as a kid. I second guessed myself and lost the confidence that I had regardless of opposition. Since that time I have seen growth and experienced hardship but I have not lost sight of my dream.

I discovered that when I focused all my energy and remained positive the dream became a reality. It was hard to do at times because I created a reality that contained distractions and less than inspiring circumstances.

One night I had a discovery. I was performing on stage and a musician and his wife approached me and said I inspired them. That evening I played from my heart and felt love and inspiration in the music. More importantly, the audience felt what I was feeling. I discovered that I can move people, not with tricks, but with sincerity.

The chatter of negativity in my mind quickly disappeared as more people approached me and spoke of similar experiences. The more I believed the more people I touched. When I had those moments of disbelief the result was not the same. The lesson…believe all the time.

Having this dream led to other dreams which include opening an Arts school on the island of St. Thomas (USVI), recording numerous works that inspire, creating wealth for future generations and building community.

Growing up, I was inspired by musicians and community activist. My destiny…to do both.

When you aspire to do great things you must DREAM BIG. My dreams remain constant even when others don’t believe or can’t see. I have FAITH and TRUST that I will reach all my goals.

Will you do the same?

You may also find Reginald on various social networks:
http://www.myspace.com/reginaldcyntjegroup
http://www.twitter.com/cyntjemusic
http://www.linkedin.com/in/reginaldcyntje
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=64276984651

Labels: Blog, Jazz, Justin Schuck, Music, Reginald Cyntje

Check out this video I put together. It's a compilation of work I've done through the years. Some of the grainier images were ones I shot on film. For a lot of my older stuff I only have low-to-medium-resolution files so if you're watching in HQ, you might notice a difference.

Anyhow, check it out. The slide show plays to Daft Punk's "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger." (Check out another cool YouTube video called "Daft Hands"

Labels: Advertising, Gallery, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck Photography, Video

I just wanted to share with you a site I'm working on for custom jewelry designer, and friend, Tim Briscoe. His work under the label "Baubles by Briscoe" is both whimsical and elegant. Check out the site at BaublesByBriscoe.com, become a fan on Facebook, check BBB out at TheAlexandriaLife.com/baubles-by-briscoe-alexandria, and follow him on Twitter.com/TimBriscoe.






Where you can find Tim Briscoe and Baubles by Briscoe online:
http://www.baublesbybriscoe.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Baubles-by-Briscoe/76234629859
http://www.yelp.com/biz/baubles-by-briscoe-arlington
http://www.thebethesdalife.com/baubles-by-briscoe-bethesda
http://twitter.com/timbriscoe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27tl_tYzcP0
http://vimeo.com/4587503

Labels: Baubles by Briscoe, BBB, design, Facebook, JSDS, Justin Schuck, Tim Briscoe

In July 2006, accompanied by my friend Cliff who grew up in New Orleans, I embarked on a photographic expedition to cover the city a year after the devastating storms of 2005. Hurricane Katrina and the resulting catastrophic levee failures resulted in countless deaths and destruction totally more than $100,000,000,000 (that's $100 billion) in damage. Whole neighborhoods were wiped away as the city's poorest residents were left to fend for themselves.

A year later the devastation was still visible. At times I was overwhelmed by the scope. There wasn't a parish not touched by the storm. While my overall experience was positive, I am still struck by how much has yet to be done.





Song: "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap

To learn more about how you can help the city of New Orleans and its residents, visit the following websites:

"Mama D" Dyan French on MSNBC - Watch the video! You'll recognize her from mine.
Common Ground Relief - Solidarity, not charity
New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund
Unity of Greater New Orleans - formerly Unity for the Homeless

Labels: America, Help the Homeless, Hurricane Katrina, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck Photography, New Orleans, Photo, United We Stand, Video, Volunteer

Hey guys,

I put together a little video explaining a bit more about Guerrilla Photo Shoots and where my idea struck me. Check it out on Vimeo or YouTube!






Learn more about Guerrilla Photo Shoots on the GPS Blog, on the GPS Facebook Group or by following @GuerrillaPhoto on Twitter. Be sure to tell your friends! (The first Guerrilla Photo Shoot will take place in New York in May. Check the Facebook Group or the blog to learn more!)

Labels: Art, Blog, Boston, GPS, Guerrilla, Justin Schuck, New York, Photo, Shoots, Video, Vlog, washington dc

Even though I am just getting over Swine Flu (just kidding—it's really just a horrible cold), I thought I would get on my web cam to vlog and tell you a bit more about my business and why you need to hire Justin Schuck Photography for your next portrait, special event, hotel, product catalog, real property or editorial assignment. The video features music by Yogstar.

On Vimeo:

Justin Schuck Photography - Asking for your business from Justin Schuck on Vimeo.

On YouTube:

Labels: Advertising, Blog, business, design, JSDS, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company, Justin Schuck Photography, New York, Twitter, Video, Vlog