| Awhile back I asked my online friends to vote for their favorite picture of me -- the picture that would open my website. I've since moved these two gems to this page, but kept the vote results because people had such strong, and quite funny/interesting, views about which pic represented the true Jik. |
| The Final tally was:
Teeth: 16 No Teeth: 7 Undecided: 1 |
|
And the breakdown by Gender Men: Teeth: 10 No Teeth: 4 Women: Teeth: 6 No Teeth: 3 Undecided: 1 Pepper (my parents' dog) voted for teeth, but I suspect ballot tampering |
|
But wait, there's more. In the interest of full disclosure, and to head off any demands for a re-count, I have enclosed the ballots as cast (in the order they were
received). There were many compelling Teeth arguments, but possibly the most interesting was Huda's case for the No Teeth picture (even though he does call me "dumbass"). Anyway here they are: |
|
Jake (Jik), As you must have foreseen, Dad and I have a split vote. Dad votes for teeth, and I vote for no teeth. I think the teeth photo is the devil and the no teeth photo is an angel. So now I've weighted your decision in favor of teeth for sure. (Of course, Pepper votes for teeth.) Mom |
|
Hey Jik, Nice to see you looking more like your lovable self and less like a stalker. (Don't be too wounded, I have wedding pictures of myself that are much less flattering than the one you had up there.) I like the one with the teeth personally. See ya, Jon |
|
Jake, TEETH! Absolutely, without a doubt. And I love the cool rock star logo. You may have to learn how to fake playing guitar. Ken |
|
jake- Definetely the teeth picture. Here's why: You mention in your bio that you are from Lansing and so anybody stumbling onto your website will naturally wonder if you in fact have a complete set of teeth or not. Always glad to help. Scott |
|
I can't believe I'm actually going to vote on this, but anyway.....left Brad |
|
TEETH ALL THE WAY, BABY!!!! The teeth picture makes you look like a da hep cat that makes the scene, but doesn't brag and boast, and rocks all da girlies from coast-to-coast. ...No teeth is nice, just not as pimpadelic. As for the logo...I'm calling up Tiger Beat, right now. You're an icon primed for pre-teen idolatry. Simply fabulous. Rock on, Bryn |
|
Hey dumbass, A significant female vote is Nettie's, who has never met you, only heard wild-man stories of you that parallel my loser life, and she said the teeth smile looked way insincere. Basically, people that know you are happy to see you smile, and never see you like that; people that don't know you will think its insincere enough having a website, better keep a modest profile. my two cents, Huda |
|
Ya know, tis a tough choice. The teeth image is so good for what it is, but
the no teeth image is a kindler, gentler image. Heh, why not make an
animate gif where your face would morph between the two. That'll draw the
women in for sure cuz they like that glitzy fancy effecto stuff. Consider this vote a draw...I'll check with the electoral college to see which way the scales should be tipped. I hear they'll accepting donations as we speak Rog |
|
Jake - I'm determined to change all that! Put my vote in for "NO TEETH!" jeff |
|
right left looks a little to much as if you want to really sell me a car. John Miller |
|
...But enough about me, let's move on to that cute little smile of yours. :)
You asked for female opinions, so I'll give you two of them: mine and my
mother's. Mine first. I studied your pictures for a while, which is always
disconcerting to me because I feel like the people in the pictures are
watching me back. Paranoia? Maybe the camera is stealing your soul...:0
I like both the pictures. The no-teeth one reminds me more of what you were
like when you were teaching us; nice smile, pleasant expression, but also
kind of remote and distant. Bordering on uptight. Which is, if I remember
correctly (this was a while ago you know, memory's fading, I'm not as young
as I used to be!), how you usually seemed in person too. Kind of uptight.
not in a bad way, just more...guarded. Which is OK, especially for a
teacher. It makes you look a little more serious too. But I'm also guessing,
based on my few experiences with you, that you can be a lot of fun and be
very entertaining at times, and that doesn't come through as much in the
no-teeth picture. |
|
The teeth picture is the one I would pick. You look friendlier, more open. I like your smile too; although pictures can't adequately capture real-life expressions. I have an excellent memory, actually, despite wisecracks I may make about it; but I remember weird details. And I remember noticing your smile when I was in your class, and thinking that you had a very different smile...especially when you laughed, it sort of changes the whole aspect of your face, and it's very appealing. It comes through well in the picture. My mother was a bit more blunt in her opinions. :) I suppose, at her age, she is allowed to be. She likes the teeth picture better. She says you look much sexier there. She doesn't like the no teeth picture because you have this kind of smirk, like you're trying for a "come hither" look, and she doesn't like it. And she thinks the smile in the no teeth picture makes you look gay. Mom's never been known for her social grace, but we love her just the same. I wasn't going to tell you she said that, but she insisted (if you don't believe that; then you really should meet her; it's always a treat!). In high school, I used to bring home prospective dates to meet my family, just because I enjoyed scaring people. Which I guess is kind of sadistic, but it weeds out the keepers really fast. Unfortunately for me, the keepers so far haven't exactly been...stable. *sigh* |
|
Anyway, so there you have it. Two female opinions from some of the least shy
people in Lansing. Hopefully it helps you, and you weren't offended by
anything, since that is never our intent. Kristi (Kitchen Consultant with The Pampered Chef) and the Mad Menagerie: Mayonnaise, Clover, Luna, and Loki (Mustelid Mob of Mayhem) Boo (the cat) and Casey (the kitten) |
|
Jake, I am torn between the pictures. I think I would keep them both and alternate if possible. Otherwise if I had to choose.... I DON'T KNOW!!!! They are both so good. I will get another opinion and let you know. Molly |
|
Dear Jake, My first impression was "no teeth". I thought the smile looked to forced when I looked real close. However, upon further contemplation, I feel that the smile actually is pretty natural and probably very indicative to prospective females that you are not an anal, stalker-type guy. I'd go for the smile thing. Chicks dig a guy you can laugh. Ray |
|
Okokokokokok. Enough! The true votes are now in, dammit. Mario votes for: the teeth. He said you look like a salesman, but the picture is better. My vote: pro dental. Why? You look more relaxed. In the no teeth picture, you look like you're concentrating on looking good, instead of relying on natural animal instincts. How's that? lin |
|
Jake, Just showed your home page to 2 female co-workers. They both vote for the picture with teeth. (Drat!) For the record, their names are Judy Besser (age 60) and Kelly Lee (age 28). Mom |
|
Jake- Since the rockstar logo includes the toothy grin pic, the designer part of me that likes uniformity says stick with that. But the more schizo designer in me says no teeth...in fact why not have "the many faces of Jik"? This part of me wins out mainly because I'm still attached to that photo Andy took for the dustjacket of your upcoming novel. So...no teeth. The more serious image is the first one we see upon entering the site, then the mugging to the camera at the end in the rock star logo is like a wink. Maybe Andy could add a little sparkle gleam on the teeth like we get in toothpaste commercials? FYI, you always were a rockstar in my book. (more of an MC Jik, though) -John |
|
Teeth! By all means, teeth! -Marc |
|
Hey Jake, I was looking over Marc's shoulder when he was choosing the picture for you, and I TOTALLY vote for the TEETH!!! (Just wanted to give you another female's opinion) Amy |
|
Hi Jik, Mmm, like the second one better. The first one looks like someone is strangling you while telling you to smile if you want to go on living.... Ciao Karen |
|
Did ya read all that? Well good for you! Thanks for your continued support, jik |