Commentary

Unlike a preacher or a politician, I will openly admit to many things. I am a free speaker, an occasional prankster, probably an artist at heart (though not a graphic artist, clearly). At the advent of Mentata Systems, I consciously took a vacation from professionalism and modesty in mixing agitprop with the explanation of my software and services. I adopted the longview, not just of my career but of my place in the world as a business, citizen, and soul. I indulged in the freedom the internet grants me to express myself to a mass audience. I was responsible to nobody, so I used the excuse of writing software examples to scratch my own itches. My goal was to stretch the boundaries of web site expression while showing people a little of what my code could do and what motivates me. I may have occasionally passed the buck on content to the likes of Joan Claybrook or Jesus Christ, but the intent was to produce something meaningful. Bad judgement? You're mileage will vary. It was edifying, fulfilling, enjoyable, and rewarding; everything I'm told work is not supposed to be. In the end, I can't regret it.

What happened at the outset could have been a prettier story, though. I followed up with my own contender for the least successful open source project in history. Then I went all out and released an album of folk songs and a contribution to the unofficial inauguration soundtrack. Add to this side ventures into active internet forums on software, politics, and religion. I even started my own weblogs in reference to God and country. Given my perspective and license, it has all led to much heated debate. What's up?

Well frankly I have been gravely concerned by what I read and see in my community, industry, and country. I'm craving reality in not only mass media, but even moments of reality itself. Truth appears to be disappearing from popular discourse, and corruption is becoming more pronounced. In the face of such disaster I have felt the need to do something, and so with the issues in my sights and the werewithal to broadcast, I take unflinching shots at the King Kong taboos. This is not about business sense; it comes from the heart.

I recognize my right and duty to make a good and considered case because there is no other way to advance the discussion of a democratic society than for its members to do so. I happen to believe criticism is an obligation of a thinking person, and the internet is the appropriate place to share it. It is now time for me to decouple these impulses from my software work, but I continue to add essays and make it all available here rather than hide behind a phony facade; there are already more than enough of those. Enjoy.

Mentata Systems is about software.
I don't act like this on the job, but this is who I am.

Jon Roberts
sole proprietor