Tag: Obama

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Haiti Earthquake Relief

One of the worst natural disasters in recent history struck Haiti on January 12, 2010.

From whitehouse.gov:

On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck the nation of Haiti, causing catastrophic damage inside and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince. President Obama has promised the people of Haiti that “you will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten.” The United States Government has mobilized resources and manpower to aid in the relief effort. Here are some ways that you can get involved.


To learn how you can help, click the image below:

Help for Haiti: Learn What You Can Do

Politics

An “American” kind of day

I am so tired this evening… I just told Tina that I have been over-stimulated today… Just an exciting day.

Today was a very busy day at work. I was able to catch the inaugural address at lunchtime though. And afterwards I found myself once again (for the first time, really?) defending My President. I am getting a little tired of having to do that, but I am also getting a little bit more confident about doing it. At one time I would have backed down. Not anymore.

I think I’m just happy that we have voted for real change, and hopefully it will be a real, lasting kind of change. And I’m disappointed that not everyone shares that positive feeling…

It was so cool to see so many people turn out for the inauguration and the parade. Wow! Downtown D.C. is crazy on a normal day… I can’t imagine how nuts it must have been today. I followed the inauguration online at CNN.com and Facebook. It was cool to see all the (mostly) positive comments roll up the screen beside the live video. Great job CNN and Facebook! Bonus points!

It was inspiring, amazing, unforgettable, and it was a day I will never forget. I don’t think it has all really sunk in yet. Mr. President. Wild.

So now, after a long day, I’m sitting down and watching American Idol, and I’m really not into it. I feel like I watched the real reality once already today. Anything else would probably just be disappointing.

Politics

They still don’t get it

But that’s okay. I try to remember that some people are so entrenched in their ways that they will never understand. But what stinks is that some are so determined to create failure, it makes it much more difficult to succeed. But that will not stop me from trying. Because I know it is right.

And another thing… (Oh no, he should just shut up now!)  Where do people get off calling the Internet evil? I’ve heard some otherwise (seemingly) rational people blame all of society’s ills on the Internet.  Do they not understand that it is a tool, created by people to accomplish and streamline the task of communication? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised… This is the same race that decried the invention of radio, of television, of rock music, of all kinds of things.  If we depended upon them, we’d still live in caves.  Maybe these people aren’t as rational as I thought…

I guess I’m just in one of those moods today where stupid people are getting on my nerves.  Sometimes I just need to chill out and let things go.  But apparently this is not one of those times.

Oh boy, round three has just started.  (Shut up now, Jason, you’re going to offend somebody!) Oh well.  I just found out that someone told my daughter at my church, that now that Obama is president, “they” are going to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance.  I told Allison that sometimes when people lose things like elections, they like to spread rumors, and make things up.  It kind of goes back to my first thoughts in this post.  They are determined to see failure, so they are more than happy to cause it to occur.  I have since corrected Allison’s information and told her that any time she hears anything from church that mommy and daddy wouldn’t agree with, she is to tell us immediately, so we can inform her of the truth, and also so we can decide how to deal with that situation at church.

I am disheartened by this information, but I will still be a positive force for change.  Our deeds and actions say a lot more than our words.

Internet, Politics

President 2.0? Interesting article…

How Will Obama Now Use the Internet Army He Built?

http://www.newsweek.com/id/170347

Obama harnessed the grass-roots power of the Web to get elected. How will he use that power now?

This is a good little article.  I think this issue deserves some attention because a lot of people who helped elect Obama expect to continue to be involved.  But I can also understand the fine line that now must be walked by former campaign managers and staffers who now find themselves working for the president-elect.

The rules have certainly changed.  Things like transparency and data-retention are serious issues that are complex but need to be addressed.

If I were Obama, I wouldn’t give up my Blackberry.  I would certainly be very judicious about how I used it though.  It’ll be most interesting to see how he will be able to use the small army of volunteers and “Facebook followers” that have been built up over the past two years.  You see, it’s great that President-elect Obama uses technology to establish a two-way communication between the governed and the government, but he also doesn’t want to create a fundamental gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots.”  Believe it or not, there are still people who don’t spend their days YouTubing.

There is a lot of potential here.  But the right balance has to be struck, and that little ballet will be entertaining to watch.

Politics

NBC’s Today – “High-tech keys to election victory”

I was keenly aware of this online battle:

I really believe that the way the Obama camp immersed itself with technology was a key to victory.  They did an outstanding job with facebook and MySpace profiles, with their MyBO portal, their personalized e-mail and text message distribution.  We all know that Barack didn’t personally pound out a text message at 12:52am on November 5th, but there is still a certain amount of satisfaction from receiving a “thank you” from a candidate mere minutes after watching his acceptance speech.

What will be truly interesting to me is: Where does this go from here? They’ve spent 21 months compiling a massive list of supporters with e-mail addresses and phone numbers… well what happens next?

I don’t think it ended on election night.  In fact, the last e-mail I received from the campaign states “I’ll be in touch soon about what comes next.”  So I do believe there’s more to come.

But for how long? Once he steps into the oval office, a whole new set of rules will apply.  And since we haven’t exactly had a “high-tech” president yet, we really don’t know how text messages and e-mails can be used to govern.  But it will at least be interesting to watch.

Politics

Eyewitness To History

obama-wins

Wow.  This has been an amazing race.  I think CBS should really re-consider the title of that show, because we just witnessed The Amazing Race.

I just watched John McCain’s concession speech, and he was absolutely first class all the way.  Senator McCain is a true American Hero, and his service to his country should never be forgotten.

I don’t really know what to say.  I’ve been following this election for months, I’ve been an avid Obama supporter, and really knew that Obama had an uphill battle here in West Virginia.  West Virginia is a conundrum.  We like to elect democratic governors, senators, representatives… but not presidents.  At least not since Bill Clinton.  I think there are some obvious reasons for this that are better left unsaid.

I’m glad that the lies did not prevail.  I’m ecstatic that, as far as the Internet goes, good overcame evil.  Those horrible, liable, e-mails did not find victory.  Thank God.  Technology can be used for good and evil, and I really had my doubts this time.  I could see, from my social networking stances, all the good that was going on within the Obama supporters.  And I could also see (still can) all that was being done to tear all that good work down.  The only comment I really have about all that is: We are defined by what we reap, as well as what we sow.

My hope going forward is that Obama can truly unite this country.  I hope that he can work with the republican right, and truly be a “uniter not a divider.”  You know, that thing that was promised eight years ago.

“We are and always will be the United States of America.”

Well said.  Obama’s whole speech was terrific.  We are at another turning point in history tonight.  We’ve got to somehow put all the bickering and partisanship behind us.  And I’ve got to change too.

I know we’ve all invested a lot in these past few months, but now we’ve got to ask ourselves “What can I do now?” I somehow don’t think that this grassroots network that President-elect Obama and his team have created will be dispensed with overnight.  I really believe that this President understands how to use the Internet and other emerging technologies to keep connected with the people.  And I am looking forward to the next four years.  Finally.

I can only think of one way to sum up what we’ve seen this evening, and it’s a classic:

There been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long
But now I think I’m able to carry on
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

Politics

One Day to Change the World

“I just want to tell you both good luck.  We’re all counting on you.”

Sorry.  I couldn’t help it.  That’s one of my favorite lines from Airplane! But it seems very appropriate now.  Of course I’m talking to Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and we are all counting on them the Change the World.

 

Be sure to go out and vote tomorrow! Hey, like they say, if you don’t vote, you can’t complain!