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Filed under: politics | Tags: Ann Nixon Cooper, bush, Colin Powell, democrats, elections, George Wallace, London, mccain, obama, Ralph and Sam, republicans, snow, Utah, Warner Brothers
I woke up to snow this morning. Though I had seen it on the foothills and mountains surrounding us and had heard it was coming, it was still a pleasant surprise (the first snow of the winter always is for me). As I was walking, I realized that I would have to not just rely on my “winter” suit coat (my suit I don’t mind so much if it gets wet), but I would also need to include my winter coat and its associated gear.
I missed my pedestrian crossing light on my way to work, so I took a second to snap a picture of Utah’s Republican Party headquarters, as a memento to the events of last night. (Some friends in our building where planning on eating Barackoli, Obomlets, Johnny Cake, and McCain’ Cheese—we had waffles)
Last night held its own highs and lows for this group. Their candidate didn’t win the presidency, but their governor did get convincingly reelected. They lost more control in the Congress (though it could have been worse—it doesn’t look like it will be a 60+ Senate for the Democrats) and they lost their current House Speaker, but they managed to keep their control over the majority of state offices.
Outside of the mudslinging and name calling, it is great to this electoral process in action. And, as we all saw on a national level, the quickness in which opponents and replaced leaders move in to ask for unity and offer congratulations is astonishing. In their quickness to move together, I was reminded of the old Ralph and Sam cartoons:
But what was really transcendent to me on this day was last night, we made history. Barack Obama was elected president. This simply wouldn’t have happened a few decades ago. Of all people, George Wallace’s daughter gave us insight into what this “full circle” event means to her family (and to us). President-elect Obama himself summarized his journey with the story of Ann Nixon Cooper:
And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.
And, as one that has perhaps a more acute sensitivity to international opinion, I am pleased with how the world has received this information. A London resident left us with a simple congratulations:
Well done America, you’ve restored my faith in you.
Whether or not you voted for or agree politically with him, his election is a truly remarkable event—one that I am glad to be a part. The last video is some thoughts about this election and its outcome from Colin Powell. (Taken from CNN)
Update: from Patrick Moberg
Filed under: design, innovation, online media, politics | Tags: obama, democrats, politics, Nicholas Carr, design, Audience, Royal Opera House, rAndom International, Chris O'Shea, New Mexico Sun News, Obama Wins, Good Guide, xkcd, words that end in gry, memes, transparency
There were a few things I ran across over the last few days that are worth sharing but need not much by way on commentary.
1: A little cartoon that I, disturbingly, agree with.
source: xkcd words that end in gry
2: A newspaper in New Mexico “seizes the day” with their proclamation that “Obama Wins”. They also noted:
the newspaper has a goal of reaching one million readers with each edition, but prints just 10,000 copies of each of its issues.
So, “each copy must be read by 100 different and distinct people. This places an enormous burden on our intrepid readers. However, it is a burden that we must insist you carry. So, please, read quickly, care for the physical condition of the paper and pass it on to your next chosen reader.”
The liberal leaning alternative newspaper ended by imploring its readers to get out and vote, “even if we did spoil the ending for you.”
3: Well designed transparency—Good Guide gives more visibility into corporate political leanings.
4: Speaking of good design; a cool visual metaphor for memes (make your own interpretation).
Filed under: online media | Tags: anarchists, atheists, communists, Computer World, Culture Crash, Dan Tynan, democrats, hacktivists, human rights groups, online media, over capacity, political enthusiasts, religious communities, Republican National Convention, republicans, socialists, terrorists, Twitter, vegetarians
The writers of a recent military report examining the mobile technologies used by terrorists, theorized that
militants might pair some of these mobile applications with Twitter, to magnify their impact.
Part of the foundation of this idea came from the Republican National Convention where
Twitter was [...] used as a countersurveillance, command and control, and movement tool [...] The activists would Tweet each other and their Twitter pages to add information on what was happening with Law Enforcement near real time.
In response, Dan Tynan makes a fair point in his Computerworld “Culture Crash” blog, noting:
Saying Twitter can be used by terrorists is a bit like saying oxygen can be used by terrorists.
[...]
But is it such a great leap to suggest that when the US Army means “terrorists,” they’re not just thinking of fanatics with bombs who blow up innocent people, but ordinary folks who might occasionally be moved to exercise their Constitutional rights?
Check out the rogues gallery of evil doers cited by the report:
“Twitter has also become a social activism tool for socialists, human rights groups, communists, vegetarians, anarchists, religious communities, atheists, political enthusiasts, hacktivists and others to communicate with each other and to send messages to broader audiences.”
I love one of the comments to this posting:
We’re not really terrorists, but we are atheists. Where do we turn ourselves in?
Of course, if some activist or anti-social group does decide to use Twitter, they are going to have to face the same issues we regular non-Twitterrorists face.
*checking Twitter*
тупоумная американская технология!
Filed under: politics | Tags: democrats, huckabee, mccain, obama, politics, republicans
It’s the year of change; a year where the talking heads of the two major American parties are not going to have their way. You have just months ago Rush Limbaugh, one of the people in our nation to take most advantage of the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine, saying that John McCain (and Mike Huckabee) would destroy the Republican Party if elected. And though Obama seems to be beating Clinton in nearly every electability poll (a bit less now with the recent minister remarks), in delegate count, and in states won, the Democratic establishment (as expressed with the super delegate count) has begrudgingly accepted his candidacy. Even with the established old two party system, we are seeing a revolution. Not in the Ron Paul/Ralph Nader type overthrow, but nonetheless, the power and voice has been given back to the people. What a great step forward.
