Jack Black Jesus

Questions about Prop 8, the economy, and maybe even the interaction between church and state? Let Jack Black and a few friends set you straight in this humorous musical.

URL: http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c0cf508ff8/prop-8-the-musical-starring-jack-black-john-c-reilly-and-many-more-from-fod-team-jack-black-craig-robinson-john-c-reilly-and-rashida-jones

Explore the cycle

For a while now, my family has been living by the Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Ultimately, wishing to be kind to the environment should really be focusing on decrease how much stuff they consume (Reduce, Reuse), right down to what may seem like the most insignificant of items (Remember this post? "Please Don't Print this E-mail Revolution"). However, at some point things will reach the end of their use and we -- the consumer -- become the judges of where a product spends its afterlife.... Will it be banished to the depths of a landfill? OR Will it be reincarnated as a new product?

If you're curious how recycling works or if you've recently heard people talking about "single stream recycling" but don't know what it is, then you may want to spend a few minutes watching a very comprehensive set of videos made by RecycleBank about the recycling process.

So, go ahead! Explore the cycle and remember to choose the destiny of your waste wisely!


URL: http://www.explorethecycle.com/

Thank you to INDY Blog readers

Thank you all for taking the time to read my blog over the past year. I hope that I at least got you thinking about politics and maybe even helped you to become confident and comfortable with HOW you choose to exercise your right to vote.

Today the nation will begin laying the ground-work for building a new future. While I will continue to keep my eyes on the political playground, it's time for me to steer the INDY Blog back toward the subjects of entertainment (games, movies, and TV), science, environmental concerns, new technological developments, and (my favorite) crazy internet findings. (Don't fret too much, politics will appear once in a while.)

Cheers for now! This blogger is taking a break!

Voting results of the 2008 US Presidential election

I've updated the spreadsheet with the latest numbers for the 2008 US Presidential election. You can see how the numbers compare for the polls/popular vote/electoral vote.

USA Presidential Election 2008 [Google Spreadsheet]

INDY Poll Results: Who would you like to see win the 2008 United States Presidential Election?

INDY.CC visitors have elected Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. Here are the results of the long running INDY Poll (which closed this morning)....

- Constitution: Baldwin / Castle »» 0% (1 vote)
- Democratic: Obama / Biden »» 56% (101 votes)
- Green: McKinney / Clemente »» 0% (1 vote)
- Independent: Nader / Gonzalez »» 1% (3 votes)
- Libertarian: Barr / Root »» 1% (2 votes)
- Republican: McCain / Palin »» 39% (71 votes)

Total votes: 179

I am VERY happy to see participation from "third party" voters. Thank you to everyone who participated in this poll.

President-Elect Barack Obama's speech on Election Night

My favorite part of the speech:

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can.

URL: http://www.baltimoresun.com/video/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=3102493
Full transcript of the speech can be found here: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/politics/bal-text1105,0,2684817.story

Barack Obama, President of the United States of America

The numbers are still coming in, but since McCain has conceded I think it is safe to say....

Barack Obama will be the 44th President of the United States of America!

To quote what I said in an earlier post:

Benevolence and kindness are not things which trickle down through monetary riches, they come from within each of us. Whether through faith in a higher power or faith in the power of the human spirit. It's time for us to put down the sword of vengeance and help each other back to our feet. I realize that it is very scary to let go of what you know, to accept that the past is past, but you need to look to the future now.

Our voices have been raised and they have been heard, but the job is just beginning. It will be a difficult journey, but we CAN get back on our feet. It is time to let go of that which divides us and stand together to build a better future.

Obama places his vote in Chicago

Here's a video (courtesy of the Associated Press) of Barack Obama voting in Chicago today.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqkNvQlQntQ

ELECTION DAY!

Today's the day! If you haven't already, go VOTE! NOW!

I've made the finally poll updates to my USA Presidential Election 2008 spreadsheet. Check back throughout the day to see the vote tallies as I add them. (I wouldn't expect there to be any numbers coming in until the afternoon MST.)

I have to give a shout out to FiveThirtyEight for providing such statistically detailed polls. And to DailyKos for keeping me aware of the election pulse. On that note, DailyKos has an awesome election map/scoreboard [DailyKos] that they'll be streaming live voting numbers through today. While I would love for you to use my spreadsheet, the DailyKos Scoreboard does look prettier and may be more entertaining to watch.

Have a great day, everyone! And, remember, we CAN do this!

Obama on the Daily Show

Not long after his "infomercial" played around the country, Obama linked up with John Stewart on the Daily Show. As would be expected from the Daily Show, Barack's appearance was fun to watch. In addition to the humor, Obama discussed a few topics of the campaign trail and a few of the issues facing our country. He also impressed upon the audience his intentions if elected.

URL: http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=189761

Obama speaks to the nation

Barack Obama has thirty minutes of prime time television, including the lead-in to the World Series tonight. (By the way, if you've been seeing the smears or are yourself angry that Obama "delayed" the World Series to speak to the nation with this, then you should probably read the Daily Kos post "A Swing and a Miss" by Scout Finch.)

Embedded and linked below you'll find the video which was shown on seven major channels and in many places on the internet. In the 30 minute spot, Obama visits families across America and addresses the struggles they face.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtREqAmLsoA

Even if you don't watch all of it, at least try to view the beginning [YouTube] and the end [YouTube] of it. I hope you see that Barack Obama is a man who cares where we go and how we get there, a man who can bring our country together.

Sit, Walk, Run, and Fly

Rosa sat so Martin could walk.
Martin walked so Obama could run.
Obama runs so our children can fly.

This came from a story on NPR

I have shamelessly copied EXACTLY what you see here from a post I just saw in the DemConWatch Blog. Specifically, this post [DemConWatch] because I think this statement needs to be read and spread.

Generation We

Remember what I said about placing your "Vote for Tomorrow"? What about when I told you to think about future generations when I pointed out "what is in the power of a vote"?

Well, the next in line of those future generations is speaking out. Listen to what they have to say.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vknHKTy1MLY

Happy Halloween! Creepy Pet Store

In the modern creepy Halloween traditions, I present to you this video of a rather unusual sort of Pet store.

URL: http://vimeo.com/2000382

In his own way, British artist Banksy has provided a bit of commentary on our societal relationship with animals. Giving credit where it is due, I came across this video while sifting through my feed items today, a post from Treehugger happened to catch my eye.

Wassup in 2008?

Remember the "Wassup" Budweiser ad back in 2000?
Well, let's check back in with the dudes and see where they are now, eight years later.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq8Uc5BFogE

Colin Powell endorses Obama on Meet the Press

Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama took place on Meet the Press today.

He explains his opinion in detail on camera and focuses in on why he came to the conclusion of voting for Obama. It's a significant discussion, as he touches on a great deal of concerns felt by Republicans, Democrats, and independents.

I am very impressed that he made his decision with such care and consideration. You can watch the video of his endorsement in a couple of locations.

YouTube:

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz49wFWgSR8

OR

MSNBC Video site
(There's a short ad before the MSNBC video, but the quality is much higher than the YouTube version.)

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27265490#27265490

Courage and sacrifice

To the many soldiers -- both past and present -- who continue to face each day with courage and sacrifice: Thank you.

Army Sergeant Erik Schei, this one is posted for you.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h12mEegemI0

For more information and to check facts on this ad: http://www.tomudall.com/PDF/HumbledFactSheet.pdf [PDF]

2008 Presidential Election Current Standings

Election Day is nearly upon us, so with that in mind I have created a Google Spreadsheet similar to the ones I created in February for the primaries.

USA Presidential Election 2008

Like the spreadsheets created in February, this one could be called somewhat overly detailed. Within it you can see the current poll standings state-by-state for the two major candidates. Also, you can see how many states they are projected to win based on those polls. Finally, when the tallies come in on November 4th, you'll be able to view the winners for both popular and electoral votes.

While we are all looking forward with excitement to what is to come, it is also fun to take a look back at where we have been. So, on that note, I'd like to show you a video that gives you a behind-the-scenes at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCeNPAaGVVY

One final note, I want everyone to keep their energy and their hope. We can do this. Yes We Can! [INDY Blog]

Obama Wins Scholastic News Election Poll

This was just fun to see: Obama Wins Scholastic News Election Poll [scholastic.com]

It's official. At least for the kids! The Scholastic Presidential Election Poll results are in: Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama won with 57 percent of the vote, to 39 percent for Republican nominee Senator John McCain.
....
Since 1940, the results of the student vote have mirrored the outcome of the general election all but twice: In 1948, kids voted for Thomas E. Dewey over Harry S. Truman. In 1960, more students voted for Richard M. Nixon than for John F. Kennedy. In 2000, a majority of student voters chose George W. Bush, mirroring the Electoral College result, but not the result of the popular vote.
....
So why is a kid poll important? And does it mean anything come November 4? Kid Reporter Lya Ferreyra knows.

"Not only does [voting in the] poll give kids the experience they will need to vote in the future, but it allows them to have input on who should be the next President of the United States," she said. "It gives kids a voice, which is important, but we won't know the actual outcome until November 4. No one can predict that."

America's "favorite" hockey mom

In case you missed it, Palin dropped the puck at the Philly Flyers' opener this last weekend. The most notable part of her visit? The deafening boos from the crowd as she walked on to the ice.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd4wQd_gbj8

Better still are the Obama/Biden signs in the field of view of the official photo op.

Vote for tomorrow

Remember what I said when I tried to answer the question of "What is in the power of a vote?".... This video embodies the urgency and emotion of that plea to carefully consider and use your right to vote.


URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYnfhFlS6U8

Strategy vs. Impulse

Your boss comes into your office, you're now tasked with heading up a new division. You've made the big time. You've been given a great responsibility, people have started looking to you to guide them.

Weeks later, an important decision is placed before you. It's something your superiors have placed a great deal of investment in. You're called into a meeting with your boss and a handful of other division heads. The time is at hand to make the call, but you're receiving a bit of push-back from the other divisions. Your boss watches you intently wondering what you plan to do.

How do you respond? Do you consider your words, weigh-out the alternatives? Or do you lash out angrily at the nearest opponent?

Have your answer ready? Well, then it's time to consider this:

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAyK-enrF1g

Getting back on track

Hillary Clinton takes us through the emotions which could be felt on November 5th.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFBv8bgHgfQ

After so much back-and-forth during the primaries, it's refreshing to see her really standing strongly behind Barack Obama.

What is in the power of a vote?

I wanted to cross-post something which I wrote elsewhere. It addresses my overall view of the power held in our right to vote.

Here's a really simple rule of thumb for politics:
Vote for the candidate who you feel will best represent your voice in the office they are running for.

That may mean that you are voting for someone who is not a Republican or a Democrat. What it will mean, though, is that you are voting in a way which you can stand by. If you do not see any candidates you think you can support in that race, write in someone who you can support or get involved in politics yourself.

In the end, you've tried to make your voice heard. That's the best that all of us should strive for. Voting for "the other guy" so as to pick "the lesser of two evils" is just a cop-out for not learning about your choices.

The importance of our right to vote does not sit in our ability to pick which hand is hiding the coin, but rather in our ability to make educated and informed choices (all-be-it, with opportunity costs) for those people we can stand by as individual parts of a larger community.

If you feel so disillusioned by the system and the players currently presented by it, you have two final choices: (1) choose to ignore the system, (2) get involved in it and change it from within. If you don't like the game either stop playing or change the rules.

To repeat the important part of this message:
It is important that as voters we pick the candidate who we each feel will best represent our own voice in the office they are running for.

I have to admit, though, this opinion I hold creates a dilemma because I genuinely fear what decisions would be made by a McCain presidency. It would seem likely that our society would continue to boil over with anger and frustration, emotions we would externalize into wars (fiscal and literal) on an ever increasing number of enemies. It's highly likely that military strategy and fear-mongering would take the driver's seat while the problems felt in the home are dragged behind the vehicle.

Benevolence and kindness are not things which trickle down through monetary riches, they come from within each of us. Whether through faith in a higher power or faith in the power of the human spirit. It's time for us to put down the sword of vengeance and help each other back to our feet. I realize that it is very scary to let go of what you know, to accept that the past is past, but you need to look to the future now.

What gift do you want to give to the next generation? We're still feeling the effects of the decisions made for us before: Vietnam, Desert Storm, even the Cold War. What legacy do you want to leave the generations to come? How do you want your time to be remembered?

Slipping in the mud

You may have noticed that John McCain and Sarah Palin have really ramped up the attack ads on Barack Obama. It seems that we've had to wade through deeper and deeper pits of mud every election. There was a time when certain people felt differently about negative ads....

"I just have to rely on the good judgment of the voters not to buy into these negative attack ads. Sooner or later people are going to figure out that if all you run is negative ads, you don't have much of a vision for the future or you're not ready to articulate it."
-- John McCain, Feb. 2000

That's right, John. Sooner or later people ARE going to figure out that you don't have much of a vision for the future.

Voters, THINK before you vote. Why would you wish more suffering upon your family, friends, children, and grandchildren? McCain will take us into more wars, more financial turmoil, and even more corruption. Your vote can make the difference.

The quote above was found coming from the mouth of John McCain here:

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHW-RO1_WN0

Battling Mis-information, Part 3

It was recently brought to my attention that I haven't blogged about mis-information being spread about McCain. Well, that's a good point. I haven't. So, I spent some time looking for where lies have been spread about the Republican nominee....

I can't find any. Even his campaign isn't refuting what is being said. It's hard to say no, when there's proof of a strong yes. The only things I've even come close to considering mis-information have been due to McCain's own mistakes or his changes of heart/mind. (I guess I can give the guy a little slack, he gets really confused sometimes: "McCain Trips on Spain".)

Maybe you have a particular issue you're worried about, well check it out for yourself here: http://www.ontheissues.org/john_mccain.htm.

During the Republican primaries, he was the middle-right candidate of choice. Now it seems that he is bent on the same militaristic politics and controls as we've seen the last eight years. While some of his social policies vaguely blur into the realm of sanity, his intentions in the area of military conflict are worrisome.

Remember, the President of the United States of America can not directly affect legislation (that's what Congress does), but the President can use his executive privilege to order military actions with repercussions lasting for the span of decades or longer.

McCain and his ol' boys

(You can find this same content where I did: "Obama nails McCain with a great line" on the DemConWatch blog.)

"But it sounds like he got a little carried away, because yesterday, John McCain actually said that if he’s President, he’ll take on the – quote – “ol’ boys network” in Washington. I am not making this up. This is someone who’s been in Congress for twenty-six years – who put seven of the most powerful Washington lobbyists in charge of his campaign – and now he tells us that he’s the one who will take on the ol’ boy network. The ol’ boy network? In the McCain campaign, that’s called a staff meeting."



You can read the full text of the speech here.

Smearing the lipstick

Recently there has been a lot of public focus on "lipstick". At this point, I've come to regard the "lipstick" press as fluff made to distract you from the facts. What's sad is that McCain has been spouting this sort of "lipstick" for quite some time now. (McCain speaking about lipstick and Obama drawing the focus back to the issues.)

So, let's see past the "lipstick" and learn more about Sarah Palin and what policies she brings to the ballot in November. Here's a video clip from MSNBC's Countdown which sifts through what we DON'T know about Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin....

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0M50sM9CZA

Battling Mis-information, Part 2

Check the label on those gourmet crackers McCain is giving you, they might just be dog biscuits.

Take a look at this video and ask yourself how straight the path of the "Straight Talk Express" really is. This is why it is so important that we find the answers ourselves. Don't just believe what you're told, find out for yourself BEFORE you vote away your family, job, or even your life.


URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH0xzsogzAk

I also want to redirect your attention to my post back in June: "The Real McCain" in which I pointed you to "a website dedicated to cutting through the Bush-type Republican crud that McCain brings to the table". See for yourself what games are being played with the people of the USA: The Real McCain.

Battling Mis-information

If there's one thing that has really irked me during this election, it has been the lame and ugly mis-information being spread around about John McCain and Barack Obama. While it's highly unlikely that the American public will see beyond what is thrown at them from TV ads, I've found a couple fact-checking quizzes about the two candidates which I would encourage you take. Once you've seen the facts, I'd encourage to spread the word.

How well do you know John McCain?

How well do you know Barack Obama?

No matter how well you fair, read the facts. You might be surprised by what you find. There's more (or less) to be said about McCain and Obama than the number of houses owned and how "cool" they are.

2008 SelectSmart your candidate

I wanted to go into a bit more detail on what SelectSmart has for the 2008 Presidential candidates, having already mentioned SelectSmart at least twice before in my blog. (Remember, back in March? [INDY Blog])

So, here's the list of options from the current INDY Poll ("INDY Poll: Who would you like to see win the 2008 United States Presidential Election?"). This time I'm linking to each individual's candidate page from SelectSmart. Those pages have really great detailed bullets on where the candidates stand on the issues.

- Constitution: Baldwin / Castle
- Democratic: Obama / Biden
- Green: McKinney / Clemente
- Independent: Nader / Gonzalez
- Libertarian: Barr / Root
- Republican: McCain / Palin

Since only a few of the candidates above have information on SelectSmart, let me also direct your attention to this really cool article in Wikipedia which presents a "Comparison of United States presidential candidates, 2008".

INDY Poll: Who would you like to see win the 2008 United States Presidential Election?

I've made a new INDY Poll available. During convention season, I mentioned that I would make a poll for the 2008 United States Presidential Ballot once all the major parties* had selected their candidates.
* I'm defining a major party as those parties whose candidates appear "on the ballot in enough states to theoretically win a majority in the U.S. Electoral College" [wikipedia]. For a full list of the 2008 candidates check out Wikipedia's "List of candidates in the United States presidential election, 2008".

As always, I encourage you to learn about the candidates, their parties, and where they stand on the issues. I believe that votes should be cast toward the candidate(s) who you feel would best represent your opinions and values in their office. To aid you in that understanding, I am including links to Wikipedia's articles on the candidates' parties, their campaigns, and I will even provide you with links to some helpful online "quizzes".

INDY Poll: Who would you like to see win the 2008 United States Presidential Election?

- Constitution: Baldwin / Castle
- Democratic: Obama / Biden
- Green: McKinney / Clemente
- Independent: Nader / Gonzalez
- Libertarian: Barr / Root
- Republican: McCain / Palin

As of yet, I've only found a couple online "quizzes" that I really like as far as political opinion alignment goes. The number one on my list has always been SelectSmart.

In fact, I'll throw SelectSmart's 2008 Presidential Candidate Selector Widget into the post right here:

(If the widget doesn't show up, just use the link I just provided.)

I came across another quiz today which is also pretty decent. However, it is really only good for aligning you with a candidate on environmental issues, SelectSmart's selectr address an array of issues. Anyhow, here's The Daily Green "Which candidate thinks like you on environmental issues?" quiz.

Once you've got your choice figured out, come jump back over to the INDY Blog and place your vote in the poll. (The poll closes at midnight MDT on November 5th; and you can always change your vote up until that point.)

The human virus and a possible cure

While this video is quite humorous at first glance, the implication is quite unnerving. Humans really have played the role of a destructive cancer in the Earth's recent history.

Humans- Cool Cartoon!
by aniboom

URL: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x53k8k_humans-cool-cartoon_fun

Worry not though, the scientists at CERN will attempt to circulate a beam in the Large Hadron Collider [wikipedia] tomorrow at the injection energy of 450 GeV (0.45 TeV). Some people believe that the "world's largest particle accelerator complex" "might produce dangerous phenomena, including micro black holes" [wikipedia]. So, maybe there's a cure for the human virus afterall! (And it might look something like this....)


URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXzugu39pKM

Personally, I don't think that's going to happen. Better still, if it does happen, we won't be around for long enough to see it coming. (So, technically speaking, I won't even know if I'm wrong.) The test is set to happen sometime between 9:00 to 18:00 CEST (That's 7:00 to 16:00 UTC or 1:00 to 9:00 MDT.)

See you all tomorrow?
-= indy =-

Gov Sarah Palin Will Have To Resign

Trouble for McCain's VP already. Only a few days after Palin was given the thumbs-up by the 72 year old presidential candidate, the Alaskan governor's history of back-alley politics is catching up to her.

1) TrooperGate, where Gov Palin is accused of using her position to fire a state trouper, who's still on the job as of this writing.

2) The news that Palin was part of a group that wanted Alaska to leave the Union.

3) Palin was fundraising director for Senator Ted Stevens' 527 committee.

4) Palin was almost recalled as Mayor of Wasalia, Alaska.

5) She says the Iraq War, costing over 80,000 iraqi lives and several thousand American lives is a war for oil -- she's right, but Republican, so she should not say that.

6) She took earmarks totalling over $197 million, while saying she did not.

Read more from the original post. [DemConWatch]

Barack Obama officially the nominee of the Democratic Party

It's official! Barack Obama is now the nominee of the Democratic Party for President of the United States of America. It's been a rough road to get to this point, but I'm glad we're finally here.

There's still some time before November - and who knows what will be thrown around in that time - but at least Obama and the Democratic Party can now settle the sights of a united party on their goal.

(I've been very busy these days - hence the lack of posts. Hopefully, I'll be able to play a bit of "catch-up" soon.)

EFF Vows to begin "Immunity Repeal" movement

The EFF has vowed to begin the "immunity repeal" movement today. This is in response to the bullied Senate approving FISA update on Wednesday. Here is an excerpt from the EFF's statement:

This Wednesday, the Senate followed the House in caving to White House fear-mongering by passing an unconstitutional overhaul of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The FISA Amendments Act (FAA) dangerously expands the president’s warrantless wiretapping powers far beyond what the Constitution allows. Perhaps even more controversially, the FAA also contains provisions intended by the Administration to grant retroactive immunity from civil suits to the telecommunications companies that colluded in the president’s illegal warrantless wiretapping program.

I, personally, was horrified to see that Obama voted YEA. He has spoken-out against FISA's immunity section for some time now and even voted for a motion which would have removed it from the bill. Despite the TeleComs' immunity being removed, he still voted for FISA's approval. I know that a great deal of voters lost heart when he made that decision.

I, for one, will continue to stand by him. I know that, of the current candidates of all parties, he is the most in-line with my politics. However, I will be greatly disappointed if he does not act with more integrity in the future. If there is even the slimmest chance that Senator Obama will read this post, I want him to read this message:

Barack, you have the votes needed to become the President of the United States of America. Not through making your opposition comfortable with you, but rather because WE the people (the vast majority of hopeful Americans) have stood by you and saw in you the same dreams which we cling to. If you stray to far in your search for votes from those outside your main driving force, you will begin to lose the core of your foundation. Stay true to the man you have been, the politics you have had in the past, and the ethics you have written about in your books.

FISA (TeleCom immunity) in Senate today

The "compromise" FISA bill which passed in the House (reference: TeleCom Immunity Resurfaces again), the same bill which Chris Dodd has been fighting against for some time now, will be put to a Senate vote today.

To repeat the summary I wrote when this disgusting and unconstitutional bill was in front of the House of Representatives...

A new FISA Bill has just been made public [PDF] which appears to yet again contain immunity for TeleComs that helped the NSA break the law and spy on millions of ordinary Americans for the Bush Administration. Let me repeat that... TeleComs helped the NSA break the law in order to spy on American citizens. Just to be clear, the NSA was created on November 4, 1952 in order to be responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence.

Once again, I will cling to the hope that the Senate will uphold the Constitution of the United States of America and destroy this loathsome mockery of a bill. I will update this post when the Senate vote comes through.

UPDATE (2008-07-09 14:26 MDT): Ugh! It passed 69 to 28 (3 did not vote). Worse still was finding Obama's name amid the Yeas even though an amendment - that he and others supported - to remove TeleCom immunity was rejected. The vote results can be found on this page: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00168

TeleCom Immunity Resurfaces again

I've blogged previously about Sen. Chris Dodd's fight to keep TeleCom's from getting immunity to lawsuits for their participation and cooperation in the Bush Administration's illegal wire-taps. Well, that same issue is back again today, it would seem....

A new FISA Bill has just been made public [PDF] which appears to yet again contain immunity for TeleComs that helped the NSA break the law and spy on millions of ordinary Americans for the Bush Administration. Let me repeat that... TeleComs helped the NSA break the law in order to spy on American citizens. Just to be clear, the NSA was created on November 4, 1952 in order to be responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence.

The House is set to vote on the Bill today. I'm really growing tired of this "Terrorists are the new Communists" crap.

UPDATE (2008-06-20 11:24 MDT): Disgusting! It passed 293 to 129 (13 did not vote). The vote results can be found on this page: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll437.xml

The Real McCain

It's time to turn up the heat a little in regards to the general election. That said, I want to direct your attention to a website dedicated to cutting through the Bush-type Republican crud that McCain brings to the table....

The Real McCain

More conservative readers may initially just laugh at this and ignore it, but I ask you... Do you really know what McCain has in mind for the USA?

I recommend that you at least take a peak at the videos area of the website. There you'll find some eye-opening information about the presidential candidate. Make sure that you really want a third Bush term before you vote for McCain.

Obama Bicycle Ride

What do you do after you claim the Democratic nomination for President? Well, according to the Associated Press, Barack Obama took a nice quiet bike ride with his family, friends, and neighbors.

That's my kind of Presidential candidate!

It's Party (Convention) Time!

As of right now, McCain and Obama are "presumptive" nominees, meaning they haven't officially received their party's nomination. The official nominations occur at the Party conventions. I've included those dates and locations below, so mark your calendars! (I realize that the Constitution Party and Libertarian conventions have already occurred, but I think they should also be included as the USA is a "two-party system" in appearance only.)

- April 23-26, 2008: 2008 Constitution Party National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.
- May 23-26, 2008: 2008 Libertarian National Convention, in Denver, Colorado.
- July 10-13, 2008: 2008 Green Party National Convention, to be held in Chicago, Illinois.
- August 25-28, 2008: 2008 Democratic National Convention, to be held in Denver, Colorado.
- September 1-4, 2008: 2008 Republican National Convention, to be held in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Once the official nominations have been made, I will open a new INDY Poll with all the official candidates listed.

INDY Poll Results: Who would you like to see win the 2008 Democratic nomination?

It would appear that INDY.CC visitors have nominated Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic party's presidential candidate. Here are the results of the long running INDY Poll (which closed this morning)....

- Hillary Clinton »» 40% (53 votes)
- Barack Obama »» 57% (75 votes)
- Mike Gravel »» 2% (3 votes)

Total votes: 131

Obama wins nomination

It came right down to the wire, but Barack Obama has finally grabbed a hold of enough votes to claim the Democratic party Presidential nomination. I am thrilled that we've reached this point. With all the petty he-said-she-said bickering and the many Republicans (encouraged by Rush Limbaugh) switching over to vote for Hillary Clinton, I was becoming worried about how tainted the race was becoming.

Now it's time to direct our attention toward the general election.

Obama has 50% of delegates

After last night's votes from Kentucky and Oregon and the last three days filled with many superdelegate endorsements, Obama has finally reached the mark of 50% of the delegation's votes!

Keep in mind that delegates are not required to vote for than individual they "pledge" (pledged delegates) or "endorse" (super delegates). So, unless one of the remaining candidates chooses to leave the race, we're not through yet! I think it's time to queue up the Yes We Can Song!

Delegates: 1500.5 Clinton, 1657.5 Obama
Superdelegates: 277.5 Clinton, 304.5 Obama
Total Delegates: 1778 Clinton, 1962 Obama

% Total Available: 45.32% Clinton, 50.01% Obama

(You can visit my Democratic Primaries 2008 spreadsheet for more details and updates to these numbers.)

Democratic Primary in 7 minutes

It's been a while since I've posted a blog and it's been even longer since I've posted a blog about the race for US President. That's mainly because - in my opinion - things are just following the same formula they have for the last couple months. So, nothing is significantly news worthy or sensational.

However, this morning my eyes were drawn back to the race by a short presentation which summarizes the Democratic Primary in 7 minutes. It's both humorous and informative.


URL: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid271557392/bctid1531283112

I love the World

Here's an early Earth Day present. It's a short music video made by the Discovery Channel. I hope you all have a wonderful Earth Day and remember to give our planet a little love every day, but especially next Tuesday for Earth Day.

My favorite parts are when Bear Grylls says "I love arachnids" while holding a large tarantula and when Stephen Hawking says "Boom-dee-ah-da". Enjoy!

YouTube Video:

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5BxymuiAxQ

Original AOL Video:

URL: http://video.aol.com/video-detail/discovery-channel-i-love-the-world/3462397172

Are things still "bitter"?

I'm still paying attention to the Democratic primary, but honestly I'm growing weary of this childish back-and-forth stuff. I've been complaining about it from the start, as have many others, but it's still going on. Do people actually pay attention to the "nuh-uh" "uh-huh" arguments politicians throw around?

It would seem that they might because here we go again.... Clinton has some more negative campaigning for us to digest. And Obama has a response.

Clinton Ad:

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZO4ktKHfRQ

Obama response Ad:

URL: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1185304443/bctid1506007134

INDY Poll Results: Which super-power would you want?

- Flight
- Invisibility
- Regeneration
- Super-strength »» 33% (1 vote)
- Telepathy
- Telekinesis »» 33% (1 vote)
- Teleportation »» 33% (1 vote)

Total votes: 3

INDY Poll: Which super-power would you want?

Sorry for missing the usual update schedule. Here's a fun poll to fill in the remaining time until Friday!

INDY Poll: Which super-power would you want?

- Flight
- Invisibility
- Regeneration
- Super-strength
- Telepathy
- Telekinesis
- Teleportation

INDY Poll Results: When do you ride your bicycle during the year?

- Year-round! "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night..." »» 20% (1 vote)
- As often as I can, except in inclement weather conditions. »» 20% (1 vote)
- When I feel like it in good weather. (Commuting or for sport.) »» 0% (0 votes)
- On the weekends for recreation or sport. »» 40% (2 votes)
- I hardly ever have the chance, but I enjoy it. »» 20% (1 vote)
- I don't enjoy riding. / I never ride. »» 0% (0 votes)

Total votes: 5

Eek! I forgot to make a new poll! I've got a new one coming today. Not too many votes for this past one. Oh well.

Fort Collins has been Street Viewed

Yipee! It appears that Fort Collins has finally been given Google Street Views in Google Maps. I've been looking forward to the addition of our fine city to Google Street View ever since the feature was first introduced.

Here's a description of Google Street View from the Wikipedia article on that subject:

Google Street View is a feature of Google Maps introduced in 2007 that provides 360° panoramic street-level views and allows users to view parts of selected cities and their surrounding metropolitan areas at ground level.

So, jump on over to Google Maps and check out Fort Collins, CO! (The location I've linked is atop Horsetooth Reservoir - quite a beautiful view from there.)

Obama on Climate Change

Barack Obama brought his focus upon climate change in a recent town hall meeting in Pennsylvania. Obama did not side-step the issue at all when asked the question: "if elected president would [he] consider tapping Gore for his Cabinet to address global warming".

I would. Not only will I, but I will make a commitment that Al Gore will be at the table and play a central part in us figuring out how we solve this problem. He's somebody I talk to on a regular basis. I'm already consulting with him in terms of these issues, but climate change is real. It is something we have to deal with now, not 10 years from now, not 20 years from now.

I has been the trend in this race for candidates to side-step environmental issues, as they seem to polarize the populace so quickly. It would appear that Barack Obama does not think that the issue of climate change is something we can afford to ignore any longer (as a country and as a species).

It's 3AM again

Apparently, there are certain decisions which must be made by phone in the wee hours of morning in Washington DC. At least that's appears to be the trend for Hillary Clinton. Today, she released another 3AM ad. This time focusing on the economy, and attacking John McCain.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XpaK-cGO9U

You remember the first 3AM ad, which suggested that Obama couldn't handle an international crisis. (A suggestion which later flew right back into Clinton's face.) (Reference: "Comparing Clinton, Obama 3AM Ads") On top of that, the actress who was shown in the original 3AM ad came forward to take a stand against the "politics of fear that Senator Clinton uses to drum up votes". (Reference: "Girl from 3AM ad backs Obama")

Earth Hour Commentary

As I had hoped, the time spent in recognition of Earth Hour last night was very relaxing. Because my family and I are very energy conscious (e.g. all gadgets are unplugged when not in-use, etc.), the conversion to Earth Hour simply consisted of turning off the lights of the room we were in and lighting the candles we had around our condo.

So, beginning at 20:00 (8pm) MDT, we sat together in the soothing darkness. Toward the end of the hour, my daughter was nearly asleep so we put her to bed. My wife and I decided to just leave things as they were and spend the remainder of our evening enjoying the candle-lit darkness.

There was something deeply revitalizing in that darkness; a sort of connecting meditative state which brought our focus back to the human part of our relationship. We now plan to decrescendo in our sunless hours more consistently.

Earth Hour

In only 2 hours' time Earth Hour will arrive in the Mountain timezone. Today, people (even entire cities) all over the world - in the spirit of conservation and environmental awareness - have been shutting off their power between 20:00 (8pm) and 21:00 (9pm) local time.

Here's an excerpt from the official Earth Hour website:

It started with a question: How can we inspire people to take action on climate change?

The answer: Ask the people of Sydney to turn off their lights for one hour.

On 31 March 2007, 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour. If the greenhouse reduction achieved in the Sydney CBD during Earth Hour was sustained for a year, it would be equivalent to taking 48,616 cars off the road for a year.

With Sydney icons like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House turning their lights off, and unique events such as weddings by candlelight, the world took notice. Inspired by the collective effort of millions of Sydneysiders, many major global cities are joining Earth Hour in 2008, turning a symbolic event into a global movement.

I'm looking forward to what I'm sure will be a very peaceful evening with my family.

INDY Poll: When do you ride your bicycle during the year?

Today marked the first "official" day of my riding season. I had to start quite late this year because my bike was pretty banged up with how poorly I have been riding it for the past 3 years. Apparently, my taste for gears, which give me lots of resistance and speed, broke the rear axle and pitted the bearings like the repairman had never seen before.

I'm glad to be back to riding now. My primary purpose for bike riding is for commuting to and from work. I love the relaxing acceleration / deceleration to my days. This weeks INDY Poll is on the topic of bike riding. When do you ride during the year? I would ride year-round if I could, but - riding frequently with my daughter - I have to be more aware of the discomfort of inclement weather.

INDY Poll: When do you ride your bicycle during the year?

- Year-round! "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night..."
- As often as I can, except in inclement weather conditions.
- When I feel like it in good weather. (Commuting or for sport.)
- On the weekends for recreation or sport.
- I hardly ever have the chance, but I enjoy it.
- I don't enjoy riding. / I never ride.

I'm sorry I didn't have a poll last week. I honestly could think of any worth-while idea. In fact, I didn't even come up with this one. My wife did. :-)

Girl from 3AM ad backs Obama

Yesterday was a pretty busy day for me, so I'm a little late in posting about this little piece of political news. (As well as being late in releasing a new INDY Poll.)

Anyway.... Yesterday, the Hill posted a video of the girl from Hillary Clinton's 3AM ad (reference: "Comparing Clinton, Obama 3AM ads"). Apparently she was a little peeved about how the footage of her sleeping peacefully was used. Here's the video clip of her message to the public.


URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXmYVRIpu2w

INDY Poll Results: How green were (or will) you be on St. Patrick's Day 2008 (March 17th)?

I did (or will) wear something colored green. »» 87% (7 votes)
I did (or will) wear something "green" (environmentally friendly). »» 0% (0 votes)
I was (or will be) "green" (environmentally conscientious). »» 25% (2 votes)
None of the above. »» 12% (1 votes)

Total votes: 8

It's really too bad that 75% of the people answering the poll didn't even try to BE green for St. Patrick's Day. :-(

Richardson endorses Obama

The DCW definitely grabbed my attention today, bringing my focus to a significant endorsement for Senator Barack Obama: Gov. Richardson, formerly in the running for Democratic presidential candidate, endorsed Obama last night.

"Barack Obama, you are a leader who has shown courage, judgment, and wisdom throughout the years. You understand the security challenges of the 21st century. And you will be an outstanding commander in chief.

Above all, you will be a president who brings this nation together and restores American global leadership. Your candidacy - and this is an expression of your candidacy - is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our nation; and you are a once-in-a-lifetime leader.

You will make every American proud to be an American. And I am very proud today, to endorse candidacy for President of the United States."

Here is the video clip of which I have transcribed above.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0uSgJSfwm0

Obama speaks about foreign policy

Yesterday marked the five year anniversary of Bush's invasion of Iraq. Since that time five years ago, the death toll has continued to rise, yet - according to polls - citizens of the United States are paying even less attention to the on-going and costly conflict.

Yesterday, many people tried to refocus national attention on Iraq and the decisions made by Bush those five years past. One of those people was Barack Obama, who made a speech yesterday about Iraq and about his ideas on foreign policy and the military.

As I had hoped in my previous post ("Barack Obama speaks about A More Perfect Union"), this speech seems to be the second in a series which I consider to be an abridged version of the chapters within Barack Obama's book "The Audacity of Hope". So, if you truly want to understand what Senator Obama has to say on the issues and where he will lead the United States of America, I encourage to watch these speeches and not simply rely on the quick blurbs or clips provided on prime time TV.


URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYBaiXQoI5Q

Barack Obama speaks about A More Perfect Union

Barack Obama spoke today in Pennsylvania about racial issues and building "a more perfect union" in the United States of America. (I've included the video at the end of this post.)

I was very happy to see Barack speak frankly about some of the issues which he so eloquently discussed in his book "The Audacity of Hope". I found his book comforting that he has thought through many of the hardest hitting concerns of our country. With each issue addressed, he lays things out with an open mind and a caring heart. If you haven't read his book, consider this speech an abridged version of the chapter devoted to Barack's discussions on the problems we face in regards to race.

Already this speech has had many people saying, "Wow! That's a good point!" or "He really knows what he's talking about." I hope that this speech is the first of many to bring to the masses that same clear and well-defined message delivered in his award-winning book.


URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU

Obama Ad Contest from MoveOn.org

The Hill Blog (you guys rock!) has brought my attention to an ad contest being put on by MoveOn.org: Obama in 30 seconds. The winning ad will be used by MoveOn's ad national ad campaign on behalf of Barack Obama. The video I've included below has more details.


URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObOpIQksI0k

INDY Poll: How green were (or will) you be on St. Patrick's Day 2008 (March 17th)?

It's Friday and it's time for another weekly INDY Poll. This week's is pure fun and it should be an easy one to answer too! (2008-03-14@09:09:00 EDIT: I'm now making it multiple choice.)

INDY Poll: How green were (or will) you be on St. Patrick's Day 2008 (March 17th)?

- I did (or will) wear something colored green.
- I did (or will) wear something "green" (environmentally friendly).
- I was (or will be) "green" (environmentally conscientious).
- None of the above.

So, come on over to the INDY Blog and place your vote! (You can always change your vote later should your answer change.)

INDY Poll Results: Ditch Daylight saving time?

Yes. The benefits are lacking and the damages substantial. »» 60% (3 votes)
Yes, but I understand the needs stated by the opposition. »» 20% (1 vote)
Either way works for me. »» 0% (0 votes)
No, but I understand the needs stated by the opposition. »» 0% (0 votes)
No. The benefits are numerous and the complaints are few. »» 20% (1 vote)

Total votes: 5

Clinton's superdelegate dinner

Without finding the response she needs in the popular vote, Clinton is now turning to the one other place where she can get delegates: the superdelegates.

From the Washington Post article by Anne Kornblut:

New campaign finance laws may mean there's no more free lunch in Washington. But if you're an uncommitted superdelegate, you can get a free(-ish) dinner at Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's house in Kalorama tonight. Members of the elite -- and increasingly sought-after -- superdelegate universe are gathering at her home around 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m., according to one Democratic aide. Unaligned Democratic members of the U.S. House and their spouses were invited, the aide said.

I suspect that the meal will be as follows:
- Hors d'oeuvres: Political grand-standing from the original family of the Clinton-Bush dynasty.
- First course: Discussions on what Hillary can do for your pockets and political careers.
- Second course: The crazed eye-brows raised look from Hillary (you know the one), topped with a scripted poorly-delivered speech.
- Third course: Bill Clinton will remind everyone of the favors he did for them while in the Oval Office (but he'll be sure to gloss over that special favor which was done to him in the same location).
- Dessert: Hillary and her PACs and Insurance constituents will serve a Health Care cake they baked together. Hillary: "Not a fan of cake you say? Well, too bad! You'll eat it and you will like it!" (crazed look again)

Yes, I realize that was somewhat acrimonious. Humorous, but still acrimonious. I am just a little peeved that this is the place to which we are now seeing stoop Hillary Clinton stoop to in order to get votes. It seems that, to her, the superdelegates are just votes to be bought after-all. If that's the case, then let's hope that those superdelegates who do go to the Clintons' dinner get a really bad case of indigestion and get wise to the sour taste of Hillary's political game.

Bon Appétit!

Fort Collins CityWorks 101

Minutes ago I received an email confirming that I have been accepted into Fort Collins' CityWorks 101 program. The CityWorks 101 webpage describes the program as follows:

City Works 101 is an eight-week program, which will give residents a behind the scenes look at running a city. Participants will see first hand how the City makes decisions, allocates funds, and provides services.

I applied almost a month ago, having forgotten to do so when I first heard about the program last year.

I was beginning to worry that I had missed my chance or hadn't been accepted into the program. Now I am exuberantly excited to have a chance to learn about and get "behind-the-scenes" of the city I've learned to love and respect: Fort Collins, Colorado.

Indiana Jones 4 Movie Poster

The release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is soon to be upon us. On Valentine's Day I wrote my initial blog about the upcoming film, in which I included the trailer ("The Man with the Hat is Back.... again"). I hope everyone is gearing up for the next chapter in Indy's adventures! I'm including the release poster - made public today - below! (Thanks to the TheRaider.net for posting this!)

Adjustments to the INDY Polls this week

I've decided to extend the 2008 Democratic Candidate INDY Poll until the last of the states vote this season, rather than just having it used as a weekly poll. In order to change the title of the poll, I had to remove it and then add it back into the blog. I feel kind of bad because it had already started to accumulate votes, but I'm relieved to see that the votes are already coming back in. If you have not yet done so, I suggest you come on back and recast your vote.

In the place of the candidate poll, I placed a poll about Daylight saving time as the weekly poll. So, head on over to the INDY Blog and place your votes. Thanks!

Ditch Daylight saving time

I've been saying this for years, but I'm quite happy to see it gaining popularity in the mainstream: Daylight saving time is actually just a waste of time.

It was a National Geographic article which prompted my attention to this today ("Extended Daylight Saving Time Not an Energy Saver?"). In addition to the lack of energy saving, I have a few reasons for which I dislike DST. Rather than reiterate them here I'd encourage you to read the Wikipedia article on "Daylight saving time", in which the pros and cons are clearly stated and the many studies are cited.

Daylight saving time became even more of an annoyance for me when the Bush Administration decided to have it extended. Something which, the public was told, would help us to conserve more; when in fact it increases society's energy (e.g. oil, coal, etc.) and materials (e.g. shopping, services, etc.) consumption.

I realize that this post will fall on many a deaf ear. The falsities that DST "saves" energy, eases our sleep schedules, and boosts the economy are still firmly rooted in the mind of America. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that the practice of moving the hands of the clock will stop in the foreseeable future. A sad fact, but - like the imperial measurement system or the combustion engine - it's a artifact of "tradition" that people just aren't willing to let go of, even if there is a cleaner and simpler option available.

SelectSmart your candidate

Over the years, I've used SelectSmart for the fun of seeing where I line up on a number of issues. However, my favorite use is still to see where I match up with political candidates.

If you're a resident of a state that is yet to vote and you're still unsure of where you should place your vote, I would recommend trying the 2008 Presidential Candidate Selector.

If you would prefer to go straight to a side-by-side comparison of the various candidates, you can visit SelectSmart's 2008 comparison of positions.

If you would prefer to just see an itemized list of the issues for the major players at this point in the 2008 primary season, here you go:

- Hillary Clinton
- John McCain
- Barack Obama

Remember, knowledge of where a politician stands on the issues is the key to selecting the elected official who will best represent your voice.

Introducing the Weekly INDY Poll

I've decided to begin posting weekly polls on the INDY Blog website. I will post the polls on Friday (when I am able) and the polls will close the following Friday at 6:00 AM MST (or MDT).

I am considering offering other - longer running - polls for either larger issues or site suggestions as well, but before I proceed down that path I want to test the waters with these weekly polls.

This week's poll is on a subject which is driving much of my posts recently: the 2008 Democratic nomination. I have included all candidates who are still running active campaigns.

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Is McCain really the McSame as Bush?

John McCain has an upstanding military record, he has had to stand firm against the criticism of both Republicans and Democrats, he has a strong environmental policy, and he tries very hard to weigh out his options before making a decision. He is a successful middle-right candidate and some people would find him preferable to Hillary Clinton (if she were to win the Democratic nomination).

I'm not going to even think of what choice I would make, if I were stuck choosing between either Clinton or McCain at this point. (Especially since I stand firmly by the side of Barack Obama.)

However, I will say that I'm a little uneasy with how McCain has supported and assisted George W. Bush in moving things the direction they have been taken these last 8 years. And, apparently, I'm not the only one, as demonstrated by the Campaign to Defend America ad which I've included below.

I am no fan of negative campaign ads, and I will heartily call out those who would demean someone simply for personal or political gain. So, I scrutinized this ad before choosing to post it. Therefore, I discerned that because this ad stayed focused on the specific political issues on which McCain has agreed with Bush and it did not attack his character as an admirable individual, I will let it through. (Plus, as an AV guy, I'm impressed by how the ad has visually shown what would possibly be the political result of such similarities between McCain and Bush.)


URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN10_6pyshQ

Clinton wins Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas Primaries

Last night Hillary Clinton won the Ohio (54% to 44%), Rhode Island (58% to 40%), and Texas primaries (51% to 47%). (The results are still coming in for the Texas caucus.) Barack Obama has - thus far - won Vermont (60% to 39%). (The numbers are still coming in for Vermont as well.)

I'd recommend taking a look at my spreadsheets directly ("2008 Primaries Current Standings"), but - for quick reference - here's a screen capture of the main page for my Democrats spreadsheet (as of 2008-03-05@09:45 MST).



As someone who very carefully chooses where to place my vote. Based on a politican's record, character, and kindness, it has been very tempting for me to become depressed by last night's results. In fact, I won't say that I haven't lost heart for a few moments over the last couple of hours. It has been very rough seeing Clinton's recent negative campaign tactics yielding an increase in her votes. I had thought Americans had learned to see past those underhanded overused and politically meaningless insults. But, it is no matter. I still have HOPE! And the same hope I hold to is shared by millions of other people around the globe.

The people of the United States of America are awakening. The power is with us - the people. We are saying "Yes, WE Can", not "Yes, she will" (new Clinton chant heard in Ohio last night) because the change must come from the people, of the people. And WE the people of the United States of America, want to see someone who will stand for us in Washington DC.

So, now our eyes now turn to Wyoming. This Democratic primary has given every person a voice. The votes of every state have made a difference. So, please, don't just watch while the people who should echo your voice throughout the globe are chosen for you. Make your voice heard and make your vote count. No matter who you support. It is you who decides who governs the USA.

Obama Final Ohio Ad

The Hill Blog has brought my attention to "Obama’s Closing Pitch in Ohio" [The Hill Blog]. Tomorrow could end up being the deciding factor in the delegate numbers for Clinton and Obama.

Here are the number of pledged delegates at stake for each state voting tomorrow:
Ohio: 141
Rhode Island: 21
Texas: 193
Vermont: 15
Remember, you can get all the current delegate standings and voting results from the spreadsheets I put together. (Visit this post for more information: "2008 Primaries Current Standings")

I've included Obama's ad below:

URL: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid353515028/bctid1438426726

Comparing Clinton, Obama 3AM ads

As I have done previously ("Mud-slinging should be a thing of the past"), I would like to show you another set of ads from Clinton and Obama. Clinton released hers earlier this week, propositioning that only she has the skills to handle a global crisis. Obama has responded today with his own ad, pointing out the differences in the judgments both he and Clinton have made regarding international calamities.

Clinton ad:

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M70emIFxETs

Obama ad:

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=879o1_pxO0c

New Will.i.am Song: We Are the Ones

Will.i.am has released a new song entitled "We Are The Ones". Similar to the "Yes We Can" Song which I've blogged about previously ("Yes We Can! Music Video an internet hit!"), this new video features personal statements from a variety of people both famous and unknown. The heart-felt statements made throughout the video really hit home. Especially, the statement made by Kerry Washington:

"I think the thing that inspires me most about Obama is that he really is going to be the President of the United States. You know? He's not going to be the President of the top 10% or the President of the most powerful corporations or the President of the most powerful lobbyists. He's going to be our President. He's going to be for us because we put him there."

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghSJsEVf0pU

Here's a list of the people who appeared in the "We Are the Ones" music video:

jessica alba
ryan phillippe
george lopez
adrianne palicki
regina king
zoe kravitz
freddie rodriguez
john leguizamo
luis guzman
jay hernandez
kerry washington
ryan key
macy gray
omar benson miller
malcolm jamal warner
taboo
eric mabius
tichina arnold
nate parker
kate del castillo
tyrese
jesse plemons
ben mckenzie
leonor varela
n'dambi
cucu diamantes
andres levin
noah segan
troy garity
simone bent
susanna hoffs
jackson roach
anna david
javier castillo
adriana castillo
will.i.am

choir:
traci preuitt
tiffany smith
mika lett
mabvuto carpenter
gorden campbell

Obama Ad: Voices

Having just finished a post detailing some of the corruption in our political system ("What are superdelegates really?"), I happened across a new Obama Ad, on The Hill Blog, which focuses on the very same point. In it Obama addresses the need to fight the corruption which is preventing our voices from being heard.

URL: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid353515028/bctid1432840918