2008-11-18

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/

2008-11-05

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

2008-11-04

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!