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!