The event was appropriately named: as a forum it was, as Tavis Smiley said, not a pop quiz, but an open book exam, a chance for the candidates to showcase what they were about from the same stage.
Watch the Video: PBS All-American Presidential Forum Video Online
It was interesting to see who stayed on topic, and who wandered off; who addressed the issues and who was merely window dressing, sometimes impressively, other times not so much. The audience certainly made its presence felt - it was by far the most involved debate/forum audience that I've seen so far and all told, Tavis Smiley, PBS and Howard University did a fantastic job: it was superbly organized, substantive and engaging and very much a community event (seeing the four young sudents who came all the way from Memphis was especially inspiring!).
Some folks have already started emailing on the listserve, so here's an open thread to help the discussion along...
A remarkable opportunity to do something environmentally sound and financially practical just presented itself! This weekend there is a HUGE sale at Star Market grocery stores on compact fluorenscent light bulbs (CFL), the energy saving bulbs that use one quarter of the juice and last longer! They usually cost $3+ a piece and they are on sale for 99c - the same as ordinary incandescent light bulbs.
So put on your Obama Ts, hats and buttons and RUN, don't walk, along with your friends and neighbors, and buy up as many as you need to replace the incandescent bulbs that are currently driving your electricity bill through the roof and helping burn up 75% more coal on your behalf at the power plants that feed your area!
Do you remember when Senator Obama and volunteers planted 3000 trees on Earth Day? I thought it was an inspiringly conscientious campaign rally. And we can all make a difference individually the other 364 days of the year. Just think:
Compared to incandescent lamps of the same luminous flux, CFLs have a longer rated life and use less energy. A CFL can save over US$30 in electricity costs over the lamp’s lifetime compared to an incandescent lamp and save 2000 times their own weight in greenhouse gasses.The initial purchase price of a CFL is higher than an incandescent lamp of the same output, although this cost may be quickly recouped in energy savings assuming average bulb use. [No more! They are on sale for exactly the same price right now!] Although CFLs do radiate a different spectrum of light than incandescent lamps, recent technological advances have reduced that difference dramatically. The light emitted by the best soft white CFLs available today is similar in quality to standard bulbs. Source: Compact fluorescent lamp from Wikipedia
CFLs are highly energy efficient and remarkably durable: a 13 Watt CFL = a 60 Watt incandescent bulb and will last seven years. And now, because Star Market just made them more affordable for a short time, I got 18 for myself and spent about a half an hour replacing all the bulbs in my apartment, and also got 24 for my mother's house: she's concerned about an out of control electricity bill, I'm concerned about immediate and long term energy conservation. So we both get more light and reduce our electrical bills by 75%, and our two houses use ONE QUARTER of the energy they used to consume from some power plant somewhere.
Imagine what a difference it would make if we could multiply that effect ten fold, a hundred fold, a hundred thousand fold! We know that Senator Obama has at least that many supporters, so spread the word. The sale will end soon - the bulbs will probably fly off the shelves once the word gets out. But the CFLs are still going to be around, so replace your own incandenscents, encourage folks you know to use them, give them as gifts... (especially to newlyweds!)...
Together we can do small things to make a big difference in ways that will matter for a long time to come!
Hello Everyone!
So Senator Obama is the featured candidate on YouTube. Well, taking a page from the wise and intrepid, I've posted a series of no frills real life Videologues made by young Obama suporters on the ZamaniReels Channel on YouTube.
Please stop by for a visit and tell your friends to come by, too! You will hear conscientious young voters discuss what they care about and talk about why Senator Obama is the candidate who most appeals to them. No 30 second soundbites, no gimmicks, just dialogue - or better yet, Videologue.
You will find some very thoughtful contributions in this series, So far there are six, and you can check them all out in order by clicking on the "More from this User" tab on the right side of the video clip.
All comments and ratings welcome!
Adoyo
