Posts with the tag technology

“Tech Assimilation and Warehousing of Talent”

Mr. Gregory V. Boulware — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:16:48 EDT

“Tech Assimilation and Warehousing of Talent”

by
Gregory V. Boulware

The other day, I received a call from a state representative regarding the information posted on my web site. I was questioned about its content. The woman on the telephone was totally non-communicative, arrogant, and oblivious to the answers given in response to her questions.

Having been formally unemployed for more than a year, the last thing that I wanted was to jeopardize my UC bennies. The content of my web site(s) are not only meant to profoundly convey information to visitors, but to display my particular skills and talents.
The woman wasn’t having any. The more she spoke, with defiance, the more it became obvious that she was not an IT Person. Her telephone cadence ended with her assuring me of forthcoming follow-up contact from an investigator.

The site content not only speaks for itself, but it is very clear that it does not generate revenue for my personal gain. Albeit, revenue generation of family, friends, and acquaintances is the sole benefit to the business and activities pertaining to those particular individuals. The posted data is primarily intended to aid people in educational, current and past events, and employment connections. The site also aids my job search and exposure to perspective employers. The intent is to make an impression.

Computer Science Students of color are highly underrepresented in the IT Workforce.

People of color with degrees are the least represented group prepared for IT jobs in the information technology industry. The implication displays serious dissention for higher education as well as with the IT industry. The limited number of IT workers is not only limited to people of color. The attraction and retainment by employers of a particular group represents a major deficit to the information technology workforce. Underrepresented groups, i.e., African Americans, Latino Americans, Women, and Older workers would profoundly benefit the expansion of information technology workforce needs. The 1998 report by Herman D. Hughes, a professor at Michigan State University said, “Studies have shown that if those underrepresented groups were fully participants in the IT workforce, there would be no IT workforce shortage.

“New Legislation, White House policy, and a Cyber Security Czar should help the situation. The lack of centralized leadership has hindered information sharing on vulnerabilities and uncertainty about government security policy remains to be done in opening up data silos”, according to Mr. J. Nicholas Hoover of TechWeb.com.

Federal agencies reported that various intelligence agencies had pieces of information about the U.S. attackers of September 9, 2001. This non-communication faux pas aided to gaps in information sharing among these pertinent agencies. Mr. Hoover also said that no agency had all the pieces needed for a complete information package. However, “there has been progress since then, from multi agency information sharing agreements with the adoption of wikis and blogs.” Albeit, rifts and gaps remain, terrorism information sharing has become a government wide approach to data sharing. “Information sharing mandates and training programs have been implemented by fewer than half of the affected agencies,” says Hoover. The Markle Foundation finds “old habits die hard!” All agencies are required to disclose details of their stimulus spending as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This includes all states involved and the jobs that have been created. Consistency is sought by the Treasury Department with regard to its financial reports with government wide treasury accounts. Improvement within the White House Office of Management and Budget is expected to create cohesive financial management systems in its improvement efforts, according to Hoovers’ report.

The question is why is it that redundant non-interoperable systems remain normal within government agencies? Hoover states, “Many agencies insist on maintaining their independence and those that want to open up face technical obstacles in sharing information.” He cites the Department of Defense as a case in point. Military branches resist utilizing Defense Information Services Agency (DISA) or the Defense Business Transformation Agency (BTA).

Siloed Information has proven to be the DOD’s biggest challenge while slowing in the modernization of the departments business systems as recorded by the Government Accountability Office. More than 3,000 disparate financial systems are replaced and/or connected to 12 ERP systems (Short for enterprise resource planning, a business management system that integrates all facets of the business, including planning, manufacturing, sales, and marketing. As the ERP methodology has become more popular, software applications have emerged to help business managers implement ERP in business activities such as inventory control, order tracking, customer service, finance and human resources.) with a spending allowance of one billion dollars annually. Countless interfaces require the connectivity of reconciliation errors within these governmental systems.

“It is clear, the future of information technology is inextricably tied to how well underrepresented students are prepared,” says Bob Reed, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion at Cingular Wireless Systems, as reported by Mr. Fred Green Jr., NNPA Technology writer. “The path to success begins long before a potential employee completes a job application.”

This reporter’s collegiate study has spanned more than 10 years. Attending Philadelphia Community College, starting in the fall of 1996 with Management and Technical Studies and Berean Institute College of Business Administration and Computer Science in Philadelphia PA, Accredited By: The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology, etc. The later institution is an “HBCU”(Historic Black Colleges and Universities).

A challenge was given to three HBCU Campuses. The three historic colleges were Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA; North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C.; and Florida University in Tallahassee. The business students of the three campuses were charged with the development, implementation, and marketing plan to reach their campus peers and faculty membership. Cingular Wireless Systems made this challenge, says Mr. Green. The rewards are scholarships, grants, and company products. Cingular’s challenge provides an opportunity for the business students to present their abilities to show capable balance and theory with teamwork concepts as well as individual creativity. (The challenge results are to be announced at a later date).

Employers are constantly seeking new skills, training, and learning. Why is it so difficult for IT and BI (Information Technology and Business Intelligence) students to acquire the sought after jobs and career paths that they seek? (Especially within the government agencies!) Why are entry-level positions of employment riddled with red tape when it’s obvious that applicants have the skills and abilities to perform IT tasks and responsibilities?

An IT Labor Shortage? Please!

IT skilled laborers tend to not have their skills on idle format. They, (we), need to keep up with the information trends and changes. We are constantly encouraged to continue educational pursuits even while the costs have risen to unreachable heights for the average person. We are encouraged to build and maintain on-line profiles and resumes’ that will attract employer viewings. We are encouraged to display our skills and talents on the Internet, only to have them scrutinized, ridiculed, disrespected, misread, and misunderstood. Our competition is not of our country and yet we are constantly encouraged while being discouraged from attaining the goals of our government – “The American Dream!” The competition constantly nurtures it’s home grown (and not home grown – but – returned home) trained and competent talents that places their IT productions to greater heights! That particular talent (in most cases) does not endure the pressures of financial stress, not to mention medicals, with the knowledge that the nurtured talent is intending to serve the government to which it calls home…motherland: for at least one to two years. The competition looks back at us and smiles. The competition grows with the changing technology trends and changes while we sit and scream “IT Workforce Shortage!” The competition goes home with the trophy and we are sixth and seventh place in the world competition IT and BI platform(s). Take a look at the Beta Max, VCR, Home Computer(s), Electronics, etc. Is it not time for us to ride high in the saddle, to be first, to lead? We did it with the Presidency, didn’t we? So why can’t we find a way to fill the “IT Workforce Shortage” and utilize all of our talent…throughout the Land of the Free…the Home of the Brave? Inclusion is the only way to complete and utter freedom and release from our technological binds. We do not have to settle for runner-up, either!

Are employers viewing your web site, profile(s)? Are they drawing the wrong conclusions? Is the employed contractor/vendor adept to the current challenges of the IT World and it’s technologies? Is the investigator capable of understanding simple IT Language and its meanings and symbols? Or is it once again “Big Brother” announcing who’s really in control?

What’s on your web site?

Til next time.

Acknowledgement(s):
The Final Call
Fred Green Jr., NNPA's Technology Writer, Technical Training Specialist for a National Communication Company.
J. Nicholas Hoover, TechWeb Article - Government IT, "Data Silos, pg. 35-36, Information Week June 1, 2009.

Save the Blue Planet!

Justinian Cioroianu — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:34:11 EDT

See the image:

All the people from the world may work together for a clean environment.

SAVE THE BLUE PLANET!

"Save the blue planet fighting permanently for the elimination of the pollutant technologies but especially contributing to the promotion of the non-pollutant technologies to protect the fragile environment, for a clean planet and for the people's health!" We can make it together.

Life is Love and Love Saves the World!

All the people from the world are brothers between they,like the children of GOD,or like the children of the Earth Planet, as like you!

My dear brother,

It is a honour for me to address you this message:

-Referring to Global Warming and Climate Change, today I am very pleased to send you some very good news:

"I HAVE EFFICIENT TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING!"

My name is Justinian Ion Cioroianu and I am living in European Union, in Romania.

I am engineer and I am researching of 25 years to promote non-pollutant technologies.

I have a good experience of work of 42 years in more domains of activity,especially in the thermal and in the electric power field.

I am only a little man in this world so big, but I should like to bring my contribution to saving our world from a planetary disaster.

GOD made a beautiful world, but unfortunately the men destroy the nature and his world.

The humanity at present is crossing the most important technological crisis by his history ,because the people destroy the planet through environment pollution caused of the usage of old technologies.

I have some efficient and non-pollutant alternative technologies and I want to promote them.

I have also technical solutions with quick effect,against Global Warming.

All the people from the world may work together for a clean environment.

GOD BLESS THE WORLD from Heaven, but we can make a clean planet here on Earth !

The human resources are the most important in the world and the human values must be discover, develop and use for development, prosperity and social progress.

The human resources don't must be killed in the criminal acts of terrorism, or in the wars.

The human aspirations must to have a good lawful and financial base for their achievement.

I am looking for sponsors, because my environmental Projects needs financial support, imperative necessary for my research work and I don't know who I must contact for my sponsorship request.

I should like to co-operation in this purpose with the investors.

If you may help me to indicate who I must contact for financial support in environmental research field and to apply my technologies and technical solutions, contact me please as soon as is possible at e-mail address: justinian_cioroianu@yahoo.com

I am a creative person and I am fighting permanently against the Earth Pollution, anybody may view my Blog and websites:

http://savetheblueplanetmxauthorjustin.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

http://www.myspace.com/justiniancioroianu

http://www.youtube.com/justiniancioroianu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Cioroianu_Justinian

GOD BLESS THE WORLD !

Greetings from Romania,

Justinian Ion Cioroianu.

Save the Blue Planet!

Justinian Cioroianu — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:16:23 EDT

SAVE THE BLUE PLANET,Please!

My dear friend,

. It is a honour for me to address you this letter.

-Save the Blue Planet fighting permanently for the elimination of the pollutant technologies but especially contributing to the promotion of the non-pollutant technologies to protect the fragile environment, for a clean planet and for the healt of the people.

-Save the Blue Planet contributing to change human outlook.

-Save the Blue Planet assistance the human being to finds her dignity.
My name is Justinian Cioroianu, I am living in European Union, in Romania. I have an audio-video studio and I'm working hard everyday just for the purpose to send to all the people from the world this messages through my work:
"Life is Love and Love Saves the World!"
"Save the Blue Planet!"
GOD in His Great Love for us made a beautiful world, but unfortunately the men destroy the nature and his work.
I am only a little man in this world so big,but I should like to bring my contribution in saving our world from a planetary disaster and I am fighting for a cleaner earth for the people health.

I have saw that humanity in present is crossing the most important technological crisis by his history, because the people destroy the planet through environment pollution caused of the usage of old technologies. . I am engineer and I am researching of 25 years to promote non-pollutant technologies.
Referring to global warming, today I am very pleased to send you some very good news:
"I HAVE EFFICIENT TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING!"
I want to try also through my work to bring my contribution in changing human outlook with the intention to change our world,but to get this ideal I know is necessary to begin with me and change myself only and afterwards I shall may recommend to all the other people form the world follow my example.
I am thinking that the man who wants to govern the world for his advantage, is necessary to change himself only, to loves GOD, the Earth with its nature and the people!

I WANT TO BRING MY CONTRIBUTION FOR THE BUILDING OF A BETTER AND HEALTHIER WORLD, I KNOW IT IS TOO MUCH WORK FOR ME, BUT WITH ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE FROM THE WORLD TOGETHER , SO AS EACH OF US TO WISH THE EMBELLISHMENT HIS CHARACTER, WE'LL HAVE A REAL SUCCESS TO MAKE A NEW WORLD WITHOUT TERRORISM ,WITHOUT WARS AND WITHOUT RACE FOR RICHES HAZARD.
THIS SELFISH RACE DESTROY OUR WORLD,DESTROY THE EARTH!
Here, on the Planet Earth, there is a School of Love, where the Spirit lives a human experience and becomes wise.
We all must be preoccupied of:
1-Soul increase-perfection
2-Spiritual evolution,
3-Embellish our character and compete in doing good deeds, because since when we leave this world we only keep for ourselves one wealth, that is the energy of our good deeds!
All the present laws of the world may be reduced at three laws only, easy to remember:
1-Love God,
2-Love your neighbour,
3-All the negative actions you would not like in your life, don't send it to somebody else!Since "ALL IS VOID WITHOUT LOVE!"
-All the people from the world may work together for human outlook changing for the purpose to make a better human being and a better and healthier world to live in.
-All the people from the world may work together for a green environment also.
-The human resources are the most important in the world and the human values must be discover, develop and use for technological development, universal economic prosperity and social progress.
-The human resources don't must be killed in the criminal acts of terrorism, or in the wars.
-The human aspirations must to have a good lawful and financial base for their achievement.

may view my Blogs and websites:

http://savetheblueplanetmessage.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

http://savetheblueplanetmxauthorjustin.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

http://www.myspace.com/justiniancioroianu

http://www.youtube.com/justiniancioroianu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Cioroianu_Justinian

my e-mail address : justinian_cioroianu@yahoo.com

Fight to Save Our Planet, please!
I wish you Have Only Happy Days,Peace,Love and Light!
GOD BLESS THE WORLD !
.
Justinian Cioroianu

Community Technology Center

Aaron — Tue, 05 May 2009 23:11:40 EDT

I'm trying to start a Community Technology Center in Cortland based on the FreeGeek.org model. If any Cortlanders here are still active and you are interested in getting involved, please let me know!

Using Technology to circumvent domestic spying (i.e. The "un" Patriot Act).

Jason M. Christos — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:12:55 EDT

Using Technology to circumvent domestic spying (i.e. The "un" Patriot Act).
by Jason M. Christos

I have always said the domestic spying of the Patriot Act is silly because the real terrorists will use encryption making wiretaps useless. But the innocent average citizen will not have this protection. It's time honest citizens have the same protection as criminals. This protection has been around since 1991.

For email privacy I use Gmail + Thunderbird + Enigmail + GPG to send and receive encrypted emails. The How-to is coming soon.
For privacy while using the internet, I prefer to use Firefox + TORBUTTON + PRIVOXY + TOR ( anonymous network ) how-to coming soon.
For instant messaging privacy I preferr Pidgin + OTR which includes plausible deniability. How-to coming soon.

... more

A Winner Never Quits and a Quiter Never Wins

Tom Awtry — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:21:01 EDT

Solar Energy Opportunities

Throughout the world the economy has been the focus of attention, but all is not bad as it seems the way I view it! This of course as had some very unfortunate burdens on Americans and the international community, but perhaps we should consider it a wakeup call when you consider the following:

A new call to Global Warming as taken place via Green Industries
The War in Iraq I believe as influenced our government to end this conflict
A rebirth to our highway infrastructure in badly need of repairs
An increased interest passing a comprehensive Health Care package
Awareness of revised regulation of our banking industry

The aforementioned I feel are just a few of many, which we have known about or even cared about, but never acted upon to address their importance in our daily lives. Perhaps most importantly its brought us back to the realization that we were all living somewhat beyond our means. An article appeared on AP Online News that best illustrates what some individuals are taking to return to appreciating what we have and how we can live cheaper and better. The article is entitled: “Dollars from dirt: Economy spurs home garden boom”.

For others this is a time of opportunity even in the beat-up banking industry; I’m not talking about the big banks or the bonuses received, but again collective individual who have formed “New Banks”, which are just starting up in business. Again, another article, which needs reviewing, is presented by TIME Online, entitled: “While the Giants Reel, Many Small Banks Are Thriving”.

An additional article, also by TIME, which complements both previous mentioned articles entitled: “1. Jobs Are The New Assets” also outlines our changing values and society of how we perceive ourselves “changing” in this newly developing economic environment. The uniqueness of this article reminds us of what we have as mental and physical tools we have developed within ourselves and around us that we sometimes overlook or forget.

OK, so perhaps by now I’ve convinced you we’re in the process of changing or at least the “need for change”. So, based from the list above of the “good things” that are taking place now; what’s my prediction of the best or possible opportunity to go into, if you’re looking for a job or career change? I’d say the Green industry looks the biggest and fastest potentially growing industry and I base this assumption on an article by Gallop, entitled: “Americans on Energy: Promote Both New Sources and Old” and present this chart below:

As you can see I’m also basing my opinion on our government responding with the promises they have committed to during the past election cycle.

Our newly elected President said it was time for “Change”, but I earnestly don’t believe he felt the financial disasters he inherited would lead to the type of change we are experiencing today. So, we make the best of the situation and attempt to seek opportunities, which we know are out there and only need to be developed into new Microsoft’s, Dell’s and Blackberries.

Complementing this posting a video, recommended to me regarding “Green Opportunities”, entitled: “Toxic Chemicals in Products: Financial Risks & Opportunities”, which I feel is capable of expanding in an unlimited number of employment possibilities for the future, perhaps give it a look.

Toxic Chemicals in Products: Financial Risks & Opportunities

Investor Environmental Health Network presents this educational video on chemicals in products and green chemistry opportunities.

AT&T GOING NATURAL GAS

WEBMASTER — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:20:39 EDT

Interesting email sent out today from T Boone Pickens regarding ATT

_________________________________

Hey, Army -

Listen to this! The Pickens Plan is having some real impact.

This morning, Randall Stephenson, who is the Chairman and CEO of AT&T made a very important announcement.

AT&T is going to replace 17 percent of its fleet - which is one of the largest in America - with vehicles running on natural gas and other renewable fuels. They are going to purchase 8,000 truck chassis built by an U.S. automaker and then they'll work with domestic suppliers to convert those chassis to run on natural gas.

A big portion of AT&T's fleet is going to domestic natural gas and is using vehicles built in America to do it. AT&T will also be working with natural gas suppliers - domestic natural gas suppliers - to build the fueling facilities they will need for these vehicles.

AT&T is also going to replace some 7,100 cars which are running on gasoline with cars using battery and other alternative sources. When this is done, AT&T will have one of the largest alternative fueled fleets in history.

I believe this is going to be a big momentum play. When other fleet operators put their transportation teams on this, you're going to see a major shift away from imported diesel and onto domestic natural gas.

This announcement gives the Pickens Plan Army a great push going into the next few weeks when Congress will begin to act on energy legislation. To build on this momentum, and to make sure Congress and the Obama Administration know we want a plan now, we're going to be holding a Virtual March on April 1-3. Along with our Virtual March partners, we are going to rally Americans to deliver the message to Congress that the time is now to put a plan in place and to end America's staggering addiction to foreign oil.

There has never been a Virtual March of this magnitude and we are certain it will leave a strong impression on Washington. The time to act is now!

Visit www.pickensplan.com/virtualmarch to learn more and sign up to participate in the Virtual March.

-- Boone

source: http://enviros.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxNBY

also see http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGx5pM

Another unique - and this time clearly wrong - criticism of the stimulus bill

Gordon — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:46:47 EST

Rush "I hope Obama fails" Limbaugh has risen to new heights of laughable stupidity.

As reported at http://mediamatters.org/items/200902130016 - which apparently has video of Rush making the comments I'm about to tell you about (though I haven't watched the video myself) - Limbaugh recently attacked Democrats for electronically formatting the text of the stimulus bill as a "pdf" file.

What's wrong with a pdf file? According to Limbaugh - and this is serious; stick with me now - pdf files are unsearchable. Therefore, said Limbaugh, it became impossible to search the bill text to see specific spending provisions.

Media Matters themselves says it best in their headline:

"Memo to Limbaugh: Try CTRL+F !"

My Introduction

rickftcco — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:17:10 EST

I work with the Hope Now Project for free voluntary global birth control. You can find out more about this at: www.mundomio.org/hopenow.html. This incredible program can dramatically reduce environmental pressure in ONE DECADE, while simultaneously transferring wealth from the "haves" to the "have-nots" in a voluntary and managed way.

I seek to get rid of the "soft corruption" that is ubiquitous in the U.S.: cronyism, partiality to wealth and influence, bureacratic fear to engage politically powerful perpetrators.

I also seek a society that is high-tech/low-consumption/low-waste/low-exploitation (see: www.mundomio.org).

Lastly, I have an amazing sensing technology that promises to revolutionize how we interact with each other...think the next generation of the Internet, immersion virtual travel (see: www.prv.com).

1st Economic Recovery Meeting: Muncie, IN group

Rodger from Muncie, IN — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:01:11 EST

On 9 February 9 Muncie IN citizens met to discuss the President's Economic Recovery efforts, to tell their stories, and to understand what they might be able to do to help the economy. Below is a summary of some of their ideas as well as a link to a website where video's of their stories are published as well as a discussion on education and the recovery.

http://web.me.com/rodgerwsmith1/Economic_Recovery_Meetings/1st_Economic_Recovery_Meeting.html

Ideas/thoughts/concerns:

Democrats in congress need to reach across the isle to their republican counterparts. Dems should not make the same mistakes of hubris as Bush did when it was a Republican controlled house and define bipartisan as the other guy giving in. As well, we should Republicans on notice that they are there to serve the people first and their party second.
Shovel ready applies to the Arts as well as construction. And, construction applies to infrastructure, especially where education is concerned as those repairs put private construction companies to work.
Loans should go to refurbish neighborhoods and individual homes at very low rates. These loans would put construction folk back to work.
Banks need to take a local look and loosen up lending to improve their communities lives, culture, and real estate.
An educational program like the ones after WWII and Korea should be put into place to lower tuition and make education once again affordable and available to all. This promotes jobs and takes an aim at strengthening the future.
Digital and greening technologies should be moved to the front of the line to encourage growth, strengthen our nation for the future, and help us regain market and international leadership.
Local newspapers should demand local politicians become as transparent with their programs as the President is trying to do with national programs. In this way newspapers could help solve their problems by truly focusing on the problems in local government and thereby increasing circulation which turn means jobs and a smoother political process.

Perhaps the most important result from this meeting was not that members left sending letters to their congressman (which they did), but agreeing to another meeting and to expanding membership. We don't necessarily know what we can do, but we are interested to discover what can be done and to participate in a recovery.

Congratulations to President Obama and the IT Professionals supporting the administration.

Tamara — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:50:36 EST

As a veteran technology professional (24 years) it takes a lot in the world of technology or communications to impress me. However, the Obama administration and its IT team impress me on an almost daily basis. The quality of the tools and the extensive use of Internet and IT technologies are not only unprecedented for government communication, frankly, I consider them unprecedented for corporate communications as well. Our corporate leaders, small business leaders and our community leaders should all take a page from the President's playbook.

The use of email, the website, texting, social networking sites, etc. is truly inspirational to someone with my background and training. I only hope education and proliferation of these incredibly successful techniques is on the agenda somewhere. Knowing how poor communication and transparency is in so many government agencies; I truly hope that these techniques will be made available to all in the new administration.

Welcome to the New Normal....Excitement, Challenge, Collaboration, and New Hustles...

Debra from Bronx, NY — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 11:38:27 EST

Hey, Everyone! Happy New Year!

What an Era we're livin' in, isn't it? History is about to be made! The inauguration day was a wonderful day! Go, Barack! A day I never thought I'd see in my lifetime.

But while we're excited about this new era, unfortunately we've seen record numbers of people losing jobs (600,000 people in November, and a projected 500,000 people in December). And now to date, our country has lost over 3 million jobs since 2007. This is also something I never thought I'd see in my lifetime. People are losing their homes, the car and banking industry are in a huge crisis, businesses are losing money in just about every industry, people who ARE working are struggling to pay their bills as the price of everyday living keeps going up. Gasoline had gone down, but seems to be on the rise, again.

So here we are....in a time of great excitement and of great challenge. While this may appear to be a challenging time for a lot of people, the flip side of challenge is spelled OPPORTUNITY.

With so many people losing their jobs, I predict that this will be a great time for small businesses and people who want to start their own business, create multiple streams of income, side and new hustles....whatever you want to call it....make money!

But you have to be ready. Create a Business Plan. Learn new skills. Look at your existing skills and how you can transfer it to viable businesses or jobs. Embrace New and Social Media. And most of all, learn how to Collaborate and Partner with people, entities, and companies that have the skills that you're weak in. You can't do it all. And believe me....you don't want to......There are only 24 hours in each day. So learn how to partner with people who can do what you can't do, better than you can.

Don't get me wrong. Everybody shouldn't partner with each other. Be selective. When you find the right person or company, set up a contract and put stuff in writing so that you stay in your lanes and are accountable for your tasks and for your actions. And most of all, make sure you know how much you each get paid and how.

If people don't learn how to partner, collaborate across the board (much like we're doing here at my.barackobama.com)....and I do mean across the board....everything from families learning how to get along, live together, and share expenses.....to business professionals learning how to work together who NEVER would have partnered in the past....we'll make it easier on ourselves when we learn how to work together. From a business and personal perspective, 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing.

So let's learn from our wonderful President Obama and the Barack Obama Administration. All different cultures, races, and people from economic backgrounds worked together and rallied around Barack to help him win and make history. And You can win in this economy, too.

Welcome to the new normal. Let's do this! Yes, we can!

Peace and Love! Stay Tuned and Stay Blessed!

Debra

Debra Dixon
Light of Gold PR
http://www.lightofgoldpr.com

lightofgoldpr@gmail.com

Stay tuned for our networking events, classes, workshops, teleseminars, webinars and more!
View my footage on: http://www.youtube.com/lightofgoldpr

Follow me on:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lightofgoldpr

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com Search for "lightofgoldpr"

Linked in: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lightofgold

Myspace: http://www.myspace/lightofgoldprandmarketing

We’re Going to be Trading Microchips for Toasters

Tom Awtry — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:16:48 EST

I’m a firm believer that protectionism is not the answer, at this time in the world’s economy situation; however it is also my strictest of belief’s America as given away far too much of its technology to other countries, which in some cases as used it against us.

We have seen what Japan and Korea as done with our cars, TV’s Microchips (RAM chips especially) and steel. No, in honesty both countries were developing these industries within their own country, but we provided them some of the needed know-how to get them off the ground.

Today we wonder where all of our jobs have gone (out sourcing), consider re-reading the aforementioned paragraph and contemplate what the answer could possibly be?

Now China has decided it needs to shift gears from being an exporter of inexpensive, commercial products to more a higher level of manufactured goods requiring advanced technology.

Dear President Obama, Please support Open Standards...

Andrew Bairnsfather — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:44:54 EST

Dear Mr. President, I want to be hopeful, I want to our country to do well, I want archivists to not have to goof around with proprietary data formats.

I was upset to read that your inauguration was being broadcast using a MonopolistS proprietary video format.

Please live up to your promises for openness; openness in its many forms. And this includes using and promoting open, publicly documented protocols and file formats. At least use codecs that are controlled by Standards Organizations, and not one company.

Thank you, Drew.

THE AUTO INDUSTRY, A FEW OF MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES (INDUSTRIAL GREED):

Alex Karoub — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:14:47 EST

Contact: Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

This post is a brief overview of the Automotive Industry which describes some of the fundamental problems that are rarely spoken of. In addition, you will learn of a few of my personal experiences growing up, an environment where I was surrounded by the industry; you will learn of a few perspectives that are shocking and that even only a few within the industry know of. At the end of the post, you will better understand what happened to American Manufacturing and where it stands.

The Auto Industry is at the heart of all of American Manufacturing. It is an industry that laid the groundwork for many other types of industries to follow, deemed at one point in history to be the highest of successes. But now, it sheds light on what can become warning signs for other businesses that mistakenly try to imitate it.

This months hot topic is whether to bailout/rescue the regressing American Auto Industry. The original owners and their successors abandoned that industry long ago. The auto industry was ravaged and plundered by the wealthiest Americans a half century ago and has been in decline ever since. Shortsighted greed from one generation to the next has been the culprit. Since autos were first mass-produced and America monopolized the world, it was only natural that the American percentage/share of the market would eventually be reduced. However, total growth was enormous and total size of the market continues to grow even through today. Therefore, American growth of exports should have continued to grow, but does not significantly due to pillage and poorly planted roots. In simpler terms, we originally owned the entire pie. The pie was split up. Since the entire pie has grown dramatically, our piece should have grown too. However, the Big 4, 3, 2, … have been loosing market dominance and lead since the end of World War Two. Here we are years later in crisis, and the real question remains whether or not to rescue the real victims of the auto industry, the workers. People were not retrained or re-educated; most were never afforded real education's to start. People are now in despair and hopelessness. From my vantage point now living in Colorado for the last two decades, I have seen the high tech industry follow the auto industry, but at a learned and accelerated rate. Other industries are also copying the auto industry and are laying similar foundations also headed for disaster. Going back to a brief history, the misguided roots show how the decay started and why it spread.

Although I did not grow-up during the inception of the Auto Industry, its roots surrounded me. I spoke with a few who were there in the earliest days, and spoke with many who were of the following generation. I absorbed its history by studying it while attending school in Motown (Motor Town), by natural osmosis, and in my earliest career dealing with the car makers.

Growing up as a kid I lived less than a mile from Henry Ford's first moving assembly line factory, with GM’s World Headquarters’ just three miles away, and with Chryslers World Headquarters at the end of our street. The first Ford plant (in Highland Park, a city now surrounded by Detroit) and the first of GM's plants were built on the importation of the next generation of former black slaves and white share crop workers from the south (whites similar to former slaves whose white necks were red from working in the sunny fields, hence the mean spirited term 'Redneck'). The joke that Henry Ford must have laughed at and that went around town was "each worker would get paid enough to buy a Ford" (Of course using infamous 'Ford Credit' which was a primary direct withdrawal from their pay checks.) Henry manipulated a built-in guaranteed customer base and tapped double profits, being profits on the cars and the profitable bonded interest. Those were scams that he copied from sharecropping. The remains of their wages were so low that they had to live in shacks; but after all Henry felt, they came from shacks near the fields in the south. So much bigotry and repeated methods from sharecrop economic slavery. Instead of updating and rebuilding the original plants and without regard for the people who were the workers, the emerging auto giants left to go further to the suburbs.

So, as they moved and grew they imported shipload after shipload of immigrant economic slaves from Poland (to Hamtramck, MI) and more economic slaves from the Middle East (to Dearborn, MI). There were other minorities imported as well, also imported for economic servitude to supporting industries such as mining, iron works, steel fabrication, glass works, textile, …. Astonishing how easily the game of 'divide and conquer' worked upon the variety of minorities; a game of keeping the workers pitted against each other using race and ethnicity; all to hold back the power of the people from truly uniting. WW2 caused the Automakers not only to retool but also to reevaluate their future directions.

Soon, after the victory of WW2, came the Auto Giants grand visions for economically conquering the world via expansion outside the U.S. They quietly boasted that that would leave mainly world headquarters executives, designers, and engineers in the U.S. with the prestigious white-collar jobs. It was felt then (and these are not my bigoted opinions, not from me, yikes) that after all even 'the weaker sex' could do factory labor jobs as seen during WW2 (i.e. Rosie the Riveter). So why not have the 'stupid foreign workers' do the labor outside the U.S. What also gave way to the idea that manufacturing could succeed outside the U.S. was Mexico; since Mexican workers were also imported, but only temporarily during WW2. (By the way, the temporary Mexican workers were never fully paid back as promised during WW2.) A tremendous wave of pride about white-collar jobs became very popular in Detroit and in other automotive communities during the 50's. That vision sat poised on the back burner, but a pre-planted seed was already in place, which was Canada (Windsor) just across the Detroit River.

Canada was a much-desired orchestrated precedence for the automakers; it set the stage for grace given by the government as an easily set up protocol for off-shoring jobs. Soon after, the automakers made a migration south to other states, then further south to Mexico, and finally overseas and on to economic slavery in China.

Today we see the results of the destructive path the industry has taken. Layoffs, instead of being temporary situations reserved for pauses during new model changeovers, eventually became the mark of permanent labor plant closures. Obvious abandonment of people soon became the name of the automakers game. Along the swathed trail are - Highland Park, Detroit, Pontiac, Flint, Marquette, Gary Indiana, Pittsburgh, Toledo, Cleveland, …, which became known in the early 80’s as 'The Rust Bowl’. Sort of a rape, pillage, and burn mentality, which continues to today.

Amazing how well the reasoning of "that's the way it's always been" persists and grows from one generation to the next. Excuse after excuse gave temporary reasoning to incremental geographic movements for global conquer. Temporary excuses ranged from the need to originally amass large workforces, to the hindrance of union pressures, to American workers are lazy, to 'over' government regulation, to …, all straw obstacles as to why the auto industry needed to move as it did.

No! Greed is not good. We see how those at the top of the industry have each come in, grabbed with their greed, and left. Now today, we see how greed has caused "what once was, no longer is". So in short, now we see the results of greed, poorly planted roots, and disregard, taking its toll on America. Equally, is the toll on the myriad of unrelated businesses, old and new, that have adopted the auto industries infectious habits of having little to no regard for individual people that make up the American workforce. People.

While being raised in the center of Detroit, I experienced many situations involving the Auto Industry; the following although early was not my earliest, and is an actual example.

Around 1963, when I was 11 years old, I remember George Romney visiting our house to exchange political favors. Our 23-room house was a rundown relic of a past era, but it cleaned up well as a phony front for wealth and pretentious power. I remember we kids had to pretend that we were Christian Protestants for the visiting Governor (former Chairman of AMC) who was doing his Christian Mormon tradition of visiting the homes of his new legislators. How ostentatious they both were with fraudulent humility of how they rose from their humble beginnings. But more to the point, I remember Romney sitting at our dinning room table and saying "The Big Four Automakers don't have to worry about giving the Unions what they want, as long as the benefits will not be due for decades. By that time the labor plants will be outside the U.S." That shocked my brother Jimmy and I, as we listened playing in the sunroom just off the dinning room. Later we were once again physically punished (beaten-up), this time for listening to adult talk. Jimmy a year older than I, and intellectually gifted, soon became a Page at the State Capital. The accounts he returned with were shocking as well. Growing up as we did would make your head spin and open your eyes to disgust. We continued living in those surroundings until we grew out of our teens. Then we moved on to make our own adult lives, creating better environments much different from what we were born and raised in.

Recalling back to my teens, I realized back then the Detroit riots were not only about race, but was also about economic oppression. It was the minorities who were oppressed the worst, most especially African-Americans. Bad however you measure it is bad. (For a better understanding of the decline of Detroit and to better understand the riots, take a look at my other post: “DETROIT RIOTS OF 1967, A RECOLLECTION OF THE TRUTH.” You will also better understand how very close we came to seeing a nationwide repeat of the riots in the coming Spring of 2009.)

Unions, workers, man-hours, laborers, …, are not people, they are burdens to be minimized and eliminated. While watching Lee Iacocca being interviewed on Charley Rose last year, I noticed Iacocca admit that he new all the way back during negotiations with the unions, in the early 80’s, that Chrysler would never have to pay off in full on long term commitments to the unions. As Iacocca danced around the issue he said "now the unions will have to face reality". And, as Rose went on to discuss it more, Iacocca was getting more uncomfortable, and eventually managed to change the subject away from discussing past union negotiations. Iacocca was a bit slicker than George Romney was, since Iacocca was on national TV. It made me ashamed that Chrysler World Headquarters was at the end of our street when I was a kid. And, that as a young adult I had so proudly in my early career returned while working for a couple of electronics companies to Chrysler's World Headquarters R&D operations. I thought it an honor to have paid Iacocca's in-house barbershop to cut my hair, even his same barber. Some honor.

Following Chrysler, I moved up to deal with GM, and was puzzled. I listened to upper executives at GM complain that they constantly had to bribe Mexican government officials and border guards for GM plants. I guess they also assumed I already new and accepted that the plants in the late 70's had already begun their exodus to Mexico and other countries. I have always looked at bribery as disgusting and wrong, it was not for me or those who I dealt with, that's among the many good things that a mentor named Jack Bazzy taught me as a young kid. By becoming acquainted with other mentors as an adult, I learned to seek out highly reputable employers and quality knowledgeable friends. I learned how to educate myself, and moved up very high in the scientific and technical industries, all of which I enjoyed.

Although I grew up in Highland Park / Detroit, that was not anywhere near my top focus in choosing Obama. But, it is a simple history for me to recall, amazing how many more details I can give, but the main points have been brought forward. In addition, from being a mutt of sorts myself, to being a self made man, be that what it may, I have no illusions of being great. What I do mean here is that I quickly recognize many of Obama's unique insights, although mine are different but a bit similar in nature. Like many Obama supporters, I have personal experiences on most issues Obama has raised. So, above is just one of many examples that I can personally give.

To better understand manufacturing in America, you can read my other blog:
WHAT SCREWED UP MANUFACTURING FOR AMERICA

Blog members can reply here, anyone is welcome to email me at: Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

Sunday Business NYTimes

Matthew Mascotte — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 11:46:11 EST

There are two interesting articles in today's Sunday Business section of the New York Times. The first is Janet Rae-Dupree's article entitled Innovation Should Mean More Jobs, Not Less. In the piece Ms. Rae-Dupree cites a Silicon Valley petition circulating seeking to create a tax credit for companies that spend on information technology like computers and software. Things to further research:

The petition's creator is David Thompson, the chief executive of Genius.com
Joseph E. Stiglitz NYTimes Op-Ed essay on Nov. 30 , 2008
TechNet, tech industry advocate, pushing for a more broad based tax credit

The second is a small column titled, Taking a Break From the Idea Of Making a Buck by Phyllis Korkki that includes interesting data about different organizations in the not-for-profit business sector providing job opportunities to the recently laid-off. "The jobs in these areas usually pay less than their for-profit equivalents, but these days the for-profit equivalents may not even exist anymore."

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

WEBMASTER — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:26:14 EST

The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.

Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.

Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when

individuals and organizations understand that alternative energy technology exists and
when people see the economic benefits of using alternative energy technologies

Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.

Alternative Energy
Source: David Apperson

url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy

Stephen Chu as Energy Chief

Rex & Teresa from Martinsville, IN — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:53:54 EST

Bravo!

Finally, someone realizes that being a manager alone does not equate to success of a program. It helps TEMENDOUSLY to put people in charge who understand the technology or the internal operations of the program.

One source said that Schawrzenegger was even considered for the role of Energy Chief. Please, put people in places where their expertise is relevant. We need Patton's, not more self-serving politicians.

Technology and Me

Michael from Riverview, FL — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:31:42 EST

Why am I so interested in technology and what does that interest have to do with minorities and nonprofits? Well, let me give you a little background. I am an African-American male, born in Philadelphia some 40 years ago. I was left in the hospital by my mother and raised in a wonderful foster home. Because my connection with the Women's Christian Alliance, a nonprofit in Philadelphia I was able to live a good life, get exposure to an Upward Program hosted at the University of Pennsylvania, and finally attend college where I received a 3 year R.O.T.C. Scholarship.

Not until later after college did I become enamored with technology and how to use it to better communicate. Later I entered the ministry and received a Master's in Divinity, was ordained and served in non-traditional ministry for several years. During this time I always looked for ways to utilize various communication technologies (see this example: TheProductiveChristian.com) to make my job easier and provide my constituents with easier access to information. It has just been over the last several years that I have become proficient in utilizing online audio, video and other new technologies that we are creating now, to better communicate with others via the web. Currently I work in a nonprofit organization, and have a small technology company (visit: My-DropZone.net) that develops innovative communication tools.

My experience as a minority who has been helped by nonprofits and has worked in nonprofits has helped shape my views and passions regarding the two areas mentioned earlier. I have seen the lack of knowledge of and use of popular web based tools in these two communities as huge opportunity for growth and overal productivity. This blog is my attempt to explore how more minorities who are most often touched by the services of nonprofits and nonprofits who need to become more efficient in carrying out their missions, can become more productive through the appropriate use of technology.

policy synergies

Nancy from Reston, VA — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:38:53 EST

I like it that there are synergies that Barack sees among his policies, such as

more basic science research will foster more solutions for longer
more application of technology in a smart way will lead to more quality time with people
greener industries cut pollution and health care costs
more social science research will lead to better organizations
more jobs at home will make people less alienated
more community cuts mental health care and law enforcement costs
more diplomacy will lead to more collaboration and creativity
more sharing makes diplomacy easier

We know how powerful the downward spiral is -- lets turn it into an upward spiral.

Permission to rebroadcast Telephone TIVO.

Fred from Katy, TX — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:57:46 EST

Katy, TX- Real-Time today announced Real Time Net holds a pending patent application related to the technology for what we believe is the world’s first “on demand business and social network” via a telephone network.

Real Time Net understands that people want information, inspiration and entertainment when and where they need it. We intend to make it possible for consumers to access business information, entertainment, inspiration, dating, news and traffic through the telephone on demand, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

http://caller-net.net/PhoneBook.php

From citizen engagement to wise democracy

Tom from Eugene, OR — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:58:09 EST

I hear a lot of talk about citizen participation and public engagement, such as enabling citizens to track government decision-making and comment on it.

I'd like to offer some useful distinctions between

public participation/citizen engagement
deliberative democracy
collective intelligence
emergence-based practices
wise democracy.

the game is still bottom-up

Madama Ambi — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:13:13 EST

I'm glad Allison Fine is critiquing Change.gov, (on techpresident) and I think she makes some good points. I know that some activists are frustrated that the Obama team hasn't shown the ground game leadership that was the power behind the campaign. I think it's way too early to criticize Team Obama, but not way too early to be floating and discussing ideas.

But here's my meta take on one of the most vocalized complaints I've been hearing: post-election Team Obama (they're not even in the White House yet, he hasn't even been inaugurated yet) has not built the 2-way bridge to everywhere and everyone is stranded on the shores of post-election chaos and confusion.

I don't see this and I think it's a myth being created for good press and/or to push one's own agenda. Activists & organizations exist by the hundreds, maybe the thousands, and they aren't waiting around for instructions from Change.gov. They're doing what activists do. I'm one of them. I'm very busy right now getting back to my regular feminist agenda after having put it on hold for 9 months while I was All Obama All the time. As a result of having joined the Obama community, I am more skilled, more connected, and more activist.

In my opinion, it will take some time before the Obama administration figures out how to build bridges with its grassroots base, but, folks, this is and will continue to be a bottom-up movement, and so should it always be. We, the people, must agitate for what we need, and we, the people, will continue to build our visibility, our agendas, and our collective voice. And we will then invite the O-administration to visit our table...or our tables.

Do I hope that the O-administration will get the bridge thing right? I certainly do, but I'm not holding my breath. We're in an economic crisis. We're involved in two wars. Terrorists sent the world a new message yesterday in India. The unemployment rolls are swelling...in my view, Obama and team will be on ER duty for quite a while. In the meantime, my fellow feminists and I continue to expand the base, to network wildly, to get our agenda seen as a universally applicable set of needs as opposed to being marginalized as "women's issues."

The feminist movement never ended even though the mainstream press reported otherwise. We are not post-feminism. We are not post-patriarchy. There are staunch and stalwart feminists still at work, there are younger feminists emerging as leaders, and there are even younger feminists who are energizing the movement.

We're here, we've been here all along, and we're not waiting for the phone to ring.

Interview4Obama http://madamaambi.blogspot.com
subversonance http://subversonance.blogspot.com
Patriarchal Disorder http://patriarchaldisorder.com
Feminist Advisory Board for Obama (join us on Facebook)

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION FOR A NEW GENERATION

Samuel from Heath, MA — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:38:24 EST

The Problem

We need to connect citizens with each other to engage them more fully and directly in solving the problems that face us. We must use all available technologies and methods to open up the federal government, creating a new level of transparency to change the way business is conducted in Washington and giving Americans the chance to participate in government deliberations and decision-making in ways that were not possible only a few years ago.

America risks being left behind in the global economy: Revolutionary advances in information technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology and other fields are reshaping the global economy. Without renewed efforts, the United States risks losing leadership in science, technology and innovation. As a share of the Gross Domestic Product, American federal investment in the physical sciences and engineering research has dropped by half since 1970.

Too many Americans are not prepared to participate in a 21st century economy: A recent international study found that U.S. students perform lower on scientific assessments than students in 16 other economically developed nations, and lower than 20 economically developed nations in math performance. Only one-third of middle class physical science teachers are qualified to teach in that subject, and only one-half of middle school math sciences have educational background in that subject area.

Technology & Government

Thomas from San Francisco, CA — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:25:27 EST

History is replete with moments in time where the public felt a strong sense of civic sprit. Where people came together to work towards the common good, not because it was the easy or convenient thing to do, but because a joint sense of destiny was found. If you can rekindle this spirit in the hearts and minds of Americans this technology effort could become perhaps the greatest accomplishment of your administration.

HOw to improve the people around you!

Joshua from Ogdensburg, WI — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:09:40 EST

The truth is that when GM finnally announced the Chevy Volt.. the people in the oil and gas indutry couldn't see past thier shorterm profits. So they jacked up the price of oil. Which in turn has effectivly weakend our economy almost to the point of collapse.

We need to expose the greedy, corrupt people that have pulled this shennanigans on thier own brothers and sisters. Is the blame in the Middle East? or since we get most of our oil from Canada and South America. Is the blame squarely on the Fascist Corporations that have been killing our profits for years? It really does not matter who's fault it is. What does matter is that we find a solution ASAP!We can use our our tecnology headstart to bring to the world the wonderful gift that will become the Chevy Volt! We have to save GM, they will save us! This is exactly what is meant by {Treat others as you would be treated.} which sadly has been misinterpreted as treat others as they treat you! THIS IS WRONG We have to help people overcome these afflicting emotions that are clearly keeping us as human beings divided. It is sad that most people in the United States are extremely condesending. Our leadership has created this problem. With the negative and damaging campaign tactics shown in the past. But we can solve it by acknowlegeing and treasuring the good that is happening all around us. We only need to help people to know where to look...

I enjoy reading articles with bad grammar because it makes me think about what I am reading more. Thus helping me remember what I have read! We can all cultivate this behavior throughout our society. We have to lean out of our comfort zones too make this world a place that our children and grand children will be able to exist in. Our minds can be shaped by ourselves to embrace change and love every human being on this planet... If we don't do it now it is going to too late..

Time to serve...Columbus IT Professionals group forming to serve local nonprofits...you in?

lance o — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:15:27 EST

So...now that we have worked our tails off to bring about change, I have been thinking what role i will serve and want to serve in the new american landscape, and here, wanted to give a shout out to any and all geeks in the columbus metro area who would like to join together to form a Columbus Metro "TechCorp" (like Americorp) to help serve local nonprofit and social services agencies and their clients.

THE POPULATION:
Columbus Ohio is the fastest growing tech economy in the United States (Forbes Magazine, 2008), and hosts myriad nonprofit and social services being both the largest city in the state and, being the seat of the statehouse. Without even opening Firstlink's annual directory of nonprofits---which measures inches thick---there are more causes and issue focus group in Columbus Metro than any other locale in the state. A small percentage of those can afford IT staff and they all have IT needs even if they can staff. From traditional avenues such as hunger, health, education, to lesser known but empowering organizations such as---lower popwer FM stations, Linux freeware groups, youth arts programming---in whetver way you produce, support, utilize technological resources---there are likely to be causes your expertise can be aimed to support.

THE NEED:
Beyond the idea of a "digital divide", beyond access issues, the Columbus Metro nonprofit community faces unique challenges that will need be met over the comign decade.

First, an able and available community of information and communication technology (ICT) professionals ready to serve where they are needed. Despite being the largest potential nonprofit service delivery economy in the state---there are few IT service providers in Columbus dedicated to serving the nonprofit community, and of those few that do operate, their fees place them well out of the range of most agencies. The "circuit rider" movement of the late 1990's have evolved into the "nonprofit technology assistance providers" (NTAP's) of now. Such organizations and individuals are providing a valuable service and I applaud their commitment, their innovation and their efforts, however, I do not fail to miss that their ascendency in the IT economy---is related to the fact that they operate in something like a service delivery vacuum. Who else can agencies call for IT services if they cannot afford to hire staff, cannot find a volunteer with the kind of expertise they require? At present choices are few, but the talent pool and ethic for service is deep in the community. How can we connect?

Second, agencies will have to provide technology realted mentoring, technology training and technological resources to their populations as facilitators of economic growth and community stability. Working with youth in at-risk and public educational settings, adult learners in college and organizational settings---has led me to the conclusion that we need people to go out to agencies to provide expertise, insight, concern, care and resources to enhance and cultivate the creative, anaylytical and critical thinking skills that youth and career re-trainers both---will need to enter and maintain themselves in the future workforce. Youth are starving for opportunities to use technology in a meaningful way, and agencies desire the ability to better understand and relate the role technology will play in shaping their service delivery goals in the coming decade. We need teacher and technology evangelist, creatives and coding polyglots. We need presenters and mentors.

Third, in the columbus community, there are presently no opportunities to connect technology students and practioners with agencies in a meaningful way. I can name three agencies that collect data by paper and that spend months of work-hours---collating that data to provide it to donors and grant providers. Tech wisdom would say, implement a MiS database, but where is talent to do so? I can tell you from my own exprience, that no local university has a dedicated staff to connecting young technology professionals with ICT related service opportunities, in Columbus, you cannot even find a local NTAP chapter at a local university---which says alot to me about the market. With such a large pool of talent, and a great need for such talent, I hold that we need to connect those with the talent with the agencies in need. Utilizing blogs, wiki tech, cellular tech, for those who want to serve---I believe it would be easy to create a network to those with a need.

YES WE CAN ...WAYS WE CAN MEET IT NEEDS IN COLUMBUS NONPROFIT SECTOR:
If you are graphic designer...agencies need websites, brochures and annual review designed...lots of range!
If you are a creative in multimedia design----teach a workshop once a year, kids and adults love showing off their creativty
If You are a programmer---help design agency tools
If You are A+ certified---take tech calls on site or off
If You are MiS---develop a reporting database system
If You are a funder---give more money for technology related goals, help steer resources
If You are administrative---volunteer to define and proliferate IT boards at agencies
If You are Project Mgr---help agencies understand how to define policy to deliver on tech goals
If you are UI---help agencies understanding usability
If you are disabled---become a advocate for agencies to increase accessibility via web and tech routes
If your dance card is full...know that most agencies open labs at evening hours and on weekends, and that some are even open all night.

GETTING TOGETHER
If any of this is making sense, and you know you have the talents to play a role, please contact me to take part. I have a place we can meet, have server tech to get started, and a network of agencies that could use our help and would likely welcome us by spreading the word. If successful, we could also start a NPO of our own dedicated to this cause through local innovation grants.

If you believe you can play a role, or know folks who might want to, be in touch or pass this along...

Looking Forward.
Lance Oditt
lanceoditt@gmail.com

SDIO National Energy Initiative Model (Lessons Learned)

Mick Blackledge Recovery Warrior http://www.blackledge.net — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 11:01:24 EST

http://web.me.com/micklb/BSLI/Energy.html

National Energy Initiative (A Fast Blueprinted Start)

National Energy Initiative Organization (NEIO)

Technology Department
Conventional Energy Department
Environmental Energy Department
Nuclear Fission Energy Department
Deployment Grid Department

Strategic Defense Initiative (Lessons Learned)

Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO)

Technology Department
Surveillance Department
Kinetic Energy Department
Directed Energy Department
Deployment Grid Department

Strategic Defense Initiative (Lessons Learned)

1) Just setting the SDI up created great consternation to our enemies in the cold war and in effect stopped the arms race.

2) It Created an autonomous, reporting to the President program, placed under the Defense Department allowing a rapid start with new and innovative staffing.

Technology Department

1) Knowing the state of the art in the Surveillance, Kinetic Energy, Directed Energy and the Deployment Grid departments allowed a rapid start in needed and visionary technology programs.

2) National and Service Laboratories were used to oversee and implement the content and procurement of the technology program while the system departments were setting up major procurement and deployment efforts.

Surveillance Department, Kinetic Energy Department, Directed Energy Department and Deployment Grid Department

1) We now have a sustainable and technology ready; ground and sea based missile defense system, which is understood and deployable as National Missile Defense needs arise.

Finally, by just setting the NEI up would create great consternation to our enemies in the oil wars and stop the energy to America price gouging.

THE TECHNO DOG NEEDS CURBING ....

Patricia from Torrance, CA — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:52:41 EST

Dear Mr. President - first of all, again, CONGRATULATIONS, on being elected our stadning President! I am sure you will carry out the goals and tasks of your coming Administration thoroughyly and successfully.

Mr. President, I have a problem. I have had this problem since 2001, when I was laid off from a job where I had worked for 6 years. First of all, the work environment was horrible: racist, sexist, with lots of the ususl bickering and back-stabbing that goes on in corporate offices. I really don't know how I managed to even stay there for those 6 long years, and now I really regret ever working there at all! Since being laid off from that job, I have experienced computer hacking, stalking and spying not seen on any par before. That I know who the instigator of these attacks has - and continues to be - is apparent; however, the solution to my problems does not easily appear. The hacking into my computer and cyber attacks via the internet have now 'graduated' to cell phone hacking. At first I did not want to believe that it was true, but know that it is. How else can I explain my many missing voicemail messages that seemingly disappear into a black hole, only to reappear much later, too late to do me any good? I have lost a total of 3 permanent jobs due to my would-be employers not being able to reach me. Mysterious. But now, other things have begun to occur: evidences of someone trying to steal my pin number, perhaps, via specially coded numbers and computer jargon, displayed easily on my cellphone monitor.

I mentioned this latest occurrence to a friend who promptly asked me, "How can anyone hack into someone's cell phone?" Easily. Just ask Paris Hilton, who had her famous Blackberry hacked into, and all of her contacts -- Black Book type of contacts -- stolen. Any cell phone that is internet ready or has internet capability can be hacked into, just as computers are easily violated by their owners when they go onto the internet. Not always, of course, but there are certainly enough incidents out there to substantiate my statements.

America - Together (post election)

Alex Karoub — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:44:40 EST

..... Contact: http://Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

WHO IS THAT GUY BARACK OBAMA? HE IS US.

We have made historic headway by together pointing our nation in the right directions. After decades, we have America focused on the issues of fundamental importance. Now, each of us acting in concert can together move our country to lead the world to the fruitfulness of moral goodness. I have no doubts about my abilities and the abilities of fellow Americans to work smart and hard to achieve these goals.

Barack Obama has the visions, leadership, and integrity for us to correct and redirect our country to once again lead the world for the fruitions of good. Let's closely listen, learn, and move forward based on that which we know deep inside is good and which we can validate with our hearts.

I hope that those who had but a few reasons to support Obama, look further into the other issues more deeply. I found the more I explored, studied, and listened to Obama the more I found us in agreement. The couple of issues that I did not have depth of knowledge of, quickly became obvious in need. This was unusual for me since I have always refused to be any kind of a follower, and still am not. I find Obama to be a deep thinker who is articulate and inspirational; and, of most fundamental importance, Obama makes excellent moral sense.

Hopefully, our country has learned lessons from the past of mistakenly following leadership blindly, as was done with Nixon and Bush. There are leaders who are simply in it for themselves and will cater to individuals or groups in order to grab for their own benefit. Corrupt and bad leaders hide at all levels. This is especially true in city government as well as county and state government. The corrupt deals of politicians need to be exposed, and those responsible need to be weeded out in the coming local elections. Others need to be investigated by law enforcement and be prosecuted for illegal dealings; for deals they often make for their hidden personal agendas. Let’s look at the bad experiences of the past as bitter medicines, let’s eliminate the need for such bad medicine in the future. Let us use what we know is good to go forward.

I believe we have chosen wisely, not by greed and not by misguided retaliatory anger. I believe this time our country has chosen with open eyes, with each of us listening and examining our choice of leadership closely, driven and validated by our hearts.

I hope we can continue to make our efforts even more inclusive (in many more ways than I touch on here). Far right republicans will be stubborn to change, but we will need to include them to change if we are to succeed. Sure a few more will leave our country, but that is not the American way. No, we really don't need their false fronts of power, money, insider knowledge, or other trappings that they have taught many to 'respect?'. Let's recruit as many as we can, that's the American way, evolving and changing together as one nation. Try to be understanding as we move forward; by better understanding each as individuals and people with various desires and needs we will find ways to reach out with friendship and have them join our causes of good.

Be on the lookout, and root out bad leadership in government and business. Do not be intimidated by those who use the false fronts of power and give a false sense of security in order to lead. Be extra leery of those who say or imply ‘Trust me’; those who give a sense that they somehow omnipotently know better. No longer will Americans be dazzled by phony displays of brilliance or baffled by baloney. There are government aristocrats and business leaders who still believe in the old adage of: “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle em with bullshit”. We can embrace complexity by demanding true, fundamental, and understandable explanations. We can root out falsehoods by not accepting double speak. We as Americans know how to grow ourselves by first believing in ourselves. Don’t be a follower. Don’t be a follower of followers.

However, when we find leaders who are good; a leader that thinks, speaks, and acts from their heart; one that is honest, has integrity, and leads by sincere examples; then we need to in a big way, join them, support them, and promote their causes of good. From much research, investigation, and scrutiny, I believe Barack Obama is such a person. I hope we search for and find many more who are similar, who we can add to service at all levels of government. We need to add/replace leaders in business with ones that have honesty, integrity, and show quality in leadership. We need more people in leadership roles who are moral, like Barack Obama.

Remember, we are not fighting a battle, we are the artisans and sculptors of the future for ourselves and generations to come. Rarely do societies have opportunities to make such dramatic moves forward as we now have in this opportunity of today. Take pride and practice in being inclusive as we stride forward. In moving forward, create opportunity not only for yourself, but also for all. Hope is a wonderful thing to behold; but without opportunity, hope can become but a dream never achievable. We can, will, and must, create opportunity.

In the coming year I hope that we do not lose our spiritedness, but instead continue to build and make headway. I hope we all continue our campaign for change in government and business. We will succeed in moving forward once again, it will take much effort and good oversight on the part of each of us. We will make great strides in the months and years ahead in order to achieve the fruitions of good. Let's keep our enthusiasm progressing through these coming toughest of times. Let us use the light of goodness and love to motivate us with historic momentum.

I have chosen Barack Obama because he best represents my deepest beliefs in America. Please take time to read the issues that Barack Obama has published on this website. Also, give your attention to see how he leads us to move our nation forward in the time ahead. Most importantly, be part of America's great future, participate in the greatness that together we will make. Participate!

We will each and all flourish, if we think, speak, and act, by using the love in our hearts.

Your reply is welcome. Contact: Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

I want to Light the White House

Kevin Scientist — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:45:23 EST

With solid state led lighting. No Mercury nor Phosphors, the latter a toxin nobody mentions used in all fluorescent lighting. I have scars from phosphor aided injuries still, from decades ago. These scars never go away. As efficient or more, watt for watt, as compact fluorescent bulbs. I want to make them in the US. Start with Task Lighting [local- think Luxo Lamps, desk lamps, etc] and work to make the White House a model for the nation.

I prefer distributed, low power light engines, as opposed to concentrated higher power ones that most are trying to use. You could say that I want my lighting like my Goverment.......

Anyone out there involved similarly? Lets talk.

Later- Why Global Resource Corp. ought to be on Obama's radar screen........

http://www.globalresourcecorp.com/

NEW IDEAS TO HELP AMERICA NOW

Ed from Fort Lauderdale, FL — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:43:41 EST

Congrats, even my 80 year old mother in Indiana voted for you which was no small feat.
I am a college professor in Fort Lauderdale and I made sure all my students went out and voted but I want to tell you, I admire your managerial skills, more than anything. One of the main things is getting people involved, when a person believes what they are doing is their idea or benefit to them, they always perform much better. Never before have I seen this applied enmasse as you did with our volunteers and donaters, which brings me to my point.

As a professor, I have noted that you already have a majority of the young people in college with you and now feeling part of our success. They are involved in your presidency and a year ago they did not even know who the vice president was. It is a entire new attitude from the young people, I love it. I have never seen this in 25 years of teaching.

My suggestion.. .offer a scholarship competition for the best energy efficient vehicle design,energy use in building and interior design, new energy sources and so on and so forth. Allow it developed at the university level in team effort so cross over skills in various programs can be utilized. Whenever ideas are exchanged between different majors thats when innovative new ideas occur Have a top 3-5 winner range,reward all members of the TEAM , faculty involved and school and do it annually.

You have a fired up base, students as well as educators. The minds are here to help America solve our energy crisis, competition always leads to perfection,drive and purpose. The reward increases all of these.

I am working in holographic technology we have already took 200 dollars worth of equipment and a couple months ago made a HD TV display the objects as holographs in front of you. This technology would decrease the need to travel by virtually putting someone in a conference room with complete interactivity without being there. If you watched CNN on election night they did this with an alternative method of broadcasting a live person.

This is here and it is available now.

Anyway, all America needs is a push in the educational system to develop it cheaply and enmasse.

If new jobs and new energy is what we need, we need new inovations and lets put our young minds in this manhanttan project and become the technology leaders of the world.

Historic 2008 Election is Finale to a Forgoten 60s Era

Stephen — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:25:06 EST

In the midst of this historic election, I can’t help but wonder whether an Obama presidency might represent a “finale” to the 60s movement that we never had. I mean, it has only been in recent years that the 1960s have been ramticized by youth and marketers eager to capitalize on its popularity. Obama's rise to the presidency is an American story brought about in large part by the revolution of thwe 1960s. But it wasn’t romantic by any stretch of the imagination. It wasn’t about selling hamburgers and cars in cool clothes. It was real. It was a difficult period in our history. We nearly had a nuclear war with Cuba and Russia. Kennedy was assassinated. There was the civil rights showdown on segregation in schools. The 1965 riots. Then a worsening Vietnam War and mandatory draft of young men, many going to their deaths for a war that had no direction and could not be won. Martin Luther King was assassinated. Robert Kennedy as well. Americans began to leave their churches, pareticularly, the Catholic church. Young people began resisting and demonstrating. Then there were the Kent State shootings of eight students by the Ohio National Guard. For a kid growing up in the 1960s, it was a lot to absorb.

By the mid-1970s, the Vietnam War, the 60’s activism, and Nixon presidency were over. The country seemed at a loss for direction. I was in college then. Our chief concern was in the nuclear arms buildup in trying to keep up with Russia. I recall numerous pieces in the news then how the world might end by 2008. I actually dropped out of pre-med in part because of a lack of confidence that I (and we in the U.S.) would not have a certain future. As it turns out, we did. But the manner in which it was done has become one of short sighted, weak leadership.

The country merely “moved on” from the 60s. We didn’t get it! It's like we took a “stupid pill” and forgot everything we had gone through between 1962 and 1974 - threw away our notes, and forgot to formalize conclusions that we could follow in years to come. As a result, the 70s were extraordinarily dismal economically and culturally. The leadership of both major political parties was “milk toast.” I mean, “disco” became the highlight of that critical period. That should tell you something. In 2008, we face history with the opportunity to elect a black President. Yet, some in this country who might oppose a black President for the color of his skin never "got it" from the 60s.

By the 1980s when Ronald Reagan took office, he brought a new and different course to economic and military progress. The country was amiss in problems in the Middle East and Russia. Reagan introduced trickle-down economics that sparked a new economic era, but it included cuts in needed government services and in exchange ushered in a new more accomodating view of U.S. corporate mergers and acquisitions, the real beginning of today’s deregulation that in my view led to the excesses that brought down our financial markets and economy in 2008. Despite economic prosperity in the 1980s, it was “politically incorrect” to bring up the 60s in reflection. Political candidates and business leaders frequently denounced their 60s involvement in order to become successful businessmen. Still others ended up on the street as Vietnam War Vets with PTSD and similar disorders. They and others became the illegitamate offspring of a difficult, revolutionary, and defining period in American history. Depending on who you asked, you would hear either good and bad views of this period.

By the mid to late 80s, the country had seen fairly widespread growth and prosperity, except for the forgotten war vets and increasingly crowded and poorer inner cities like Los Angeles and New York City, that had been left out of the economic expansion as companies took jobs and fled the inner cities in huge numbers for the suburbs and first wave of outsourcing with cheap foreign labor. At that time, no one figured there would be a sizable unrest just a few years later in the 1992 Los Angeles riots. We weren’t looking for it. We had Bruce Springtein, the very successful 1984 Olympics, the expansion of professional sports, the fall of the Berlin Wall, with Russia right behind it. But per the stresses released in the 1992 riots, there were siginificant pentup issues, and arguably abandonment. Also, by 1992 the U.S. and particularly California, was in the grips of a sizable recession.

Somehow - we got through the 1992 riots and that recession. And by the late 90s, we had the tech boom, NAFTA, and more outsourcing of jobs. It wasn’t real apparent, but there was a growing divide between the middle class. A lot of people lost money when the tech boom went bust, yet it gave us insight into new and creative funding of economic expansion, including, new and creative tools to fund the economy, particularly, “derivatives.” Real estate values soon began growing at a never before seen pace. Life in the U.S. between 2002 and 2006 was all about money, and how an average Joe Homeowner could pull from their home, like an ATM or slot machine. But with this period, was increasing homelessness and poverty, and failed opportunities to invest in our nation’s infrastructure and new technologies. We “jacked off the dogs to feed the cats” so recklessly, that when we woke up, we realized the dogs had died and much of everything else was starving. By 2007, an ugly handwriting was on the wall. But, Wall Street gurus responded with increasingly brazen attempts to spin and create money. Then came the news of Bear Stearns, and the 1st governemt bailout.

For too long as a nation, we have ingored the obvious, our people, our infrastructure, our sick and needy - and all in exchange for leveraged riches for just a few. And now our ways have caught up with us. But, I must correct myself here. I was NOT a part of this reckless economic expansion. Since 1992, I’ve been undergoing a series of brain surgeries to get a shunt to correctly relieve fluid pressure on my brain. During this period, my life, health, and recovery were blocked by Wall Street and FDA level failures and coverups of safety issues with a popular CNS shunt device. Yes - I was sold out for Wall Street riches - just like many of you. Brain shunts are big business. In order for me to have any hope for a future, I had to become a health advocate, FDA policy and law expert, a neuroscientist, an expert in artificial intelligence, and an inventor of a diagnostic shunt test. But no matter what I did, it was never good enough. On every occassion, I had to fight Wall Street influences. In fact, I directed my 2 most successful surgeries. But, it’s taken me 7 surgeries in all, including, my recent successful surgery in May of 2008 that finally relieved the swelling on my brain, albeit after 16 years. Why 16 years? It took that long to convince the powers that be on the right way to implant shunts, as well as numerous supportive scientive papers I had written. I nearly got my shunt of today implanted back in 1998. On that occassion, the FDA stopped me. Then, on numerous times since, each and every neurosurgeon I saw was somehow affiliated with a (Wall Street) shunt company, whose shunts all failed me. So - I am kind of like those in the inner city. Like those being drawn in or brought here illegally to work for cheaper wages than a residing American. I am an American, disenfranchised and deprived of life and liberty by today's Wall Street and its influences. Now, as much as half of the country has also been disenfranchised albeit by the same dishonest mechanism. Yes - in September/ October 2008, shit hit the fan in the U.S., and government and business leaders who had prided themselves on deregulation, low taxes, and outsourcing were brought to their knees - and in the balance, a nation waits, eager for any hope of new leadership. And, then came Senator Barrack Obama.

Yes - I had a vision today of what was, and what could again be. A proud and homogenious America, an accomplished nation. I saw Barrack Obama at the helm. I believe the excitement that so many see is that of an Obama presidency and the prospects that we might once again reconnect with our past, perhaps in a revolutionary type of way as I expect the change and resulting progress to be unharalded per any other era in our history. And we need this. We need this to help us better understand who we are as Americans, and the course we must plot in moving ahead. With the ascention of Barrack Obama as our favored next President, I couldn't think of a better "finale" and tribute to an era and movement I and others knew as the "60s."

So, with this critical election so close at hand, I again choose "us," just as I did in the 1960s.

The Calling of Democracy: Beginning of a New Age of Participation?

Ken from San Francisco, CA — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:41:59 EST

Well tonight I did some calling for Barack. The online system is great. Connecting with real people out of the blue is a fairly unpredictable pursuit. I spoke to a Republican who for voting for Barack, and I spoke to someone I thought was a Democrat who wouldn't tell me who he voted for because he thought I might be a shill for McCain. What I liked most about the experience was the ease of participation. Anyone can make a contribution from anywhere with a network connection even if you have a limited amount of time. There are a ton of reasons I want Barack Obama to win this election, most of which are written in other blogs posted here. One reason that isn't being discussed often enough is how extensively the mechanisms of democracy will have changed if he wins. Anyone can call or knock, anyone can blog, anyone can set up their own event. Technology is really making "by the people for the people" actually possible.

What intrigues me most about this angle of the campaign is what you do to harness all of this participation after such a revolutionary candidate gets elected. It seems to me that you would want to leverage all of these tools and more to make participation both online and in person a central premise of what it means to be an American. Barack's campaign is testament to the fact that many of us have a lot to contribute and will happily do so if the methods to do so are straightforward and provide feedback on how to make a difference.

Here's hoping this innovation in democracy continues......

The Obama Economy? It's about the Job's!

Frank — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 07:32:49 EST

Senator Barack Obama has shown the greatest political organization we have ever seen benefiting from technology and public support and empowerment. The Senator knows that we must support technological innovation, education and the freedom of innovation. He knows that these things can at the same time help the environment, grow our economy, and increase our security, and one other important aspect; involve the people in the process. Our economy will improve under an Obama Presidency because he understands the fundamental concept that the people have to have a stake in their own future and that change comes from the ground up, and that the creation and support of American jobs is what is essential and vital for all of America.

Training or Education: What's the Difference?

plembo — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 21:04:02 EDT

There are a couple of articles up in the BBC Technology section that bear reading. Both are by columnist Bill Thompson, and amount to laments about the woeful state of the average user's understanding of computer technology.

In End of innocence for Mac fans, Thompson takes the occasion of the first "in the wild" Trojan for the "new" Mac OS to point out a major problem with computers in the schools.

From Thompson's piece on the new Mac virus:

Despite the growing importance of computers and the internet in school I don't expect that this real threat to home computer users will make it into the school newsletter or be announced in assembly as part of the general school concern for pupil safety.

And this highlights a real failing in the education system, one that betrays a lack of the sort of joined-up thinking that the government is trying to achieve elsewhere.

There is a fair amount of skills-based IT training taking place, so that students leave school knowing how to write a letter, make a spreadsheet and create a presentation, even if their skills tend to be oriented around Microsoft Office instead of being more general.

But this really is training, not teaching. IT has been embedded into the curriculum and students learn how to do stuff, but there is no space for discussion and debate that might lead to a deeper understanding of the technology or the issues it creates.

The Third 100 Days: Technology for a new economy, employment, energy

Jay — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:55:48 EDT

Okay - the bar has been reset and now it is time to let loose the next stage of the new society. As a nation we have proven ourselfs adult enough to act as one people -- now we can focus on what is really important.. I think the first 100 days will be a challange, but nothing we cant digest. Within 200 I feel our new president will be brining his wisdom to bear on the older issues -- but at the 300 day mark its time to get to work on our next stage as a people.

A united effort to focus our efforts as a country on the energy issue(s) will both help with current employment concerns and help secure the US a place in the emmerging economy which we have been forced to give up over the past 8 years.. nanotech. Impacts energy, computation, medical and manufacturing technologies as only a primer and the best part is the folks who can make it happen are walking the earth now.. look what we did this week.

I have something of a working idea - starting with a natural gas distribution network (with the conversion of existing vehicles and other current technology capabilities to start) this will help with the basic materials science we are seeing from nanomaterials now. Next we hold a planned evolution as we have built this gas distribution network as an upgradable resource for hydrogen -- reuse of this resource as we move forward with the new technologies. H is the fuel in fuel cells and introduction and catalyst/coatings of these new materials in the components come directly from work completed while building the fuel lines. Very much building on discoveries as we move forward (worked as built up to the Apollo missions).

Hey, its a simple pitch now - the numbers are only now coming into the model. Its at most, less than 1/4 of our "oil war" - and should even be attractive to the current companies who have blocked this technology all along - yes, its a new pipline and yes, starts as an internal combustion solution. But it does challnege those who have built the dangerous relationships in the middle east (and have shaping our most complex political problems).

The foundation -- Ill say it again, nanotech. It is the key catalyst to allowing for evolution in fuel cells, efficient energy systems and unimaginable new opportunities in all facets of the economy. And althought years from nanoassemblers, we gain expereince that keeps that technology safe.

In short, we must invest in the materials sciences now, then toward systems integration with these technologies and finally adjust the course on next steps based on what we find along the way - as with all things, the destination is a moving target and should plan for it plan accordingly..

Thanks for reading this far -- and I appologize that this is only able to be explained in elaborate models.. and getting the point across that everyone can participate is the challenge now (ie all skillsets can be used - from build the new fuels pipelines to modifying exisitng systems to education programs on how to adapt - everyone will make a contribution). And remeber, this is hands-on nature of the 2nd industrial evolution - The Nanoscale Evolution - which allows everyone to participate again.

I will add most of the IP is being developed in other countries - we must either partner or invest to ensure we can hold a position in this new age.. perhaps a reason to open new discussions with the marginalized... the best part of our new administration.

Think small - a suitable challenge: Kennedy's Moon Challenge comes to mind - and it is more than just one country on the other side of the fence (many with surprising allies).

Economy - Employment - Energy - Technology - Environment.

Upgrade the US Government's KPI

Derek — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:20:50 EDT

Upgrade the US Government's KPI

I implore the use technology as a fundamental tool on the mission to change the way the Government operates starting with the administration. Technology is the underpinning of the modern business competitive advantage. Does this not hold true also for the modern Government? Run the US Government as if it were a business competing for efficiencies with other governments. Track and monitor how the US compares with Key Performance Indicators (KPI).

Technical Leadership: Cabinet level CIO/CTO
Access to and control of quality information is imperative to the success of your mission.

America and your administration need experienced leadership from outside the beltway possessing the ability to balance both technical and business goals. These cabinet level leaders have the vision and ability to achieve long term goals with iterative wins with accountability quarterly to the bottom line of the budget and the American citizen shareholders. One must be careful in choosing senior technical leadership as many CIO/CTO's in the private sector are purely management and political positions. Additionally, many of these senior leaders are lodged in a previous generation's technology making them resistant to change by adopting new technologies and processes. These incumbents often see their position as secure and change as risk. Avoid status-quo oriented technical managers. The President's CIO/CTO will need to assure presidential level access to the information systems operated by the pentagon and intelligence communities.

Growing Opportunity, Program Scorecard/ROI and Cutting Cost:
Business opportunities and growth are often facilitated by technical capabilities and innovation. With a solid and extensible foundation of technology framework, new programs, private sector partnerships can be implemented efficiently with complete transparency. Using a program development factory model that leverages process automation with program dashboard feedback and control, your administration can institute a new generation of efficient program on boarding, governance and administration.

It is well known the waste found within government programs. I've heard personal accounts from Homeland Security employees regarding the level of mismanagement of resources and funds.

Leveraging a structured program management information systems for storage, query and retrieval performance, program scorecards provide the administration with decision making information. Program scorecards make possible structured comparative Returns On Investment (ROI) assessments of historical and real time program performance. Program ROI is a primary input in the budgetary planning process. Each program defines goals, dependencies, risks, delivery dates and costs at a project milestone level of granularity. Project milestone status toward goal achievements are tracked and reported regularly. This program project level management system can also be leveraged to identify redundancies across programs which drive consolidation and cost savings. Tremendous cost is hidden in arcane legacy systems duplicating functionality based on the limitations of a previous generation's technology. Additionally, the costs grow exponentially because these systems are either poorly integrated if at all which requires a large headcount of operations personnel in order to compensate for a lack of technologically driven efficiencies.

Technology Leadership:
A seasoned technology leadership team is needed that understands how to balance the use of (American) commercial technology products (eg-Microsoft, Google, etc) and open source based technologies (eg-Linux, JBOS/Redhat, Ingres) to provide healthy competition and reduce risk of a single source provider. This leadership team will work with key thought leaders and Universities (eg -MIT, Stanford, University of California, University of Chicago, etc) that have proven leadership in technology innovation to reform the US Govt programs and systems. The result is a blueprint of an integrated technology platform, principles, methodologies and best practices that can be replicated across all agencies at the federal and state level. Create a Govt campaign to "ELIMINATE PAPER AND STOP KILLING TREES". If paper must be used, leverage recycled paper only. Every citizen facing Govt system needs to leverage the latest in web 2.0 and 3.0 technology interfaces. Interdepartmental communication and collaboration likewise must leverage these technologies.

Technology Corps:
Leverage summer internships to recruit gifted and dedicated students from across the country to develop a Technology Corps workforce. The Tech Corps will also foster on the job training and knowledge transfer from technology leaders to the next generation of technologist and engineers. Students will receive scholarships and credits to be used toward loan payments.

Implementing Evolutionary Change:
Do not underestimate the scale and scope of the problem and the need to apply technology as a key tool. Technology alone is the least difficult challenge though. The natural resistance to change for fear of loss is a far greater barrier to progress. Federal employees will fear for the loss of their jobs at a low level. Contractors will fear the loss of lucrative contracts at a high level.

Continuous Communications:
The campaign has masterfully leveraged the internet and sms technologies to provide unprecedented levels of outreach and communications to voters. In the years ahead, there are ways in which this outreach can enhance the building of distributed yet federated local support groups.

Gravitas Theater: Nationwide virtual events leveraging digitally connected movie theaters across the country. You can rent these movie theaters for a nominal cost in every district in America allowing daily real time attendance of your supporters to view every speech and appearance given as you travel the nation. Outfit each theater with a video feed to project a consolidated big board at the local event where barrack is presenting. Make everyday and every event a virtual open attendance to the nation. These theaters provide a rallying point for organizers and an event to which undecided voters can attend.
Fireside Podcast daily thoughts and ideas on current events. Localize the podcast by commenting on local community news and events. Support local democrats and community organizers efforts. Provide daily audio and weekly video podcast.
Provide a blog allowing monitored real time chat forums to solicit feedback. In a democracy, people want to be heard.
Create a virtual America in second life to stream event video and audio into a continuously active and virtually attended Barack forum. http://secondlife.com/. Second life is the future of online communication and community with a far richer experience than myspace or facebook. As with any tool, there are potential abuses but create a private world which requires voter registration identification and second life will become the greatest communications and community building tool of modern times.
Interleave all the above communications mechanism allowing access and reuse of all content.

Obama and the Ten Year Olds

Joline — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:19:51 EDT

Obama and Ten Year Olds

Today’s 10-year old is likely to live to 100+

That child, the one we already think of as ‘wired ‘because of their astonishing facility with anything purchased at the Apple Store or Circuit City, may well BE wired in 2048. Neuro-technology is at once promising and threatening to blur the lines of what is human and what is not in 20 or 30 years. That 10 year old will be 40 in 2048. What will being human even MEAN in 2048? And which candidate is best prepared to think about that question? The one who distains learning and curiosity as elitist pursuits, or the one who reaches out across disciplines and worldviews to explore the meaning of that question? This is not abstract navel contemplation in regard to our 10 year old. What are the possibilities, policies, realities and opportunities of technology that may well outsmart those children by the time they are 30? McCain barely understands email, how on earth can he grasp the implications of the wireless, nano-world world our ten year olds are growing into?

Assuming we can avoid environmental catastrophe (I’m an optimist—how else does one get out of bed in the morning?), that same 10 year old, in 40 years, may well share a planet with approximately 6.7 BILLION other citizens. Sustainability will no longer be a concept practiced by Al Gore soldiers, it will be a well-enforced way of life, in which ‘stuff’ has become so 20th century and conspicuous stewardship is the new patriotism. Closer in, we know that the deficits built over the last decade—and the losses of the last few weeks—will be felt by those ten year olds over the next two decades. Which candidate is has a vested interest in and is genuinely looking out for his own ten year olds with an eye to what is not just possible, but necessary for all ten year olds? McCain by all accounts was less than enthusiastic about adopting one child from a developing country, why should we think he has any greater concern for our ten year olds?

Developments in agriculture, energy, and genetics are already mind-boggling. Real news often seems closer to Ray Bradbury plot lines than real life: self-destructing, patent protected potatoes that farmers can’t replant without renewing their ‘license’; energy from seaweed and sun, and genetic profiles that come without moral or medical solutions for whatever information emerges. This is the new normal for our ten year old. Can you even imagine Sarah Six-Pack Palin tackling any one of these issues?

Virtual life, that mysterious nether land in cyberspace, will not just be the novelty of having a pet to train on an entertainment site, or even a virtual address in Second Life. Rather it will be a ‘real’ place where millions of tomorrow’s kids spend time and money as casually as their parents (and certainly their grandparents), visited Paris and Bangkok and Santiago. Language, currency, and culture will blend and mutate in ways we cannot imagine today.

McCain won’t be here to experience their suffering, and Palin has told us she ‘has nothing to lose.’ Those ten year olds do.

And if all this seems just too fantastic, lets talk cash. Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa are all living longer too. This recent ‘correction’ has caused many of them to experience a real drop in assets. Our ten year-old will likely shoulder a bigger tax burden not realize a significant enough wealth transfer. Passing on money to the kids, whether it was a modest sum, saved over a lifetime, or a vast fortune, intended to last for generations, was part tax plan, part life plan. When centenarians were fewer, life cycles shorter, and expectations not quite so rich,

So let’s get real. Any parent or grandparent (aunts and uncles, etc.) who votes for McCain instead of Obama is casting a vote against the future of every ten year old. It’s that stark. Really. On the one hand we have an old guy who can barely keep up with current technology, let alone envision the world in 40 years and his anti-intellectual side-kick Sarah for whom learning i

On the other hand we have a guy who knows how to learn.

Think about it.

Dreams of Barack Obama

Thomas from San Francisco, CA — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 07:04:35 EDT

2:14AM Friday October 31st

For the third time in the last six months I have awoken in the middle of the night from a dream where I am serving candidate Barack Obama in his quest for the American Presidency. In each dream, the last thing I remember before waking up is working for the man who I now fully expect to the next president of the United States. It is unusual for me, a fairly heavy sleeper, to be so awoken. It is unusual for me to wake up from any dream except when, in the dream itself, I am very disturbed. In these dreams of Obama, I am not disturbed, I am excited. I am excited about Obama’s chances for remaking America. I am so excited in fact that I am thrust from the dream into reality, and awoken with a mission, a mission to serve this country and Barack Obama.

AMERICA IN THE YEAR 2016

Peter from Portland, OR — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 06:02:06 EDT

I had a dream: We are writing the year 2016, America has left behind the economy crisis of 2008 and developed to a green, social and prosperous society. The unemployment rate is down at 2.3 %, the number of poor people dropped from 37 to 9 million, the national deficit is only a fourth of that in 2008. Every American has affordable health care now, and Obama`s tax cuts have put more money into the pockets of the middle-class American, which led to higher consumption, re-fueled the economy, and created millions of new jobs. Above all 5 million new created green collar jobs and a better, more effective environmental policy with solar, wind and other renewable energies dropped America`s energy bill, air pollution and CO 2 balance by 25%, making the country cleaner and almost independent of foreign oil. America´s is about to become the world leader in green technology, especially due to the broad-scale introduction of US built hybrid cars. In foreign politics America has restored faith and regained respect in the world community of nations as a wise and peaceful mediator in all conflicts. This and other measures also led to an improvement of the national security. The dark Bush years are history and America has made the real CHANGE to a better future - YES WE COULD - And due to the great achievements of Barack Obama`s successful 8 years in national and international politics a committee was founded, proposing the extension of his presidency for 4 more years, as applied during the Roosevelt administration.

Was all of this just a dream ? - No, you can make it happen by voting for OBAMA next Tuesday - It is now up to you, America !

SHOP AMERICA SUPPORTS OBAMA

Techno-Democratic

Michael Gaio — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:27:08 EDT

Following the Obama campaign over the last few months has been an exciting and inspiring time. The campaign has been conducted brilliantly, and can be considered perhaps the most well executed and progressive Presidential campaign of all of time. Of all the many facets of the campaign, the utilization of the internet and social media has been extraordinary--and likely a fundamental factor in the overall success of the campaign. Here, I want to outline the components of this new media campaign strategy, explore the implications of this trend as it can follow into the Presidency, and speculate on how the advents of communication technology and socially-driven politics suggest the emergence of 21st century democracy, and evolution of social change.

taylor made email campaigns & fact base campaigning

Andres from Miami, FL — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:34:47 EDT

How many times we have encounter a friend a collegue a family member that believes something wrong about Obama a this campaign. It happens to me all the time, and while I talk to them about the correct version of the facts, sometimes they still are confuse.

How great would it be to have a tool that you could use to build up an email that collects the evidence requiered to support your own efforts in providing evidence to of the facts to others.

Example: Obama is a Socialist: get a Wikipedia definition of Socialism... show the tax level Obama recomends and compare them with Bush Sr., .... it need to be evidence from a third party to make it stronger.

I using Wikipedia to create a level field of agreement on terms: socialist, terrorist... ok now we agree on what we are talking... let me show you now why what you believe is wrong cnn..gets the facts, polico, ...

To be effective we need to understand the facts ourselves but more important undestand the evidence that supports our claims.

The internet in the infustrucure.

Link48010 — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:50:18 EDT

Yeah,I know, the US lags about 19th in internet speed and total bandwidth on the planet. Just recently I heard about a new set of lines under construction in Japan that provide 1 Gbps (a full DVD quality movie in about 4 seconds) for about 50 dollars per month, and yet here I am, paying 69 per month for a 1 Mbps (one thousanths the speed). It is imperitive that we fix this problem, the country that created the internet should be first in speed, simple as that. As far as technology goes, McCain has remained completely silent, his website is even secretive about his plans for the internet and technology. My suggestions are to impliment internet as a utility, like electricity or water. I would also like to see the internet flow into the next generation as far as wired connections go, internet via powerlines. Why you ask? For one, powerlines are everywhere. Second, they are capible of far more speed than phones lines. Powerline internet would be the country standard with the choice of going digital cable, dsl, or satellite still.

I'm also a big supporter of NN, or net neutuality. As Obama himself has said, the net is one of the last totally free untouched mediums left. It's the only place where you can find a GLBT site, and then hope on google and find a neo-nazi site (no i'm not advocating nazism by any means, it's just an example).

Why Obama is Kicking Ass Online…and Off…

Noetical — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 19:20:01 EDT

Hi everyone!

I just posted a new entry on my blog.

It's an overview of some of the ways the Obama Campaign is utilizing technology to kick ass in this election.

Please follow this link if you want to check it out:

Why Obama is Kicking Ass Online…and Off…

Enjoy!

New book out: Learning OpenCV: Computer Vision with the OpenCV Library

GaryB — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:45:24 EDT

Having nothing to do with Obama, but much to do with the future, I've just published a book on computer vision using the computer vision library that I started: The (free and) Open Source Computer Vision Library: OpenCV.

The book is called Learning OpenCV: Computer Vision with the OpenCV Library

Gary Bradski and Adrian Kaehler

Published by O'Reilly.

http://www.amazon.com/Learning-OpenCV-Computer-Vision-Library/dp/0596516134

The source code for the library is on sourceforge at:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/opencvlibrary/

The OpenCV wiki page:
http://opencvlibrary.sourceforge.net/

The book which is a user's guide covers:

* Computer Vision in general

* How to use OpenCV effectively

A robotics research institute, Willow Garage, is now hosting the library

Barack Obama, Marilyn Monroe, The United States Of America & The American Dream

Mark from Los Angeles, CA — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:39:01 EDT

Barack Obama & Marilyn Monroe, The United States Of America & The American Dream By Mark from Los Angeles, CA - Sep 5th, 2008 at 9:17 pm EDT

To view this blog post with music and Barack Obama messages taped on his podcast in the past access this link

                                                            By Mark Bellinghaus


We at 'Our Marilyn' Blogcast & MARILYN MONROE PRODUCTIONS, LLC, WE SUPPORT Barack Obama, the truly gifted speaker and the most charismatic politician, since John F. Kennedy.

We encourage you to please consider to also cast your vote for Mr. Barack Obama.

Ladies & Gentlemen, the next, the 44th President of The United States:

Barack Hussein Obama II

Barack Obama Speech - 2008 DNC Denver: 8-28-08 Part 1

google.y={first:[]};window.setTimeout(function(){var xjs=document.createElement('script');xjs.src='/extern_js/f/CgJlbhICdXMrMAc4AiwrMBg4Aiw/tOvl6yWhIRk.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(xjs)},0)Barack Obama Speech - 2008 DNC Denver: 8-28-08 Part 2



Marilyn Monroe & Barack Obama ©2008 by Mark Bellinghaus

Because you know, that Marilyn Monroe would vote for Barack Obama if she was still alive.
Marilyn Monroe was fighting racism, and she was supporting the Democratic Party, she was fighting for women's rights, and she opened her own company. Since Mary Pickford, she was the first actress who would take her faith into her own hands.
She was considering to adopt a baby, in 1962, shortly before her untimely death and decades before it became almost 'fashionable' for Hollywood actresses to adopt kids.
Marilyn Monroe was her time ahead, always.

The close friendship between black & white in 1950's racist America!


Ella Fitzgerald & Marilyn Monroe, in 1955 (above) and in 1962, (below), the year Marilyn Monroe passed away. In 1955, when racism was still a big issue in the United States of America, Ella Fitzgerald became the first African-American to perform at the Mocambo, after Marilyn Monroe had lobbied the owner for the booking. The booking was instrumental in Fitzgerald's career. Marilyn would promise the owner that she would appear every night (and be on time), and this way also fill the house--and she did, she was there every night, and she filled the house and: she was always on time! Their close friendship lasted for many years and Ella would sing Marilyn Monroe's famous 'My Heart Belongs To Daddy'in honor of her wonderful friend Marilyn Monroe, who died almost 34 years before she passed on in 1996, at age 79.

       Marilyn & Ella
Please vote for Barack Obama!

Show the world that racism in the United States Of America is now a defeated chapter from the dark past of this country, where an organization such as the KKK is still existing.

Show the world that change is possible, that the future is here.
The future is now, and the future is in your own hands.

Vote for the right candidate and make your voice heard and be counted.

On November 4, 2008, please give your vote to the only person who can turn this sinking ship that is covered by greed and stupidity, by a President who is still denying GLOBAL WARMING, while the Asthma cases for children in the USA are on the sharp rise...this person has arrived. And he was making a sensational entrance four years ago, when he spoke at the Democratic Convention, where hopes were high for John Kerry. Barack Obama stands for the American dream, more than any politician, more than anyone who has been running for President.

PLEASE VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA, the President of Change, Hope, Progress and Charisma.


h1 = document.getElementById("title").getElementsByTagName("h1")[0];h1.innerHTML = widont(h1.innerHTML); Funny Quotes from Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama

By Daniel Kurtzman, About.com

"They say I need to be seasoned; they say I need to be stewed. They say, 'We need to boil all the hope out of him -- like us -- and then he'll be ready.'" (Watch video

********************************

"I have nothing to hide, I enjoy being myself. I'm not going to change who I am just because it's Halloween." –appearing as himself on Saturday Night Live as part of a skit that featured Hillary Clinton dressed as a witch at a Halloween party

                         *********************************

"It's like I was shot out of a cannon. I'm so overexposed that I make Paris Hilton look like a recluse."

                 ****************************

"Hillary is not the first politician in Washington to declare 'Mission Accomplished' a little too soon."

                  ****************************

On his Democratic Convention speech, in which he said that "we coach Little League in the blue states and we have some gay friends in the red states": "Well, here's an update. Since the election, that gay couple I knew in the red states? They've moved back to the blue states."

                *****************************

On excitement in his father's native Kenya that his election would mean the building of billions of dollars in new roads, bridges, hospitals, and schools in their country: "I've tried to explain how it works these days. First comes the invasion, and then billions in aid."

                    ***********************************

"It's been a great ride. But I know how quickly these fads can pass. You all remember the pet rock, the mood ring, Howard Dean."

                     ***********************************

"You notice that people who've been in Washington too long, they don't talk like ordinary folks,. We had this debate in Las Vegas, and somebody asked me, What are your weaknesses?' So I said, Well, you know, I don't keep track of paper that well, I'm always losing paper, my desk is a mess.' And then they asked the next two candidates. And one candidate says, Well, my biggest weakness is I'm just so passionate about helping poor people.' And then the other one says, I'm just so impatient to help the American people solve their problems.' So then I realize well, I wish I'd gone last and then I would have known.. I'm stupid that way, I thought that when they asked what your biggest weakness was, they asked what your biggest weakness was. And now I know that my biggest weakness is I like to help old ladies across the street."

                    ************************************

"That's what he talked about yesterday, 'I want to drill here. I want to drill now.' I don't know where he was standing. I think he was in a building somewhere." --on John McCain's energy plan

                    ************************************

It is finally time for the 'White House,' to turn black. With pride, unity, happiness and.....hope.

Please support, please vote for Barack Obama on November 4, 2008.

Thank you and blessings to all of you.

Mark Bellinghaus, Ernest W. Cunningham & Jennifer J. Dickinson

Los Angeles, CA, USA, August 31, 2008



                Marilyn would vote for Barack!

YES, WE CAN! - SI, SE PEUDE! JA, WIR KÖNNEN!

MARILYN MONROE PRODUCTIONS, LLC, left to right:
Ernest W. Cunningham, author of The Ultimate Marilyn & plaintiff of the Queen Mary Marilyn Monroe fraud class action lawsuit 2006 / 2007--pointing out and ultimately stopping the biggest exhibition fraud / hoax in history which would have traveled the world for the following twelve years.
Jennifer J. Dickinson, journalist & mother of two who for the past two years has fought for justice and against corruption and criminals who fabricated fake Marilyn Monroe and other entertainment memorabilia.
Mark Bellinghaus, actor, activist, collector, debunker, entrepreneur & expert witness in the Queen Mary Marilyn Monroe fraud class action lawsuit 2006 / 2007 - the case against the biggest exhibition fraud in history: 'Marilyn Monroe: the exhibit,' which could have created a minimum of $100 million within the twelve years this exhibition was scheduled to travel around the globe.

We contested many different criminal frauds and deceptions which would have damaged the public--you, some way or another, we were able to expose and ultimately close down exhibitions, based on fraudulent memorabilia on display or for sale.
We contested hoaxes frauds and criminal pranks, which after our exposure were ultimately shut down, due to our proof based exposure.
We never wrongly accused anyone of being a criminal fraud, if the people were actually innocent.
We never failed - our accuracy is still at 100% for three years now.
WE SUPPORT BARACK OBAMA
Marilyn Monroe definitely would have voted for Barack Obama.
Please support Mr. Obama in his run for President.
Please support Barack to become the 44th President of The United States of America.

Credit for the 'YES WE CAN' Video:
Song & video, featuring a star cast, by will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas. Inspired by Barack Obama's 'Yes We Can' speech.

----------------------------------------
08/28/08 Note: Congratulations to the the official Democratic Party nominee and the next President of the United States, Barack Obama!!

Official song site:
http://www.yeswecansong.com

Obama Campaign Site:
http://www.barackobama.com/

Yes we can what?:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

Is it true that he....?:
http://factcheck.barackobama.com/

Be a part of the video at:
http://www.hopeactchange.com

-Lyrics-

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.

Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.
It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality.

Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.

Yes we can heal this nation.

Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics...they will only grow louder and more dissonant ........... We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.
Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea --

Yes. We. Can.
Celebrities featured include: Jesse Dylan, Will.i.am, Common, Scarlett Johansson, Tatyana Ali, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Kate Walsh, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Adam Rodriquez, Kelly Hu, Amber Valetta, Eric Balfour, Aisha Tyler, Nicole Scherzinger and Nick Cannon

Also check out this other great song and video inspired by Barack:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyJ72i...

Life is all about signs...seeing the signs....understanding the signs...acting upon the signs

--Mark Bellinghaus

About:
'OUR MARILYN' BLOGCAST
&
MARILYN MONROE PRODUCTIONS, LLC The Mark Bellinghaus Marilyn Monroe CollectionAbout me
Mark Bellinghaus, CEO, MARILYN MONROE PRODUCTIONS, LLCLos Angeles, California, United StatesMark Bellinghaus owns the biggest, most comprehensive, and 100% authentic Marilyn Monroe memorabilia collection in existence. Part of his collection is an original copy of Marilyn Monroe’s last will and testament, including many important documents, which he shared in 2006 with the lawyers of three famous Marilyn Monroe photographers estates which were suing Anna Strasberg and CMG Worldwide (Mark Roesler) for several years. The documents that Mark Bellinghaus delivered served literally as the key to this groundbreaking success for the defense and the savior of the legacy of Marilyn Monroe. In 2006, Mark Bellinghaus closed down the biggest exhibition fraud in history: a $100 million project was exposed with his first blog on ‘blogcritics,’ and he also stopped a $15 million movie project, exposed Mary Jane Popp and June Alpino aka “DiMaggio’s” book as nonsense. He also exposed Dolores Hope Masi, Bebe Goddard, Robert Otto, Jeanne Carmen, etc. The list goes on and on.
In Oct. 2007, he successfully exposed, together with journalist Jennifer J. Dickinson another exhibit, this time in Great Britain (the ‘lost’ Marilyn Monroe William Travilla costume collection) as a complete hoax. Mark Bellinghaus owns a real & authentic Monroe worn Travilla costume.

Marilyn Monroe William Travilla Costume 'Prototypes' Hoax in ... May 26, 2008 ... MARILYN MONROE NEWS ENTERTAINMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Marilyn Monroe William Travilla...
www.pr-inside.com/marilyn-monroe-william-travilla-costume-r607845.htm - 23k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this Costume 'Prototypes' Hoax in Bexleyheath,

Trademark ™ and Copyright © 2005 - 2008 by Mark Bellinghaus & MARILYN MONROE PRODUCTIONS, LLC All rights reserved. Do not copy or redistribute in any form.

Barack Obama For President!

MARILYN MONROE NEWS ENTERTAINMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Marilyn Monroe would have voted for Barack Obama

Marilyn Monroe and Senator Barack Obama Photo compilation ©2008 by Mark Bellinghaus 2008-10-07 00:00:19 - By Mark Bellinghaus, CEO, MARILYN MONROE PRODUCTIONS, LLC

Opinion & Support

Because you know, that Marilyn Monroe would vote for Barack Obama if she was still alive.
Marilyn Monroe was fighting racism, and she was supporting the Democratic Party, she was fighting for women's rights, and she opened her own company. Since Mary Pickford, she was the first actress who would take her faith into her own hands.
She was considering to adopt a baby, in 1962, shortly before her untimely death and decades before it became almost 'fashionable' for Hollywood actresses to adopt kids.
Marilyn Monroe was her time ahead, always.

The close friendship between black & white (Ella Fitzgerald & Marilyn Monroe) in 1950's racist America!

Extract & Photo caption/description posted on OUR MARILYN BLOG - you can find the entire blog article here:
blog.ourmarilyn.com/2008/08/31/marilyn-monroe-would-have-voted-f ..
and also here:
my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/markbellinghaus/gG5W75
Ella Fitzgerald & Marilyn Monroe, in 1955 (above) and in 1962, (below), the year Marilyn Monroe passed away. In 1955, when racism was still a big issue in the United States of America, Ella Fitzgerald became the first African-American to perform at the Mocambo, after Marilyn Monroe had lobbied the owner for the booking. The booking was instrumental in Fitzgerald's career. Marilyn would promise the owner that she would appear every night (and be on time), and this way also fill the house--and she did, she was there every night, and she filled the house and: she was always on time! Their close friendship lasted for many years and Ella would sing Marilyn Monroe's famous 'My Heart Belongs To Daddy' in honor of her wonderful friend Marilyn Monroe, who died almost 34 years before she passed on in 1996, at age 79.

Barack Obama Quotes:

'They say I need to be seasoned; they say I need to be stewed. They say, 'We need to boil all the hope out of him -- like us -- and then he'll be ready.'

'I have nothing to hide, I enjoy being myself. I'm not going to change who I am just because it's Halloween." -appearing as himself on Saturday Night Live as part of a skit that featured Hillary Clinton dressed as a witch at a Halloween party

*

'It's like I was shot out of a cannon. I'm so overexposed that I make Paris Hilton look like a recluse.'

'Hillary is not the first politician in Washington to declare 'Mission Accomplished' a little too soon.'

Marilyn Monroe singing Happy Birthday to President John F. Kennedy, who was a Democrat

Campaign Innovation...

Nia "Hussein" J. — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:26:50 EDT

1. The Obama campaign released it’s own Cable channel with The Dish Network, channel 73:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dawn-teo/obama-campaign-buys-chann_b_131105.html 2. Obama iphone and iPod Touch software:http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/10/iphone-software.html?cid=133136193#comments * Please share as you see fit

State Dems Say Phone Lists are Up To Date

Richard — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:37:21 EDT

Fears have been expressed that the state Democratic Party's phone lists will not handle the new 575 area code when it becomes mandatory next week.

Not so, say two of the top honchos down there.

Their word --

The New Mexico voter file changes daily with newly registered voters and information entered into the Vote Builder from hundreds of grassroots leaders across the state making thousands of phone calls every day. To ensure that the most current phone information is captured in the transition the DPNM will make a timely area code change in Vote Builder during a time of inactivity before October 5th.

McCain and the Blackberry

Blake Wondrasch — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:06:18 EDT

For those of you who haven't heard, John McCain has a new trick up his sleeve. Apparently he "helped create the miracle that is the Blackberry" (tightly paraphrased from his lead economic advisor.) Now while we may all be induced to giggle and compare this claim that "John McCain invented the Blackberry" to "Al Gore invented the internet", we do need to realize the deeper issue at stake here- the Republicans are trying to take credit for progress in science and technology during Bush's Administration, even though President Bush couldn't have possibly done much more during his term in office to crush advancement in science and technological fields.

McCain Helped Create The BlackBerry?

News Guy — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:09:04 EDT

This is from the Associated Press:

MIAMI (AP) - John McCain may not know much about computers, but
one of his top advisers says McCain helped to create the
BlackBerry. Douglas Holtz-Eakin says McCain used his position as a
leading member of the Senate Commerce Committee to bring about
changes in the telecommunications industry.

Even I can't let this one go by. If Gore can get blasted for "inventing the internet," surely someone will call out McCain on this one.

McCain invented Blackberry

Kevin Taglang — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:07:36 EDT

Asked what work John McCain did as Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee that helped him understand the financial markets, the candidate's top economic adviser wielded visual evidence: his BlackBerry.

Obama and Science

FlyingSinger — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 15:30:49 EDT

Science and technology are vitally important to the future of this country and indeed the world. Voters should know the positions of the candidates on these vital issues. Science Debate 2008 is a grassroots initiative to encourage the presidential candidates to debate the most important questions in science. This initiative is supported by leading scientific and engineering organizations, universities, and many individuals including Nobel Prize winners. They have received over 3,400 questions from 38,000 individual signers, and they have distilled these down to the 14 most important questions, stated to encourage discussion and embellishment in a debate setting.

While I have not seen any sign that there will be a direct presidential debate on science, Barack Obama's campaign has submitted his answers to the 14 questions (McCain's campaign has indicated that he too will provide answers). Obama's answers are thoughtful and include specific policy proposals to deal with these issues.

"Recontextualization" video

debedb — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:53:13 EDT

This video http://www.overstream.net/view.php?oid=n1ronxelmtin is making the rounds in the wingnut blogosphere. It's high time someone took some of McCain/Palin videos and overlayed them with the truth by using a tool such as http://www.overstream.net.

Science and Technology

Rocket — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:02:04 EDT

Apparently this administration and other GOP thinkers do not believe in scientific advancement and research. In the past seven years the administration has greatly reduced the grants for scientific research and development. It is very noticeable in the academic circles where most of the grant money used to be spent. One of my uncles used to do cancer research under government grants, now the budget has been cut and his research has stopped.

Obama has and will sponsor programs to increase STEM education in schools

Dennis from Los Angeles, CA — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:20:29 EDT

From http://www.sciencedebate2008.com:

Here's an excerpt from a question asked both candidates (McCain has yet to respond)

Education. A comparison of 15-year-olds in 30 wealthy nations found that average science scores among U.S. students ranked 17th, while average U.S. math scores ranked 24th. What role do you think the federal government should play in preparing K-12 students for the science and technology driven 21st Century?

Barack Obama:

"All American citizens need high quality STEM education that inspires them to know more about the world around them, engages them in exploring challenging questions, and involves them in high quality intellectual work. STEM education is no longer only for those pursuing STEM careers; it should enable all citizens to solve problems, collaborate, weigh evidence, and communicate ideas. I will work to ensure that all Americans, including those in traditionally underrepresented groups, have the knowledge and skills they need to engage in society, innovate in our world, and compete in the global economy.

Please make a donation of at least $5 to support the future of scientists: http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/Scientists4Obama

I will support research to understand the strategies and mechanisms that bring lasting improvements to STEM education and ensure that promising practices are widely shared. This includes encouraging the development of cutting edge STEM instructional materials and technologies, and working with educators to ensure that assessments measure the range of knowledge and skills needed for the 21st Century. I will bring coherency to STEM education by increasing coordination of federal STEM education programs and facilitating cooperation among state efforts. I recently introduced the "Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education Act of 2008" that would establish a STEM Education Committee within the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to coordinate the efforts of federal agencies engaged in STEM education, consolidate the STEM education initiatives that exist within the Department of Education under the direction of an Office of STEM Education, and create a State Consortium for STEM Education. These reforms will strengthen interagency coordination at the federal level, encourage collaboration on common content standards and assessments for STEM education at the state and local levels, and provide a mechanism for sharing the latest innovations and practices in STEM education with educators. I also recently sponsored an amendment, which became law, to the America Competes Act that established a competitive state grant program to support summer learning opportunities with curricula that emphasize mathematics and problem solving..."

Please make a donation of at least $5 to support the future of scientists: http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/Scientists4Obama

Obama would DOUBLE basic science research funding in 10 years

Dennis from Los Angeles, CA — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:06:41 EDT

Here's more from Obama on his support for increased funding for research:

"...today, we are clearly under-investing in research across the spectrum of scientific and engineering disciplines. Federal support for the physical sciences and engineering has been declining as a fraction of GDP for decades, and, after a period of growth of the life sciences, the NIH budget has been steadily losing buying power for the past six years. As a result, our science agencies are often able to support no more than one in ten proposals that they receive, arresting the careers of our young scientists and blocking our ability to pursue many remarkable recent advances. Furthermore, in this environment, scientists are less likely to pursue the risky research that may lead to the most important breakthroughs. Finally, we are reducing support for science at a time when many other nations are increasing it, a situation that already threatens our leadership in many critical areas of science.

**Please make a donation of at least $5 to support the future of scientists:** http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/Scientists4Obama

This situation is unacceptable. As president, I will increase funding for basic research in physical and life sciences, mathematics, and engineering at a rate that would double basic research budgets over the next decade. Sustained and predictable increases in research funding will allow the United States to accomplish a great deal. First, we can expand the frontiers of human knowledge. Second, we can provide greater support for high-risk, high-return research and for young scientists at the beginning of their careers. Third, we can harness science and technology to address the “grand challenges” of the 21st century: energy, health, food and water, national security, information technology, and manufacturing capacity."

Source Scientists & Engineers for America (http://sharp.sefora.org/people/presidential-candidates/barack-obama-presidential-candidate/)

Which candidate sounds like he understands the needs and benefits of scientists?

**Please make a donation of at least $5 to support the future of scientists:** http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/Scientists4Obama

Freidman's POV (Author of "Hot, Flat, and Crowded")

Colorado "Hussein" Mamma for Obama — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:48:57 EDT

Freidman was on "Good Morning America" yesterday. He is well respected about his experiences and environmental views of the world. His most recent book is titled "Hot, Flat, and Crowded."

He had a six minute interview with Diane Sawyer yesterday, and I have attached the link to that. His defense of being accused "liberal tax and spend guy" is short, but powerful. I hope that the Obama/Biden campaign gets wind of this, and in the meantime, I am sharing it with the Chorus of Millions, so we can also share it throughout our communities.

Can the world go green? An Interview with Diane Sawyer:

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5750554

Thank you,
Sydney

Obama's Non-Space Program

Richard from Denver, CO — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:15:52 EDT

I'm concerned about the lack of perspective on the value of our space program. In fact, if anyone has a clue as to where Obama's space policy is located, please let me know. I'll keep searching the website.

Merely discussing math and science education, engineers for "home grown" industries and bumping government research grants doesn't cut it.

Where is the BO Space Policy?

Case in point - I don't see any comments on NASA's pre-engineering programs that are pulling kids from inner city neighborhoods into science, technology, and eventually aerospace engineering.

What will happen to our current budgets for NASA? Will they be raided to fund other "new" programs?

The United States still has one solid, advanced industry that actually makes things - and that's aerospace. With massive aerospace engineer retirements looming we need to replace both these engineers plus engineers for all the new energy economy, the new transportation economy, the new (smaller?) housing economy.

Perhaps when China lands on the moon - and they will - we might wake up. But I'd like to see a little more forward thinking policies on the part of the Obama campaign. The bulk of the space under your technology section is devoted to the internet. Now that's a bit a no-brainer.

There is more to our technology lives than the internet. There is the high-ground to protect - space.

I don't see it in the Obama policies. Space needs to be there, explicitly, not implicitly.

Scientists Heart Obama

Ruby Jo — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:52:02 EDT

Sen. Obama gives anyone interested in the state of science and technology reason for HOPE, writ large and in length, at the link shown below, where he answers 14 major questions called the Science Debate 2008.

http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=40

If I knew nothing more about him, this would cause me to become his ardent supporter. He has the vision and judgment to return our country to a position of leadership in scientific progress, on which nothing less than the future of our species depends.

Science appointment confirmations

Russ Price — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:39:45 EDT

Does anyone remember the excruciatingly slow ramp-up in staffing science advisory positions under the Bush administration? How about the gag orders placed on government scientists whose knowledge of the facts did not suit neocon policy wonks?

It just seems to me that it would be interesting, with the two senators' records available, to look at which candidate has shown greater support for science-based decision making based on which appointees they voted to confirm and what they had to say about them. Any young blogger want to take up the challenge of putting the data together? Every one whose career is dependent on US technology leadership - in defense industries, manufacturing, financial markets, health care, information technologies, and education to name a few - should be interested to know which candidate is going to lead the country back to the front of the line in technology primacy. That will require both vision and increased emphasis on education.

Mr. Obama's senior economic advisor, Austan Goolsbee, puts it pretty succinctly in his interview with MIT's Technology Review (Sept/Oct 2008): "For many years America led globally in the percentage of 25-year-olds with college degrees. Now the U.S. is 31 in the world - right behind Bulgaria and right above Costa Rica. The problem for countries with skill levels between Bulgaria and Costa Rica is that 20 years from now they'll also have income levels between those countries."

Let's get out the science and technology vote!

Techies' concerned over Biden's MPAA, RIAA links. Hopefully we can change that

Jason — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:26:10 EDT

As an active computer person, I rely heavly on my computer for both my job and personal life.

When a person metions the word "hacker" they assume the guy who breaks computers and steals data. This is false as the proper term is "cracker" like "safecracker".

The hacking community is composed of all the "computer geeks". Mainly programmer and people who tinker with technology. Often we are misunderstood.

However, Senator Biden's stance on technology is very low with the tech savvy. CNET rates him at 37.5% (http://news.cnet.com/2009-1040-6130830.html) mainly for his support for the Digital Millenium Copyright Act of 2000 (DMCA), the Perform Act that has allowed the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to sue XM Radio, his support for the PATRIOT Act and Online censorship. (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10024163-38.html?tag=newsLeadStoriesArea.0)

Then there was the bill in 2002 that was backed by News Corp (FOX NEWS) that attempted to ban hardware hacking (http://news.cnet.com/2010-1071-946732.html), an important field in the hacker industry considering the guys at Apple, Microsoft, and Sony tell you "don't hack your X. Pay $20 for some program that allows you do to Y." Thanks to us, the hardware hackers, we can offer you it and then some for next to nothing. The large companies in the computer industry have also tried to convince Biden of their interpretation of Trusted Computing rather than the hacking industry's interpretation. (See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLoIcdIu_Kk to see what Trusted Computing is all about.).

The good news is Senators Biden, Obama, and McCaskill are in favor of Network Neutrality (http://www.savetheinternet.com/=senatetally) where as Senators McCain, Stevens, and Lott are against it. (The last three have been in trouble for supporting corporate interest. Ted Stevens (or as we like to call him "Senator Tubes" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtOoQFa5ug8) ) was caught stealing monies thanks to the Internet legislation he lobbied against. And I don't think I need to recall the racist remarks of Trent Lott from a few years ago.)

What is Cowboy Johnny hiding other than the fact that his second wive IS his trophy wife, he owns atleat seven homes, and raised his campaign monies thanks to his friends at Exxon-Mobile? Clearly it is something big that could ruin his campaign that if posted on the Internet it would crush him.

Aside from all that, Senator Biden needs to stop supporting the MPAA, RIAA, and the NTCA (all three are anti-net-neutrality groups who use other issues like "priacy" or "protecting children from online predators" as excuses to make them look like heros when they are actually the opposite.) Anyone with Cable may also recall the anti-Network Neutrality ads that the NTCA aired last year claiming that "multimillion dollar tech companies from silicion valley would make million". As a Midwesterner doing a job that many people in Sillicon Valley (which for the record is San Jose, California and vincinity), I certainly am not making Millions of dollars and even if I did, I certainly wouldn't be using it to create a "tiered" internet that restricts the flow of free information.

Futhermore, I if I had that money, I would not use it to influence leaders on issues such as national security or survellance. ( http://www.eff.org/search?text=Biden )

The average non-tech-savvy person should give Seantor Biden a call before we let him work as VP.

Contact Senator Biden

Wilmington, DE (302) 573-6345

Milford, DE (302) 424-8090

Washington, DC (202) 224-5042

Tell him that before we let him become VP, he needs to stop supporting the MPAA, RIAA, NCTA, and Big Brother.

on tech issues

Janis Concerned mother for Obama — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:04:56 EDT

OK this is huge. This is "it's the economy stupid" huge.

McCain's brain is in the typewriter age. His campaign thinks email and text messaging information to suscribers is a radically expensive outreach to youth. This shows the candidates comfort level with technology and almost more importantly, his comfort level with dealing with tech savvy people. THIS SHOWS THAT MCCAIN DOES NOT LISTEN TO PEOPLE WHO ARE COMFORTABLE USING TECHNOLOGY TO COMMUNICATE.

OK. K.I.S.S.

Obama understands current technology. This is the technology not of high school students IMing for dates, but business people with blackberries, sales people and farmers.

My 79 year old Mother has a cell phone and emails daily. How can Mccain develop an economic policy depending on technology and green jobs when he is not as tech savvy as my 79 year old mother?

How can someone keep us globally competitive who does not know how to Google?

How can McCain run a modern war when all of his assumptions and reactions are based on 40 year old experience and tactics? He is stuck in the VIetnam era, and we lost that war.

Who can lead us into the future? WHo can help find tomorrows solutions today? Not Mccain. He does not understand todays solutions.

Sorry still geeking out.

Reading McCain's Technology Plan

Kevin Taglang — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:18:04 EDT

For my day job, I monitor what's going on in telecommunications policy and share what I've found in a daily online newsletter called Communications-related Headlines. Because of the tax status of my employer, I have to deliver a non-partisan product. So i had both a professional and personal interest in the long-anticipated release of Sen McCain's technology policy. The release and the reaction to the policy statement have been surprising.

Motivational Note

Friends of President Barack Obama — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:19:02 EDT

Even though it may not look like it or feel like it, you are making progress.

Continue working towards progress instead of perfection.

Nothing or no no one is perfect.

Just keep taking steps.

Keep making those phone calls.

Continue following your plan.

Remain focused on your goal.

Do what you have to do right now to get to the next level.

Complete every task.

Keep every promise and commitment.

Don't look back.

Stay on track.

Let no one weaken your walk of faith and determination.

Remain teachable.

Place yourself in a blessing position by associating with people on-the-grow.

Talk with teachers.

Walk with winners.

Climb with champions.

Study successful people.

Something great is about to happen for you!

Start giving thanks right now before you can even see the outward manisfestation of your prayers and desires.

Everything you do from this day forward will take you further away or closer to your potential for successful living.

-by Dr. Jewel Diamond Taylor, Motivational Speaker & Author

Salon: John McCain, Internet dunce

Kevin Taglang — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:04:23 EDT

Sen John McCain rarely talks about technology. McCain has not released a tech platform, although he may do so this week. On this front, he lags behind Barack Obama, who unveiled his last year.

The Study and Pursuit of Technology

Megabyte Concepts, Owner - Stanley L. Fidge — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:40:13 EDT

The study and pursuit of Technology has made my life in America a viable reality! The Democratic party and its members need to lead the way in the pursuit to create, harness, and efficiently utilize technology to improve the lives of every American and to reach out to the rest of the world to once again lead the way forward and share the positive light of the transformative power of technology to world! Please visit www.megabyteconcepts.com for more technological related information and please, Get Fired UP!!! For Barack Obama 2008!

Did some one say "Slam Dunk"?

Otto Holland — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:35:59 EDT

Hmmm...I remember that statement!I watched the "spoof" Ad by Paris Hilton and I thing it's pretty cool...There is a subtle tone there that tells me she paid attention and lift statements and words of Senator Obama. The line about Detroit, new technology, Hybrids etc. was taken from his context.I remain certain however, that drilling is not the answer. If drilling was the case, why are they not using the 67 million areas already approved for drilling?Are the areas too deep, too hard or simply; they want more plots in the sand? Seem like a useless propaganda to me! The next thought is the environment. If drilling is the answer, what positive change can be made to protect the environment? If we continue to damage the Ozone, where will our children live later?The best step is radical adjustment beginning now. Hybrids, Electric cars, green energy. In five years, we can be light years in environmentally sound technology.This may sound crazy but the thought came to mind. There should be a new law stating every building; including commercial and residential; must have solar or thermal energy.If replacing a roof cost 20 to 30 thousand dollars the cost to generate 20 to 30 Kilowatts; owners will see savings in less than 5 years.Some state (I am not certain how many) give a rebate toward renewable source of energy. Is it not possible for new technology to be main stream in five years or less? Incentives for manufactures and customers will greatly easy the initial burden of implementing new technology. In years to come, oil will be used mostly for diesel generators; I hope.

The Digital Divide Between McCain And Obama

Kevin Taglang — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:57:10 EDT

I'll want to come back to this in a later post, but here's a quick to a National Public Radio report on the differences between Sens Obama and McCain when it comes to technology.

Native Americans for Obama Group

Joseph, From El Dorado Hills — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:55:51 EDT

Hi. As you know I am non-partisan in all my Political endeavors. Specifically with the California Indian License Plate project (California's first Native American designed license plate).

But I know the message of the Obama campaign can not go unheard specifically when it is regarding the importance of Native Sovereign Nations and the United States of America. An intergovernmental relationship must be kept aware for our people both on reservations and out-of-area reservation citizens.

I am creating the "Obama for Native Americans" group to keep us in touch. On three main points: Environmentalism, Technology, and Energy. With the underlying theme of respect and culture of our Native Communities.

- Kindly,

- Joseph Arthur

Acknowledgement

Kevin Hicks — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:08:25 EDT

Hello,

The name's Kevin Hicks. I'm a gangly, eccentric, eighteen year old who loves to sit around and let his mind wander in whatever direction it goes. Sometimes it drifts to the more important aspects of life, such as the future of this country. It's simple. It comes down to this: are we, the new generation and the future of the United States of America, going to do nothing but stand around and "hope" for change to happen? "Hope" is a word used throughout this campaign, but it isn't half of what is required to pull this country out of the mire that it's in. We've been through eight years of hell and it's about time that we take action to revise the sickly condition of politics.

Damn, I mean look: we have technology at our disposal, and by this I mean accessibility to it all across the economic spectrum, the rich and the poor, and the black and the white. Is it not in our best interest to use whatever means we have possible to promote this visionary to our country's highest office? We have the power and the choice to do what is in our best interest...so decide. Are you part of the problem or part of the solution? America is in bondage and it is time to unshackle ourselves.

How do you cope with change? Which group do you belong to?

Ms CYPRAH — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:37:59 EDT

America has been fired up by Barack Obama's exciting promise of change. On top of that, we are being deluged by technological changes each day which many older people are finding increasingly problematical. Changes are always difficult to cope with because they threaten our usual routine, they take us out of our comfort zones and they make us feel vulnerable and insecure until we get used to them again. However, not everyone cope with those changes in the same way. Some have a better predisposition and readiness for change than others do. As a rule, the happier and more contented we are in our lives, the more we will welcome change, while the more unhappy, low in esteem and isolated we feel, the more we will fear that change.

SocialDevCamp Chicago - Finding the Future of Social

SusanM — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:36:59 EDT

SocialDevCamp Chicago! This will be an unconference for individuals passionate about social networks, web applications, platform development, new media, and any of the exciting (but messy) topics between.

http://www.facebook.com/events.php?ref=sb#/event.php?eid=20586291919

"Join some of the brightest minds in the Midwest (ha, I didn't write that) for a day of fun, learning, and coding. Discussions will surround topics including Google App Engine, Data Portability, Online Trust, and mobile application development."

Date:Saturday, August 9, 2008Time:8:30am - 6:00pmLocation:Illinois Institute of Technology; McCormick Tribune Campus CenterStreet:3201 South State StreetCity/Town:Chicago, IL

Crucial Aspects of the MySpace Age

Ms CYPRAH — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:19:47 EDT

The MySpace Age is indicative of the dramatic change in the world we have known, primarily in the way we now relate to one another. This age is characterised by the following: individual expression, technology, communication and connections.

1. The MySpace age is the age of the individual. An age where individual expression is paramount compared to the old age of collective information, suppressed information, information censored by authority and being denied access to it. Emphasis is now on personal profiles, extending one's reach globally to others, instead of just to our extended families, and sharing in a cultural enrichment of artistic, social and literary expressiveness. The blog is now king which gives everyone a voice. People have always wanted to be heard and now there is an instant personal comment and expression on every world event. The ubiquitous blog gauges world opinion through individual utterances, while giving the blogger authority, presence and significance.

Are political polling links on social networking sites like YouTube and MySpace invigorating young voters?

Ms CYPRAH — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:17:20 EDT

Those social networking sites have the biggest audiences around. To omit them from the election process would be foolhardy. As most youngsters use the social networks to communicate with one another and to socialise in every sense, there are at least 5 reasons why those young voters are likely to be galvanised by the connection to participate in the 2008 election..

First, linking the candidates to these network sites aid understanding of the issues, the positions and the electoral process, at the very least, even if it doesn't invigorate them as such. One cannot appreciate the value of something until it is understood. By bringing the campaign directly to network users, in their own community, it has a better chance of being regarded favourably. Many young voters would make the effort to become engaged in the process when they might not have bothered otherwise.

Refocussing NASA on smart robotics

Computer Scientist — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:56:11 EDT

People are questioning whether NASA’s current agenda is capable of producing the bountiful economic spinoffs reaped from the early space program.   Personal computers, software, GPS, weather satellites, solar panels, digital cameras...all are a horn of plenty set in motion by President Kennedy in 1961.

NASA is adrift from the economic challenges of the 21st century.   The key lesson learned is that humans are very expensive space workers owing to their complex life support systems. By comparison, robots easily adapt to outer space and only lack one attribute – the intelligence to deal with unexpected problems.

What if NASA were to forget about sending people to the moon and Mars, and instead adopt an ambitious goal to colonize the moon robotically?   Two worthwhile projects would be astronomy outposts on the moon, and a particle beam gun to deflect killer asteroids away from hitting the earth. Unlike Apollo, which was a difficult act to follow, a robotic space program is sustainable because mission costs are much lower.

But the bigger payoff will take place back here on earth. Intelligent robotics will transform manufacturing, construction, transportation, hospitality, health care, landscaping and housework. If a parallel effort is devoted to robo-ethics and economics, smart robotics will usher in an era of unprecedented human prosperity.

NASA should play a leading role in spearheading the computer science leading to this outcome. A major shift in priorities needs to take place. Sen McCain has endorsed men-on-Mars, which should be vigorously debated as out-of-touch with what we've learned in our first 50 years in space. It's a strategic blunder that could surrender the smart robotics revolution to our global competitors.

Sen. Obama hopefully will have the most well-informed scientists helping him shape the issues in time for the fall debates.

Dealing with Prejudice in Today's Society

Ms CYPRAH — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:04:54 EDT

Prejudice is a natural by-product of making choices in life. We are presented with a diversity of choice daily, from which we are required to select what matters to us most, what we like best, the things which keep us in our comfort zones and anything that enhances us the most, while resisting the rest. From choosing a partner to choosing a fashionable item, we are exercising the prejudice of accepting one thing while rejecting another. So we are all guilty of exercising prejudice in some form and we all have our prejudices relating to lifestyle and culture.

Internet Reactions - The Cycle of Transition

Ms CYPRAH — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:33:35 EDT

It has been interesting to see the numerous comments about the massive effect of the Internet on the music industry, especially the negative way it is supposed to be affecting production companies and artists, etc. That kind of anxiety is understandable, but is generally a product of massive change in the face of strong resistance to protect territories and traditions. However, the Internet is no different from any revolutionary change.

Support the Dodd Amendment to the FISA bill

dan in mountain view, ca — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:37:41 EDT

Senator Obama: please support the Dodd Amendment to the FISA bill. Lead, don't kowtow to the White House. Let the justice process find out what really happened and whether it violated the law or Constitution. Barbara Boxer has a great press release/speech she posted to her web site today. Read it: http://boxer.senate.gov/news/releases/record.cfm?id=300253

Your entire platform is hinged on change. But voting against the Dodd Amendment and for the new FISA bill will send the opposite message. It may in fact alienate liberals as well as those centrists and independents (like myself) as just another example of the usual change - the more you change the system the more it stays the same.

If you really are concerned about the telcos, give them indemnity and allow the process of justice to continue. Immunity will close the door on justice.

Note: it is isn't that I expect Senator Obama, his staff, or advisors to read this. But in case they do ...

Change: What kind of change, and how?

Stephen — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:39:46 EDT

Senator Obama has attracted the nation's attention to the need for CHANGE. But what type of CHANGE is needed, and how best to implement that CHANGE. The following in one analyst's view.

This type of change is a long time in coming, and it won't be easy. But now that the Senator has the nation's attention, we've passed the first step. The next step is in identify the areas most in need of change, and these are HEALTH, BUSINESS LEADERSHIP, and FAMILY.

HEALTH: Perhaps 50 percent of the nation is overweight. Another 25 to 30 percent are facing mental health challenges as a result of drug and alcohol abuse. Almost 25 percent of the population is over the age of 50 and will be facing more serious age related health concerns, with many uninsured or underinsured. A healthy nation can withstand the challenges of change.

BUSINESS LEADERSHIP: Many of America's business leaders have become visionaries in innovation and job creation, while almost an equal number have become innovators in exploiting financial opportunities over business ethics and adherence to U.S. laws and practices. We must better define 21st century business leaders and how they who will guide sustained technological growth and prosperity, not merely short term schemes. There needs to be open dialogue on standards of practice and how new economic growth can best be achieved, with more coordination of targeted policy from Washington.

FAMILY: The break down of the American family over the last 30 years has driven a wedge right into the heart of this great nation. The data on children in the inner cities growing up amid violent crime, drug abuse, and later ending up in prisons is astronomical. Even children of middle class families have not been spared from the fallout of broken homes, failed education, and drugs. We must tackle these issues head on. Children of today are our leaders of tomorrow, or they can become our liabilities. We need new leadership and vision in tackling the issues facing our youth. It's not about programs, it's about committing to goals and ideas.

CHANGE occurs from the inside and spreads outward. It is also contagious, like WINNING. The reasons why the U.S. has struggled in the above 3 areas is that we were trying to do it from the outside, moving in. CHANGE can't be mandated, it can't be bought. It must be WILLED. We must want it!

I purposefully excluded FOREIGN POLICY from the above priorities, because of the overemphasis of some in this country on forcing our will on others. PEACE, as it has been described by many in the concervative sector of this country, is an ILLUSION. You can't WILL peace on others. They must WANT IT. What happens in Iraq is the collective WILL of the people living there. Period! As a nation, there is only so much we can control as to the decisions of others on foreign land. But - we can lead by EXAMPLE, and by our strength in our resolve to our VALUES and where possible aid others in achieving the same.

We must also FIGHT for the weak, for those who cannot defend themselves, as it is our responsibility in LEADERSHIP, standing up for VALUES, where others can follow, that others can depend on. We must also work to maintain open DIALOGUE as best we can amid difficult times.

McCain Has An Exposed Juggular

Benjamin from Bethesda, MD — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:06:58 EDT

Experience.

His length in office and experience can be painted as a detriment.

The clearest way is to ask where he is today.

The clearest example - find out what McCain knows about the internet. I saw on a recent video clip on Tv that he doesn't really understand google.

The question becomes - is McCain's experience in the problems of the past? Is Obama's experience what sets him up for the challenges we face in the future?

This would be a big moment in history if a criteria for becoming president is that you know how to use the internet or google. How can you manage the largest organization in the world of people working to advance the times, advance science, advance technology, advance renewable energy - if you aren't even participating in the greatest innovation in our generation.

McCain has the experience to lead the previous generation and to provide wisdom of an elder in the senate. But, I don't believe a person who doesn't know how to use google should lead the world's strongest most innovative power.

Benjamin Corey Feinblum

No More Gasoline

J. KRAKKER — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:14:14 EDT

I have worked on this project for 5 years. Having been offered a buy out to not build my automobile power plant. Investors from as far away as Japan have read my proposal and want it for themselves. I have refused to surrender the American Dream.

So I put this out to you Senator Obama, I believe in the direction you are going and so I put this in your very hands, and that of your supporters. I have created what I call a Transduced Engine. Originally I designed it to be in a motorcycle but the system is more suited for the auto industry.

The Transduced Engine uses no fossil fuels meaning NO GASOLINE, and has no emmisions. It is a sealed fluid dynamic worm drive system with compressed air charged system. I can state this, it changes the very direction of an electric Hybrid. The Transduced Engine uses a rail of compressed fluid drivers, and magna chargers that recharge the cars lightweight battery as it drives. Unlike hybrids my powerplant charges itself.

Why havent others invented it. Because people forget that small inventors are what MADE AMERICA, but if your not some Big 3 or famous scientist you could not possibly have an idea worth helping the world.

Reality is this Sir. My invention is the real deal it has no fuel injection, no spark plugs, no spark plug wires, no radiator fluid, no brake fluid, no exhaust pipes, cadilatic convertors, in short it looses the entire tradition of the gasoline and desiel engine.

It puts the Big 3 and the Oil Companies on the chopping block. I want to give my invention to our people, our America to show we are strong. My engine can be adapted to fit in any car, truck, bus or semi. My Transduced Engine would change the entire outlook on fossil fuels usage.

All it takes are those willing to accept change and make a differnce to grow with the times. The Transduced Engine would eliminate the need to drill for oil off our shores, and Alaska's wilderness.

It would though cripple the oil companies, and the Arabian Kings because we would not need them. My power plant could be ready for full production in a year. At 1/3 the cost that the Big 3 spend on fossil fuel or Hybrid engines alone. Being that my designs looses 1/2 of what they put into vehicles today.

Best Wishes Senator Obama on becoming our next President.

It's Time to Move On Energy Policy

Scott St. Clair — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:53:57 EDT

It's been obvious for years that our national security and energy policy are inextricably linked. Of course, the disastrous consequences of the Iraq War have made this link even more evident.

It's time for a sea change in energy policy. Current politicians on both sides of the isle seem content to just tinker with the current system, advocating more domestic drilling (as if that was going to do more than line the pockets of the oil companies still further) or conservation or "green energy" (great, let's cover ALL of our beaches with wind farms AND oil wells).

Tinkering should be off the table. Its time for bolder action.

I advocate two things: we should begin an ambitious program to build more nuclear power generation facilities. While there are issues with the disposal of nuclear waste that cannot be ignored, this technology has no carbon footprint, it is sustainable long term, it will not cover millions of acres of American beaches or woodlands, it is cost effective and its an exportable technology. We should be leaders in this field as we were decades ago.

Second, we should invest heavily in hydrogen fuel technology for our vehicles, especially fuel cell technology. Moving the existing fleet of vehicles to hydrogen power will require enormous investment, right on par with the Iraq War! Just think if those trillions had been invested in a new fuel distribution infrastructure and new vehicle technologies! We would be the world leader in hydrogen technology, again giving us products, services and technology to export to the rest of the world. Talk about opportunity cost: that's the whole definition of the Bush administration. All of that lost opportunity.

The transition to hydrogen fuel for vehicles dovetails precisely with nuclear power generation. Why? Because to produce hydrogen, you need electricity, lots of it. And it makes no sense to use carbon-based generation technology to make the electricity. You would be simply moving the carbon generation from the automobile to the power station, with some inefficiencies introduced along the way to make the carbon problem bigger.

The net result of this energy policy would be energy independence within a generation. That's right! You would live to see it! Massive export markets for American companies, technology and workers. The ability to tell Russia, Venezuela, Nigeria, the Middle East and the rest where they can put their oil: leave in the ground!

Barack has an historic opportunity to lead on this issue, to make it a center piece of his campaign, to be able to go to the Midwest and tell those displaced, blue collar workers that he's going to put them to work again in a non-carbon based energy economy that will be the envy of the world.

It is time for change. Let it start with energy policy.

Campaign Web Site Suggestion

Michael from Youngtown, AZ — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:49:26 EDT

Quick suggestion for the Barack Obama web site: Allow people to print out your posters and business card size Obama messages on the Barack Obama web site from their home PC's.

Create the option so a user can click on the poster for sale on your web site to open a larger image. They can then "save picture as" with that larger image to a file on their home computer, and then insert that picture to an application such as microsoft word-which also will print business card size format, by the way-and print out their own poster or even letter size Obama for president signs.

The smaller image currently on display on the poster for sale page becomes unfocused if the end-user attempts this process, or to paste it into an application to print it out. Don't make those people buy them who can't afford them if we can use existing technology! It's a win/win option to get the message out there. Many people would hand out business-card-size Obama pictures with the web site URL address on the street corner and display the posters in their car and home windows.

Another Consumer Protection Example

Disillusioned former member — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:18:56 EDT

Take a look at this:

NVIDIA Dictates Advertised Video Card Pricing
Did you wonder why your GeForce purchasing experience may have changed? Have you wondered why you might have seen all cards priced the same or not priced at all? We have some answers for you on that front and it is called "UMAP."

In short, according to the article, NVIDIA is not stopping retailers from selling the product at a lower price, but it is stopping them from advertising the product at a low price.

One of the core tenets of a free market economy is informed competition. People can learn key facts about what they are buying, and make decisions based on those facts. When a vendor is allowed to suppress information about pricing in the market, genuine competition is destroyed.

The role of government is not to dictate prices and not, within limits, to dictate what can be sold or where it can be sold. But in a free market economy, it is the government that guarantees honesty in advertising and freedom of access to other critical market data -- either directly through regulation and enforcement or indirectly through allowing lawsuits for deceptive practices, fraud, and unfair competition.

I haven't seen position statements from Obama on consumer protection as it applies to high-tech products, but his positions on mortgage, bankruptcy and credit card disclosure are encouraging. McCain, of course, is hopeless on these issues.

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Unknown user — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:21:39 EDT

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US elections: Barack Obama recruits team to tackle web smears

Dunvegan — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:19:05 EDT

US elections: Barack Obama recruits team to tackle web smears

Ewen MacAskill in Washington
The Guardian,
Tuesday June 10 2008
Article history

Barack Obama is recruiting senior staff to a new unit which will combat virulent rumour campaigns on the internet that threaten to cost him votes in the presidential election against John McCain.

The unit is part of a huge expansion of Obama's campaign team as he shifts from the Democratic nomination race to the campaign for November's election.

As well as the rumour-mongering problem, units are being set up to deal with other perceived vulnerable points, including off-the-cuff remarks by his wife Michelle. McCain's wife, Cindy, questioned Michelle's patriotism in February after she said: "For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country."

Brooks Jackson, director of the Washington-based FactCheck.org, an independent academic organisation set up in 2003 to monitor the factual accuracy of statements made in elections, said yesterday there had been false rumours on the internet about George Bush and John Kerry in the 2004 election.

"With Obama, it is particularly vicious," Jackson said. He added that one of the most persistent is that Obama, a Christian, is "some kind of Muslim Manchurian candidate, planted by Islamic fundamentalists to betray the country and it is very widespread".

McCain too suffers from rumours on the internet, mainly from former Vietnam veterans disputing his account of his five-and-a-half years in a Hanoi prisoner-of-war camp.

Obama yesterday began a three-week campaign through potential swing states in which he will focus on concerns about job losses, collapsing house prices and soaring petrol costs. McCain, short of funds compared with Obama, held fund-raising events.

The latest Gallup poll nationwide puts Obama on 46% against McCain's 44%. CBS has Obama on 48% and McCain on 42%. Obama is ahead in the key swing states of Ohio and Pennsylvania, while McCain leads in Florida. In Virginia, normally a state Republicans can rely on and Obama is targeting, McCain is only 1% ahead.

Obama delivered his speech in Raleigh, North Carolina, which he has only an outside chance of taking, but his campaign team said he wants to send a message he is going to compete in all 50 states, not just the swing ones.

Obama paid homage to McCain as an American war hero and acknowledged that the two shared many of the same goals such as tackling climate change.

But Obama said the two had fundamentally different views of how to deal with the economy. Reflecting Obama's strategy of tying McCain to the unpopular Bush, Obama said: "For all his talk of independence, the centrepiece of his economic plan amounts to a full-throated endorsement of George Bush's policies."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/10/barackobama.johnmccain

Obama, the Halo Effect, and What's Changed

Patrick Ruffini — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:36:42 EDT

I am not a Mac user. But I'll freely admit I had one of my monitors refreshing with MacRumorsLive's coverage of the Steve Jobs WWDC keynote, with an audio feed from Moscone West running in the background. When it comes to operating systems, I am a swing voter. Heck, I even identify a little with the poor PC guy in the ads, and think the Mac guy is a smarmy little twerp. Nonetheless, I'm thinking of casting my first "vote" for a Mac in 2008. It's not that I dislike my Windows system. Every other PC I've had has been badly outrun by the combination of bloatware outrunning the memory allocation, but not this one. I have my XP tuned the way I like it, but it's a lame duck. It's the unfortunate fact of an uninspiring new standardbearer, Vista, has me seriously thinking about switching to the Cult of Steve.

But it's not only that. The sheer gravitational pull of the Mac / iPhone / iPod halo is simply too much. It's irrational. I see lots of friends switching to Macs and tapping away on iPhones. It was different back in the early '90s back when Mac was this goofy platform you couldn't extend with a clunky black and white GUI. Or even last year when those suckers stood in line to shell out $600 for a buggy, locked down phone. But for me, this July 11th will be a different story.

Doesn't this remind you a little of the current political climate?

T3WG - Tech Think Tank Working Group

Dunvegan — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:48:33 EDT

In Progress

Leia Amidon CISSP
Partner, Senior Security Technologist
Sunstorm Security Group

With Obama, for a new kind of “surge” – the surge of social creativity and collective intelligence

George P�r — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 09:08:29 EDT

“Open up government decision-making and involve the public in the work of agencies, not simply by soliciting opinions, but by tapping into the vast and distributed expertise of the American citizenry to help government make more informed decisions.” Create a Transparent and Connected Democracy -- Barack Obama

Obama’s innovation and tech agenda enables a new kind of surge – the surge of the social creativity and collective intelligence needed to solve our toughest problems, and move the US in the world from being part of the problem to being part of the solution.

As another bloger noted, “The Plan calls for citizen engagement in the work of federal agencies and demonstrates respect for the intelligence and expertise of the American people.” I would add:

“Yes, we can” because Yes, we know and care!

Dare to be honest with us.

Omar from New York, NY — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:02:40 EDT

Hillary Clinton was (is?) a formidable candidate through the Primary process. She outshone a host of Democratic hopeful, and through the very last polls in the very last she held her ground. There is no denying that it required a powerful new message to overcome the savvy of her campaign. Obama's message of change has sparked passion in many millions of Americans, and no doubt his message will carry on through the General.

But we need to also consider the retorts that both Hillary came out with in the latter half of Obama's campaign, and those the Republicans are issuing now. That being that behind Obama's message of change and hope, there is little defined substance. To a great extent, all of that could be remedied by some research online. Obama's website details his positions on a host of issues, from healthcare to foreign policy to energy.

But we need more. Obama's youth has been a selling point with many of those who support him. They've associated that youth with a fresh perspective of where this country needs to go to regain its status in the world. With that benefits of youth as a marketing point though, comes a responsibility speak out in a way that illustrates that there is truth in that faith.

And in an America quick to focus on the shallow and ignore the substantial, that should be easy. Speak out about the shortcomings of our primary and secondary education system, and promise to change that. Show that you're aware of the contrast between the American school systems, and competing systems in other countries, that would have their kids getting admission to American universities that many Americans have no hope of being enrolled into. We need a new Kennedy inspiring a leap to invent the technologies of the future. More efficient cars, or cars that do not run on Middle Eastern fuels. Research in medicine. Promote an enthusiasm for knowing the world we live in, and end our culture of isolationism whereby we're only aware of ongioings around the world when a war erupts or some natural disaster occurs....

In essence, there's a lot that needs to be said by our future leader. Things we, the people, know that we need to hear. Things we've never heard because of leaders who have been overly calculating in their comments out of fear that such truths would offend us or scare us. It's an unfounded fear though. For his many flaws, McCain managed to rise amoungst a crowd of pandering contenders, despite his differences with the Republican party core, PRECISELY because he had Americans fall in love with his ability to stand by his beliefs and convictions, even when they ran counter to the traditional party line.

Why support Obama 08?

Anil from Lafayette, CA — Sat, 24 May 2008 16:53:51 EDT

1. He is an excellent organizer and astute politician. He will build a team of the best in every field.

2. He will refocus our energy to fight terrorism by making it the fight of the whole world and not just USA.

3. He will negotiate tough with enemies than threaten them outright. He will be seen trust worthy by the world. His policies will bring peace in the world and thus prosperity to USA. Remember, President Ragan won the biggest of all wars without going into the battle field. Don't assume it will not work in the present situation.

4. He will listen than rebuke you (unlike the current attitude is either you are with me or not).

5. He will motivate us to solve energy problems through green technology-innovations and conservation in interim.

The most of all I can trust that he will honor my expectations. Like me, many have similar expectations of him and I can trust him that he will do his best. My gut tells me he is into politics for "public service" and not as a "carrier".

RE: Education: Innovative, Multi-media, Hands-on

Ms_CongenialityHI — Sat, 17 May 2008 15:49:31 EDT

Aloha! This is not an endorsement of our candidate by the Vogel family or their sponsors, but I wanted to share this with everyone I can, as an example of what ordinary people can do to make learning relevant and exciting--and how our social networking can be an instrument in the process!

My family has been the owner/operators of an internet center for the past five years. Through the course of business, I have been in contact with a diverse social network throughout the world. One of these persons is Nancy Vogel, a school teacher whose family has embarked on some amazing adventures on bicycles. This year, they are leveraging the latest in technology and have received non-profit funding to provide school teachers, home-schoolers and families with geography lessons, and more, all along their route--from the northern most tip of Alaska to the southern most tip of Argentina! I hope you will distribute to colleagues, pass on to classroom teachers and share with your families: http://familyonbikes.org/

As I've said in previous posts here, Education has always been my issue, so I hope this helps the cause!

Oil, Science, The Military Industrial Technological Complex, and Health Care

Marc — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:39:08 EDT

Oil has now reached $125 a barrel, gasoline costs about $4 a gallon, and there is no reason to believe it will drop in price. There is every reason to believe it will continue to rise if the geopolitical status quo continues, and there is no reason to believe that the Mideast will stabilize or China’s demand for oil will decrease.

What is particularly worrisome is the fact that it has been well known among a vast number of people that this day would come, probably suddenly, since at least the mid-seventies, when an economic dislocation caused by a sudden and continuing spike in oil prices would make our world of highways, big cars, a culture based upon one car one person, from malls to suburbs and exurbs, an untenable and disastrous way of life. Now here it is, and we have people talking about the merits of a gas tax holiday. Pathetic. Why do you think this happened? It's not as if this crisis has been an unknown unknown or an unknown, it has been well-known. We have been talking about this insanity for years. It's an environmental and economic calamity. All the think tanks, scientists, astute pols, public policy specialists, environmentalists, universities, and educated class of this country have been abject failures. We all share the blame, but the power nodes bear the majority of the responsibility of this failure.

SAIC [Science Applications International Corporation] is a case study and pure example of how the scientific community and its close ties to the DoD that enable it to tout their Fortune 500 status, are part and parcel of this ignorant failure. As a corporate entity they are more interested in their profit than anything else other than the next quarter's earnings: next year and next decade be damned. Someone else can fix it. Well, now it's too late. In perhaps two years gas will be $6-$7/gallon, and people will be going nuts. Within 5 years a family with 1 car will be the norm, with the wealthy class exception, of course. SAIC, 49,000 employees wasting good minds and technology doing hollow and ultimately destructive work; SAIC, 9 billion in revenue last year, chasing their tale, making obscene amounts of money for doing what? Pounding money down a bottomless hole whose results are applied to useless and/or militaristic ends. We all should know what SAIC is, and what SAIC does and for whom. They are just one of the many pieces of the malformed corporate infrastructure that is making us poorer and weaker as a nation. They do hardly anything of value to anyone except the military and police state [FBI, Homeland Security, NSA, DIA, CIA, Cyber Defense, etc]. Every once in awhile they take on a project that has value to people just to demonstrate they "care.” Their cutesy motto is “From Science To Solutions”; but who are the solutions for? Benefiting war preparation profiteers like SAIC do nothing that has lasting benefit to the commonwealth. The public return on investment for corporations like SAIC’s and their fellow military-industrial base is zero. There is no 'down stream effect' where new technologies that will help deal with the current crises arise. It's all dead technology and effort. Take a close look at who they have gotten big contracts from over the past few years. Not only the US military, but numerous military contracts from other countries, as well. This is all wasted money and a deformed use of science. 9/11 was the best thing that has ever happened for the scientific community since WW2, except in WW2 something was actually accomplished. Going after stateless, scattered, amorphous, and rapidly morphing hydra-headed entities using billions and billions of dollars and thousand of American lives has nothing to do with American security. It's all about borrowing money from China, and PetroStates and redistributing the money to the mammoth military-industrial machine and all its components, whether it is "securing our borders" or looking for enemies created by our paranoia. SAIC and outfits like it are part of the problem, not in any way part of a solution.

On medical technology and medicare/medicaid. The life expectancy in the U.S. is the lowest in the western world. I was sent for a cat scan for a headache that went away two days after the scan. Cost, $900. Over half the tests docs send me to I don't go to. They are a waste of my time and eventually our money. With the exception of two or three screening exams, who does all the advanced medical technology help when used for diagnostic screening, an approach to health care called "defensive medicine"? Not the overwhelming number of patients. If we spent 1% of the money we spend on useless and redundant tests on prevention, i.e., nutrition, obesity, exercise, smoking cessation, it's estimated that our health costs as a percent of GDP would drop by 7 percent. We now spend about 2.5 trillion dollars on health care or about 17% of our GDP. We spend 600% more on health care administrative costs than any other industrialized nation. In 2006 an NIH study concluded that 43% of all tests ordered by doctors were unnecessary and, as a result of false positives or inconclusive results, additional tests were ordered. A recent study by Harvard University researchers found that the average out-of-pocket medical debt for those who filed for bankruptcy was $12,000. The study noted that 68 percent of those who filed for bankruptcy had health insurance. In addition, the study found that 50 percent of all bankruptcy filings were partly the result of medical expenses. Every 30 seconds in the United States someone files for bankruptcy in the aftermath of a serious health problem.

The World Health Organization ranks the United States at 43rd of all countries in life expectancy, below Bosnia and above Cyprus.

It's also well documented that for terminally ill patients, 85-90% of life long health care cost is spent during the last 4 weeks preceding death. What is that about? Tests, tests, and more tests, ventilators, CCU's, ICU's, and technological gizmos that have no effect on outcomes, not even to improve the quality of life at its end. I am sure many of us have witnessed this kind of macabre end of life medical maelstrom take place and for what end? Many times this flurry of activity results in a far more painful end of life experience. In fact, in many cases it simply prolongs the dying persons agony, while the patient is victimized, and the family numbly and willingly observes the end of a life.

It will fall to the next generation to face the incredible brunt and onslaught of these rapidly destabilizing events. I am 61 years old and recognize a rare opportunity to re-direct the self-destructive policies we have wallowed in the past 35 years. Our deeds define our lives. I urge people to do something constructive that will ensure that the great American experiment does not fail to achieve its infinite promise.

Barack Obama is right, we don't have the luxury of waiting any longer; the time is now. We blow this and history will look at the period from 1950-2000 as ‘America's Golden Age’ with wistful nostalgia as a time when we had it so good, and let it slip away, never to be reclaimed.

Stance on Space Technologies, NASA missions?

Ray — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:12:21 EDT

I realize this isn't the mainstream of issues but it's something I'm very interested in. We need to encourage commercializing of space and give incentives to space company startups like there was for the aviation industry in it's early stages of development. That would free NASA up to take on larger goals and technology development.

- Does Barack plan on supporting the current plan on sending astronauts back to the Moon and eventually onto Mars?

It's important to keep continuing our understanding of space thru exploration and development of space technologies.

UPS Chief urges transport investment

Kevin — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:03:16 EDT

UPS CEO Scott Davis told London's "Financial Times that the US must reinvest in its ageing, overused transportation networks or risk losing ground to the world's other leading economies. "We've got to work very closely with the government to look ahead and take a candid look at where we are," said Mr Davis. He went on to say that repairing and upgrading ageing roads and bridges, antiquated air-traffic control systems and overcrowded ports and railways would help ensure the US remains a viable trading partner. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b9ce05a6-fa0c-11dc-9b7c-000077b07658.html

Mr. Davis, Barack Obama is your man. Obama is has proposed the creation of "technology czar," or Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The CTO would oversee, among other things, a new national broadband policy that will redefine "broadband" and open up wireless to fresh competition using a combination of subsidies, simple policy reform, and public/private partnerships. The goal is for broadband access to be a widely accessible utility like phone or electricity. http://obama.3cdn.net/780e0e91ccb6cdbf6e_6udymvin7.pdf

I doubt that there is hardly any corporate entitity that understands the importance of technology more than UPS. Every employee at UPS has seen their job change or evolve over the years because of technology. When Mr. Davis speaks of upgrading roads and bridges, ports and railways, and air traffic he is not just talking about laying new asphault or new rail tracks. Technology is the critical first step in infrastructure improvement. America is in desperate need of a National approach to this problem. Without some sort of guidance at the National level America will find it harder and harder to compete in the global economy.

3D Barack Obama created in Google Sketchup6

Homeboy — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:49:38 EDT

Please take a second to (DIGG THIS ARTICLE)

I spent a good chunk of this weekend testing out one of those programs that google created that you probably don't realize exists. I wanted to design something in 3d, so what better of a choice than the man himself.. Barack Obama! It's not extremely detailed, but was a fun little project.

It’s a little under 400 polygons. The next step is a full body version which I’ll create when I get some time. Sketchup’s texturing abilities are great for flatter objects, but I’ve still got a bit to learn about how to apply it to organically shaped objects without seams. Each polygon’s texture on this model was painstakingly aligned by hand. In newer versions, I hope to make it seamless with several larger textures instead.

If you want to view the 3d Model of Barack Obama you'll probably need to download google sketchup6.

If you are at all interested in Information Technology* (IT)...

Lisa Caid — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 01:48:55 EDT

...then, I must insist that you watch all 3 parts of this video taped November 14, 2007 appearance and interview of Barack Obama in front of Google employees in Mountain View, CA, relevant to today in this moment.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1335549280?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=500&width=790

You will need about an hour, but it will inform you critically, not only on questions of IT, but especially on questions of what Barack Obama will do for America as our President. Critically, I must insist.

And please feel compelled to share the videos with those you know who think that they haven't heard Obama say enough about what he would actually do to improve our country, that a vote for Obama is just the same old choice between the lesser of two evils.

This is simply NOT the case. People should know. People should be made aware. It is a critical moment in history.

(*The videos were part of a larger Technology page at: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/#open-internet)

Yes we have ! (Notable achievements of Afro -Americans)

Malcolm from Clearwater, FL — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 08:51:25 EDT

A Black Man

Why is it that a Black Man can create a tiny piece called a filament (electric light - Lewis Latimer)
That allows people to see in the dark? But can't be seen fit to lead a country to the true light.

Why is it that a Black Man can create an instrument (clock - Benjamin Banneker) that all People use to tell time?
But people don't think it is time for him to run a country.

Why is it that a Black Man can design a place for the high authorities to meet in & a place for the President to live in (The Capital & the
White House Phillip Reid (a slave) & Pierre L'Enfant)? But not good enough to lead these meetings or live in himself.

Why is it that a Black Man was brilliant enough to do the first open heart surgery (Dr. Daniel Hale Williams)
And show the world how to get and preserve plasma (Dr. Charles Drew)?
But not good enough to put a program in place where everyone can afford this surgery.

Why is it that a Black Man was creative enough to design an instrument (traffic light - Garrett Morgan)
To bring multiple people (traffic) to a halt?
But not seen creative enough to design a plan to bring all this unnecessary and worthless Fighting between countries to an end.

Why is it that a Black Man could create the soles (shoes - Jan Matzeliger)that people Walk on everyday?
But not seen good enough to fill the shoes of a bad president.

Why is it that a Black Man was smart enough & brave enough to teach himself ( Fredrick Douglas & Thomas Fuller - both slaves) and others how to read, write and/or calculate math?
But not seen (as) smart enough and bold enough to calculate a platform to be President to a countryThat sure needs another first by us.

So you see my Brothers and Sisters what I am saying is let us not forget our past,

Which led us to our present and can definitely be the backbone to our future.

We were good enough, smart enough, creative enough, and bold enough then, so Lets all give Obama the chance to show w that we are still these things and
more.

We all are as strong as our weakest link, so don't be that weak link that denies

Our people that chance to show we still can OVERCOME & BE THE FIRST

Yes we have! And "Yes we can" do so again!

FOLLOW THE LEADER

LA — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:38:55 EDT

Is it me but has anyone noticed that the HRC camp is following Senator Obama's lead in changing the setup of their website and trying to duplicate the great technology tools here. This is not a bad thing of course because they are following the lead of a brilliant leader. Compare the site to what it was in the beginning of the campaign. Go Obama - The nation is following and watching you already. I heard on the news this morning that Senator John McCain is also trying to catch up to the new, fresh, CHANGE that Obama brings to the table. I mean heck CNN did a whole segment on us. Love it! It's a great day in America when the old politicians and the old way of doing things must recognize and respect the plan of great LEADER. As Barack said yesterday - God Bless America and God Bless all of you. How long do you think it will take them to copy the OMS message. AWESOME!!!!