Mumbai

I haven't said anything about the events in Mumbai over the last three days of last week. Its because I don't understand. I can't get a handle on what happened - the flow of events.
1. Only 10 gunmen? How is it only 10 gunment were able to hold off the Indian commandos for three days?
2. The gunmen asked for passports of Americans and Brits, but it was mostly Indians who were killed. Why is that?
3. If the gunmen took hostages, why did they have no demands? That doesn't make sense to me.
4. Who's responsible for this and what were they trying to say?

I guess more information will come out eventually, but it seems so weird and frightening.

Higgs boson

I watched Independent Lens this evening about the scientists at FermiLab called "The Atom Smashers"

I think we should be spending a lot of money on scientific research. That's where innovation and new technologies will be discovered, which will always be good for the economy.

The Bush years have been like the Dark Ages of scieence - politicized and religisized.

The Higgs boson is the particle that holds quarks together - as I understand it. Its the glue the allows the universe to have mass. Without the Higgs boson, when particles collide they would fly apart. Something holds particular quarks together to give a mass permanence.

Personally, I think the thing that holds mass together in the particular way it appears to us now is because we, as spirtual beings of the universe, have chosen it this way. It is our world, and we created it.

My theory is that love is the energy that holds the universe together. Not love like in romantic love - but love as in creativity and joy and identity and collectivism.

I wonder if it would help if the people who study love on a personal level got together with the people who study particle physics? Would they be able to tell each other things that could be helpful. I believe that everything small is a reflection of everything big. So, maybe that would be the case here.

They had a saying in the show by Confuscious:
The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat.

Perfect quote for scientific inquiry like this.

The FermiLab has a supercollider called the Tevatron. In September the CERN Laboratory in Europe put their supercollider online; its the largest in the world. Its called the LHC - Large Hadron Collider. Unfortunately they found a fault with the magnets, and will be offline until July 2009.

Happy Thanksgiving

This year I'm thankful for:

my family - a small bunch we are, but I'm grateful we've maintained connections even though we're very different.

my friends - another small bunch. For those I'm still in touch with, I'm grateful for the good conversation and knowledge that if I need you, you'll be there for me. For those I'm no longer in touch with, but still think of as friends, I'm thankful my memeories are either good ones, or, with the passage of time, I'm grateful that any unpleasant memories have faded or I've gained a better perspective.

my health - since I like to live in the world of health and aging denial, I'm not only grateful, but also lucky, to be healthy and able to earn a living.

my home - in any kind of weather, I have a place of my own where I can get out of the elements. I also have indoor running water and a soft bed to lay my head at night.

Thank you one and all.

The Shield Finale

I only watched a couple seasons of The Shield and tonight's finale.

What a great finale! Perfection. Intense. Great episode.

CCH Pounder as Claudette is the heart of the show - she (and others like her) are the real Shield. She stayed strong and principled and steadfast. She didn't give up and she knew when to play her cards. I'm sorry the character will lose her struggle with cancer.

Why is she The Shield? - she protects all of us regular folks from people like Vic. Not just in the police force, but in life. We're all a Shield for the ourselves and we have to have integrity and honesty and courage to keep living in the world we want to live in.

Dutch was a good cop as well. I liked him. But, he sure seemed to get himself into scrapes a lot.

It was sad to see the end of Shane. He never could beat Vic. Sad. The scene when he took his wife to the bathroom - kind of amazing.

One of the central questions of the show has been whether Vic Mackey was a good guy forced to do bad things, or a bad guy who uses the law to hide his bad deeds.

The final moments tell me he was always a bad guy fooling himself into thinking he's a good guy. My recollection is that the ICE lady told him if he took his gun out of the building, he would be violating his immunity agreement and could be prosecuted. I think he decided he was willing to take the chance because he trusts his abilities on the streets, but he doesn't trust being able to get along in the office. He couldn't resist the allure of the streets and was willing to lose all his immunity so he could continue wheeling and dealing.
I wonder if it kind of means that his personality trait of needing to be in on the chase and the deception, etc is neither negative nor positive, but that he ends up using his personality trait for selfish motives so that makes him a bad guy.

Its not ACTIONS that define whether a person is good or bad, but their motives.
Maybe?
And yet, there are certainly ACTIONS that are bad irrespective of motives. Genocide? Murder?

I guess that's part of our struggle as humans. There may be times when doing a bad thing is done for the right reason, but we need to find new ways to achieve our positive goals. Otherwise, we're just as bad as the people who have negative goals.

Anyway - the show was great.

I didn't wastch The Shield for the first couple seasons because it must have been on at a time when something else was on. I started watching when Glenn Close came on. I feel like it might have been earlier, but I don't remember any storylines - they were too complicated and I didn't always know what the details of things were. It was after Aceveda was out as Captain - he was struggling with the rape after effects. And there was Antwone, and then the guy who was trying to get Vic Mackey - man that played out well too. And all the confidential informants and the Russians coming to town. Vic shooting Lem. Yeah - good stories. And it all started when Vic shot the fellow cop and the Team helped him cover it up.

In any event, it was thrilling and intense. When Shane shot Lem - crazy stuff. And then the next little bit of episodes that split Shane and Vic - seriously dramatic.

I didn't watch this season because 1) the previous batch of episodes got kind of twisty and turny and I was't entirely sure what Vic was up to, and 2) with the election and all other drama in real life, I couldn't handle more drama on television.

But, I'm glad I watched the finale. It was perfect for me.

Again, I really think Claudette was the heart of the show. She is the real Shield. That scene when she read Shane's note for Vic and then showed Ronnie that Vic had only gotten immunity for himself. Wow - that was seriously intense. I loved it!

Okay - enough gushing. Again, this was perfect for me because I understood everything that happened and I knew and remembered enough from the previous shows that it was still emotional.

Matt Roush of TV Guide talks about the show...
http://www.tvguide.com/Roush/Roush-Shield-Finale-1000246.aspx

and Maureen Ryan talks about it at the Chicago Tribune:
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2008/11/shield-finale.html#more

Comments after reading the reviews...

I wasn't one of the people who wanted Vic to win or was charmed by him. I just thought I was on a ride and I was watching it all happen - what could possibly happen next? It was a great story.

I missed the next to last episode, but I think I'd like to watch Vic start listing off all his crimes. I might have missed an important scene when I missed that.

I guess it doesn't matter whether Vic left the cubicle job, or stayed with the cubicle job. He lost everything. It really was a good way to end things. He's screwed no matter what. But, his personality is such that I don't think he could buckle down for three years. He could have made the right choice any number of times during the 7 seasons and he never did. He doesn't believe in the boring, easy way. That's why I think - whether it matters or not - he didn't stay in the cubicle.

Today's question

Protesting is American. And I think its okay to be irreverent about the focus of the protest; to offend people. But, where does hate-filled protest cross the line? I'll have to look into that.

"Face The Nation" and "Meet the Press"

Meet the Press Transcript: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27873500/

Face the Nation video: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4628191n

"Face The Nation" this morning:

I heard Austan Goolsbee, a member of Obama's Economic team talk about the auto makers. He said, it's reasonable that if companies want to avoid bankruptcy and they're having problems they restructure their company. And, part of that restructure often includes a bridge loan. However, and most importantly, the loan is contingent on a business plan. If the government is going to provide a bridge loan to the automakers because the current credit markets are too frozen to provide it, then its even more important to the taxpayers that we have a reasonable plan from the automakers.

The auto maker CEO's displayed their incompetency this week when they not only flew to Washington DC on private jets, but incomprehensibly did not have a plan in place. That's strange and ridiculous. So, I'm glad a plan is being required.

*****

Nancy Pelosi discusses the auto maker bailout. A person commented on the Face the Nation website. I don't like registering for the websites so I'm not going to comment, but this is the person's comment and what I would have said: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/23/ftn/main4628137.shtml

Comment: "Bob, another puff piece interview this time with Pelosi. After you two roundly criticized the Big 3''s management, you didn''t ask the next question. What about labor and the UAW? Was this a mistake, or were you told to dtay away from that topic? The biggest expense for any organization is labor. With union members making an unrealistic $100,000 or more per year, there has to be a reduction. Nor did you mention the job bank workers who get paid for doing nothing. If a plan emerges from the next administration that doesn''t touch excessive labor costs, we will know that Obama is tied to big labor. That won''t fly with a lot of people. You should have challenged Pelosi on that. Since you didn''t, your interview might as well have never happened."

My response: "I disagree...Nancy Pelosi has no obligation to make any comment about the unions. Its the auto makers who signed the union agreements and agreed with the current labor costs. The CEO's will be developing some kind of business plan to discuss their restructuring. Its incumbent upon them to work with the unions to create a workable solution for the company and the workers. I hope the unions will consider the companies a partner in regional economic survival. But, that's between them. The suggestion that the government - congress, even - should interfere with labor relations is the kind of government interference in the free market that will only compound the problems we currently face."

*****

Nancy Pelosi also discussed the 700 billion dollar bailout.

BOB SCHIEFFER: Let me talk to you just about the economy in general. So far, the Treasury, I guess, has used 250 billion of the 700 billion dollar financial bailout that passed the Congress. Yet the stock market seems to be in free fall, nobody seems to know what's going on. Do you have confidence in this plan that Secretary Paulsen has put forward. And do you have confidence in him generally?

NANCY PELOSI: Well, earlier this week, on Monday, the House Democrats called in Secretary Paulsen and Chairman Bernanke. We're all busy people, and I said to them 'I know you're busy and you're under pressure. So are we. We want to know what's going on with this rescue plan. It was supposed to instill confidence, we don't see that in the markets.' They maintain matters would be much worse if we had not made that infusion of cash. We thought that this money was going to circulate credit, put credit out there, so many more people could function in a business sense. And that doesn't seem to be happening. They tell us it will. We were very concerned about the fact that the legislation called very specifically for them to help with mortgage forebearance to help people stay in their homes. They've done nothing on that score. They've testified to that effect the next day in front of all of Congress. And I think they got the word that we want to see some results from this legislation. But, again, as they say, it would be worse without this. Now we have another installment of the money, and I think that Congress is going to demand some real accountability - I know they will - before we can proceed with other money.

*****

I no longer trust Henry Paulsen. Well, I only barely did before, but I was willing to give him a chance. And then, on "Meet the Press" I hear this exchange:

MR. BROKAW: Well, let, let me take this to the next phase, if I can. I want to share with you what Secretary Paulson had to say recently, November 13th, about the stabilization of the American banking system. Here's what he had to say.

(Videotape)

SEC'Y HENRY PAULSON: I believe the banking system has been stabilized. No one is asking themselves anymore is there some major institution that might fail and that we would not be able to do anything about it. So I think that is a positive.

Unidentified Man: There could be a failure of another major institution?

SEC'Y PAULSON: I, I got to tell you, I think our, our major institutions have been stabilized. I believe that very strongly.

(End videotape)

MR. BROKAW: And shortly after that statement, as we all know, Citibank, one of the largest financial institutions in the world, had its stock drop by 64 percent in a matter of days, hours. It was in free fall. It's now looking for additional government assistance.

*****

And then, there's this article from the New York Times yesterday:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/business/23citi.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

The headline is The Reckoning: Citigroup pays for the rush to risk.

Which leads to another sidenote. The article states:
"The bank’s downfall was years in the making and involved many in its hierarchy, particularly Mr. Prince and Robert E. Rubin, an influential director and senior adviser.

Citigroup insiders and analysts say that Mr. Prince and Mr. Rubin played pivotal roles in the bank’s current woes, by drafting and blessing a strategy that involved taking greater trading risks to expand its business and reap higher profits. Mr. Prince and Mr. Rubin both declined to comment for this article."

Who is Robert E Rubin? From the article:
"When he was Treasury secretary during the Clinton administration, Mr. Rubin helped loosen Depression-era banking regulations that made the creation of Citigroup possible by allowing banks to expand far beyond their traditional role as lenders and permitting them to profit from a variety of financial activities. During the same period he helped beat back tighter oversight of exotic financial products, a development he had previously said he was helpless to prevent.

And since joining Citigroup in 1999 as a trusted adviser to the bank’s senior executives, Mr. Rubin, who is an economic adviser on the transition team of President-elect Barack Obama, has sat atop a bank that has been roiled by one financial miscue after another."

And that's all for the sidenote.

*****

On "Meet the Press" James Baker suggests that it would help confidence if Obama and Bush could find even one thing that they agree on to help the economy for the immediate days and weeks ahead. I agree. Somebody's got to be in charge. Bush is President, but doing nothing. And Obama is President-elect and can't do anything. Unfortunately, they have differing views on solving the problem, but there must be ONE thing they could agree on.

"MR BAKER: May I say one other thing, Tom? I, I think that a lot of what we're seeing out there today is a lack of confidence, and the president-elect and, as a matter of fact, the current president have to face this problem over the next 60 days. It's unfortunate that we're in this interregnum of a transition, but I think that something very useful might even come out of the two of them sitting down together and addressing not the, not the midterm, not the mid and long-term problem that we face that was the subject of the president-elect's speech, but the--but facing--but addressing stability of our financial system and to see if there isn't something that they could do jointly, together, over the next 58 to 60 days that would help us make sure that the--that the financial system is stabilized and, and secure. Because if that goes under, then this thing is even, believe it or not, going to get worse. And I think just the mere fact of their sitting down together and seeing if there's not one thing that they could come together on would do a lot to restore confidence and, and remove the anxiety and fear that's out there."

"MR. BAKER: I agree. I agree 100 percent. We can only have one president at a time, but nothing would do more to create confidence and, and eliminate the fear and anxiety that's out there, particularly in the finance--in financial markets, than to see the incoming president and the outgoing president get together on a--on some sort of a proposal or, or program over the short term. I'm not talking about the, the mid, the mid-term or, or long-term correction of the economy, but something that would do a little more perhaps to make sure that our, that our banks don't continue to slide down and, and that would stabilize our financial system, which is critical."

*****

Tom Brokaw spoke to Joe Lieberman. I don't like Joe Lieberman anymore. I won't support him. Its not because he supported his friend John McCain. Its because he supported the campaign of his friend John McCain. He liked Sarah Palin, he said Obama wasn't experienced enough. He's lucky I wasn't deciding his fate because I would have kicked him out of the Democratic caucus. I would shun him. Another reason I'm not in charge of anything. I'm not temperate enough.

*****

In the roundtable discussion of Meet the Press, the group seems to think Baker's idea to get Bush and Obama to present something jointly is a good idea. Also, they think the unions should be part of the testimony on capital hill. I don't - let the company and union work it out themselves.

Same Place, Different Time

This picture was taken on June 20, 2005 at the Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon.

This picture was taken in October 2008 at the Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon.

Meme

I've heard this word more often lately and not understood what it meant - and didn't bother to look it up.

In today's paper there's a review of Malcolm Gladwell's new book 'Outliers' in which its described: "Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins coined the word 'meme' to indicate a small, persisting unit of culture, in effect our social DNA."

Ahh...that's what meme is.

I think this concept deserves some thought. How many of our decisions are based on memes - memes that are no longer applicable, but stubbornly hang on. Interesting.

*****

And the dictionary definition:

meme 
/mim/
–noun
a cultural item that is transmitted by repetition in a manner analogous to the biological transmission of genes.

Origin: 1976; < Gk mīmeîsthai to imitate, copy; coined by R. Dawkins, Brit. biologist Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. ***** meme philosophy/meem/ [By analogy with "gene"] Richard Dawkins's term for an idea considered as a replicator, especially with the connotation that memes parasitise people into propagating them much as viruses do.Memes can be considered the unit of cultural evolution. Ideas can evolve in a way analogous to biological evolution. Some ideas survive better than others; ideas can mutate through, for example, misunderstandings; and two ideas can recombine to produce a new idea involving elements of each parent idea.The term is used especially in the phrase "meme complex" denoting a group of mutually supporting memes that form an organised belief system, such as a religion. However, "meme" is often misused to mean "meme complex".Use of the term connotes acceptance of the idea that in humans (and presumably other tool- and language-using sophonts) cultural evolution by selection of adaptive ideas has become more important than biological evolution by selection of hereditary traits. Hackers find this idea congenial for tolerably obvious reasons.See also memetic algorithm.[The Jargon File](1996-08-11)

Obama's 11/22/2008 message

http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/2_5_million_jobs/

We really are a nation afloat. Bush has stopped governing (if he ever was) and Obama won't take over before he's supposed to. I like Obama's plan to rebuild our infrastructure to make sure people have jobs. But, we need it now!

From his message:

"But what is not negotiable is the need for immediate action."
"These Americans need help and they need it now."
"It is time to act. As the next President of the United States, I will."

So, he knows we need something now. From the tone of his words it sounds like he knows the current President isn't planning on doing anything. Yet, he won't do anything either. Grrr!

Now, let me be clear - he's completely right that there's only one President at a time. There's nothing he can do. But, given the current state of our economy, I would like something bold and decisive and exciting to happen. Like, just take over!!! Bush should acknowledge his heart's not in it anymore (and really, he's rich so none of this affects him anyway) and make it official that we can swear in Obama now instead of later.

That's why I'm not in charge of anything. I get too upset and scream out "SOMEBODY JUST DO SOMETHING!!".

When that happens in my small world I might jump in to do something because I see nobody else is doing anything and then I get screwed because I have no authority and no support. So, its not a good idea. But, its REALLY frustrating!!!! Two months is a long time in this economy.

Throw Out 50 Things

I'm completely inspired to find 50 things in this small apartment I can throw out.

http://www.amazon.com/Throw-Out-Fifty-Things-Clutter/dp/044650579X

I'm sorry to the author and publisher, but the title alone tells me all I need to know. This is my project through Thanksgiving weekend!

Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State

Is this the beginning of a pattern with Hillary Clinton? Or, the Barack Obama administration? Why are we having to wait so long for Hillary Clinton to finally say she accepts the role of Secretary of State? She's drawing this out much longer than is necessary. She did the same thing in the primaries. And before she gave her Saturday concession speech. Everything's a big hush hush secret (except that everyone knows) until the last minute. Is this so she can stay in the spotlight? WTF is going on? Accept the position already.

Whether she's the right candidate for the job, I don't know.
She's very smart. I like her. All is well.
But, what about Joe Biden? Wasn't he supposed to have some role in foreign policy? I hope he made sure of it.
And, she did cave in to political pressure to vote for George Bush's war powers act that got us into the Iraq War.
And, she didn't run her campaign very well.

I continue to trust that Obama knows what he's doing.

Photo

I can't explain why, but I enjoy looking at this picture. Upon closer inspection, I think it demonstrates my lack of expertise related to the aperture; the horizontal slats are slightly out of focus. I guess that's kind of okay, because the knot is in focus and that's the dominant point in the picture.

I'm learning how to use a Nikon D60.

I took the picture at the Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon in October this year.

I like this card

Here is a card I made a couple weeks ago. I have demonstrated some progress in card making, but not photography. the lighting is bad. Lighting is my Achilles Heel. Its imperative that I learn how to make light work for me.

The View - Rosie O'Donnell, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and Barbara Walters

I'm giving in to my need to share my opinion. Even if the topic is completely manufactured and ridiculous. This is my opinion and not based on anything other than watching the show. Its my perception only. I could be completely wrong.

First, in a work situation you learn to get along with people you don't like. So, to the degree that they are work mates, I believe that, at the least, the hosts learn to appreciate parts of their coworkers personalities, even if they wouldn't spend time with them outside of work.

Barbara Walters is about making money. She'd like to believe she's still a newsperson, but I don't think she is. She's the executive producer of the show. She's the one who determines the tone and direction of the show. When they started discussing all the ABC reality shows (The Bachelor) so incessantly, I realized she's all about making money.

She often makes a point to toot her own horn. Its fine once in a while because she's had an interesting life. But, its clear Barbara doesn't like the parade passing her by. She creates opportunities to talk about her pioneering status at ABC News, or her entertainment specials, or who she's interviewed. I remember when Meredith took the job at The Today Show, and before Barbara could say congratulations, (on the show at least). she made a point to remind everyone she was the first woman on that show or something like that.

I don't think she likes Elisabeth Hasselbeck any more than anyone else, but she wants to make money.

Rosie O'Donnell is a tough cookie and she's ready to play the game, but she also wears her heart on her sleeve. She believes what she's told and feels betrayed when people don't live up to her expectations. That's why she's still frustrated and angry about her experience on the View. She believed Elisabeth was her friend. She believed Barbara understood her. Neither of them was as genuine and Rosie would have hoped, and expected. I understand Rosie's frustration - the more she tries to tell the truth, the more the 'machine' works against her.

I don't think I could be friends with Elisabeth Hasselbeck. I could be friendly and civil towards her, but not her friend. I think Rosie is the same. Apparently they've exchanged e-mails, so maybe they are more than just friendly to each other. I'm sure if you compartmentalize who Elisabeth Hasselbeck is, she's probably a nice person. I happen to think people's political views are a reflection of their entire personhood. I don't like the politics she stands for; not that she's a Republican, but that she's an ideologue.

Anyway - the whole 'affair' is stupid and if the news hadn't shown a story about it, I wouldn't even have thought about it.

Why is it coming up now? Because Rosie has a new variety show coming up. The question is - did promoting the variety show put Rosie in the position of being interviewed more often and the interviewers asked her about The View? Or, is she talking about The View so she'll get interviewed more and her variety show will be promoted? Which came first - the chicken or the egg?

Well, my take on this is that Rosie is being interviewed more and the media are asking her about The View and she's answering honestly.

I think Joy Behar is the type who knows who signs the paychecks and stays out of this. I'd be interested to know what she thinks. I think Joy and Barbara understand each other and are good friends. (Barbara is on the liberal side, I think). Joy is loyal to her own interests - the 'feud' doesn't involve her so she won't get involved. Which would frustrate me but its perfectly reasonable and acceptable. I think Rosie's emotional openness makes Joy uncomfortable so they probably aren't great friends outside the office, but they had a good working relationship. Joy makes it clear she won't get involved.

Okay - that's what I think. It means nothing.

Big 3 loan again

This morning I feel like we should let the Big 3 auto manufacturers (GM, Ford, Chrysler) fail.
Why?

1. Those CEO's are unbelievable and have no idea what they're doing. I don't trust them at all.
2. According to some, the alternative to bailing them out is a depression like we've never seen before. Somebody is trying to scare me into agreeing with them. I don't think its good to make decisions from fear.
3. Where does it end? What industries will be determined to be so important to the American economy that we need to save them? What is the criteria? Nobody knows.
4. The problem with the auto industry is that it hasn't stayed competitive. A bailout won't change that.
5. I have said I'd support a loan to the automakers with S T R O N G strings attached. But, I don't trust the government to make a good negotiation that will stick.

The other side of the coin, for me, is all those workers who might lose their jobs. That's a stiff price to pay. I don't feel comfortable making a decision that doesn't directly affect me (though indirectly it could), but could cause other people to suffer. Especially through no fault of their own.

Which makes me wonder what the workers think.
And then I remember that part of the problem is that the government has been supporting the automotive and big oil companies for years with their lackadaisical fuel efficiency policies and that was done with the support of congress. The same workers who might now be affected are probably the same people who voted for congresspeople who supported the bad policies of the big oil and big 3 automakers.

So, maybe the people in that area have helped to create the situation they're in by their selection of congress people? I'd have to research the policies of congresspeople in that area.

That's an example of the how important our votes can be and how easily we can be manipulated to vote against our own interest.

As of this moment, Harry Reid has decided not to vote in the Senate today about auto manufacturers loan. Those private jets really did them in! What a bunch of idiots!

I still think the issues that have been brought out in this discussion and the previous one about the financial markets are important. We need to come to terms with this.

And what about all the other industries that are supported by the government, but we don't even talk about? Farmers still get subsidies and price supports don't they? We add tariffs (?) to countries that want to import commodities that we consider special. Right?
So, all this talk about socialism and stuff like that is a little disingenous.

Auto manufacturer's loan

Some additional pros and cons about an automaker loan (not all my thoughts - I watched C-SPAN this morning):

1. Auto manufacturing is the last manufacturing base in America.
2. If we attach strings to the loan we have leverage to make the automakers move quickly on alternative energy cars.
3. In the 80's Chrysler received a loan from the federal government. They paid it back more quickly than required, and the government got about 800 million extra dollars.
4. There is a 50 billion dollar infrastructure bill that the Congress is/will be looking at.
5. The automakers want a 25 billion dollar LOAN. Where would the money come from? Additional money from the government?, as part of the 700 billion already allocated to Treasury?, or can it be taken from an energy bill that is giving automakers money to retool for green type cars?
6. Automakers support communities and families. If they go under, the whole region is at risk. Not to mention the people who depend on the pension money.
7. Chrysler was bailed out by the Federal Government and still made a mess, so Mercedes Benz partnered (?) with them and even they gave up. So, now they want more money.
8. All the CEO's of the automakers flew to Washington to testify today and to ask for money. They flew here in private jets.
9. All these companies have been sending jobs out of the country all these years.
10. The management of these companies must be bad, otherwise they wouldn't keep getting in trouble.
11. It was the car manufacturers who scrapped the electric car - "Who killed the electric car?". So, they haven't built the kind of cars for the futre.
12. Apprently, their cars are not well made. I like my Ford car and haven't had any troubles, so I'm not sure what this is about. But, the American cars do have a reputation.
13. By 'bailing' out the automakers we're fighting the trend of competitive forces.
14. Its unconstitutional for America to selectively bail out some companies and industries and not others. The government shouldn't be making that choice.
15. Domestic manufacturers pay about $30/hour of fully absorbed payroll costs more than foreign car companies manufacturing in the US. The problem with the car manufacturers is their union contracts, and bad product mix. Bailing them out won't help.
16. One option is to let the companies go bankrupt, but (in order to keep customers from shying away from a bankrupt company) let the federal government warranty the cars or something like that.

I still don't know what the right answer is. As of this evening, it looks like the chances of a loan in the lame duck congress is slim. Henry Paulsen is against helping the auto makers. it didn't help when it got out that the CEO's used the private jets today.

Once again, we're left with some crappy choices.

I guess I gotta go with the best interest of the workers and advocate for the loan.
However, I wouldn't do it unless there are some really powerful strings attached related to energy efficient cars, and new management personnel and style, and bringing jobs back to America.

I don't know if I trust Congress to get a lot of concessions though.

Some people talked about letting the big 3 go bankrupt and support the smaller car manufacturers in the country. That would be okay, but I don't know who those car makers are.

A tough 24 months

November 2004 - George Bush reelected for a second term
December 26, 2004 - Indian Ocean Earthquake leading to tsunami
August 29, 2005 - Hurricane Katrina
October 8, 2005 - Great Pakistan Earthquake
July 2006 - Hezbollah/Israel war
October 9, 2006 - North Korea tests first nuclear weapon

Bailouts

I wrote a few days ago about the bailout of auto makers. If it weren't for the fact that its regular workers who would be getting screwed, I'd be against the bailout.

A Personal Side Note:
In my life, my mother would help me out if I followed her rules and was accountable to her for every penny, etc. Which is why I've asked my mother for help rarely, and never for any significant sum. (In all honesty, my mother has been generous with Christmas and birthday presents though.)
I learned to live with my mother's philosophy, essentially - you made your bed, you have to sleep in it. Its true - its my fault for getting into trouble and I'll have to pay the consequences.

That's an easy philosophy when no one else is involved. Nobody else depended on me for money or jobs or support. So, I dealt with it.

When I was in my early 20's my Grandmother bought me a bookcase that I like, and still use. While talking afterward, she kind of whined that I should get my hair cut. "Won't you get your hair cut?" "For me?" When I told her I didn't want to get my hair cut, she said that if she'd known that, she wouldn't have bought me the bookcase. That exchange, while not the first time it had happened - nor the last, is the one I remember that describes the relationship between money and control in my house. And why asking for financial help is my last resort. (My Mom and Grandma are good people - they just learned that money is control and passed it on to me. And, individually, it is. I have control over my own destiny when I can afford it. But, I wouldn't want to use money to get what I want from people.)

So, my personal feelings color my public feelings about bailouts. You made your bed, you lie in it.

But, I also understand, that at this point, I'm not sure our economy can stand having a lot of unemployed people in one region of the country.

I don't know what the right answer is.

My only solution is to do what my mother did - if we give them money, they have to follow our rules for running the company.

I'm also concerned that the government not artificially support an economic model or a product that is no longer in the country's best interest, just to save a job. We asked forestry workers to find new jobs when a lot of them were laid off to save the spotted owl. Maybe its time we asked automakers to find a new industry.

If we do bail them out and we have some say in how they run their business, its a good idea to require automakers to create cars that are fuel efficient beyond our current standards.

Anyway - as usual, I don't have an answer, only considerations and conflicting points of view.
And I didn't write about it all that well, either.

Unions

I like unions. I like the idea of people working together for a common cause.

And why were unions necessary? Because company owners were not valuing workers. Working conditions were bad, companies took advantage of people with few options, and sweat equity was not rewarded.

So, unions came into being.

After awhile unions started asking for more and more.

Companies are being taken down by the excessive union contracts (automakers).

I think the unions should give a little for the sake of all of us. But, I also think the company big shots should share the wealth among the workers more. On their own. If the company could be trusted to share a reasonable amount of profit with the workers, a union wouldn't be necessary. A CEO receives 20 million dollars a year and a worker makes less than 100, 000 a year. That sounds unreasonable. Maybe the CEO should receive 10 million a year and the workers can get a bit more.

That's all I'm asking for. But, I'm not in a union.

Taxes

I don't mind paying taxes. Its the price I pay for living in a great country with good roads, good water, police and fire protection, a court system, etc, etc, etc.

Nothing comes from free and if we want things to work well, we have to pay for it.

Nobody likes waste though. All Americans (Democrats and Republicans alike) can agree that wasting tax payer money is the sin.

Of course, what some people call a waste, other people call a necessity.

I think the social security limit should be changed. We shouldn't have a dollar value limit, but a percent limit. Everyone should pay the same rate up to x% of their pay. Wouldn't that solve the problem of rich people having to pay considerably less tax as a percentage of their income?

I don't understand the reasoning behind the estate tax. I haven't researched it. I wonder if its a way to protect against an aristocracy? I don't know. I'll look into it. But, it doesn't seem reasonable to tax estate money, because, hasn't it already been taxed as income?

Capital gains tax is fine. Its income (or loss). And mostly rich people are the ones who get this, so I'm even okay with a reasonably higher rate than normal income. I should research that one a little more as well, though.

Reality Bites

As of Saturday, at least 4,200 members of the U.S. military have died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes eight military civilians killed in action.
At least 3,390 military personnel died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.
The AP count is four hgher than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Saturday at 7 am PST.

As of Saturday at least 555 members of the US military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan as a result of the US Invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department. The department last updated its figures Friday at 7 am PST
Of those, the military reports 403 were killed by hostile action.

Questions for me until Barack Obama's Inaguration

I want the new administration to start but it won't be until after Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's Day. Who knows what will happen in the next two months - will I be keep my job? will I make Christmas cards? will I learn how not be angry at work people? will I figure out what to buy my family for Christmas presents? will I be lonely? will the country really change because of Barack Obama? will I be motivated to exercise, volunteer, eat properly? will the stock market stabilize? will I make an appointment with the dentist, gynecologist, dermatologist? will I move? will I become a hermit?

Where is Barack Obama

There have only been 9 complete days since the election and today.

And yet, I want to see Barack Obama fired up and ready for change!

I don't think its fair of me, so I don't want to sound like I'm criticizing or that I'll stop supporting Obama.

I just wish I saw more action. Its not his style to be impulsive and that's one reason I voted for him. But, I want to move beyond George Bush! I'm ready for Obama's administration!

George Bush is almost invisible. I understand he's ready to be done, and I think it shows. I don't blame him for feeling that way - even if I supported his policies and his tone, I'd still recognize he had a hard administration.

Obama is going to make a real obvious distinction between him and Bush.
He's given up his Senate seat so he won't be voting on any lame duck congressional action.
He's not going to the G20 economic conference this week.
He makes a point of talking about ONE president at a time.
His surrogates are not talking specifics on any of his programs yet - its a continuation of the campaign speeches.

Anyway - I'm ready and I wish Obama could take over already.

Henry Paulson changes directions on TARP

I'm disappointed the federal bailout is not working. Paulsen is changing course. It appears he doesn't know what he's doing. It reminds me of John McCain's campaign - a little of this, a dash of that, and a whole lot of whatever.

My mistake was giving him the benefit of doubt.
It was described as such a bad situation that I assumed the experts would come together and find a responsible way out of the mess. I don't know that these people are smart, though. Maybe they're smart in small ways.

I'm so sick and tired of plain old bad managers and leaders.
It doesn't do any good to have an ideology if you can't make things happen.
Even if I don't agree with your ideology, you should be able to implement.

Originally, Paulsen was going to buy bad assets from the banks, etc. That would free up the balance sheet so banks can lend again. They gave away about 290 billion dollars to banks around the nation, but its done nothing.
Now, Henry Paulsen says their going to focus on consumer credit.
I don't like that idea.
It makes no sense to continue supporting a credit society. How consumers handle credit is partially responsible for the current mess.
I think the idea is that when consumers can get credit again, that will be the 'charge' the economy needs to get jump-started.

I suggest we see more of the home mortgages refinanced by the banks themselves - no government intervention.
I suggest the government invest in infrastructure - now. Barack Obama will do it, but we need it now. That will create jobs, which will create money, which will create demand.

Should the government bail out the automakers?
Wow - I see it's important to regional economies and individual employees. I get it.
But, I also think its crazy to continue bailing people out.
I still have a good recollection of Lee Iacocca getting bailout money for Chrysler in the 80's. Its only twenty years later and we need to do it again? No, I say.

I've also become disillusioned with the government's efforts so far. Although I don't expect to see overnight results, I expect to see less volatility and less flailing around.
It seems they're trying to find a way to artificially get things going.
Why not go back to the fundamentals and work from there. We've been in the fairy tale world for too long. Invest in producing things - invest in developing new ideas - start making credit an exception rather than the rule.
I'd rather see that than additional bailouts.

Nobody listens to me, and I don't expect they should. I don't have any specialized knowledge. I'm responding with emotion.
But, it appears to me that the people who supposedly do have specialized knowledge aren't doing anything that well themselves - so why not listen to people like me who are just trying to make sense of it all.

In essence, I gave the Bush Administration a chance - they mucked it up, and I'm done with them.

Liberals and the gray world.

What's everyone's beef with a supposedly 'liberal' media and 'liberal' academia?
They make it sound like the liberal people all join the media and become academics.

Rather than, possibly, that the people who are in the media see a lot and experience things they wouldn't normally and because of that their views become more liberal.

And, maybe, the people who are educated and live in a world of ideas and exploration and questioning have an open mind and find their views becoming more liberal?

Stop acting like being a 'liberal' is something a person is brainwashed into being. Its a valid choice. Just like being a fiscal conservative or a Christian or a person who flies on airplanes.

What's not valid choices are the ones made in fear or based on rumor or the ones that have at their foundation a rebuttal of a 'proof' that is right before a person's very eyes. I mean, you can't keep choosing to believe the world is black and white when its been proven over and over - even in your daily life - that its all kind of gray. Everyone has a story, and if you knew everyone it would open up your eyes. You wouldn't mock the hungry or the unemployed or the naieve or the hopeful or the simple or the complicated. Their story would be your story and you'd understand why they matter. And you'd protect them as best you can. Please do.

Barack Obama's First News Conference

I'm very excited for Barack Obama as President and sympathize with the overwhelming nature of this transition.

I'm watching his first news conference. And what can I say? Hmmm...
I feel kindly toward him while at the same time recognizing this feels uncomfortable to him right now. Most noticeably, he's got a list of press people he's calling on in order rather than, at this point, calling on them by name and face.

And then, there's the 'uh'. I hate to say it, and maybe I'll get used to it and stop hearing it. He was like this at the beginning of the campaign and it had mostly stopped by the end. Now that he's in uncharted territory again, its come back. Oh well. Nitpicky.

It was mostly very serious and I kind of drifted off a little bit during a couple of his questions.

Overall, he looked and sounded good. I like that he wants to take his time selecting his cabinet. I like that he wants to help the middle class by rebuilding infrastructure.

His funny line was "I've spoken to all the presidents...that are living."

I think he wants to make clear that he takes all this very seriously. In his normal personality, he would be much more jokey and at ease. But, he knows that if he's like that he'd get in trouble. He was at ease when talking about the dog. I like that Barack Obama. And I guess as long as he's like that when actually doing the work (as opposed to just being in press conferences), that will be fine with me.

I was kind of nervous for him before the press conference. He's doing very well though.
I'm still inspired and excited and I want to help.

Guns, Fear, and Misinformation

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/us/07guns.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

"DENVER — Sales of handguns, rifles and ammunition have surged in the last week, according to gun store owners around the nation who describe a wave of buyers concerned that an Obama administration will curtail their right to bear arms.
“He’s a gun-snatcher,” said Jim Pruett, owner of Jim Pruett’s Guns and Ammo in northwest Houston, which was packed with shoppers on Thursday.
“He wants to take our guns from us and create a socialist society policed by his own police force,” added Mr. Pruett, a former radio personality, of President-elect Barack Obama. "

Geez Leweeze - what kind of person has these thoughts going through their mind?
I think this is evidence, again, that some people are wired to be fearful and negative and some people are wired to be hopeful and positive. I can't understand it otherwise.

More final thoughts...

A few things I heard on the Newshour tonight are worth remembering:

1. A citizen asked about his feelings after the election yesterday mentioned this saying: "Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Obama could run." I may have heard that before but it seemed especially poignant today. It describes how interconnected we all are and that each level of progress leads to something else. Obama could never have run for President without the people who came before. None of us can be where we are today without the things in our common and individual past. The computer we use today couldn't have been invented whole cloth without the intermediate steps in between. That's the way of the world.

2. Ellen ?, one of the historians who discussed the election results put it this way: "...[the election] resolved a moral contradiction..." Another way of saying that America is fulfilling its promise. Another way of saying we're showing the world who we are rather than telling the world who we are.

3. Mark Shields likened our political philosophical battles to competing American mythologies: High Noon and Wagon Train. In High Noon one man goes out alone to fight the bad guys. In Wagon Train everyone is in 'it' together. America is both of these things; individualist and communal. Somehow we need to find a way to be both. I think most of us, individually, can create a middle ground - but something happens when we try to formalize it. We end up going too far one way, react negatively, then go too far the other way, react negatively, and go back to where we were before.

4. Mark Shields used an FDR quote I'd never heard, but which easily and succinctly sums up my belief about government: "The measure of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, but whether we provide enough to those who have too little." When I meet people who think its very important to keep every bit of money they say they 'earned' and they'll decide how to give back to their community, I think I'll ask them which is more important - that they have 1% more or that the child down the street has a meal to eat for the next year. Aren't you willing to give up a little bit of your abundance so your fellow American can have a decent meal? And don't tell me you'll make sure you give to the child down the street on your own because if you had been doing that in the last 8 years there wouldn't be a starving child down the street. You've already proven to me that you don't care. So, since you can't be trusted to do the right thing, the government will make sure that child gets a decent meal.
Also, I think people can be judgemental. When it comes to poverty, health, education, and a home, there shouldn't be any ifs ands or buts - everyone gets to live a safe, decent, life. They aren't necessarily going to have fancy clothes and cars and things, but they can have the essentials. That's the least we can do. Remember - whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me.

California's Proposition 8

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10908172

This makes no sense:

"Government did not create marriage, and neither politicians nor legislators have the right to redefine its basic meaning," said Brian Brown, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage California."

If government did not create marriage and has no right to define it, then why should the government mention marriage at all? Why is it now part of the California constitution?

"Common sense, and concern for the common good, trumped ideology, bigotry and power politics here in California," Brown said in a statement. "

Are you kidding? Bigotry? It seems to me that the people who are trying to limit the definition of marriage are the ones who are bigoted. And scared. What's wrong with those people? I don't get it.

*****

My perspective is that marriage shouldn't even be a legal status for anyone. If you want to get married, its a church thing. The church can have any rule they want. If you want a legal union then you get a civil union. A civil union can comprise any kind of family relationship. It doesn't have any religious significance so it can be a man and a woman or a man and a man or a woman and a woman.

Frankly, I'm not the marrying kind so I don't know why anyone wants to get married - but if it has meaning for people, they should be able to do it. I understand that most people like the idea of being married.

Anyway - I feel bad for gays and lesbians.
I live in Oregon and sadly we made a law about this in 2006. I voted no.

Rahm Emanuel

Has it been confirmed yet? I can't keep track. But, if its true that Rahm Emanuel is Obama's pick for Chief of Staff, I'm not sure I like it. I'm feeling cautious about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahm_Emanuel
http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/7712.html
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/5/143733/276/266/654692

I will read additional articles to get a more complete picture of Mr. Emanuel. At this point I wonder if Rahm Emanuel's focus is keeping Democrats in office and fundraising?

That reminds me of the Republican policies I don't like. I want a governing party, not a politicking party.

On the other hand, I want to trust Barack Obama.

And really, I'm just trying to anticipate something that I know nothing about. What do I know about the ways of Washington? I'm being hyper-vigilant as well because I don't want to look at the Obama presidency through rose colored glasses.

Social Issues on the state ballots

And here I am again...

It surprises me that all the abortion related measures in the states did NOT pass (good) and all the issues related to gay people did pass (bad).

Strange. I would have expected the abortion measures to have a better chance at passing and the gay marriage and adoption issues to not pass.

I wonder what's up with that?

STATE ISSUES (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27440601/)

Abortion:
California - requires Dr to notify parents before a minor has an abortion - did NOT pass
Colorado - define human life as beginning at fertilization - did NOT pass
South Dakota - outlaw abortions except in the case of rape, incest, and when it affects the health of the mother - did NOT pass.

Affirmative Action:
Nebraska - no preferential treatment to people based on race, sex, ethnicity, or national origin - PASSED
Colorado - similar measure - outcome unknown at this time.

Assisted Suicide:
Washington - patients can request and self-administer lethal medication prescribed by a physician - PASSED

Same-sex bans:
Arizona - Limit marriage to a man and a woman - PASSED
California - Limit marriage to a man and a woman - outcome unknown at this time
Florida - Limit marriage to a man and a woman - PASSED
Arkansas - Unmarried couples cannot adopt or be foster parents - PASSED

The world reactions to Barack Obama's election

Back again so soon...

I'm overcome with emotion when I look at how the rest of the world reacted with joy over our election.

http://images.huffingtonpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/599/slide_599_12596_large.jpg
(I'm not sure if that link will stay active)

That kind of slideshow makes me cry. That's when I know how important everything we do in the USA is. We have no right to trivialize things with partisanship and gamesmanship. It reminds me of how much responsibility we have in the world. What we do affects everyone.
We can influence people all over the world with positive energy. We've learned in the past eight years that negative energy does nothing to create a better world. We need to lead by example.

Barack Obama will be a great leader.

The Day After election day

Its good to hear lots of people's stories about how they felt last night and this morning because Barack Obama is President of the United States of America. I'm not original or unique in my relief, hope, restored faith, and excitement. Lots of people are expressing the same feelings of transformation.

I listened to C-SPAN this morning and was surprised to hear one woman call in who said she couldn't believe people voted for a man who won't salute the flag, who is a Muslim, and something else. I wonder what I call that person? It doesn't seem charitable to call her stupid or dim-witted or feeble-minded. And yet, how else to define a person who is told the truth over and over and won't stop repeating the falsehood? I'm reminded of the definition of faith - the belief in things unseen. What do you call the disbelief of things seen? I don't get it.
After I heard another McCain supporter spout off about how everyone who voted for Obama voted for socialism over free enterprise, I realized that even C-SPAN isn't safe.

Those were the only negative things I heard this morning.

I'd like to talk about the idea of Transformation that I heard people talk about this morning.
We have two levels of change.
First, the election of the country's first self-identified African American as President. It fulfills the promise of America - as someone said we've moved from tell to show. We aren't just telling the world what America can be, we're showing what America can be.
Second, the choice American's made for a new direction - away from partisanship, secrecy, double-standards, spin, negativity, and toward bi-partisanship, reasoned voices, hope, shared responsibility, and possibility.

I feel like we made the choice the universe hoped we'd make. The choice that will put us on the path of evolution and peace and everything that's good for our spiritual health.

Many people were visibly overcome with emotion last night on TV and this morning. I wish I could be that demonstrative and free with my emotions. But, the reality is, I'm afraid of the negetive people who will try to block the efforts of Barack Obama; the euphoria of today will be swallowed by negative politics. That Bush administration really messed with my mind! I'll try to stay positive.

The other comment I'll make this morning is about Obama's full name.
During the election his name, Barack Hussein Obama, was used as a means to describe his foreign-ness.
Most people understand that Hussein as a middle name, in and of itself, means nothing. But, the context in which it was used made it clear to everyone that it was meant to be a negative against Obama. It was code for foreigner, Arab, terrorist, etc.
Now that the election is over we can say Barack Hussein Obama with pride. In the new context it goes along with the idea that in the United States of America all things are possible.

Am I done? I don't know. I may have more to say. But, for now - I'm done.

Barack Obama's victory speech

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/the-full-text-of-barack-obamas-victory-speech-993008.html

President-elect Barack Obama spoke to the world from his home city of Chicago as he became the first black president of the United States. Here is the full text of his victory speech:

"Hello, Chicago.
"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
"It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.
"It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled, Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.
"We are, and always will be, the United States of America.
"It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
"It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment, change has come to America.
"A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Senator McCain.
"Senator McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.
"I congratulate him; I congratulate Governor (Sarah) Palin for all that they've achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.
"I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
"And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years, the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady Michelle Obama.
"Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House.
"And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother's watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight. I know that my debt to them is beyond measure.
"To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given me. I am grateful to them.
"And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best - the best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America.
"To my chief strategist David Axelrod who's been a partner with me every step of the way. To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics, you made this happen and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.
"But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.
"I was never the likeliest candidate for this office.
"We didn't start with much money or many endorsements.
"Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.
"It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give 5 and 10 and 20 to the cause.
"It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy, who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.
"It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organised and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.
"This is your victory.
"And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me.
"You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.
"Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.
"There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage or pay their doctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.
"There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.
"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.
"I promise you, we as a people will get there.
"There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem.
"But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
"What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.
"This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.
"It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.
"So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.
"Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.
"In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.
"Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.
"Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.
"As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.
"And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.
"And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.
"To those - to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.
"That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
"This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
"She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because of the colour of her skin.
"And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.
"At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.
"When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
"When the bombs fell on our harbour and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.
"She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that 'We Shall Overcome'. Yes we can.
"A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.
"And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.
"Yes we can.
"America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
"This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.
"This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.
"Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America."

Free Credit Report dot com

I'm not entirely happy about it, but I like the Free Credit Report dot com commercials. They're clever and fun to watch and the jingle stays in my head much longer than I'd like. I like that there are different stories for each musical style. The bike riding one was a twist - very green. Cool.

The lead singer is Eric Violette...http://www.ericviolette.com/

I don't know who the ad agency is.

Other commercials that are stuck in my mind...

I'd like to teach the world to sing - Coke
Two all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions on a sesame seed bun - McDonalds
Put a tic tac in your mouth and get a bang out of life, its a cool... - Tic Tac
There are lots of chewy rolos in a roll for you, if you're choosy 'bout what you chew, real milk chocolate, and caramel too - Rolo
The piston engine goes bare nare bare nare bare nare, but the Mazda goes mmmm - Mazda.
Go to Glass Doctor, he'll fix your pane - Glass Doctor

Commercials I currently really, really dislike:
American Express - the one where they try to make the people feel small and childish for having credit cards that display something they like. How judgemental and rude. I hate that one.

That's all I can think of right now.

(I guess this is the kind of junk I'll be thinking about now that the election is over! HA!)

Barack Obama is President-Elect of the United States of America

It just hit me. I watched his victory speech and at first I listened to it as if it was another pre-election speech. I had to remind myself this is the final speech of Election 2008. He won. Barack Obama won. Barack Obama is the President-elect of the United States of America!

And then I cried. I don't know him and I'm proud of him.

Great speech.

I've been wanting this for so long. I've been afraid to believe it could be true. I hope and pray and will do what I can to help him fulfill his promises to the country.

I thought Barack Obama looked a little overwhelmed by the moment himself. He was blown away by the number of people who were there and the number of people who supported him.

He'll be so glad to sleep in his own bed tonight.

Historically speaking, this might be the moment, the time, that I was born to be a part of.

I've often remembered a time when I was in my late teens and my mother was speaking to someone and referenced how messed up things were politically. She said something about maybe my generation would figure things out and I said, yes mother, we will.

I've always felt bad that I haven't lived up to that. I'm not the leader or the thinker or the doer that my country needs.

But, I am the voter my country needed right now. And Barack Obama is in my generation.
(As it turns out, though, my Mother's a Republican so this probably wasn't the way she wanted things to get worked out...HA!)

Election Night

The votes are still coming in. Its not yet poll closing time in my area, but it appears Barack Obama has won the election.

I remember years ago complaining when the West Coast was neglected - the networks would declare a final winner before our polls had even closed. Irritating.
Now, they don't declare a final winner until 8:01 our time. Very nice of them.

This year, I don't know what they were supposed to do. It appears John McCain can't even win. Unless the projections are wrong, there's no way John McCain can numerically win. Oh - and the assumption is that WA, OR, CA, HI will all go overwhelmingly for Obama. I hope that happens.

I've been watching CBS tonight. I decided I'd watch one network all night long. (I forgot about PBS and C-SPAN. I should have considered them. And I don't get MSNBC.) I wanted to get the feel of the experience - a consistent through story.

The coverage has been 'okay'. Just 'okay'.
They're projecting way ahead of other networks as far as I can tell (I change channels at the commercials briefly.)
And when they put the projections up, if its already been decided from their perspective, they're not showing the percent of precincts in and the percentage of votes.

Otherwise its fine. Not as dynamic as I'd hoped. Oh well.

Polls are about to close in the west. I'm signing out and gonna watch for the rest of the night.
I look forward to the results from some of our issues and seeing McCain's concession speech and Obama's victory speech.

Wowza. This is really happening! Fantastic!

Election Day

As always - if I were more eloquent I'd find the words to convey a deep meaning to today and tomorrow and the next four years (at least).
I heard this morning a quote from WH Auden "Great art is clear thinking about mixed feelings".
That's the kind of essay I'd like to write.

I do have the feeling that 100 years from now people will be looking back at this time as a turning point. Historians will remember it. It feels like a turning point. The country finally got fed up living with negativity and greed and selfishness. The creeping of devilish ideas into our government and into our consciousness finally reached a breaking point where people couldn't deny it any longer.

Our current government is not a reflection of the way most people want to live. I believe most people want to live and let live and be with family and friends and do work they enjoy, or at the very least, can tolerate.

People want their lives to be peaceful and happy and free of negativity.

Finally, the current administration made it clear by their actions that it wasn't going to happen under them with their philosophy.

I'll be interested to see if people are willing to work for the greater good in the next four years. Will the wave of goodwill that Obama brings (either directly or based on our own desires) create a different world?

I suspect not. I bet it'll be kinda quiet after he wins because people are exhausted from this election. He has a lot of work to do.

It makes me want to get involved. I think I'd like to volunteer at a Veteran's Hospital or something like that. My family has never been military, but I've always had a soft spot in my heart for people who've been in the service. I appreciate their dedication and I'd like to offer something back. It seems a good time to do so since we have so many veterans who might need help.

Anyway - the change in administration matches the change in my own life circumstances. I'm grateful for the hope.

*****

From Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eugene-jarecki/an-ode-to-tomorrow_b_140844.html)

Eugene Jarecki
Posted November 4, 2008 09:01 AM (EST)

In recent months, I've written several editorials examining the challenges we face leading up to and beyond the election. I've expressed more than a little skepticism that any meaningful improvement can come from any candidate from within America's corrosive two-party system. Rather than over-relying on our representatives, I've argued that we the public must view ourselves as a source of wisdom from below, guiding with our mandate the crucial decisions that will be made in the months and years ahead.
Yet, after all the editorializing and with the day of decision upon us, we face a moment that could of course, under the right circumstances, prove to be one of majestic national poetry. Accordingly, though I am no poet, it seems appropriate at this time to express myself more in poetic than editorial terms. So here goes.
* * *
Though today is yet unknowable, let us for a moment imagine that when we wake tomorrow it will be a new day in America.
Let us appreciate the poetry that once upon a time, a one-term congressman from Illinois became President of the United States and freed four million African slaves and, 145 years later, an African American first-term senator from Illinois - borne not of the rapacious legacy of that compulsory migration but rather of a voluntary choice by two consenting adults - should become President of that same land.
Let us imagine that a nation once built on the scarred backs of black Africans could, in arguably her darkest hour since, be rescued by the son of a Kenyan exchange student and a white American woman from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Let us imagine that that man and woman could have met and married amid the sweltering heat of Jim Crow America and, just two weeks before the courageous freedom rides of 1961, produced a child whose very birth would seem a hopeful reminder of America's long-deferred promises - of racial harmony, of social courage, and of the power of love to free us from the shackles of our self-annihilating prejudice.
Let us imagine still that that young child should, through hard work and self-acknowledged providence, have become the figure of serenity, fortitude, vision, and grace who has stood before us for 21 long months and kept his dignity.
Let us imagine that beside that graceful man has walked his true and intrepid partner, co-parent of two confident and glowing children, who likewise has conducted herself with poise, substance, and candor -- cognizant of yet unspoiled by the toxic air of Washington.
Let us imagine that, opposite them, an opportunistic campaign of division, viciousness, and ideological bankruptcy was overcome by one of decency and depth -- that an effort to appeal to our lesser selves, to that in us which is divisible, was defeated by one that appealed to the best in us, to that which is indivisible.
Let us, though, not be fooled.
Let us not allow ourselves to be lulled into false comfort.
Let us go to sleep tonight and luxuriate, yes, in one night of hopeful rest.
And let us in those hours of sleep not plumb the darkness of the cynicism and doubt that have become a national affliction.
Let us sleep not with anger but in peace, secure in the hope that our hope shall endure and even prevail.
Yet let us wake tomorrow more vigilant than ever to ensure that the new day upon us shall not become the elusive phantom of a dream.
Let us commit ourselves - each of us individually and in concert -- to whatever it will take in time, energy, and resources to demand that promises made along the way will be kept and that compromises struck will be weighed against the greater gravity of the challenges we face and, if judged inappropriate to the moment, be replaced by enterprises of greater courage.
Let us not forget that today's triumph can become tomorrow's loss if the battle won dulls our resolve to fight the larger war - a war not of bombs, machines, hubris, corruption, and shortsightedness (we've done all that) but rather one of souls, humanity, decency, justice, and, longevity.
Let us recognize that no single man - no matter how talented or well-intentioned -- can possibly be a substitute for the much-needed chorus of a democracy.
Let us recognize that for that man to fulfill his promise to realize the kind of change we seek -- in the care of our bodies, our minds, our children, our planet, our streets, our livelihoods, and our security -- that we ourselves must be the agents of such change, whose unrelenting commitment to fundamental reform will be needed to give him the fortitude to battle the disfiguring forces of Washington.
Let us not forget
a government not of men but of laws,a government of separated powers not arrogant ones,a government of checks and balances honored not suspended,and finally, a nation that is ever a work-in-progress, at her best when she recognizes and seeks to mend her frailties and at her worst when she denies them.
Let us not forget that, without accountability for the trespasses of recent years - the errors and wrongdoings that have cost tens of thousands of lives and shattered millions more -- there is insufficient motivation for real and systemic change.
But of course, there will be time for all this.
For now, let us join with those around us in jubilation, with family, friend, and stranger alike, and commit ourselves that we shall all meet again -- daily, weekly, in whatever ways our waking moments allow -- to build the community, nation, and world we seek.

After the election

People (myself included sometimes) wonder what they'll talk about after the election.

But, really, there's so much stuff going on in the world it would be hard to NOT have something political to talk about.

I suspect many people will turn off completely. I don't blame them.

I'm also going to be interested in watching how Barack Obama goes about preparing for his Presidency - who will his cabinet be? etc.

The Dalai Lama has decided that negotiating with China is not working and is getting fed up with it. That's kind of interesting and we should keep out eye on it. China, in general I guess.

Not to mention South America. I can't understand why we don't talk about South America more when they're kind of attached to the United States.

Anyway - there's a lot to look at. And, if Obama is president, it will be even more interesting to watch since I can hope he'll have a new perspective.

I hope he's as communicative as I like.

The day before

Somebody named Matthew on Good Morning America just made the point that even if its an overwhelming Democratic victory - top of the ticket and on down - the "mandate" is for political temperament and governing style rather than a specific policy.

I agree. People are sick of the way politics have been working in the last 8 years. There are legitimate questions about the correct policy, but the style has been negative, divisive, and has stagnated our government.

*****

This has been such a long election and I can't imagine how any of the people closely associated with the campaign can keep going. Those are people I don't understand or even know. That much sustained energy and dedication? Wow - I wish I had it. Just shy of two years of campaigning - the last year has been relentless.

I'm talking about Obama of course. I don't think McCain has had as rough a go of it.

In any event, to win means more of the same for potentially 8 more years. Man - if that were me, I'd be kind of hoping to lose so I could relax awhile. That's why I'll never run for President.