Archive for December, 2008
To The Idiots At The Charleston Gazette …
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008Let Me Work That Sentence For You
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008The Downside
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008Quote of the Day
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008Telling It Like It Is
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008Next Space Shuttle Launch Feb. 12
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008Japan HTV to Launch in Late 2009
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008Europeans to Launch Largest Space Telescope in February
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008A Challenger for Ward Armstrong?
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008Maybe this year will be better than the last
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008
It’s been a rough year. Actually, it’s been a rough several years. It was a very long campaign. A lot of people had J. Lynne’s experience:
However, I found that if I asked a question about how people felt about Obama signing the Patriot Act, I would be accused of being a “Bitter Hillary Supporter” and told that Obama explained that on the floor when he voted that day — though no one could tell me what the explanation was.
When I asked people about one of Hillary’s proposed policies, I had my head nearly bitten off and was accused of being a “Hillary Hater”. [ What Do Howler-Monkeys... ]
I’m fortunate that my experience wasn’t quite like that. I had a number of interesting discussions with folks both online and off. Some of them liked Hillary Clinton, some of them liked Obama, some of them liked McCain.
In one particular case, a friend of mine was very excited over Sarah Palin. I don’t fully understand why, but I do understand that she could not be true to herself and vote for Obama. I also think she understood that I could not be true to myself and vote for McCain. We both have radically different notions about how the world works, but that’s fine.
Most people I knew personally who liked Obama would have settled for a Hillary Clinton victory and vice versa. So many people said to me “we’re lucky to have two great choices in the primary.” Poll after poll reflected this.
The most offensive thing I read were from people trying to remind me that Obama was not a messiah. Really? Of course not. He’s a politician. More than that, he’s human.
I disagree with Obama on some issues. I expect him to do some things I don’t much care for. There are things I wish he had done differently both before and after the election. In a country of over three hundred million, I really can’t expect a President who agrees with me on absolutely everything and does everything just the way I want him to.
But generally, I think he’s likely to do a good job. And I’m happy with the result.
Most of all, though, I’m glad this election is over.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008Ward Armtrong Challenger About To Step Up?
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008The year that newspapers died, part two
Wednesday, December 31st, 20082008 will likely be remembered as the year of the tipping point for newspapers. A new study by the Pew Foundation indicates that more people now get their news from the Internet than from newspapers, a sharp increase over 2007. 59% of young people (under 30) use the Internet as their main source of news and information, a figure that has doubled in the past year.
This has important implications for communities and community leaders, who are often more comfortable communicating via press releases and TV news conferences. Younger voters, literally, are not tuning in to traditional news sources. Unless communities find ways to connect with younger citizens regularly and consistently using newer information channels, community decision-making will become more and more difficult.
In The 16th HOD, Don Merricks
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008LED lights slowly improving
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008LED lights are slowly improving, and a new manufacturing process using silicon instead of more expensive sapphire may bring down the cost of LED "light bulbs" within two years. Like record players, CD players, and VCRs, light bulbs will seem quaint and horribly old-fashioned to the next generation of kids, who will have grown up with LED lighting as normal.