Thoughts on arts, life, and current events

Someone suggested that I was “contemptuous” of someone the other day. Taken aback I went to Wikipedia to see what it/she really meant. I still need to go to Websters.

Slightly dismayed I explained that I was not contemptuous of anyone. Not at all. I just see things which strike me in a particular way which set alarm bells ringing sometimes. I would never want to be accused of being or acting contemptuously toward others. It is quite a nasty thing to look down on others. I think we are all trying our best in difficult circumstances to do the best for ourselves, our loved ones, our community, our country, and our world.
Any criticism comes from a belief that actions have ramifications, we must learn from the past, and we can all strive to do better.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/frankinfo.shtm

The National Gallery of Art hosted a talk and q&a of photographer Robert Frank. The standing room crowd in excess of 450 was hushed as he discussed his photographs on exhibit now at the museum.

He spoke about how naive he was as a young man driving off to the south by himself in an old car to take photographs. Tomorrow I will type my notes in for those who were unable to attend. I figured a way to combine it with work which was a lucky thing since it was almost an hour and a half talk led by Sarah Tanguy.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Are You Sincere
by Andy Williams
From the Album 16 Biggest Hits
I’m Always Chasing Rainbows
by Perry Como
From the Album The Very Best Of Perry Como
How Soon Will I Be Seeing You? With Bing Crosby
by Carmen Cavallaro
From the Album Poet Of The Piano
And I love this one:
Song Of The Fifth Marines
by Bing Crosby
From the Album Bing-His Legendary Years 1931-1957
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
by The Great Jazz Trio
From the Album Someday My Prince Will Come
San Fernando Valley
by Bing Crosby
From the Album A Centennial Anthology Of His Decca Recordings

They played this one:
Play A Simple Melody
by Bing & Gary Crosby
From the Album Back To The 50’s
But I love this one in german more:
Spiel Mir Eine Alte Melodie (Play A Simple Melody)
by Rita Paul
From the Album Deutsche Schlager 1953
And this one is just goofy:
Play a Simple Melody
by Johnny Howard & His Orchestra
From the Album The Best of the Dansan Years Vol.7
So too Marvelous for words is a standard for Sinatra lovers, and it’s the Sinatra one I heard on 102.9, but this one is more fun I think:
Too Marvelous for Words
by Dick Robertson And His Orchestra
From the Album Dick Robertson and his Orchestra 1937-1939
It must have really been fun to go to hear big bands play… There was another song today, couldn’t get the lyrics, so if anyone know a song that goes something like ” i’ll take dallula just one girl is truela” and with other iterations on other girl’s names.
Softly As In A Early Morning Sunrise (LP Version)
by Bobby Darin
From the Album That’s All
The Best Is Yet To Come (Single Version)
by Tony Bennett
From the Album Tony Bennett’s Greatests Hits Of The 60’s

They played this song, The Rich Maharaja of Magador and here’s a funny version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI3e-7fKgyg
Also, Papa loves mamba
At Long Last Love
by Tracy Wells and His Big Swing Band
From the Album Swing Is Here
So if anyone knows any of the instrumentals I’m dying to know those. Since I can’t write down the lyrics and look up the song (which is what I do since I don’t know these), I’m totally stuck on them.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Last year a friend introduced me to Howard Parks. I find the efforts of his group, DC For Obama, inspiring for their commitment to positive change for the City. Of course there is a political element but it is an effort to help people and keep people energized about helping those who are less fortunate or who have fallen on hard times.

There are religious organizations, non-profits, city wide government, Federal government, individuals, corporate and other charitable efforts ongoing however, it is nice that Howard harnessed this group to do more than vote.
Applause. Please share these events with others if interested.

DCFO Updates – Change We Can Believe In

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Organizing for America (OFA) Pledge Project Canvass this past weekend. Our group generated almost 600 pledges and showed that DC for Obama is still fired up & ready to go! Special thanks to Joe Goldman and the team who worked tirelessly, on very short notice, to organize the project. On a national level, the mobilization to support President Obama was a huge media story over the weekend and has gone a long way toward showing that the Obama Campaign is becoming a movement for change rather than a traditional campaign which ends with a party on election night. The Pledge Project Canvass was (really!) just the start!

DCFO Involvement Opportunities – Be The Change!

Economic Recovery Efforts
· Help the Economic Recovery Effort in DC This Saturday March 28 at 10:30AM
Meeting Point 1801 K Street
Please join DC for Obama as we begin a new effort to help local District residents who have been hard hit by the economic crisis. Right now, we are in need of volunteers to talk to residents and post flyers in nearby business corridors to let eligible residents known about an upcoming Financial Fitness Fair in Ward 8 and employment training opportunities, affordable health care options and free housing counseling services. All the services offered during the fair are free including free tax preparation for eligible filers, credit counseling, financial workshops, youth activities and no-strings-attached financial planning sessions by Certified Financial Planners.No financial experience required to volunteer! We will provide all the literature and will conduct a training session before we go out into the community.

We hear about the economic crisis every day, now you can join a proactive effort to do something to help those in need. To volunteer at our next event or to learn more about economic recovery efforts, please contact Georgina Owino at georgina.owino@gmail.com

Education Volunteer Efforts
· Greater DC Cares Servathon: Saturday, May 2nd

DC for Obama will participate in the Greater DC Cares Servathon. This year’s event will be held on May 2 and we’ll be working with a yet to be assigned DC Public School.
You can join our team today at http://servathon2009.kintera.org/dcforobama.

On the day of the event, we’ll work as a team doing manual labor to enhance the facilities of a local school. The $25 registration fee goes to Greater DC Cares and supports all of their service projects. On the day of the event, all you have to do is show up. All of the necessary supplies, including t-shirts, will be there.

Organizing for America Efforts

· Organizing for America Phone Banks Next Week:
Join Organizing for America as we continue to work on the Pledge Project, this time by phone calling to areas of the country where is was not practical or where we are not yet organized enough to go door-to-door. This is an “official” OFA activity! All of the phone banking will be done Monday, March 30, Tuesday March 31 & Wednesday, April 1, 5:00 - 9:00 PM at the Democratic National Committee on Capitol Hill, just a few blocks from the Capitol South Metro.

To RSVP or for more details go to:

Monday: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpt4k7

Tuesday: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpt4kx

Wednesday: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpt4c2

Upcoming Meetings – Fired Up?

1. DC for Obama Meetup!!! – 630PM Thursday, April 16th in the “Obama Room” of Hawk & Dove (239 Pennsylvania Ave SE)

2. Advocacy Committee Meeting –Tuesday 645PM, March 31st at 1825 K Street Suite 400 (Call Alex Lawson with entrance issues at 202.997.7002)
3. Organize DC Initiative – Thursday, March 26th 7PM at 1050 17th Street, Suite 350, (Contact Joe Goldman for details at joepgoldman@gmail.com

Other Upcoming Events – YES WE CAN!!!
1. Democratic Singles Mixer! Thursday, March 26th 6-9PM at Women’s National Democratic Club (1526 New Hampshire NW)

From the Woman’s National Democratic Club and ActForLove.org, come join us for a singles mixer at the historic Woman’s National Democratic Club mansion in Dupont Circle, and help celebrate the return of hope!

$10 contribution, at the door (free for WNDC members)

This your chance to meet single Democrats, progressives, and liberals, and help form a few “more perfect unions” together.
Please RSVP, as space is limited: http://www.actforlove.org/dcparty/

2. MoveOn PowerUP Campaign Kick-Off!! With Rep. Chris VanHollen Saturday, March 28th 1230-330PM at Wheaton Regional Library (11701 Georgia Ave, Wheaton, MD)

From Mike Hersh: MoveOn PowerUp Campaign Kick-Off, come discuss ways to support our President’s Green Economy & Jobs initiatives
Sign up online here: http://pol.moveon.org/event/poweruplaunch/92499

3. “Lioness” Screening on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 31 1145-115PM at 334 Cannon House Office Bulding

From DCFO Member Michon Boston: The Independent Television Service (ITVS), Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans of America

Invite you to attend a special screening and discussion featuring the acclaimed documentary LIONESS as seen on the Emmy Award winning PBS series “Independent Lens”
Lunch and Refreshments will be served. RSVP Requested: rsvp@itvs.org or call 202-314-5250. LIONESS tells the story of the first group of women army support soldiers – mechanics, clerks and engineers – to serve as “Lionesses.” “Lioness” is the name given to women soldiers who are regularly attached to all-male combat units for the purpose of defusing tensions with Iraqi women and children. While deployed in Iraq from 2003-2004, these original Lioness soldiers ended up fighting in some of the bloodiest counterinsurgency battles of the Iraq war and returned home as part of this country’s first generation of female combat veterans. LIONESS makes public, for the first time, their historic service and sacrifice.

4. Mike Signer for VA Lt. Gov. Fundraiser, on Tuesday March 31 – 630-830PM at Local 16 (16th and U Street)

From Young Lawyers for Obama: Mark your calendar for a low dollar fundraiser for Mike Signer, Young Lawyers for Obama member & candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Contact ylfodc@gmail.com to join the host committee.

Donation: Giving levels are: $50 Tickets, $25 for Students or Limited Income, $250 Host Committee (raise or write), $500 VIP
5. Community Organizing Training Institute (Outstanding Leadership Opportunity) June 14th-19th

ONE DC (formerly Manna CDC) is seeking talented individuals with a recognized commitment to organizing, policy change, and a social justice-based education process to submit applications for the Kressley Organizing Institute. The Institute is designed to support and train local organizers through an intensive 6-day training institute, and seeks to build the capacity of individuals and/or organizations working District-wide around resident-led campaign development and action planning. While the Institute is seeking individuals who have an interest in professional community organizing, we are especially interested in community leaders who are working at the grassroots level to build the collective power and leadership of their fellow community members. There is no fee for the Institute, but spaces are limited. Application materials must be turned in by April 17, 2009, and they can by accessed online at www.onedconline.org.. For more information, contact Rosemary Ndubuizu at (202)232-2915 or jmuhammad@onedconline.org.

6. Join Author Bill Greider on 6PM on Thursday, April 16 at AFL-CIO (Gompers Room 815 16th St NW)

William Greider will be leading a discussion of his new book “Come Home, America: The Rise and Fall (and Redeeming Promise) of Our Country)”. As we may be at the precipice of a new populist era, “historians may point to” Greider’s new visionary work “as one of the prairie fire’s first sparks” according to Kirkus Reviews, adding that “Greider’s moment … may have arrived” with his “astute, hopeful and humane commentary.” Additional speakers will include Robert Borosage of Campaign for America’s Future and Arlene Holt Baker of the AFL-CIO. Reception and book signing will follow in the AFL-CIO lobby. Refreshments will be served.

7. “City At Peace” Living in Theory Musical, April 17-19 at 1333 H St., NE

From DCFO Past-Chair Kim Morton: In just six short weeks, this year’s cast of City at Peace DC will debut the world premiere musical they have been working hard to create and produce for more than seven months. Save the date! Mark your calendars to be surprised, inspired, and truly transformed by an original production starring 39 young people from around the DC area. These young people aren’t just actors in a musical, but actually live the true stories behind the show. Each year, City at Peace DC provides a year-long intensive program for teens from DC, Maryland and Virginia.
Every Wednesday evening and Saturday, the group gathers to share their personal stories and explore the challenges that confront young people from racism and peer pressure to sexism and power. Through the process, they learn life-changing communication skills, embrace tolerance and diversity, and become empowered to foster change in their communities. As you can imagine, this work takes an enormous commitment of time, energy and courage. That’s why we hope you’ll join us with a friend (or ten) on April 17th, 18th or 19th (or all three!) so that we can share with you. Living in Theory will be at the historic, newly-restored Atlas Performing Arts Center.. Stay tuned for further details about the show, including how to purchase advance tickets. For questions or to purchase discounted group tickets, please contact Tom Prewitt, Managing Director at 202-319-2200 or wtprewitt@cityatpeacedc.org.

8. AMERICA’S FUTURE NOW! Conference, June 1-3 in Washington D.C.

Register today for America’s Future Now! The conference to Move America Forward - June 1 - 3, 2009 www.ourfuture.org/now.

We have the greatest opportunity for bold progressive reform in a generation. But our shot at real change is only an opportunity, not a sure thing. Every year for the last six years, thousands of progressives across America have come together at Take Back America to build the progressive movement. It is now the largest annual gathering of progressive activists and leaders in the nation’s capital. Now, the opportunities are greater and the stakes are higher: it is up to us to shape America’s Future Now! President Obama can’t do it alone. He needs an independent progressive movement behind him – to expand the limits of the debate, take on those standing in the way, and help drive the change we need. Join us in Washington June 1st, 2nd and 3rd for Take Back America in a new era with a new name: America’s Future Now!
Register today at www.ourfuture.org/now

9. Nominate A Progressive Hero by April 7th

How does change happen? A single savior? A sea of money? No. It’s the unsung hero, laboring away from the limelight, that powers the progressive movement and makes change possible. You surely know at least one of these inspiring figures who better our lives without concern for recognition. And now’s your chance to

recognize your favorite unsung hero! For the third straight year, we will be honoring one of our unsung progressive heroes at the America’s Future Now! conference (June 1-3) with the Maria Leavey Tribute Award. Nominations must be received before 11:59 PM ET on April 7, 2009.

Click here — http://www.ourfuture.org/now/marialeavey — to learn more about the rules and process, as well as about Maria’s wonderful life and selfless service.

10. Exhibition - Obamabilia: Obama-related Memorabilia from Africa

Thursday, March 26, 2009 - Friday, July 31, 2009
Location: The Library of Congress

More information:
http://www.culturaltourismdc.org/calendar2532/calendar_show.htm?doc_id=111159

Newsletter Policy
We are all volunteers with DC for Obama. The number of e-mails we can send out is limited. You can always post an event using the tools at www.barackobama.com. For the near future we will be doing this newsletter every two or three weeks but there are no guarantees. If you want us to include an event please send a plain text e-mail to Howard Park hpark4@aol.com as long as possible before your event. It is strongly preferred that your listing be sent in a 10 point, Arial font without bolded or colored fonts. We cannot include attachments of any kind. Also, please note that any and all events must be final and confirmed before we list it. DC for Obama does not currently “endorse” candidates. Under most circumstances we cannot run “corrections” or cancellations. Thanks!

Yes, we did! Yes, we can!

Howard Park, Co-Chair, DC for Obama

Gregory Jackson, Co-Chair, DC for Obama

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Anyone who had the opportunity to view the magnificent exhibit Pompeii and the Roman Villa at the National Gallery of Art benefited from being in the right place at the right time. Unlike the residents of Pompeii who were in the right place on the wrong day - the elite of Roman society (basically it was the Hamptons, Riviera, Capri,  Rehobeth Beach, Martha’s Vineyard of the day) summering away from Rome in their extravagant seaside villas with lovely decorative objects, fountains, and gardens.  Using 3-D graphics we were shown how the homes had gorgeous verandas facing the sea while the others walls blocked their views of the city avoiding the dirt and the poor.  Using computer imagery at the entrance to the exhibit you were guided through one of the grandest of Villas.  Then at the conclusion of the exhibit there was a 30 minute film detailing the artifacts and details of the exhibit.

I have not seen an exhibit mounted so beautifully since the late J. Carter Brown produced the Treasurer Houses of Britain, Treasures of Tutankhamen, or Circa 1492: The Age of Exploration exhibits.
(I have never said that before as he holds a hallowed place for me for his contribution to the City.)

The late Director Emeritus oversaw the growth of the National Gallery of Art into the museum we have today. The Pompeii exhibit reminded me of these grand exhibits with items culled from around the globe displayed amongst beautiful backdrops produced to recreate the feel of this ancient civilization. The free guide book in child or adult version is an exquisite momento from an outing to the NGA.

The day in August AD79 when Mount Vesuvius erupted burying the Roman Villas in ash and mud preserving them for posterity (thanks to a great deal of excavating) is something one studies as a child. To actually see busts of the owners of these villas - Emperors, Romans,  (including Caligula, Cesar), Scholars (Homer), statues of Gods, frescoes, bronzes, interior salons, exterior gardens of these residences was  remarkable.

The exhibit then went on to reflect upon the influence of the Ancient Greeks on the Latins, the later excavations of Pompeii and its influence on the Neo-Classical tradition in Art.  The exhibit has moved to LA and if you are out there it is certainly worth visiting.

In these tough economic times I applaud the patrons, the Museum, His Royal Highness Prince Charles, corporations, the governments, and the curators who made this possible. I also think that those of our time, just as in the past should reflect upon the meaning of “access to political elites.”  French aristocrats spent tremendous fortunes to be close to Louis XIV to remain in his good graces at the Court in Paris and in Versailles.  Our Founding Fathers Ambassadors Franklin and Jefferson spent time there on our countries behalf as well.

This is true for all other Courts which wielded power and could parcel out  opportunity, money and a future at the King or Emperor’s favor or largess.  Artisans and craftsmen including Michelangelo, DaVinci, Mozart, were all dependent on the patronage of royalty and the ruling classes.  Wonderful ceramics, textiles, palaces were created for Emperors throughout Asia and their ruling elites.

Today in Washington the facades of our buildings with their Corinthian, Doric, Ionic columns, the sculptures of Jefferson and Lincoln, Barrumundi’s painting of George Washington at the top of the Capital dome all echo this past and tradition.  The concept, evolution and execution of our democracy has evolved over millenium.

I for one appreciate the opportunity that our Nation’s Capital provides for this experience.  For no charge anyone from anywhere can see what only a few of the elite Romans would have ever seen thousands of  years ago.

Every time I visit the museums on the Mall I am thrilled to see the crowds.  On Sunday in spite of the glorious weather the large auditorium showing the 4pm movie was to capacity and the Pompeii Exhibit was full of young and old.  I wish I had not left it to the last day so I could go again!

Powered by Bookmarkify™

I received an email from OMB Watch urging me to call my elected representatives to pass S.482. However, I don’t understand what is wrong with the “poison pill” amendments that have been brought forward.  I applaud both OMB Watch and Sunlight Foundations efforts but why would they oppose some of this wording? So I sent OMB Watch this comment:
Why should donor lists be kept private? It is bad enough that there may be no oversight to political campaign contributions (i.e. license, address checks)? Why should Americans not know the names of people who are donating funds and amounts to non-profits which are lobbying organizations (oops!) I mean advocacy groups? How is that detrimental to either free speech or the legislative process? Or is it the bottom line of these organizations such as OMB Watch, Sunlight Foundation (on the left) and I suspect there are similar efforts under way on the right but as I am a liberal I don’t know what those groups are but I just don’t like entities outside of government trying to control our elected officials who are supposed to represent their constituents. We have had a democratically controlled majority since 2002 right? Now the Dems control the White House, the Senate and the Congress. Why oppose transparency? And I quote “that any good government group that dares to file complaints about members with the Senate Ethics Committee disclose its donors to the Senate” what is wrong with this? Please explain. As a Democrat I shudder when the Democrats try to prevent access to information. Does it actually take financially lucrative “non-profits” to bring forward complaints to the Senate Ethics Committee in 2009? I can’t call my legislator when I don’t understand the reason to oppose this. Please explain how this prevents your organization from doing your “mandate.” And can the electronic campaign filing be extended to Presidential campaigns? Lastly, if Americorps and other efforts are funded with US tax dollars and are government organizations why should the young people involved with those efforts not be held to the same standard on their political activities as government employees? How could that harm a young persons efforts to depoliticize these government financed groups? Please explain. Can we try to get work done, move America forward please?

Powered by Bookmarkify™

If liberals can get past the name of the author they might glean some interesting thoughts.

Systemic Failure
by Patrick J. Buchanan (more by this author)
Posted 03/20/2009 ET
Updated 03/20/2009 ET

As the U.S. financial crisis broadens and deepens, wiping out the wealth and savings of tens of millions, destroying hopes and dreams, it is hard not to see in all of this history’s verdict upon this generation.
We have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.
For how did this befall us, save through decisions that brushed aside lessons that history and experience had taught our fathers?
It all began with the corruption called sub-prime mortgages.
The motivation was not wicked. Democrats wanted to raise home ownership among African-Americans from 50 percent to the 75 percent of white folks. Rove Republicans wanted to do the same for Hispanics.
Banks were morally pressured by politicians into making home loans to folks who could not remotely qualify under standards set by decades of experience with mortgage defaults.
Made by the millions, these loans were sold in vast quantities to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. There they were packaged, converted into mortgage-backed securities and sold to the big banks. The banks put scores of billions of dollars worth on their books and sold the rest to foreign banks anxious to acquire Triple-A securities, backed by real estate in America ’s ever-booming housing market.
Computer whizzes devised exotic instruments — derivatives, which could soar in value, making instant multimillionaires, but also plummet, based on rises and dips in the underlying value of the paper.
Came now young geniuses at AIG to insure the banks against catastrophic losses, should the U.S. housing market crash. As the risk was minuscule, premiums were tiny. Payouts, however, should it come to that, were beyond AIG’s capacity.
In AIG’s Financial Products division, based in Connecticut and London , brainiacs were creating other exotic instruments, such as credit default swaps to guarantee against losses and insure profits. To keep these wunderkinds at AIG, they were promised million-dollar retention bonuses.
Who kept the game going?
The Federal Reserve, by keeping interest rates low and money gushing into the economy, created the bubble that saw housing prices rise annually at 10, 15 and 20 percent.
As the economy grew, however, the Fed began to tighten, to raise interest rates. Mortgage terms became tougher. Housing prices stabilized. Homeowners with sub-prime mortgages now found they had to start paying down principal. People losing jobs began to walk away from their houses.
Belatedly, folks awoke to the reality that housing prices could go south as well as north, and all that paper spread all over the world was overvalued, and a good bit of it might be worthless.
And, so, the crash came and the panic ensued.
Who is to blame for the disaster that has befallen us?
Their name is legion.
There are the politicians who bullied banks into making loans the banks knew were bad to begin with and would never have made without threats or the promise of political favors.
There is that den of thieves at Fannie and Freddie who massaged the politicians with campaign contributions and walked away from the wreckage with tens of millions in salaries and bonuses.
There are the idiot bankers who bought up securities backed by sub-prime mortgages and were too indolent to inspect the rotten paper on their books. There are the ratings agencies, like Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, who gazed at the paper and declared it to be Grade A prime.
In short, this generation of political and financial elites has proven itself unfit to govern a great nation. What we have is a system failure that is rooted in a societal failure. Behind our disaster lie the greed, stupidity and incompetence of the leadership of a generation.
Does Dr. Obama have the cure for the sickness that ails the republic?
He is going to borrow and spend trillions more to bring back the good old days, though it was the good old days that brought us to the edge of the abyss into which we have fallen. Then he is going to spend new trillions to give us benefits we do not now have, though the national debt is surging to 100 percent of the Gross National Product, and may reach there by 2011.
Is Obama willing to speak hard truths?
Is he willing to say that home ownership is for those with sound credit and solid jobs? Is he willing to say that credit, whether for auto loans, or student loans, or consumer purchases, should be restricted to those who have shown the maturity to manage debt — and no others need apply?
“Avarice, ambition,” warned John Adams, “would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
In this deepening crisis, what is being tested is not simply the resilience of capitalism, but the character of a people.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/20/content_11041947.htm

Thank you China news online for this information as it is the most recent information on the terrorist attack in Lahore on the Sri Lankan cricket team.  Twelve terrorists and a foreign country.  Hello does anyone in US care?

And in other news today President Obama’s pr fluff holiday wishes were responded to by Iran in its typical way - US stop oppressing Muslims, stop supporting Israel, blah blah blah.. while the Russians and Chinese continue making deals with the Iranians undermining our efforts. Good to know who your friends are.  Reminds me of the good old days when we boycotted the Yemal pipeline in Russia and Afghanistan and the Europeans jumped right in on the contracts.  You know it is just business no hard feelings?
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-fg-obama-iran21-2009mar21,0,7793027.story

So lesson two today:

terrorists do exist still

we have enemies

we have friends who are really our enemies

we have friends who are economically acting in their own best interests

And while President Obama is extending holiday wishes, a form of an olive branch, and it is being returned broken, our military ships are colliding in your neighborhood

Powered by Bookmarkify™

A ten year old asked me yesterday if the people who voted for Obama were now disappointed. This was a rather sobering question from a child who I do not regularly see. I thought a moment before speaking (something I should do more often) and replied, people voted for Obama for a variety of reasons. I suppose it would depend upon their expectations if they are disappointed. Some folks like him because he is the first African American President, others because he is young and smart, some perhaps voted for an issue - such as stem cell research, abortion rights, the war, Some voted against McCain, against Palin, against the Republican party platform, some voted against Bush. Some for Supreme Court Judges. And lastly, some voted because they thought he could fix the economy.
I don’t know if people are disappointed with him. I felt very sad since our kids are watching us. To disappoint a child is an awful thing. I should have asked her perhaps if she was disappointed.

I think our kids should know that our Presidents work very hard. That it is a big country, a bigger world with complex issues. We can all only hope that we all do our best for their tomorrows. It is a sacred trust.
I hope I see her this weekend and we can continue this discussion. We should remember that civic involvement is our only hope. The third branch of the government - the Hill really represents the people more than the Executive or the Judicial. The Executive Branch should not be in constant campaign mode but in leadership mode. Our Judges should be occasionally amongst the people so they appreciate theirs is not just an academic exercise as they only review very few of the cases awaiting them. And the Representatives should respect the voice of their constituents. We should all remember the future generations as we engage in this democratic exercise.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

CIO position available, Washington DC, must have paid taxes, not hired illegal immigrants, avoided Federal investigations, sexual misconduct charges not good either, prefer Democrat but Republicans considered, working knowledge of Hill and Executive Branch not required. Security Clearance required but admitted use of illegal substance not a problem.

Sense of humor required.

From Computer World
Kundra takes leave, Google raises privacy flags
By Nancy Weil

March 13, 2009 (IDG News Service) Well, at least the issue is not unpaid taxes this time — but Vivek Kundra, the brand-new, first-ever federal CIO after just a few days on the job is already on a leave of absence after the office of the Washington, D.C., CTO was raided by federal agents. Kundra had been the District’s CTO before President Barack Obama appointed him the nation’s CIO. In other news, Google peeved privacy advocates by announcing a behavioral advertising program and separately saying it is testing a new service that will transcribe voice-mail messages and make them searchable.

1. Kundra takes leave of absence from federal CIO post: The Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the offices of the Washington, D.C., CTO and arrested its acting security director and a contractor on bribery charges. While that would have been enough of a headline, the real news of the story is that President Barack Obama’s newly appointed federal CIO — the nation’s first ever — had until last week been the CTO of Washington, D.C. Vivek Kundra has not been implicated in the ongoing FBI investigation, but he quickly announced he will take a leave of absence as the nation’s CIO.

Powered by Bookmarkify™