The President's 100th Day Hoopla Is Over Now

It's finally over. The over-sensationalized news media fixation also known as the "First 100 Days of the Obama Presidency" is now a wrap.
Jon Stewart did a fantastic piece on The Daily Show last night on the topic. I had to wait 24 hours for it leave my mind before I attempted to take a look at this.

Firstly, I think the 100 days timeframe goes back to the Kennedy Administration to when JFK said the President Of The United States' job should not be measured by one hundred days, but by one thousand days. But he got merked, so what did he know. 100 days it is, the media purports.
And holy Shi'ite Muslim Sectarian Party did the television news media have a field day, fuck - a field month with this 100 day nonsense.
But the BBC put together a very substantive, comprehensive analysis of the developments of the new administration

Also an interactive map that sees how the world views Barack Obama
Here's my $0.02 [soon to be adjusted for inflation]
It's 100 days! 100 days following 2920 days of damage. I'm no mathematician, but I think the task of a new Presidential administration to accomplish some meaningful new policies and restore and sustain prosperity and betterment for its nation needs to be more than 14 weeks.
This is just like people to put so much pressure on a brother.
Off the top of my head, the new Administration has rolled out new bailouts for more banks and now automakers. Guantanamo Bay's closure is in full effect.
Accountability on the interrogative torture methods are out in the open - the Neo-Cons have had their vacations abruptly interrupted.
The doors to new healthcare reform have been reopened. Alternative energies are being explored, cultivated. Those Green jobs the President promised in his campaign, I've heard from a couple of people who now have them.

Much of the campaign promises have been realized already. The only thorn I see in Obama's side is the War in Afghanistan. But most of all, like many will find in the above links, people are finding the President to be the antithesis to Governor Bush and his 8 years in stolen office.

29 Brilliant Music Videos

Stumbled onto this page some time ago. Definitely is a nice collection of videos, some of that didn't get enough attention when they dropped.

Videos by:

UNKLE
Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue
Radiohead
Moby
The Strokes
Arctic Monkeys
Sigur Ros
The Avalanches
Blur
Boards Of Canada
Daft Punk
RJD2

29 Brilliant Music Videos

The January Thaw

Something I recognized once was that January is typically an uneventful month - here in the States. It may be on a symbolic level; a new beginning (as far as the calendar makes it)
It may be the culmination of the previous year with the end of the holiday season, for all its greatness and woes, has forced us all to slow down. So we can work our way back to to it again.

I always take politicians words with a bag of salt. I learned this from my old man.
I was in junior high when Bush Sr. was running for President.
H.W.'s centerpiece campaign promise was, "Read my lips, no new taxes!"
He was elected for one term. Only to generate new taxes.

In the essence of time and importance, I'll leave it to that sole example.

I noticed something different this week. My Web news feeds used to have 2, maybe 3 - very predictable articles about the same U.S. governmental policies at work. The radio reported it similar, a few pieces on the stalemate positions, punctuated with some concern.
It's interesting to see those same news feeds - with now 4 to 6 articles on new, somewhat surprising executive moves:

Gitmo - otherwise known as Guantanamo Bay - in the beginning stages for shutdown.
Waterboarding, and all forms of interrogative torture methods - BANNED
Economic Stimulus - this one based on rebuilding U.S. infrastructure (highways, roads, bridges) - being written up for a bill as I type this

I have my feelings about all three of these major game-changers, but I want to hear some of yours. So leave a comment below.

The Line Between The Internet & Television Begins To Blur

Once upon a time, right here at this little blog of mine, I made mention and gave props to a fledgling cable network called 'The Tube." It was the only TV network in this age of new information and new media that continuously played music videos. Well, they folded a couple of years ago due to financial difficulties.

In the middle of this year during my obsessive viewership of the Presidential primaries, I tuned into "Current TV"
This is a description off their website:

Since its inception in 2005, Emmy award-winning Current TV has been the world's leading peer-to-peer news and information network. Current is the only 24/7 cable and satellite television network and Internet site produced and programmed in collaboration with its audience. Current connects young adults with what is going on in their world, from their perspective, in their own voices.

With the launch of Current.com, the first fully integrated web and TV platform users can participate in shaping an ongoing stream of news and information that is compelling, authentic and relevant to them.

Current pioneered the television industry's leading model of interactive viewer created content (VC2). Comprising roughly one-third of Current's on-air broadcast, this content is submitted via short-form, non-fiction video "pods". Viewer Created Ad Messages (VCAMs) are also open to viewer's participation.

Current's programming ranges from daily pop culture coverage to political satire in "SuperNews," unprecedented music journalism in "The Current Fix," and unique insights into global stories through Vanguard and Citizen Journalism.

Yeah, that's what it is.

Interesting.

Innovative.

Interactive.

I should contact their marketing department and sell them that. :-)

And here's where it is on your TV:

• channel 358
  directv
• channel 196
  dish network
• channel 107
  comcast
• channel 189
  at&t u-verse
• check listings
  time warner

The People Have Spoken

Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States. A new day is near, where like Dr. Martin Luther King once proclaimed, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
A sea change of culture and the way we view each other is coming. Whether it is evident in the most backwards and devolved areas of this country, the ripple has already been sent out in the ocean of humanity when my nation, my nation! finally can elect someone no matter what bullshit the conservative media filtered out on the airwaves, they elected the person who is the best qualified for the job ahead.

As Decision2008 Comes Around The Final Corner....

I pulled this off from Gallup.com right now,

These are the stats on the race as of early Monday morning

Election 2008

Democrats Lead Big on Generic Ballot

Double-digit lead among likely voters is biggest since 1980

November 2, 2008

Gallup’s final pre-election allocated estimate of the national 2008 vote for Congress gives the Democrats a 12 percentage-point lead over the Republicans among traditional likely voters, 53% to 41%.More ...

Final Presidential Estimate: Obama 55%, McCain 44%

Independents break for Obama, boosting Obama’s broad Democratic base

November 2, 2008

As the 2008 presidential campaign draws to an end, the final USA Today/Gallup pre-election poll shows Barack Obama with a 55% to 44% advantage over John McCain in the allocated estimate of the 2008 presidential vote.More ...

Gallup Daily: Obama Continues to Outpace McCain

Holds 8-point lead among “traditional likely voters”

November 2, 2008

Barack Obama leads John McCain by eight percentage points among “traditional likely voters,” 51% to 43%, with 5% undecided. His lead stretches to nine points among “expanded likely voters” and a theoretical 11 points among all eligible voters.More ...

Life Satisfaction Predicts Voter Preferences

Satisfied Republicans Prefer McCain; Optimistic Democrats Prefer Obama

November 1, 2008

Republicans who are more satisfied with their current lives more strongly prefer McCain in the presidential election. The preferences of Democrats have more to do with their expectations about their future lives. Those who expect to be more satisfied in the future more strongly prefer Obama.More ...

Gallup Daily: Obama 52%, McCain 42% Among Likely Voters

Largest lead for Obama among likely voters to date

November 1, 2008

Barack Obama leads John McCain in Gallup Poll Daily tracking interviewing conducted Wednesday through Friday by a 52% to 42% margin in both of Gallup’s likely voter models. Obama leads by a similar 52% to 41% margin among all registered voters.More ...

Blacks Appear Poised for High Turnout

Constitute 11% of both of Gallup's likely voter groups, up from 8% in 2004

October 31, 2008

Blacks constitute a higher percentage of Gallup’s projected likely voter pool than in previous elections, based on increased thought given to the election and greater self-reported likelihood of voting. They are also far more likely to report having been contacted by Obama’s campaign than by McCain’s.More ...

Update: Little Evidence of Surge in Youth Vote

Obama campaign has contacted about one in three 18- to 29-year-olds

October 31, 2008

Gallup continues to find scant evidence to suggest a surge in young voter turnout compared to other age groups or to the 2004 election. Twice as many 18- to 29-year-olds report that the Obama campaign has contacted them in recent weeks (31%) as report that the McCain campaign has done so (16%).More ...

Obama Retains Slight Edge Over McCain on Taxes

Americans still more likely to say Obama will increase taxes

October 31, 2008

After two consecutive weeks of a tit-for-tat over tax policy between John McCain and Barack Obama, Americans continue to favor Obama over McCain on taxes, but Obama’s edge is only 6 percentage points, smaller than it was in mid-October.More ...

Gallup Daily: Obama’s Lead Widens Some on All Bases

Advances to 8-point lead among “traditional likely voters”

October 31, 2008

Barack Obama holds an eight percentage point lead over John McCain among “traditional likely voters” -- 51% to 43% -- his largest margin to date using this historical Gallup Poll voter model. He leads by nine points among “expanded likely voters.”

Politics And Hip-Hop (Like It Should Be)

This track was passed on to me the other night. A politically charged hip-hop track, free for the taking:

Meet The Press