DC Inaugural Trip

Just booked my flight to DC for Obama's Inauguration... no idea where to stay yet, but I've always been nomadic and will figure that out as I go. :)

WOOT!

Change.gov: Fair to Middlin' So Far

I've been spending time on Obama's new site, http://change.gov, because I like how he transitioned from candidate to Pres-elect using social media. My hope is that he will continue to use the techniques in office that helped him to get there.

So far, the Change.gov blog is really just a means for posting press releases. That's a bit disappointing. When I was at Unity08, the most amazing part of the movement was the ability for Americans to log in and engage each other about the issues and the possible solutions we could enact to resolve them. I truly hope that Obama keeps the people involved in the process.

I realize that the issues are complicated, but we're inspired. That inspiration means that we are willing to pay attention and learn as much as we can about the issues so that we can make an informed decision on how best to resolve them.

The site is also accepting applications for jobs... very interesting. When I was in DC someone told me once that some unfathomable number of jobs are turned-over/created when a new president enters office. So, I really like that Obama is getting a head start and opening up the administration to as many job applicants as he can. Not sure what the vetting process will be like because it is going to be massive. But hopefully, the best candidates for the available positions will be selected.

To follow the process, I submitted an application. Hey, who knows, Obama might want an online marketing machine here in the middle of the country! Here is their auto-response:

Hello Robert,

Thank you for your interest in joining the Obama-Biden Administration. Within a few days, you will receive an email with a link to the more complete on-line application. Please be patient, as we are trying to respond promptly to the large number of people who are interested in working in the Administration.

You might be able to draw some parallels to what Nike has done. Their EKIN program launches experts into the field to evangelize their products to those that use them. It is this distributed network that is a such a boon to the brand... the EKINs have a real cache about them. Obama could possibly do the same by building teams of expert individuals in regions and cities (just like campaigning) that proactively and reactively engage Americans about America.

That would definitely be Change, eh?

Letter to Red States (Including Mine... Barely)

A friend forwarded me this email and it's just too good to pass up. As much as I hoped Missouri would go blue, we fell short by a few thousand votes...

Dear Red States:
If you manage to steal this election too we've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren't aware, that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California.

To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood.

We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get 85% of America 's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama .

We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share.

Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22% lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms.

Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they're apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don't care if you don't show pictures of their children's caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq, and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to spend our resources in support of Bush's Quagmire.

With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80% of the country's fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92% of the nation's fresh fruit, 95% of America 's quality wines, 90% of all cheese, 90% of the high tech industry, 95% of the corn and soybeans (thanks Iowa!), most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford, the UC and UW systems, Cal Tech and MIT.

With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88% of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92% of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the hurricanes, 99% of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Ole Miss, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia .

We get Hollywood and Yosemite , thank you.

Additionally, we hope you realize that 38% of your population believes Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62% believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the war, the death penalty or gun laws, 44% say that evolution is only a theory, 53% that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61% of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we "Lefties."

Finally, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico.

Peace out,
Blue States

First Thing to Change: My Hope Hangover

What an incredible night!

At the last minute, I was invited to the main Democratic Watch party at the beautifully renovated Midland Theater (thanks, TessK!). I’d never been to a watch party, especially one that was likely to produce a win for my candidate. Little did I realize that the evening would be much more than just a party for me… and for the world.

When I arrived slightly after 7pm, the crowd was still sparse. Most of the local volunteers were still out on the streets doing their thing to get Democrats into office at the local, state and national levels.

I wandered around the Midland admiring the immense chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and the ornate woodcarvings on the walls. “Historic,” I thought, “this place hasn’t changed at all.” I’d been to the Midland once before when, as a child, my father brought me out to see “The Empire Strikes Back.”

As the night continued, both attendance and electoral votes were building for Obama. As CNN, the channel of choice at the party, put a state into Obama’s column, the crowd would stop their merriment and roar with delight. Pennsylvania. Indiana. OMG OHIO!

CNN reports that GOP insiders admit that the race is over, yet the crowd remains pensive. We are all waiting for the same thing, 270 electoral votes. A wave of energy—of Hope—that had been building for generations was coming to a crest.

While CNN breaks for commercials, the sound system at the Midland plays inspiring tunes such as “Change Is Gonna Come.”

“Oh, there been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long,
But now I think I’m able to carry on.
It’s been a long, a long time comin.'
But I know a change gonna come.
Oh, yes it will.”

The music takes my eyes from the projected television and prompts me to look around. White. Black. Asian. Latino. Tall. Short. Known. Unknown. Young. Old. T-shirts. Suits. Smiles. All smiles. Everyone sitting up straight or standing tall. Everyone smiling.

I was micro-blogging the event, so I tried to stay on the outside of the experience and looking in. I took a break for an Obama-dog and an ObaMerlot. In a corner of the lobby, I saw the head honcho for the Obama movement in KC pacing back and forth on her phone. Missouri wasn’t going to easily go blue, it was going to kick and scream. I could see the tension on her face; she wanted to win the battle and the war.

The wave crested around 10pm. It still gives me goosebumps to recollect the experience. The crowd counted down, 5-4-3-2-1 and CNN posted that Obama had won the election. This wave, made up of millions of hopeful Americans, flooded the Midland Theater and we all splashed about in it for countless minutes. I was no longer on the outside looking in. I was smiling, too. I was clapping, too. I was high-fiving, too. I was singing, too. The elation changed into dancing and singing. An old theater was colored with Hope. An old theater was remade into a kaleidoscope of Hope.

“YES WE CAN!”
“YES WE CAN!”

And then, I promptly got off of the wave. The very first speaker to stand at the podium kept repeating, “WE WERE RIGHT! THEY WERE WRONG!” in reference to health care, to taxation and to all the issues that were a major part of this election. “WE WERE RIGHT! THEY WERE WRONG!”

That’s not Change. That’s not Hope. That’s the same shit, different day.

Those that spoke to us were unknowingly confused. They spoke of unity, yet boasted of victory over their enemies. They spoke of Democratic success in the state that would give them license to lord over their enemies.

That’s not Change. That’s not Hope. That’s the same shit, different day.

I began to wonder if the evil Empire was the Democratic Party. Much like the Red Sox have become the hated Yankees, would the Democratic Party take the crown of hatred from the Republicans?

Congressman Cleaver took the stage. He spoke of how “YES WE CAN!” had changed to “YES WE DID!” His words brought me back to Hope. He said it was okay to strut a little bit tonight, a little bit more tomorrow and to put a skip in your step on January 20th, but that we must remember that “YES WE CAN!” is only the beginning. We have to come up with a new slogan and continue riding the wave of Hope and Unity.

McCain concedes. The watch party boos his recognition of Palin’s hard work. And just like that, division returned.

But then our Leader-elect entered the room with a calm, omniscient, kingly presence. His face filled up the screen and his spirit the entire theater. As he walked to the stage in Chicago, one of his volunteers was singing the National Anthem to us in Kansas City. Hope.

All I can recount from the emotion of Obama’s speech was what I Twittered to the world:

“Obama captured this crowd, this country, this world. We barely blink. Eyes and ears open. We're ready. Lead.”

It will be a few days before I fully realize the unprecedented nature of the experience that I had at the Midland Theater. The world is a different place this morning. I've realized that the Empire is truly the American people, the Empire is good and last night we executed the first step of a long-term plan to renew our country.

My ears are still ringing from the roar of the party last night. I’m Hoping that, at least, will Change.

For Love of the American Dream

I voted with a smile. I didn’t need to get up before the sun and stand in line, but I couldn’t sleep any longer. In fact, when I saw the line I became more exhilarated for the great opportunity that we have in this country to make a statement with our vote.

It was chilly and it took an hour to complete the task, but no one complained and absolutely no one that stood in line, or even did a drive by, turned and left. There was a sense of community amongst those nearest me in line. We were all telling jokes and talking about hope. We were liberals and conservatives, and we were there to fix the country.

However, no one was talking about politics and I find that to be a problem with our country. Just last night, a friend said to me, “Can I ask you a personal question?” He wanted to ask about my candidate preference. I have no problem talking about politics (or religion), for my freedom of speech gives me the right to do so. We ‘should’ talk about these things at the dinner table and amongst friends. “Of course,” I replied and continued with conviction, “Obama.”

There is passion in politics and that is the beauty of it! How do you form your own opinion if you don’t listen to the opinions of others? We should talk these things out whether we have a solid stance or we’re sitting on the fence. The community aspects of social marketing and Web 2.0 are making opinions more visible. I hope that will eventually make its way to the more traditional forms of media. In fact, we’re seeing some of the 24-hour news channels run opinions on their tickers and incorporate them into the newscast.

The fear machine is alive and well here in the mid-west: a Muslim, a terrorist, an illegal immigrant in the family, a harbinger of racial riots, the destruction of small business. For every person that brought these concerns to the conversation I asked, “How can you vote based on fear and not the issues?” You have to vote based on what they say they will do and, to a degree, what they have done. You have to do your homework and skim off the contextual slander to get to the foundation of the candidate.

So many people are voting based on what they think the candidate will do for/against them personally. I’ve always found that to be a faulty way to cast a ballot. It’s the hangover from issue-based, divisive voting that has made up the past couple of elections since the far right pushed to make the focus of the election such issues as abortion, flag burning, gay marriage and gun control. They did this to get more voters to the polls. I’m happy to see that more people are going to the polls for issues other than those that have historically divided us so greatly.

Vote for what is best for our country. We are a resilient, innovative population of Americans, but we need a true leader that can rally our spirit to forge a new world. It’s been a long time since there was a beacon of hope in the world. Today we have the opportunity to resuscitate the American Dream.

Go. Vote. Now.

Pizza Hut "Area Coach" Responds

Well, I'll be... Pizza Hut responds 149 hours and 33 minutes after I'd initially ordered the pizza pie to be delivered. I got this email from someone called the Area Coach Designate:

I am following up on the e-mail you sent about your experience with Pizza Hut in Kansas City, MO. I apologize for the inconvenience that you received, and I would like to talk with you about this matter. Please call me, at your convenience, at 816-xxx-xxxx.

Thank you for sharing your experience with me, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

What the heck is an Area Coach Designate? Is that kinda like Chief Yahoo!? I guess I'll find out when I make the call... he should love the story that I've got to tell. Maybe I should just point him to my blog entry, it'd be easier.

UPDATE 11/04/08: Pizza Hut Coach apologizes and offers to give me $20 credit on next order.

Updates on Latest Customer Service Woes

1. LOWE'S: Once I figured out that they thought I'd purchased a clearance fridge vs. the new fridge that I actually purchased (I got a good deal, what can I say... 30% off), then they realized that they needed to get me one that worked and wasn't disfigured. That sparkly new fridge was delivered today.*
2. PIZZA HUT: 141 hours later, I've still not received my pizza pie. The email that I took the time to send to corporate headquarters must have fallen on deaf ears, for no reply has come this way. "Who cares, he's just a moolie in Kansas City!" Didn't the Hut get its start in MO?
3. INTERNET: After 3 visits, the engineers (these guys were really thorough) determined that the line running to my unit was mis-labeled "201." That's way off.
4. CONDO UTILITIES: I still don't have gas to the stove or the fireplace. I've been asking for them to come do this for nearly three weeks. In fact, I was on the phone with the developer this morning and he thought it had already been done... the super on the site said so. WRONG! Lying-ass ^%$^&%$.
   

* Speaking of the super... I called him last Friday to ask that my front door be removed from the hinges so that they could get this new fridge in here. He didn't call me back. I saw him jump into his truck and take off on Saturday... pretty sure that he saw me and split quickly. When the delivery guys showed up this morning (Monday), I called the super once again to ask that he send someone up to remove my door.

"I've given the keys to the management company and you'll have to contact them to arrange that. For liability reasons, I won't take that door off for you."

Liability? I'm the damn condo owner, idiot. I've got delivery guys standing here right now. You want me to sign a piece of paper, fine. Okay, I didn't say all that, but I was pissed largely because he screwed me by not calling me back last week.

So, I called the management company and they didn't have anyone near me. I asked them to call the super, but he still refused to do it. In fact, the jackass said that he didn't have anyone on the property to even do it!

So, I called the developer and got on their ass about how their contracted super was screwing me. There were two men here to remove my door 10 minutes later.

The super is a lying-ass %$#%^$#.

Granny Gets Air

This is just too funny not to pass along. GO GRANNY! We could actually use some of this on the Plaza for all those idiots that don't heed pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Triple B Raps About His Digs

I know you love the Triple-B (bigBADbob) when he drops some phat lyrics about his night (last night) on the PLAZABUZZ. Check it, yo, by clickity-clicking here.