Obama

2008 In Review: World Affairs — One of the biggest challenges facing the incoming Obama administration is repairing the damage to our international image. What do you think?... [Tags: challenges, international image, obama, world affairs]

Net’s Still Neutral (For Now) — Net neutrality is officially a real topic again, I guess. Heck, it’s on the front page of the Wall Street Journal this AM so it must be important, right? Sorry for the cynicism first thing on Monday but after reading a rather lengthy report on the threat to net neutrality that is being spearheaded by Google I feel like I may have actually gotten up on the wrong side of the bed after all. I’ll summarize. Google is doing some behind the scenes negotiating to create an internet fast lane that would give those who could pay for it a... [Tags: ceo eric schmidt, consistent stance, content delivery, cynicism, eric schmidt]

Mark Green: 7 Days: Kuttner on Economic Crisis, with Huffington, Reagan & Green — Interview of Bob Kuttner, author of Obama's Challenge, Dec. 12, 2008 How soon before the headline, "GOP to Detroit: Drop Dead?" While Republicans throw $700 billion to Wall Street but complain about a $14 billion loan for blue collar workers, Bob Kuttner explains why this should be a transforming economic and political moment for Obama. MARK GREEN: How big a flop was round one in the bailout approach -- the $700 billion for Wall Street? ROBERT KUTTNER: It's been a flop in almost every respect. I mean, you recall they started out saying they were going to take this money... [Tags: american tax payers, auto industry, bailout, billion dollars, blue collar workers]

Huff TV: Arianna On "Larry King," Talks Blagojevich Scandal — Arianna appeared on "Larry King" Friday night, where she discussed what may have motivated Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and how the attempt to connect Obama and Blagojevich is off the mark. WATCH: Arianna on what motivated Blagojevich WATCH: Arianna on the Obama/Blagojevich connection... [Tags: arianna, friday night, governor rod blagojevich, huff, illinois governor]

Amitai Etzioni: Stimulate Greening in the Public Square II — A good debate has started as to the size of the stimulus package the economy badly needs, and above all regarding what it should include. I suggest that paying in part for the greening of all public facilities should be included. I urge focusing on public facilities because these are much more amenable to guidance from the government, and hence one can expect much bang for the buck and much quicker results than if one deals with the private sector. We first called for greening public facilities here on September 5th, 2008. On Saturday, December 6th, President-elect Obama announced, as... [Tags: amitai etzioni, december 6th, economic plan, energy bill, federal buildings]

The search for a good Obama mimic — If there's one thing this country needs — other than a cosmic bailout — it's a decent Obama impersonator. Saturday Night Live's Fred Armisen, a 42-year-old comedian of white and Asian heritage, just doesn't cut it, at least according to the President-elect, who said of Armisen during the presidential campaign, "Compared to Tina Fey and what she's doing with Governor Palin, my imitator isn't doing as great of a job..."... [Tags: asian heritage, bailout, comedian, governor palin, imitator]

One of eBay's Problems, Illustrated (EBAY) — eBay (EBAY) users will give you dozens of reasons why eBay has gone to the dogs, and one of them is that the feedback system is all screwed up. A current example would seem to illustrate this point. The seller who just put Obama's senate seat up for sale on eBay has a 100% positive feedback rating:... [Tags: dogs, dozens, ebay, ebay users, feedback system]

Obama's Senate Seat For Sale On eBay — Buy the seat Illinois governor Blagojevich tried to sell. Just 9 hours left. Current bid: $99,999,999!... [Tags: ebay, illinois governor blagojevich, obama, senate seat]

Report: Major Cyber Security Overhaul Needed — Cyber security is one of President-elect Obama's many concerns when he becomes president next month...... [Tags: cyber security, obama, president elect]

Dwayne Raymond: Will We Electronically Neuter The President? — Within the election of Mr. Obama resides the reality that he is a man who lives comfortably with his Blackberry and, because of that, inherently understands how the world now works. Clearly he is more in tune with the average American than any of his predecessors and likely those who competed with him for the job. The President-Elect values the primacy of immediate communication and its incalculable importance to not only rapidly exchanging ideas with his cabinet but, by extension, the country. Every shift of national thinking in the past coincided with the maturity of a technological advancement. FDR embraced... [Tags: bush administration, case in point, decider, direct dialogue, economic revolution]

Gates and the National Defense Strategy — For what have been described as reasons of "continuity," President-elect Obama has chosen to retain Robert Gates as his Secretary of Defense, at least for the short term.  It's of no small interest, then, to see what Secretary Gates has post-Obama-nod to say about his vision for the future of the military.  Just how much continuity are we in for?  As it turns out, Gates’ article in the January/February issue of Foreign Affairs, posted Dec. 5,  claims basically to be a summary and affirmation of the 23-page Department of Defense 2008 National Defense Strategy, published in June.  (PDF)   It... [Tags: affirmation, class technology, defense strategy, deterrence, enhancing security]

Sunday Talk - Natural Born Thriller — With the Supreme Court widely expected to keep his secret, Barack Hussein Obama looks to be well on his way to becoming the 44th President of the United States on January 20th. But Inauguration Day can't come soon enough for some people... they want Obama to start being President now, arguing that the current President is missing in action. You know who else was missing in action? Hint: It's not Rahm Emanuel. Check under the fold for the answer and other assorted goodies.... [Tags: 44th president, assorted goodies, inauguration day, january 20th, missing in action]

Open Thread and Diary Rescue — This evening's Rescue Rangers are mem from somerville, vcmvo2, srkp23, HansScholl, sunspark says, and joyful, with watercarrier4diogenes at the wheel of the Editmobile. The Rangers have sifted and sorted through 229 diaries to bring you these 15 great examples of the excellent writing and breadth of subjects that Teh Orange has become known for. In an extensive and copiously sourced review, Unenergy examines a slew of water-based alternative energy strategies: A school of electric fish. 20 new wave power ideas. (mem from somerville) In our "post-racial" America, NLinStPaul relates the tale of a man of color who was nearly sentenced... [Tags: baby steps, darwinism, electric fish, energy strategies, glimmer of hope]

Scotland Crafts Own World-Beating Climate Bill — Image from amandabhslater If you liked Obama's proposed climate agenda, then you'll love Scotland's. Not only would it require an 80 percent cut in carbon dioxide emissions below 1990 levels by mid-century, it would also require equivalent reductions from the five other major greenhouse gases. Emission levels would have to be reduced 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. Unlike most other international variants, it would target shipping and aviation emissions as well,... [Tags: aviation, carbon dioxide emissions, climate agenda, crafts, emission levels]

The GOP's "Yes We Can" — by Chris BodennerNYU prof. Clay Shirky discusses the underappreciated impact of "Dear Mr. Obama," which he calls "the single most affecting video of the election": I am an anti-Iraq-war Democrat, and it nevertheless brought tears to my eyes (and I don't cry easy -- will.i.am's Yes We Can left me fairly cold.) ...It was seen 13 million times in 3 months, which topped Obama Girl in absolute views, and I've got a Crush...on Obama was up a year and a half. ... The video was largely circulated via homophilous forwarding along conservative channels. Despite the incredible viewership, I'm betting that... [Tags: argumentation, circles, clay shirky, dear mr, democrat]

45 days to Inauguration – BULLETIN: Obama unveils 21st century New Deal, adding sweep and meat to his jobs plan and moving much of his domestic agenda under "economic recovery" — More than 18 publishers have expressed interest in David Plouffe's book.... [Tags: david plouffe, domestic agenda, economic recovery, inauguration, jobs]

Dear Oprah: Power doesn't equal popularity — Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Daytime, Celebrities, Talk ShowI guess I'm not surprised to hear that Oprah Winfrey has been named the most powerful woman in entertainment. You can read the full list here, in The Hollywood Reporter's 17th annual "Women in Entertainment: Power 100" special issue. OK, here's the thing about this. I really do get why Oprah is powerful. She's in charge of her own show (remember years ago when she fought to gain control and fired a bunch of people?); she's launched a bunch of other shows, including Rachel Ray, Dr. Phil, and maybe Dr. Oz coming up;... [Tags: africa, celebrities, dr oz, dr phil, girls]

Friday PM Linkage — [Fun with HDR, courtesy Curbed SF Flickr photog JMSF415] &#183 "Architecture without architects": the crusty modernism of Star Wars [3C] &#183 Tidal turbine company knows all about the motion of the ocean [AP] &#183 Obama's wax doppelganger coming to Fisherman's Wharf [SJ Merc] &#183 Treasury's housing pill "more placebo than cure" [TIME] &#183 "Ghost pigeons": nasty imprints from the crash [BTU, via Boing Boing]... [Tags: amp, architecture without architects, boing boing, btu, crash]