| Start: | Feb 9, '08 10:00a |
| Location: | Red Rock Canyon |
Friday, February 8, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Romney Suspends Campaign - USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-02-07-romney_N.htm?csp=34
This surprised me.
"Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney suspended his presidential campaign Thursday, telling a convention of conservative activists a protracted fight with John McCain would only aid the Democrats.
"I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must stand aside for our party and our country,"
This surprised me.
"Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney suspended his presidential campaign Thursday, telling a convention of conservative activists a protracted fight with John McCain would only aid the Democrats.
"I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must stand aside for our party and our country,"
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
A President Like My Father - New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/opinion/27kennedy.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
By CAROLINE KENNEDY
Published: January 27, 2008
OVER the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama.
My reasons are patriotic, political and personal, and the three are intertwined. All my life, people have told me that my father changed their lives, that they got involved in public service or politics because he asked them to. And the generation he inspired has passed that spirit on to its children. I meet young people who were born long after John F. Kennedy was president, yet who ask me how to live out his ideals.
Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.
We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama. It isn’t that the other candidates are not experienced or knowledgeable. But this year, that may not be enough. We need a change in the leadership of this country — just as we did in 1960.
Most of us would prefer to base our voting decision on policy differences. However, the candidates’ goals are similar. They have all laid out detailed plans on everything from strengthening our middle class to investing in early childhood education. So qualities of leadership, character and judgment play a larger role than usual.
Senator Obama has demonstrated these qualities throughout his more than two decades of public service, not just in the United States Senate but in Illinois, where he helped turn around struggling communities, taught constitutional law and was an elected state official for eight years. And Senator Obama is showing the same qualities today. He has built a movement that is changing the face of politics in this country, and he has demonstrated a special gift for inspiring young people — known for a willingness to volunteer, but an aversion to politics — to become engaged in the political process.
I have spent the past five years working in the New York City public schools and have three teenage children of my own. There is a generation coming of age that is hopeful, hard-working, innovative and imaginative. But too many of them are also hopeless, defeated and disengaged. As parents, we have a responsibility to help our children to believe in themselves and in their power to shape their future. Senator Obama is inspiring my children, my parents’ grandchildren, with that sense of possibility.
Senator Obama is running a dignified and honest campaign. He has spoken eloquently about the role of faith in his life, and opened a window into his character in two compelling books. And when it comes to judgment, Barack Obama made the right call on the most important issue of our time by opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning.
I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.
I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.
By CAROLINE KENNEDY
Published: January 27, 2008
OVER the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama.
My reasons are patriotic, political and personal, and the three are intertwined. All my life, people have told me that my father changed their lives, that they got involved in public service or politics because he asked them to. And the generation he inspired has passed that spirit on to its children. I meet young people who were born long after John F. Kennedy was president, yet who ask me how to live out his ideals.
Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.
We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama. It isn’t that the other candidates are not experienced or knowledgeable. But this year, that may not be enough. We need a change in the leadership of this country — just as we did in 1960.
Most of us would prefer to base our voting decision on policy differences. However, the candidates’ goals are similar. They have all laid out detailed plans on everything from strengthening our middle class to investing in early childhood education. So qualities of leadership, character and judgment play a larger role than usual.
Senator Obama has demonstrated these qualities throughout his more than two decades of public service, not just in the United States Senate but in Illinois, where he helped turn around struggling communities, taught constitutional law and was an elected state official for eight years. And Senator Obama is showing the same qualities today. He has built a movement that is changing the face of politics in this country, and he has demonstrated a special gift for inspiring young people — known for a willingness to volunteer, but an aversion to politics — to become engaged in the political process.
I have spent the past five years working in the New York City public schools and have three teenage children of my own. There is a generation coming of age that is hopeful, hard-working, innovative and imaginative. But too many of them are also hopeless, defeated and disengaged. As parents, we have a responsibility to help our children to believe in themselves and in their power to shape their future. Senator Obama is inspiring my children, my parents’ grandchildren, with that sense of possibility.
Senator Obama is running a dignified and honest campaign. He has spoken eloquently about the role of faith in his life, and opened a window into his character in two compelling books. And when it comes to judgment, Barack Obama made the right call on the most important issue of our time by opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning.
I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.
I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.
Barack Obama - Yes We Can music video
Supporter-created video of Barack's speech after the New Hampshire Primary
Friday, February 1, 2008
U23D
| Rating: | ★★★★★ |
| Category: | Movies |
| Genre: | Other |
I wanted to see the new concert movie U23D for a couple reasons. 1- I love U2, 2- I enjoyed the Vertigo tour and wanted to see concert footage.
I had heard reviews of this movie on the radio- "The First Live-Action 3D Digital Concert Movie." Wow- sounds impressive.
It was absolutely amazing, way beyond expectation. I saw this at an IMAX Theater. From what I had recalled about the old 3D movies (was that in the '80's?), I wasn't expecting Bono to jump out and sit in my lap.... Can I tell you? He did. Bono sat in my lap. Ok, maybe not exactly, but pretty darn close.
The 3D was incredible, but it wasn't just that it was in 3D. They also did some creative editing to overlay images, whether it be the band, or fans, or graphics, or words, layered over itself to really take extreme advantage of the 3D technology.
But wait, there's more. The digital surround sound. It sounded a zillion times better than the concert actually did when I saw them, and even better than the album. It was loud. **Warning- if you are someone who wears earplugs to live concerts, either bring them to this, or stay home. The sound was so loud it was all you could hear. If you wanted to chat with the person sitting next to you, forget it (but you won't want to).
I didn't want to sit too close to the screen because the last time I saw an IMAX film, I remembered feeling a little too close. So I sat mid way back. It didn't matter though, Bono was literally in my lap and would have been no matter where I sat. **Warning- if you are someone who gets dizzy sitting in the first 10 rows of a theater, this film may not be for you.
So about the footage- If you didn't already know that The Edge is a god, you will after seeing this. It will give you new appreciation for all of the band members, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, The Edge and of course Bono. The close ups and layered images take you all around the stage. You can drum along with Larry, you can strum the bass with Adam. It was like nothing I have ever seen before.
And if you have ever wondered how someone could shell out big bucks (over $100+) for a concert ticket, the footage of the fans explains it all. You may not be one of these people, who thoroughly appreciates a live show at any cost, singing and jumping along to every song, but there is no way you can deny the true raw feelings when you see the fans (in 3D digital clarity) swaying and screaming along to the music.
I know I had a smile on my face during the entire hour and a half (more like 1.25). If it is playing in digital IMAX 3D near you, go see it before it leaves. You will never get to see it like that again.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
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