Posts Tagged "Matt"

BBC NEWS | Americas | US Elections 2008 | Obama ‘to rebuild crumbling US’

Posted by Jennifer on Dec 6, 2008 in MediaWhore | Comments Off

BBC NEWS | Americas | US Elections 2008 | Obama ‘to rebuild crumbling US’.

US President-elect Barack Obama has promised to invest in infrastructure on a scale not seen since the 1950s, when the US highway system was established.

He used his weekly address to outline that the spending would be part of his plan to create at least 2.5m new jobs in the ailing US economy.

He also spoke of the need for expanded access to high-speed internet and the modernisation of school buildings.

Unemployment rose by more than 500,000 during November, figures have shown.

That was the biggest monthly rise in job cuts since 1974, and it drove up the jobless rate to a 15-year high of 6.7%, up from 6.5% in October.

The figures came less than a week after the National Bureau for Economic Research said the US economy had been in recession since late 2007.

Mr Obama, who takes office on 20 January, has previously said that his incoming team will be tasked with generating 2.5m new jobs by 2011.

Broadband drive

On Saturday, speaking in his weekly address, Mr Obama outlined how most of that employment might be created.

We will create millions of jobs by making the single largest new investment in our national infrastructure since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s,” he said.

“We’ll invest your precious tax dollars in new and smarter ways, and we’ll set a simple rule – use it or lose it. If a state doesn’t act quickly to invest in roads and bridges in their communities, they’ll lose the money.”

The president-elect said that broadband internet connections in the US should be available to schoolchildren and hospitals.

“In the country that invented the internet, every child should have the chance to get online and… that’s how we’ll strengthen America’s competitiveness in the world,” he said.

School buildings, he continued, would be modernised and upgraded to make them energy-efficient.

The new administration, he added, would launch a massive effort to make public buildings more energy-efficient by replacing old heating systems and installing efficient light bulbs.

“Our government now pays the highest energy bill in the world – we need to change that,” he said.

I don’t mind the spending, and I love his “use it or lose it” although to my knowledge it’s always been that way. If money isn’t spent this year, you get less next year and what you don’t get, get’s diverted to another area. I thought that was why I saw my own city replacing things that didn’t need replacing (to my untrained eyes), so the money would be there next year in case they do need it for something more important. I could be wrong.

I lvoe that he is looking to create 2.5 million jobs. I don’t even know what those jobs are, but frankly, it doesn’t matter. I think I’d take a job as a street sweeper if I was out of work long enough and hungry enough.

I am still very excited about Obama. I truly believe he will bring us back around.

Today is a great birthday

Posted by Jennifer on Nov 5, 2008 in General | Comments Off

Last night I watched the news. I watched the coverage on CNN of the election. I thanked technology that we can see who won so quickly, and not wait for the Pony Express to make it’s way across hill and dale to report who won in the western most states.

I cried last night, well, teared up at the least, because President Elect Obama’s grandmother wasn’t here to see him be the choice of the people. Because he was overwhelmingly the choice of the people. This wasn’t the “too close to count” race of 2000. This wasn’t the disappointment of 2004. This was an overwhelming outpouring of support.

He gave a speech worthy of ID4, a speech I hope they will be replaying for days, weeks, to come.

I haven’t written much on him. I truly believe he is our every man. We’ve elected someone who is young and has most of America’s interest at heart (most, because obviously, not everyone wants what he wants, I’m OK with that).

I am bowled over with happiness that McCain/Palin did not get this honor. Why? Their politics scare me. Their belief in god (big G, little g, it matters not) scares me. No god should be in charge of America. Look where it’s gotten us.

We may not see positive change this term (I would be shocked), but it is being set into motion. As early as today it is being set into motion.

I woke Dorian up last night because he wanted to stay up, but I knew it would be too late. I told him Mr. Obama won and will be our next president. I feel a little bit safer, better, more secure for my children’s futures today. It’s a little bit brighter outside. My heart is a little bit lighter.

Sure, sure. We as a people helped make history last night, but frankly, that would have happened either way (by way of a not 100% white man being elected, or by way of someone with a uterus being elected). What our country did was put aside most of it’s differences. What our country did was really take a look around and understand that we can’t keep on the path we’re on. So we’re going to veer a little bit now. We’ll head in the right direction yet.

My generation looked past the colour of that man’s skin. I cannot wait to what change the next generation brings, and the one after that.

Le sigh

Posted by Jennifer on Nov 3, 2008 in General | Comments Off

Malachai just told me Mxxx in his class said black people should vote for a black president and white people should vote for a white president.

First of all, I bet Mxxx is hispanic, so WTF and second of all, why are six year olds worried about the colour of our presidents skin? Why are their parents pushing that bullshit on them?

I told Malachai we should vote based on who believes what we believe (and I explained about taxes, the war and same-sex marriage, albeit briefly) and not based on the colour of thei skin. It shouldn’t matter at all, and I pointed out that my skin is all sorts of different colours. He looked confused for half a second, and then told me my skin is lots of colours because I have tattoos. I said that’s right, and just because I have tattoos doesn’t mean I have to vote for a president that has them too.

You might be a serial killer, so let’s kill you before it happens

Posted by Jennifer on Nov 1, 2008 in General | Comments Off

Ah, Bank of America, how do I love thee, let me count the ways….

I am ready to pull my money away from BoA and keep it stuffed in my mattress. Yet again we have been assessed an overdraft because the computer thought we might overdraft, not because we did.

A restaurant put a hold that had to be (again) twice the amount of the bill on the card. Why? Because the charge including tax was 40$ and I had about 40$ left in the account when that charge went through.

BoA claims we “spent” the money because of the huge hold, and they also claim (and have been for months now) that online customers will be able to see said holds the same way they can in India, or wherever my call gets routed to when I call the 800 number.

I say we didn’t spend the money, obviously, because I didn’t *actually* overdraft. Michael is going down to the bank to take care of this… I had him call and I was pissed off from his side of the conversation. I won’t do well in public.

What’s kind of funny is that because of their overdraft fee, I will actually overdraft because I balance down to the dollar and my bills are about to all go to their respective places to be paid.

Can I toll you how much I hate the bank? Any bank.

What kind of a man is Obama?

Posted by Jennifer on Oct 8, 2008 in General | Comments Off

Original story in Norwegian.

Blog post where it was translated to English.

Mary lacked money to fly home to Norway – he saved her love

ÅSGÅRDSTRAND (VG): Mary was a newlywed and ready to move to Norway, but was stopped at the airport because she didn’t have enough money for the trip. Then a stranger turned up and paid for her.

Mary Menth Andersen was 31 years old at the time and had just married Norwegian Dag Andersen. She was looking forward to starting a new life in Åsgårdstrand in Vestfold with him. But first she had to get all of her belongings across to Norway. The date was November 2nd, 1988.
At the airport in Miami things were hectic as usual, with long lines at the check-in counters. When it was finally Mary’s turn and she had placed her luggage on the baggage line, she got the message that would crush her bubbling feeling of happiness.
-You’ll have to pay a 103 dollar surcharge if you want to bring both those suitcases to Norway, the man behind the counter said.
Mary had no money. Her new husband had travelled ahead of her to Norway, and she had no one else to call.
-I was completely desperate and tried to think which of my things I could manage without. But I had already made such a careful selection of my most prized possessions, says Mary.

Although she explained the situation to the man behind the counter, he showed no signs of mercy.
-I started to cry, tears were pouring down my face and I had no idea what to do. Then I heard a gentle and friendly voice behind me saying, That’s OK, I’ll pay for her.
Mary turned around to see a tall man whom she had never seen before.
-He had a gentle and kind voice that was still firm and decisive. The first thing I thought was, Who is this man?
Although this happened 20 years ago, Mary still remembers the authority that radiated from the man.
-He was nicely dressed, fashionably dressed with brown leather shoes, a cotton shirt open at the throat and khaki pants, says Mary.
She was thrilled to be able to bring both her suitcases to Norway and assured the stranger that he would get his money back. The man wrote his name and address on a piece of paper that he gave to Mary. She thanked him repeatedly. When she finally walked off towards the security checkpoint, he waved goodbye to her.

The piece of paper said ‘Barack Obama’ and his address in Kansas, which is the state where his mother comes from. Mary carried the slip of paper around in her wallet for years, before it was thrown out.
-He was my knight in shining armor, says Mary, smiling.
She paid the 103 dollars back to Obama the day after she arrived in Norway. At that time he had just finished his job as a poorly paid community worker* in Chicago, and had started his law studies at prestigious Harvard university.
In the spring of 2006 Mary’s parents had heard that Obama was considering a run for president, but that he had still not decided. They chose to write a letter in which they told him that he would receive their votes. At the same time, they thanked Obama for helping their daughter 18 years earlier.
In a letter to Mary’s parents dated May 4th, 2006 and stamped ‘United States Senate, Washington DC’, Barack Obama writes**:
‘I want to thank you for the lovely things you wrote about me and for reminding me of what happened at Miami airport. I’m happy I could help back then, and I’m delighted to hear that your daughter is happy in Norway. Please send her my best wishes. Sincerely, Barack Obama, United States senator’.
The parents sent the letter on to Mary.

This week VG met her and her husband in the café that she runs with her friend Lisbeth Tollefsrud in Åsgårdstrand.
-It’s amazing to think that the man who helped me 20 years ago may now become the next US president, says Mary delightedly.
She has already voted for Obama. She recently donated 100 dollars to his campaign.
She often tells the story from Miami airport, both when race issues are raised and when the conversation turns to the presidential elections.
-I sincerely hope the Americans will see reason and understand that Obama means change, says Mary.

*Not at all sure about this part of the translation. The Norwegian word used is ‘miljøarbeider’, I don’t know what the exact English word for that is or even if there is one, and I don’t know enough about Obama to say what job of his they’re talking about.
**This is my translation of the reporter’s translation of the letter. From English to Norwegian and back to English. So obviously it is not correct word for word.

Photo is Mary and her husband with the letter from Senator Obama.

One of the moms from Punky Moms posted this and I wante dto share the love. This is the kind of person (male or female) I want in office. Someone who cares enough to do this sort of thing is going to care enough to do all sorts of other small, but important, things.