Filed under: Fun stuff | Tags: silverberg beer, wife-carrying championship
I stumbled across this gem from the AP today:
“NEWRY, Maine – A New Hampshire team that narrowly lost a year ago returned to Sunday River Ski Resort to win the ninth annual North American Wife-Carrying Championship.
Ri Fahnestock and Sarah Silverberg, friends from Dover, N.H., claimed victory Saturday and were awarded Silverberg’s weight in beer: five cases.
They also won $610 — five times Silverberg’s weight — and qualified for the World Wife-Carrying Championship in Finland.
Forty-three teams signed up to run the 278-yard course, which featured a 39-inch-high wooden hurdle, a long pit of waist-deep water, and a mound of earth.”
Still wondering why 50% of first marriages end in divorce in the United States?
Filed under: Politics | Tags: california, gay mariage, prop 8, proposition 8, same-sex mariage
I did not follow the full story and I’m certainly not a reliable source with respect to the details of the so-called “Proposition 8″. But I got one thing that is pushing me to write this post: those who are for it – and eventually got the State of California to ban same-sex mariage … again – are in no way concerned by the subject. It’s the perversion of democracy when people are asked to vote for or against something they can’t understand. Maintain the status quo is the easy answer. And not surprisingly the one that has been given. But let’s face it, it’s – at the best – a stupid answer. I only have one reason not to be against same-sex mariage, but I think it’s enough: love. Why would you vote against love if not because of hate? Think of it: why would you want to get married if not for love? Why would gays and lesbians be different? More importantly, what would it change in your straight little life to allow (my God! Think of the power you have on other’s love!) same-sex people to publicly demonstrate their love for each other? Would it diminish the love you have for your opposite-sex partner?
No really. The more I think of it, the more I’m convinced that opposing same-sex marriage is just a straight abuse of power. Because “tradition” enables us to oppose a different practice, the most intolerant among us just do so. Others don’t care – and don’t vote. What’s democracy if it enables a minority to rule over another minority while the majority remains silent! So let me speak up here and express my hate for haters and my love for lovers. Yes, same-sex marriage should be a right. And not only in California.
Filed under: Politics, Technology | Tags: american constitution, change.gov, direct democracy, joe the plumber, Obama transition website, web marketing and politics, white house
Never stop a growing business. The Obama campaign successfully leveraged about all of the web marketing techniques available to inform, motivate, frighten, amuse and ultimately, raise money. Now, the Obama company continues making the most of its web marketing skills with a new website – change.gov – online since the day after the election.
The site is aimed at maintaining the interest and support of the Internet generation that forged Obama’s election, during the government transition. It features exclusive information about the transition team and the coming administration … and offers the visitors to participate in the nation’s effort for change by giving their vision of where the president-elect should lead the country!
“There is no resource more important to change the direction of this country and define the ideas that will transform America that the American people. Give us your ideas and take part in change”. The invitation is clear: this new government understands and intends to use the direct, real-time connection to the country and voters that the Internet is providing.
An e-mail address and zip code (geography is key in the American electoral system!) is enough to be assured of getting timely announcement of new presidential cabinet members. For viral marketing, you are offered to forward the invitation to your address book … and refer to this website for information about the president-elect agenda.
The promise of direct participation of citizens in the country policies is exciting and motivating. But it is also dangerous for a constitution that bases control of executive decisions on two representative chambers … not three! Suggesting that the President will consider direct e-mails from voters might well kill their motivation to appoint representatives over time. But more importantly, citizens might also get very angry as they’ll notice that none of their great economic and social proposals sent to the White House has been answered!
Average-Joe the Plumber has already almost changed the outcome of an election. He may well take advantage of a direct democracy to collapse a constitution.
Filed under: Culture Shock, France 0 - America 1 | Tags: American presidential election 2008, French presidential election 2006, McCain concession speech, Royal concession speech
I admire the unique ability of the American people to always move on, whatever the circumstances. And I admire John McCain’s concession speech. After a year of mostly negative campaign, I was amazed hearing the defeated candidate – in an heartfelt speech – urge all Americans to support the new president of the United States – once called an “un-American, terrorist-tied socialist”. Alakazam! Forget about the bad words. It’s not a game anymore, let’s move on! Seriously my friends: we have a country to put back on track!
By contrast I can’t remember a French defeated candidate not seeking revenge, from the very minute he realizes that he lost an election. “The fight continues!”, “I’ll be back!” and “Stay tuned on my political show!” are the underlying messages of any concession speech in my country.
Bottom line, guess which president gets the wider consensus to keep the country moving? The French or the American? “Status quo” is the French word for “compromise” and “consensus” in politics.
I wish the French politicians could one day also put their “country first” and “concede” an election, for the sake of democracy. Unfortunately, the French well-accepted concession rhetoric does not help. Have a look at the video below: a French concession speech sounds very much like a French victory speech!
I can’t help but post something today. The date is historic. But as I write these lines and some citizens are still casting their vote, it is quite early to comment on the event. And when all will have voted, and all TVs, radios and blogs will have anticipated a result, it’s going to be be quite late for MY timely comment. So this will be a post without comment, but a picture. And what other picture could I choose! Especially since the only winner that I am able to project already is Marketing ($ 5.3 billion spent! Respect!).
Filed under: Everyday Life, Fun stuff, Politics | Tags: DNC Convention, George Washington, Hillary Clinton's concession speech, McCain's acceptance speech, Obama's acceptance speech, RNC Convention
Kids love making the show. Usually it’s about singing and dancing. But yesterday night, the kitchen stage became the place for politics… I took care of the media coverage, but the little politicians built their own soapbox and did not hire a writer for their speech. However, after one year of heavy campaigning, it looks like they don’t need one: they got the picture!
Kids have spoken! Let the grown-up vote now… so we may go back to some singing and dancing
