phyncke

I am still alive — and not infected with covid19. I had a test recently and it was negative — very glad about that. It took five days to get the test results so I laid low while I waited. I was not symptomatic but they have a testing site in my town and I wanted to make sure I was not an asymptomatic spreader of the virus. You never know, right? Could have been.

I cannot tell you how awful it is in the states right now. We are resting our hopes on the election in November. Trump tweeted that he wanted to try and delay that but he has no authority to do so. Only Congress can do that and that won't happen — Republicans and Democrats agree on this. No delay. But it just shows you that Trump is a total idiot to tweet something like that and he does not really understand what he can and cannot do. He truly does not know. He thinks he can just tweet it and it will happen. That is kind of magical thinking.

We laid to rest one of our great Civil Rights leaders today — John Lewis. He marched with Martin Luther King, Jr and was a Congressman for many years. A really good man. Obama spoke at his funeral today which was televised. Very emotional day for all sorts of reasons — because we still have so far to go on these issues that this man dedicated his life to. He left us words to go on and I hope we continue his work — voting rights, equal rights. We need to do this. Anyway. It was very emotional watching Obama speak today.

So I am back at work now. I took last week off for vacation. I had planned to go to Southern Oregon for part of that but we decided not to go due to the pandemic and just stayed here and did local things. Traveling did not seem like a good idea — staying at a hotel — did not seem safe and it all seemed risky so better safe than sorry. It was good to unplug and relax and the weather here was great. It would have been unbelievably hot in Oregon so it all worked out.

I am going to be working from home through January 2021 and it might even be longer than that depending on how things go. Things are not going so well here and the numbers are going in the wrong direction. They don't want to shut things down but ultimately — what are we going to do — let the numbers keep going up like this? Lunacy. Shut it down.

Anyways — that is where I am at — home — here and doing ok. Hope all is well with you. I feel like I am witness to the total failure of my country to respond to this crisis.

Stay safe and healthy where you are. Love comments!

The incoming President is not my President. Barack Obama is MY President. I just got this letter to my email because I have written to the White House on matters that concern me. I always get a response and it is always on point. I cannot tell you how discouraged I am about this transition. But this is what the letter said today.
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One of the most important things I’ve done as President is read messages from Americans like you. And whether you sat down to write me a letter back in 2009 or just last week, I wanted to say thank you for writing.

Letters like yours have given me the chance to hear the real stories that make up the ever changing narrative of America. They are stories of your setbacks and successes, your fears and your hopes not just for today—but for the country and the world we’ll leave to our children and our grandchildren. I want you to know that I was listening. I heard your stories. And you made me a better President.
In 2014, a young mom took a chance and shared her family’s story with me. She said she knew that “staying silent about what you see and what needs changing never makes any difference.” She was right. And so, while serving you has been the greatest privilege of my life, I want you to know that when

I leave the White House, I’ll still hold the most important title of all: that of citizen.

And as a proud American citizen, I believe that we are a constant work in progress. Our success has never been certain. None of our journey has been preordained. There’s always been a gap between our highest ideals and the reality we witness every day. But what makes us exceptional—what makes us Americans—is that we have fought wars, and passed laws, and reformed systems, and organized unions, and staged protests, and launched mighty movements to close that gap. To bring the promise and the practice of America into closer alignment. To form that more perfect union.

So our collective future depends on our collective willingness to uphold our duties as citizens: to vote, to speak out, and to stand up for others knowing that each of us is only here because somebody, somewhere, stood up for us. And for the rest of my days, I promise I will be right there alongside you, continuing to do my part to build a better, more prosperous, more diverse and inclusive America—an
America with a future full of hope.

From all of us in the Obama family—thank you for writing.

All the best,
Barack Obama

I got this message from Obama through the campaign channels...

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Jane --

I'm about to go speak to the crowd here in Chicago, but I wanted to thank you first.

I want you to know that this wasn't fate, and it wasn't an accident. You made this happen.

You organized yourselves block by block. You took ownership of this campaign five and ten dollars at a time. And when it wasn't easy, you pressed forward.

I will spend the rest of my presidency honoring your support, and doing what I can to finish what we started.

But I want you to take real pride, as I do, in how we got the chance in the first place.

Today is the clearest proof yet that, against the odds, ordinary Americans can overcome powerful interests.

There's a lot more work to do.

But for right now: Thank you.

Barack

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I am thrilled that he won and relieved more than anything. Four more years!

I got this in my email today.

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Dear Jane,

I am not writing to you as a black voter, or a woman voter, or as a voter who is over 70 years old and six feet tall. I am writing to you as a representative of this great country -- as an American.

It is your job to vote. It is your responsibility, your right, and your privilege. You may be pretty or plain, heavy or thin, gay or straight, poor or rich.

But remember this: In an election, every voice is equally powerful -- don't underestimate your vote. Voting is the great equalizer.

Voting has already begun in some states that President Obama needs to win. (redacted hyperlinked thing)

As a country, we can scarcely perceive the magnitude of our progress.

My grandmother and my uncle experienced circumstances that would break your heart. When they went to vote, they were asked impossible questions like, "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" When they couldn't answer, they couldn't vote.

I once debated with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. about whether an African American would ever be elected president. He believed it would happen within the next 40 years at the time -- I believed it would never happen within my lifetime.

I have never been happier to have been proven wrong.

And since President Barack Obama's historic election, we've moved forward in courageous and beautiful ways. More students can afford college, and more families have access to affordable health insurance. Women have greater opportunities to get equal pay for equal work.

Yet as Rev. King wrote, "All progress is precarious."

So don't sit on the sidelines. Don't hesitate. Don't have any regrets. Vote.

Go, rise up, and let your friends and family in early vote states know where they can vote today. We must make our voices heard:

http://my.barackobama.com/Help-Your-Friends-Vote-Early

Your vote is not only important. It's imperative.

Thank you,

Dr. Maya Angelou

Leading up the President's speech was Joe Biden and I missed the earlier stuff as I was out eating from the Berkeley Food Truck thing, Off the Grid in my neighborhood. Had some really great food. My friend, S*** and I from work catch food on our way home so we don't have to cook dinner. It is nice and we split things so it is not that expensive.

I think Obama is doing a good job here. Lots of blue tonight at the convention...blue ties and suits for the men. I am glad that Clinton is canvassing for this President, that will help. Things I notice is that the convention audience is very diverse here on all counts - age, sex, race - the composition is more interesting than the GOP. I feel more in watching that this is our party and more representative and that all groups are here in that hall. I could not say that about the GOP - with token representation and the same people shown over and over.

All in all - a strong showing for the Democrats - good speakers - no wasted time - no dead air - no Clint Eastwood WTF moments here. Good job guys. Take it home and four more years.

I loved Michelle Obama's dress at the Democratic National Convention. The lovely pinks with orange in it. I found myself thinking that I was so glad she did not wear blue - Ann Romney wore blue all during their convention and that would have been too much. Michelle Obama really stands out against the blue background there in her dress, a stark contrast to the blue behind her. And she has terrific shoulders and she looks fabulous. A longer look reveals that the dress has blue on the bottom of it, ringing the hem, but the overall sense is that it is a pink dress.

I could say a lot about the speakers tonight but this is my shallow thought for tonight. I had a not so great day at work today and this is what I want to post.

CNN calls it "one heck of a night" for the Dems. I think they are doing well. Good speakers and a solid line up. CNN also says, "the overall evening worked the best."

Anyhoo. Moody me here and I don't feel like analyzing politics. I did like her dress though. Is that shallow? Yes!

Did Obama say that millionaires have to pay their fair share in taxes (30%)!? Yes, yes I think he did! Did he call for a tax cut and ask for that to be passed? Yes, yes I think he did!

He is nailing this!

I still feel that he is MY President. He has my vote for sure. Hang all those crazy Republican candidates!

After some research here is the full list of the Oscar's nominees for 2012. I am excited that Moneyball and the Descendant's are in the running as I saw both of those films and really enjoyed those. No predictions on this yet but here is the big list with all the nominations. I am also including the link to the source post (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/24/oscar-nominations-2012-list_n_1225956.html

And an analysis of the nominations here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/24/oscar-nominations-2012-surprises-and-snubs_n_1227459.html?1327419017

( Oscar's Nominations 2012 )

I am unsure whether or not I am watching the Oscar's this year. I know. I may or may not. I cannot decide if I am going to spend the time doing that. So will see.

One thing I will be doing is watching the State of the Union tonight. Go Obama!


by lotrangel17

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Our current one. Obama! The republicans are a pack of idiots IMHO and their economic policies are designed to sink the middle class below the poverty level. Just an observation in reflection on this topic.


by fitty