Hello Happy Pitbulls

Celebrating the end of an era

When someone gave me a 1.20.09 sticker 3 years ago, it seemed like it would never get here.  Now, take a moment to celebrate some of the highlights of the last 8 years under the Bush administration:

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

If you fail to act, we'll tell everyone...with a widget.

Social media in government is a topic that I will be paying close attention to in 2009. I was recently selected to participate in a workgroup made up of mostly federal government web professionals, but some state government members as well.  Our task is to research and define a business case for the use of social media in government, develop educational materials, a speakers bureau, and best practices.  I'll be sharing some of my discoveries throughout this experience.

Here's the first.  Our beloved governor is expressing his dissatisfaction with our beloved legislature with this widget.

Where's Marilyn?

I just had to read about this on another blog: I guess I have been in hibernation. It's been 2 weeks since my last post.  Where the heck have I been?

If you follow me on Twitter, you'll see that I've more or less recovered from my bronchitis, and spent a bunch of time in San Francisco at a conference.  If you follow me on Twitter, you'll see that I've been spending a lot more of my time writing in short, 140-character bursts, than spending time writing here.  I guess I'm guilty of being a bit lazy.  I've also been spending lots of time on Facebook. Are you my friend yet? Friend me up!

My 25th high school reunion is coming up next year, so there's this flurry of activity and reconnecting happening with my old pals.  I went to a tiny school.  I don't even think there were 100 people in my graduating class.  The problem is, I blocked out a lot of those years from my memory.  It's kinda fun seeing what everyone is up to and how they are mostly normal people now (relatively speaking, of course).  Facebook is a great way to reconnect with people...I've even found people from my 10th grade Jewish summer camp in the Berkshires!

There's been lots of celebration about the change that's going on in our country.  Have you seen the new transition web site: change.gov? I am enormously encouraged by what I am seeing in terms of openness in the upcoming administration.  I made comments previously here about how the candidates embraced web 2.0 concepts during the campaigns, but then questioned whether they could make the transition to candidate 2.0 to president 2.0.  I think that's where we are going.

Also, I stumbled upon this site as well: http://obamacto.org/, a site that is gathering info from the wisdom of "the crowd" regarding technology priorities for the yet-to-be-appointed Chief Technology Officer in the Obama campaign.

Other things?  The Dead Pool.  RIP to those who have recently passed:

• Mitch Mitchell (drummer from Jimi Hendrix Experience)
• Yma Sumac
• Michael Crichton
• Studs Turkel

And November, I remember my mom, who passed away November 12, 2000.  As I said on Twitter, it's gotten easier, but I don't miss her any less.

Oh, and on a lighter note: Dustin Pedroia wins the MVP!!!  (Sadly, I was briefly friends with his imposter on Facebook, but I won't give up my campaign to get him to be grand marshall at the Woodland Christmas Parade!)

Every vote counts!

I am surprised by how little I have posted about the upcoming election.  Typically, I am very vocal about the subject.  You may recall I posted my support of Barack Obama back in 2006, and have been following the campaign with great excitement since then.  I'm so nervous about this upcoming election, as you remember what happened in 2000 and 2004.  Every vote counts!  Be sure to make yours counted. (Don't let that cuckoo bird get into the White House!)

This is the first year I've felt strongly enough to place lawn signs in front of my house.  I feel comforted knowing there's some company for me with the Obama Biden sign that's out there, but I'm feeling a little lonely with my No on Proposition 8 stance.  I have a hard time articulating my feelings about this attempt to eliminate a right for a large population of the state of California. Regardless of how you feel about this issue, we should not eliminate rights for any Californian. Prop 8 would mandate, under the laws of our state, that one group of people would be treated differently form everyone else. That’s just unfair. 

 

I'm not judging, but... (I can't just say nothing)

I wonder what the people who have their Yes on Prop 8 signs on their lawn think when they drive past my house with my Obama Biden lawn sign and my No on Prop 8 sign, along with my dirty liberal Prius.

I know when I drive by their houses, I wonder about why they feel so threatened about the supreme court ruling allowing same sex marriages. 

Looking for some answers about why you should vote no on 8?  From www.noonprop8.com:

Why Vote No on Prop 8?

“Proposition 8… would eliminate the fundamental right to same-sex marriage. The very act of denying gay and lesbian couples the right to marry – traditionally the highest legal and societal recognition of a loving commitment – by definition relegates them and their relationship to second class status.” Los Angeles Times Editorial, August 8, 2008

Regardless of how you feel about this issue, we should guarantee the same fundamental rights to every Californian. Vote No on 8.

Let’s remember that gay and lesbian people are our neighbors, our friends, our coworkers and our family members. They are nurses, firefighters and small business owners. Same-sex couples are loving and committed couples who want to get married. They care for each other, they pay taxes and they want to protect each other and take responsibility for each other, just like other couples. We should not hurt same-sex couples in California by eliminating their right to marry.

It’s not the government’s place to tell couples who have been together for years whether or not they are allowed to marry. In California, we let people decide what is best for themselves – without government interference. Eliminating fundamental rights for same-sex couples treats them differently under the law – AND THAT’S WRONG. Vote No on 8.

Domestic Partnerships are NOT the same as marriage. Domestic partnerships are just legal documents. They don’t provide the same dignity, respect, and commitment as a marriage. In a marriage, a paramedic doesn’t tell you that you cannot get into an ambulance with your spouse. Married couples can automatically make life or death decisions for each other in these crisis situations, no questions asked. Vote No on 8.

Regardless of how you feel about this issue, it’s wrong to eliminate the fundamental rights of fellow Californians – and hurt our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members. THAT’S WRONG.

I am voting for "that one"

New Obama logo,
originally uploaded by mcmay.

What I love about America is that I am free to post my No On Proposition 8 and Obama/Biden signs on my lawn. And that I am free to vote my will. And that I can blog about not being a friend of John McCain.

So yes, I am voting for "that one" who kicked butt tonight in the debates.

If things don't go our way, I'll be saying I can see Armageddon from my back yard. 2012 is right around the corner.

I once had a boss call me a dirty liberal

And that was in a government office where politics were off-limits.  And that's how I knew I was in the wrong job.  So with that said, call me a dirty liberal if you will.  Here's a message to you: my five friends who are reading this.  Oh, and I think Adam Levine is hot.

Jews for Obama, or Why Sarah Silverman Kicks Ass

No matter what the polls or pundits say, we still have to worry about how the votes get counted. And Sarah Silverman has a lot to say about getting the word out in Florida. I love Sarah Silverman.

The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.

Defining Moment in History

Growing up, my parents used to talk to us about the day President Kennedy was shot, and how it was a single moment in time that changed everything.  I never really understood how big that was, no matter who told us the story of where they were, or how it made them feel.  Not until 9/11.  9/11 was the single event in the lifetime of our generation that changed everything. 

I remember every detail of that day, and of the days that followed.  Every conversation. 

Tonight was another moment like that.  To know that in our country that we have nominated Barack Obama for President -- that is a defining moment in history.  The impact that this campaign has had one me is huge.  My husband and I spent the early debates watching and we would race home so we could watch election returns together.  I felt fortunate that he and I could be together tonight to watch the acceptance speech.  I made me smile to know I married someone who cares enough about the future of this world to be engaged with this election.  And that we both know how important an event this is.

And it's not just about race.  Although race is big with us.  Our extended family is representative of our nation - all different colors of the spectrum.  Knowing that the country can look beyond race gives me hope.

It's about engagement.  Watching live video from the floor of the stadium, following tweets from near and far, joining the conversation, joining the community.  It puts the "we" in Yes We Can.

Motivated. Engaged. Inspired. Speechless. Ready.

Just a few words I have to share what I'm feeling at this moment in time.

Bring it on: Same Sex Marriage

Next week will mark the string of same sex marriages following a supreme court ruling that legalized gay marriage.  I have been participating in dialog on the web about this ruling, but haven't yet said anything on my blog.  First of all, I have declared myself the wedding fairy.  All of my friends who are in long-term committed same sex relationships have been berated with questions: Are you getting married?  When?  Where?  Am I invited? 

Apparently, there are people who are not happy about this.  So unhappy and threatened that they are running out to declare it unconstitutional.  There will be an initiative on the ballot in November to make same sex marriages illegal.

Amongst my friends, we decided that there should be a study of the economic impact of same sex marriages in California.  In California, there's no residency requirement that would restrict folks from other states from coming here for wedding ceremonies.  The wedding industry, including facility rentals, restaurants and caterers, florists, clothing retailers, jewelers, and more, will be getting a boost, not to mention tourism, hotels, etc.  Don't the ultra conservative folks see this as an advantage to our state?

All I am hearing is that this ruling somehow diminishes the institution of marriage.  I don't get it.

I think my dad is siding with the Fox News perspective.  His argument is that if "the gays can marry, when they break up, they have to get a divorce."  Yup, just like the rest of us.  That's equality.  And just think of the boost to the legal community's economy.

I know not everyone agrees with me on this, and that's fine.  I support my friends and applaud them for their courage to live openly in a world that generally does not accept any stray from "the norm".  I will be getting out there and advocating for the right for same sex marriages. 

In the meantime, I'll be celebrating with friends this summer.