Blackbird Fly
The folks over at 702FJCrew.net have been asking me to put this video together for quite some time now. Jerry Miller was kind enough to do the color correction a year ago, but my skills at video editing did not match the vision in my head. After my time with the Pixel Corps, my editing skills have gotten much stronger. So, I took this opportunity to play with Quicktime and iMovie to tell the story of the Blackbird.
Blackbird Fly is short (2:18), but I think the visuals speak for themselves. There is a lot I could have done in Final Cut Pro to tighten it up, especially fading the audio effects in & out, but this was really an exercise in seeing what I could throw together quickly in iMovie. For those interested, here is the work flow.
- The images were shot on a Canon 30D using a Canon 24-70mm “red line” lens.
- Jerry Miller color corrected all photos in Adobe Photoshop. Because of the relative angle of the sun, the color palette changed as the camera tracked the truck. Jerry did a great job of bringing all of the shots to one common palette.
- Assemble the stills into movies of varying frame rates using QuickTime 7. It is a good thing I have an older G5 Mac in my studio because the newer Intel Macs all updated to Quicktime X. While QTX is a better player, Apple removed some of the useful pro features like building movies from an image sequence.
- Bring the movies into iMovie then build titles and audio using the iMovie library. The music is from Midnight Syndicate, purveyors of excellent ambient music for gaming and theme parties.
- Post to YouTube and wait for it to finish processing.
So, there you have it. I little bit about how this little movie came to life. I hope you enjoy it.
Peace,
Doug
GMT Motion Graphics
My first work as an intern for the Pixel Corps was as the streaming camera operator at NAB 2010. The segments shot at that show are being used to relaunch Gear Media Tech on PixelCorps.tv. With that in mind, it is fitting that my first real post-production work be on the same show.
The first day in the office, I transferred and reviewed all of the EX-1 footage and began digital capture of all of the HV30 footage. With all of the footage in hand, it was my job to organize the segments into related chunks and create a production plan to get the show out the door. Along the way, we realized we need to rebuild all of the motion graphics (open, close and lower thirds) and related sound design. That task also fell to me. The results can be seen in the footage above and the subsequent episodes of GMT in the pipeline.
Credit for the 3D logo design belongs to McKay Hawkes, a talented 3-D artist on the Pixel Corps staff. Working with his logo, I created all of the remaining assets myself with input from fellow intern, Vlad Korishev. Using Soundtrack Pro, I also built all of the audio tracks found in the open and the close. That was a lot of fun and far less intimidating than it appeared at first.
I’ve built such assets from templates in the past, but this was the first motion graphics project I developed completely from scratch. I learned a lot and am looking forward to working on more complex projects down the road.
Peace,
Doug
Lessons from the Set
One of the biggest advantages of being on set to stream/tape “behind the scenes” footage is that one gets to watch the film making process as it happens and soak up lots of knowledge in the process. “Working with Actors” is the first in a series of posts I have planned about lessons learned while streaming from the set of Marty Rosenberg’s indie supernatural theater. The “talking points” style I’ve been using has been well-recieved so far, so I’ll keep that format for this series as well. My publication plan is as follows.
- Working with Actors: It was amazing to watch Heather, Jake and Mackenzie at work. And, I learned a lot from the way the Marty and crew supported them to get the best possible performances, particularly on a tight shooting schedule.
- The Professional Crew: Watching seasoned filmmakers at work was a real eye-opener. It made film-making both magical and accessible at the same time.
- Recruiting Talented Beginners: When I walked on set, I thought all of the Production Assistants already had film experience. They didn’t. But, they listened, learned and worked their butts off.
- Practical Visual Effects: Not every VFX needs to be rendered CG. A can of compressed air and a spool of monofilament can go a very long way in the hands of Marty Rosenberg or Peter Bailey.
- Lighting for Effect: Marty Rosenberg is a well-respected cinematographer and his ability to plan his lighting and adjust on the fly was a wonder to watch.
- Managing the Production Schedule: The budget and schedule were tight, but the production value remained high for a “$0.59 cent movie”.
- The Dinner Table: Napoleon said “an army marches on it’s stomach” … so does a film. In addition to fueling the cast & crew, the dinner table is an opportunity to build camaraderie on set.
- Transferable Skills: This film was the first for Producer Peter Adams, but it did not show. The way Peter brought his skills from other businesses into play is a lesson for all first-time producers.
- The Fourth Character: If chosen well, the location itself becomes another character in the film. This was certainly true for Preston Castle.
- Make-Up is More than Lipstick: In addition to creating realistic bruises and open wounds, Margaret Caragan made me cry.
This list is more of a guideline than a formal plan. The order of publication may change and I may add, delete or consolidate topics as I write. So, stay tuned over the next month or so as I digest my on set experience and pass it on to you.
Peace,
Doug
Whirlwinds move slower …
My LiveU Streaming Rig
So, I made the long drive up from Vegas to San Francisco ten days ago. Aside from the spring snowstorm in the Bear Mountains outside of Bakersfield, the drive was uneventful. I got into my hotel around 1AM and started at the Pixel Corps the next morning at 9AM. From there, my schedule looked like this …
- 04/22 – Meet a lot of the PXC team. Get some marching orders from Alex and John RIley. Log all of the EX-1 footage from NAB, organize it for post. Begin capture of DV footage from events streamed over LiveU, including the interview with Ted Schilowitz of Red Camera where we got some great insight into the Red Epic and Scarlet cameras.
- 04/23 – Continue logging & capture of NAB footage. Also begin rough edits of footage for Gear*Media*Tech and MacBreak Studio. Get the lowdown on live corporate streaming event to which I am assigned for Monday. Meet some new PXC folks. After work , take in a double feature of Kick Ass! and The Losers. WIll write up thoughts on those films later.
- 04/24 – Move from hotel to apartment. After setting up my two workstations in the apartment, I begin capturing more NAB footage, including interviews by Diana Weynand for the new 3D podcast we have in development at PXC. DV capture happens around other apartment set up stuff. Spend the evening checking out the North Beach area.
- 04/25 – Spent most of the day waiting on the Comcast installer and cursing his name. Realize how much broadband Internet has become intertwined in my life. Wonder if that is a good thing. I need it more than I need cable TV. Am also surprised that, in the tech capital of the USA, I still have to wait on the cable guy. Spend much of the day continuing to capture DV footage from NAB 2010.
- 04/26 – Call time at Noon for set up and testing for live corporate streaming event. Great opportunity to watch the well-oiled PXC machine in action and learn a lot about the way shows are prepped and produced.
- 04/27 – Call time at 7AM. Got the trolley schedule mixed up and had to grab a cab to make it on time. It was also the classic foggy/rainy SF spring day. Worked the live streaming event until 3PM. Learned a lot about show flow, audio/video capture and video mixing. Nothing deep and technical yet, but a very good experience seeing it all in action. Also participated in my first show post-mortem where we broke down the show … calling out successes as well as learning opportunities. Was great to see how the PXC “way” values the voices of everyone on the team.
After post-mortem, hustled to pack up all of the gear needed for the live-streaming on the film set. Headed home to pack up my own gear, grab the truck and head back to the office to pick up the gear and head off to the Sacramento. Was on set around 10PM. Watched the shoot in progress and got a sense of the parameters in which we could shoot “behind the scenes” (BtS) work.
I’ve now been on set for four days. We’ve learned a lot about the way the LiveU & uStream process works best. We’ve also learned a lot about the best ways to effectively shoot BtS & streaming footage. And, I’ve learned a lot about how a feature film set works, particularly an indie feature. The cast & crew have been absolutely incredible. Everyone is very professional, gracious and incredibly generous with their considerable knowledge.
There is a lot to process there. And, the days on set are long. So, I may not post much more until after we wrap next week. But, I already have a lot of great ideas for posts about this particular experience. Stay tuned.
Peace,
Doug
PS: A few important things that also happened along the way …
- Spoke to Kelly (my lovely wife) and Finn (my rambunctious 2 year old son) at least once a day. Missed them a lot as the reality of the time away from them became more real. I think lots of married guys might fantasize about returning to bachelorhood, even if for a little while, but if you love your wife and kids, the reality is far less glamorous than the fantasy. It looks like my son grows bigger every day. Thank God for Skype!
- On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, I followed the near-perfect NFL draft by my beloved, home town Cincinnati Bengals. The only thing that might have made the draft better would have been if Taylor Mays (Safety, USC) slid to us like Rey Malalugua did last year. Two words … WHO DEY!
Behind the scenes at NAB
As we have been covering the floor at NAB 2010, Neil has been shooting us. Here are a few of his photos.
Folks have been asking about the rig we are shooting with. Here it is, top to bottom.
- Litepanels LP Micro Compact LED Camera Light
- Universal Cold Shoe Adapter
- Sennheiser ew 135-p G3 Handheld Wireless Microphone System
- Apple Earbuds (Audio Monitor)
- Canon VIXIA HV30 MiniDV High Definition Camcorder
- BeachTek DXA-6vu Dual XLR Adapter with Phantom Power & Built-in Level Meters
- Manfrotto 585 ModoSteady 3-in-1 Camera/Camcorder Stabilizer and Support System
- LiveU LivePack
- uStream & WaterShed accounts
Peace,
Doug
Comfortable shoes and a few other quick lessons
We wrapped Day 2 of NAB shooting and I thought I’d share some lessons already learned from the experience. These are presented in no particular order.
- Redundancy is your friend. Always assume some important part of your kit will fail. Have a back up ready to go. We did not experience any major problems that prompted this lesson. It just seems to be a core principle of the PXC ethos and it lines up with my own POV well.
- Three things your kit must include:
- A small toolkit with a flathead & phillips screwdriver, needlenose pliers and a quarter.
- Extra batteries of all shapes and sizes.
- A knife of some sort.
- Gaffer’s tape is an amazingly useful tool; even better than duct tape.
- When storing gear for a long time between uses, remove all batteries. A corroded battery probably cost me a good set of Bose headphones.
- Speaking of headphones, always keep at least three sets of iPod earbuds on hand. Don’t use the iPhone earbuds with the mic as an audio monitor.
- My Beachtek needs a slightly longer screw to connect to the Canon HF10.
- The Zoom R16 is one sexy little mixer.
- When you have a wide shot of a group, do not pan between the speakers. It causes artifacts when streaming and is visually distracting. Cutting from speaker to speaker is really the job of a 2- camera shoot with a producer calling the camera changes to be managed by a video switcher.
- There is no such thing as having too many SD cards on hand.
- Tapeless workflow is where it at!
- The iPad is going to be a really big deal. I already knew that, but NAB has only confirmed this for me.
- I learned how to properly wrangle cable.
- Always have and use a pre-roll checklist.
- While I have a few minor quibbles, the LiveU unit is a pretty amazing piece of gear.
- Even at a show filled with broadcast and film pros, some people don’t recognize the camera and walk through your shots … no matter how hard you try to stop them.
- 3D is really here … if we do not kill it with ill-concieved conversions.
- Always have a spare tape/SD card in your pocket.
- My wife is a saint.
- The iPhone is an invaluable note-taking tool, especially with the video camera.
- Learning how something works needn’t stifle one’s sense of wonder about the fact that it does.
- There is no such thing as “too old”; so long as your mind remains open to new knowledge.
- I am woefully out of shape, but the aches and pains tell me I am making progress on that front.
- Running a camera is hard work, particularly when moving all around the show floor.
- Thanks goodness for comfortable shoes. Think of good shoes as an investment in your mental and physical health.
So, that is it for now. I’ll have more cogent thoughts when I have more time to write.
Peace,
Doug
2009 – The year I became a father and not just a parent.
2009 was a good year; full of change, growth and opportunity — most of which began and ended with family. While Kelly and I welcomed our son Finn the year before, 2009 was when he moved from being a cute, new baby into being a little person with a big personality and stubbornly independent streak. When he began walking, everything changed. Biologically, we became parents when he was born. I think that we began parenting, with a capital P, when he began to walk. Everything moved from spit-up and poopy diapers to the hard, but infinitely rewarding, work of teaching our little man the lessons he would need to one day take his place in the world.
As one might imagine, this raises all sorts of questions in one’s mind, not the least of which is “How do I want my son to view me?” Equally important is the dual realization that “I don’t know everything.” and “I will probably fail more often than I would like.” Put it all together and you have all the makings of a cocktail of self-doubt chased by an antacid shooter.
But a funny thing happened on the way to insanity, the world slowed down and a Zen-like calm descended. Accepting that I would not bat 1.000 as a parent removed that unattainable goal from my list and allowed me to focus my efforts on batting .333 and peppering it with doubles, triples and the occasional home run. Any baseball fan will tell you that .333 is pretty darn good. Actually, a real baseball fan will tell you that .333 is still a pretty lofty goal, but it is attainable, with the right combination of discipline and hard work; mixed with a little luck and talent.
From within my new found Zen state, I took time for a little reflection and introspection. Being a parent will do that to you. Coming down from my intellectual mountain, I came to a couple of realizations which were meaningful, at least to me.
1. I won’t live forever.
Most of us realize this in our early thirties. I’ve known this in a more or less concrete way since I was in my early twenties and had a gun in play during a home visit back in my days as investigator for Children’s Services. Ever since, I’ve lived my life with measured … not reckless … abandon. I’ve dreamed big and achieved critical, if not commercial, success in several business and personal endeavors. I’ve taken chances with my career that friends have considered unreasonably risky. And, on a couple of occasions, I’ve done some things that were flat buck wild and I am fortunate to live to tell the tale.
I regret little to none of this. As the saying goes, it made me who I am today and independent reports tell me that I am a decent guy with an interesting life. So, I’ll own my mistakes if the result is where I am today. But, I now understand why parents may choose to edit the stories of their life when conveying it to their children. My mistakes are mine, but I’d really rather they don’t become my son’s. And, now that I know firmly that life is finite, it makes me rethink my old decision-making process and retool it with my wife and current and future children firmly in mind. Every other realization that follows is derived from the fact that I am not immortal, at least not in body.
2. I am what I eat.
We all heard this in health class in grade school. And, back when I was a college athlete and martial arts instructor, I practiced it with relatively serious discipline. But in 2001, that all changed when I shut down my dojo and turned my attention to a new career in the sparkly wonderland that was the dotcom boom. Regular workouts and dietary discipline were soon replaced with 90 hour weeks and greasy diner and pizza joint fare. You don’t need to be a mentalist to guess where that took me. Put it together with a body long abused by contact sports and you have perfect storm for serious health risks when crossing the Rubicon into my 40s; just as I became a father for the first time.
So, this is where my son has probably saved my life. It took me the first 18 months of his life to get it through my thick skull that I had bad habits that needed to change. It took another 4 months for me to start to take serious action to correct the problem. Now, when I stumble (and I surely will) I think about seeing him graduate from college when I am 62. My dad did it when he was 46. So, 2010 is the year of exercise and eating right … not eating well.
3. Life is too dang short for drama. (See realization #1).
I have always been the guy with two or three active projects and two or three more in the pipeline. That all adds up to a lot of work. Most importantly, it adds up to a lot of time and that is time away from my family. This is made worse when the work is not something about which I am passionate and fully engaged. This realization actually happened in 2008, shortly before Finn’s arrival, but the positive pressure of parenthood turned that lump of coal into a shining diamond in 2009.
What I discovered is that I procrastinate more, and therefore use my time less efficiently, when working with skills I do not cherish on projects that light no fires in me. As a parent, there is no greater gift I can give my family than that of my time and full attention. Work that fulfills me is done with full attention and efficiency. Work that bores me is a time & energy vampire. So, 2010 is also the year I focus on the skills & abilities that make me jump out of bed itching to get to work. In theory, I’ll use my work day more efficiently and see less late nights and long weekends of work.
Almost as if on cue, early 2010 has put one or two really cool opportunities in my lap very early in the game. I cannot elaborate at the moment, but I’ll do so as plans firm up and the year progresses. I’ll tease you with this … 2009 is the year I embraced my role/nature as a storyteller. Funny how kids make you see your true nature — complete with warts and insecurities revealed. The beautiful thing is a child’s sense of wonder is a great salve for healing old wounds, forgetting old insecurities and embracing the promise that is life.
To close, I’ll let you know that blogging here (and elsewhere) is a major 2010 goal. By sharing a bit about my growth as a parent, person and professional (more or less in that order) , I hope to connect with others on a similar journey and share what wisdom we each have along the way.
Make 2010 Great!
Doug
The Apocalypse Grows Up
I have a thing for apocalyptic themes in fiction and film. Yes Virginia; I have a dark side and the midi-chlorians are not to blame. 
In most cases, I find these stories to be mindless fun. For example, Mad Max does not really provoke much critical thought, and that is OK. It is what it is. However, through luck or providence, I have stumbled across some real mind-benders of late.
The first of these is Plague Year by Jeff Carlson. If you’ve read Prey by Michael Crichton, Plague Year is it’s natural follow-up, yet darker and smarter. A relatively short, dense read; Plague Year picks up a few years after the accidental release of the “machine plague”, a manufactured nano-virus that disassembles the human body and uses it’s components to replicate itself. Smart and engaging, it will make you think twice about mixing biology and nanotechnology.
Next on the list is Germ by Robert Liparulo. While the author’s voice leans towards the formulaic, the story is anything but. The BBEG has manufactured Ebola that targets an individual’s DNA. The virus piggybacks on the common cold as it’s distribution mechanism.
The primary characters are well-conceived and well-executed. Our heroes are hunted by a very unique agent of the BBEG, which makes the chase interesting and intriguing to follow. Aside from the formulaic structure, the major drawback with the story is an unnecessary dip into a bit of trite conspiracy theory. Still, the core premise makes it worth the read.
Last, and anything but least, is The Swarm by Frank Schatzing. I haven’t finished reading it yet but, barring an implosion in the last 300 pages, I am fairly certain this is the best novel I’ve read in five years. Here is the setup:
Whales begin sinking ships. Toxic, eyeless crabs poison Long Island’s water supply. The North Sea shelf collapses, killing thousands in Europe. Around the world, countries are beginning to feel the effects of the ocean’s revenge as the seas and their inhabitants begin a violent revolution against mankind. At stake is the survival of the Earth’s fragile ecology — and ultimately, the survival of the human race itself.
I won’t say any more about the plot because I don’t want to ruin it for anyone. Instead, I’ll tell you that The Swarm is to our oceans what Snow Crash (Neal Stephenson) was to cyberspace. Yes. I just said that. Let it soak in.
The Swarm is a treatise on ocean ecology disguised as a thriller novel. Schatzing includes a three-page forward which cites all of the scientists who educated him and helped create the scientific firmament on which this outstanding novel is built. After reading this book, you will come away with a much better understanding of how dependent humanity is on our oceans. And, along the way you will be greatly entertained by an intense, well-crafted and well-paced story.
Peace,
Doug
Farewell Tim Russert
In journalistic world dominated by sound bytes and bombastic blowhards, Tim Russert stood out and stood above the rest of the pack. To my mind, he was the Walter Cronkite of our generation. Smart, honest and direct; Russert was always on point and respectful no matter who was across the table in his interviews.
But for all of his journalistic accomplishments, perhaps Russert’s greatest contributions were his books on fatherhood. Heartfelt and unflinching, Russert gave us a great example of how to be both tough and tender as a father. New fathers, young and old, without a Big Russ of their own, would do well to pick up Big Russ & Me and Wisdom of our Fathers. I am fortunate to have my own “Big Russ” in my father Richard, so much of Russert’s words echo with my own experience.
So on this Father’s Day Weekend, hug your fathers and sons. Then, as this election year unfolds, make it a point to be an informed, active citizen and vote. These actions would seem a most fitting tribute to Tim Russert; a national treasure taken from us far too soon.
Barack Obama – Man of Christian Conviction and Action
Folks,
I am an Obama supporter and I don’t consider myself to be “riding the wave” as some might suggest. I have done my homework and the man is a decent, thoughtful diplomat and true Christian who has a real, positive vision for the United States. With this in mind, I cannot let an email … entitled “The Obama Tidal Wave” (see below) … pass without comment. I will not address each bullet point in the email. Rather, I will speak to the overall tone of it.
First and foremost, let us address Obama’s “murky religious convictions”, he is not and never was a Muslim. He is a devout, thoughtful Christian, always has been. In short, don’t believe the misinformation distributed by FOX News and the Clinton campaign. Our nation has been so fundamentally damaged by the Bush/Cheney administration that we need a special person to fix it. Barack Obama is that person.
Next, after 8 years of Bush & Cheney … with their illegal war, disregard for human life in the aftermath of Katrina and subversion of the United States Constitution with the Rendition & Carnivore programs, Guantanamo Bay and illegal, warrant-less wiretapping of innocent US Citizens … we need a person with integrity in the White House. Simply put, Hillary is not that person. She will change her “convictions” at a moment’s notice if it is politically expedient to do so.
While McCain has more integrity than Clinton, he has allied with some pretty scary political and religious figures … people he formerly denounced … in order to secure the Republican nomination. How is that “integrity”? If you believe in something, you do so even when it is unpopular. That is a fundamental tenet of Christ’s message.
Barack Obama opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning, though he was derided as unpatriotic for doing so. Now, time has proven him right. Sometimes, being a true patriot means standing up to blind, angry and misplaced nationalism, which has been deceitfully painted as patriotism. Barack Obama has made precisely this unpopular and difficult stand … to protect our nation and the freedoms for which it stands.
Does Obama support the division of church and state? Absolutely; so did the founding fathers of this country. Why? They understood that the only way to protect religious freedom was to ensure there was no state-sanctioned “official” religion. Recall Christ’s message … “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” The Catholics among us would do well to remember that, in addition to persecuting blacks and other people of color, the KKK also lynched and killed Catholics and Jews. Many of these crimes were ignored and largely unpunished because of the deeply entwined nature of religion and government in the Southern states back then. Still, things change and our nation is stronger for it.
Another fundamental Christian belief is “love thy neighbor as thyself”. This does not mean that one makes or maintains unjust war. Regrettably, war is sometimes a necessary evil. In the wake of 911, we needed to go into Afghanistan and bring to justice the people who attacked us. Moreover, we needed to stay there and finish the job.
Instead, our President led us into an illegal war based on lies and half-truths. Now that Iraq is broken, we certainly need to fix it, but that does not mean remaining on a war footing for the next 10-100 years. It means re-engaging the United Nations so the forces stabilizing Iraq are multi-national and Iraq understands that it is the will of the world that they get their house in order. This needs to happen so ALL troops can go home, the people of Iraq can know peace (and perhaps democracy) and the region might have a genuinely stabilizing influence
Now, some will argue that Christ’s anger at the moneylenders in the temple, as well as many Old Testament passages justify righteous and faithful wrath … and by extension that justifies our current President’s crusader approach to “diplomacy”. I say that Obama is the true example of “What Would Jesus Do?” How did Christ when, on the eve of his arrest, Simon Peter struck off the ear of the slave Malchus in his defense?
Christ said “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” In short, he accepted that there were misguided and sometimes evil men in the world and rather than using silence, disregard and violence as his tools, he went to meet them and again spread a message of love, peace and tolerance. Think of this when you dismiss Obama for being willing to meet with Castro, Chavez and their ilk. It is precisely the act of man living Christ’s message in the world.
In the history of the USA, few presidential elections have been so important and historically significant as the one before us. Washington, Lincoln, FDR, Kennedy and now Obama … all set the USA on new course, which reinforced Christian principles, secured the interests of this great nation and made the USA a bright light in a dark world. The wrong choice in 2008 may cause irreparable harm to our nation of laws and freedom. So, every American needs to get the facts for themselves and not believe everything written in emails, which were expressly designed to spread misinformation and create division.
Am I dyed-in-the wool Democrat? No. I am an independent. Do I blindly agree with every position that Obama has taken? No. Like all men, including Christ (the man), he is subject to self-doubt and moments of weakness. But on balance, he is the man that most illustrates my understanding of Christ’s message for the world. And, that alone is worth my vote.
Thanks,
Doug Daulton
PS: You are receiving this response because you were part of the group that sent this email on it’s way to me.
*******************************************
ORIGINAL MESSAGE SENT TO ME
*******************************************
Email and sender info removed because the point of my reply is to address the issues therein, not to be disrespectful of the folks who sent it in the first place.
*******************************************Subject: The Obama Tidal Wave
We are witnessing a political phenomenon with Barack Obama of rare magnitude. His speeches have inspired millions and yet most of his followers have no idea of what he stands for except platitudes of ‘Change’ or that he says he will be a ‘Uniter’.
The power of speech from a charismatic person truly can be a powerful thing. Certainly Billy Graham had charisma and both his manner of speech and particularly the content changed millions. On the extreme other hand, the charisma of Adolph Hitler inspired millions and the results were catastrophic.
Barack Obama certainly is no Hitler or a Billy Graham, but for many Americans out there feeling just like a surfer who might be ecstatic and euphoric while riding a tidal wave, the real story is what happens when it hits shore.
Just Some of What Defines Barack Obama:
• He voted against banning partial birth abortion.
• He voted no on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions.
• Supports affirmative action in Colleges and Government.
• In 2001 he questioned harsh penalties for drug dealing.
• Says he will deal with street level drug dealing as a minimum wage affair.
• Admitted marijuana and cocaine use in high school and in college.
• His religious convictions are very murky.
• He is willing to meet with Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Kim Jung Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
• H as said that on e of his first goals after being elected would be to have a conference with all Muslim nations.
• Opposed the Patriot Act.
• First bill he signed that was passed was campaign finance reform.
• Voted No on prohibiting law suits against gun manufacturers.
• Supports universal health-care.
• Voted yes on providing habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees.
• Supports granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.
• Supports extending welfare to illegal immigrants.
• Voted NO to making English the official language of the USA.
• Voted yes on comprehensive immigration reform.
• Voted yes on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security.
• Wants to make the minimum wage a ‘living wage’.
• Voted with Democratic Party 96 percent of 251 votes.
• Is a big believer in the separation of church and state.
• Opposed to any efforts to Privatize Social Security and instead supports increasing the amount of tax paid.
• He voted No on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax.
• He voted No on repealing the ‘Death’ Tax
• He wants to raise the Capital Gains Tax.
• Has repeatedly said the surge in Iraq has not succeeded.
• He is ranked as the most liberal Senator in the Senate today and that takes some doing.
If your political choices are consistent with Barack Obama’s and you think that his positions will bring America together or make it a better place, then you will probably enjoy the ride and not forward this Email.
If you are like most Americans that after examining what he stands for, are truly not in line with his record, it would be prudent to get off the wave or better yet, never get on, before it comes on shore and undermines the very foundations of this great Country.
We have limited time to save America or the Supreme Court as we know it.Inaction is action.
If you agree this is important,please pass it on. The mainstream media will not do it for you!?
Mike Rowe and the real value of work.
If you have not seen Dirty Jobs, then you may not know of Mike Rowe. I’ve always enjoyed the show and thought that Rowe was the perfect host of the show. Smart, clever, and most importantly genuinely interested, Rowe brings respect and honor to jobs that many, if not most, of the people you know think are beneath them.
In this speech to FORA, Rowe begins with a funny tale of learning to castrate lambs. I am sure you are wondering how “funny” and “castration” fit together in a sentence, but trust me it does. In telling the tale of castration, Rowe adroitly spins a tale of the lost value of work and calls for us all to reconsider what it means to us as individuals and as a nation.
Be sure to watch the entire 20 minutes. It is perhaps the best 20 minutes you’ll spend in your career.