Friday, September 28, 2012

Weekly Reading List [9.28.12]

1. Did you know Google has started mapping the ocean! Check out this article - Google Maps Goes Diving, Provides “Seaview” Of Great Barrier Reef, Hawaii and Philippines j.mp/TxZIju.

2. Did you know spiders have clear blood due to a lack of hemoglobin. 

3. By gone America - a photo blog of the past 

4. This week the U.N. General Assembly is gathering. Here are some of the highlights and commentary 

5. In conjunction this week the Clinton Global Initiative hosted it's annual event. Both Obama and Mitt gave speeches. As did Tim Brown (CEO of IDEO) as well as a couple additional colleagues. The video's are worth checking out if your interested in the intersection of development and design.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Weekly Reading List [9.14.12]

Egypt...
Libya...
Yemen...
Political Rhetoric...

Friday, September 7, 2012

Weekly Reading List [9.9.12]

Now that both conventions have come to a close, I thought I'd put up speeches from each conventions major speakers. Let's compare their values, and platforms side by side. Where do you stand? Do you really think that the party you most closely align yourself with will actually be able to fulfill their lofty goals and ambitions? Or are you fed up with all this already?

1. Paul Ryan

2. Joe Biden

3. Michelle Obama

4. Ann Romney

5. Barak Obama

6. Mitt Romney

7. Condoleeza Rice

The Wall Street Journal has also compiled videos of all their speeches and posted them here, in case you'd rather watch them.

Personally, after watching the two conventions, I have to say, I may not agree with the Democratic platform and their views on the role of the government. However, I walked away feeling ridiculously inspired, and uplifted and excited about the future. Their tone was vastly different from the Republican conventions. I should be upfront, I love Joe Biden. It would be hard for me not to like his speech and Obama is just a great orator.

I think in this election (as in the last) presentation and marketing is half the battle. The Republicans are still behind the eight ball (in my opinion) they need to step up the marketing and branding. They can't just shout that Obama is the devil and dragging us down, they need to inspire and light the way. I think Obama may beat them again just with slogans, videos, and genuine use of social media. The Republican convention still seemed 5 years behind the times.

I also couldn't help but notice, that the Republican convention was filled with white caucasians; while the Democratic convention was filled with white's and blacks, and hispanics, and the old and the young. Republicans, need to expand the base. The last census told us that white caucasian american's will be the minority by 2050. If they can't engage the rest of the country they will have no place in politics. Or they will be overrun by extremist groups, which might be worse.


Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Weekly Reading List [9.4.12]

1. @Global_Bearings "[CHART] @NYT US surges ahead of others as arms supplier to developing world; 79% of global total in 2011 - pic.twitter.com/Tks0JKmX"
Here's a link to the full NYT article - www.nytimes.com

2. @danatgu "If your reading FP's #AfricaRising slideshow, just go ahead and read McKinsey's excellent growth report too: bit.ly/Pz8wyN (will download PDF).
Here's a link to the original Foreign Policy article "Lions on the Move"

3. @Washingtonpost "Iran and North Korea sign technological cooperation agreement, deepening ties wapo.st/OIUkWN" & @MicahZenko "US intel officials said they have no evidence Iran's leaders have decided to take the final steps toward a weapon." nyti.ms/TQo42y

4. @blakehounshell "RT @JacksonDiehl: My column today focuses on major foreign policy differences between Obama and Romney wapo.st/OJRygm

5. @sarahkendzior "The Peace Corps has now been kicked out of every Central Asian country except Kyrgyzstan pik.tv/en/news/story...


Something fun...because today feels like a Monday...
@LettersOfNote "In 1970, as Willy Wonka was being filmed, director Mel Stuart sent a fascinating progress report to the producer: bit.ly/T2c0gS