（这篇短文投到我的新浪博客上，不知道呆得住呆不住，故于此存档。）
这一天是美国的总统选举日。可以说举国上下空前激动，很多人都认为 Barack Obama 有机会当选，成为美国第一任由黑人担任的总统。从多方面来说，不论最后谁成为第四十四任美利坚合众国总统，这一届选举都注定要在美国历史上留下重要的一笔。
这一天，孩子学校放假一天，我也干脆休假一日。早起给她们吃了早饭，我就带着她们一起去消防队投票。这是我成为公民之后第二次投票，所以基本上是轻车熟路了。第一次去投票的时候，没有一点概念。正好到学校接孩子放学，看见一边的体操房（gym）里在投票，以为可以顺便进去投我的票。进去之后，里面坐着一位老头，两位老太太。她们很认真地看了我的驾照，然后在她们的名单上查了半天，没有找到我的名字，又回过头来细看我的选民登记，才发现我不属于这个“片儿 ”。然后又耐心你地告诉我正确的投票地点。
这次投票，除了选举总统，还要投票选举联邦议员、居住区的州议员、密西根大学的校董、市政府官员以及小镇上管理道路、自来水等等事宜的地方官们，选票上林林总总得有二三十个格子。那里面除了总统候选人在选前的两年每天在电视上露面之外，其他只有竞选联邦议员的偶尔做做广告，再其他就只有一些从邮箱里收到的小纸片儿竞选广告了。说实话，如果不是事先在州政府的网站上下载了样张选票，然后拿着本城报纸上对各位竞选者的介绍一一对应地比较，临时抱佛脚的话我根本不知道选票上那些名字都谁是谁。平时对我们这小城外郊区小镇的政事都很少有时间过问，知道一些大家关心的问题，比如小区不远的一块地皮有建筑商有意开发预制房小区，连带要建一座污水处理厂之类的。但是那些候选人的背景，他们各自所代表的利益群体，还是要花些时间才能略知一二。
带着孩子们来到小镇的消防队小楼前面，本来怕会要排队，结果是冷冷清清，远没有前一次地方事务投票时的气氛热烈。到停车场停下车，路边一位白人男子走近我们，自我介绍说他是小镇政府某个位置的候选人，他希望当选后能如何如何，希望得到我的一票。我接过他递过来的名片，寒暄几句，继续往里走。我以为无关人员不能进入作为投票站的消防队办公室，就把孩子们留在了门外的草地上玩。到了里面，还是象前一次一样，不过这次投票人必须出示带照片的证件 -- 这是共和党派为杜绝选民作弊而提议通过的法案。我还在我的选票上涂抹，又进来一位男子，还带着两个男孩。这位似乎也是新公民，带着小孩来见证历史。在二零零零年戈尔对布什的选战由于佛罗里达选票设计和纸票打孔机造成两党法庭对垒，最后布什由最高法院裁决成为第四十三任总统。之后许多州的选举机构开始考察电子选票系统，然而电子选票系统也是问题多多，有几个州花钱买了电子设备，然后又花钱将电子设备重新换回传统的投票机。密西根因为汽车工业不景气，政府没钱，倒免去了一番折腾。
总统选举投票就这么毫无戏剧色彩地完了。投完票出来我拿了一小块“I Voted”贴纸，随手粘在车上。仔细想想，可能花时间多而且对候选人没什么把握的还是在州政府一级，小镇上的事稍稍还知道一些，总统选举之战打了快两年了，几个候选人，即便是从未上过电视的几位我也大概知道是怎么回事儿，在投票之前我已经基本有所决定。倒是本来应该关心但平时却没有时间的一些东西，象州教育厅委员之类的，临时挠头也挠不出结果，就让它空着了。
选票上除了选人之外，还有两条提案。A 是提议州法允许大麻的医用，B 是提议修改州法对胚胎及胚胎干细胞科学研究的限制。投票日之前在城里城外看到反对这两项提案（特别是反对 B）的标语、宣传牌子不少，觉得两项提案的通过并没有胜算。
到晚饭时间，打开电视看 CNN 的大选报道。到十点来钟，CNN 已经开始预报东部比较关键的几个州奥巴马胜券在握了，到十一点西海岸投票还没有最后结束，奥巴马当选总统已成定局。
这次选举，真正令我惊讶的，倒是密西根的两个提案居然都无惊无险地通过了。体会较深的还有就是“参与”这两个字。即便在美国，民主作为公民教育的基本内容从小学就开始，要劫持民主还是绝对可能的，这只要看看共和党人，特别是低调但声名显赫的 Carl Rove 的所作所为就能明白。没有每一个公民的参与，也就谈不上民主与否。
2009-03-23
2009-03-22
The AIG Uproar
AIG has been on every media this last week. The 100+ million dollar bonuses for the very AIG executives got the whole country boiled over.
Some people argue that the bonuses are written in contract and a contract is a contract. I can swallow that.
But don't bleeping tell me that they earned it. That is not only outrageous, that is insulting.
Some argue that Wall Street needs those talents to unwind the tangled mess that the whole economy is in. But let's be honest with ourselves: Those are the talents that got us all into this big pile of doodoo. Why do we have to have them around? I just can't believe that those are the only talents alive that can understand what they have created.
If those Wall Street talents don't want to work there anymore, I don't think I would care less.
Some people argue that the bonuses are written in contract and a contract is a contract. I can swallow that.
But don't bleeping tell me that they earned it. That is not only outrageous, that is insulting.
Some argue that Wall Street needs those talents to unwind the tangled mess that the whole economy is in. But let's be honest with ourselves: Those are the talents that got us all into this big pile of doodoo. Why do we have to have them around? I just can't believe that those are the only talents alive that can understand what they have created.
If those Wall Street talents don't want to work there anymore, I don't think I would care less.
2009-03-21
在牛博网上读了一篇《美国报业：转型网络能否度过“寒冬”？》，发表评论出错。就转发到这里吧。
其实这些报纸面临困境不是一天两天了，转型网络发行是势在必行，在现在这种经济形式下看来，先行者比不见棺材不落泪的要明智。能否度过寒冬，还得看各自的能力和命运了。大城市的报纸是这样，我们小城的报纸也是一样在劫难逃。我订的报纸日渐“消瘦”，如果此时他们保持报纸的内容，转为无纸发行，我想我继续订阅的可能性会更大一些。
以笔者管见，报纸是否能让客户付费订阅是一个决定性因素，但是收费的要尽量低，而且要做到付费绝对方便。一家报纸生存很大程度上依赖于广告收入，但是广告收入又很大程度上依赖于固定客户的多少。订阅收费的目的应该不在于赚钱，而在于向广告客户证明你有多少读者，以保持广告收入的基本稳定。
其实这些报纸面临困境不是一天两天了，转型网络发行是势在必行，在现在这种经济形式下看来，先行者比不见棺材不落泪的要明智。能否度过寒冬，还得看各自的能力和命运了。大城市的报纸是这样，我们小城的报纸也是一样在劫难逃。我订的报纸日渐“消瘦”，如果此时他们保持报纸的内容，转为无纸发行，我想我继续订阅的可能性会更大一些。
以笔者管见，报纸是否能让客户付费订阅是一个决定性因素，但是收费的要尽量低，而且要做到付费绝对方便。一家报纸生存很大程度上依赖于广告收入，但是广告收入又很大程度上依赖于固定客户的多少。订阅收费的目的应该不在于赚钱，而在于向广告客户证明你有多少读者，以保持广告收入的基本稳定。
2009-01-20
Inauguration of the 44th President
Just came out of the conference room watching the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama.
This will be a historic day in history of this nation and of this world -- The number of people showing on the CNN news camera says that, as well as the constant alert messages from our backbone router to the Internet. It seems that the whole nation is watching the ceremony.
It is a day to be festival, to celebrate the end of 8 looong years and the beginning of a new era. But no one should forget the cost of the festivity. I have been a supporter of the new president. Now I hope that he can get the nation back to work.
This will be a historic day in history of this nation and of this world -- The number of people showing on the CNN news camera says that, as well as the constant alert messages from our backbone router to the Internet. It seems that the whole nation is watching the ceremony.
It is a day to be festival, to celebrate the end of 8 looong years and the beginning of a new era. But no one should forget the cost of the festivity. I have been a supporter of the new president. Now I hope that he can get the nation back to work.
2008-11-30
Vacation in the South
We have come down to the south to spend the Thanksgiving break, visiting friend and just spend some time doing not much of anything.
This is written on a iPod Touch -- to see if I could do anything serious other than reading and simple searching. Obviously I can. But it is extremely slow, even with the very helpful design of the iTouch keyboard.
We visited CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. At the end of the tour, I asked Georgia, our guide, whatever happened to Aaron Brown. She very diplomatically said, "I don't know. Everybody asks that question. But they don't tell us why they leave CNN." I asked if he just left CNN. To that, she answered, "I don't know." Throughout the building there are images of the current program anchors, which makes me realize how much CNN has been successful as a pop culture brand rather than a news organization. Aaron Brown's disappearance from the scene isn't surprising.
We went to Savannah today, late in the day. It is a very charming old town. We had dinner at the River House on the River Street. The food was very rich. The people are friendly. The whole place is much friendlier to visitors than Anlanta. Too bad we didn't get to spend more time there. This vacation is short, we should be able to come here for a whole week some time.
Enough with iTouch already. I think I would have to have something like a EEE PC class of device at the minimum. But for the ease of carrying around, the iTouch is hard to beat.
This is written on a iPod Touch -- to see if I could do anything serious other than reading and simple searching. Obviously I can. But it is extremely slow, even with the very helpful design of the iTouch keyboard.
We visited CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. At the end of the tour, I asked Georgia, our guide, whatever happened to Aaron Brown. She very diplomatically said, "I don't know. Everybody asks that question. But they don't tell us why they leave CNN." I asked if he just left CNN. To that, she answered, "I don't know." Throughout the building there are images of the current program anchors, which makes me realize how much CNN has been successful as a pop culture brand rather than a news organization. Aaron Brown's disappearance from the scene isn't surprising.
We went to Savannah today, late in the day. It is a very charming old town. We had dinner at the River House on the River Street. The food was very rich. The people are friendly. The whole place is much friendlier to visitors than Anlanta. Too bad we didn't get to spend more time there. This vacation is short, we should be able to come here for a whole week some time.
Enough with iTouch already. I think I would have to have something like a EEE PC class of device at the minimum. But for the ease of carrying around, the iTouch is hard to beat.
2008-11-12
2008-11-10
Proposition 8 in California
Personally, I must admit that I am not completely comfortable with homosexuality. I like the movie «Brokeback Mountain» as a nice piece of art work, but I don't care much about the same sex relationship in there either. Maybe that doesn't make much sense. But it is what it is.
Yet the passing of Proposition 8 which amends the state constitution of California is wrong to me. I agree with Bill Maher that religion has a lot to do with it. Most of the people who voted for the proposition are minorities in the traditional sense. They probably don't associate gay rights with other human rights related to race, gender and so on. I guess religion, like any herd mantality, promotes ignorance, although the same religions did promote equality between races in the past.
On the other hand, I am pleasantly surprised that both Proposition 1 and 2 passed in Michigan, allowing medical use of marijuana and embryonic stem cell research. Especially with so many signs and letters against Proposition 2 prior to election, I was afraid that it would be defeated. Its passing is a good thing for the state of Michigan.
Yet the passing of Proposition 8 which amends the state constitution of California is wrong to me. I agree with Bill Maher that religion has a lot to do with it. Most of the people who voted for the proposition are minorities in the traditional sense. They probably don't associate gay rights with other human rights related to race, gender and so on. I guess religion, like any herd mantality, promotes ignorance, although the same religions did promote equality between races in the past.
On the other hand, I am pleasantly surprised that both Proposition 1 and 2 passed in Michigan, allowing medical use of marijuana and embryonic stem cell research. Especially with so many signs and letters against Proposition 2 prior to election, I was afraid that it would be defeated. Its passing is a good thing for the state of Michigan.
2008-11-05
John McCain is Wrong
John McCain's concession speech was graceful. But I think he is wrong in at least two counts.
He said that "the failure is mine." The failure is not all his, W, the Republican Party must bear part of the responsibilities.
He said that "This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight." The election of Barack Obama is much more than that. Barack Obama is much more than an African-American President. It is a victory of hope against fear and despair.
He said that "the failure is mine." The failure is not all his, W, the Republican Party must bear part of the responsibilities.
He said that "This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight." The election of Barack Obama is much more than that. Barack Obama is much more than an African-American President. It is a victory of hope against fear and despair.
The Election is Over
The election is over (finally!): Obama 338 vs. McCain 160 on CNN as of now. Senator John McCain has given a graceful concession speech. President elect Barack Obama has given a somber victory speech to a huge crown gathered in the Chicago Grant Park.
Now the real work begins.
Notes from yesterday evening:
I voted today, for the first time in a presidential election and for the second time since I am eligible to vote.
I guess I mostly voted for the Democrats, as I don't know much about the other candidates in the local races. Even though I have studied the local issues a bit, I still didn't feel that I had spent enough time to really understand all the candidates. So I had to leave some blanks in the ballot. I guess it just shows that democracy is not easy.
As the day gets darker, polls start to close. We will know who is the next US president tomorrow morning, hopefully. So far, it looks like that the Republicans are going to get a shock and awe, which is what would delight me.
However, if Barack Obama wins the election, Americans still need to set the expectations right. Even if the Democrats gains significant number of seats in the Congress, human nature will determine that there will be disorder in their collective actions. The Republicans will try as hard as they can to assert their conservative convictions. Progress will not be easy. But whatever happens, hope is more uplifting than fear.
Now the real work begins.
Notes from yesterday evening:
I voted today, for the first time in a presidential election and for the second time since I am eligible to vote.
I guess I mostly voted for the Democrats, as I don't know much about the other candidates in the local races. Even though I have studied the local issues a bit, I still didn't feel that I had spent enough time to really understand all the candidates. So I had to leave some blanks in the ballot. I guess it just shows that democracy is not easy.
As the day gets darker, polls start to close. We will know who is the next US president tomorrow morning, hopefully. So far, it looks like that the Republicans are going to get a shock and awe, which is what would delight me.
However, if Barack Obama wins the election, Americans still need to set the expectations right. Even if the Democrats gains significant number of seats in the Congress, human nature will determine that there will be disorder in their collective actions. The Republicans will try as hard as they can to assert their conservative convictions. Progress will not be easy. But whatever happens, hope is more uplifting than fear.
2008-11-04
Election Day is Here
It is election day '08.
CNN has reported the first poll result in the country from Dixville Notch, New Hampshire: 15 Barack Obama, 6 John McCain, 0 for Ralph Nader.
On last Sunday's Meet the Press and a Fox News program, all predictions including one from Karl Rove gave 300+ electoral votes to Barack Obama, with landslide gains for Democrats in both the House and the Senate. Barring any disaster, Democrats will likely win both the White House and the Congress. That would be a historically significant shift of power and a sound rejection of Republican policies of the last eight years.
There was a letter to the Ann Arbor News a couple of days ago, in which the writer commented that the current and the last two economic recessions in the US all had been preceeded with eight years of Republican presidencies. I didn't know the US history that well. So here is a quick googling of US presidents: Calvin Coolidge (1923-29), Ronald Reagan (1981-89) and George W. Bush (2001-08) are indeed Republicans. The end of William Jefferson Clinton presidency (1993-2001) also saw a recession. But over all, the US economy grew significantly over the Clinton presidency. History never guarantees the future. But history is a good indicator.
The end of the election day is now only 16 hours away. Hope is within grasp.
Notes from 2008-11-01:
There is an article on Ann Arbor News today, front page, about McCain/Palin supporters being harrassed in Ann Arbor. I think I understand why those who did those things did them. Afterall, I myself have felt depressed for the last eight years by the stupidity, ignorance and arrogance so rampant in the administration. Then there are all those lives lost in the Iraq war. It's understandable that some people may have an ax to grind. However, such harrassing actions against individual are obviously just as stupid. Such stupidity only serves to divide the people in this United States.
On our way out of the house today, two senior African American Obama volunteers came to our door to remind us to vote. I told them that I was prepared to vote. I have been ready for a few years. This country is a bit too radical for me personally -- although they label themselves conservative. There is nothing conservative about racking up national debt in trillions while the individuals pocket hundreds of millioms a year. There is nothing conservative about going into a country, killing tens or even hundreds of thousands of people and then just calling them collateral damage. There is nothing conservative about labeling themselves compassionate conservative to fool the voters and turn around leaving them hanging in the wind to dry when disasters strike. Their behaviors have shown themselves to be radicals, repeatedly. As W himself quoted, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." A third time would be bryond shame for all.
CNN has reported the first poll result in the country from Dixville Notch, New Hampshire: 15 Barack Obama, 6 John McCain, 0 for Ralph Nader.
On last Sunday's Meet the Press and a Fox News program, all predictions including one from Karl Rove gave 300+ electoral votes to Barack Obama, with landslide gains for Democrats in both the House and the Senate. Barring any disaster, Democrats will likely win both the White House and the Congress. That would be a historically significant shift of power and a sound rejection of Republican policies of the last eight years.
There was a letter to the Ann Arbor News a couple of days ago, in which the writer commented that the current and the last two economic recessions in the US all had been preceeded with eight years of Republican presidencies. I didn't know the US history that well. So here is a quick googling of US presidents: Calvin Coolidge (1923-29), Ronald Reagan (1981-89) and George W. Bush (2001-08) are indeed Republicans. The end of William Jefferson Clinton presidency (1993-2001) also saw a recession. But over all, the US economy grew significantly over the Clinton presidency. History never guarantees the future. But history is a good indicator.
The end of the election day is now only 16 hours away. Hope is within grasp.
Notes from 2008-11-01:
There is an article on Ann Arbor News today, front page, about McCain/Palin supporters being harrassed in Ann Arbor. I think I understand why those who did those things did them. Afterall, I myself have felt depressed for the last eight years by the stupidity, ignorance and arrogance so rampant in the administration. Then there are all those lives lost in the Iraq war. It's understandable that some people may have an ax to grind. However, such harrassing actions against individual are obviously just as stupid. Such stupidity only serves to divide the people in this United States.
On our way out of the house today, two senior African American Obama volunteers came to our door to remind us to vote. I told them that I was prepared to vote. I have been ready for a few years. This country is a bit too radical for me personally -- although they label themselves conservative. There is nothing conservative about racking up national debt in trillions while the individuals pocket hundreds of millioms a year. There is nothing conservative about going into a country, killing tens or even hundreds of thousands of people and then just calling them collateral damage. There is nothing conservative about labeling themselves compassionate conservative to fool the voters and turn around leaving them hanging in the wind to dry when disasters strike. Their behaviors have shown themselves to be radicals, repeatedly. As W himself quoted, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." A third time would be bryond shame for all.
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