Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Obama's Inauguration

When Jeff Shesol (former speech writer for Bill Clinton) discusses Obama's Inauguration speech, he talks about how the inauguration of the new president is the happiest the president will be while he is a president. Shesol describes how the new president is in his shining moment in saying that the president could sneeze into the microphone and earn praise. Shesol says that a new president's speech must not only talk about the abroad but also delve into the immediate future. Shesol says that Obama may borrow ideas from Kennedy, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or to use Abraham Lincoln's cadance as a speaker. Shesol says that Obama is naturally a very good speaker, and should trust his instincts, but he must also make sure that his speech comes to life, that his words must live, and jump off he page. President Obama must convince all in his speech that his words of bringing the economy back up and healing the nation will stay true.

Lastly, I agree with Shesol, I think his ideas about what Obama must do in his speech are correct. I think the most important thing he can do is to grab people's attention, make them feel better about the economy, and convince them that his words will stay true. I believe that it will be an exciting and historic day for all as we reach a landmark in our great country's history.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Technology, Time, and Space


Because of the situation of the economy today, there are many married couples that are forced to live away from each other. They can live hundreds of miles away just to bring in enough money for their children to go to college. As well as to support their family. In an article I recently read, a family lived apart. This family had two kids, the husband worked at the University of Pennsylvania, while his wife worked in New Zealand. This forces the couple to use technology such as the computer to communicate. People use e-mails, instant messaging as well as advanced programs such as Skype, which allows them to see each other and talk to each other on the computer. It is hard to believe, but families will separate for weeks at a time just to make enough money to support each other. Fathers may only see their children every six weeks.