Finally!

I found a way to have your PowerPoint presentation show up on the projector (or 2nd screen/monitor) and be able to see your notes with your screen... much props to Michael Hyatt

Link

That's what she said.

Suja and I just finished watching Disc 4 of Season 3 of The Office

I had a habit (or I guess non-habit) of not getting caught up in any TV shows recently (not since I dug The Simpsons in my early college days)... but I caught a few episodes of The Office - season 2 I think - and really just laughed enough to watch as much as I could... this included catching some on Netflix' 'watch instantly' and then Suja and I got the season discs Netflix'd in... So after hours of laughter, we're all caught up... a definite recommend.

And of course it's so funny because we can relate... we've all got people, or an accumulation of traits of people we know that become Michael, Dwight, et al...

So now that we're all caught up... what's next? Not sure I want to get into Lost, Heroes, or 24 yet...

Empowered...?

So the Texas primary was yesterday, and the wife and I went to the primary and the caucus (dumb "Texas Two-Step"). I placed my vote, felt bad that I didn't know Any of the local candidates or their positions on issues, and then we went out to eat to celebrate our demonstration of civic responsibility.

As far as who I voted for, it really was a tougher decision than I thought it was going to be; once I got back from Denmark I started researching Clinton, Obama, McCain, Huckabee, Paul and Nader... after going through their stances on the different issues, I decided to vote for Obama, but it took more contemplation than I thought it would've... before I thought about it more, I was really energized by Obama's campaign and was relieved to see someone like him move the young electorate so well.

But the more I thought about it, the more I kept feeling that Obama's campaign was more emotive than anything else. He pulls a lot by using the 'outsider/non-Washington' label... and yet I can't help but think he's able to do that purely from a lack of experience in that environment.

So in reviewing candidates, I ran across Russ Feingold, the junior senator from Wisconsin... and I really wish he ran so I'd be really sure where my vote would go. He seems to be the uncompromising idealist that everyone's pining for, including myself, but he's been around since 1992.
When Feingold was running against the Republican incumbent for the in '92, he wrote the following 5 promises on his garage door:

1. I will rely on Wisconsin citizens for most of my contributions.
2. I will live in Middleton, Wisconsin. My children will go to school here and I will spend most of my time here in Wisconsin.
3. I will accept no pay raise during my six-year term in office.
4. I will hold a "Listening Session" in each of Wisconsin's 72 counties each year of my six-year term in office.
5. I will hire the majority of my Senate staff from individuals who are from Wisconsin or have Wisconsin backgrounds

Feingold has continued to have "Listening Sessions" in each county every year since then... there was a story about it on NPR last year I think... what other senator 'gets' it like that?

Feingold's also been working hard for campaign finance reform and a national health care system; especially notable is that he was the ONLY senator to vote against the Patriot Act and also led the fillibuster against the renewal of the act, and voted against the 'compromised' version of it (unlike Obama). Feingold voted against the resolution to go to war with Iraq. He started the movement to censure President Bush. (info from wikipedia)

According to the Washington Post, Hillary Clinton has missed 141 votes (29.2%) during the current Congress. Obama has missed 196 votes (40.6%). Feingold? 0... he's missed 10 votes total since he became a senator - 16 years ago
more vote-missers at http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/vote-missers/

EDIT: I should've thought more about this, but I'm sure that the reason these senators missed the number of votes that they did was because they were on the campaign trail... my mistake.

I like both of the Dems candidates, and would be overall happy if either won the general election (I guess I'd be happier with Obama), but I think my heart lies with Feingold. As my coworker Mark put it "seems like he's got an abundance of common sense".