Early Voting with 2.0

I don't really live in Atlanta. Actually, I don't really live anywhere. But I am registered to vote in Georgia's Fulton County. That's pretty much Atlanta inside of 285. But I made sure to make it back so that I could participate in Georgia's Early Voting Program. If you have the opportunity to vote early DO IT NOW!!! Here is a look at my three hour experience. The larger part of my experience was filled with eavesdropping on people and their conversations about what the democratic process meant to them. Though process was quite lengthy, I must admit when I left the polls I truly felt as though my voice was recorded. I felt like I mattered. "Dad?" I said as my father answered the phone. "I am the first in our family to vote for our next President."

Palin is McCain's Trophy V.P.

Asa the comic has created this bit of comedy. Check him out @ http://www.AsaTheComic.tv

Waaaasup B?

And here is the rest of it.

See you at the finish line?

Sunday Funnies

Obama: International Swagga

Veteran Malaysian journalist, Wong Chin Wai, Group Chief Editor of The Star; Malaysia's leading English daily recently shared his opinion of Barack Obama in his Sunday column: "African-Americans would no longer be seen as just foul-mouthed hip-hop singers, gangsters, boxers and athletes in the eyes of the world."

As a young African-American reading this article half a continent away, the reality of Wai's statement strikes a special chord in my mind. The international image of the African-American is something that our generation inherited from the stereotypical images designed in the mid-20th century and exported around the World to justify and explain the position of the African-American in America. Four scores later, amidst the Hollywood and Madison Avenue produced muck, Obama stands as what Wai described as an "icon of hope for people all over the world, especially in countries with a plural society."

"Even in Malaysia, politicians talk about history which the young can no longer relate to, or simply refuses to accept. Certainly, these history lessons won’t help these politicians get the votes. When they lose these votes, they sometimes wonder why." Next week, American citizens, will play one of the most important roles of our country's history of progressiveness and leadership. By our actions, the young and old, must relate to the present and export a new American image, the image we all hold in hearts of a reinvigorated, respected, tolerant, trailblazing America.

Read Wai's columns online.

NYTimes.com Op-Ed:Rebranding the U.S. With Obama

Nicholas D. Kristof

"...cooperation is essential to address 21st-century challenges; you can't fire cruise missiles at the global financial crisis."

The other day I had a conversation with a Beijing friend and I mentioned that Barack Obama was leading in the presidential race:

She: Obama? But he's the black man, isn't he?
Me: Yes, exactly.

She: But surely a black man couldn't become president of the United States?
Me: It looks as if he'll be elected.

She: But president? That's such an important job! In America, I thought blacks were janitors and laborers.
Me: No, blacks have all kinds of jobs.

She: What do white people think about that, about getting a black president? Are they upset? Are they angry?
Me: No, of course not! If Obama is elected, it'll be because white people voted for him.
[Long pause.]

She: Really? Unbelievable! What an amazing country

Soapbox Sunday-Special Wednesday Edition: The Sountrack of Our Generation

Hip hop is the soundtrack of our generation and we're in dire need of the creators of that soundtrack to become more socially responsible in how they communicate with their listeners. Chuck D was right when he called rap music the Black CNN because the songs of the Public Enemy-NWA era put the world on notice about the ills killing the Black community; yet, we've come to discover that the plight described in those songs wasn't limited to a racial group but rather was applicable to a much broader socio-economic class of people. Pardon me for restating the far to often stated, but as hip hop became increasingly embraced by audiences wider than neighborhood kids with boom boxes, it also became increasingly less informative about "what's really going on in the hood."

ALBC thinks this is of particular importance because our generation is the hip hop generation; we not only listen to volumes of hip hop music but we also spit our own rhymes and make our own beats (some more amateur than others). We are hip hop at home, in class, and at work...kinda. We're hustlers with swagger and we grind to get ahead. These things we learn from play lists on our iPods and the songs playing in constant rotation on the local radio station. Yet, we aren't social activists who understand the system and how the game is played. Well, we weren't until we were swept away by the phenomenon coined as "Change". Now while the 808s and Heartbreaks beat in our earbuds, we're also signing up unregistered voters, canvassing neighborhoods and preparing to protect against voter fraud. Through "Change" the hip hop generation has rediscovered its conscience.

In keeping with our tradition of mixing politics and culture, ALBC often posts videos of entertainers, most often rappers, expressing their opinions on civic matters. Typically the core of the interview is based on the coming election but what we've found most fascinating and stirring is their capacity to articulate how the civic process works and why citizen apathy has allowed poor communities to be neglected. Today we're featuring a portion of We The People, a video diary of sorts created by Big Boi. Know for yourself and don't download illegally.

You can go to that office anytime and tell 'em how you feel.Go down to the office, knock on the door, its and open door, they can't not let you in...matter fact, when I get home, Ima call somebody and go off on em -Bun B on calling the offices of elected official who represent your local, state and federal government

Don't wear paraphernalia to the Polls!!!

By now you may have received the email chain advising Obama supporters to not wear paraphernalia to the polls. Initially we were skeptical as to whether it was actually illegal to vote with a t-shirt or pin acknowledging your support for a particular candidate; honestly your dear friends at ALBC found it quite preposterous to believe that in every voting cycle there isn't a sweet old lady who votes while wearing something that identifies who she supports. But, at the same time we also recognize that politics is a zero sum bloodsport where citizens maliciously deceive and actively discourage other citizens from voting. Sadly, such a scenario has already occurred. Know for yourself and wear a crispy white tee to the polls.

A Good John

With all this mud being slung in the final days of the campaign, we want to try and keep the name "John" clean. After a visit to LACMA (Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art), I became enamored with the art of John Baldessari. A true game changer, Baldessari was instrumental in the American Modern Art movement and he continues to redefine the medium with his work. John Baldessari was among the 13 highly covetable artists including Frank Gehry and Jasper Johns who have donated print editions of their work to raise funds for Presidential candidate Barack Obama. Los Angeles-based print publisher Gemini G.E.L. commissioned the group of artists to create what they're calling the "Artists for Obama" portfolio, a set of prints in a limited edition of 150 (not including Jasper Johns's iconic Flag, at right). Art lovers looking to acquire the rare set of prints must donate a minimum of $20,000 to the campaign [source: LA Times]

Jay Z assumes his duty as Press Secretary

In his first duty as Press Secretary, Jay-Z, or Sean Carter as he is to be referred within the White House, instructs voters on their right to vote with or without ID.

Senators Obama and McCain at the Alfred E. Smith Charity Dinner

Senator McCain is actually pretty funny.

John McCain throws President Bush under the bus

"The last eight years haven't worked very well, have they?...Your savings, your job and your financial security are under siege. Washington is making it worse - bankrupting us with their spending"




Now that's what I call straight talk.

Let Obama and Biden calculate your taxes

So now that we've gotten the pomp and circumstance of the debates out of the way, lets focus on the nitty gritty in these final days of the campaign. One of the major issues throughout the debates has been which candidate will cut/raise your taxes. Being the forward thinkers that they are, the Obama campaign has made it possible to Know for yourself.

They've created a Tax Calculator where you can input your income level and marital status and viola, you get to find out what your tax liability will be under their tax plan.

Obama-Biden Tax Calculator

Barack Obama and Joe Biden will cut taxes for 95% of working families, and provide at least three times as much tax relief for middle class families as John McCain and Sarah Palin. The Obama/Biden plan provides $1,000 of tax relief for workers and new tax benefits to help families pay for college, childcare and save for retirement.

Comedy for Registered Voters

We're not talking the type of follies of trying to vote in a Florida county. Tommy Davidson and our favorite Obama-supporting DJ, Biz Markie, hosted a free comedy show in Los Angeles yesterday - the only stipulation for entry was that you either had to be a registered voter or were willing to register on the spot. ALBC was there and we were excited to see the Barack the Vote volunteers actively contributing to civic process along with Tony Rock, Chris Spencer, AJ Jamal, and a host of other entertainers.

Congratulations to Barack the Vote on another successful event.

Gossip Girls being mean to McCain

So let me tell you a lil bit about me; I LOVE television series, absolutely love them. Well not all, actually only a few, but I really love the ones I love. Supposedly Gossip Girls is a lovable series to many of you "folks"(said with a Sarah Palin accent) out in changeland. I've haven't had the pleasure of catching any episodes but I see their billboards up around town and hear about watch parties so I figured you guys and gals would enjoy this:

***Breaking News: Jay Z to be named White House Press Secretary***

Friends,
ALBC just received a tip from a low level volunteer that Jay-Z will be White House Press Secretary in the Obama Administration.


Ok, ok, we kid, we kid. But Jay Z did record a PSA for the Obama Campaign in Michigan.
The embed code wasn't feeling us so click here to view it.

***Ha, embed code you can't defeat the diligence of ALBC. We found an even better version of the PSA. Take that you pesky technical difficulty.***

Expressing Straight Talk

"The Wall Street bailout plan was necessary -- but everyday people need help, too. On Monday, Barack announced an economic rescue plan to help middle-class families and communities, provide relief to homeowners and small businesses, and create new jobs.

We can't afford another four years of the same failed economic policies that got us into this crisis, waiting for tax breaks for billionaires to trickle down to the rest of us.

As the economic crisis goes on, and the stock market remains uncertain, Barack Obama has been the calm and steady leader we need."

But dont take their word for it, Know for yourself.

And here is the rest of it.

Wanna make $125k? Teach middle school!

The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School, is a 480-student middle school in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City that will open in September 2009. Its mission is to ensure the academic success of its students by placing emphasis on teacher quality. “I would much rather put a phenomenal, great teacher in a field with 30 kids and nothing else than take the mediocre teacher and give them half the number of students and give them all the technology in the world,” said Zeke M. Vanderhoek, the school’s creator and first principal.

We applaud Zeke and the folks over at TEP. Not only are they doubling the average teacher salary by paying $125,000 as the base salary but they are also targeting at risk adolescents as the bulk of their student body. Although there are sure to be some kinks in their model, we hope that TEP is a success.

Learn more about TEP and Know for yourself: http://www.tepcharter.org/

Soapbox Sundays-Check my balance

The deregulation of markets and the unchecked authority exercised under anti-terrorism provisions are examples of what happens in when government is too thin. Granted, bureaucracy is inherent in big government and inefficiency is inherent in bureaucracy, but there must be some weight healthier than government’s current anorexic state. The decision-making parts throughout the current body have become so slender that the markets are rapidly receding and civil liberties have been egregiously violated.

The Bush Administration has proven that unilateral authority facilitates abuses of power and leads to poor outcomes. Essentially, government needs muscle to be a vigorous body.

Imitation, Flatteration, Holleration

glumbert - Barack Obama Talks To Himself

A message from JC, our Financial Advisor

A few things to think about during these turbulent times.

6 facts to help dispel the fear and 10 key reminders investors need to keep in mind...

6 facts
1. In January of 1970, a bear market started that lasted until May of that year. The market during that time fell 35.4%. In May, a bull market began that lasted until January 1973 and brought a 124% gain in stock values.

2. In April 1981, another bear market commenced that lasted nearly a year and brought a 24.7% decline. Then, in March of 1982, the market began to rise and continued doing so until June 1983, bringing an overall gain of 71.7%.

3. July 1990 brought a downward market that lasted three months, until October 1990, at which point equity prices had fallen 22.4%. Then, in the same month, a new, now legendary, bull market took hold and lasted nearly eight years, until July 1998, delivering a 330.7% gain for the market.

4. Dating back to 1975, 8 of the last 15 bull markets have started in the autumn months of September, October, and November.

5. Since 1957 there have been 15 bear markets, as measured from peak to trough, and on average they have lasted 10 months and brought an average decline of 29.4%.

6. The duration and degree of these bear markets were significantly less than the duration and magnitude of bull markets. During the same period, there were also 15 bull markets, which lasted, on average, 30 months and brought average gains of 112.5%.


10 key reminders for investors
1. Panics are based on emotion, and emotions can take on a life of their own. A herd-like mentality develops, and words that start to be used repetitively - such as "collapse," "endless," and "plunge" - only feed the frenzy. But it is important to remember that emotions are not your friend when it comes to making big decisions about your savings, retirement, or college money.

2. Individuals and the professional managers they hire to oversee their long-term assets are investors, not traders. There is a big difference. For investors, what matters is the long run, not today's events.

3. No one is alone in their concerns. We all have lots of company.

4. Panics and downturns are part of the free market system. They have occurred throughout history. While this knowledge may not ease the pain, these sharp, sudden downturns still have to be recognized as part of a cycle that often includes years of slow and steady upward progress.

5. Historically, bear markets, recessions, and market panics have been relatively brief in comparison with the duration of bull markets. Since World War II, economic expansions have, on average, lasted five times longer than recessions, and bull markets have been twice as long as bear markets.

6. Cyclical downturns have historically been connected to credit excesses. This time is no different. Prudence in borrowing will be rewarded in the next cycle.

7. Collapses do not bring everything to a halt. Even during the worst of down times, people still go about their lives, raising children, going to work, and planning for the future.

8. Risk-seeking in the markets has vanished. But the pursuit of risk is a normal state for the markets. U.S. Treasury bills may look smart today, but at some point risk-seeking will return. It always has.

9. The largest government bodies in the world have acted to lessen the severity of this crisis.

10.You cannot control events. You can only control your response to them.

"That One?!?!?"

Within the walls of ALBC, we have discussed our commitment to civic literacy. We are fully aware and have taken full responsibility for our endorsements and denouncements. But as the election day grows nigh, we must admit, it becomes even more difficult to disguise ourselves as unbiased.

This is, in part, due to being more than moderately well informed. That is the burden of being civilly literate. The other part? Well, the other part is due to a certain candidate making it easy to cast aspersions when he decides to be noble and refer to his opponent as "That One".
You see, "it isn't so much about preference, and it isn't about age, and it isn't about race. It's about respect."

28 Days Later

When we wake up twenty-eight days from today, our nation will be on the precipice of change. This will be the first major paradigm shift of the Twenty-First Century. The sliding plates above our ground but below the surface, the final count of our votes, will resonate high on the Richter scale for half of our country. The energy release will be universal after the long campaign process, but the momentum that has swept many into civic responsibility could be stifled if the president-elect represents an America that half of its citizens do not have faith in.

Like Danny Boyle’s film, 28 Days Later, there is a possibility of a morale breakdown of some citizens following the accidental release of a highly contagious virus. The virus? Change. Change is contagious and it is a process that cannot be reversed, although its path can be redirected…forded like a river. If the passion and momentum of this year’s election is a result of a true desire to see a change in our society – there will be one. If the intensity citizens are feeling are tied to campaigns and/or ideological representations presented by individuals running for office: a war veteran who can keep us safe (I will not use the word “Maverick” … damn, I just did), a Black man who reflects the core ethos of our society, or a woman who will keep us entertained (and Tina Fey PAID!) – a sense of betrayal could be felt if their candidate, and idea of America, does not win and they will continue to lose faith in our government. Currently, only 9% of Americans are satisfied with the way things are going in America according to the latest Gallup poll. But which America will we choose to support?

I’m no futurist. I just took a class on futurism. What will happen in twenty-eight days? We will have a new President-Elect. Will there be a public reaction? Absolutely. The change we are currently experiencing is the result of all the radical and hopeful schools of thought formed through the experiences of Baby Boomers. Have no fear. Rest assured that your Agents here at ALBC will be here to help you cope with whatever the result of the election is…and long after. We have always been committed to contributing the collective thought that will shape the next 28 years of American History. Check our track record. Change has always been here; we’re just now coming of age.

The Ring in the Cookie Jar

Back when he was Congressman McCain, he was also a member of the Keating Five. You ask who/what is the Keating Five; great, because we have the answer.

From Wikipedia:

The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The five senators, Alan Cranston (D-CA), Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ), John Glenn (D-OH), John McCain (R-AZ), and Donald W. Riegle (D-MI), were accused of improperly intervening in 1987 on behalf of Charles H. Keating, Jr., chairman of the Lincoln Savings and Loan Association, which was the target of a regulatory investigation by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB). The FHLBB subsequently backed off taking action against Lincoln.

Lincoln Savings and Loan collapsed in 1989, at a cost of $2 billion to the federal government. Some 23,000 Lincoln bondholders were defrauded and many elderly investors lost their life savings. The substantial political contributions that Keating had made to each of the senators, totalling $1.3 million, attracted considerable public and media attention.

Words are nice, quite nice. But videos bring it home. So here's a video about the Keating Five scandal courtesy of Obama for America

Facebook Feelings II

BH: is thinking Gergen hit it on the head: It's too early to declare victory because Barack is black. Black = -6 pts!"

LA: Question from the internet--McCain looks toward the seats on the right looking for a woman named Internet.

SRW: is wondering why McCain would assume that man don't know who Fannie Mae is. YOU LOSE, T-Rex!

TT: is referring to his colleagues as "that one" from now on.

SK: Conservative Bill Bennett, "The strength of McCain's story just isn't matched by a strong campaign. He needed to win tonight and didn't."

CR: thinks David Gergen finally said what I've been saying at http://vexedinthecity.wordpress.com.

RB: will be so happy when "that one" is in the White House!

MMT: wants to tell McCain that he isn't his friend--unless McCain establishes a nice little trust for him or unless Cindy will get him some happy pills.

NM: wishes I was a blogger right now because this fool McCain and his "keep my hands behind my back" wife...OMG!!! SHAKE A HAND!!!

ATIV: is "That One".....

BH: is thinking that McCain refused to shake Obama's hand after calling him "that one". REALLY? UGH!

AP: is so over the circular, non-substantial, misquoted, cynical, disrespectfulness of that which is McCain.

GT: is voting for "THAT ONE!"

CN: thinks the debate would have been better if McCain hadn't thought he was competing on America's Crankiest Oldster.

***plenty more after the jump***

HP: is sorta creeped out by John McCain and loves Michelle Obama.

HOO: thinks that after tonight's presidential debate, she now understands Federalist Paper 10.

SG: wait, wasn't a town hall supposed to FAVOR mccain?

ME: says "I am not McCain's friend and I wish he would stop calling me so."

DCM: OMG!!!...one of Madame Tussauds wax statues has gotten loose and is now debating Obama. Where are the Tennessee State Troopers!?

AM: is omg- teddy roosevelt? reagan ok but come on.

SJ: is not happy with McCain misquoting Teddy Roosevelt! Damn it McCain..dont u remember the cartoon!!

DC: is laughing that all his friends have status messages that say John McCain is not their friend.

JS: does not like the sound of McCain's voice.....sorry 'my friend.'

SH: knows that she is not John McCain's "friend."

MH: is counting McCain's "my friends."

AG: ain't your friend, Johnny.

SRM: says a certain older man should be glad I'm clerking and can't comment on politics!! This "debate" in infuriating...

IS: "Tom, can I respond to this foolishness?"

DBG: if your not watching the debates, kill ya self, lol, but get it together.

Bomb Bomb Bomb, Bomb Bombed the Debate

Ol Johnnie Boy, you're one of a kind.

Get on Board!

We were sitting here picking our Fantasy Debate team and decided that you might enjoy a lil political humor before the debates tonite. Enjoy!

Change is Fresh

NYMag.com:
Barack Obama’s Paris Runway Debut

When it was reported that Donatella Versace's most recent men's collection was inspired by Barack Obama, Donatella was quick to correct the press. Obama himself didn't inspire her, but rather "the type of man Barack Obama represents." However designers showing at Paris Fashion Week conveyed no such reserves about using their runway shows to blatantly support Barack. Sonia Rykiel's spring 2009 collection included sweaters that read "I have a dream" and "Obama." Jean-Charles de Castelbajac put Barack's grinning face on a dress paired with gloves that read "yes" and "no" — probably his way of saying "rock the vote." And at the end of her program notes, Stella McCartney wrote, "P.S. Vote Obama!!" None of this surprises us. What does, however, is that Barack didn't permeate the collections in London, Milan, or New York in this way. Maybe designers in other parts of the world didn't want to add fuel to the whole Obama-is-a-celebrity fire? Like embracing a First Lady who's posed nude, leave it to the French to say, "Yes, we can!"

Don't Vote, Just Don't Do It!

The Ackward Post

Politically incorrect? most likely
Funny? kinda
Do we hope her directive is followed? Yeah
Do we feel ackward posting this? Hell yeah...but we're doing it anyway.

The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.

Game Changer: Bun B

Most of you know Bun B as one half of arguably the greatest rap group of all time, UGK (RIP Pimp C)-emphasis on arguably. But as of late, he has taken on a far more important role as a spokesman for the impoverished and disenfranchised. What's particularly exceptional about Bun's latest efforts is he no longer limits his role as a spokesman for the poor to his rhymes; he is now participating in citizen activism by speaking at schools, attending both the DNC and RNC Conventions and taking MTV to the Gulf Coast of Texas to get a glimpse of life after the storm.

Thanks to Bun B you can Know for yourself what life is like for the residents returning to Galveston, TX.

• MTV
• Music Videos
• MTV Shows
• Entertainment News

All Along The Watchtower

"There must be some kind of way out of here/ Said the joker to the thief/ There's too much confusion/ I cant get no relief..."so sung Jimi Hendrix about businessmen, plow-men, and thieves; still, it seems like we can't get no relief. Last night, all eyes were watching the vice-presidential debate awaiting a clear relief to the muck surrounding ticket positions on the economy, war, and other pressing issues (or see one of the running mates make an ass ... or pachyderm out of themselves). I was running late and even an eager used car salesman had to ease up when I told him I needed to get home for a watch party of the debate because I needed to know for myself how the candidates would address the public.

My summation: Biden's a calm beast. He could have ripped Palin to shreds, but he took the Obama campaign high road by not addressing the blatant foolishness. Palin was prepared and made it a point to regurgitate each talking point she was given. One watch party viewer summed it up by saying that "She exceeded expectations, but there were no expectations for her."

Listening to BBC Radio yesterday afternoon, the Presenters on the station joked that after last week's "boring" debate they weren't sure if they would sacrifice hours of sleep to tune in. Well, on the domestic side, curiosity possibly made the Biden-Palin debate the most watched TV debate ever. Nielsen Media Research estimates 38.7 million viewers on the big four broadcast networks, 30 percent more than the 29.7 million who caught last week's presidential debate on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox. [source: E! Online]

Just as we shared our commentary with each other during our watch party, many shared their opinions live on the net leading to a number of articles published today on the subject of live blogging. ALBC is familiar with this subject, just last week, we had a post on Facebook election feelings. Check these articles out for a different spin on the new medium taking a large role in our democratic process.

• It was as if we’d all come to a debate watching party, only we weren’t whispering our comments to the person next to us on the couch, we were sharing them with all our friends, spread out all over the country. I asked what a “Bosniak” was and shared my enjoyment of the way Sen. Biden emphasized “Bush’s” over and over. This was fun. Every dodged answer, every nuance or verbal gaffe brought more from the world-wide peanut gallery:
• Joe Biden likes to refer to Joe Biden as Joe Biden
• Palin says ‘Maverick’ more than McCain says ‘Miss Congeniality.’
• If they keep referring to McCain as a maverick, they’re going to ruin Top Gun for me. ["Facebooking the Palin-Biden debate" by Andrew Heining. The Christian Science Monitor]
• For laptop users watching the political debate tonight, you can track political coverage with several liveblogs. One advantage: livebloggers will likely do fact-checks on topics as they are discussed, and a few will provide political commentary on any gaffes or foibles that occur. [Bookmark alert: Liveblogs for Sarah Palin and Joe Biden debate by John Brandon. ComputerWorld.com]

• Online video-sharing and social networking are playing a growing role in the American electoral climate. Sites across the web are using entertainment, data and engagement techniques to encourage users to cast their votes. Some of the work is satirical, like the Nobama-sponsored Obama cartoon featured at the left of this article, or the user-generated McCain ad to the right of it. Overall, what's out there is a snapshot of how the zeitgeist interprets — and reinterprets — the political atmosphere as Nov. 4 draws near. [source: MarketingVOX]