2008: The Year of the Blogger

In 20 or 30 years, history may point to the 2008 presidential election as being the first time that candidates used the Internet as a vehicle to determine the legitimacy of their candidacy.

In 2000 and 2004 the presidential candidates used the Internet much like a child suspiciously plays with a new toy that they don’t understand. However, what we’ve already seen is that the current crop of candidates is savvy about the Internet and using it in new and exciting ways.

John Edwards and Hillary Clinton announced their candidacy through prerecorded messages on their Web sites, almost all of the candidates post to "personal" blogs on their Web site, and many candidates have begun placing campaign ads on various Internet sites.

Like the 1952 contest between Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson, 2008 may be looked on as a turning point in political campaigning. The candidates finally seem to understand how vital their Internet presence is to their overall campaign, and the mature blogging world is already trying to make a difference in the 2008 elections.

Al Gore, inventor of the Internet and patrician of all things digital, may ironically become the first candidate whose decision to run is decided online.

The recent discovery of Gore’s exorbitant heating bills has quickly become one of the hottest topics in the right-wing bloggosphere. Conservatives are using this story to desperately stunt a grass roots effort to keep the ultra-popular darling of the Hollywood circle on the sidelines in 2008.

However, liberal blogs such as the Daily Kos, are ignoring the seemingly obvious paradox and trying desperately to encourage Gore to run in 2008. Currently, more than 45,000 people have signed the petition to "draft Gore" for the 2008 election.

The resulting debate which will play itself out online may decide which way Gore decides to turn in 2008?

For years Bloggers have demanded legitimacy and yearned to make a difference in the world. 2008 appears to finally be their title shot.

Journalist Gets it Wrong

Do you know the difference between a file and a folder?

If you are even mildly computer savvy, you probably know that you create folders to store your files. Even Homer Simpson would consider this a no-brainer.

A recent Reuters story outlines a 12-step addiction program designed to cure addicts and free them from the shackles of e-mail. One of the 12-steps is, “Create files where you can put Inbox material that needs to be acted on.”

DOH! E-mail addicts should create FOLDERS for their Inbox materials.

More than five years of technical support has made me fairly tolerant of computer users who are not very computer savvy. I understand that the average person isn’t as knowledgeable about their computer as I am. That’s why I have a job.

But my tolerance stops with a professional writer who is writing about technology. Not only is this a blatant disregard for facts, but it could confuse people who are trying to cure themselves of an e-mail addiction.

Perhaps there should be a 12-step program for journalists who are too busy to get their facts straight and proofread their work. If not, then I'm sure that there a few thousand Computer 101 and E-mail 101 courses available.

Text Messages Trump Hallmark Cards

Are the halcyon days of guilt induced Valentine’s Day purchases from Hallmark numbered?

Today’s teenagers are either too cheap to buy cards and candy, or they are smarter than most adults and see through the marketing campaigns that have led consumers to spend nearly $14 billion this year on Valentine’s Day purchases.

This year my wife and I added approximately $100 of our hard earned money to the national total spent on Valentine’s Day gifts. My wife received a beautiful flower display from Locker’s, and I received some of my favorite candy.

Boring? Probably. But, this is fairly typical of what folks in our generation do on Valentine’s Day.

But, times have definitely changed because technology has made Valentine’s Day a real-time celebration. My sixteen year old daughter received several loving text messages from her boyfriend. She also showed me the sweet, caring thoughts that he posted on his MySpace page.

What a clever way to earn relationship points! Why didn’t I think of that?

The virtual thoughts that he sent were more personal than standard card fare and touched her in a way that a store bought card could not. Apparently taking the time to write your own verses has merit to the younger, more sensible generation.

Although text messages, virtual greeting cards, and posted love notes are not physical gifts, I believe that the emotional investment in these messages can far outweigh the sentiment found in cards and flowers.

Today’s teenagers have the right idea. I think that using technology to convey their personal feelings is akin to the age-old romantic tradition of writing love letters to your sweetie.

While some deride virtual messages as cheap or uncaring, I believe that the people who send them are merely using the current technology to convey their feelings. If people did not use modern technology for love notes, we would all have stacks of stone tablets or papyrus scrolls from our sweetheart stacked in the closet.

The only difference between virtual messages and greeting cards is that you need a jump drive to store them instead of a cardboard box or hope chest.

I would rather receive a touching e-mail that was written just for me than open a card that thousands of other people are also receiving. Personal messages are just more…..well…..personal.

Hallmark, your days are numbered. The Me-generation may be greedy, but they have definitely got the right idea about romance.

Bill Gates, Be a Hero

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has funneled millions of dollars into education programs across the world through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A noble gesture, indeed.

On Monday, however, Gates was challenged to do the unthinkable by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev who asked Gates to help a Russian teacher who has been accused of using pirated Microsoft software in his classroom.

This is truly a water shed moment in his remarkable life. Will Uncle Bill be the benevolent philanthropist or the greedy business man?

I certainly hope that Bill chooses the benevolent philanthropist role. His actions for improving education and helping the poor are well documented and are quite staggering when you consider how much money he has personally donated to improving the world.

According to the Fact Sheet on the foundation’s Web site, Gates has endowed $31 billion so far, with more than $11 billion already committed to use. Much of this money has been used to fund a wide variety of educational programs.

In this case, I believe that Bill should intercede on the teacher’s behalf. Yes, what he was doing wasn’t legal. But he was using the software to further the education of children, which is one of the primary philanthropic focuses of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and of Microsoft itself.

To pursue action against this teacher would contradict everything that these two organizations so highly promote.

Uncle Bill, this situation gives you the opportunity to improve the world for a large number of children. Make yourself the hero and save this teacher from prosecution. At the press conference, be sure to surround yourself with the smiling children when you announce that you are going to fill the school with brand new computer equipment and legally licensed software so that this doesn’t happen again.

A noble gesture, indeed.

Lawmakers Ban Technology

The ever present lobbyist scourge in our government has apparently added technology to the heavy-handed wheeling and dealing arsenal of tricks that they use to swing lawmakers’ votes to their cause.

The Maine House of Representatives is fighting back, however, as representatives contemplate a rule that would ban text messages and e-mails to lawmakers while they are in session.

Maine is not alone.

According to a recent Associated Press story, “More than 30 states have in some fashion restricted the use of electronic devices, such as pagers, cell phones and desktop printers in legislatures, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.”

I’m not surprised that technology has infiltrated our government to this degree. In fact, I’m actually happy that our leaders have embraced technology because it will hopefully allow them to craft technology-based legislation that makes sense.

The one thing that does frighten me is that it appears as though lawmakers’ are willing to keep their vote up for grabs until the minute they cast their ballot.

Instead of blaming technology for the problem, perhaps we should expect our lawmakers to base their decisions on the needs of their constituents and not on the whims of lobbyists who voice their opinions through a virtual messenger.

I would like to think that we have elected lawmakers with a high degree of moral turpitude. Apparently that’s not always the case.

Perhaps we should send them a text message and voice our opinion before they ban the electronics from their hallowed halls.

Energy Conscious Computer Usage

A California lawmaker recently made news with his plan to ban the use of traditional incandescent light bulbs in the state by 2012. He believes that these inefficient bulbs waste energy and contribute to the greenhouse gasses that are blamed for global warming.

He’s right.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs use 25 percent less energy than their incandescent elders. Not only do fluorescent bulbs use less energy, they can also save you between $40 and $55 per bulb during their lifespan.

As I read the story on-line, I began to think about how much energy my computer wastes while it’s not in use. Despite being a heavy computer user, each of my desktop computers is generally idle for more than 15 hours per day.

Even with the power save features enabled, there is still quite a bit of time where the PC and monitor are running and not being used. And, don’t forget about those peripherals such as printers, speakers and scanners that may run continuously while they suck up energy and inflate your monthly electric bill.

According to the Energy Star Web site, Energy Star-labeled computers are required to power down to 15 percent of their maximum power use by their power save features. Power hungry monitors are required “to power down to 15 watts or less after 15 to 30 minutes of inactivity and down to 8 watts after 70 minutes of activity. A new ENERGY STAR specification for monitors that goes into effect on January 1, 2005 requires that the monitor only draw 4 watts or less in sleep mode. By January 1, 2006, the sleep mode is 2 watts or less.”

While we go through our house and upgrade light bulbs in an effort to conserve energy, lower our monthly bills, and reduce greenhouse gases, I believe that we should also begin to think of how to more efficiently use our computer equipment.

In order to do my part, I am going to try and implement the following changes in my household and at work. Hopefully you will also consider to follow some of these ideas.

• Turn off computer equipment when it is not in use.


• Ensure that power save features are enabled so that equipment left running will be more efficient.


• Reduce the number of computers in the house. Do we really need four computers?


• Recycle all computer and electronic devices.

These few improvements require changing a few habits, but nothing earth shattering. If everyone who owns a computer turns off their computer equipment when it isn’t in use, Ed Begley might not have to turn off as many things when he runs his outdoor water fountain.