Hope.

If there's been something missing in this country for the past eight years (arguably more), it's been hope. Especially in the last year, as we've watched our economic structure collapse on itself, as we've watched our energy costs soar, and as we've watched the ticker reach 4000 casualties of war in Iraq, hope has been missing.

The usual politicians have taken their places at the podia, spouting the usual things about the usual topics and in many ways, this election doesn't seem all that different from the one before, and the one before that, and the ones before that.

Then came Barack obama, and for the first time since I started paying attention to the American presidency, back when Perot made his bid, I find myself inspired by a candidate.

Inspired by his message of hope. Inspired by his message of change. Inspired by his message of unity and humanity.

And that's why I know this candidate is extraordinary in a field that is all too ordinary.

Yes, we can.

Additional Reading:

• Full transcript of Obama's speech following the New Hampshire primary. (8 Jan 2008)
• Full transcript of Obama's speech on race. (18 March 2008)
• The will.i.am song, "Yes We Can" and testimonials by various celebrities, based on the 8 Jan 2008 speech.

Now, if only they'd make a corresponding automatic watering system that would take input from Botaincalls, my plants may actually survive.

Via Slashdot.

"Ian..."

"Yes?"

"Come back here."

I walk back into the pantry.

"What did you do?"

"I burned myself." I lower the ice pack to show off a 2" mark, brilliant red and stinging like mad. It's just a long thin line at a rakish angle across my cheek.

"Ow. How did you do that?"

"I was about to iron a shirt this morning, wasn't very awake, and I needed to check to see if the iron was hot enough, so I lifted up to my face to check the temperature and got a little too close."

A moment of dead silence and a stunned expression.

"I love you, Ian. You're brilliant and almost too brilliant. I'm glad you're still human."

Courtesy of Rob

On the one hand, I could say that the students are lazy and aren't doing what they ought to be, but that's not the point of the video. That's just a knee jerk reaction to how things "should be."

Fact of the matter is that the world is a very different place than when the school systems were created. We've moved faster and further in the past twenty years than we had in the previous hundred. Is it no wonder that our school system is no longer adequate to deal with how modern students learn?

What's it going to take to have real learning inside the new paradigm?

So, Tony Romo, this year, I am thankful for:

• The Power Call: Mel, Sarah, Azmir, Shana, and Vatecia (in absentia), for changing the world three things at a time every day
• John vR, Marie and Charles, for starting the Last Minute Poetry Club
• Camille, Ana, Armin and Pat, for joining the club
• Armin, for the idea of doing poetry
• John vR and Camille, for finishing their first scripts
• The Wisdom Course, Lily and Monique, for a year of unbelievable changes
• Royal Caribbean and the crew of Freedom of the Seas, Lena, Rebecca, Table 587, and so many others, for one really kick ass cruise to the Western Caribbean
• Jamaica, for rum cake
• The Crypt, for all the dancing
• Deck 12, for one of my favourite memories of all time, dancing into the pool
• The Octopus, for easy transit around Hong Kong
• Lena, for playing along at Madame Tussaud's
• The 7-11, for having a battery charging service for my cell phone
• Uncle 007, for another amazing tour of Hong Kong
• Jimmy, for the sushi and the Korean BBQ in Hong Kong
• Sam's Tailor, for the awesome suit
• Jerah, for relationships come and gone
• John S, for the opportunity and for ending it when it needed to end
• April, for the alternative perspective and guidance
• April again, for dim sum lunches, afternoon talks, and late night Chinese
• Jenn, for a second life
• Doc, for the back breaking
• Frank, for a new opportunity
• Dixon and Mei, for the invitation and the hospitality
• Ken, for the bachelor party on Canada Day
• George, Ilanit, Jennifer, Judy, Megan and Rob, for 29 weeks of keeping me on my toes and making it fun
• Judy again, for being crazy enough to go to Vegas and back in 15 hours
• Sheree and Matt, for their new house
• Dad, for helping them find it
• My crushes, for being crushed on
• Candace and Francesca, for their leadership and guidance
• Larry, Carol, Candace, Archie, Chris, Francesca, Armida, and Nancy, for the Introduction Leaders Program
• Everyone in the Introduction Leaders Program, for the difference that they make
• Angela, Dave, and John, for partnership
• Erick and Frank S, for all their assistance
• Kelley, Amanda and Kristina, for all the lunches
• Amy, for listening to me every day
• Heidi, for the colour commentary
• Soulja Boy Tellem, for that stupid dance
• The 110 and 105 freeways
• The downtown bypass, Figueroa, and Imperial Highway, when the freeways let me down
• Pinkberry, for the frozen yoghurt, Korean mafia style
• Jenni, for Pinkberry
• Jenni, Rod, Jerah, Victor, Kim, Don, Darrick and Lumi, for a wonderfully explosive weekend
• Darrick and Lumi, for never giving up