Just some comic relief for today.. Enjoy!

The undubbed version can be found here

Last week, while most watched Obama do his 100 day thing and also witnessed the American media continue to create fear in viewers eyes over the swine flu pandemic. (How many people are going to visit Mexico after this whole thing is over? Probably not many who consistently follow the views and opinions of some of the American media outlets.), I tagged along and went on a trip of a lifetime, the Great Canadian road trip out west. Now I know most people that view this blog don’t usually look at content that is Canadian specific. But I hope you will come along over the next five days, and enjoy some great Canadian landmarks along the way….

No, this isn’t a question of whether or not you should be sent to the looney bin. Instead, it’s a question of commitment to sustainability and all of the wonderful things that have sprung from this movement. HOK Chairman Bill Valentine is so committed that in addition to driving a Prius he now has added solar panels to his own house (above)!

With Obama in office and the world’s eyes ablaze with everything green, it has become rather easy for companies to “greenwash” you into thinking that their service or product is truly focused on sustainability.

HOK, on the other hand, has been committed to sustainability for decades, with hundreds of sustainably-designed environments …

As a DC/mid-Atlantic native, I was sure happy to get the heck out of town in the middle of January…temperatures here have been pretty frigid (despite that this happens pretty much every year, I’m always shocked at just how cold it gets). Anyway, I had the opportunity to head off to the lovely town of San Francisco (in the 70s during the day) for a meeting and a day of work in the HOK SF office. 

I was definitely disappointed to miss the inauguration and associated events (especially the free concert), but I did see some great stuff in San Francisco, beginning with my airplane ride (not nearly as interesting …

So you probably got to see the Inauguration on TV or maybe even went. Perhaps you read about it in the paper. I have been planning my attendance since November 4, 2008, and had a handful of houseguests who joined me and my roommates to experience this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon.

For those of you who didn’t make it, here’s a description of what the day felt like from a local girl’s perspective.

Friday: I attended an Inauguration/Tree Hugger Happy Hour and my roommates friend from college arrived in town. We hung out at the Reef, on the roof deck (heated and covered, totally unsustainable!) and drank rum-laced hot cider, toasting the other local DC-ists …

Today, I truly grasped the concept of “Power to the People.” Abstract from political, cultural and racial affliation, WE can all agree that the long established American political process culminated today into the election of OUR new world leader. The politcal process can oftentimes appear STATIC and exclusive. This process, however, due to a multiplicity of circumstances over the last several years, if not decades, has become more dynamic and inclusive, and eductional. I argue that this was and is a truly a radical movement. Radical in that we demand and expect significant cultural, social, economical, educational and ethical paradigmatic shifts.

Please read the excerpt from Wikipedia below:

“Political process theory argues that there are three vital components for movement formation: insurgent consciousness, organizational strength, and political opportunities.”

Can we approach OUR collective …

Seems everywhere you turn there’s a shocking disaster, an emerging scandal, or a fresh demonstration of our sputtering economy.

In response to the doom-and-gloom news that surrounds us, I created a light-hearted video that blends pop culture and politics with an A-to-Z glimpse at some familiar consumer brands. It’s backed by one of my favorite tunes from 1987 (a year most commonly remembered for Black Monday, the Iran-Contra Affair and the defrocking of televangelist Jim Bakker).

And so I boldly proclaim: It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel FINE). 

I recieved the below message today to post here to the blog from some of our fellow HOK’ers from Atlanta. Thanks Chirag!

“Jeff, Pat, Ami & I are up in the Chicago area for a project and were able to witness history live in Grant Park. The atmosphere and energy among the people was phenomenal. People poured in the streets early in the evening and did not move till after Obama’s speech. Chicago’s prominent Michigan avenue was shut down for traffic as huge waves of people moved through the city. Check out some videos of what we saw…”

Photos here

Obama or McCain.
Republican or Democrat.

Regardless of your political beliefs and affiliations, if you voted today, there are more things to be had than just the right candidate.

http://www.heyitsfree.net/2008/11/03/updated-election-day-freebies/

This site shows you where to go for some free “I voted” items. Starbucks, Ben and Jerry’s and other retailers are encouraging you to “rock the vote” for coffee, ice cream and other goodies.

Check it out and your stomachs and wallets can thank me later.

Well, it’s the night before the election and things are definitely stirring around the Chicago Loop. Barrack Obama will be holding his acceptance / concession speach in Grant Park tomorrow night. I was sent an invite by email at 2:30 pm. By the time that I opened it at 4pm, all 75,000 tickets were SOLD OUT. Here are some images of Grant Park.  Now imagine 1,000,000 people crowded in there.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley said he expected almost one million people to converge on the parkland and surrounding streets in order to be a part of history. HOK Chicago has been advised to VACATE the loop by 3pm to avoid crowds and street closings.

People have offered to pay as …

Just in case you missed the final debate here is a good summary. Interestingly enough, it’s from the 60’s. RIP, Burgess Meredith, this is the only time in your career that I would equate you to John McCain. Whoops, did I say that?

via barackoblogger.com