Chapter 81.1: I'd Underestimated the Creepiness

At first, I thought this was very interesting: Google.org has collected and analyzed flu search data that seems to identify trends faster than the experts, based primarily on how people are utilizing their search engine. Great! I thought, someone has finally been able to monitor how real people are being affected by life's various maladies.

The more I thought about it, though, the more it reminded me of that TV commercial with the baby who buys stocks. You know ... the one where he used his profits to hire a clown. "But I underestimated the creepiness factor," he says ... or words to that effect.

It's perfectly logical that a large search engine like Google can check this type of stuff. But it's still strange to think that our basic privacy might be rendered "marketable."

What's next? Can data on search tendencies be amassed and sold? Probably. I don't know that such things aren't already happening. So let's say the search keywords of the millions of people who live in New Jersey are collected. And maybe it turns out that various terms of a sexual nature are up toward the top, perhaps the usual celebrity names, numerous political issues, etc. What does that say about New Jersey? In my opinion, not much of anything unless it has context. But the more these things are examined, the more our privacy gets shaved. Slippery slope. Creepy.

Chapter 80.9: Back to the Future, Forward to the Past

Every now and then, I actually poke around through the emailed newsletter I receive from the Council on Foreign Relations. Given the significant transition we are facing as a nation, I found the latest issue particularly interesting. In it is a link to an essay written by Dean Rusk, then a trustee with the Rockefeller Foundation and in less than a year of this essay being published, the U.S. Secretary of State.

In the essay, which is very long, he makes prescient observations on the status of the United States at that time and where he envisioned it going. But I was caught also by one of his simplist observations: "To the rest of the world [the president] embodies the dignity and sovereignty of the Federal Union and has much to do with the image of America projected beyond our borders. He leads our solemn observances and sets the tone of our national life. Whether we move with zest and confidence in our public and private affairs or plod along in apathy or bewilderment turns in large part upon the morale which flows from the White House."

In light of what America has seen over the past 28 years (i.e. since President Reagan), Rusk's words should be instructive for president-elect Obama. One of the things I like about Obama is how smart he is and that he is able to use that intelligence to convey confidence. I don't doubt that Sen. McCain is intelligent and I honestly don't doubt that President Bush is intelligent, though I think his arrogance and that of Vice President Cheney have brought shame to the United States that will take years to wash clean. But neither Bush nor McCain — and not even President Clinton when he was so embattled — left me feeling confident.

We need President Obama to continue to instill confidence in Americans of all stripes if we are to succeed during what promises to be one of the most challenging economic periods of our history. Right now, Web sites are filled with speculation about what an Obama presidency will mean for investors, what it will mean for health care, even what it means for Sen. Joe Lieberman. I'm sure some of the points noted in these pieces are accurate, and I'm sure that some will prove to be wrong or misguided. The facts will play out and like the Roshomon effect, will depend on perspective in order to convey a semblance of truth.

Perspective is important to a leader. What Americans need now is to believe in the power of that office for good once again. After eight years of President Bush's ideologically driven decisions that left half the nation unguarded and President Clinton's self-centered dalliances that sullied the office, I hope that President Obama can restore confidence in America's place in the world, in our leadership, and in our goodness.

It is a lot to ask of any leader — probably too much. And I'm sure there'll be times when he fails; he's human. But damn, we need a leader now.

Chapter 80.7: President-Elect Obama

All right! You don't have to be a math whiz to see the blue ink on the wall. With Ohio now declared for Sen. Barack Obama, Pennsylvania unsurprisingly going Democratic, and Florida looking ready to go Democratic too, it's time to stick a fork in Sen. John McCain's campaign. It's done.

There's a party in Grant Park in Chicago, and I think there will be celebration throughout much of the United States. Barack Obama is on the verge of history!

President-Elect Obama will have a lot of work ahead of him, and there remains much to learn about the House and Senate races as the night goes on, but short of an unspeakable catastrophe, he has accomplished what many African-Americans never thought possible in their lifetimes.

This may sound silly to some, but I'm proud of America. We're still a nation with deep racial divisions, but at least it can be said now that we have elected a black man president. There's never been a black prime minister of England or a black president of France. Don't even think about Germany in this equation. I don't know for certain, but I'd be shocked if there's been an Aboriginal PM of Australia.

This truly is history. I'm proud to have witnessed it and to be part of this historic vote.

Chapter 80.6: Google and Books

I meant to post something about Google's resolution about making the content of many books widely available, but life was simply too busy.

So I've decided to call attention to what Peter Osnos has to say about this matter. As he notes, this is a complicated matter and still has many moving parts.

What you think about Google's agreement? Leave a comment :-)

Chapter 80.5: It Has Begun

Ordinarily, this would be something I'd post on the Elephant's Bookshelf, but I think it qualifies as worth noting here at my Coffee Cup, too. Plus, my last post there was about National Novel Writing Month, anyway, so I'm going to share the wealth. (Or should that be "redistribute the wealth"?)

For all those who aren't aware, NaNo WriMo has begun. Throughout this thirty-day month, tens of thousands of masochists all around the world will work on new novels (well, even that isn't an ironclad rule; I've heard of one writer who plans to do fifty 1,000 word short stories. Now that's masochism!) I've already begun and posted about 740 words to my tally, and I'll add more today. The morning is young!

And I even have some energy yet to share this news with all of you. So, if you're a fellow Wrimo, feel free to say hi here or at the Elephant's Bookshelf. I'd love to hear from you (I'm "Elephantguy" in Wrimo land), but I suspect you're dedicating your writing to your actual book. Good luck everyone. It's time for coffee.