“Watching President Obama address our nation — and feeling the pride that is in every American’s heart — it’s worth pausing to celebrate our nation’s achievements. Yet even as we mark this historic event, we recognize the deep problems that continue to face our nation. Republicans are eager to work with President Obama on the challenges he discussed, especially restoring fiscal responsibility and growing our economy.

“After last year’s State of the Union, then-candidate Barack Obama asked the nation to imagine a time when a President’s agenda would draw standing ovations from both sides of the aisle. That sort of bipartisanship is an admirable goal — and one that unfortunately continues to elude Washington. The Democratic leadership in Congress must be willing to work with Republicans to stop out-of-control spending, promote the creation of jobs, and to keep our troops properly funded.

“Now would be a good time for this young Administration to ask the Democrat leaders in Congress to actually consider working in a bipartisan way to solve the real problems Americans are facing.

“I am more confident than ever that the American people will stand up for the principles our nation was founded on and will hold their representatives accountable to overcome the challenges that this nation faces.”

• Men are increasingly interested in an educated woman who is a good financial prospect and less interested in chastity.
• Women are increasingly interested in a man who wants a family and less picky about whether he’s always Mr. Nice Guy.

That’s according to a study by University of Iowa sociologists Christine Whelan and Christie Boxer. They analyzed results of a 2008 survey of more than 1,100 undergraduates at the UI, the University of Washington, the University of Virginia and Penn State University, comparing the results to past mate-preference studies.

Since the 1930s, researchers have been asking college students to rank a list of 18 characteristics they’d prefer in a mate from “irrelevant” (0) to “essential” (3), allowing for a comparison of mate preferences dating back three generations. And my, how times have changed: Today’s young adults rank love and attraction as most important; a few generations ago it didn’t even make the top three.

“Marriage used to be a practical arrangement. Getting married for love or attraction was considered foolish and perhaps even dangerous,” said Whelan, author of “c” and a visiting assistant professor of sociology in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

In the 1930s male respondents were seeking a dependable, kind lady who had skills in the kitchen. Chastity was more important than intelligence.

Now, guys look for love, brains and beauty — and a sizable salary certainly sweetens the deal. Men ranked “good financial prospect” No. 12 in 2008, a significant climb from No. 17 in 1939 and No. 18 in 1967.

“These results are consistent with the rise in educational and career opportunities for women, and men’s increasing desire to share the financial burdens with a future spouse,” Whelan said.

Chastity — which men ranked at No. 10 in 1939 — fell to dead last in 2008.

“When we administered the survey, several female students snickered at the idea that we even included the chastity item,” Whelan said. “This is consistent with the widespread hook-up culture on college campuses.”

For women of the 1930s, emotional stability, dependable character and ambition ranked as the top three characteristics they wanted in a man. Attraction and love didn’t come in until No. 5. Today, women, like men, put love at the top of the list, with dependability and emotional stability rounding out the top three characteristics in Mr. Right.

Women rate desire for home and children much higher in importance than men do. In 2008, women rated desire for home and children fourth men ranked it ninth.

Women ranked “pleasing disposition” as significantly less important in 2008 than they have ever before. Pleasing disposition — presumably interpreted to mean being a nice guy — fell from a steady ranking of No. 4 throughout the second half of the 20th Century to a significantly lower rank of No. 7 in 2008.

“Perhaps this means women will be more forgiving if the guy forgets chocolates and flowers on Saturday, as long as he meets the other requirements,” quipped Whelan. “But this might also point to a change in vocabulary. ‘Pleasing disposition’ is a very old-fashioned phrase that might not be the most accurate measure of the modern preferences.”

Whelan and Boxer, a UI graduate student, clustered their findings into rough categories of essential, important, desirable and unimportant characteristics. Groupings were compiled using the natural breakpoints in the value continuum for the statistical means. (For more on Whelan’s relationship research, visit http://www.readmarrysmart.com.)

What Men Want

Essential characteristics:

• Mutual attraction and love.
• Dependable character.
• Emotional stability.

Important characteristics:

• Education and intelligence.
• Good looks.
• Ambition.

Desirable characteristics:

• Good financial prospect.
• Good cook and housekeeper.

Unimportant characteristics:

• Similar political background.
• Chastity.

What Women Want

Essential characteristics:

• Mutual attraction and love.
• Dependable character.
• Emotional stability.

Important characteristics:

• Education and intelligence.
• Desire for home and children.
• Ambition.

Desirable characteristics:

• Good looks.
• Refinement.

Unimportant characteristics:

• Similar political background.
• Chastity.

Personal Thoughts

Soapbox Issue One : Only in the United States does the issue of become so heterosexual.  Pick up a Canadian, European or even a South American country and surveys, research and articles about relationship are not so male/female centric.  What about what a Gay man or woman look for in a relationship? I guess in a survey of over 1100 college student there were no gay or openly gay applicants?  That is hard to believe.  I guess the GLBT community doesn’t count.

Soapbox Issue Two : Are you the same person when you were 18-22?  Majority of us can actually say no (and be proud of our personal growth).  Since when is college a definitive time in decision making?  Isn’t college about finding and defining ourselves?   What is important to a person who is under 22 is going very different than those who are in their 30′s, 40′s, 50′s, 60′s and above.

Soapbox Issue Three : Put 35,000 young men and women together … most who never lived away from parental supervision ever before what do you think is going to happen?  I am not saying that college is full of sex fiends, but even in a conservative college like Messiah, Eastern and even Bob Jones people find a way to “get it on”.  I went to two conservative colleges and there was allot of bodily fluid being passed.

Soapbox Issue Four : University of Washington, the University of Virginia and Penn State University do not make a survey.  That is like taking San Francisco, New York and Chicago to survey lifestyle choices.  Last time I watched television, late at night, “Girls Gone Wild” did not happen with college girls from Georgetown University, I mean who would dare to hinder any serious political career with a topless, girl on girl action, drunk video tape emerge while on the campaign trail?

Bottom Line

This survey is just what heterosexual college kids think, not representing Male/Female opinions of even .0001% of the US population.  I guess we now know where the real party schools are located : University of Washington, the University of Virginia and Penn State University; transfer or apply asap if you are horny little teenager.

Jason Viles had just gotten settled in a tanning bed in a salon in Regina, Sask., Canada, when he realized it was on fire. “I couldn’t kick it open. I had to knock the stereo off the wall and crawl out of the back,” he said, taking about a minute to get through the narrow gap. “Anyone bigger wouldn’t have gotten out.” He grabbed his clothes, alerted salon staff to evacuate, and barely escaped with his life. Viles said he’ll still use tanning beds, but never the Leonardo “high intensity” model again.
(Regina Leader-Post)

Police in Boulder, Colo., were called to a sushi bar after a man allegedly hit a bus boy and ran out without paying for his meal. Officers chased the man until he dove under a parked car. They said they would use pepper spray if he didn’t come out, and he wouldn’t. After a few blasts, he still wouldn’t budge, so officers said they’d flush him out with a police dog. He still refused to come out, so a dog was sent to drag him out. Daniel Axford McKeever, 30, who the newspaper was careful to point out was from California, was finally placed in custody. When asked why he ran, he told officers it was “exciting” and “You have to admit, this is why you do this job,” and said he’d write a letter to the department to praise them for “a job well done.”
(Boulder Daily Camera)

Thousands of people with official tickets to attend President Obama’s inauguration were turned away in various snafus. One was campaign volunteer Gabe Cohen, 29, of Denver, Colo., who recruited members of a 5,000-member Facebook group of disgruntled ticket-holders “to make the best of an unfortunate situation,” he said. Cohen invited them to gather on the Capitol steps — or as close as they were allowed to get — and replay Obama’s swearing-in from iPods and laptop computers four days after the first one.
(Washington Post)

• Four years is a long time. By the time Obama leaves office his personal technology will be outdated.  It will be equivalent to President Bush getting a cassette player on exit.
• SMS will be an essential tool in keeping in touch with his family . . . I would love to follow an Obama Twitter!
• If Blackberry can’t protect the President . . . Blackberry can’t protect you.

White House Changes I Want To See

Public Transportation

Washington DC Metropolitan area has an excellent public transportation system, although the hours are limited to 5:00 am – 12:00 am (M-Th), 5:00 am – 3:00 am (F), and 7:00 am – 3:00 am (S & S).  The Metro should be opened 24 hours a day.  The White House should require all (except those who require a security detail) to use public transportation.  The US Government supplements all employees who use public transportation to pay actual or the monthly maximum permitted by law – currently $110/month.

Modified Work Week

Do not be mistaken by the television rendition of “The West Wing” with overworked; socially stunted; emotionally distant; and no time for family, friends or relationship staff.  “The West Wing” was not a reality show or documentary. With that being said any government position requires a strong sense professionalism and servitude . . . but they do have rich and fulfilling personal lives in which their careers do not monopolize.

The White House should start a modified work week of 4 days / 9-10 hour work week.  Most people can do their work within 4 days and 1 day to be on call (if needed).  This will not only create jobs but it will set the standard for quality work and citizenship via persona life.

Energy Efficient

President Wilson had sheep to cut the grounds, sold the wool (profits going Red Cross).

The White House complex has progressed, starting with President G Bush, to be efficient buildings. But it is not enough.  The standard should be self sustaining.  Here are some ideas:

• Solar Panels – It would not only make a statement to oil dependency and the direction of the US if the back lawn is filled with a solar panel farm.
• Wind Turbines
• Bio Diesel Automobiles
• Electric Segways/Cars (for transportation of non secure personnel to and from Capital). It is only 1.8 miles to and from White House to Capital Complex, easily within walking distance.  Washington DC has an average of 202 days without any precipitation, which are friendly to Segways.
• Laptops – There are allot of computers in the White House, each soaking up electricity.  Converting all computers to laptops will not only save money but with the use of secure technology using encryption, identity embedded bios, and hardware tracking will make it a smarter choice.
• Solar Charging Stations – Security needs a constant use of portable technology, this can make a huge dent in the executive branch budget.

Buying Local

Washington DC is central to Maryland, Virginia and Delaware farms.  There isn’t anything that should be ‘shipped’ into any White House kitchen.  The 100 mile diet should be maintained by all kitchens including staff cafeteria, personal kitchen, public eateries, dinners, ceremonies, and/or events should be supplied by food withing 100 miles of the event.

Setting the standard would promote local farmers, build local economy, and lead the US into provide for themselves.

Telecommuting

80% of office jobs do not have to take office space in one particular location. Technology has advanced so much that wasting energy to commute is not particularly the smartest pattern in US History.

• VPN
• File Servers
• Secure Groupware
• MS Office Online
• Project Management Online
• Time Tracking

Transferring positions into telecommuting will open up the entire United States as potential employees.

Here is a simple question:

Why does any agency have to be located in Washington DC?

We have bases and local agencies throughout the 50 states why not spread out US Federal?   Don’t be fooled with security issues or communications needs;  The United States has more consulate, posts and embassies throughout the globe connected by modern technology.

With Homeland security constantly worried about security and attack on Washington DC why centralize government in Washington DC?

With the slow death of Major Cities (Detroit) it would benefit the entire nation to spread the Cabinet and Department all around.  Washington DC should stop hogging employment.

These are changes that the Nation can tolerate and appreciate.  It is time that our leaders lead . . . let the nation follow Obama’s example.  Start with a telecommuting webmaster.

Dr. Vora and Popoveniuc introduces a vote-counting system that enables individuals to verify that their ballots have been collected and accurately tabulated. Scantegrity is the only such system in the country that can be used with current optical scan ballots and does not change the voting experience for users.

Each optical scan ballot has a serial number, and every choice on the ballot has a special confirmation number attached to it. Using a special pen, voters select their choices, and when they do so, a special confirmation number associated with each choice is revealed. The confirmation numbers are posted publicly following the election, and voters can check to see that their confirmation numbers have been recorded.

However, the confirmation numbers do not reveal voter choices. To obtain the election tally, the list of confirmation numbers is decoded in a manner that can be verified by any organization or individual who wishes to check the mathematics. The decoding and the verification do not reveal the candidate choices of a voter.

Personal Note

Privacy is good, but what about making sure that the vote accutally counts!  Does this eliminate fraud?  How can you hand count?  Will lemon juice and light bulb help?  Make sure it is an efficient bulb.  Think of the enviornment.