An Update & The Obama Touch

A quick note: Earlier I wrote about the Rally Round Rae Rae benefit. When I wrote the blog, their online donation system wasn't working. I'm happy to report they have fixed this feature and it works very well, having used it myself. So please visit the site and give if you can.

The Obama Touch

I said I wanted to use my blog to help others. Well, an idea hit me like a ton of bricks this morning. I saw this story in the Chicago Tribune, Obama uses Zune. Will iPod fans demand apology? The geek world is abuzz over this news. I, myself got an email about Obama's favorites. The email mentioned that he enjoys drinking Black Forest Berry Iced Tea. I have always enjoyed flavored teas, so I asked my wife to look for it at the store.
What this economy needs is for Obama to start doing product placement advertising. He could start riding around in a Ford Fusion or a GMC Yukon Hybrid while going through a Bank of America drive thru ATM. Take his withdrawal to an area shopping mall and start buying. He could buy some new Kenmore appliances at Sears. His family is moving into a new house they'll need some new things. The press could video tape the whole family playing Wii Music.

The bottom line is that Americans are like sheep. They will follow and try to emulate Obama. If he's using something the American public will want to use it too. Billions of dollars will be pumping through the economy in no time.

He could follow Oprah's style of name dropping products during say a weekly "Press" conference. It could go something like this:

Obama: Good morning. This morning while I was eating my Jimmy Dean Sausage & Cheese Omlete. I received a call on my Blackberry Storm. The President of Iran has a agreed to give up his quest for atomic energy. I was so surprised I nearly spit out my Tropicana Pure orange juice.

The State of the Union address could be his Favorite Things show.

We have to think outside the box people to get the country back on it's feet.

Giving Season


It is officially the holiday season. Or as some call it the Holly Daze, well just me anyway. Last Friday my wife and I did it. Yes, we went shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Now some may find this crazy, we find it to be fun. Granted, we're not Get-Up-At-4AM-And-Go-Shopping crazy. We hit Toy-R-Us at around 9:30am. We did this last year too. Some years we've even been known to go to, THE MALL!

Last year was crazy. During our shopping I was passing a kidney stone. You can read about it from last year's blog, READ ME.

This year was different. While there were a lot of people, the lines were short. And no kidney stones. We did well shopping. The day was sunny so my hands didn't freeze up so I was able to forge on.

I wanted to do more. Each year I wish there was more I could do for others. I'm not talking about buying toys and gifts for family and friends. I mean really helping others. This year I'm going to use my blog to try and help others. The idea being that my readers will help as well.

The first event I want to discuss is Rally Round Rae Rae. Rally Round Rae Rae is an event to help support the family of Rae Marie (Ruzich) Smith. She lost her battle with lung cancer. Rae Marie was not my personal friend. She was a friend of my family and other friends. We would see each other at various friend or family functions. This holiday season her four children will be without their mother and her husband will be without his wife.

There is to be a benefit to help raise money for her family. The benefit will be January 2, 2009 at a place called 115 Bourbon Street. They can use your help. The benefit can use money or donated items to be auctioned off at the event.

Please give or do whatever you can. Feel free to print this letter and spread the word yourself about this event.

This is what Christmas is all about.