Yes, We Can Mash-Up

Cool video mash-up of Barack Obama's speeches with Will.I.Am's music featuring Scarlett Johansson, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Kate Walsh, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and more. Did I mention it has Scarlett Johansson?

A Bit of DC in Austin

Last night I attended the Texas Democratic Party Debate Watching Party at the Hyatt on Town Lake. After three hours of seeing the candidates on the big screen, they finally made their way to the ballroom for a few brief remarks to the crowd of 1,200. Before entering the ballroom, everyone had to go through TSA screening similar to the airport security checks.

Hillary spoke first and then made her way across the pipe and drape barriers to keep the crowd off the stage. I wasn't too confident I'd be able to shake anyone's hand. About 45 minutes later, Barack Obama entered the room to a medley of U2's "City of Blinding Lights" and Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered." He flashed the Hook 'em Horns sign and talked about the uniquely independent spirit of Austin that he'd like to bottle and take across the rest of the country.

As he was wrapping up the speech, I decided to make my move toward the front of the barrier. At this point, I was about 10 rows deep. I threw out all common courtesy and probably inappropriately clamored my way up to the front just as Obama was making his way to the line. My right hand shook his left hand. Score! I know I'm probably obsessing on this entire story, but it is what it is. Check out the video of his entrance:



Mark and I are scheduled to attend the "Stand for Change" rally tonight in downtown Austin. We'll have Mark and Suzanne's nice camera so I'm hoping for better pictures to post tomorrow.

Lost in Translation

I found out last night I'm going to Beijing, China, in two weeks for work. I'm representing our product group at a global strategy meeting in our Beijing office. The meeting is for only three days, but I guess they value face-to-face meetings rather than a call or webinar.


I spent three hours today trying to find out how to apply for a business visa. After calls to the US Embassy and Chinese Embassy, I finally figured out how to do it online. We outsource the process to third-party which makes it easier, but a little frightening nonetheless. I have to mail my passport to Houston for inspection/stamping.

It just so happened I went to the Austin Diagnostic Travel Clinic this morning for a flu shot (too late) and a follow-up hepatitis A/B shot from last year's Africa trip. I asked her what other shots I needed for China. I didn't want to get turned away at the airport for not having a simple rabies shot. Good news. No vaccinations are needed. I think I pretty much glow in the dark from last summer's poking and prodding. I just can't visit any pig farms or hatcheries. There go my evening plans.

Love is in the Air

Happy Valentine's Day! Molly is loving her some Uno this week. Every evening I come home to Luther Vandross blaring from her room.

Death and Taxes

I feel like I've flirted with both the past few days. The sickness started last Wednesday out in California. I attributed it to the above average amount of seafood I consumed while I out there. Mercury seemed to be the culprit. After three days of no improvement, the verdict came down. The flu. Definitely the flu. Today was the first day I actually felt like getting off the sofa. The upside to this? LOST: Season 3 re-runs. Thanks to a potpourri of iTune downloads, NetFlix and the neighborhood Hollywood Video, I consumed 10 mind-numbing episodes over the past three days. My next installment arrives next tomorrow. I can finally join in the conversation without earmuffs. Strangely, I can say that 420 minutes later, I still have absolutely no clue what's going on. I love it!


Another positive thing to come from staying home: getting taxes done. That's about all I'm saying about that.

Luke has started calling me Uncle David. It's more like "Uh-Day" but it makes perfect sense to me and it is wonderful. It puts the biggest smile on my face each time I hear it. He loves to say "Uh-Day" and that gorillas are from "Aaa-cah" (Africa) and pandas are from "ina" (China). I'm probably stealing Mom and Dad's thunder, but he who blogs it first, claims it.