John Edwards Campains Via Orkut

It looks like John Edwards is using Google's Orkut in order to reach out to potential voters which you can see from the screen shot below.



For those of you who do not know, John Edwards is one of the (too) many political candidates running for President in 2008. Their are a host of others on both sides, although he is the first that I've seen using Orkut as a way to reach out to potential voters.

The profile is currently being maintained by the One America Committee (whatever that means) whose site redirects back to John Edwards homepage.

I can honesty say I am not exactly a fan of John boy (or any candidate for that matter) but its good to see a politician using Orkut to their advantage.

Note: And it looks as if he even has a twin on Orkut. His political group may want to have that profile removed as he has already suffered enough controversy online.

President Abdul Kalam Campaigning On Orkut?

It looks like India's President is using Orkut in order to rally voters to re-elect him for a second term.

(Hindustan Times) "I think this is a mass movement by the citizens for the citizens of India," Sujeet Shilamkar, president of PNM and IT professional, wrote in an email to HT. According to Shilamkar, Kalam is a "ray of hope". "In recent years, none of those who held this post have been able to devise constructive programmes of national and people welfare interests...He is the only man who deserves to the first citizen of our country," Shilamkar, 25, stated.

Online petitions and networking sites have been mobilising public opinion on various issues from the Jessica Lall case to reservations in educational institutions. With Kalam's tenure expiring in July 2007, the online petition aims to mobilise public support for an extension of his term. The idea is to the scientists and other fans of the President and put pressure on political parties to ensure Kalam continues as President.

You can visit the forum over here. Although it has less than 150 members, using Orkut to promote thyself may not be a bad idea after all, since many American politicians did something similar on other social networks.

Update (2/14): It seems as if my assumptions of Indian politics were fairly off (as I assumed it was similar to the way America operates).

Rupesh notes that this forum is being run by President Kalam's followers, and not Kalam himself, while Ambarish has informed me that India does not elect its President. Thanks!

Update (2/24): Corrected spelling mistakes of Kalam. Thanks again Rupesh!

President Bush Is The Devil?

I am surprised that this discussing is not in the United Nations forum, but over in American Politics community discussion is already picking up over Venezuela's President Chavez calling Bush a devil.

While some enjoyed the speech...

Wahab: haha omg, i just saw the news of the V. presidents bashing bush and how the white house has failed to comment. i just want to see what people think of this...

should the US bomb venezuela too? or should the US support another coup? or should the US simply stop importing oil from venezuela?

Mansoor (on page two): Hugo Chavez has insulted the devil by comparing him to Bush.

...others were not very impressed by it.

The Prophet: While Bush is an evil ****, Chavez' speech was childish and not worthy of the United Nations. It showed Chavez to be the lunatic **** that he is.

Charlie: As a Head of State, I would expect Chavez to show a little more class.I think he could make his point without being vulgar.

He's a low life.He should take a hard look at his own backyard before start talking about "democracy".Go to Venezuela and ask the folks there, and you'll find who the real Devil really is...

Bush is an idiot, but he's OUR idiot...

Later on throughout the post, Paul points out that Chavez may be on the UN security council and in frustration wishes he "could move to a different planet." (he will have to talk to LiftPort about that).

For those of you who have not seen the video clip, you can watch it over on Google Video.

Death Of A President?

Over in the American Politics forum, there is some discussion relating to the upcoming controversial movie entitled the Death of a President (which will be premiering in Canada at the Toronto Film Festival later on this month).

Their are views on both sides of the issue, with some seeing this as merely a "future historical documentary" while others view it as a film that is crossing the line by mixing fiction with reality.

A member goes on to share their thoughts about the upcoming film by saying:

Menno: I believe the movie is trying to portray the fall-out that would come from such an event. [...] It's about the global reactions such an event would cause.

I think it will make for interesting TV.

Although some do not enjoy the current President, they do seem a bit troubled by the film's appearance as this member goes on to explain below:

Dan: The standard way of approaching these things is to set it in the near future with a fictional president. Excessive tangling of reality and fiction only serves to muddy the waters. [...]

I'd be delighted if Bush were no longer president, if it weren't for the fact that Cheney is next in line.

But as much as I despise Bush, I do not want to see another american president assasinated. I'm quite fond of regime change via election.

I doubt a film like this will make it inside US theatres as the Secret Service are (understandably) anal about protecting the president from all threats, whether serious or imaginary.

Related: A forum dedicated towards killing Bush? I bet the secret service are going to love that.

What's The Fuss In Europe?

The Europe forum seems busy today, with many people posting and discussing their opinions about the middle east as well as what is happening in Europe.

Lola has sparked an interesting conversation regarding the war in Lebanon (which she is upset about) with people debating for or against Israel regarding the war.

Meanwhile Parikshit from India is angry about the apparent rise of anti-Semitism in Europe, a statement that some members took offense at.

Last but not least, it appears as if Poland is picking up some steam with news that the EU rebuffed them over the death penalty. Sigitas is arguing in defense of the punishment, although I think everyone else is arguing against it (although Mila does present some alternatives for the measure).

Relationships, Immigration And Moving (Oh My!)

I wish I had time to comment on these individually, but lack of sleep is preventing me from doing so.

Although I have not been a huge fan of Orkut Media in the past (I was not very impressed with the writing) it seems that the authors recently have been posting relevant and quality essays. It either is something Google is putting in the water or perhaps Orkut is serving his authors some yummy donuts.

Here are a few that caught my eye and are worth reading.

Via Lexy London:

Many couples go through rough patches where intimacy is threatened by external forces - cheating is not an uncommon problem, even in countries and cultures where extra-marital sex is against the moral (and legal) code. [...]

This week's reader, like most women, seems to be less hurt due to the cheating, and more hurt because her man won't be honest with her.

I am getting married to a person I truly love. We've known each other for approximately the past four years, and now I am to marry him in three months.

Continue Reading...

Via Petrice Gaskin:

When the Minutemen arrived in South Los Angeles on May 3rd to recruit African Americans to support their anti-illegal immigrant platform, they received an enthusiastic response - just not the one they were hoping for. According to the L.A. Times, "they were met by protestors - most of them African Americans - who compared the group to the Ku Klux Klan and urged them to take their campaign elsewhere."

Continue Reading...

Via Jen La Sala:

Over the past month or two, several of my friends have looked for and gotten apartments with the ease one takes in eating ice cream, or maybe sherbet for those of us who are lactose intolerant. They tell me how fun it is, that they saw all these different places and what different floor plans looked like, and all sorts of different neighborhoods. They say they have a good time; they think it's so interesting and exciting.

They're lying. Each and every one of them.

Continue Reading...

A long post mostly quoting "the masters," but interesting none-the-less. Worth reading...especially the last one.

Kashmir Petition In Unfriendly Territory?

I am not too familiar with the Kashmir debate, but from what I gather it seems to be one of those "never ending arguments," that people in the region love to discuss.

Anyways, a new Pakistani forum has popped up (via Mr. Hyde) and apparently Divine (from India) is asking citizens of a rival nation to support India's right to own Kashmir.

CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) of the US Government, CNN (Cable News Network) of the US and BBC of UK have deliberately portrayed the Indian state of Kashmir as a part of Pakistan and China. Our state of Jammu and Kashmir has been sliced off to the neighbours!

Apparently Divine's message was not well received, as Pakistani members K, Zuzi and Dr. Ali express everything from laughter to disgust.

I myself was quite puzzled as why Divine asked for a petition in this forum. It would be like asking Israelis to sign a petition to hand over Jerusalem to Palestine (and vice versa). Would not posting this in the India forum been more appropriate?

Update: Moved photo to the right.

Make Money, Not War

Over in the Middle East Conflict forum, Sergio makes an observation:

Tourism to Israel increased 26 percent in 2005.

If they allowed Palestine to exist, make Jerusalem, the holy place for both, protected by International laws, can you imagine the increase of revenue caused by tourism??? [...]

"Every 1 million tourists bring about $1.5 billion to Israel and support almost 40,000 jobs, tourism officials say." (Haaretz)

Sergio's post actually stirs up quite a discussion which is probably the best that this forum has had in a long time (arguments are popular here).

Attack Iran? Uh Oh...

Over in the Bush is Cool forum, Ehsan (an Iranian) wonders if people support President Bush attacking Iran:

hey guys, its quit nice to find a bush support group, i just wanted to see how many of you support bush attacking Iran,

well just for the record Im an Iranian guy in London, i love bush and i support his policies, i think he is one of the greatest politicians of our time and i wish we had a president like him in my country, anyway my point is that i supprot him in attacking Iran, just wanted to see who else supprts this idea, (sic)

Brian is curious why an Iranian would ask such a question, at which Ehsan replies:

iran at the moment is being ruled by what i san describe as a taliban regime, imagin you live in a country that your leader is the pope, imagin some people who come from a village and know nothing about politics or science decide on all aspects of that country,

imagin pope had to decide what you have to wear, what you have to do, how you have to behave, what you should read, what you should listen to, what you have to believe in, how you should think, with what you have to agree, what you have to hate, what religion you should choose, how you should drive, how you should build your house, how you should treat your friends and it is a very long list which consist of almost everything,

and imagin he would take all the ******* oil money from your country to western banks, kill members of your family for what they believe in, torture you for what you said and **** everyone who disagrees with himself, imagin there he believes in no morals and doesnt give a **** **** about human rights, imagin he hangs people for their belief and ston women if they act "un islamic". (censored sic)

More discussion on page two and three.

Has The UN Any Authority?

Over in the UN forum on Orkut, Dave asks a question to his fellow forum buddies:

I'm talking about AUTHORITY. Do you think the UN is "authorized" by states and individuals as a legitimate political actor of today international relations?

Aleksandr replies with a balanced answer, which Tawfiqur seconds, although Frederico makes a suggestion which may be chilling to some.

Indeed, the UN has not more authority in the world stage today because the major powers can never agree on some basic issues.
In my opinion, only the formation of a robust, military strong UN Army is going to give the UN the authority it needs.

It is urgent that this be done, because it could more reasonably deal with world issues such as Terrorism and ethnic wars.

The discussion is just beginning so enter in to add your "two cents."

Iran And Nuclear Weapons

Baba has started a discussion on the reports that Iran has acquired nuclear weapons.

Would it be reasonable to believe the US Secret Service in their recent assessment that Iran was on the verge of assembling a nuclear missile. Should be believe them or is this another Iraq like WMD goose chase creating a fait accompli for the US led allies to attack Iran?

Fatma thinks Iran has the right to possess nukes, while Aleksandr thinks no country has the right to possess them, not even for self defense. Bhupendra disagrees, claiming that nuclear weapons prevent war. They do?

Is China A Threat? (Orkut Question)

Tawfigur asks a question over in the United Nations forum.

Recently there has been lot of reaction coming from USA, japan and other countries which express their sense of uneasiness to the rapid economic and militry growth of China. What is your comment on China's rapid growth?

Ben says no while Bhupendra thinks China is an opportunity. Although Bhupendra also thinks Taiwan is a part of China. I don't think this group would agree.

President Bush, Love Him, Hate Him

After God and Jesus, President Bush is one of the most controversial topics inside orkut.

Sites opposing the presidency have attracted a huge following, probably due to the successful re-election by the republican party. One such group entitled Bush is stupid, boasts 68,365 members while its smaller counter part, I hate Bush, logs 6,823 members.

Despite being large and fierce (as one can tell by visiting the forums), the anti bush crowd ironically seems fractured in their cause, something JUNNAID notices by commenting in this post.

Although his foes out number his fans, the pro Bush crowd seems to enjoy their leaders aura, as one can tell by visiting the Bush is Cool community (with 749 members) or the I love Bush forum (294 members).

Paula Lolita (**Warning: Profile photo may not be suitable for minors) kicks off a post by asking "Why do you love Bush?," and receives responses from the left and the right (and from this author as well).