Jon Barclay

The Best Endorsement Yet

Jon — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:32:25 +0000

Sure John Edwards’ support has been the most anticipated and courted endorsement in this primary, but by my calculations it comes in second to the relatively unpublicized foray of Tom hanks into the arena. By posting a homemade Youtube-esque video of himself talking about why he supports Obama Tom Hanks managed to create a funny and thought provoking clip.

Check it out.

Hatch and McCain, Together Forever

Jon — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:08:31 +0000

Update: NPR posted the song in its entirety. Check it out here.

Utah’s very own Orin Hatch has written a song for his buddy, presidential candidate John McCain. It’s kind of old fashioned, but really McCain should consider making it his theme song. After all he needs to compete with Obama’s Yes We Can song.

I am sure you’re just as anxious as I was to hear this new tune, so check out this video from hardball. The clip of the song starts about half way through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUKS14RSOE0

Together forever

By Sen.Orrin G. Hatch & Philip Springer
Together forever

America is the country we all love
We believe our destiny
Comes from god above
Let’s link our hands for all to see
Our country’s majestyForever together
America is the land we’re fighting for
There’s a time in history
For a hero’s destiny
Together forever more

Hey John
Say John
They’re gonna hit you hard with ev’ry thing they’ve got
Hey John
Come on
They’ll be calling you
Everything you’re not!

But sure as heaven
We’re gonna win
Start celebrating
Now let’s begin

Together forever
America is the country we all love
Let’s link our hands for all to see
Our country’s majesty

Forever together
America is the land we’re fighting for
There’s a time in history
For a hero’s destiny
Together for evermore

April Fools

Jon — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:01:27 +0000

I love April Fools. It is so much fun to hear or see something on this day, fully believing it to be real, and then to remember what day it is and to chuckle at the prank.

Google never disappoints, and today released a new feature to gmail that allows users to send an email and have it show up in the recipients in box at a custom time. Last year they came out with their best joke yet, a new way of delivering free Internet service called TiSP.

My all time favorite April Fools joke though was an NPR report on Exploding Maple Trees.

Google Docs

Jon — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:44:11 +0000

Have you ever had a group paper that you had to work on, and in order to write it you emailed drafts around to each member of the group for revisions? It works, but not very well. Google Docs is an excellent solution to the collaboration problem. It allows you to create a document and give all the members of your group the ability to change it, simultaneously. Now this won’t get the paper written for you, but it can make it a heck of a lot easier.

Try it out and see if Google Docs isn’t the perfect answer to your next group assignment.

Street View in Your Neighborhood

Jon — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:31:19 +0000

Its been quite a while now since Google announced a new product called Street View. It basically is a new way of seeing a street not from a satellite picture but as if one was standing on the street looking around. When I first heard about it I thought it sounded interesting and a little creepy but that they would just do it in San Francisco and San Jose.

Now low and behold Google has gone and expanded their coverage to many many places including our neighborhood! It is a little surreal to look at your own home, and especially if you happen to be lucky enough to be outside when the camera took the snapshot.

Google is no slouch and has been expanding the coverage very rapidly. On Sunday night I was looking at my in-laws neighborhood and was disappointed that they had not yet been added. However, within a few days Google added many streets around them. Check out this picture from their neighborhood, and keep in mind it won’t be long before yours may be added. Time to get to that yard work!

View Larger Map

Daily Show on Obama’s Race Speach

Jon — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:08:05 +0000

Jon Stewart nailed it yet again with his hilarious look at Obama’s speech on race.

Obama’s Race Speech

Jon — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 03:54:58 +0000

If you haven’t had a chance to hear Barrack Obama’s speech on race in America, take a half hour and listen to an example of why Obama can bring real change for our country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU

Our Changing World

Jon — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 03:54:46 +0000

This is a really interesting video. It reminds me that we can never become complacent, and always need to be learning and adapting. Continually working to keep up isn’t just for IT people anymore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U