Archive for March 27th, 2015

27
Mar
15

A Tweet Or Two

By Nerdy Wonka 46 Comments
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#RelationshipGoals

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Audra McDonald for the freaking win

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BOOM

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This idea that if you’re white, you can’t be branded a terrorist, suicide bomber, or mass murderer; and that excuses must be made for you is perverted. p.s. Depression does not make one a mass murderer. There are depressed people all over the world in professional capacities, and they come in everyday and get their job done

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Continue reading ‘A Tweet Or Two’

27
Mar
15

A Sign of the Times

By lovelyplains 103 Comments
Categories: All Photos and All Videos

We all remember President Obama’s first encounter with Stephon

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Stephon stood just a few feet away from Barack Obama. The president, busy shaking hands, looked right at him. “It was like he was waiting for me to say something,” he said later. So the 26-year-old Prince George’s Community College student took his cue and spoke to President Obama in his first language: American Sign Language.

“I am proud of you,” Stephon signed.

The president, almost involuntary, instinctively, immediately signed back, “Thank you.”

Another deaf student then signed to the president, “I love you.”

The president smiled back at her and shook her hand.

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Stephon later described his encounter

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The moment I will never forget was when he looked at me. He gave me a chance to talk to him. It was like he was waiting for me to say something. I took the moment and signed “I am proud of you,” and his response was “Thank u” in sign language back! Oh my gosh! I was like wow! He understood me after I said I was proud of him. It was so amazing…I was just speechless. Right after he thanked me, he smiled at another deaf lady who signed “I love you.” When I shook his hand it did not feel like he was superior to me. He was just a humble man. I am just impressed by him and know that he will have my vote and he will win second term without a doubt. Yeah, I feel safe to have him for another term.

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Fortunately for Stephon, this would not be his last time meeting the President

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Here is how he described that encounter: “…I want to be able to show the deaf and hard of hearing that our President Obama is a guy who understands us, and have us to be part of the visuals. When I see President Obama start to raise his voice forcefully at the end, with his firm words emphasizing to us to stick with the plan of Obamacare (known as of Healthcare Reform) all of sudden, I thought to ask one of my friends to hold the camera since she did not plan to shake the President’s hand. So, I was like “perfect”. But then the President moved so fast that I had to rush forward to get a chance to get to the front of the fence to talk to him. My GOAL was to ask him “DO you Remember me?” the second question would be “Will you invite us to the Whitehouse for a dinner?” (This is one of my wild dreams–to have a dinner at White House before President Obama ends his term. I do not want to have dinner with any President but HIM! He is the only one I want to have that experience in my lifetime.

When I took the chance to talk to him in ASL, suddenly he thanked me in ASL! I think I know why he thanked me– because he thanked me to be here again! (Laugh) And I signed to him in ASL “do you remember me?” and then he nods his head at me as if “yes” in body language. I quickly asked an interpreter to voice to Obama if he could invite us for a dinner at White House. But unfortunately, the interpreter and Obama could not hear each other, because the people screamed and cheered so loudly. He was hurried past me quickly by his bodyguards, while my friend tried to make the video of our meeting. I am glad to have had this opportunity. My hope is that someone will deliver my request to him. It would mean so very much to me personally, and to my deaf group as well, to make our dream become a reality — to share dinner with him at the White House before his term comes to an end. He is one of the greatest human beings I have ever met.”

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Well, President Obama is not the only member of the Obamas that knows sign language!

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…and today came the incredible news about the new White House receptionist:

“Anyone wanting to speak to the president must stop by her desk first. Leah Katz-Hernandez, 27, is the new White House receptionist. She is also deaf “It’s a fantastic opportunity and also to show that deaf people can do anything,” she said through an interpreter, who is provided for her at work. With a desk just steps away from the Oval Office, Katz-Hernandez is usually the first to greet anyone — from world leaders to White House staff members — who has an appointment with the president or his top-level aides….

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…A former White House intern, Katz-Hernandez worked for President Obama’s re-election campaign before being hired onto the staff of First Lady Michelle Obama, who used sign language the first time they met to introduce herself. “It is a great responsibility to be here as a deaf person and I feel very proud of the opportunities that have been given to me,” she said.

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As a man gestures ‘I love you’ in sign language, President Obama replies with the sign for ‘thank you,’ Phoenix, March 13, 2015

27
Mar
15

Making The Environment Safer For All. Thanks, President Obama

By Nerdy Wonka 108 Comments
Categories: All Photos and Articles
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Obama signs greenhouse gas executive order in Washington

President Barack Obama signs an Executive Order, titled “Planning for Sustainability in the Next Decade,” which will cut the Federal Government’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 40 percent over the next decade from 2008 levels, in the Oval Office. Behind President Obama are senior advisor Brian Dreese and Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Energy Kate Brandt

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White House: Leading by Example On Climate Change: Our New Federal Sustainability Plan

Late last year, in an historic joint announcement with China, President Obama set an ambitious goal for reducing the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change – a clear sign that the United States’ commitment to leadership on climate change at home and abroad is stronger than ever. In the latest effort to continue that push, this morning, President Obama signed an executive order that will help us stay on track to meet the new target pledged in China and ensure that the federal government leads by example as the United States moves boldly to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while boosting clean energy. This new sustainability plan for the next decade directs federal agencies to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2025.

That means big cuts to the dangerous emissions driving climate change – and also big savings. In addition to 21 million metric tons of emission reductions – the same as taking 4.2 million cars of the road for a year — achieving this goal will save taxpayers up to $18 billion in avoided energy costs between 2008 and 2025. Today’s action builds off of the strong progress the federal government has made over the past six years. Already, federal agencies have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent since the President took office, and increased the share of electricity consumed from renewable sources from 3 percent to 9 percent in 2013. Agencies have also made progress on a number of other fronts, like reducing water use by 19 percent since 2007. But there is much more work to do – and that’s what today’s announcement is all about.

More here

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Barack Obama, Eric Haukdal, Liz Sherwood-Randall, Kate Brandt

President Barack Obama is given a tour of solar panels on the roof of the Department of Energy (DOE). With President Obama (L-R) are DOE HQ Energy Manager Eric Haukdal, DOE Deputy Secretary Liz Sherwood and Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Energy Kate Brandt

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President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting at the Energy Department

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Michele Richinick: Obama Orders Cuts To Government’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In his ongoing effort to combat climate change both at home and abroad, President Barack Obama signed an executive order on Thursday to reduce the federal government’s greenhouse gas emissions by 40%. Although the government contributes only a small percentage of total emissions, the cuts are expected to keep 26 million metric tons of greenhouse gases out of the air by 2025 – equal to taking about 5.5 million cars off the road for a year. The order also directs the government, which is the single largest U.S. consumer of energy, to increase its use of renewable energy to 30% of its consumption, giving a further boost to green industries.  The executive order comes just days after an international team of scientists reported that the Totten Glacier of East Antarctica –

the largest and most rapidly thinning glacier in the region – is shrinking because of warm ocean water developing beneath it. The process could have “global consequences,” including rising sea level by at least 11 feet, the researchers wrote Monday in Nature Geoscience. On Thursday morning, Obama toured an installation of solar panels at the Energy Department’s headquarters and discussed the new emissions targets with federal suppliers, part of a larger effort to lead by example on the climate change issue. In November, Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached an agreement on a climate deal to reduce carbon emissions and tackle the growing crisis of global climate change. The pact includes a first-ever commitment by the Asian country to stop its emissions from increasing entirely after 2030.

More here

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27
Mar
15

Chat Away

By Chipsticks 157 Comments
Categories: All Photos

27
Mar
15

Early Bird Rise and Shine

By Chipsticks 127 Comments
Categories: All Photos

 On This Day, 2014

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Another scheduled moooOOOooorning, out and about again, see ya later.

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