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January 25, 2008

FOUR FOR FRIDAY

Q1 - Crossing: When you arrive at a street corner equipped with a "Cross / Do Not Cross" sign that can be triggered by the push of a button, and you notice someone is already waiting by the button to cross the street in the same or opposite direction as you, do you push the button or simply assume the other person already did?

Q2 - Cash: President Bush and Congressional leaders have reached a tentative agreement on a $150 billion tax relief effort to help stimulate the U.S. economy. Specifically, working Americans who have earned income of $3,000 or more will be eligible for a minimum rebate of $300 for themselves or $600 for a couple filing jointly. Based on the amount of federal income taxes paid, that rebate rises as high as $600 for an individual and $1,200 for a couple filing jointly. In addition to the individual rebate, families will receive an additional $300 per child credit. The individual rebate and the child credit phase out starting at $75,000 in income for individuals or $150,000 in family income. If you were receive a check in the mail tomorrow (as a result of a tax relief effort like this one) what would you do it / how would you spend the money? Additionally, do you welcome such "tax relief" efforts--the ones aimed at stimulating the economy--or do you think the President and Congressional leaders are out of touch with what we want or need with regard to tax relief?

Q3 - Presidential Race: Have you listened to or watched any speeches or debates by presidential candidates? If so, what did you think? If not, will you make it a point to watch any speeches or debates prior to Election Day?

Q4 - Eradication: Every large, mature Lodgepole Pine forest in Colorado will be dead within three to five years, killed in a Mountain Pine Beetle infestation unprecedented in Colorado, forestry officials recently announced. Do you think the Mountain Pine Beetle should be left alone to do its thing, or should the State of Colorado do everything within its power to save its Lodgepole Pine forests?

Posted by Mikal at 2:54 PM | Comments (18) | TrackBack

January 18, 2008

FOUR FOR FRIDAY

Q1 - National ID Card: In May of 2005, President George W. Bush signed the REAL ID Act of 2005 into law. Last week it was announced that enforcement of the Act--which requires people entering federal buildings, boarding airplanes or opening bank accounts to present identification that has met certain security and authentification standards--would be postponed for three years. In 2011, however, a Federal agency may not accept, for any official purpose, a driver's license or identification card issued by a state to any person unless the state is meeting the requirements specified in the REAL ID Act. According to recent reports, citizens born on or after December 1, 1964 will have to obtain a REAL ID by December 1, 2014, while those born before that date will have until December 1, 2017 to obtain theirs. How do you feel about being required to obtain a national ID card? Do you feel like it's just another hassle to have to deal with--like long lines at the airport and Presidential Addreses which interrupt nighttime television--or do you feel like the time has come for a national ID program and that it will help law enforcement and other others tell the good guys from the bad guys?

Q2 - Comfort and Security: For some people, listening to good Jazz music while sipping a stellar Martini after a long day of work is what it takes to make them feel like they're alive and that everything is going to be okay. For others, that feeling may be found inside a house of worship, on the side of a mountain, near the ocean, or even while vegging out on the couch with a good book or the television on. What does it take for you to feel everything is going to be okay?

Q3 - Disabilities: After scientific analysis conducted in November, the International Association of Athletics Federations (the IAAF is the world governing body for track and field events like the ones which take place at the Olympics) ruled that a double-amputee sprinter named Oscar Pistorius is ineligible to compete in the Beijing Olympics because of his prosthetic racing legs--which are made of carbon-fiber blades--give him a "clear competitive advantage" over his fellow competitors. According to the IAAF, Pistorius' J-shaped blades are a "technical aid" to his running and therefore may not be used in an able-bodied competition. Do you think disabled athletes should be able to compete alongside so-called able-bodied athletes?

Q4 - Telephone Numbers: There once was a time when I had to memorize all of my friends' and family members' telephone numbers or look them up in a telephone book or hardcopy address book. Nowadays, because everything is stored in my cell phone, I couldn't even tell you my best friend's number. Is it the same for you? Do you no longer take the time to memorize telephone numbers (because they're all stored in your cell phone), or are there certain numbers you still commit to memory?

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January 14, 2008

Recently, while participating in a workshop about branding, I overheard the following:

Workshop Participant (to the presenter): How do I promote my brand online?

Presenter: Great question! What's your brand?

Workshop Participant: The United States Olympic Committee

Another Workshop Participant (a guy sitting behind me, speaking loudly enough so I could hear him): Never heard of you guys!

To the casual observer, there's nothing particularly noteworthy about that exchange, but to me--because of its rapid-fire delivery and cleverness--I thought it was hilarious. For a good five minutes, I was laughing so hard that tears welled up in my eyes. "Never heard of you" still makes me chuckle.

The guy who delivered the line is David Almacy, Vice President of Digital Strategies at Waggener Edstrom Worldwide (for the uninitiated, Waggener Edstrom is a multiservice global public relations agency with 700 employees in 15 countries around the world). After talking for a little while, David shared that he had previously served as the director of Internet and E-Communications in the White House's Office of Media Affairs.

Bingo!

Without further adieu, here's Monday's Big Interview (MBI) interview with David Almacy, the former Director of Internet and E-Communications in the White House's Office of Media Affairs:

1. Have you ever met the President, and if so, what's he like or what's it like to meet the "President of the United States"

David: Yes, I have met President Bush on several occasions. I first met him back when he was Governor of Texas. I was working for C-SPAN at the time and our CEO, Brian Lamb, flew down to Austin to tape an unedited, hour-long interview with the Governor at the Texas State Capitol. Although speculation was high, Governor Bush had not yet officially announced his intention to join the 2000 presidential race.

As I watched the discussion, I remember thinking that, should he win, I would endeavor to someday work for his administration. He was that impressive, both on camera and off. Specifically, the way he connected with the C-SPAN crew after the interview was just masterful. Although he was running tight on time (the President is known for his punctuality), he insisted on meeting each of us and the conversations were both meaningful and genuine.

Several months later, I met him in Iowa on the campaign trail and I was pleasantly surprised when he pointed to me and said, "Hey, C-SPAN Man!" I experienced the exact same man when I worked for him at the White House years later. Of course, the surroundings were a little more intimidating, but he was just as personable as I had remembered. I've also had the honor of meeting his father, former President George H.W. Bush, a few times, as well. I admire them both greatly and let's just say that kindness certainly runs in the family.

2. What did you do at the White House and how for how long did you do it?

David: In March 2005, I joined the White House staff as the Internet and E-Communications Director in the Office of Media Affairs. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations of WhiteHouse.gov, I also served in the press duty rotation as a spokesperson, as well as a liaison to Internet press and bloggers... I left the White House in May 2007 and joined Waggener Edstrom Worldwide as Vice President of Digital Strategies where I currently work out of our Washington, DC office. WE is a public relations firm primarily based in Seattle, WA and Portland, OR and is probably best known as the longtime agency of record for Microsoft.

3. How many people does it take to manage the White House's website?

David: There are two positions (Internet Director and Website Coordinator) in the Office of Media Affairs division of White House Communications. In addition, the White House employs a team of about ten people including creative designers, programmers, multimedia producers and tech support specialists who ensure server integrity, provide timely updates and assist in the daily operation of all aspects of the site.

4. Do you think we'll ever have a President that blogs him or herself while in office (not just when running for office)?

David: This is a question that I am asked often. In fact, I was just discussing it today over lunch. Honestly, I don't know if we'll ever have a true "Blogger in Chief." On one hand, one could argue that it may depend on who it is. Clearly, some candidates seem more tech savvy than others. However, on the other hand, having witnessed the lightning pace and demands of the office firsthand, I'm not sure it would be possible given the time commitment alone.

My best guess is that the next President will probably hire one (or more) press spokespeople responsible for blogger engagement and outreach. They may even decide to create a staff hosted blog on WH.gov (which basically exists now in the form of "Ask the White House") where the President could make guest appearances from time to time. I doubt an actual presidential blog would be effective since most people probably believe that the President has more pressing matters to attend to. Blogging, after all, is simply another vehicle to communicate a message and if the president wants to get a message out, all he or she has to do is one thing: step to the podium.

When I started at the White House, there were about twenty blogs I read on a daily basis. By the time I left, it seemed like there were twenty blogs per issue! Given that growth, coupled with the online progress we see in the 2008 campaign, it will be interesting to see how the winning candidate will attempt to transition from campaigning online to governing there.

5. Of what are you most proud (related to the work you did at the White House)?

David: This is a tough question, but the successful launch of WH.gov's redesign in March 2007 is an accomplishment that ranks pretty high on my list. The challenge was that we had to upload new graphics and design templates, implement new Web 2.0 tools and maintain database/server functionality for thousands of pages-all without taking the site offline at any time! All in all, a terrific team effort.

Other than that, I was humbled every day to walk through the gate onto the White House complex. Regardless of one's politics, I believe every American (or world citizen) should have immediate access to the activities of the President of the United States, and the Internet has certainly aided in that effort.

President Bush often refers to the White House as the "People's House" and I approached the website in the same manner-WH.gov is the people's site. In my opinion, the primary audience is the American people and it's a terrific resource for those looking beyond the sound bite to learn more about the President's positions on the issues, as well as what is said and done on their behalf on any given day.

I was also honored to serve and although stressful and personally challenging at times, I'm proud of the team's accomplishments online, and I am eternally grateful for the experience and the close friendships formed.

6. What Content Management System (CMS) does the White House use?

David: Due to its unique and dynamic content, the White House currently uses a homegrown CMS solution that was developed by internal EOP staff in the beginning of President Bush's first term. Of course, it has been modified and upgraded through the years, but the core functionality was designed to remain fairly consistent over time.

7. When you redesigned the site in 2007, how much did you account for the fact that there'd be a new tenant within two years? Will changing presidents be as easy as changing a few lines in the stylesheet, or will the new president have to start from scratch?

David: When we began the redesign, we fully expected that the next president would create a site of their own after the 2008 election just as President Bush did when he took office. Previous versions of President Clinton's White House sites are housed and maintained online by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) at http://clinton.archives.gov.

8. Are the managers of the Web site political appointees or civil employees?

David: As I said before, the White House Web site is an important communications tool and thus, is managed primarily by the Internet Director based in the Office of Media Affairs. However, there are a number of others who contribute to the success and maintenance of the site, which includes a mix of both appointees and career civil servants.

9. How many layers of people have to approve a new feature or item on the site?

David: Actually, the Internet Director has quite a bit of autonomy and has ultimate approval authority for day-to-day updates and most special features. However, as might be expected, there is a lot of coordination with numerous offices and agencies to ensure accuracy.

10. Is the White House web site's mission to inform the public, or is it to promote the President and his agenda?

David: In my view, the site is designed to achieve three primary goals. First and foremost, it's the President's website so it is a place where one can find more information about [the President's] ideas, leadership and positions on policy issues. Secondly, it's an archive of the President's daily activities and offers timely transcripts, photos, audio and video of public events and press briefings. Third, the site serves as a terrific resource for those seeking to learn more about the history of the White House and the American Presidency. Of course, there are several other purposes it fulfills, but these three were paramount in my managerial approach.

11. Final question: In the unlikely event that the President or one of his subordinates ever made a mistake, would it get reported on whitehouse.gov?

    David: Since the site is an archive and not a news site, items aren't "reported" but rather posted as they happen. Therefore, in the rare event that a mistake does occur, it will appear on the site accompanied by an asterisk and a footnote with the corrected info.

Feel free to comment on today's MBI by clicking on the "Comments" link below. David has already indicated that he'd be happy to answer follow-up questions.

January 11, 2008

Q1 - Pets: In the past decade, the number of U.S. households grew 14%. During that same period, the number of pet owning households grew by nearly twice that number (22%). Owning a pet is now considered one of America's top "hobbies," according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. Do you view owning a pet as a "hobby" (like painting, antiquing or photography is a hobby), or to you are pets (yours or other people's pets) considered part of the family?

Q2 - Taking a Stand: Would you be wiling to die for a cause? If so, what cause--aside one related to your children (if you have children, that is)--do you think you would be willing to die for?

Q3 - Promises: If you were running for President in 2008, what kind of campaign promises would you make?

Q4 - Adverse Possession : In common law, "adverse possession" is the process by which title to another person's real property (i.e., real estate) is acquired without compensation, by, as the name suggests, holding the property in a manner that conflicts with the true owner's rights for at least 18 years. Richard McLean and his wife, Edith Stevens, of Boulder, Colorado recently took possession of 34% of a vacant lot owned by their neighbors, Don and Susie Kirlin, who have been paying taxes and homeowners fees on it for 25 years. Using the doctrine of adverse possession, the McLean's convinced a judge to award them the property, which McLean and Stevens have been using openly and continuously for at least the last 18 years. Based on what I just told you about adverse possession and the ruling in Boulder, what do you think about adverse possession?

January 4, 2008

Q1 - Voting & Safety: In the state of California, state law dictates that public schools be available for use as voting locations on electation day, but one California school principal--citing fears that his campus will be wide open on voting day and that that's not good for school safety--doesn't want his school to be used as a polling location. Do you think public schools should continue to be used as polling locations on election day?

Q2 - Executive Compensation: According to numerous news reports, Comcast will pay the beneficiary of co-founder Ralph J. Roberts an amount equal to his 2007 base salary for five years after his death, whenever that occurs. In other words, the publicly traded cable giant company has agreed in writing to pay Roberts for half a decade after he dies. What do you think about this? Should publicly owned and traded companies be allowed to engage in paying their executives after they die?

Q3 - Tripping: Will high gas prices and aggravation at the airport keep you from traveling as much in 2008 as you did in 2007, or will you be taking more trips this year than last?

Q4 - Appearance: Do you think human beings will look the same 500 years from now?