Pew Research Center for the People and Press

According to Pew... There has been a sharp decline over the past year in the percentage of Americans who say there is solid evidence that global temperatures are rising. And fewer also see global warming as a very serious problem – 35% say that today, down from 44% in April 2008.

The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Sept. 30-Oct. 4 among 1,500 adults reached on cell phones and landlines, finds that 57% think there is solid evidence that the average temperature on earth has been getting warmer over the past few decades. In April 2008, 71% said there was solid evidence of rising global temperatures.

In my opinion we should do all we can to clean up this environment. It shouldn't take the threat of global warming to force us into it. Whether or not global warming is a factor, only time will tell. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Pew Internet and civic engagement

Five Facts:

1. There are hints that forms of civic engagement anchored in blogs and social networking sites could alter long-standing patterns that are based on socio-economic status.

2.Those who use blogs and social networking sites as an outlet for civic engagement are far more active in traditional realms of political and nonpolitical participation than are other internet users. In addition, they are even more active than those who do not use the internet at all.

3. The internet is now part of the fabric of everyday civic life. Half of those who are involved in a political or community group communicate with other group members using digital tools such as email or group websites.

4. Respondents report that public officials are no less responsive to email than to snail mail. Online communications to government officials are just as likely to draw a response as contacts in person, over the phone, or by letter.

5.Those who make political donations are more likely to use the internet to make their contributions than are those who make charitable donations; however, large political donations are much less likely to be made online than are large charitable donations.

President Obama wins noble peace prize

(CNN) -- President Obama on Friday said he was "surprised and deeply humbled" by winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

President Obama, speaking Friday, said the award was "an affirmation of American leadership."

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"I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership," Obama said from the White House Rose Garden.

"I will accept this award as a call to action."

Obama said he did not feel he deserves "to be in the company" of past winners.

The Nobel announcement was a stunning decision that comes just eight months into Obama's presidency.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it honored Obama for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

The decision appeared to catch most observers by surprise.

The president had not been mentioned as among front-runners for the prize, and the roomful of reporters gasped when Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Nobel committee, uttered Obama's name.

Nominations for the prize had to be postmarked by February 1 -- only 12 days after Obama took office. The committee sent out its solicitation for nominations last September -- two months before Obama was elected president. Watch announcement of 2009 Nobel Peace Prize »

I couldn't think of a better person to receive this award. I feel that President Obama deserves it.

Three Links from Politics1.com

ABC News:Politics: ABC is a great source for finding not only local news but national news as well.


The Smoking Gun: On this site you can find some hilarious and bizarre stories of people breaking the law. There are also mug shots of Hollywood celebrities that you never knew existed.

CNN:All Politics: This would have to be the best site for world news. CNN has constant updates of whats going on around the world, whether it be the earthquakes in American Samoa, or President Obamas' health care proposition.

Five Observations of Pew Internet/race and ethnicity

73% of the population reports using the internet or e-mail

All Blacks: 59%

All Whites: 75%

English speaking Hispanics: 80%

Urban: 74%

Rural: 77%

The numbers are not too far off the numbers of the ownership of cell phones. People in a suburban area are online more than people in the urban areas which leads me to believe that people in the suburbs have easier access.

Web 2.0 May 2008 Slideshare

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Web 2.0 May 2008 Slideshare

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