The Realist Idealist

On the Social Sector, Politics, Using Technology, and Making Good Things (actually) Happen

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Live Election Results from Google

Posted by Jake · November 3rd, 2008 · No Comments

…for anyone who stops by the site tomorrow.
Can’t wait to resume blogging after the madness of the election ends.  For those that I haven’t talked to, or can’t tell from my Twitter feed to the right, I’m in North Carolina for the final days of the campaign trying to turn out a victory for Kay [...]

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Category: Uncategorized
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When Media Fails

Posted by Jake · April 17th, 2008 · 3 Comments

Anyone who saw my twitter feed last night could likely recognize how frustrated I was with the democratic debate on ABC between Obama and Clinton (through mostly not-worth-reading sarcasm).
Today my friend Adam Green at MoveOn.org sent this email to their members, and though I don’t support all petitions, their suggested petition is the only kind [...]

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Category: Action Items · Media · Politics
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Global Giving and Volunteers for Prosperity Give Grants to International Volunteers

Posted by Jake · April 3rd, 2008 · 2 Comments

On December 5th, I was at a White House gathering for International Volunteer Day where Global Giving and Volunteers for Prosperity announced a public-private partnership that creates an incentive (by providing matching grants) to those Americans who want to volunteer abroad. It was exciting then to be sure, but like most things, we knew [...]

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Category: Foreign Policy · Government · NGOs · Volunteerism · websites
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Concerning Media Portrayals of Black Male Politicians

Posted by Jake · March 27th, 2008 · 1 Comment

I opened the Times homepage this morning to find this article headlining:
Early Dazzle, Then Tough Times for Governor
That Deval Patrick (the nation’s second black governor) has had a rough go of it in the last year is not new news. That his latest bill was defeated yesterday may be “new” news, but it’s certainly [...]

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Category: Media · Politics · awareness raising
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Have a Hand in Stopping Genocide

Posted by Jake · February 27th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Last year I spent several weeks in Northern Uganda, Rwanda, and Eastern Congo - all bordering each other, and all three having been ravaged by genocide in recent years. In the case of Eastern Congo, the conflict is ongoing. I sent letters and wrote a few short pieces about my time there.
To be [...]

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Category: Action Items · Business · Foreign Policy · Politics · Social Media
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What Happens When Obama’s Technology Team Hits the White House?

Posted by Jake · February 26th, 2008 · 2 Comments

People can’t read enough about Obama. As such, the media can’t stop writing about him. As such, I feel like I’m reading and thinking about this guy (and this race) all the time. (…I also live smack in the middle of DC, so maybe that’s part of it too.)
When it comes to realistic [...]

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Category: Community Organizing · Government · Politics · Social Media · Social Networks · websites
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It’s Not Just About Hope

Posted by Mr. Wilson · February 25th, 2008 · 1 Comment

PS: It’s official. Hillary Clinton is throwing in the kitchen sink.
Video: Clinton mocking Obama
You know there are big problems for Clinton when  Frank Rich of the NYT is able to make a relatively convincing argument that Clinton’s campaign draws striking similarities to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Both are defined by arrogance, naivety, [...]

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Category: Government · Politics
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