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What an amazing year… Have not blogged much in the past year, simply have not had the time. Was promoted in mid-year, but had the responsibility pretty much since February/March. It’s been tough, but rewarding. Have never seen a year pass so quickly, it’s like yesterday that we partied into 2009.

Have been talking about New Year Resolutions lately, always difficult to honor them, but definitely need to find more time for myself - so much to do… Any way, enough rambling, just want to wish all of you a great party tonight and a very successful start into 2010!

Kevin

Thanks, Yle!

Very cool indeed:

Hat Tip: CS

However, I need to get my thoughts in order as yesterday was an extraordinary day which will live on in history forever.

“The Sun” got it right yesterday when they called it “one giant leap for mankind”. Having lived outside the US for most of my life, I have a very different perspective on US politics than many in the US - and have been appalled by the Bush Administration pretty much since the day they came into office. I was very disappointed in 2000 when Gore lost and again in 2004 when Kerry lost - while neither candidate inspired me, I knew they were easily more qualified than Bush Jr.

Yesterday we moved from disaster (Bush) vs. mediocrity (either Democratic candidate) to a potentially great president.

I fully understand that Obama has a very tough job ahead of him and no matter how smart and educated he and his advisors might be (they are definitely a huge upgrade on the current administration with a few exceptions such as Robert Gates), and how inspirational his speeches and his campaign have been, it will be very, very difficult for his administration to tackle the challenges ahead, such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the enormous national debt, the budget deficit, education, health care, or simply mending fences with the world - a world that has learned to distrust the USA thanks to the most disastrous foreign policy approach in history.

Furthermore, I am a libertarian, so his economic policies are most likely not always going to be what I would hope for. Nevertheless, given the choice between Obama and McCain - I am happy to go with education, diplomacy and common sense.

Obama’s campaign was about “change”. His opponents accused him of having only a vague idea of what he wants to change - but if you go to his website, you will find detailed policy proposals for pretty much every policy area. Furthermore, if you look at his short career in the senate, you will find a few very interesting pieces of legislation he sponsored, including one that he sponsored together with Republican Tom Coburn and a certain gentleman named John McCain: The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. Bills like this give me hope that he truly can reach beyond the aisle and get Congress to work together on the issues many of us agree on (balancing the budget and revamping the education system would be my two priorities for Congress). I have also blogged on his involvement in the Ethics bill here. His track record does indeed support his claim to know what kind of change he is calling for.

In the final sentence of his acceptance speech to the 1992 Democratic National Convention, Bill Clinton said: “I still believe in a place called Hope”. I am reminded of this today, as for eight years I have known little hope in seeing a United States in America that truly intends to make the world a better place.

Thanks to Andrew Sullivan’s brilliant piece on Obama and what he could mean for the USA from last December, I started to hope again.

Now that the United States of America have elected the intelligent, educated and inspirational Barack Hussein Obama the new “leader of the free world”, I just might be able to believe in a place called Hope again - and that is worth a lot more than one would think.

Those of you who know me have seen me become more cynical every year for the past decade. Perhaps that will change now, as I know hope again.

Hi folks,

it looks like my days in Watford/London will - I have just been offered the Revenue Manager position for our Conrad property on the Maldives. Assuming I get my work permit, I will be moving over there in less than a month. When I did some research on the web, I found this interesting story - Money quote:

Which is why I am moving to the Maldives, a place created entirely by men, for men.

The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is a collection of small islands in the Indian Ocean located about 450 miles west of Sri Lanka. Besides holding the record for being the flattest country on earth, Maldives is one of the only remaining countries in the world where men live slightly longer lives than women.

I’m not making this up. This phenomenon may be attributed to their ultra-relaxed lifestyle. For example, when it comes to politics, the Maldivian have no political parties. Why bother, right?

I also found this video on YouTube:

Certainly looks like a lot of fun - will keep you posted…

I always read this guy’s columns as soon as they are published. This is a good example why:

Changed my mind on “The Net” being the most dated movie of the past 15 years; now I’m thinking it’s “American Pie.” A group of high school seniors desperately trying to lose their virginity before they graduate? Really? For that movie to make sense in 2008, they’d have to remake that plot with eighth graders and hire Miley Cyrus for the Shannon Elizabeth part.

(Here’s when I remember I have a young daughter.)

(And here’s when I slam my head into my desk a few times.)

I really recommend reading his classic columns on the Karate Kid Trilogy and on ranking the first four Rocky Movies - Rocky V never happened and Rocky Balboa wasn’t even planned when this column was published.

Please help if you can!

Dear all,

I have been absent for far too long, been busy, but probably also been too lazy to blog, as I love uploading loads of photos, but it usually takes too much time. However, I have decided that I need to be more active again, so this is my first blog in a while. I’m going to keep it short - just wanted to let the world know that my blog is back again…

Here’s something entertaining:

In The Know: New Iraqi Law Requires Waiting Period For Suicide Vest Purchases