聽完之後我覺得有兩點最吸引我。第一,他開始講故事的時候的「起手式」(例如媽媽講故事給孩子聽的時候,都會說 long long time ago…)。他回到兩百二十年前的華盛頓就職的那一天。
The first Inauguration took place 220 years ago. Our nation’s capital had yet to be built, so President George Washington took the oath of office in New York City. It was a spring day, just over a decade after the birth of our nation, as Washington assumed the new office that he would do so much to shape, and swore an oath to the Constitution that guides us to this very day.
When America (The Book) first approached me about penning the foreword to their tome, I was surprised. Firstly the foreword is not my bailiwick, but rather the Declaration. Forgive my conceit, but if one is looking to introduce a grand composition with a pithy and clear pronouncement, my declaratives are second to none. “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…” Google it if ye doubt the claim! Also of some concern, I have been dead for….oh lord, has it really been 178 years? My goodness, time certainly flies when you are no longer consigned to your earthly vessel.
….That is why the events of the next several days are not simply about the inauguration of an American President – they will be a celebration of the American people. We will carry the voices of ordinary Americans to Washington. We will invite people across the country to work on behalf of a common purpose through a national day of service on Monday. And we will have the most open and accessible Inauguration in history – for those who travel to the capital, and for those who choose one of the many ways to participate in the Inauguration from their own communities and their own homes.
“Now I think I know… what you’re trying to say to me” is one line of lyrics of the famous song, “Starry Starry Night”. This machinima(video) by Robbie Dingo, “Watch the World”, make me understand what does that really mean.
A masterpiece recreated. I watched the beauty unfolding in front of me. Maybe someone once watched Vincent creating the original and felt the same way.
I hope so.
我想我現在知道 Now I think I know… What you try to say to me 這句歌詞的意義了。透過 Watch the World 《注視世界》這部機械影片(machinima),你應該會有跟我一樣的感動。
下週一有一場演講:Michael R. Nelson 博士,美國喬治城大學訪問教授,新任總統歐巴馬的競選團隊科技顧問之一(他也被 11 月的歐巴馬 CTO 人選媒體點名),將於中午 12 點 30 分開始在台灣大學國家發展研究所 R302 會議室舉行專題演說:「選戰 2.0:網際網路對美國總統大選政治的影響」(Campaign 2.0- The Impact of the Internet in US Presidential Politics)。我很喜歡主辦單位所撰寫的引言: