Sarah Lacy & David Wallace Book Signing at Caroline Collective

Sarah Lacy is a World Renowned Journalist, columnist for BusinessWeek, and author of Once You’re Lucky, Twice You’re Good: The Rebirth of Silicon Valley and the Rise of Web 2.0. The captivating story of the mavericks who emerged from the dotcom rubble to found the multi-billion-dollar companies taking the Web into the 21st century.

David Wallace is the former Mayor of Sugar Land and author of One Nation Under Blog. It is said that Freedom of speech is alive and well in the blogosphere, but at what price? There’s a certain Wild West atmosphere in the blogging world. One Nation Under Blog explores the enormous significance and potential impact of Web logs on every aspect of our lives.

Meet both authors, enjoy Free Food & Refreshments - and get answers to your most pressing questions on the world behind Web 2.0. Copies of both books will be available for purchase.

Overview:
Date:Saturday, November 1, 2008
Time:6:30pm - 8:30pm
Location:Caroline Collective (4820 Caroline)
Admission: FREE

“One Nation Under Blog raises important questions and represents a contribution to a long-overdue public conversation about blogs and their effects.”

Dan Rather, Global Correspondent, Dan Rather Reports

As featured on the cover of Publishers Weekly - August 25, 2008

Anticipated Release Date
October 1st 2008 (Pre-Order Now)

Freedom of speech is alive and well in the blogosphere, but at what price? There’s a certain Wild West atmosphere in the blogging world. One Nation Under Blog explores the enormous significance and potential impact of Web logs on every aspect of our lives. From our children’s comments on MySpace, to an employee’s discussion of internal corporate issues, to fabricated statements about a presidential candidate - blogs can change lives forever with the click of a mouse. Imagine how our history might have been altered if blogging technology had been available and used to target presidents like George Washington, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. Author David Wallace shares his first-hand experience with the impact of blogs while in public service as Mayor of Sugar Land, Texas, Homeland Security Advisory Council appointee and contributor to a nationally recognized Internet safety program. One Nation Under Blog opens the door for an intense discussion on how blogs affect our sense of security and the great need for a code of conduct among bloggers to benefit future generations.

Voters and supporters want to hear that their elected officials will go to Washington to address the country’s issues, to make the tough choices, and to ensure that the American people’s interests are served. In short, they want government officials to govern. It sounds like common sense, but from my vantage point, it’s exactly what is missing.

Generally speaking, Americans are content with the way things are going, and they want to keep it that way. That’s why voter turnout is so low, especially for apathetic midterm elections. People who are happy generally don’t have a good reason to go to the polls. People who are angry or want a change are the ones who get out and vote. It is this minority of registered voters who determine the make-up of Congress and our state and local governments.

To win in elections, candidates must address voters’ core concerns: national security, economic security, and security for their homes and families. And, they have to refrain from the temptation to engage in the politics of personal destruction. Americans generally do not care about a person’s personal leanings as long as those issues are private and do not impact others. The latter only become national election issues when the parties and candidates fail to address the real items on America’s agenda.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with thousands of voters and supporters in my district, and the overwhelming message was that these voters wanted their elected officials to demonstrate leadership on the tough issues. They do not want their elected officials to put political maneuvering and partisanship above the business of the country. They want candidates to talk about … and actually follow through … with governing.

One example is the juxtaposition of events on the day that we learned about Rep. Mark Foley’s (R-FL) inexcusable actions. On that day, in a one-room Amish schoolhouse, a sexual predator took ten young girls hostage and tied them up, with the intent to molest and kill them. As the day unfolded, the Foley political story dominated the coverage, while in Pennsylvania six girls were murdered, and four wounded.

In response to this and other attacks in our nation’s schools, President Bush called a national summit to address school safety. That is leadership. As for the congressional campaigns, the DC scandal continues to dominate the media. Unfortunately, in this political climate, our children’s safety is taking a back seat to partisan politics.

Instead of addressing the pressing issue of school safety, the political airwaves are filled with personal attacks and scandal mongering. That approach is precisely what makes voters stay at home on Election Day.

Americans want their country to be a place where our children can live free of the threat of child predators and guns at school. They want their elected officials to lead the initiative that ensures the sanctity and innocence of childhood.

Candidates need to challenge the naysayers who assailed tax relief and argued it would decrease federal revenues. Obviously, the opposite has been true and this has been a perfect illustration of supply-side economics in action. In July, the Office of Management and Budget released its Mid-session Review, which reported that this year’s budget deficit is expected to be $127 billion less than projected just six months ago. We are now on track to balance the federal budget in the next five years.
Unfortunately, many of these important tax relief provisions are set to expire in the near future. While Congress has been successful in enacting extensions to some of these provisions, other tax relief policies are still being blocked. Candidates must fight this never ending battle to ensure this tax relief as the average voter wants to keep more of their take-home pay.

The American people are looking for new ideas and leadership, and that is what the candidates should be doing now: advancing new ideas, demonstrating leadership and a desire to govern, and shining the light on politically motivated arguments and positioning.

Candidates must answer the question of “how will I represent you in Washington,” instead of engaging in “tit-for-tat” political strategies.

We, in politics, often don’t give the American people enough credit. We relegate our message to sound bites and slogans. We fall into the trap of “gottcha” politics and forget that our job is to govern this great country through leadership, ideas and accountability.

No wonder the majority of American people do not bother voting. They are waiting for someone and something to vote for. As a country, we have serious and complex issues to address, and the voters of this great country want serious and thoughtful people to address them. These voters understand that partisanship only brings destruction, and does not benefit the American people. This is what voters mean when they say that they want a change.

This is the message that I have been hearing from the political front lines. For the candidates to maintain their hold on their current elected position, they must heed these voters, too.

The Internet has a huge impact on the world.  This communication tool allows us to get all sorts of information and communicate with others, either personal or business.  We all receive a whole host of benefits from having the Internet, but at the same time, it can be a very dangerous form of communication if certain precautions are not taken.  With some awareness and education we can be prepared to avoid unlawful behavior of others, and we can teach our children to take precautions and be more careful.

Parental Oversight and Education

We, as parents, have to take the first step forward and learn how we can protect and educate our children.  Our children are in the care and custody of us parents. Their life is complicated enough with all of the educational, athletic and social demands placed upon them. In a perfect world, our children should not have to spend time thinking about protecting themselves on the Internet. However, given the current environment, this omnipresent thinking about Internet security is a must. Children can easily sign up for different chat rooms. Yet many of these youth do not understand the consequences of giving out personal information to a stranger. As I have seen in the investigative reports, just one little piece of personal information (like their school name, their team jersey number, etc) can result with too much information being available to the public. It is our responsibility as adults and community leaders to make sure our young adults understand the potential dangers.

As we all mature, we learn that anything we put in print (either in a letter or e-mail communication) can be reproduced and used for the benefit of others. The age-old rule of the “New York Times headlines test” works best. If what you are writing is something that would not look good as a New York Times Headlines, then don’t write it! As an example, I have seen where some on-line web sites provide a “home page” environment for teens to post their photos, and to fill in the blanks and answer a series of questions that automatically populates a personal web site in which the world can see. However, the questions that are asked are very provocative. It appears that in an effort to be humorous or simply as a result of peer pressure, the youth could answer the questions, and not pass the New York Times Headlines test. In fact, I have seen situations where these web sites have been printed out and taken to school and given to teachers, coaches or community service leaders in an effort to embarrass the youth and cause them to be removed as a member of the group. In short, for competitive reasons, other youth are saying to the teacher / advisor … “is this the sort of person you want representing our group / team / etc.?” As parents, we need to make sure that our youth … as wonderful as they are … understand the capabilities of people and the repercussions of our actions.

In short, we really need to be involved with what our youth are doing on the computer. We need to make sure they understand not to give out any personal information like last name, phone number and address without asking their parent or guardian first.  Children need to be taught by their teachers and parents never to e-mail their pictures to anyone they don’t know, and do not open any e-mails if they don’t know the sender.  If your family has a web site with family pictures of your children, don’t include where they go to school, where you live, phone numbers, or any other personal information.

Online Educational Programs

There are many different programs that will educate the whole family on Internet safety and the best ways to handle unlawful behaviors.  I-safe ( HYPERLINK “http://www.isafe.org” www.isafe.org) is one online educational program that is designed for parents and children to learn about predators and other Internet safety issues. The lessons can be performed in the classroom and taught by teachers, or have the parents teach their children these important lessons at home.

Another good web site, www.getnetwise.org, helps inform children, parents, and the entire community on what can be done to be safe online.  Depending on the age group, this web site aims at all different levels. It is geared for children, parents, teenagers, law enforcement and teachers.  It gives many safety tips in an “age appropriate” environment, as the tips given for preteens are different than the tips given for teenagers.

We must continue to educate our youth and community about the dangers that can happen from online chat rooms and other web site communities such as Facebook, MySpace.com and others.  This will be an ongoing project in the community, and this is an issue that we, as adults and community leaders, must not ignore. We must always become better educated ourselves about Internet safety, so that we can impart this information and wisdom to our youth.

Here in Fort Bend County, we live in an area rich in history and on the verge of a future that few of our forefathers could have imagined.  Sugar Land, together with its ETJ, has grown by a factor of 5 in just the last 10 years.  Today, people from a wide cross-section of ethnic backgrounds, cultures, and religions choose this as their home.  How effectively we nurture our diverse community and embrace our differences will have a dramatic impact on the future of our city and region.

The Creative Class

Dr. Florida states that the norm-setting class of our time is the Creative Class.  These people value creativity, individuality, difference and merit; they have a high level of education, engage in complex problem solving and account for approximately 30% of the workforce today.  Members of the Creative Class may work in the areas of science, engineering, architecture and design, education, the arts, and may include professionals in business, finance, law and health care.

Creative people tend to be identified, not by the company they work for, but by where they live and what they do. They expect a “no-collar workplace,” flexible hours, and an environment that encourages diversity and independent thinking.  Today, people don’t just “move to where the jobs are.”  Rather, they cluster in places that are centers of creativity and where they like to live.

According to Dr. Florida’s Creativity Index Ranking (measuring high-tech, innovation, diversity, and percent Creative Class) of the 49 regions with populations over 1 million people, Texas fares well.  With Austin at #2, Houston #7 and Dallas #10, Texas leads all other states, with three cities in the top ten.

The Power of Place

Since members of the Creative Class come in all shapes, sizes, colors and lifestyles, the most successful cities offer something for them all.  Essentially, they look for three things – what’s there (a combination of natural surroundings and built environment), who’s there (a diverse population that interacts well), and what’s going on (a vibrancy in the community).  Coffee shops, book stores and cafes – the heart of a community’s social vitality – have taken on greater importance.  Bike lanes and off-road trails for running and cycling, important for creative people to “re-charge their batteries,” also benefit the entire community.  Additionally, creative people appreciate authenticity – a place with real buildings, real people and a real history.

Of greatest significance, creative people are drawn to places known for diversity of thought and open-mindedness.  They enjoy a mix of influences and appreciate diverse backgrounds and perspectives.  According to fellow author Bonnie Menes Kahn, a great city has two hallmarks – tolerance for strangers and intolerance for mediocrity.

Technology, Talent and Tolerance

The “Three T’s” – Technology, Talent and Tolerance – are key to a region’s economic growth and prosperity.  To attract creative people, a place must have all three T’s.  Clearly, technology is a driver in today’s economy.  The most vital cities are those that have cultivated high-tech industry.  Talent is evident in a highly educated and innovative workforce and creative community.  Tolerance – for differences in ethnicity, culture, religion and lifestyle – is essential for a region to prosper, both economically and as a unified and inter-dependent community.

Importantly, a university helps to cultivate all three.  The Sugar Land campus of the University of Houston, with 2000 students in its first year, will continue to grow as an important creative hub, but we must be prepared to support the innovation the university generates and make the most of the talent that has always been inherent within our own community.

Sugar Land – A Unified Society

Throughout our nation’s history, America’s success is directly tied to its openness to innovative and energetic people from around the world, and Sugar Land is no exception.  As we continue to grow to a minority-majority community, especially in light of the heightened conflict on the international stage, we must be ever mindful of our tolerance and continue to celebrate the richly diverse cultures that combine to make Sugar Land the unique and wonderful community it is.

But I believe we can go a step further.  To encourage and sustain a truly unified community, a multicultural leadership team has been formed to discuss this important issue and ensure that diversity remains a strength for our community.  It is my hope that the dialogue begun on this team extends through every organization, to each member of the community, to enlighten, enhance and strengthen our relationships with one another.

We each recognize the gift of diversity within this wonderful community.  Together, we can tap the riches inherent with this gift and evolve into the creative and cohesive society we desire Sugar Land to be.  In closing, to quote Dr. Florida, “the task of building a truly creative society is not a game of solitaire.  This game, we play as a team.”

I was recently sworn in as a member of the DHS Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC), and I must admit, being involved with Homeland Security is more than just a job. The HSAC has offered an amazing opportunity to be involved in creating DHS policy, and to also be involved with people who have had their lives changed forever by the events of that day. Walking through the World Trade Center Site reminded me that this is a war against us … a war that we did not start.

As I was talking with Secretary Chertoff, the war on terrorism became very real to me. We must all be reminded that this is not a war similar to prior wars, whereby once the troops come home, the bloodshed will stop. There is nothing further from the truth in our current war against terror. We must be ever vigilant in our efforts to defend this country, as the enemy … the terrorist … will continue to set their sites on U.S. assets and attempt to inflict their pain. It is for this reason … the desire to help protect and defend our citizens … that I, and all of the DHS employees, work so diligently to be one step ahead of the “bad guys.”

During my visit to “ground zero,” I had a chance to meet with people who were first responders on 9/11. Henry Rivera, an employee of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, was one of the many who had a personal experience on that day.

When I met Henry Rivera, a 9/11 survivor, I was moved by his story. Not only was he in the ground floor of Tower One, but he witnessed the high emotions that accompanied that day. Henry was on the first floor along with a battalion of 20 fire fighters. As he continued to tell his story, the pain filled his face as he started to describe how people were jumping out of the buildings and debris fell to the ground. Out of the 20 men in the ground floor of the building, only Mr. Rivera and one other man survived.

Henry continued to describe how this was the first time that he has actually encountered what he called “true fear.” As the tower began to come tumbling down, Henry said that he was knocked to the ground and the terror and fear was unlike anything he had ever experienced. Yet as he lay in a fetal position on the ground, Henry said a sense of peace and calm came over him. A feeling that he can only attribute to “God’s hand covering his body.”

As I listened to his story I couldn’t help but be reminded of my own personal near death experience when I drowned in a swimming pool. I could relate to him as he described his family and community uniting together. I could relate as he described his family being so full of love. I could relate as he described the lack of sleep due to the thought of everyone’s prayers weighing heavily on his mind. I could relate how he truly began to cherish life itself, and to understand that it is truly a gift … something that must be lived to the fullest. I will never forget how my family and the Sugar Land community united together in strength and prayer for me. And this strength and prayer is exactly what my new friend Henry witnessed on 9/11, and it still continues to this day.

While touring the World Trade Center Site I had a chance to be reminded of what devastation had been done on 9/11, yet I also had the opportunity to see what is to come in the future. It makes me so proud of the human spirit to know that my friend Henry … a man that was almost destroyed physically and emotionally in the tower’s collapse … is so very proud to be involved in the overall construction of the World Trade Center Memorial. Even though we, as a nation, shared in the pain of 9-11, it is encouraging to see that our nation is moving forward in an effort to mend the emotional and physical wounds from that day.

As we prepare for our Nation’s Independence Day, let us never forget all of the Patriots that have gone before us in an effort to promote liberty, peace and democracy throughout the world. In an effort to preserve the memory of the lives lost on 9-11, the new World Trade Center Memorial is being constructed and will consist of two waterfall voids, on the footprint of where the towers once stood. On the remaining 8-acres will stand additional office buildings, but most importantly, will be the Freedom Tower. This edifice will be a constant reminder that we are moving forward as a nation … a nation that is completely united … as one nation under God.