In Sign of the Times, Global Village Gathers to Watch a Sign

[question everything]

SEPTEMBER 29, 2008

In Sign of the Times, Global Village Gathers to Watch a Sign
Viewers Monitor a Front Yard in Oregon; Squirrels and Other Thrills
By CHRISTOPHER RHOADS


Preston Fosback and his mother, Kristine, were shocked when their Obama sign was stolen one night in April from the front yard of their Portland, Ore., home. When they put up another one nine days ago, that, too, was swiped within hours. Undeterred, they made their own sign and put it up the next day. But this time, 16-year-old Preston had a plan: He set up a video camera inside the house and trained it on the sign from behind a window. He figured he would catch the thief on film, should he return. He hooked up the camera to a Web site that provides live streaming. He wrote a few words on the site explaining its purpose.

And then, the handmade sign with red, uneven letters went global. A few people started watching the video, which shows the sign next to another sign endorsing a local candidate, beside a flowerbed. The only reliable action consists of the occasional car passing in the background. Still, by that first evening, more than 100 people were watching. The next day, when Preston checked the site during lunch at school, more than 450 were there, not only from around the U.S. but as far away as Australia, Sri Lanka and Japan.

(snip)

Dozens of viewers now take shifts, based on their time zones, so as not to leave the sign unwatched at any time. Viewers in Europe take over for those turning in on the West Coast, who are in turn relieved by a dedicated crew of Australians. It's attracted more than 40,000 viewers and ranks among the top 10 most-watched videos on Ustream.tv, the Web site that hosts the video, among videos of the two presidential candidates and comedian Dane Cook.

"It's not that boring really," says Elena Johansson, a 26-year-old law student in Turku, Finland. "There are squirrels moving around." Ms. Johansson admits to staying up until 4 a.m. one night, participating in the around-the-clock vigil. She's drawn to the sense of purpose, as well as the community developing in the online chat, which focuses primarily on the U.S. presidential race, the participants' personal lives and, of course, the sign.

(snip)

At first, the Fosbacks were cautious about telling anyone about the video, keeping their identity anonymous. Ms. Fosback, who goes by "teachkids" on the forum, disclosed their secret to a neighbor, so she could keep an eye on things when the Fosbacks are out. Preston recently began telling a few friends at school. One of them, named Ben, called Preston one night and asked him to prove it was really him behind the video. Preston then wrote, "Hi Ben," on a piece of paper and walked in front of the camera with it, prompting a chorus of questions on the site asking who Ben was. When Preston informed them that his friend was a McCain supporter, a wave of derision followed until Preston warned viewers he would ban anyone from the site who wrote anything negative about Ben. Some then started writing, "I love Ben," or "Ben is my best friend."

(snip)


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122264086842483853.html (subscription)



(I think that this is the site http://www.ustream.tv/channel/obama-sign-cctv-1 )

[greenmutha]

1. This is SO frickin' cool! Thanks for sharing it.

There are people live chatting as they watch the (apparently recently replaced by an official) sign.

[applexcore]

2. lol!

I can't stop laughing about how ridiculous that is. The squirrel comment makes it even better.
:rofl:

[FlyingSquirrel]

3. Kick! :-)

Fun times we live in.

(Looks like he has gotten a new Obama/Biden sign since then)

[spag68]

4. Oregon

Silly me, I thought Oregon was a fairly progressive place.

[nsd]

5. Squirrels moving around!

Very cool.

[eshfemme]

6. LOL!!! That's awesome!

Oh man, if someone's stupid enough to attempt to take the sign... they're gonna call down a shitstorm on themselves.

[goodgd_yall]

7. I monitored the first night---it was fun

Chatted with lots of folks and there were several other DUers there too! I now just check in every once and a while to see if the sign is still there.

[Hissyspit]

8. My mom's sign up the road from her house a major rural intersection was stolen within 30 minutes.

It was in a legal spot, too. There are McCain signs on her road and none of them have been stolen, best I can tell.

Most Republicans appear to be hypocrites and cowards.

[RubyDuby in GA]

9. Oh yes they are.

In 2004, I had 7 Kerry Edwards signs stolen or vandalized in my front yard.

My Obama sign is right next to my front door and I will sic the dogs on them if someone tries to steal it this year.

[question everything]

10. Cowards. This it! (nt)

[rvablue]

11. After such a nerve-wracking day

This gave me a moment of the warm and fuzzies.