Nomenclature: Important or Random?

How important is your name?

It is your calling card, the first thing you tell people, the way you are identified to others. It’s the word you say after “Hi, my name is”. Barack Obama is certainly not a common name, but is now the most well known name in the world.

The Asteroid Field of Information

We live in a time when we are blasted with thousands of tiny pieces of content every day. The human mind can digest a lot of data but none can process all that is fired at it on a daily basis. We must be selective and in that we need to quickly toss stuff aside so we may keep looking for the valuable information.

How many people (perhaps even you) say “I am terrible at remembering names”? But we expect instant recall in a world of endless messages and chatter.

What Is Your Company Called?

Twitter, Netflix, Google, Napster and thousands of others have flown in the face of traditional wisdom. The first time I heard of Facebook, I thought it was a photo sharing site. Google was simply silly, but the name stuck right away. You have examples too.

Surprise Broca

Paul Pierre Broca was a French physician who discovered an area of the brain that produces language and speech. It has since been known as Broca’s Area. Think of this as the gatekeeper to information and cognitive ability. Broca’s Area likes routine and mathematical certainty.

If I said “chocolate bar”, your brain instantaneously computes those words and instantly conjures up an image. But if I said “chocolate lawnmower” you would have to stop and think about that because it makes no sense. Broca doesn’t understand that, there is no previous example to drawn upon.

So in the case of naming things, we need to find the fine line between making Broca happy and creating an event so Broca can place something memorable into the database.

Don’t Get Too Cute

I posed a simple question on Twitter yesterday:

“When naming a new company, what is more important: cleverness or functionality? Or both?”

Here are some responses:

@CurtMonash When naming a company, convenient brandability beats all. "Vertica" means more than "Greenplum" or "Netezza" -- but so what?
@sparklytosingle i'm going to go with memorability as most important aspect of naming a company.
@krigeren the name should be memorable and tie into the products while reflecting the mission statement and that it's unique. Google and yahoo really set the standard for naming conventions. Since then almost anything goes. Catchy is key.
@arpixmedia something easy to spell
@ronjon Memorable and whether the URL is available :)
@kcarpentier77 Make the name memorable and catchy without losing sight of professionalism.
@phillipscott It's got to be easy to identify - either by being unique or clever
@geekgiant It's a mix of domain availability and it having a story.

What’s Her Name?

I was speaking with someone over the weekend who is expecting her first child in June. The two big questions that are always asked came quickly: “Do you know if the baby is a boy or a girl?” and “Have you chosen a name?”

The naming process is stressful because it’s something that lasts for the rest of the kid’s life. Ask anyone who's named Adolf or Sunshine. If you’ve been faced with the same dilemma, you know the feeling.

Find The Balance

Perhaps a cop out but maybe it’s best to keep balance in mind when you pick names for babies and companies and projects? But it’s still important to be able to understand why you chose it. If it’s for fun, that’s cool. If it’s because it’s your grandfather’s middle name, that’s okay too.

There are numerous companies that specialize in choosing names, but it appears that science and logic may not always play out the way we expect.

How important is a name?

@knealemann

www.usa.gov

The Work Begins Now

"Change doesn't come from Washington. Change comes to Washington."
Barack Obama - Aug 2008

President Obama is in Ottawa today to meet with Prime Minister Harper and other Canadian leaders. It is a whirlwind tour of the Nation’s capital. There will be a brief press conference later this afternoon and the rest of the time will be spent working on serious topics.

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."
Barack Obama - Feb 2008

In the wake of the global economic situation it is interesting that the chatter about this trip has circled around seeing the President in the flesh. The entire downtown core is blocked off and Secret Service officials are blanketing the city like a fresh snowfall. But the bigger question is – do we need to see him or do we need him to lead some of the solutions facing all of us?

Fame and Fascination

"We live in a culture that discourages empathy. A culture that too often tells us our principle goal in life is to be rich, thin, young, famous, safe, and entertained."
Barack Obama - Jul 2006

We are enthralled by celebrity. Obama is the most famous person on earth and it’s only natural that people would want to see him in action.

Despite the most historic Presidential election of all time won by one of the most charismatic political leaders in a decades, Obama himself has repeatedly reminded all of us that there is much work to do by all of us. This is not a U.S. situation, it is a worldwide situation. There is no time for pomp and circumstance.

Leaders and Laggards

"What Washington needs is adult supervision."
Barack Obama - Oct 2006

Strong leadership is enjoyed by most and some are meant to lead. It is not about a title or job description or education – it is about motivating others to work together on solutions.

It was amazing to watch the Obama camp embrace social media and empower millions of new voters to enjoy the freedom of having their voice heard and to make a difference.

Once the final morsels of confetti fell to the floor, the work began. Red carpets have been rolled way and sleeves are now rolled up.

Hope and Hard Work

"Faith is not just something you have, it's something you do."
Barack Obama - Dec 2006

I think it’s fairly safe to say that Canadians hope the President can inspire our leadership to work together across party lines and discard nick picky politics toward resolution. Perhaps the rest of us could do our part by getting to work rather than being concerned about a celebrity sighting?

Would you rather meet someone famous or be inspired by them?

km

cnet.com

C’mon - I Don’t Have All Minute!

How can a society that exists on instant mashed potatoes, packaged cake mixes, frozen dinners, and instant cameras teach patience to its young? - Paul Sweeney

Are you impatient?

We are spoiled and we want it all now. Companies are searching for bailouts, our need to own stuff we can't afford has caused credit card debt to reach into the billions. And we can't seem to help ourselves.

Whenever I talk about social media to my non-geek friends their eyes begin to flutter, shaking ensues, there’s usually a panicked look in their face as they search for a reason to end the conversation. You may have experienced similar reactions.

Patience is a virtue not a business plan

If LinkedIn and Twitter are mentioned in the same sentence, paramedics may be required. Any mention of blogs or podcasts may as well be spoken in Japanese.

If I can hold their attention for a few moments longer, I can usually explain that it’s not about websites or software, it is about connectivity. If there is a “suit” in the room, I can usually prey on their need for a better bottom line.

But then what?

We all want instant results. We go to the gym twice and give up because the six-pack abs seem insurmountable, we toss a salad down our throats and call that health eating, we leave ourselves way little time to get there and expect every traffic light to turn in our favor.

We want it now and we’ll go to any lengths to avoid hard work. Instant rebates, no money down, exercise short-cuts, finance everything, the list goes on and on and on.

We have ourselves to blame

A buddy asked me yesterday “What does Twitter do?” My immediate response was “Nothing, it's a website”. He then quipped “I knew it! Why does everyone waste so much time on there?”

First of all, not everyone is on Twitter and it doesn’t do anything. I explained that it was about the connection and what the people do on Twitter.

My question to him was “What does ESPN do?” Along came a spirited explanation at which point I reminded him that the network doesn’t do anything – the people who work at the network are the ones doing stuff.

ESPN and Twitter are merely conduits.

Old school meets reality

A colleague has approached me to explain social media to one of their clients. This client represents a former politician who is trying to expand his reach and set himself up for a comeback. The tactic has been to focus on "mature voters" - the 45-60yr-old demographic.

If he wants to expand, he needs to reach new people and younger demos. I thought it was a pretty easy sell to explain how President Obama brought millions of younger voters to the polls through social media. However, this may take a bit more explaining.

now Now NOW

There is no shortage of data to explain human behavior and our lack of patience. There is increasing data to explain that social media is not some potion to cure all company ills.

Eating a piece of broccoli each day isn’t enough. Posting a few comments on Twitter isn’t either. No matter how much we jump up and down, popcorn still takes about three and a half minutes in the microwave.

How do you curb your impatience and need for instant results?

How do you teach others to have more patience?

km

Putting On A Brave Face

A preoccupation with the future not only prevents us from seeing the present as it is but often prompts us to rearrange the past.
Eric Hoffer

A few years ago, I was having lunch with a friend who was experiencing a stalled career and some trouble in his marriage. We met at a packed food court at a mall – not the most private of locales for such conversation – but it gave me the chance to make a vivid comparison.

I asked him to look around the busy food court and find people who were late on their credit card payments, those who were deep in debt, the ones who were having trouble with their relationships or jobs. He saw a group of people who all seemed to have it figured out.

Stiff Upper Lip
The most dangerous untruths are truths moderately distorted.
Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

We all seem to have it figured out. We keep a smile on for the masses and our best foot forward. I was not suggesting we all walk around with our head in our hands, but I was pointing out that everyone goes through tough stuff.

Possible Good News
A people that values privileges above principles soon loses both.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

If there is a silver lining in the world economic crisis, it would be that we are now allowed to be honest and there is a desire for others to reciprocate. History tells us that we will turn this around. History also teaches us that unless we learn from this experience, it will repeat.

The solution to the crisis is not for us to throw our hands in the air or run through the streets crying, but a little honesty wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing.

Never Let Them See You Sweat
Journalism is literature in a hurry.
Matthew Arnold

I’ve been in the media, writing, entertainment, marketing and promotion industries my entire career. We have to work hard so it seems we haven’t made an effort.

If you've ever been inside a radio station or been on a film set, you may have an idea of how much panic may go on behind-the-scenes so the final product is right.

Not All The Kids Like Honesty
Honesty is the rarest wealth anyone can possess, and yet all the honesty in the world ain't lawful tender for a loaf of bread.
Josh Billings

There was a scary report on Dateline NBC last night featuring Elizabeth Warren. She is a law professor at Harvard and has been hired by President Obama as the head of the congressional oversight panel for the U.S. government bailout program.

When asked how the government has been tracking the money, she said that before she was hired, the Bush Administration had not been tracking it at all. Companies have been receiving lumps of cash and haven’t been forced to account for where it goes past the front door. That is idiotic and dangerous. But don't look too deep for a soul inside the CEO of a company that was just given several billion in government handouts.

Some have taken the brave face a little too far and honesty not far enough.

Could we benefit from a little more honesty?

km

despair.com

The Cell Phone Turns A Page

Have we lost the passion for reading books?

One of the rising categories in electronics over the last few years has been portable e-readers. If you’re not familiar, you can buy a device that will download full-length books. Then you can have a bunch of books all stored in one handy handheld device. You can buy one in the $250-$400 range.

There are a few models on the market. Read Gizmodo's take on all the models if you're not sure which one to buy. Amazon got a nice bump from Oprah last year and sold out of the Kindle - twice. The company is expected to announce the Kindle 2.0 for the U.S. market tomorrow.

Check Your Lane!

A spokesperson for the company said that their cell-ready device is coming too. You will be soon be able to download a book on to your phone or PDA.

And you thought people were distracted sending emails in traffic!

Just imagine some guy in front of you at a stoplight getting distracted because he's reading a novel. Of course if you're sitting on a long flight, these can be very handy.

Those Were The Days, My Friend

The newspaper industry was wildly successful for generations. Many have booked the funeral in the last couple of years.

Pardon the pun, but stop the presses!

Is this an issue about newspapers and books or our desire for news and content? Is this about holding a paper or book in our hands or the content itself?

Has our quest for information decreased?

This is about the ability for each of us to control our environment.

Our demand for instantly delivered content seems to increase every day. We want it now and we want it fast. We don't want to wait until tomorrow to read yesterday's news.

You know times are changing when The Huffington Post hosts its own inaugural ball for President Obama.

Now What?

The publishing industry needs to have a good look at the music industry’s reaction to downloading. The challenges may be similar, they may be different, but one thing is certain - change is here to stay.

If you’re in the area, join the free discussion on June 6th at BookCamp Toronto where some possible solutions for the publishing industry may arise.

Do you want books on your cell phone?

What does the future hold for the publishing industry?

km

Many Minds Make Light Work

@carl Dude, how you doing?!
@steve All good ...how's Mary?
@carl Awesome, thanks... Sally well?
@steve Couldn’t be better! How’s the gig?
@carl Good good ...let’s grab a beer some time!
@steve Sounds great, give me a shout.

Carl signs off and wonders why his life is such a mess while Steve seems so happy. Steve grumbles under his breath as he switches off his laptop that Carl has it so good while his life is falling apart.

Take A Peak Inside

As we open the doors wider into ourselves, do we need to put up a higher wall or a braver face? I have received countless emails from people who feel intimated by places like Facebook and Twitter. They don’t feel they have anything to share. We all have something to share.

The Power We Hold

MuteMath writes in the song Peculiar People “With a word we can drown a mountain”. Later in the song they write "we can fly with the wings of eagles". The operable word in both lyics is 'we'.

We are human. We are flawed. We experience life with its joy and bumps. We too often have to paste a smile on our face for the world to see. We often forget others must do the same.

Start With Hello

If you have a social media profile and you dig a little deeper to get to know a new contact, you will experience the magic of the medium. I remember the first time I sent an email to someone I had just met - and they responded! And we started a conversation.

My friends who don't 'get' social media, think that Twitter is a waste of time. But if you've ever experienced it when the conversation flows among several people and new people chime in with thoughts, you know that it's much more than a chat room.

During the Presidential debates, Obama's inauguration, the bailout, and the latest in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the conversation was vibrant and alive.

Let's Collaborate More

If we are spending more time online in social media enviornments, should we not be trying to share even more? But let's not confuse activity with progress. Increased chatter does not guarantee more solutions.

Stretch out those conversations - in public or private. This isn't about showing others how s-m-r-t we are or how well-read we are or how in-the-know we are. If we all lived 300 years, we still wouldn't know it all.

Be Yourself

To borrow words that best describe this, I turn to Seth and Mitch. Be remarkable. Be authentic. Take chances and step out. Enjoy your voice.

We are all stumbling around together. If we aren’t willing to make mistakes, be ourselves and be remarked about, then we may as well turn off the computer.

And the next time someone asks us how we're doing – maybe it's best to simply say “fine thanks, you?”

km

Leaders Say: Let’s Go

There is no doubt that today is historic. Barack Obama becomes President. The celebrations will go well into the wee hours. But what is interesting is that the new commander-in-chief will be at his desk in the oval office within hours of is inaugural speech.

Four years ago, Obama was the junior senator from Illinois and today the 47-year old becomes the President. How did he do that?

In a city where there are more pontificators and lobbyists per capita than in any other urban center on the planet – Obama is there to work. He gives great speeches, he inspires many people, but he means what he says and says what he means.

Think about your mentors – the people who not only helped your career but helped you. Look to the people who inspired you and believed in you. Now think of the people who look to you for that same guidance.

We’ve all had a boss – a person who chirps demands and reminds us that democracy is a theory not a reality. But how many of us have had the chance to work with a leader? How many of us have felt the joy of leading others?

It’s easy to bark orders, it’s much more difficult to lead and motivate. It’s simple to take the “because I said so” stance; it’s difficult to adopt the “I see your strengths” approach.

There is no such thing as a selfless act or unbiased opinion. Obama was born to lead and revels in doing so. But the satisfaction he feels from leading can only be personified if he successfully motivates others to let him lead.

Let’s go!

km

www.timesonline.com

Remember So We Never Forget

A lot has been written and said about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was a great man. He was a brave man. He was committed to human rights. He was necessary to this world. He still is. Today is a celebration of his spirit and what he was all about – that included helping others - through MLK Day.

His life was cut short because of misunderstanding and ignorance.

It takes people like Dr. King to remind us why we are here and what our responsibilities are as a part of the human race. There is much talk about the economy and conflict around the world. We should never stop striving to make things better.

Tomorrow, Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States. This is not about the first man of color to achieve this office; it is not about a man of average means reaching for a near impossible goal. It is about how this event can inspire us.

Someone asked me the other day what inspires me about Barack Obama. It’s simple - he inspires all of us. He admits he cannot solve any of this alone. That was proven with his choice in Joe Biden as Vice President.

He means it when he says that we all need to do our part. This is not about the United States of America - this is about every country. I can speak confidently as a proud Canadian that there is a multitude here who are proud of Barrack Obama.

Today and tomorrow we celebrate two great men.

But more importantly, we celebrate ourselves.

km

Dear 2009

A lot of us are looking forward to your arrival. There are some who are worried that you may be coming with bad news. As you may know, we’ve made rather a mess of 2008. It is our hope that you two are not related in any way.

Being a year carries a lot of responsibility. You are the future after all!

According to the Chinese zodiac, you are an Ox. This means you are patient and inspire confidence. But you are stubborn and hate to fail!

Some famous people who share your sign include: Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Peter Sellers and Jack Nicholson. So perhaps you'll be fun and creative and smart.

We could all use a laugh!

You may have heard about this financial mess-up. We humans tend to buy stuff we can’t afford, borrow more than we can pay back, and hide mistakes in the hopes no one finds out.

If you are worried that you may have big shoes to fill, just be glad you’re not Y2K! There were threats that the world as we know it was going to shut down. The year 2000 had a lot of pressure riding on it. Add to that, the futurists in the 1960s promised we’d all be using jet packs by then!

Some other things you should be aware of: the next President of the United States is a very good man, you can now order airline tickets and a pizza with two buttons on your smartphone, both Manning brothers have won a Super Bowl, and Barbara Walters is still hosting Oscar pre-show specials at the tender age of 79.

Remember, you’re just a year, 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, or 8,670 hours. You shouldn’t feel that you’re required to pull off miracles despite what some may claim.

Make yourself at home when you get here. You’ll be busy soon enough.

km

What Will You Do? Complain or Share?

VP-elect Joe Biden was on Larry King Live last night and despite the fact that he gets a shiny new gig and cool mansion on January 20th, no one seems envious about what is ahead for him and his boss.

Biden he has hope for the future. He isn’t living in lollypop land, there is a steep hill for the world to climb – this is not about the U.S. economy – this is about all of us.

But I keep thinking about how we are writing and talking and blogging and podcasting and whining about this all the time. It is overwhelming.

Here are some facts we know to this point.

We know: There are dishonest people in the world. There are crooks in this world. Some people do enjoy scamming you. The planet has no shortage of horrific things. And not everyone tells the truth.

We know: There are millions of creative generous minds willing to share their knowledge every day. True friends are a phone call away when we need them. Abundance is not measured by monetary wealth. And we all have a choice to either complain or share.

If you feel down or beleaguered, here are some places to visit:

Mitch Joel. Joseph Jaffe. Ted. James Arthur Ray. Seth Godin. Chris Brogan. Gregg Braden. CC Chapman. Jack Canfield. Guy Kawasaki. Marcus Buckingham.

Let’s pick share. I think share is a good choice.

Yup, share wins by a landslide!

km

Taking The Blame

An interesting news story surfaced late last week from an “unnamed advisor” to the McCain campaign that is falling on the entire sword. “He” says it wasn’t Sen. McCain or Gov. Palin that derailed the campaign, it was him. That’s admirable but no one person is to “blame” for losing against a tidal wave. The U.S. economy, the Bush administration, the Democratic party's brilliant campaign and Barack Obama all had something to do with the landslide.

There was another "unnamed" source that called Palin "a diva". The cart lost its wheels quickly after Tuesday night's defeat.

These "sources" seem fishy at best. McCain was the boss. You want to be the President, man up when it doesn’t go your way. Skulking around with unnamed tips is ridiculous.

We've all had to take responsibility for our actions. We are all guilty of hoping it all works out or goes away on its own when we mess up, that’s human nature. But the team needs to assess the damage. It is rarely – if ever – one person’s fault. In any environment, there are usually plenty of mistakes for everyone to eventually take their turn. Mud flinging doesn't help.

I played a lot of hockey at one point in my life and made the decision very young to be a goaltender. I loved it. My hockey mom thought I was a phone call away from being drafted – thanks mom! Suffice to say I had fun and that was the point.

But in hockey, a goal scored is often not the goalie’s fault. Someone may have missed a check, a forward didn’t skate back fast enough into the play, a line change was messed up, or any number of other factors.

Sure the goaltender messes up, but teamwork is not a convenient mind space. You are either part of the team, or you are not. Blame can be flung easily at each other and the mud can just as easily be flung at you.

These may be weak stories during a lull in the news cycle but the point is still clear. In a team environment, everyone is on the same team and at the helm is strong leadership.

km

History Made. Now What?

Barak Obama and Joe Biden will be sworn in to office on January 20th, 2009. It was a crushing and decisive victory over John McCain and Sarah Palin. What is clear is that according to the popular vote, Obama still only received just over half of the votes last night.

There were polls and surveys almost hourly throughout the last year and it was interesting to see the growing support for President-elect Obama around the world. I can’t speak for others but my impromptu unscientific survey amongst my fellow Canadian friends and colleagues gave the Obama/Biden ticket a landslide.

No matter how you analyze the numbers, the election is over and now it will take leadership and collaboration.

Anytime we feel a movement and momentum we also feel hope and teamwork. As Obama said last night, he does need the help of the American people. No one person will solve these big issues. We should be ready to help too. Ready to help each other. This includes us in Canada.

My favorite passage from Obama's speech last night: "It's the answer that lead those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve. To put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day."

One of the most powerful words anyone can use is - we.

km

Leadership

“People want leadership. In the absence of genuine leadership, they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They're so thirsty for it they'll crawl through the desert to a mirage and when they discover there is no water, they will drink the sand.” ~ "The American President" 1995

The U.S. Presidential election has not been about the economy, conflicts around the world, mergers, banks, gas prices, the recession, or spending. It has been about looking for someone to lead.

It will be many more hours before Barack Obama is elected the next President of the United States but the tension seems thicker today than in the last two years of campaigning. This is it, time to step up and prove all the things promised.

If the over 600 polls are correct, the Democrats will have the next four years to clean up the mess. If the polls are correct, there will be more people out today to vote than in any other election in American history.

This is not about whether people will lose their house or pay their credit cards. This is about leadership. The nicest car in the world is useless without a straight frame or axles, the best laid plans are empty without action, and it takes leadership and a vision to carry it off.

“Management is doing things right, leadership is doing the right things” ~ Peter F. Drucker

The mistake most make is to think one person in front of the line is leadership. If it takes a village to raise a child then it takes a team to build a company or country.

The Boss says “Go”; the leader says “Let’s Go” ~ H. Gordon Selfridge

Barack Obama is not making up a game plan on his own; he has a strong experienced team working with him.

Once the balloons fall and the champagne consumed, my hope is that what is left is leadership. And when we have strong leadership in anything we do, we're halfway there. If not, we will drink the sand.

km

Possibilities Predictions and Positivity

With the Canadian election done and the American election three weeks away, trillions of words have been spoken, written and thought about government, the economy, and the future. I don't view myself as a futurist, I am a broadcaster and producer but from my many years of unscientific research – you and I have about as much luck at predicting the future as anyone.

So we have two choices – and not the la la la I can’t hear you approach.

Integration is one of my favorite words and it when it works, it’s magic. And to quote Obama last night, this is the worst economic time since the great depression. I live in Canada, but trust me no one is waltzing around this gorgeous nation thinking we’ve dodged any financial bullet!

As I talk with clients, partners and potentials, we discuss integration more and more. Sure this is about matching content with context and building the community but not just in entertainment where I preside most of the time. This is about (sorry for the centurion cliché) teamwork! But it's about teamwork on a much larger scale.

That sounds simple enough. It’s not. The human mind seems to adopt the negative much swifter than positive. But with open discussion and using how rather than no, when we feel ourselves slip can we should remember that we’re all in this together.

km

It Was Historic

Last night, Gov. Sarah Palin made history speaking at the RNC as the first woman to be the Republican Vice Presidential nominee. Geraldine Ferraro was Walter Mondale’s running mate for the Democrats in 1984. It’s sad that it has only happened twice.

It was interesting to watch the parade of VP wannabees shower the unknown Palin with accolades. You could hardly see Sen. McCain’s lips move and the fake smiles were barely visible. The GOP pundits and loyalists are all reading from the same teleprompter today. McCain says his VP must be ready to be President on Day One. Hmmm

It will certainly be an interesting election and everyone will undoubtedly be covered in mud by November 4th. The Canadian election will undoubtedly have much less drama.

> > >

And today is historic for many reasons. As we spend countless hours on social networking sites discussing and sharing technological advancements, ideas, and information; there are some events that had to happen before we could update our Facebook status on cell phones or send digital pictures in an instant to Tokyo.

The first occurred on September 4th, 1882. Thomas Edison unveiled the first practical electrical lighting system. He launched it at his steam powered plant and was able to turn on the lights for one square mile in New York City.

On this day six years later, George Eastman patented his first roll-film camera and named his company Kodak.

Perhaps one day a woman will finally be President of the United States and it will be viewed as common as the light bulb and the camera.

In the meantime, Obama-Biden has a good ring to it.

km