Blue Dog Videos

This week we welcome to the show; James Portnow – CCO of Divide By Zero games and accredited game designer. We’re talking about the words ‘Game’ and ‘Gamer’ after an article on Gamasutra by Tynan Syslvester prompted us to ascertain if new words and descriptions could be used for them in the face of an ever-changing medium. James lends us his considerable experience and expertise as we chew over public perception and how we cling to the idea that games are more than just frivolous entertainment. After that there’s some frivolous entertainment in the form of our Brutal Legend and Scribblenauts in-depth reviews. Two of the most hyped games of 2009. Find out if they meet expectation. Also discussed are the Beatles and Queen Rock Band DLC. Check out James’ work in conjunction with Daniel Floyd in brilliant animated lectures here. The music at the end is Rain by Mark Tschanz from his album; Blue Dog, since on this week’s show we talk about how important Heavy Rain is likely to be in the case of serious games.

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/09/28/Steve_Hildebrand_Obama_and_the_LGBT_Community Political strategist Steve Hildebrand blames conservative "Blue Dog" Democrats for what he views as a lack of progress made by the Democratic majority within Congress. With majority control, he says, healthcare reform, equality for gay Americans, and climate change legislation should all be a "slam dunk." ----- Hear about the Obama campaign, Obama's current relationship with the LGBT Community, and why 2010 is the year to overturn Prop 8. Considered one of the premier political strategists in the nation, Steve Hildebrand served as Barack Obama's deputy national campaign manager during the historic 2008 campaign. When a rift appeared between the LGBT community and Obama last spring, Hildebrand mediated, explaining the position of many in the community. Hildebrand is now at the center of the movement to repeal Prop. 8 in 2010, serving as a senior political advisor. He discusses the 2008 campaign, gay rights issues in relation to the Obama administration, and the upcoming push to repeal Prop. 8. - Commonwealth Club of California Steve Hildebrand served as Barack Obama's Deputy National Campaign Manager during the historic 2008 presidential campaign. His work with Obama began in September 2006, long before Sen. Obama made a decision to seek the presidency. Hildebrand was at the forefront of all strategic decisions and helped craft the overall campaign from the beginning until Obama's victory on Nov. 4, 2008. Hildebrand's extensive political career has included managing races in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota as well as running two political parties. He oversaw the Midwestern states for the Clinton-Gore re-election campaign in 1996 and served as Political Director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in 1997-1998. In 1999 and 2000, Hildebrand ran the Iowa caucuses for Vice President Al Gore and the Women Vote! Program for EMILY's List. He managed Senator Tim Johnson's campaign in 2002 and Senator Tom Daschle's campaign in 2004.

We welcome back to the show Chris O Regan (AKA Kropotkin) host of the Superhappyfuntimeshow and veteran of multiple international gaming press and fan events. This Friday the annual Penny Arcade eXpo in Seattle opens it s doors and the Digital Cowboys will be there, along with SHFTS, our good friend and sometime co-host Paul Shotton, Tony s wife Lizz and about 60,000 fans of games of all kinds. So first we have to talk about what PAX means and this is the show to do it. Also discussed are the PS3 Slim, price cuts and hikes, whether the PC as a platform can be counted as a single gaming machine, and piles of shame and absolution. Plus the mailbag, and random game of the week. This week we re also publishing a second episode entirely devoted to what we ve been playing. It should be out on Tuesday. If that format proves popular we ll be continuing with it throughout the busy holiday season and maybe beyond. The music at the end of the show is by Mark Tschanz; the musician behind our theme tune. The song is Rattlesnake and it s from his album Blue Dog. If you re going to PAX or even if you just live in the Seattle area, let us know. Post below and send us an email to mailbag@thedigitalcowboys.com We ll try our best to meet every one of our community.

In this episode we discuss the current health care reform debate and what would happen under this plan by comparing other government run programs with their private sector counter parts and also taking a look at socialized health care programs already set up and running in other countries such as Canada, Great Britain, Australia, etc.

A special thanks goes out to shevas01 for giving us the heads up about this press conference. On Thursday, July 30th, the Progressive Caucus held a press conference to draw a line in the sand when it comes to the inclusion of a strong public option in the health care bill. For more coverage, please visit www.SumofChange.com

What stands in the way of reasonable, common sense healthcare reform? Rep. Maxine Waters says that liberal democrats who support single payer have already compromised by agreeing to a public option. But even that now seems in peril, thwarted by Blue Dog Democrats and Republicans who seem to be going to bat for the insurance industry. Who will prevail? Rep. Maxine Waters of California?s 35th congressional district, Eric Schoenberg, an Adjunct Associate business professor at Columbia University and a former investment banker, Jack Lohman, a former small business owner and the author of Politicians - Owned and Operated by Corporate America, and Ray Stever, President of the New Jersey Industrial Union Council on the healthcare battle and whether real reform is possible.