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edit: full video here http://www.c-span.org/Events/President-Obama-Signs-America-Invents-Act/10737424219/
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/NlZUu.jpg)
Homecoming is next week and some guys were still without dates.
So after rumors circulated for about a day in the student body, on this past Thursday my school officially announced that Obama would be coming on Friday. Secret Service guys came to secure the building even on Thursday and everything. People were going absolutely berserk. He was coming to sign the America Invents Act, which would the way filing for a patent works in America.
On Thursday our lead security guy gave us a brief sermon over the PA on how to behave and what not to bring the next day. At that point only about eight classes, most of them full of seniors, had been selected to be in the gymnasium-turned-stage for the signing, and a lot of us were pissed. The rest of the school would get to watch over the school television system, but a chance to see President Obama in person was something nobody wanted to pass up. My class wasn’t in one of the eight selected, so I came in the next day expecting to watch the president on the television when he was less than a mile away from me.
I was in for a surprise, however. Halfway through the first class of the day, our dashing principal came to our door and told us we’d been selected to sit in the gymnasium. My Latin 5 teacher almost had a coronary. We didn’t need to be asked twice to throw aside Ovid’s Amores and hurry out the door. (It still tickles me that of all the Senior classes they could have chosen, they chose a Latin 5 class. For the signing of a bill reforming patent laws. Not that I’m complaining, of course.)
We weren’t allowed to bring anything electronic with us, especially our cell phones, but that didn’t matterl. They brought in those big metal detectors you walk through. I just got oral surgery a month or two ago so I was kind of nervous all the bolts and plates in my mouth would set off the detector, but I got through just fine.
We waited for a while in the gym. They brought in the official presidential podium and everything. There was an incredible array of lights hanging from the ceiling, and the pit for the cameras was set aside in the back. Old white guys in suits were not in short supply. The CEOs of DuPont and a few other big companies I can’t remember were in attendance, but I didn’t really recognize any of the other guests else except Senator Patrick Leahy, who my Sri Lankan friend could not stop talking freaking out about. (She later hunted him down and made a point of shaking his hand.)
We spent a long time sitting on the bleachers, and my ass really started to hurt. How do they expect you to sit on those for the duration of a basketball game? But anyway, after an introduction for the president by the most introverted—and reputedly, conservative—girl at the school, the magic happened.
President Obama is like a wizard. A goddamn wizard. As soon as he came out from behind the curtain, the crowd went nuts. Everyone bolted up to their feet like they’d been wired to a car battery. He gave his signature Obama wave, his signature Obama smile, his signature Obama “Hello!” As he hailed parts of the crowd, it was like he was calling down thunder from heaven clean through the roof. I don’t think I’ve ever heard people squeal so loud. Not when they’re dying, not when they’re at a sports game. I was interested in seeing the president of what is, for better or worse, my country, but the same hype that won him the election seemed to persist in the hearts of my classmates. Is it the same thing that makes them put their hands over their hearts and recite the pledge of allegiance every morning? Anyway, it was surreal seeing a face I had seen so many times in media in real life. In many ways, it was like watching a scene from television play out in front of me.
He gave a long-enough speech that ended up being more about pushing the American Jobs Act through Congress than the America Invents Act. Still, he spoke with his usual eloquence, charisma, and most importantly, genuineness. As soon as he finished signing each letter of his name with a different pen (what a strange tradition), "Stars And Stripes Forever" started blaring over the sound system. He made a loop around the entire arc in front of the stage, shaking as many hands as he could. I think every student present tried to shake his hand, and surprisingly a good amount succeeded. Again, his genuineness was shown in his smile and the firmness of each handshake. The best I could do was shake his hand by shaking the hand of one who had shaken his hand, but that was still enough for me.
It was an interesting experience to see Obama in real life. The most noticeable part of Obama’s appearance for me, however, went completely undiscussed. He looked absolutely exhausted. Not in the way I get exhausted after pulling an all-nighter for homework. It's something more lasting than that. Nevertheless, I felt that the subtleties in his behavior displayed clearly that his “head is bloodied, but unbowed.” I have massive respect for the poor guy, who willingly picked up such a mess from Bush. Fortunately for him, I think his time at the school was at least a bit rejuvenating.
Here are some pictures I’ve scavenged from Facebook. I don’t think the owners will mind.
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/u4yKH.jpg) Is it just me or does the guy on the right kinda look like Matt Damon? ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/0VsOg.jpg) Dignitaries gathered around the desk. ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/sFFvT.jpg) God, I hate those bleachers. Challenge: Where am I in this photo? + Show Spoiler +off to the left side out of the picture. dammit. ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/1DZx4.jpg) The crowd in front of the stage. ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/mhgTV.jpg) The girl who introduced Obama. She has one patent (she got it at 14) and is working towards another, which is why she was picked I guess. ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/HPvPv.jpg) Obama doing what he does. ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/21QIj.jpg) The signing. ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/BUzfU.jpg) We require more SS agents. ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/70eA9.jpg) Handshake hopefuls. ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/BpvFj.jpg) Obama up close and personal. ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/hXEZ8.jpg) Obaby. ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/avFNa.jpg) Obamouth. ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/5gwmI.jpg) The crowd afterward. ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/MFVFD.jpg) The lucky guy got Obama's water bottle. Apparently Obama drinks Aquafina but tears off the labels to avoid any fiascos. ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/3vKvJ.jpg) ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/o60SW.jpg) Presidential planking.
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5/5 If you weren't allowed electronics what are those pictures from? They don't look like press photos, too blurry.
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On September 17 2011 13:40 Navillus wrote:
5/5 If you weren't allowed electronics what are those pictures from? They don't look like press photos, too blurry.
Yeah, that's what they told us, but I guess they made exceptions for cameras. I would have brought mien for sure if I had known that.
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P.S. bonus points to whoever figures out what the hell that plexiglass-looking thing near the podium is. I asked around a bunch and nobody seemed to know.
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On September 17 2011 13:44 pyaar wrote:
P.S. bonus points to whoever figures out what the hell that plexiglass-looking thing near the podium is. I asked around a bunch and nobody seemed to know.
It's like a teleprompter, words are reflected up onto it for people to read/look at for notes.
Kinda cool, patents definitely need some work... especially software.
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I read your post, and it sounded awesome, but am I the only person thinking that it would have been a LEGENDARY senior prank if everyone stood up and mooned him at the same time?
I mean I understand that Obama is an OK president, but how often do you get the chance to organize a group ass-showing to a world leader?
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It's his birth certificate. #notmypresident
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this sounds pretty cool.i wish obama went to my school to sign a petitoin 
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Pretty sweet. But yes, he does look older than when he first ran the election. Being the president is a tough job. Also he is 50 now, so there will be some signs of age.
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This was at TJ right? I know a few kids who graduated and are pissed that they missed it haha.
Pretty cool for the prez to come to a high school,
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FREEAGLELAND26781 Posts
LOL presidential planking alone gets it a 5/5 yo.
Though seriously, nice blog. Obama was at NC State a while ago but I didn't go. People said it was cool though.
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On September 17 2011 13:36 pyaar wrote:
As soon as he finished signing each letter of his name with a different pen (what a strange tradition)
It's so that they can give out those pens as commemorative gifts.
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United States7481 Posts
lol all my fellow alums were passing the wapost article about this around on facebook. pretty awesome that he went there even though it's been a while since i graduated... can't remember who the coolest person to visit was back then but it certainly wasnt the POTUS
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Seeker
Where dat snitch at?37024 Posts
What the.....? SO LUCKY!!! How come this school was chosen to host Obama?
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I'm jealous; I can only dream that my school will host Obama one day!
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On September 17 2011 14:29 flamewheel wrote:
LOL presidential planking alone gets it a 5/5 yo.
Though seriously, nice blog. Obama was at NC State a while ago but I didn't go. People said it was cool though.
Oh yea I was considering that one too, but didn't go. Merr.
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rofl the planking was hilarious
and I agree that guy looks like Matt Damon
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Good write-up man. Sounds like a fun experience. I once got to see and shake hands with President Clinton after an amazing speech he gave a few years ago. It was an awesome time.
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lol I knew this would become a TL blog. Personally I think the visit was overhyped but his speech was fucking masterful. Visit to sign the patent bill my ass lols, he ninja'd the American Jobs Act in there for longer than any other subject he talked about...then just said, "inventions are also good for the economy" and left. Made an appeal for his shit the moment he gets on stage in a high school...can't really blame him though.
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He ain't no Steelballa #notmypresident
The writeup is actually really good, Obama is practically charisma incarnate, and the wizard paragraph is justice.
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Pretty neat. Any idea on what the girl doing the intro got a patent for?
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Once the school of a friend of mine received the visit of one of our most famous politician, Michel Rocard. He gave a political lecture, and apparently he convinced everybody. Turned everybody's opinion, in fifteen minutes.
Eventually, people got back to what they were thinking, but the guy is apparently so talented that he is able to convince a whole room in fifteen minutes.
I think by seeing them in TV only, we underestimate how incredibly talented and charismatic these people are.
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The plexiglass looking thing should be the autocue. The president can read the lines while looking at the public.
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quoting invictus to describe obama -.- ... this was really well written btw, actually a pleasure.
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I am curious that no one actually talked about the act he signed. I am sure if more people knows someone will be arguing about it here. There is a major part of the new law that may seem odd at a first sight.
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On September 17 2011 18:08 Sufficiency wrote:
I am curious that no one actually talked about the act he signed. I am sure if more people knows someone will be arguing about it here. There is a major part of the new law that may seem odd at a first sight.
I could argue that its just another stick in the eye of small businesses in america. Formerly, there was a 1 year grace period to file a patent. Now the patent is awarded to the first to file, rather than the first to invent. That means if you don't happen to have 7-10 grand to throw around on random patents, you're dead in the water as a competitor. Oh well who doesn't like big business ^^
I wouldn't do that though
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So jealous! I recognized it was TJ from the position of that rock This makes Obama the 2nd president to visit TJ right? I know Reagan came by once too. I should probably know a little bit more about the history considering I'm an alum. <.<
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On September 17 2011 18:48 gogogadgetflow wrote:Show nested quote +On September 17 2011 18:08 Sufficiency wrote:
I am curious that no one actually talked about the act he signed. I am sure if more people knows someone will be arguing about it here. There is a major part of the new law that may seem odd at a first sight. I could argue that its just another stick in the eye of small businesses in america. Formerly, there was a 1 year grace period to file a patent. Now the patent is awarded to the first to file, rather than the first to invent. That means if you don't happen to have 7-10 grand to throw around on random patents, you're dead in the water as a competitor. Oh well who doesn't like big business ^^ I wouldn't do that though
I thought independent investors do not need that much money to file patents. It's mostly big corporations (cough Apple) that get charged that much.
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What the.....? SO LUCKY!!! How come this school was chosen to host Obama?
it's a magnet school. I dunno how common these are outside the US, but a magnet school is essentially a school with instruction at the level of a private school that is run on public funding. US News & World Report has ranked it #1 high school in the country for 2-3 years in a row now. I guess the idea was that our school has a high concentration of future inventors.
lol I knew this would become a TL blog. Personally I think the visit was overhyped but his speech was fucking masterful. Visit to sign the patent bill my ass lols, he ninja'd the American Jobs Act in there for longer than any other subject he talked about...then just said, "inventions are also good for the economy" and left. Made an appeal for his shit the moment he gets on stage in a high school...can't really blame him though.
hahaha why hello there. definitely overhyped, definitely masterful, and certainly can't blame him. poor guy.
Pretty neat. Any idea on what the girl doing the intro got a patent for?
it's pretty funny actually. she had an idea to replace floor tiles in bathrooms with containers you can put stuff in and patented it.
So jealous! I recognized it was TJ from the position of that rock This makes Obama the 2nd president to visit TJ right? I know Reagan came by once too. I should probably know a little bit more about the history considering I'm an alum. <.<
lol yeah, he's the second.
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On September 17 2011 13:47 Horst wrote:
I read your post, and it sounded awesome, but am I the only person thinking that it would have been a LEGENDARY senior prank if everyone stood up and mooned him at the same time?
I mean I understand that Obama is an OK president, but how often do you get the chance to organize a group ass-showing to a world leader?
OMG of all things.........
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On September 17 2011 13:36 pyaar wrote:
It was an interesting experience to see Obama in real life. The most noticeable part of Obama’s appearance for me, however, went completely undiscussed. He looked absolutely exhausted. Not in the way I get exhausted after pulling an all-nighter for homework. It's something more lasting than that. Nevertheless, I felt that the subtleties in his behavior displayed clearly that his “head is bloodied, but unbowed.” I have massive respect for the poor guy, who willingly picked up such a mess from Bush. Fortunately for him, I think his time at the school was at least a bit rejuvenating.
That's some really deep stuff. I hope the next president is able to be himself at all levels.
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EPT
