Launching Day delay

Oops! Yesterday, I seem to have run into a minor hurdle with my PayPal account, which I'll use for accepting, processing, and tracking online donations:

PayPal appreciates that you have chosen us to accept payments for your organization. Upon review of your account it has been found to be accepting donations on the following website: http://andrewsenduroafrica2009.blogspot.com/.

Non-profit and charitable organizations are asked to provide information so that we may ensure the legitimacy of their accounts. Although you are a for-profit business or are fundraising, we would like to ask questions regarding the collection of donations.

It may take about a week to resolve, so will delay the official launch of this effort until next Sunday. So, I beg your patience, dear readers and those future Donor Hall of Fame inductees among you who prefer to donate online. I should be up and ready to go shortly!

T-1 to Launching Day

After a week of building or modifying the e-infrastructure needed to support my fundraising and communication plans, I'm one day away from launching day. This involved setting up this blog, updating my PayPal account, and creating a donation widget that permits and processes securely online payments. Several steps remain, including the development of outreach plans for local businesses, friends, and family who do not live online like the rest of us. Will I succeed in raising $10k? Stay tuned. We'll find out together.

Inauguration

Washington D.C was completely abuzz this week in anticipation of the inauguration of Barack Obama. The city took on a very positive vibe, with locals and visitors taking to the streets to express their excitement about the new administration. Although very cold, the weather didn't stop ~2 million people from flocking to witness the swearing in, some of whom participated in this bizarre pre-inauguration ritual in Dupont Circle the day before.

Addendum: Here's the ultimate in Spot-the-Politico (StP), one of my favorite local games, next to Country-Spotting with diplomatic license plates (you know, AF = Japan, YR = Russia, VJ = Brazil, etc.). In this episode of StP, you'll get extra points for spotting Kucinich, Clarence Thomas (asleep?), Newt Gingrich (miffed?), John Kerry (well-coiffed), and Jedi Master, Obi Wan Kenobi (5 rows back from Souter). Sorry, no points for finding W (smirking) or Scalia (what's with that cap?). Please to enjoy. Warning: Time Sink Potential = 10/10.