What would you do if the Obama sign you proudly display in your frontyard keeps getting stolen? Well, if you're a 16 year old living in Portland Oregon you'd find a way to dissuade would-be thieves and vandals. You might enlist the help of the internet, if you're so inclined. And your story might catch the attention of the Wall Street Journal.
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.
"We had no intention of making this so public," says Preston, who goes by "signkid" on the online chat that runs next to the video. "It just kind of took over by itself."
All has not been peaches and cream, however. You see, about 10 days ago O'Merkley was murdered. O'Merkley?
After midnight PST on 09/24/08, two trollups were caught on video attempting to abduct O'Merkley the garden gnome. Their plans went awry when he fell through a garbage bag and was senselessly murdered before 200 witnesses.
Does anyone recognize these vandalizing thieves?
RIP O'Merkley
The UStream Obama Sign CCTV 1 Channel may be seen here, complete with Obama-Biden sign, Jeff Merkley for U.S. Senate sign, and moose and gnome lawn ornaments.
Edit: There are now 135 people watching Preston's frontyard and chatting amongst themselves. You can join in too in you like. See url below.
http://www.ustream.tv/...