President Barack Obama: A Visit To A Virginia High School
President Barack Obama stopped by a Virginia high school this week to promote his jobs bill, a bill that promises to provide federal money to help protect the jobs of teachers, firefighters, and police officers.
President Obama addressed a large crowd of supporters in the small town of just over 5,500 residents. If the packed gymnasium was any indication…well, it looked like all 5,500 were in attendance.
Those lucky enough to receive a ticket to the event waited in line for just over two hours before being allowed inside. The line, by the way, stretched for a couple of blocks.
Residents reported the town’s cellphone and internet service was interrupted during the president’s brief visit.
Townspeople lined the main street hoping to see the president’s motorcade, but the caravan took an alternate route.
Prior to arriving in Virgina, President Obama delivered a similar address to educators at Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) in Jamestown, N.C.
As many of you know, GTCC was the home of the 2010 and 2011 Writers’ Police Academy.
“I’m not the Democratic President, I’m not the Republican President—I’m the President. I’m everybody’s President. I don’t care if you’re a Republican or a Democrat. This is not the Republican jobs act, this is not called the Democratic jobs act — this is the American Jobs Act. And everybody would be better off if we passed it.” President Barack Obama, during his Virginia speech.
*Photos courtesy of Susan Wozniak Van Son
*The posting of these photos and text is not an indication of The Graveyard Shift’s support, or lack of support, for President Obama and/or his policies.
It was on the news during thre summer cell and internet service was cut in the subways of the NYC to stop an attempted protest. Business people were upset to say the least, so I guess it can be done.
There was an article in either the Boston Globe or New York Times (I forget which) that noted that when President Obama visited Martha’s Vineyard for a vacation this summer, the cell service actually improved. They set up a special tower for his entourage so he could stay in touch, and the tower improves service for everyone in the area.
Lee — This is interesting. Thanks. I’ll look forward to the rest of what you find out.
better to not say a word…other than more gov’t interference and political hype that does little for real problems like unemployment…oops…more than a few words, humm..mea culpa…or not really…
Even the president is subject to having his property stolen.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/10/18/president-obamas-teleprompter-stolen-from-truck-in-virginia/
Another place where officials want to black out cell and internet signals is at prisons. This is to prevent the rampant use of those devices by inmates.
I am not sure of the exact methods used to accomplish a blackout of cellphone and Internet service in a town, but I know it can be done. I assume the cell towers would be used if it was necessary to black out a large area, but this has been done on a small scale in restaurants where the owners don’t like this going on and disrupting the other customers. It has also been done in some large churches as well. I don’t have a link, but there are ‘black boxes’ available on the Internet that can accomplish the dirty deed.
I’m thinking they were referring to the cellphone internet service, not the in-home service. Not sure, though. I’ll check.
I think you are probably right. What they do for a presidential visit is pretty remarkable and much more extensive than many people realize (or that’s the impression they like to give.)
I think it would be easier to disrupt cell phone service by individual towers, but the internet might be a bit tougher. Bit since my computer expertise is based on the MSMD method of training (another acronym for last week’s blog) we will have to leave it to someone else to explain the possibilities.
I thought that was an interesting point, too, Dave. But I’m not sure about doing the same in larger cities. I’m guessing, though, that the feds can do almost anything they want. I’ll see what I can find out.
Hi, Lee. I found it interesting, but not surprising, that the cellphone and internet service for that area was disrupted. Is that SOP for a presidential visit, and would the Secret Service be able to do that as well in larger metro areas such as NYC or LA?