Once in awhile I like to take a look at how social media is being utilized by government and politicians. It’s not often, but hey, it’s nailed me an Associate Professor position at the best online social media university (when’s that first paycheck coming Lee?).

On a serious note, today is a monumental, historic day. Like it or not, politics affect us all. I’m the first to admit that I’m only a quarter as political savvy as my co-workers (what can I say, they’re a very smart bunch) but the last couple years have drawn me in with a new level of engagement that I never expected. Regardless of your political views, it’s exciting, it’s fresh, it’s new, it’s CHANGE. We’re all in this together and as a nation, today marks a new direction.

Though not everyone can jam into D.C. to take part in the festivities, social media will help us all connect in real-time throughout the day. Twitter has doubled it’s capacity for the day as they anticipate a slew of Tweets. I’m sure there are a variety of hashtags being used to track converstation throughout the day, but here’s one to follow #inauguration. In addition, here’s a few other ways to stay connected with the day’s big event.

Last but not least, if you really want to show support today, be sure to check out Obamicon.Me. Put together by one of my favorite music magazines, the site allows you to quickly upload a photo, Obama-nize it and share anywhere you’d like.

Enjoy the day,

Scott