Relief

Image via Chicagoist

I had to step back from blogging for a while - partly because I've been decompressing since the election and partly because the holidays swept me up in a tornado of family, responsibilities and friends. In my absence, some awesome friends have started writing their own blogs!

But it's time to get back to it. The day of relief has finally come after eight long, terrifying years for our country and frankly, the world. I have many a bitter Facebook friend that were very upset about the Inauguration yesterday and couldn't stop themselves from updating their status every five minutes as a reminder. Someone asked if we had been that bad when Bush was re-elected. I can tell you we certainly were - but the NewsFeed wasn't operational waaaaay back when and you didn't have to be confronted with every bitter thought in real time.

Such as it is, my conservative friends seemed to be complaining that the Liberal Media (tm) wasn't being critical enough of Obama. On inaguration day. Literally 5 hours into his presidency. Now, clearly I'm baised, but isn't that a bit of a rediculous expectation? Granted, W had one foot out the door these past few months, but are you really wanting an expose into hard hitting inaguration-day issues?! Expose on the marinade used at the Hometown Ball? Concerned editorializing about the trashed left after 2 million people left the Mall?

Let's be real. No one who was eleated about yesterday's events thinks Obama should have a free pass. I want to hold him accountable to ensure he is the president I voted for. But to ask for one day to celebrate the peaceful transfer of power and we're already bitching and moaning about... nothing in particular? Deal with it for one day.

Moving on before I get more high-falutent and self-righteous. Some thoughts from a G-chat conversation this morning:

What I learned from the transition and Inauguration festivities:

1) John Legend is super hot and smart.

Sing it to me, Johnny!

2) I really wish Whitney hadn't smoked so much crack because it should have been her singing "America" at the We are One concert

Oh, Whitney... I have to believe your comeback is just around the corner.
Yes You Can, girl.

3) Vis-a-Vis Item #2 I HATE BOBBY BROWN FOR RUINING MY WHITNEY

CURSE YOU!

4) Joe Biden has a huge family.

5) I am super amazed at how Joe Biden was able to come back from tragedy to have a huge family. I wonder if he just has a strong ego or if is a sociopath (ok, that's mean - but it's how I think)

6) Old Man McGee needs to give the benediction at any major ceremony I attend

BONUS SEGMENT: Fashion with Laura and M.S-S:

M. S-S: did you like michelle's ball gown?

me: ... no

But it's Michelle

so I semi-liked it

I'm not a rosette person

and i thought it almost made it look like eyelette

making it look too casual for a ball

M. S-S: it did look like eyelet

me: Michelle Obama: Our Prairie Home First Lady

what did you think?

M. S-S: thought it was to die on her

but for me not so much

me: I liked the bodice and the skirt separate from each other

but together it was just too much for me

HOWEVER

how adorable are they?

M. S-S: sooooooooooooo cute

i was watching cnn coverage of the parade

and he butt bumped her

haha

me: ha!

project rungay got on Michelle about her matchy matchy cardigan for the swearing in outfit

And as a cardigan person, i was ready to fire off a bitter comment

M. S-S: pshaw

i liked it

me: it's like you said

could I pull off that ensemble?

not at all

but on her

the color and the detailing were amazing

M. S-S: yeah she can do almost anything

she's tall and thin with dark hair

show me something that won't work on her

me: with a slammin' body, too!

My thoughts on The Speech:

Actually, they can pretty much be summed up by one of my favorite writers, James Fallows at The Atlantic.

Several of Barack Obama's big rhetorical performances have been recognized as hits from the minute he stepped off the stage. His 2004 Democratic convention speech is one example. His Philadelphia speech on race, which quelled the Rev. Wright controversy last spring, is another.

In many other cases, especially late in the campaign, the red-hots among his supporters thought he had "underperformed" or been "just so-so" immediately after an event, only to see the days-later and weeks-later reaction to the performance turn much more positive. The clearest example was his first debate with John McCain, where supporters thought he had missed chances to go in for the kill -- but over time it was clear that he had established his steady, gravitas-worthy persona.

I think his inaugural speech will be in this second category. Now that I have a chance to look at some blog-world commentary, I see that some is underwhelmed, as after the first debate. I think that the speech was in fact very well-pitched to this moment in history and the messages Obama wants and needs to send. That is, both artful and useful.

If I had to pinpoint my favorite part of President Obama's (!) speech, it would be what should have been a statement of our basic values. Of course, since we have muddied the waters so much with the past administration, it was downright inspirational to hear our country committed to true justice:

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake.

Let's make sure he follows through so that we can continue to hold our heads high.

Finally:
You know I can't resist Kanye, especially when he opens with my favorite song at the Youth Ball!

Ah, youth...

Debbie Downer

Look, I know it's been forever and this is a totes sad thing to post after a long hiatus, BUT:



Sesame Street explains death. It's really touching because the actor the played Mr. Hooper actually did die, so the cast gets really emotional. As I get older, I realize how much I watched Sesame Street as a kid and what a true innovation it was. There's a new book out about the development of Sesame Street called Street Gang and the author is making the NPR rounds, so that's what brought this to mind.

yum.

For the chicken
1 3 1/2- to 4-pound rotisserie chicken
1 tablespoon chopped canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
4 Roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves

For the corn cakes
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 large eggs
1 cup part-skim ricotta
10 ounces frozen corn, thawed (or one can sweet corn)
2 teaspoons canola oil
1/2 cup sour cream (optional)

Using a fork or your fingers, shred the chicken meat, discarding the skin and bones.

In a medium bowl, combine the chicken, chipotle, lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, the onion, tomatoes, and cilantro; set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, pepper, and the remaining salt. Stir in the eggs and ricotta until no lumps remain. Fold in the corn.

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. For each corn cake, spoon about 1/4 cup of the batter onto the skillet and cook until golden brown and set on one side, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a spatula, flip the cakes and cook 1 minute more. Divide the cakes among individual plates and top with the chicken mixture. Serve with sour cream, if desired.

This Is Fucking Stupid

Oh jeebus.

"The Bush administration today issued a sweeping new regulation that protects a broad range of health care workers -- from doctors to janitors -- who refuse to participate in providing services that they believe violates their personal, moral or religious beliefs.

The controversial rule empowers federal health officials to cut off federal funding for any state or local government, hospital, clinic, health plan, doctors' office or other entity if they do not accommodate employees who exercise their "right of conscience." It would apply to more than 584,000 health care facilities.

"Doctors and other health care providers should not be forced to choose between good professional standing and violating their conscience," Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said in a statement.

The regulation, which was issued just in time to take effect in the 30 days before the change of administrations, was sought by conservative groups, abortion opponents and others as necessary to safeguard workers from being fired, disciplined or penalized in other ways."

Um, what about this...

The Geneva Declaration

At the time of being admitted as a member of the medical profession:
I solemnly pledge to consecrate my life to the service of humanity;

I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude that is their due;

I will practise my profession with conscience and dignity;

The health of my patient will be my first consideration;

I will respect the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;

I will maintain by all the means in my power, the honour and the noble traditions of the medical profession;

My colleagues will be my sisters and brothers;

I will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;

I will maintain the utmost respect for human life;

I will not use my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;

I make these promises solemnly, freely and upon my honour.

Where exactly does one draw the line here? By catering to the anti-choice right, Bushie has opened the door to all sorts of interpretation.

This isn't about freedom of conscience. Of course people have freedom of conscience. But if your conscience prevents you from performing a professional task in your profession, then you have the right to exercise that freedom by LEAVING that profession. I can't be chef in a steak restaurant if my conscience prevents me from cooking animals.

And do the conservatives even think through the consequences of their own actions? This won't just affect women. What happens when a nurse who's a Jehovah's witness refuses to perform a blood transfusion on Tony Perkins' child? Does he realize that the rule George Bush just put into effect would allow this?

It's happened

I'm that person. A dog lady who only thinks and talks about dogs. Today's video post is therefore no exception!



Is it just me, or is this thing oddly artistic?

Oui!

Ok, I'm sorry to dwell on this kid (Capucine), but she is just so freaking adorable!


Eat your carrots ! from Capucha on Vimeo.

Her parents note:
Capucine makes [a] scene because she doesn't want to finish her carrots. When she realizes our patience limits are soon to be reached, she plays her ace card.

Once again. I'm not a huge fan of kids, but I would babysit ANY. TIME. The best part? Capucine and her parents are trying to use her internet popularity to make raise funds for a library in Mongolia. Read more about it here. I'm totes in for some magnets!

The Greatest Singer in THA WORLD

This video make an interesting hypothesis and has a supporting argument... but I'm still n not buying it.

Jesus Christ!

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Horrible

Laura Bush was on Meet the Press last Sunday talking about Afghanistan and her work with women there. She briefly touched on the acid attack that occurred when 15 girls walking to school had battery acid sprayed in their faces. She publicly condemned those acts when they happened and used it to demonstrate just how much help is still needed for Afghan women.

Meanwhile, the New York Times features an Op-Ed about "Personal Terrorism" against women in Pakistan. There is also accompanying, stomach churning video. While it may be tough to sit through, we owe it to these women to understand what they have been through so that we can end this practice.


Check yourself, take a few minutes and view the video: click here

I mean, really

Sorry! I know it's be a long, long time... but life has been monster busy and the holidays just make time move at least ten times the speed of superman reversing the world's orbit.

That being said, I'm still keeping up on my stuff. For example, while I know that he is the lamest of Lame Ducks and that this ship has sailed and he's basically water under the bridge and a host of other folksy Midwestern colloquialisms...

W still really pisses me off.

Even this picture makes me seeth. Let alone that he's up to some major shenanigans in the last month of his Presidency... more on that later!