A Fresh Start

From a political perspective, this is the best piece I've read on President Obama since he took office:

Barack Obama's Fresh Start

"...he is paying his public the great compliment of taking his job seriously, focusing on the long-term substance rather than the bread and circuses that masqueraded as leadership in the recent past."

Inauguration

I’ve been sick for the last several days, with what I feared was bronchitis, but it seems to be just a chest cold and is dissipating. Between Friday and yesterday, I was only able to manage four hours at the office. Fortunately, Progressive has a work from home program so I’ve been able to accomplish some tasks and not use up my paid time off hours.

I was home for the inauguration of President Barack Obama (that has a nice ring to it) and the sights and sounds made the purchase of a high definition TV well worth the cost. His inaugural address did not reach the oratorical heights of FDR’s first, or JFK’s, but it was just what the American people needed to hear. John McCain’s campaign was touted as the Straight Talk Express, but I doubt his address would have been nearly as blunt.

It was amusing to hear Chief Justice John Roberts muff the Oath of Office. No doubt there will be conspiracy theorists who will claim that Mr. Obama isn’t really president because of it. Actually, the recitation of the oath by the President it rather new, it began with FDR. Until then, the oath had been read by the chief justice, and the president responded, “So help me God.” (Herbert Hoover’s response, “I do” is the only audio record that survives of his inauguration.)

It seems that President Obama has already issued several orders freezing the pay of White House staffers and aiming for greater transparency. I feel we’re off to a good start.

One song says it all...

Dogs have given us their absolute all.
We are the center of their universe.
We are the focus of their love and faith and trust.
They serve us in return for scraps.
It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made.
~Roger Caras

That's better.

Openly gay bishop to deliver first inauguration event invocation

President-Elect Obama may be throwing the gay community a bone, but it's more than we've gotten from D. C. in a long time.