I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing in Perfect Harmony...

A friend of mine sent this to me this AM.

Do More...

Beyonce was inspired.

You could feel it. The President and First Lady felt it. So much so, that they had to end their little, sexy two-step slow dance groove to acknowledge it. She found her voice.

And then some:

"He makes me want to be smarter, to get involved..."

President Obama has certainly inspired millions. But she's fortunate just to look at her own husband, Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter. His most inspired act as mogul and musician was a couple of years ago where he teamed up with the UN bought pumps to help supply potable water to an Angolan slum in sub-Saharan Africa, and then shot a documentary with MTV called Water for Life in 2006.

From that experience, Jay-Z has said "I come from Marcy Projects in Brooklyn which is a tough place to grow up, but this has shown me how good we have it...take it from me, you're not from the hood. You haven't seen people with no access to water. It really puts things into perspective."

Seriously, B? Obama isn't the only model for change to look toward.

Sea Change

"We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." - President Barack Obama, January 20, 2009.

I didn't have a ticket to the inauguration when I arrived in DC on Monday. I took the Metro from Silver Spring, heading to DC Metro area. Everyone on the train Monday afternoon seemed to sparkle and glow with the excitement and promise tomorrow would bring. Tomorrow would be the best day in a long time. Soft smiles, Obama buttons and pins. Three women boarded the Metro from Florida, grateful for the train and happy to sit down. One of the women who had walked around all day searching for tickets for the main event offered me her extra ticket. She said, "We were just praying that we find someone good that we should give this to." I almost cried. It was a new day. The most amazing random act of kindness ever. It reminded me of election night, that beautiful moment of relief and celebration.

Shivering and waiting in 20 degree weather, chatting it up with folks from Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Florida and South Carolina with a ticket that was gifted to me, I was grateful to be there. To share the cold, energy, anticipation and excitement with everyone was beyond words.

The inaugural address didn't disappoint. It had meat and bones. Pundits at present deemed some parts unremarkable, but I think history will recognized the heft of the address later. It was a clarion call. It was a clear demarcation of the sea change many of us seek in Washington and the manner in which government operates.

In Day One and Day Two, we've seen the resurrection of the rule of law. President Obama signed an executive orders to close Guantanamo, new ethics rules for White House staff, and freeze the pay of senior staff. He visited the State Department on Day Two and put a spotlight on diplomacy. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Obama have put an emphasis on steering national and international issue back on track that will hopefully lead to a lasting peace.

We joked on the mall during the inauguration that trumpet blasts between announcing Presidents, ex-Presidents, future Presidents, reminded us of Lord of The Rings: Return of the King. It kind of was like the Return of the King. After Aragorn was crowned king, he said, "This day does not belong to one man but to all. Let us together rebuild this world that we may share in the days of peace." Sound familiar?

America is growing up. 233 years young, in a challenging set of circumstances (2 wars, economic crisis, declining infrastructure, insert issue here), some of us were willing to write us off. Declare the end of the American century as byproduct of the Bush era. However, our generation, this post civil rights generation, post baby boomer generation is challenged to recommit ourselves to the best values of our nation. We the people, in order to form a more perfect union...

Change is dynamic. It is not static or simply a campaign slogan. It is active; in science, it is an agent to mix opposing materials to develop something new. It is the engine of creation. Growing up is change. We'll need to remember that over the next few years.

Goodbye Bush

I can't stop watching this...



I needed a good laugh.

Malia Obama, Photographer

The first daughter isn't about to let the job get to her head.

I hope she keeps this up during the entire presidency of her father. I think her pictures once released to the world, will be amazing. Her point of view in the eye of this historic storm will be revealing.

The Babbit and Bromide

Still thinking about collaboration. I saw this awhile ago and it's still hot.



I'm a sucker for choreography.

In the Valley of the Dolls

Dolls are a little freaky to me. A mini version of a real person. As a child we mimicked conversations and conflicts through dolls. Or for boys "action figures". It's the original self created third person narrative. The ancestor to Second Life. The virtual world to be a better you was in your imagination.

Then our love for celebrities. Their vapid stare in space, all statuesque and perfect. Us Weekly, People, feed us those images. I'm not immune. I buy Elle every 2 months to divine from the style gods what look I want to slip into for the upcoming season. Dress the part for a saucier version of me.

So in my digression again from working on the short story for my fiction group, I came across these pics.

I can feel myself getting into character now.

Bring the Noise

I'm a fan of collaboration. Currently developing on a project for myself and with one or some of my multi-talented friends. More on that later. I came across Jaydiohead while procrastinating work on a short story.

Minty Fresh beats merged one of my favorite bands, with one of the greatest MCs of all time. I think I was in the locker room changing for 4th period gym when we the radio blasted Public Enemey and Anthrax collaboration. Take a listen.

I'm not mad it. It's kinda hot, even. Check 99 Anthems, No Karma, and Fall in Step.

Homer gets in your eyes...

I'm not sure if or when Mad Men will return. The parallel between Don Draper and Matt Wiener was certainly not lost on any of us. However, in my time of need, I turn to youtube for answers:



I love this so much.

Ignorance is Bliss

Ok.. I take it back about feeling bad that W.

Oblivion is bliss?

Fellowship of the Ex-Presidents

Oh, to be a fly on that wall for that conversation...

But my absolute favorite is sitting president W's excitement in counting himself as a member of the ex-president's club.



But body language says a lot. I'm not sure why Obama and W. were centered the way they were. Carter the furthest away from Clinton for the photo op. Bush Sr. far away from Bush Jr, seperated by Obama. Like a child separating bickering divorced parents to keep the peace. In another video, as the photographers start to leave, and questions hurled at the presidents past, present and future, the awkward family dynamic persists, Clinton comments to W. about how much he liked the rug in the Oval Office. Carter stands and smiles longer, and is off to the far left of screen. Bush Sr. and Obama smile at each other. In the theater of American politics, it's nice to know that you can never really escape the awkward and dysfunctional family drama.