I'll still boo Warren as much as I damn well please and feel not one whit guilty about it given that he's likened me to an incestuous pedophile and someone practicing bestiality. Regardless of how conservative Reverend Graham may be, I don't recall him ever doing that.

Like lori, I had a different take on the black brown red yellow white thing--I saw it more as gentle ribbing about the ridiculousness of these arbitrary color definitions, which a black man of his age would have experienced a lot of in his life. I didn't see it as him actually implying that these words were good or useful. I can see why others might have a differing opinion, though.

Java, from way back: Keith must have some party manners. Or a bet with Dan Patrick. As beautiful as this all was, part of me would have like to have seen: KEITH: Dick Cheney, today's...

CROWD: Worst. Person. In The World!

(OBAMA shakes head in disappointment) KEITH: Sorry. Habit.

I'm not a huge fan of Billy G's either, but I like his speech more than Warren's. It reads broader to me, more univeral in theme and well, not having the Lord's Prayer at the end.

That's what I was thinking, too.

But really, having Obama follow up by including non-believers in his speech pretty much mitigates my discomfort at Warren's Jesus-y-ness.

Wrod.

Warren was okay up until he invoked the J-word.

Now we're equating Jesus with Nigger. Ok. Walking away. This isn't worth it.

I was boo Warren, yay Lowery, then "huh?" on Lowery's weird ending. I mean, if we're keeping track, or something.

I think what's sometimes lost is that just because I don't believe in "G"od, it doesn't mean that I don't think it's extremely important to understand that the universe is bigger than us. And that there are other forces, some of which I can't even pretend to understand. I am humbled by the forces of nature. I think there is something, not magic, but something greater than people. I count on it. I just don't think the narrative for it has been captured by man in any book form.

But more to the point about today, I'm not offended by the inclusion of prayers. I'd prefer they not be part of the ceremonies because 1. separation of church and state and 2. because no matter what, they exclude someone, and I don't want anyone to be excluded from national events. But if a prayer is going to be a part of it, I would prefer that it be not based on any particular religious source (scripture, koran, etc) but more about everyone be subject to a higher calling and to keep us all safe. I've been to lots of public events at which non-devisive prayers were offered. They can be quite lovely.

I've got no problem with the benediction speaker. Everyone was smiling at the stuff he was saying at the end was partly in jest.

This is me. I liked his speech. I liked the message of bringing the races together and if he did it through humor, then so be it. It needed to be said that while we are focusing on race so strongly, we need to move past it and work together.

Man, GHWB is old now. Guess I haven't seen him in a while.

He's had some recent surgery, which is why he had trouble walking. He still intends to do some more skydiving on his birthday.

ION, Editorials worldwide pillory Bush one final time

"A weak leader, Bush was just overwhelmed in the job," said Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung under a headline: "The Failure." "He confused stubbornness with principles. America has become intolerant and it will take a long time to repair that damage."

GHWB is old now.

But he rocked that hat. And showed the most sense out of anyone on that platform -- it's COLD, people!

I was wondering, w/r/t the cold -- are there outdoor heaters on the platform, like you see sometimes on restaurant patios in cold weather? I mean, I didn't notice any, but maybe the government has stealth heaters. Because that would explain why, for instance, Michelle Obama didn't look miserable in her dress, which, though stunning, didn't look very warm.