Thanks for the context, Ellen. As I mentioned earlier, I think almost his entire speech was strings of quotations from a host of sources with meaning in a civil rights context. (Someone needs to post an annotated transcript somewhere. I'll be on the lookout because I'm sure it'll appear in the next day or two.)

I was surprised Warren wasn't simply a better *speaker*

Yeah, this struck me too -- no matter what you think of his politics or his theology, you don't normally build a 20,000-person mega-anything with negative charisma!

I watched from the Yo Yo Ma gorgeous performance through Obama's speech. I loved:

• The piece that was played
• Seeing the Obama family (damn but they're a pretty bunch)
• "I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear..."
• Malia taking pictures
• Shout out to non-believers (wished he had somehow worked us LGBTers in, but I'm not upset about it or anything)
• Seeing the crowds in DC, LA, NY, Memphis, etc.
• Actually being able to listen to the president and be touched by what he says

I'm still upset by the Warren thing, but now that it's over, I'm ready to move on. If Obama really does away with DADT, that will be a huge, "See? I'm down with teh gays!" I think it will help many, if not all of us, to forgive and forget this misstep. So, let's get down to business!

I am so excited about the possible death of DADT. It would make a big difference in our lives, personally, and those of a handful of immediate friends, and that would be fantastic. Actual change!

Pretty sure Warren was looking down because he was praying, and since mic'd didn't need to keep his head up, but could bow humbly as is probably his want when praying.

Well, Warren's rise to fame was when he wrote a book.

And yeah, there was lots in Lowery's speech that I really liked. I will be interested to see an annotated version.

I am not a fan of Warren and didn't really care about his prayer one way or the other, but I think if one is expecting a Christian minister of any denomination who is asked to say a prayer at in inauguration for a President who also happens to be Christian to not mention Jesus is expecting too much. At the same time, I was very pleased at how inclusionary Obama's speech was.

I also found the term ''J-word'' to be very offensive.

I also found the term ''J-word'' to be very offensive.

Word. Inclusion means letting the Christians in, too.

OK, the guy who just did the prayer before the luncheon? Had a really nice voice.

Ooops....She Did It Again: Anti-Contraception Nurse Takes Women's Wombs into Her Own Hands

...the story of a New Mexico woman whose IUD was removed by a nurse against the woman's wishes and who is now suing both the nurse and the center in federal court for battery, constitutional violations and negligence.

The patient went to the Presbyterian Health Services Rio Rancho Family Health Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and saw nurse practitioner Sylvia Olona. Her request: Simply to shorten the strings on her IUD for greater comfort.

The result? Nurse Olona took it upon herself to remove the troublesome device. Why? Simple, Nurse Olona told her patient:

"Having the IUD come out was a good thing [because] I personally do not like IUDs. I feel they are a type of abortion. I don't know how you feel about abortion, but I am against them. ...What the IUD does is take the fertilized egg and pushes it out of the uterus."

Hmmmm....funny....I don't think they teach this definition of abortion in medical or nursing school. But in the free-for-all, define-your-own-medical-practice era of reproductive politics of the past 8 years, anything apparently goes. Nurse Olona could instead, with respect for herself and her patient, easily have said "I can't help you with your IUD as I am uncomfortable with this form of contraception, but let me get you someone who can."