You are a computer salesman – i am f&%#ing JAMES BOND…

“you need to quit f*&#in with Sedale.”

A kind letter from Mr. Frank Sinatra.

While in DC it seemed like everywhere I went was the “Official Inauguration Headquarters” (sorta like in NY how every Ray’s Pizza is the “original.”) Granted there was plenty of Obama-inspired advertising but none was as big as Ikea’s Embrace Change or Pepsi’s Refresh Everything campaigns. They were both plastered everywhere.

I’m a bit weary of the cultish attitude but I like both campaigns. I love the idea of building my own oval office and Pepsi’s site has some good content. More importantly both are in support of change and that’s definitely something I can get with.

The enterprenurial spirit of D.C was the best. I could purchase anything remotely Obama related on any corner. The prices weren’t bad either. As one vendor put it, “stimulate the economy right here!”

Two ladies from Alabama came up and signed a 2 week lease at 15th and U Street to open this Everything Obama Store.

You gotta get your commemorative paper.

I think the hand warmers were the best seller for the day. I walked away with this New Car scent air freshener. Wish I had bought the Obama cologne too.

The NYtimes has an informative video on skateboarding in Afghanistan and an Aussie who’s established the first skate school in Kabul. A girl comments, “We skate because we want to lose our fear and to get courage and to be healthy.”

Check it out on NYtimes Video page.

Getting into the designated areas—the mall and parade grounds—was, at times, hopeless. Considering the anticipation of the event I thought D.C could’ve done a better job in planning for and managing the 1.8 million people. There was no signage or announcements to help direct people, which led to rumors amongst the crowd of gates closing, which line this really was, what the correct entrance is for the purple seats and so forth. There weren’t nearly enough metal detector gates to check each and every individual—which is expected and appreciated. And it was cold.

But I would do it all over again. People helped each other out, we sang songs, bought each other Barackwursts—it’s something I’ll remember forever.

The Gates.

Secret Service worked efficiently.

On the other side.

A Jeep on steroids.

Finally at our seats!

Maryland Transit Administration’s 1957 GMC Bus. A decal on the side reads, “It All Started on a Bus; Rosa Parks; 1913-2005; The Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.”

The President’s motorcade approaches.

The crowd on the 701 Building looks on.

On the lookout.

Nicholas Trotta, the assistant director for the office of protective operations, comments “although many of the vehicles’ security enhancements cannot be discussed, it is safe to say that this car’s security and coded communications systems make it the most technologically advanced protection vehicle in the world.” A hybrid between a Cadillac’s STS and DTS luxury sedans, I can only imagine the interior. Read more at Detnews.

Mr. President and the First Lady.

Onward and upward.

Why don’t the Presidential candidates submit a written resume to the American people. We have to do it for every job and they are essentially applying for the most important job in the world.

If you were hiring, who would you bring in for an interview based on their education?

Educational Backgrounds:

Barack Obama
Columbia University – B.A. Political Science
Harvard Law School – Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude 
Joseph Biden
University of Delaware – B.A. History / B.A. Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law – Juris Doctor (J.D.) 

OR

John McCain 
United States Naval Academy – Class rank: 894 of 899 
Sarah Palin
Hawaii Pacific University, North Idaho College, University of Idaho, Matanuska-Susitna College,University of Idaho – B.A. Journalism