Topic for the Week: Dec 15

With Christmas in the air, I have been feeling nostalgic, so here is a question in that line:

What is a favorite memory of your childhood? Or, what was your favorite toys or thing to play when you were little? Does not have to be Christmas.

DC daytrip

We went downtown yesterday for a Christmasy day trip of DC. Here is a hit list of what we saw:

Walked up to the CAPITOL BUILDING to see the platform being built for the inauguration and the christmas tree. Max's hat has Mickey Mouse ears if you can't really see it.

Went over to the BOTANICAL GARDENS to see their beautiful trees and this really cool MINIATURE TRAIN EXHIBIT- if you have kids this is a MUST SEE! Even if you don't have kids I'd say GO SEE IT! There are also replicas of the Smithsonian, Capitol building, and all these little villages made out of natural materials- acorns, leaves, cinnamon sticks, etc. This was super cool- maybe my favorite of the day.

Then, over to the NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART where they have put up these really cool lights in the tunnel between the two galleries. Emily was also tricked into seeing some art as we had to walk through an exhibit- I saw that famous painting of George Washington, a painting by Whister (not his mother). We were moving fast as I wanted to keep Max on the move.

Then, to watch the ICE SKATERS while we waited about an hour for Nick to go get the car and come back and pick us up. Highlights and lowlights included Max falling and hitting his face on a stone bench, hot chocolate that burned your tongue and Emily dropping and losing $40. I hope it was a great happy surprise that was found by someone in great need.

A REALLY WONDERFUL DAY!

Garfield Minus Garfield

My kids showed me this site www.garfieldminusgarfield.com where they have taken Garfield out of the Garfield comics. It totally changes it- and sometimes it is funnier. Which isn't that hard to do because sometimes the original isn't all that funny either. It is a lot of Jon talking to himself. Kind of sad. Funny in a sad way.

Topic for Week of Nov 29: The New National Security Team

So I think it is interesting to have watched both the process and the outcome of the new National Security Team for the new Obama White House. I don't know if I have ever seen more experience and a bipartisan approach in the formation of such a team. Both Republican and Democrats are there, both with lots of international experience. So I would be interested in hearing from others (on both sides of politics) regarding your thoughts.

It seems that Gates was a very good pick for now as he has really helped stabilize things out of the chaos in Iraq (still bad, but better than it was). There has been some criticism about bringing the Washington folks in when Obama implied otherwise...but I believe it is about leadership and the provision of strong advice so that very informed decisions can be made about very difficult issues (for example, Middle East and Israel, Russia and its more aggressive behavior, Pakistan and India and instability there, Al Qaeda and how do deal with issues related...can the leader be found?, making the UN a much more effective entity, engaging with Iran, N Korea and Venezuela rather than ignoring their rantings, dealing with America's lower stature in the world which resulted from decisions of the Bush White House, issues about the Geneva Convention, cell phone tapping of Americans, undocumented workers from the Central and South American countries, the immoral prisons in which so many people are still held without charge, some for over five years...lots of issues).

So I am very very impressed with the new team at this point. Lots of experience, lots of motivation to do well... What do you think?

What about Hillary (I know the Republican side of politics has not really been in favor of her in the past). But what about for Secretary of State? Also we now have a third female Secretary of State out of the last four...wow and no white males there since 1992, I believe...is this saying something (or not)?

See the following news items regarding the team and their backgrounds:

Obama Introduces Clinton, National Security Team

Obama taps Clinton, Gates for US 'new dawn' abroad

Any thoughts are welcome as long as they are respectful of other's comments...

Cheers...