Today, January 20th, 2009, the United States of America inaugurated out 44th president!  Power changed hands peacefully and smoothly, as it has so many times in the past.  Of historical significance; we now have our first Black President.

Can we please go back to saying "black" instead of "African America"? 

I love the word 'black'.  It's fun to say.  It tastes good, to take an allusion from the Phantom Tollbooth.  It starts out with a rounded "bl" sound, followed by the sleek, smooth 'a' and the sudden, hard "k" at the end.  It's a great word.  It's short, sweet, descriptive and beautiful.  Most of all, I don't like using seven syllables when one will suffice.  Life is too short.

I listened to a lot of the inauguration while working.  I watched the swearing in and the speech.  It was a good speech, delivered extremely well.  He looked and sounded great while delivering it.  I hesitate to call it a great speech simply because three hours later, I can't remember a single line of it.  I think I'd remember something specific from a great speech.  Mostly, I remember the grand theme of it, which was, in part; times are tough, time to man up and be Americans.

I totally support that sentiment.

There's been a lot of talk from politicians in the last few years about sacrifice and all of us pitching in and President Obama hit those themes in this address.

Yes! We hear the call!  We're ready to sacrifice and pitch in!  

As long as that doesn't mean paying for our own college educations, housing, child care, health care, medical insurance or retirement.

That's just mean.