Osama Bin Laden is Dead - Scenes & Sounds from the White House

I was in the bathtub when the news broke that the president would have an important national security announcement at 10:30 pm on a Sunday night.  

I wasn't expecting this news.  My Turkish friend, Tulin, who is a journalist asked if I wanted to go down to the White House with her.  I did.  

The feeling on the streets was unlike anything I'd ever experienced.  Honking and smiles.   I was celebrating those in the White House who had worked so hard to get justice.  The lights were still on in both the White House and the Old Executive Office Building.  We were there to support them, the military, the Navy Seals that did this.  Occasionally and rarely there were some tasteless utterances, racist or jingoistic, but the rest of the crowd looked askance at that and them.   In my experience, that kind of thing was rare.

More broadly - I, we, were there to feel good about our government not being feckless and ineffectually.  Not being a victim.  I just felt happy about that.  There lots of happy tears.

And then a young man in a spiderman costume climbed a tree along the fence to the White House.  The crowd laughed and cheered and cried.  All with joy.

I am glad I was there.  

Here are my photos of that night, at the White House, between the White House and Lafayette Park. 

Some videos first.  The videos are dark and hard to see, but the sounds...the sound reveal what it was like too.  

Here are some photos, brightened up.

Questions About Raid

Slate's William Saletan asks 8 questions about the raid that killed Bin Laden yesterday in What Really Happened in Abbotabad? All very good questions. Such as - if Obama approved on Friday, why didn't operation happen on Saturday? (Imagine if so - given the White House Correspondent's Dinner)

And at the bottom, he has updated his piece with some answers. Apparently cloud cover caused the delay.

A Lighter Note

A Vassar classmate posted this on her Facebook page. thanks Kristen!

Diana's Beauitful Nieces

Diana's nieces are beautiful.  These three are the offspring of her brother Charles.  Note that the one in the foreground has been mistaken for Prince Harry's girlfriend Chelsy Davy.  The resemblance is striking!

From Hello!

Oprah Discusses How Her Design Tastes Evolved

Pretty interesting and true...

Why I LOVE NYC

Mimes in Union Square subway.   So fun.

Cathedral in the Spring

I just had to pull over and take these photos....

Wind Surfing

I love watching this.  I see it all the time on these windy days and I find what they do - dancing with the wind - just stunning.  I met someone who teaches wind surfing, and who wanted to teach me. I am too weak right now, but maybe some day.  I would love to do this, to be able to.  

For now, I can take pictures.....

My Birthday!

On my birthday, I wanted to honor my mother - who really did all the work that day.  So, I hosted a dinner party with a menu organized around her Polish and Italian heritage.  

I made my first periogis on my own (yeah!)  Here are some pictures as proof!

First, I set the table the night before.  I was so excited about the party I woke up early and took pictures of the table before dawn.  Flowers hadn't been delivered yet!

Here is the printed menu I made up -

Okay here it is so you can read it!

Hors D’oeuvres

Pierogis

Ricotta & lemon filled dumplings with butter-seared onions

Fontina Crostini al Prosciutto di albicocche

Toasts with ham, apricot and cheese

Three G Cocktails (Canton Ginger, Gin and St. Germaine)

First Course

Chlodnik

Cold Polish Cucumber Soup

Vorberg Riserva Pinot Bianco 2005

Main Course

Agnello al Rosmarino
Seared Herbed Lamb Chops with Rosemary

Risoni con Pimmaduori Siccati
Orzo with Rosemary & Sundried Tomatoes

Fagiolini alla aceto balsamico

Roasted Green Beans with a Balsamic Splash

Pane Toscana
Tuscan Bread with Olive Oil

Venezia Guilia Indicazione Geografica Tipica Rosso 2006

Dessert
Torta Agli Albumi con cioccolata & la fragola
Angel Food Cake with Chocolate & Strawberries
Champagne Louis de Sacy Brut Grand Cru
Coda
Italian coffee & tea
Grand Marnier, Hennessy V.S.O.P, Cognac Courvoisier

A little later in the morning the perogis are in progress!  I confess I took much pride in these!  We used to make them every Christmas Eve morning.  They are so yummy and mine came out just as they should (after a few calls to my sister and my niece when the consistency of the dough wasn't coming out quite right.  I'd followed mom's directions in her recipe book she made for us.  Really!  But it wasn't quite right so I can to consult the experts)

My birthday cake.  Yum!  (I did NOT make this - but Blackburd Fine Cakes & Pastries did.  Thanks Samantha Burdman.)

Ready to serve!   Monica Thomas of Tailored Taste catered the rest of the meal for me and did a fabulous job, as she usually does (She comes in for me periodically and prepares meals for my freezer for days when I am too ill to cook).  The Cucumber soup was amazing and layered and just as I remembered.  

Finally pictures of the table.  Set for eight originally, but one guest cancelled on me at the last minute.  And then another potential guest, a dear old friend - the one who would have known me the longest - texted me and asked for my address.  So I kept it set for 7.  But alas, he didn't make it either.   Next year.

I had just a wonderful time with those who were there - Erik, Gabriel, George, John, Nickie, me.  Really a lot of fun.  All with people I've loved and known for 15 years at least.  Thanks all for celebrating with me, making me laugh and loving me.

"Ages of a Day," or 5 Years

I'd just returned from FL earlier in the day yesterday, but I still managed to do this, as I have every year since she died on her birthday.  I released them with tears and prayers from the Common Book of Prayer while on the roof of my new building.  

On Valentine's Day in 1995, my dad gave my mom a book of poetry by Robert Frost and cited specifically this poem:

Flower Gathering by Robert Frost

I left you in the morning,And in the morning glow,You walked a way beside meTo make me sad to go.Do you know me in the gloaming,Gaunt and dusty grey with roaming?Are you dumb because you know me not,Or dumb because you know? 

All for me? And not a questionFor the faded flowers gayThat could take me from beside youFor the ages of a day?They are yours, and be the measureOf their worth for you to treasure,The measure of the little whileThat Ive been long away.

Dawn on a February Morning

A particularly stunning dawn in Fort Lauderdale:

A Private Party

I am celebrating, privately and alone, some exciting personal news.  Can't say what, but I can share these photos of the elements - some champagne, my journal, strawberries, a baguette, and some humus.   Oh yes, and that is incense ash.  

And beams of sunshine.  

Finally, after much longing, some sunshine in my life.  Yeah!   

Retooling at the White House

This is worth a read. I've always liked and admired Plouffe. And this made me laugh out loud:

Plouffe’s take is a bit more sanguine, but far from Pollyannaish. “The president right now is sitting with a job approval rating of just over 50 percent, despite the economy,” he says. “In a presidential-election-year electorate, the Latino vote is playing a stronger and stronger role. So from an Electoral College standpoint, right now I’d rather be us than the other side. That said, we live in an enormously close, 50-50 country. So we should assume—and it may be hard for me to take this approach if Sarah Palin is their nominee, but I will try—that whoever runs against us is a deadly serious threat and we’ll be in a very close election. You have to assume that you’re gonna have to do everything right to get 270 electoral votes.”

The article, the cover story of New York Magazine, is a good piece of reporting, not withstanding that the author was one of the two authors of Game Change (which can never be the definitive report of the campaign because it omitted entirely the Michigan and Florida delegate controversy)

What has Obama Learned?

And does he like his job?

Interesting bits about Larry Summers lack of self-awareness (though he was good on Fareed Zakaria's GPS this past weekend), about how the activity of the lame duck session begs the question of the effect of Emmanuels' absence, and that poll! All in the context of a review of Richard Wolfe's book Renegade.

You can read in full here

Happy 150th Birthday Vassar!

Yeah! Happy Birthday Vassar!

This video is actually pretty and fun to watch. With Meryl and Lisa too.

Why Roots Are Important

This film is beautiful and cool. Enjoy!


Growing is Forever from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

FM on Los Angeles CBS News

check this out:

World War I Officially Ends Today

Very intriguing bit of history - of the past and, as it turns out, the present.  Today Germany makes the last of reparations as set forth in the Treaty of Versailles of 1919. 

Check out the full implications of the first World War.  Pretty remarkable when seen in summary like this. 

Science Fiction Predictions That Came True

h/t The Daily Dish.  Here are 11 sci-fi predictions that have seem to come true.  Not surprisingly HG Wells and Arthur C. Clarke have the most...they are fun to read and contemplate, which you can do here.

Ignorance about History, Religion and the Constitution

I find the discovery from Pew that anesthetists know more about Christianity than Christians do - not all surprising, unfortunately.  Even Catholics, nearly a majority, don't understand the doctrine of transubstantiation. 

Here the Atlantic Wire gathers up the various accounts for why this may be. 

It's very disturbing yet mirrors the ignorance of history and the writing of the US Constitution as recounted by Bradford Plumer in The New Republic's story The Revisionaries - The Tea Party's Goofy Fetish for Amending the Constitution. 

Ignorance is not a badge of honor.  

Is ME/CFS a type of AIDS?

St. Paul's Music Program

Here is a video about the wonderful music at my church. 

"I Love Lucy" Clip - More REAL

Time Lapse Sunset in Sunnyside of Queens, August 18, 2010 (19:49 - 20:35)

New Apartment at 22 West

Well today was the closing on my new apartment.  My dad didn't come.

All went smoothly.   Mark and Libby came over early and did my home blessing with me.  Prayers, saging and holy water.

Here is a photo of the special items I brought that first day:

Yoga mat, champagne, yankees cap, candles - one lavender scented and one in lotus dish, sage, compass, red bowl (for prosperity), Amercian flag and an album of photographs of my mom.

Later, Lorenzo and Adam came, and Ali S. and Gabriel.  We sat on the empty floor and drank champagne.  Thanks guys!

Re British Election

"You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment" 

 !!!!

Wow.  

(reference here)

Up the Mayan Sun Temple

This site is in Belize, where I travelled for the wedding of a very dear friend who is a native. I spent a day alone with a guide exploring Mayan ruins. And took a few videos, of which this is one.

FM Stories Featured at NYTimes web site

Here's a New York Times forum that features audio clips (about 2 minutes each) explaining and describing what it is like to live with FM. 

Click here.

Frankly, for me, listening to others' stories saddens me.  One says she'd rather feel the pain of being beaten with a bat.  I know what she means!  No energy to do simple things. 

Money In and Out of Health Care Law

Great visual chart from the New York Times on the Health Care Law (I love writing Law instead of bill or reform).  The graph shows money in and money out.   Cost containment, for me, is still a concern.  If only more Dems win so we can get a public option.

You can see chart here.

Based on CBO (Congressional Budget Office) and shows effect on budget and deficit.

Amanpour's Interviewing Skills

Any one doubting Amanpour's interviewing skills, check out this extended clip where she interviews Marc Thiessen (actually a class mate of mine from Vassar whom I don't remember).  He defends the Bush torture program.  

You can watch here. 

I believe her selection to host ABC's This Week is going to be interesting and certainly a better call than that made at NBC.

Ukrainian Artist Interprets '41-'45 Occupation

A friend who always sends me the most amazing things forwarded this video to me while I was away. Germany was the occupier.

Here are the notes:
Kseniya Simonova is a Ukrainian artist who recently won the "Ukraine's Got Talent" competition. She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting" skills to interpret the invasion and occupation of her country from 1941-1945.

Joke - Republican v. Democrats

This joke was just sent to me by a good friend. Enjoy!

Subject: LOST WOMAN

A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered her altitude and spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, "You're in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above ground elevation of 2,346 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude.

"She rolled her eyes and said, "You must be an Obama Democrat."

"I am,"replied the man. "How did you know?"

"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct. But I have no idea what to do with your information, and I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help to me."

The man smiled and responded, "You must be a Republican."

"I am," replied the balloonist. "How did you know?"

"Well," said the man, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You've risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. You're in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but somehow, now it's my fault."

The Economist: Obama Doesn't Lack Steel

Check out this defense of Obama in The Economist:

Most of these barbs are bunk. Yes, Mr Obama favours trying Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of September 11th 2001, in a civilian court. But that is not a sign of weakness. Several terrorists were successfully prosecuted in civilian courts under George Bush. And though Mr Obama is willing to admit his country’s failings, he is quite ruthless about blowing its enemies to scraps. American drones fired missiles at suspected Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders in Pakistan’s tribal areas 55 times last year, killing hundreds of jihadists and who knows how many civilians. This year, the killing has accelerated; so far more than a dozen strikes have been reported. Mr Obama orders assassinations at a far brisker pace than George Bush ever did. For some reason, his habit of blowing up alleged terrorists and bystanders from the air causes less global outrage than the smothering of a lone Hamas operative, allegedly by Israel, in a hotel room in Dubai. But whether you think it justified or not, it is hardly evidence that the president is “against killing terrorists”.

Emphasis mine.

The whole thing is worth a read: Is Obama Tough Enough? The essay ends with a note about Iran.

Charlie Wilson Forthright Letter

Politico's playbook today highlighted this, saying it was making the rounds. I see why - refreshing.

Live Blogging the Health Summit

10:45 am
Good choice to pick Lamar Alexander to lead the repugnants. Gosh there is so much broken trust. And now they're issuing an ultimatum right from the start. Alexander is lying when he says there has never before been a huge bill pushed through reconciliation. Says "we don't do comprehensive well." What? Because Republicans label anything big as a scary government takeover and/or expansion. Has to be comprehensive - can't eliminate "pre-existing conditions" and not have mandate. Obama says he'll address some of Alexander's points regarding process. Good. Many need to be addressed!

10:50 am
Here is NPR's "Health Care is No Stranger to Reconciliation"

10:55 am
Wah, wah, wah. The conventional wisdom that politicians need to cite specific examples grows tiresome. Reid is telling a story I already heard. I think on NPR this morning. Who cares? Point is - stop wasting time telling these stories. We know it's a problem. Get to work. Stop telling these horror stories. We KNOW. It SUCKS. Now Reid is pleading that the discussion is based on facts. Yeah - good point! Now making point about process - noting accurately that reconciliation has been used, mostly used by Republicans. TRUE. It's as if there's "a different set of facts from the reality." Noting Dodd (Chair of HELP) committee and Baucus (Finance) incorporate hundreds of amendments from the Republicans, representing "significant imput" from Republicans. Now citing Harvard study about deaths and bankruptcies due to excessive health care costs, even those who have health insurance. Boy this is depressing.

11:05 am
Obama addressing Alexander. Many of the items you suggested are in the bill. Your characterization would not be mine, understandably. Suggests they "discuss the substance and we might surprise ourselves and that might help to dictate how we move forward." If not, then take it from there. Graciously spurning the ultimatum.

11:09 am
Alexander and Obama getting into it over what is factual. Whether premiums would go up or down, according to CBO. Gosh, my mom would have LOVED this debate! Obama now pointing out that buying insurance across state lines IS IN THE BILL.

11:25
I'm behind. Have help over to move somethings around the house given that I can't walk today. Coburn is now speaking for the Republicans. He's a personal friend of Obama. Suggesting that we are treating the symptoms and not the disease and that's bad medicine (he's a doctor). Says there needs to be more prevention. (There is a lot of prevention). Now citing Harvard and saying 20% is fraud. Obama making note. I bet he's got a team of fact checkers in the back. Colburn is taking about the need costs are driven to minimize risk and that needs to be addressed too. Ried points out the Colburn is filibustering. Funny!

11:45 am
Okay - I can't do this live blogging and deal with the movers/helpers, so I'll have to pick up later. MSNBC sucks btw. They've interrupted Hoyer to provide "analysis" and go to commercials. To be continued.....

1:10 pm
Obama is responding to Cantor. Shaming him for use of prop (stacks of paper - the bill). Obama also makes the point that if we only implemented Republican ideas - there'd be a bunch of papers too. Now, making argument for effective government. Food would be cheaper without meat inspectors and regulations. Drugs would be cheaper with out the FDA. This point was in response to Eric Cantor raising the fear that BUREAUCRATS would decide rates. I'd rather government do it than insurance executives.

"The courage that my mother had"

Here's a poem for St. Valentine's Day

"The courage that my mother had"

The courage that my mother had
Went with her, and is with her still:
Rock from New England quarried;
Now granite in granite hill.

The golden brooch my mother wore
She left behind for me to wear;
I have no thing I treasure more:
Yet, it us something I could spare.

Oh, if instead she'd left to me
The thing she took into the grave!--
That courage like a rock, which she
Has no more need of, and I have.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay

Condescending Liberals - The Atlantic Politics Channel

http://politics.theatlantic.com/2010/02/condescending_liberals.php

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Cassandra Marcella
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