Kathleen and I are currently sitting next to each other on my couch, wearing matching J.Crew yoga pants, typing on our matching elitist white MacBooks, with our matching jaunty ponytails, watching The Daily Show and playing on the Internets. Could we BE any more DC right now? Or any more liberal? Or any more elitist? Maybe, but only if there was a life-size cutout of Barry sitting between us, wrapped in a down comforter.
[Posted by Mallory]
Filed under blogging, fashion, politics, pop culture, post-college depression, technology, TV
Literally. They will not take his calls. Okay, it’s just the one. Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen hung up on Obama not once . . . but twice yesterday, assuming that it was a prank call.
Hold the phones (ha). This woman is the ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs committee, not to mention, um, a congresswoman. Isn’t it part of her job description to take important phone calls? But wait . . . there’s more! Here is an exerpt from the official press release from the office of the congresswoman:
“Cong. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen thought it was a hoax when President-Elect Barak (sic) Obama called her twice today and she proceeded to hang up on him, twice.”
Really?! I mean, REALLY?! So, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel called the Congresswoman to tell her that she had hung up on the President Elect. Ros-Lehtinen then hung up on him and spelled his name wrong in the press release as well (not to be accused of playing favorites):
“A short time later, Cong. and Chief of Staff designate Rahm Emmanuel (sic) called Ileana and stated ‘Ileana, I cannot believe that you hung up on the President-Elect.’ Ros-Lehtinen told Rahm that she didn’t believe the call was legitimate and hung up on Emmanuel (sic).”
Obama and Ros-Lehtinen were finally able to have a chat about Cuba and Israel (thank goodness he wasn’t calling about anything important . . . ) after Chairman Howard Berman of the Foreign Affairs Committee called the Congresswoman, proved his identity over the phone by sharing a story only the two would know (creepy . . .), and broke the news that she had indeed hung up on the President-Elect. Twice.
Once, I accidentally sent an e-mail to the president of my university which accidentally said that I loved him. That was pretty embarassing but I think hanging up on the President-Elect of the United States twice in one day would be worse. When Barack calls me and offers me a job (any day now . . . ) I will be sure not to make the same mistake.
[Posted by Madeline]
Barack ‘n’ Roll with the Boss!
(the election may have been almost one month ago but I’m still celebrating)
[Posted by Madeline]
Filed under celebrities, crushes, family, music, politics, pop culture, six word memoirs, Uncategorized
Let’s talk about things that make us happy. Like any normal human, I love things like breakfast sandwiches and spooning and compliments and not wearing pants. Not necessarily all at the same time. (Although, now that I think about it…that would be REALLY great.) I also love when the exact thing you need to happen happens. Like you were craving an episode of Project Runway and there’s a marathon on. Or you’re running late and need the bus to be there, and it is.
Three of these great things happened to me today. First, I was sitting at my desk after staring at my computer screen (and being productive, actually) for hours, and I thought to myself, “I’m hungry. I should call Jill. Maybe she will eat with me.” And AT THAT EXACT MOMENT Jill called and offered to take me out for Thai food. No joke. Then I got to eat green curry, which I would consider bathing in if that wouldn’t be such a waste of delicious curry.
After lunch, I went back to work for a few hours and then headed to class. As I walked, I was thinking “I’m hungry again. I would like something made of chocolate.” AND THEN MY FRIEND MEG HAD BAKED BROWNIES FOR CLASS.
After class, I went to a meeting (where there was free pizza, huzzah!). I was dreading walking to the bus stop in the freezing cold, and my friend Ruth was all, “Hey, you headed home?” I assumed she wanted to walk with me. BUT THEN SHE OFFERED ME A RIDE. IN HER CAR.
I know, I know. Your head is spinning. But sometimes, it really is the little things. A lot of little things can make for one happy day.
And it doesn’t hurt to come home to an email from your aunt featuring these photographic pieces of joy.
[Posted by Mallory]
Finally, it’s official! Hillary Clinton is Barack Obama’s nominee for Secretary of State! Technically we all “knew” this weeks ago but the journalism major in me couldn’t write about this until it was the real deal.
This is pretty awesome. First of all, because Hillary is awesome. Maybe she’s a little coarse but she’s also intelligent, visionary and deeply devoted to serving this country. Plus, she’s BFF with Madeleine Albright, my idol and all-time favorite person ever. So, if Hillary ever needs some extra advice she has one of the greatest Secretaries of State in her speed dial.
Speaking of which, here they are, my two favorite Secretaries of State:
As this is, sadly, not a video you can’t tell that here Madeleine Albright is actually saying “you know, I think we should offer that delightful guest-blogger, Madeline, a job.” And Hillary is saying “That is a wonderful idea! I will call her right away.”
Despite the fact that Hillary was the United States’ foremost ambassador during her years in the White House, visiting 60 countries with the mission of promoting American values and policy abroad (hmmm that sounds kind of like what the Secretary of State does . . .), there have been some distubing reactions to her nomination. According to a Reuter’s article titled “Women see Clinton job as triumph, disappointment,” some women are still pissed that Hillary’s not the prez. Do I think she would have made a great president? Absolutely. BUT LET’S MOVE ON (Hillary has).
Most disturbing was this quote from Carol Jenkins, president of the Women’s Media Center in New York:
“Secretary of State has become the women’s spot — a safe expected place for women to be. In the ideal world, we’d see woman as Treasury secretary and throughout these ranks (of government).”
HOLD UP. Now that three of the U.S.’s 67 (including Hillary) Secretaries of State have been women it’s a woman’s spot? I was a liberal arts major so I could be wrong but I think that math’s a little fuzzy. And hey, LADY! You’re the president of the Women’s Media Center so what’s with the bad press? Secretary of State is the highest cabinet position and fourth in the line of presidential succession. Why are we insulting the position at all, let alone now that a woman is about to be in charge? Seeing more women throughout government would be great but we’ll get there; and in the meantime let’s not insult those who are not only filling these positions but working to improve women’s rights around the world.
And you know what? If Secretary of State has become “the women’s spot” it’s for one reason and one reason only: bitches get stuff done.
[Posted by Madeline]
Filed under history, news, politics, Uncategorized
Oh boy. Or, girl. This week’s Newsweek explores the possibility of an Obama Baby Boom and the opportunity for “that’s what she said” jokes alone makes the article HI-larious. Let’s start with the lede:
The theory is almost too perfect to be true. Barack Obama the son of politically progressive parents, was born Aug. 4, 1961—almost nine months to the day after John F. Kennedy was elected to the White House. Is it possible Obama was conceived on that historic night?
Um. Ew? I freely admit to being borderline obsessed with the President-elect and his family (What? No puppy until the Spring? Nooo!) but there are some things that I really just don’t need to know. While Newsweek offers little (okay, nothing) in the way of statistical proof and only anecdotal evidence for the possible Obama Baby Boom, the term “Obama Baby” has already been defined by UrbanDictionary.com as “a child conceived after Obama was proclaimed President by way of celebratory sex.” Want to hear it used in a sentence?
“On election night, my husband had managed to down a bottle and a half of wine in celebration and he was all about making an ‘Obama election baby’,” Abbi Whitaker, 32, of Reno, Nev., told NEWSWEEK. “He thought it would be the coolest thing.”
Mr. Whitaker, I assure you that you will be the only one to consistently consider that “the coolest thing.” I’ve had the unfortunate experience, not once but twice, to hear about the conception of close friends from the conceivers themselves. BELIEVE ME, there is nothing cool about it, no matter how crazy (ew) the story may be. Your friends will not think so, your child will not think so, and his or her friends REALLY will not think so.
Speaking of things that are not cool, Eric Davis of Minneapolis told Newsweek that during one of their election night celebrations, “my wife accidentally said, ‘Oh, Obama!'” Awkward . . . Feel free to put post-election euphoria to good use and get busy but it’s still important to say the right name.
Is the Obama Baby Boom a real phenomenon? Although demographic experts and physicians expect “a healthy increase” in births we won’t know for sure for another nine months.
[Posted by Madeline]
Over the years I’ve been grateful to my Irish ancestors for many things; coming to America, skin so pale it’s see-through, an iron liver, Catholic guilt, etc. So it’s not as if I needed another reason to be proud of my Irish heritage, but a little band called Hardy Drew and the Nancy Boys wrote this little ditty to celebrate Barack Obama’s election to the highest post in all the land and it’s fabulous. They’ve been invited to perform at an inaugural ball in January and are currently recording their newest single “When President Obama Comes Home to Moneygall.”
For those who may not remember, all the way back in month four of this now legendary 21-month long campaign, it was reported that some of Obama’s roots were planted in the small village of Moneygall, Ireland. Moneygall, which has more pubs than traffic lights and a population of 298, was the home of the President Elect’s great-great-great grandfather Fulmuth Kearney, who left Ireland for the United States in 1850 at the age of 19.
According to the Irish Times, the little village has already welcomed the first Obama tourists and the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Brian Cowen has extended an invitation for Obama to visit Moneygall and have a pint.
With the job he has ahead of him, it can’t hurt Obama to have the luck of the Irish on his side. So raise your pints because, faith and it’s a small world!, there’s no one as Irish as Barack Obama.
[Posted by Madeline]
I’m on a blogging rampage. Here’s the weird stuff I’ve found on Al Gore’s invention today…
“This new birth control method may potentially help control squirrels or other species, such as white tailed deer,” said Sara Krause, a doctoral student in ecology who designed the plan.
“If we can test a birth control method and find it safe and effective, there’s a possibility of it being a breakthrough method in both urban and suburban areas,” she said.
I’m sure the Christians would rather they train the squirrels about natural family planning.
The brawling began during a procession of Armenian clergymen commemorating the 4th-century discovery of the cross believed to have been used to crucify Jesus.
The Greeks objected to the march without one of their monks present, fearing that otherwise, the procession would subvert their own claim to the Edicule — the ancient structure built on what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus — and give the Armenians a claim to the site.
The Armenians refused, and when they tried to march the Greek Orthodox monks blocked their way, sparking the brawl.
[Posted by Kathleen]
In case you didn’t know, Barack Obama is the President Elect! AHHHH. Anyway, B held his first press conference yesterday to discuss some really important issues…like Malia and Sasha’s new puppy. Let me just say that I wrote about this awhile ago. Malia needs a hypoallergenic dog. The obvious choice here is the Chinese Crested Hairless. Duh. Perhaps the Obama family will read my blog post and agree with me. Riiiiight. But anyway, B made a funny when talking about the dog.
With respect to the dog – this is a major issue. I think it’s generated more interest on our Web site than just about anything. We have two criteria that have to be reconciled. One is that Malia is allergic, so it has to be hypoallergenic. There are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic. On the other hand, our preference would be to get a shelter dog but obviously a lot of shelter dogs are mutts, like me.
Nothing has ever made me happier. Because, like President Elect Obama, I am a mutt as well. But it’s not just about the identity politics. This comment is exactly what America needs. A little bit of humor. What I’m saying is lighten up, ya’ll. Making lighthearted jokes is the best way to disarm the skeptics.
But back to the whole puppy thing. I read an article on CNN that chronicles White House pets over the years. Malia and Sasha should have aimed a little higher. I mean, Calvin Coolidge had a pygmy hippopotamus named Billy. True story. Herbert Hoover’s son had a pair of gators that liked to chill on the White House grounds. Benjamin Harrison had two opossums. Sick. A puppy will be cute though. Especially if it’s a Chinese Crested.
So it’s obvious I’m on cloud nine. Is there anything higher than cloud nine? Because the next topic is about to put me over the edge.
If you read this blog every once in a while, you might know that I am obsessed with the best TV show ever, the West Wing. During the cold years of the Bush administration, I’ve often pined for the Bartlet administration and all of its players. Well. I’m coming as close as I can to my West Wing dream. Barack Obama has named Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel as his Chief of Staff. Emanuel worked in the Clinton White House with West Wing consultant DeeDee Myers, who served as Clinton’s press secretary. So CJ Cregg is based off of Myers, and…I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP…JOSH LYMAN IS BASED OFF OF RAHM EMANUEL. Josh Lyman is coming back to the White House. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
Rahm’s brother is also kind of famous. Ari Emanuel is the founder of a talent agency and well-known talent agent and is apparently the inspiration for Ari Gold on Entourage. I know. This is almost too much to handle.
So let’s recap. Barack is amazing and addresses the race thing perfectly, there’s going to be a perfect puppy in the White House to complement the perfect family, and the West Wing is actually starting to become reality.
This is fantastic. Now I’ll go back to writing about dumb stuff, I promise. But I had to get this out.
[Posted by Kathleen]
Filed under celebrities, crushes, humor, news, politics, pop culture, random, TV, Uncategorized
six words to change the world. 