Just wanted to discuss this with anyone else who's been watching. Thoughts?
I thought the speech was incredible. The comment about giving other countries power by being dependent on their fuel was quite interesting and well-put, I thought.
I've got the CNN steam up on my work computer.
May 2008 CSR 
I went to lunch at a restaurant that was playing the speech (probably most in town were) and was late getting back to work because I wanted to hear it all. I remember feeling quite inspired and loving the ending with the tie in to Vally Forge. But I haven't really studied the speech yet either. I hope to get some time this weekend to view it again since my son DVRd it for me
Actually, this being such a historic occasion and all, I'm going to make my kids watch it with me again and we can pause it to discuss certain points (both political and structural so it'll be a good Civics lesson and a good Language Arts lesson).
(sorry for talking about my kids so often on a "for grownups" site, but they are part of my life and I can't just drop 'em 
).
Pixie Dusted and Prepared,
Hypermommy
Actually, this being such a historic occasion and all, I'm going to make my kids watch it with me again and we can pause it to discuss certain points (both political and structural so it'll be a good Civics lesson and a good Language Arts lesson).
I think he couldn't have helped but look out of touch if he didn't put a decent dose of reality in there. "Everything's gonna be great" probably wouldn't have flown very well.
Hypermommy wrote:Actually, this being such a historic occasion and all, I'm going to make my kids watch it with me again and we can pause it to discuss certain points (both political and structural so it'll be a good Civics lesson and a good Language Arts lesson).
I think that's a great idea, actually. And I've been hearing all over the news this morning about Obama's choice to forego "soaring rhetoric" in favor of delivering a down-to-earth message to America about the state of the nation. His reasoning for choosing that might be a good discussion about management and motivation.
Regarding the speech/inauguration, I really enjoyed watching it. I'm amazed by what a media extravaganza the whole process was this time around--the concert on Sunday was a mini-grammys! And Aretha Franklin singing in the middle of the proceedings seemed a little strange to me. We really are a media and entertainment based society.
Yeah, my kids hate it when I do stuff like that but tough! I used to hate it when my mom wouldn't let me go to someone's house until I got the request gramatically correct, but boy can I edit a document to Hades and back these days 
I think I heard somewhere that singing "America The Beautiful" had something to do with the MLK speech (maybe not the "Dream" speech but one of them). Anyway, I think that was the tie in. And it sure was beautiful.
I heard something last night about there being some kind of controversy going on because most of the public gathered heard a pre-recorded version of the Yo Yo Ma and Pearlman and the rest of them playing. It was like they were "lip synching" to themselves playing. But I heard the reason was becuase in that kind of cold, the instruments are not able to be perfectly tuned becuase of the physical changes to them in the cold. Makes sense to me. Besides, what the heck to Ma and Pearlman have to prove musically anyway? Anyone that doesn't know how good they are just needs to listen to a few other things and then there's no doubt. I find it absolutely ridiculous that the news media has to make such a big deal of the slightest little thing. Puhleeze!
Pixie Dusted and Prepared,
Hypermommy