Signed, sealed, and delivered

I know it happened over a week ago now, but when I found this picture on the White House’s official Flickr page yesterday, I literally could not stop smiling. Kudos to the bad-ass Dems in Washington and most of all, President Obama, for sticking to their guns and signing this landmark Health Care Reform bill into law. I know it’s not perfect, but it is a monumental step in the right direction and I couldn’t be happier about it, so…suck it haters!

I know it sounds corny, but if you ask me, this is what hope really looks like…

Joe Lieberman socks!

With that old turncoat, Senator Joe Lieberman doing everything he can to derail genuine health care reform in the Senate this week, I’m starting to think that maybe Al Gore “losing” in 200o wasn’t such a bad thing. I mean, seriously, can you imagine having someone like Lieberman in the White House? Yikes…

Not only does Lieberman regularly line his campaign coffers with big insurance cash, but his own wife, Hadassah, until recently worked at Hill & Knowlton, a major DC lobby shop. True, Mrs. Lieberman never officially registered as a lobbyist, but she did serve as Senior Counselor in their health care and pharmaceuticals practice. Yep, you heard me…health care and pharmaceuticals. Hmmm…kinda makes you wonder.

But even if all that other stuff wasn’t true, Lieberman has been showboating and holding health care reform hostage in the senate for so long that it was only a matter of time before he was parodied with sock puppets by our crafty friends at MoveOn.org. And, come on, who doesn’t love a good sock puppet parody?

So, check out the video, call Congress and the White House to make yourself heard, and spread the word far and wide…Joe Lieberman socks!!

Heather Graham’s best work in years…

If I posted every cool video I got from Moveon.org, our blog would be nothing but videos. But this one, a commercial that Heather Graham taped recently in favor of keeping the controversial public health insurance option on the table, was just too awesome not to share with you guys.

And hello, I don’t care what side of the public option fence you stand on, if it looks as good as the shockingly-limber Miss Graham does in this clip, then pass that freaking bill already! Jeez…

Obama meets Oliver!

Hey, we’re just as excited as everyone else about President Barack Obama’s first trip to Europe as leader of the free world, and the G20 summit thing sounds cool and everything. But the big news in this household is who will be cooking for the Obamas in merry old England.

You guessed it, amigos…our favorite male UK chef, Jamie Oliver, will be doing the honors at this year’s G20 Summit meeting in London. And while the official menu has yet to be announced, rumor is that Oliver is gearing up to serve the President and First Lady a simple meal of Welsh lamb, asparagus and flat bread with a side of English herb (aka wild garlic). Yum…sounds good to me.

And lest you think Oliver will be toiling all alone in that big old kitchen, fear not. Oliver is going to be helped along by a team of his apprentices from his iconic Fifteen Restaurant in London.

For those of you who missed Oliver’s rocking reality series “Jamie’s Kitchen” a couple of years back, Fifteen takes in unemployed, disadvantaged young people from around the country and trains them to be professional chefs. Cool, huh?

No word yet on whether the Obamas will have time to stop by the restaurant proper, but here’s hoping they find some time to chill with Jamie between courses. And though Oliver’s wife, the very pregnant Jules Oliver, will reportedly miss the event as it is taking place on her due date, word on the street is that both she and her husband are huge fans of our new President.

That’s right…even the English loves them some Obama. Rock on, Jamie O!

President Obama on the radio…

Since I was out of town last week and have been sick every since I got home, I didn’t have the pleasure of watching President Barack Obama — Wow! Still so cool to type those words! — take the oath of office in our nation’s capitol until last night. Yep, last night. Thank God for Tivo!

But just because I didn’t see the inauguration does not mean I didn’t hear it. My Slamdance roomie, Tyler, and I happened to be in his car en route from Coalville to Park City, Utah when the inauguration began. So, as we made our way through the snowy, sun-dappled mountains of Utah we got to hear Dianne Feinstein start things off with a bang…then lost reception completely.

The radio kicked back on in time for us to hear a bit of Aretha singing (did not get to see her crazy hat till later!) and most of the amazingly-moving “Air and Simple Gifts” composition. OMG…when those Copeland refrains started up…wow, not a dry eye in the Toyota, man. Powerful shit!

Then, magically, the reception on our radio cleared and remained clear for the entire time as Barack Obama took the oath of office and gave his rousing, heartfelt address to the country. I tell you what, amigos, I might not have seen that speech till last night, but I have been feeling it in my bones every day since Obama gave it. That thing was downright electrifying!

And though I videotaped the view from the car during the entire duration of Obama’s speech — it’s not very exciting footage and made me kinda sick in a couple really wobbly parts, so I’ll spare you the pain of posting it here — the few pictures I took of the radio on our drive were flooded with glorious sunlight. I know it sounds crazy, but if that’s not a sign of brighter things to come, I don’t know what is…

Que viva Presidente Obama!