"The basis of our governments is being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right. And if it were left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate to prefer the latter." Thomas Jefferson, January 1787
You can't go a day without putting a peso in Slim's pocket
Somewhere between pretending to be a princess and playing with her Barbies, almost every little girl dreams of being Miss America.She dreams of walking on the stage and waving to the audience. She dreams of smiling as she sincerely answers, "I'd wish for world peace." She dreams of having the crown placed on her head as she is simultaneously robed in the "Miss Congeniality" sash...
...maybe not every little girl. But, this little girl once dreamed of it. And, apparently, so did my fellow Hoosier, Katie Stam. Stam, 22, and a senior at the University of Indianapolis, was most likely dressing her Barbies and dreaming of the crown around the same time I was.
I remember sitting in my parents' bedroom years ago (circa 1994), watching as the four final contestants competed in the pageant. The first girl came out of a soundproof glass enclosure, and was asked, "If you could do anything for an entire day, and the next day, no one would know and there would be no consequences, what would you do?" (think Groundhog's Day) The girl looked at the speaker and said, "I'd walk around naked all day." Her response was met awkwardly by the audience, unsure how to react.
The second contestant came out of the glass cage and was asked the same question. She said, "I'd eat all day! I'd eat everything I could possibly imagine until I felt too full." The audience laughed at her all-American response. Can you blame her? Who wouldn't over-indulge?
As I watched from the floor of my parents' bedroom, I memorized her answer. I remember thinking: When I'm the final four in the Miss America pageant and they ask me that question, I will remember to say I'd eat. And I will definitely avoid saying anything about being naked.
Around the same time I began practicing for Miss America, I also dreamt of a magical place. It was a little island, with no cars. You had to drive golf carts and ride horses around. The island was covered in lush golf courses and sat next to the sparkling ocean. It was the most beautiful
and wonderful place on earth; it was almost too wonderful to imagine. Which is why it's so convenient that I didn't have to just dream of the place- it was real: Daufuskie Island.Sadly, though, today I learned that Daufuskie has declared bankruptcy. The dream island seems to be experiencing a nightmare that is all too common right now. And yet, no matter how shocked and disappointed this news made me, I was even more surprised to hear that the WSJ put The New York Times on its list of companies that would not make it through 2009. Daufuskie was a childhood staple. The New York Times is an American staple.
Lucky for the unlucky NYT, Carlos Slim Helu, a Mexican billionaire, loaned them $250 million. Though the loan comes at a steep interest rate (14%), it should tide the Times over until they're a little more stable.
I only wish that someone would take the same pity on Daufuskie Island. I might shoot Katie Stam an email and ask her if next time she's in the spotlight and they ask her what she'd wish for, she can give a shout out to Daufuskie in addition to the whole world peace thing.
today is a wonderful day because...
1. Christian Dior was born 104 years ago.
2. The Obamas have agreed to pose for Vogue.
3. It's exactly two months until spring.
2. The Obamas have agreed to pose for Vogue.
3. It's exactly two months until spring.
I would have done without the jewels.
As I watched the temperature rise from -10 to -5 over the course of the entire day, I decided I couldn't stick around to see what would happen over the weekend. The freezing temperatures and even more painful wind chills drove me south of the Mason-Dixon.
It was quite a relaxing weekend, made perfect by an hour long run on Sunday. The run was so perfect because it was a 53 degree (and sunny!) Atlanta afternoon. I think the post-running high left me a little jaded, though, as I suggested we go for a walk after dinner. However, once we stepped out of the restaurant, I realized that 53 and sunny was perfect for a run, but rather chilly for a postprandial walk (especially once 53 and sunny turned to 43 and dark).
But, there is no doubt that even 43 degrees felt warm compared to the negatives. Apparently though, this record-breaking trend of cold temps is not exclusive to Indiana, as today marked one of the coldest inaugurations in history.
And this excruciatingly cold weather means: layers.
I was surprised to find, though, that Michelle Obama not only forgot her scarf, but donned what appeared to be a thin coat. When the Obama family first exited the Blair House this morning, I waited with bated breath not to see Barack (side note, though, congratulations to Mr. President. His speech was everything I hoped for- and more in some ways), but instead to see what the soon to be First Lady was wearing.
However, when she emerged in her Isabel Toledo outfit, I felt disappointed. Throughout the campaign, she has attempted to channel Jackie O (I can't blame her). Her shifts and pearls have been almost identical to what Jackie wore during her one thousand days as First Lady (thank you, Oleg Cassini). As Michelle campaigned, I often wondered why she didn't just have her own style, as opposed to imitating Jackie. Sometimes I felt frustrated that she, as a potential future First Lady, didn't want to pave her own way. However, I decided that if I were going to be in the White House, I'd want to do it just like Jackie too. Therefore, I was eager to see what she'd wear today- if she'd get it just Jackie right.
Michelle's yellow outfit drew parallels to Jackie's inaugural attire, however, the jewels seemed a little overdone. I wondered if Michelle (who, as of last night, hadn't picked out her outfit) thought she'd try to begin the presidency by incorporating her own style into Jackie's. I'm sad to say, though, that Jackie's simple and elegant style should be left untouched. You either do it, or you don't. It's not really up for interpretation.
But, seeing as Sasha and Malia looked fabulous, I can forgive Michelle for one wrong outfit. I mean, Barack stumbled as he took his oath, she stumbled as she chose her outfit- it just proves that they're human. It just proves that no matter how perfect they seem, the Obamas are just like you and me. And regardless of having too many jewels on her shift, the err in judgment makes me like her a little more.
It was quite a relaxing weekend, made perfect by an hour long run on Sunday. The run was so perfect because it was a 53 degree (and sunny!) Atlanta afternoon. I think the post-running high left me a little jaded, though, as I suggested we go for a walk after dinner. However, once we stepped out of the restaurant, I realized that 53 and sunny was perfect for a run, but rather chilly for a postprandial walk (especially once 53 and sunny turned to 43 and dark).
But, there is no doubt that even 43 degrees felt warm compared to the negatives. Apparently though, this record-breaking trend of cold temps is not exclusive to Indiana, as today marked one of the coldest inaugurations in history.And this excruciatingly cold weather means: layers.
I was surprised to find, though, that Michelle Obama not only forgot her scarf, but donned what appeared to be a thin coat. When the Obama family first exited the Blair House this morning, I waited with bated breath not to see Barack (side note, though, congratulations to Mr. President. His speech was everything I hoped for- and more in some ways), but instead to see what the soon to be First Lady was wearing.
However, when she emerged in her Isabel Toledo outfit, I felt disappointed. Throughout the campaign, she has attempted to channel Jackie O (I can't blame her). Her shifts and pearls have been almost identical to what Jackie wore during her one thousand days as First Lady (thank you, Oleg Cassini). As Michelle campaigned, I often wondered why she didn't just have her own style, as opposed to imitating Jackie. Sometimes I felt frustrated that she, as a potential future First Lady, didn't want to pave her own way. However, I decided that if I were going to be in the White House, I'd want to do it just like Jackie too. Therefore, I was eager to see what she'd wear today- if she'd get it just Jackie right.
Michelle's yellow outfit drew parallels to Jackie's inaugural attire, however, the jewels seemed a little overdone. I wondered if Michelle (who, as of last night, hadn't picked out her outfit) thought she'd try to begin the presidency by incorporating her own style into Jackie's. I'm sad to say, though, that Jackie's simple and elegant style should be left untouched. You either do it, or you don't. It's not really up for interpretation.
But, seeing as Sasha and Malia looked fabulous, I can forgive Michelle for one wrong outfit. I mean, Barack stumbled as he took his oath, she stumbled as she chose her outfit- it just proves that they're human. It just proves that no matter how perfect they seem, the Obamas are just like you and me. And regardless of having too many jewels on her shift, the err in judgment makes me like her a little more.