Secrets and Lies

Courtesy my older sister:

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/14370813/

Art by my bebe and her aunt (who babysat for us last night.)

"Security was so tight that at that moment, the Capitol became the loveliest armed camp in the world."
-Tom Shales

No foreign observers for Iraqi vote. This is bad news. Also, time extended for exiles to register, since so few did.

POLITICS:
* Duelling Post analyses: An Ambitious President Advances His Idealism vs. Bush's Words On Liberty Don't Mesh With Policies.
* Tom Shales on the inauguration.
* David Brooks with an optimistic look at the ideas and realities.
* Plus, an analysis of how Bush's overtures are being met in Europe. Oddly enough, the Arab world wasn't pleased.
* Suffice it to say, opinions are mixed on the next four years.

OTHER NEWS:
* Huh. Iran says women are allowed to run for president there.
* New test shows we might be more biased than we think we are. (Courtesy Operative X.)
* European suicide study shows interesting results.
* Howzabout an ancient untranslated astronomy text in a language no one knows. (Courtesy thewronghands.)
* Ooh, they're finally releasing the 80's Twilight Zone on DVD.
* A graphic novel on epilepsy.
* A review of Life Aquatic, and an essay on Wes Anderson and the hipster generation. Or something. (Courtesy Emerald.)

"It would be appealing to take George W. Bush at his word. But, considering his track record, that is not an option. In fact, if history is a guide, the one guarantee we have is that Bush's words will not match his deeds. And his inaugural address will be remembered as nothing more than an empty exercise in deceit."
-John Nichols, "Bush's Deceit"

OK, at some point my replacement will get here, and I will be able to go home. In theory.

Will be away from e-mail for a while. Maybe back as early as Sunday evening. Maybe as late as Tuesday morning. WHO CAN SAY.

If yah wanna chat, gimme a call on le phone. Cell will probably just go to voice mail, just leave me a message, will call back soonly.

#1:
English majors, represent. It may be a political fight, but it's all coming down to word choice.

#2:
"Made by a small Massachusetts company, the SWORDS, short for Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection Systems, will be the first armed robotic vehicles to see combat, years ahead of the larger Future Combat System vehicles currently under development by big defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics Corp."