7 Reasons Why I Wasn't Going to Obama's Inauguration...But Went Anyways
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At the Inauguration, At Least Got to See Aretha's Hat Not Obama
From where we were standing at the Inauguration I couldn't see the President being sworn in but I could sure see Aretha's hat. Nah. Just kiddin'. But the Queen of Soul looked resplendent at Obama's Inauguration in her glamourous hat that will long be remembered as one of the Presidential Inauguration day's most memorable images.
Aretha Franklin's inauguration bow hat has become somewhat of an icon for perfectly capturing the joy and exuberance many of us felt this momentous day for President Obama's inauguration. So much so that the Smithsonian wants to cherish it as part of President Obama's Smithsonian Inauguration collection and close to 100,000 people have already signed up on Aretha's Inauguration Hat Facebook page.
Aretha Franklin's Hat Trick for Obama's Inauguration
Aretha's Hat Takes On the World
About.Com
Seth Godin Photoshopped Image With Inauguration Hat Provided by
kab & YODELMAN.
Post Inauguration News
More Interesting Factoids Keep Emerging
Surpassing Christian Bale's rant hatin' on a member of the production crew, equally as distasteful is an unflattering audioclip of jazz legend Etta James circulating the web about her dissing Beyonce and President Obama for not including her in the inauguration first dance serenades.
Aretha Franklin's Inauguration Hat Continues to Grab Headlines
Just as Bush's shoe incident helped to stimulate the shoe industry overseas in Turkey, Aretha Franklin's hat his helped the hat industry. The latest news is the hat's milliner is having difficult tracking down fabric to meet his orders.
Survivors of the Purple Tunnel of Doom Waiting for Obama's Inauguration
Purple inauguration ticket holders vent their frustrations on this Facebook page still waiting to hear from the inauguration committe about restitution. An excellent breakdown of the "Purple Ticket Turmoil Explained" in the huffingtonpost.com

Seth As Obama Inauguration Fashion Trendsetter
The Aretha Franklin Obama Inauguration Hat That Made History
Smithsonian Wants Aretha Inauguration Hat, Facebook Loves Hat That Represents Change
- Smithsonian Requests Hat For Presidential Inauguration Collection
- The Washington Post reports Love It or Hate It, Aretha Franklin's hat is here to stay.
- Aretha Franklin's Inauguration Hat Facebook Page
- The hat so popular, it even has its own Facebook page. Wow! Close to 90,000 people have signed up as fans.
- Aretha's Inauguration Hat is Everywhere
- Bush, Cheney, Colin Powell, OJ, David Bowie. In the latest viral application that is at hot as the ubiqitous Bush Shoe Video send-ups on YouTube, people are uploading photosohopped pictures of themselves or celebrities wearing Aretha Franklin's inauguration hat. Here's the link so you can do it yourself.
Who Wore The Inauguration Hat Better?
Ellen or Aretha?
Get Your Own Aretha Franklin Inauguration Hat
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Estimated Delivery Date: End of March
Aretha Franklin's Hat Makes Detroit Millinery Sales Soar
Obama Inauguration Huddled Masses
Aerial Photographs, Crowd Pictures of Inauguration & More
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- About Me
Street Scenes From the Inauguration
At a Vantage Point Close to the American Indian Museum

From aerial photos of Obama's Inauguration, an estimated 2 million people braved the 20 degree, sunny weather to celebrate the inauguration of America's first African American President. My husband and I took a walk about around 10:30 am about an hour before Obama was to be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States just to check out the crowds fully intending to come home and watch the inauguration on TV. But we ended up in a prime viewing location just off the Mall close to The National Museum of the American Indian.
It didn't dawn on me till I thought about it later, the relevance of where we were standing. As a Canadian of Japanese descent, my family like the First Nations people of Canada have suffered from racism. 67 years ago, my parents would never have been able to be standing where I was standing. Having been stripped of their possessions, they would not have had the money nor been allowed to travel at the time when they were interned shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
I read about a trek by one of the Native leaders from British Columbia, Shawn Atleo, regional chief of the Ahousaht who came to Obama's inauguration to represent the Nuuchahnulth Tribe in British Columbia. "How audacious for this country to elect an African American. We came because we felt this was important for indigenous peoples not only in America, but globally. It's important for humanity. I think we share the responsibility with him. That's the point. No one, individually, will be able to acomplish the vision set forth of returning to global peace and prosperity. I see people prepared to take the challenge of citizenship nationally, and I am saying, tribally." Navajo Times
Beyond just representing African Americans, President Obama represents all people of color, to all nationalities and regardless of race makes all of us believe that anything and everything is possible in our lifetime. President of the National Congress of the American Indian, Joe Garcia elaborates further on Obama's significance "He speaks the truth about where we have been, where we are now, and most importantly where we are going in the future. We need to be a group. We need to be all inclusive. We, Alaska Native and American Indians, have endured. We have persevered. But we must also be solvers..."
“...Every time I hear him speak he inspires me because he speaks from the heart.”
Obama Inauguration Human Gridlock
People Pack the Mall for the Inauguration
James M. Thresher-James A. Parcell, The Washington Post
Apology to Obama Inauguration Ticket Holders
Inauguration Ticket Fiasco
My husband and I live only about a short 30 minute walk from the Mall. No crowds could be spotted up the street from our house outside the metro station (A) at Southwest DC near the Waterfront. So we kept walking towards the Mall past parked tour buses. But once we got close to the Mall, we were absolutely captivated and mesmerized by the volumes of people who came out to celebrate. Incredible.
Many people were directed to walk towards the Washington Monument but we headed towards the Capitol and ended up with a prime viewing spot (B) close to the American Indian Museum and US National Botanic Garden. Below is a link to pictures from our vantage point which we later found out was close to the Mall entrance for Silver inauguration ticket holders (red dot).
As a resident of D.C., I'd like to extend my sincerest of apologies to all Silver, Blue, Purple inauguration ticket holders who spent a frustrating day not getting to see the inauguration. I feel terrible for you especially if you travelled long distances, paid exhorbitant hotel rates, woke up very early in the morning, were stuck in the now infamous tunnel or walked along the highway in your attempts to attend.
Image Source: Google Maps
Obama Inauguration Photos Empty Highways
Many People Arrived On Foot
On our way to the Mall, we looked over a highway overpass. It looked like a surreal movie scene, something you'd see out out of a movie like Independence Day where people are walking en masse along highways with very little traffic but filled with bodies.
Image Source: People Pack the Mall for Inauguration, washingtonpost.com
Nobody Got Hurt or Trampled at Inauguration
Thanks to Police, Security & Sacrifice of Those That Did Not Get In
Every ten or so minutes, a wave of people would be admitted en masse onto the Mall. It was fairly orderly until just shortly before the inauguration, a surge of frantic people started pushing and shoving.
I found an elbow in my back and we were getting jostled. It was so packed, I felt hemmed in and bit claustrophic. My husband yelled at the guy beside him to "quit pushing". Equally exasperated, the guy apologized and said he couldn't help it because the people behind him were shoving him. Just as my husband was going to call it quits, a wave of people squeezed past us and onto the mall. At that point, the police very calmly employed a series of vehicles as a makeshift barrier to prevent more ticket holders from crowding into the area.
There was no yelling. And in fact if the DC police take flak, I'd like to point out that there was a DC police woman driving one of the vans who while keeping a watchful eye on the crowds, was kind enough to let a few people step up onto the doorway of her van just to get a half a foot higher to snap a picture. These kind of small kindnesses went a long way on a stressful day.
Image Source: People Pack the Mall for Inauguration, washingtonpost.com
Obama Inauguration Crowd Aerial Photos
Millions Crowd The Mall Stretched From the Lincoln Memorial - Monument - Capitol
As quickly as the incident happened, the potentially dangerous overcrowding near us was over in mere minutes and everyone around us could breathe a little easier. Even though I am most disappointed and sorry for those who could not get in any closer, at the same time, I'm very grateful to the police and others who were in charge of public safety who were making spot decisions to keep people safe. Yes, security checks could have been planned better. Things could have run more smoothly.
But nothing of this magnitude has ever been planned before. 2 million people! In the end, I am grateful that cooler heads prevailed and that no angry mobs sullied the occasion, that Obama and his family were kept safe and that in the end we were all kept safe. I apologize as a resident of DC with all sincerity that you could not get where you had intended and extend my deepest appreciation for your pledge of support for the greater challenges both we and our President have to face together.
Image Source: People Pack the Mall for Inauguration, washingtonpost.com
Post Mortem to Avoid Obama Ticket Fiasco
Why Were So Many People Turned Away
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Even Though I Live In D.C.
7 Reasons Why I Was Not Planning On Going to Obama's Inauguration
Obama Inauguration Day
Originally We Were Not Planning On Attending Here's Why

People from all over the country are converging on Washington, D.C. to attend Obama's inauguration. I'm not planning on attending even though I live only about a 30 minute walk away, less than 2 miles from where Obama's being sworn in. My husband and I live in Southwest D.C. near the Waterfront area which is also home to the new baseball stadium of the Washington Nationals.
If we could take our bikes into the area, then it would actually only take about 15 minutes to get there. Apparently for those people who were thinking about kayaking into D.C., the Coast Guard have kiboshed that idea. But you can arrive by an inaugural water taxi for a hefty $75 per person.
It's not a political statement about why I'm not attending although I am opposed to Obama's invitation to Rick Warren. It's not like I'm a huge Bush supporter even though I once got my picture taken with him when he stopped by where I worked. I'm actually a Canadian who married an American but still it's a pretty historic opportunity.
I can't stand the throngs of tourists who don't know how to efficiently navigate our metro. Crowds will mill about in a seething mass. To get a decent view of Obama's motorcade, you would have to be willing to go hours ahead of time and put up with freezing temperatures. Plus what if I have to go to the bathroom, the porta potties sound kind of limited. The thought of seeing Obama on a jumbotron doesn't sound appealing either.
Aerial Photo Obama Inauguration Concert Lincoln Memorial
Estimated Crowd of Over 400,000 Attend Inauguration Concert

Photo from Getty Images, daylife.com
Even President Elect Barack Obama Says Stay Home & Watch The Inauguration On TV
Obama Inauguration Aerial Photos
Obama & Clinton at Inauguration

Cardow, The Ottawa Citizen, 1/18/09, politicalcartoons.com
#2 - Too Damn Cold
Why I'm Not Going to the Inauguration
Obama Has to Hand In His Blackberry
When He Becomes President

David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Star, 1/16/09, caglecartoons.com
#3 - Not Enough Toilets
Why I'm Not Going to the Inauguration
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Mike Lane, 1/18/09, caglecartoons.com
Obama Post Inauguration Realities

Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Creators Syndicate
Barack Obama A Man Of Action
#5 - Avoid the Carnival Chaos
It's a monumental historic occasion and I'm not sure I want to have my memory sullied by the blatant capitalism and tackiness of all the souvenir vendors trying to make a buck.One of the cheapest souvenirs will be a copy of The Washington Post & Metro has issued a Obama Inauguration Commemorative SmarTrip Card for $10.
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#6 - I Didn't Get Invited to Any Inauguration Parties
Why I'm Not Going to the Inauguration

Canadian Embassy Welcomes Obama
The Canadian Embassy has one of the prime spots on the parade route. I was hoping if I just flashed my passport I could get a nice warm place to wave to Obama and Michelle but my invitation to their shindig got lost in the mail.
"Obama's inauguration: Canada's warm welcome", 1/18/09, Kenny Yum, National Post
#7 - Safer to Stay At Home For the Inauguration
Other DC Residents Who Are Choosing To Not Go to the Inauguration
I saw Clinton get sworn in and that was a fun inauguration where everything was very walkable and easy to get around. Went to see Ricky Martin perform for George Bush's inauguration concert and that was a disaster as the views for the general public were totally obscured. So this time around I'm thinking there may be future opportunities when it's less crowded to give my shout out to President Obama.
Looks like other D.C. residents feel the same way about avoiding the chaos. Here's a write-up from Jeff Weintraub who echoes how I feel.
"My family and I are staying home for Barack Obama's inauguration as President in three days. And so are most of the people I know who live here in the Washington area. That may shock many others around the country who are, like us, excited about Obama's move to the Oval Office and awed by the historical moment (first African American President). Why, ask many friends and relatives of mine from out of town, wouldn't you take advantage of your proximity to history being made?"
- Why I'm Not Going to the Inauguration
- Excerpt from A Blog by Jeff Weintraub
- Residents Flee DC Before Inauguration Chaos
- DC residents choose to stay at home instead or rent their houses. globeandmail.com
- Fearing Crowds, Some Avoid Inauguration
- Katharine Q. Seeyle, 01/16/09, nytimes.com
Where Can I See The HBO Obama Concert?
HBO has a link on their website that says you can stream "The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial: We are One With President-Elect Barack Obama". Watch it Now
Image Source: HBO
Barack Obama Inauguration Preview
Mood On the Mall

Bypassing the crowds, my husband and I ventured down to the Mall on Martin Luther King Day to at least check out the scene.
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Here's a wrap-up of some of the funniest late night material that came out of inauguration week from Jon Stewart, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, David Letterman and Craig Ferguson. Click here.
Image Sources:
Leno and Letterman in Mourning, Cagle Cartoons
Obama Sworn in as 44th President Photo Gallery, washingtonpost.com
Hero in Chief
ABC Nightline on Obama's Superhero Status
Amazing Spiderman Marvel Comic #583 Sold Out
Fourth Printing Arrives in Stores February 4th, 2009
Presidential Material: Barack Obama
New Inaugural Edition Photo Variant Cover
It's rumored Marvel Comics Obama Spiderman #583 is going into its fifth printing. Collectors and Obama fans alike have been clamouring to pick up copies while under the radar is a great biography comic that's not expensive and perfect for kids.
I remember as a kid, a time when comic books didn't go into perfect pristine plastic sleeves and were meant to be dog eared and enjoyed. This lesser known comic book Presidential Material: Barack Obama is probably more appropriate for kids learning about Barack Obama with a comic spin on the President's biography.
An earlier printing is also available for less than $10 that came out while Obama and McCain were on the campaign trail. This edition is a variation with Obama's speech on the back cover. At this price, you can buy one version to store as a collector's item and the other to enjoy.
Presidential Material: Barack Obama Preview.
Have a look inside the issue with pictures courtesy of Comic Book Resources
Presidential Material: Barack Obama
Original Gold Seal Variant
Stuff Leftover From the Inauguration
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Well That Was Fun. Check Please
What Did the Inauguration Cost Us?
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Obama Inauguration Guestbook
Leave Your Congratulations Here For Obama
Since we all won't be able to shake Obama's hand personally, leave a note here with what you would say if you could Blackberry the President, send him an e-mail or say congratulations in person.
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jets4560
Sep 21, 2009 @ 4:42 pm | delete
- i think this lens is really really cool
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Ener-G
Mar 1, 2009 @ 11:04 pm | delete
- Love this lens and have lensrolled it to my Whitehouse.gov lens.
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lisadh Feb 9, 2009 @ 9:44 pm | delete
- I wish I could have attended the inauguration. Despite the 7 very good reasons to avoid such a big event, I would have loved to be there.
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Margo_Arrowsmith
Feb 1, 2009 @ 1:02 pm | delete
- WOW I really LOVE this lens!!!! I am going to have to think of a lot of things to do with it. Right now I am book marking it to give me time to think!
In the mean time, I am green with envy. You were really there!
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KarateKatGraphics Jan 29, 2009 @ 2:27 am | delete
- Nice work! I'm so jealous you were there. 5*****
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