Screw it. It's my birthday.

I want Obama to fail.

Yup.

Update to previous post

So it looks like the final price tag for Obama's inauguration was $170 million, not $150 million. That puts it at over four times as expensive as Bush's, not three.

Personally, I thought that it did a poor job of living up to the hype. His speech was supposed to be like no inauguration speech we have heard before. In a way, I guess that's correct, but not how they intended it. It wasn't really like an inauguration speech, but more like another one of his campaign speeches.

But that's just my opinion. I haven't really seen many inaugurations. This was only my second, actually. The first was Clinton's back in '92. We watched it at my elementary school. I had to run laps at recess the next day because I yawned during his speech (sure, it was on purpose and in a mocking way, but still).

But then there was the benediction delivered by Rev. Joseph Lowery. It was, well, I'll just let you read:

"Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen. Say Amen."

What decade is this guy still in? And why is it that "white" is the only group that must still "embrace what is right"? Didn't we prove already, by electing a black man to be President, that we do that? I thought that was the idea. Oh, well.

He should tell Miami University that it's ok to call American Indians "red" again, so they can go back to being the Redskins. Being a minority himself, he is apparently allowed to decide what all minorities can be called without being offended.

Well, congrats, Barry. Don't screw the pooch.

I have made beer!

As you may or may not know, I received a home brewing kit for Christmas from the wife, her sisters and their husbands. And a little over a month ago, I brewed my very first batch, an IPA. Very exciting times.

Yesterday was the day that it was finally ready. I was nervous about how it would turn out. I knew the whole process and, therefore, knew how many things could possibly go wrong. I tried to take care to do everything right, but there were a few times when I just wasn't sure.

But my fears were alleviated yesterday. I cracked open some bottles for myself and some guests, and it was delicious. Not as good as it could have possibly been, but very good for my first attempt. I am pleased. So if you didn't get any yesterday, or want more, come on over. There's plenty.

Now, I have the task of coming up with a name. On her blog, Shannon asked her readers to come up with fun names for her kid. I like the idea, but I am not yet in the market for needing baby name suggestions. So, I am asking for beer name suggestions for my IPA. And possibly a name for the whole brewing operation.

Go!

Hypocrisy, thy name is Columnist

Almost Inauguration time. Makes me kinda sentimental. I remember when Bush was being re-inaugurated back in 2004. Oh, how Democrats complained about how expensive it was. Something like $42 million. Seemed like an expensive party, especially with all that was going on in the world. Natural disasters, epidemics, poverty and hunger all around the world, not to mention the war. All that money just being thrown away when it could be doing so much good. Many politicians and columnists were quite upset, even outraged. Some Democratic congressmen noted how past Presidents, in times of war and other hardship, scaled back the celebration dramatically out of good taste. And I suppose I understand what they were saying.

Obama's Inauguration is costing more than three times that amount ($150 million). Our economy is even worse now. We're still at war. People around the world are still poor and starving. And no one is saying a damn word.

Bowls and Ball-Busters

I just want to say this about the Fiesta Bowl last night between Texas and Ohio State: The Buckeyes played a good game and simply lost to a better team. Period. If anyone says anything contradictory to that, or anything about OSU being embarassed, "here we go again," "didn't deserve to be there...again," etc., they're just trying to jump on the Buckeye-hater bandwagon. Though still a loss, it was a completely different story this time. They can win the big game, and almost did.

Ok. That's better.

So this is my 100th post on Blogger. Pretty nifty. Figured I'd write about something that I've been wanting to for quite some time. That's the whole feminism/house-wife vs. working woman thing. I just think that feminism kind of started on the wrong foot. And I'm talking about sensible, woman is equal to man under the law type feminism. Not the crazy, woman is actually superior to man variety. But I even think that "equal" is maybe not the best term. There are things that each sex is better than the other at, and they are different in numerous ways. But I think that people should have an equal chance to do things with no discrimination. But that I believe this should go without saying.

Anyway, here's where I think that things went awry. For centuries, women had been relegated to the home and it was believed that housework and birthing children was about all that they were good for. They were often seen as being less than men, and therefore, their tasks in the home as less respectable. So, naturally, women just didn't want to take it anymore and sought to get their gender some respect. But, we are told that this respect is achieved only by women entering what was the world of men and doing what they do. But I think that they missed something very important: bringing respect to house-wives.

We have bought into the idea that the home is just a place that women settle for. Obviously, women should have the same right as any man to persue whatever career or lifestyle that they want. Women have proven that they can perform just as well as us men in the workplace. But there is nothing wrong with being a housewife if that's what you really want to be. In fact, I have trmendous respect for housewives. It's a freakin' tough job. Definitely worthy of its own respect.

We just need to respect people for doing their job in whatever field they feel called to be in, whether in the home or outside. Cos men can be house-husbands if they like. Homes need work. Food needs cooked. Kids need care. Someone has to do it, and they deserve respect and thanks.

So, to some of you feminists: don't drag the honorable position of being in the home through the mud. Pisses me off.