Much That Is Hidden

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Book of the prophet Daniel 5:26-28:

"This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."

Did I mention that Bible prophecy is a little hobby of mine? Quite small, in fact. I'm not sure how Perez Hilton gets the Medes and Persians in on this, but it's sure to be interesting.

For a perhaps more balanced assessment of the today's exchange of power, you can't get more spot-on than this anonymous idiot (whose blog link will, out of respect, remain on the left for the first 100 days of the Obama administration - thanks AI!)

And just so it's in my record, my Obama/Favreau faves:

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."

"We will restore science to its rightful place."

"The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works."

"This crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity."

"As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more."

"Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint."

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and nonbelievers."

"To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

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Labels: Bush, histoire, milestones, President Obama

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We had a wonderful holiday - unrushed with next to nothing to do. Some family scheduling, along with illness, necessitated two Christmas mornings, something we hope does not become a tradition for fear that it will become expected every year. Fortunately there was plenty to go around - Max has been such a good boy that Santa held back some of the huge mound of gifts accumulated for him and said he will return February 11 "to bestow the remainder upon the boy." He said we could find them in Omie's garage (unwrapped because he doesn't keep birthday gift paper in stock at the NP).

The adventure grows along with the vocabulary. Max is in official parrot mode and thus we are occasionally reminded of how big the ears of little pitchers are (but until he reads and becomes computer saavy this blog will retain its NC-17 rating, goddammit). Little Dude has discovered the leg over/surmountability principle, which often works in cahoots with the "hey this thing makes me taller" principle. This has vastly improved his monkey boy skills and thus increases his mama's gray hair with impromptu excursions up bookcases and to the top of the changing table.

In the midst of all the excitements there are occasions of quiet repose. The other day I put on a Cat Stevens CD and kicked back on the day bed in Max's room while he played with various doo-dads and books. After a few minutes he crawled up next to me and laid face up with a ponderous visage for all of 10 minutes. I lightly sang along, never happier.

Labels: family, Max, photography