Boston.com: The Inauguration of President Barack Obama (pictures)

Wonderful pictures from the Presidential Inauguration.

Thanks to Doug for the link.

HuffingtonPost.com: Obama Retakes Oath Of Office In The White House

After the flub heard around the world, President Barack Obama has taken the oath of office. Again. Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the oath to Obama on Wednesday night at the White House _ a rare do-over.
…
Craig, the White House lawyer, said in a statement Wednesday evening: “We believe the oath of office was administered effectively and that the president was sworn in appropriately yesterday. Yet the oath appears in the Constitution itself. And out of the abundance of caution, because there was one word out of sequence, Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath a second time.”

Interesting.

From NYTimes.com: Drug Making’s Move Abroad Stirs Concerns

But now experts and lawmakers are growing more and more concerned that the nation is far too reliant on medicine from abroad, and they are calling for a law that would require that certain drugs be made or stockpiled in the United States.

“The lack of regulation around outsourcing is a blind spot that leaves room for supply disruptions, counterfeit medicines, even bioterrorism,” said Senator Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio, who has held hearings on the issue.

Decades ago, most pills consumed in the United States were made here. But like other manufacturing operations, drug plants have been moving to Asia because labor, construction, regulatory and environmental costs are lower there.

The critical ingredients for most antibiotics are now made almost exclusively in China and India. The same is true for dozens of other crucial medicines, including the popular allergy medicine prednisone; metformin, for diabetes; and amlodipine, for high blood pressure.
…
Part of the reason these plants went overseas is that the F.D.A. inspects domestic plants far more often than foreign ones, making production more expensive in the United States.

The short term benefits of outsourcing is clear.  Lower labor costs means lower prices and higher profits for companies.  However, the longer term effects are now starting to show.  We now are reliant on foreign countries that have poor track records on product safety to manufacture drugs that we need.  Plus, China is not exactly an ally.  What happens when there’s a conflict.  Will our dependence on Chinese made goods force us to accept policies that we normally wouldn’t?

I don’t think the public is even clear that many of these drugs are no longer made in the United States.  I think it’s a matter of time before we hear news of some kind of tainted drug.

Read about the search for the image on Scene on the Road: Found – AGAIN – the Poster Source Photo

Photo is by photographer Mannie Garcia for AP from April of 2006.

VIA ObamaArtReport

Update: Related News From NPR: Spreading The Hope: Street Artist Shepard Fairey
Short article and 20 minute audio interview with Shepard Fairey

I saw this on Failblog.org

I had intended on watching the Presidential Inauguration over a live stream from CNN Live, but that was a pretty miserable failure.  CNN Live was overwhelmed and failed to connect to the stream most of the time and when it did, it was a stuttering mess.  MSNBC was just as bad so I ended up watching the Inauguration the old fashioned way- on my 24 year old 9 inch Color TV.  And on FOX News!  Normally, I’d rather watch a turned off TV set than FOX News, but this was the only station that I could get clear reception over the air.  It wasn’t too bad in this situation since the talking heads were quiet during the actual swearing in and inaugural speech.

With the coming digital transition for TV, this will most likely be its last hurrah as it’s not worth getting a digital tuner for a 9 inch TV.

As a size comparision, a 9″ tv screen is the same size as the original Macintosh screen. I wonder how many of you have actually seen an original Macintosh screen?

Shepard Fairey is everywhere!  Google’s MLK day image was designed by Shepard Fairey.

The Obama Presidential Inaugural collectible you’ve been waiting for-  The Chia Obama.  Available in two styles, Happy Chia Obama and Determined Chia Obama.

Growing an Afro on President Obama just seems a little undignified.  Amusing, but undignified.

Buy Chia Obama now at Amazon.com

UPDATE 1/20/09: Not due to ship until April 1st!
UPDATE: You know, I think I might actually get one of these.  I’ve never had a chia pet and this looks like it be fun to photograph and blog about. Sure beats growing hair on Chia Shrek.  At least Obama’s supposed to have hair.  So, stay tuned for some fun future Chia action!

From Arrested Motion: Openings: Shepard Fairey’s Obama “Hope” @ Smithsonian: National Portrait Gallery

Via OMGPosters.com

Lots of pictures of the opening of Shepard Fairey’s Obama “Hope” at the National Portrait Gallery.

Also, a special inauguration sticker by Shepard Fairey is on sale at stickerrobot.com- 10 4″x6″ stickers for $10.