Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

"Vice President Biden, Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the United States Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens: Each time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution.  We affirm the promise of our democracy.  We recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names.  What makes us exceptional – what makes us American – is our allegiance to an idea, articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.' Today we continue a never-ending journey, to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time.  For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they have never...

For those of you, who like me, like to know what people are reading/what people's favorites books are! I found an article called, "Barack Obama's Favorite Books." Thought I would share some of it: “The often repeated claim that Barack Obama will be America’s most bookish president is probably a little harsh on the 43 past residents of the White House. Recently Karl Rove, George Bush’s Deputy Chief of Staff from 2004 until 2007, revealed his boss read 95 books in 2006 and another 51 in 2007 but no-one is praising Mr Bush’s devotion to the written word. Still, Barack Obama is clearly an avid reader and literature has massively influenced his politics. He talks about books at the drop of a hat, is frequently seen with a book in his hand and, of course, has penned two worldwide bestsellers himself. He has won Grammys for the audio versions of both his books – Dreams From My Father and The Audacity of Hope . He even used book tour appearances designed to promote The Audac...

HOORAY! PRESIDENT OBAMA: "My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition. Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents. So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans. That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our econom...

I had an Election Day gathering at my house last night, so that we could watch as history was happening. We watched the Daily Show and cheered as Jon Stewart at 11:01pm EST announced that Barack Obama is to be our 44th President. There was cheering from all of us and a bottle of champagne was opened and a toast to "making history," was made. We sat down and listened intently to both speeches, but I only had ears for Obama's. It moved me and gave me goosebumps. I had tears in my eyes. I know somewhere in Heaven my staunch Democrat Dad was dancing, and that thought made me smile. I am ready for a change. My best friend L called me on her way home and said she'd seen a falling star while she was driving home. A hopeful sign, I think. Without further ado: Obama's Victory Speech, found here . (McCain's Concession Speech can be found here .) If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the...