You may have heard.

Some other quick observations concerning the inauguration. You may have noticed these as well.

• The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court flubbed the Oath of Office. The new President tried to correct him. Didn’t work out so well.
• The new Vice President’s middle name is Robinette.
• Every speaker I saw invoked God at some point, in a markedly Christian light, and expressed some measure of apparent chosen-one-ness about the United States. Doesn’t quite jive with the idea of oneness in this new administration.
• The President’s speech became decidedly more moving as it drew to a close, apparently following the old standby “Start strong, finish strong” strategy.
• Mr. Obama sent a one-line heat-seeking missile at the outgoing President on his terrorism policies. “As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.”
• Dick Cheney looks 700% more evil in a wheelchair.
• Mitch McConnell looked pissed.
• The members of the Army NBC showed appeared either worried or apathetic. None seemed excited.
• Aretha Franklin has odd tastes in hats and sang a marginal, at best, and overly-grunted rendition of My Country, ‘Tis of Thee.
• The Lincoln Bible is not large.
• The Biden family Bible is very large.
• John Williams’s arranging is everything–every single thing–it has ever been cracked up to be.
• No expense was spared in miking the fantastic quartet playing Mr. Williams’s arrangement. I’d love to catch a glimpse at the full equipment list.
• Anthony McGill played the most beautiful clarinet I have ever seen.
• Someone at NBC knows how to mix music for television playback. I’d be shocked if the SNL team wasn’t behind this somewhere.

A quick view into my psyche through my internal monologue during the broadcast:

This is really happening. I’m really still in shock about this? I suppose that’s alright. Am I too idealistic?

People are packed in for twenty city blocks. You’re not the only one who’s idealistic.

What makes my eyes well up like this? Why is this new form of patriotism effecting me so?

I think I liked the election day speech better.

I wonder what my friends in Europe are doing right now.

There are a lot of people walking around outside. I wonder how many of them voted for McCain. . . . . I wonder how many of them voted.

The snow is beautiful. Something about that beauty is appropriate.
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One of my best friends, and one of my closest political confidants, is on a plane right now, headed to the West Coast to start a Master’s program in nuclear nonproliferation. I’m thinking about you, Sarah.