We're back in good 'ol Texas!
And to think that this time last week I was frantically eating pizza, warming my toes and, oh yeah, writing a story on the inauguration of America's first black president!
A special thanks to all of you for the moral support. My responsibility to you and the readers of The Lariat gave me the determination to stand in that line in the freezing cold, walk a mile to the apartment Sommer stayed at on the Hill, and then write that story, despite my crankiness!
(Oh, and I have been informed that toe numbness is pretty common and doesn't mean you're halfway to frostbite. Good to know.)
Make sure you check out The Baylor Lariat for more news.
--Anita
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Videos
Crowd Perspective of Inauguration Day
From the Silver Zone. Sorry this is shaky; I was cold and limited in space
Peace Rally
The night before inauguration day, I happened upon a sage ceremony, where people were celebrating the end of the outgoing president's term by throwing shoes at an inflatable George W. Bush and singing "Hey, hey, hey, Goodbye."
- Ashley
From the Silver Zone. Sorry this is shaky; I was cold and limited in space
Peace Rally
The night before inauguration day, I happened upon a sage ceremony, where people were celebrating the end of the outgoing president's term by throwing shoes at an inflatable George W. Bush and singing "Hey, hey, hey, Goodbye."
- Ashley
Friday, January 23, 2009
street savvy
Something always happens to Ashley and me when we make attempts to use the cab system here in D.C.
After lugging our suitcases who knows how many blocks to Union Station to catch a cab to the airport, Ashley and I were approached by a guy in a suit who asked us where we were going, then took our suitcases and told us to follow him. Thinking he was just your standard cab driver, we followed him, only to be led to an unmarked, ominous black Navigator with tinted-windows, parked on a curb. It looked like one of those government vehicles you see on movies. And as I looked at the guy closer, I realized he looked to be what you might call 'shady.'
After climbing hesitantly into the SUV, and settling into the plush seats, we realized there wasn't even a meter. As we pulled away, Ashley asked how much it would cost.
"45 maam," he said.
The whole reason we'd made the trek from our respective apartments to Union Station was to save money on a cab, but once again, our transportation experience was more than we bargained for.
As our Mafia-ish driver chattered away endlessly on his phone, frequently in different languages, Ashley and I looked at each other in the backseat, wanting to say something but too afraid that this was not the kind of guy you complain about a $45 fee to.
Once we arrived at the airport, he gave us a blank receipt. No company name, no price, just a blank slip of paper that read "taxi cab service."
I don't know if he thought we were the rich kind of college students who prefer this kind of service, or if he just thought we were naïve enough to go with him. Obviously, the latter of the two possible assumptions was correct.
The ultimate conclusion we've come to is that we've got to get some street smarts before we go out into the real world.
Just landed in Dallas.
--Sommer
After lugging our suitcases who knows how many blocks to Union Station to catch a cab to the airport, Ashley and I were approached by a guy in a suit who asked us where we were going, then took our suitcases and told us to follow him. Thinking he was just your standard cab driver, we followed him, only to be led to an unmarked, ominous black Navigator with tinted-windows, parked on a curb. It looked like one of those government vehicles you see on movies. And as I looked at the guy closer, I realized he looked to be what you might call 'shady.'
After climbing hesitantly into the SUV, and settling into the plush seats, we realized there wasn't even a meter. As we pulled away, Ashley asked how much it would cost.
"45 maam," he said.
The whole reason we'd made the trek from our respective apartments to Union Station was to save money on a cab, but once again, our transportation experience was more than we bargained for.
As our Mafia-ish driver chattered away endlessly on his phone, frequently in different languages, Ashley and I looked at each other in the backseat, wanting to say something but too afraid that this was not the kind of guy you complain about a $45 fee to.
Once we arrived at the airport, he gave us a blank receipt. No company name, no price, just a blank slip of paper that read "taxi cab service."
I don't know if he thought we were the rich kind of college students who prefer this kind of service, or if he just thought we were naïve enough to go with him. Obviously, the latter of the two possible assumptions was correct.
The ultimate conclusion we've come to is that we've got to get some street smarts before we go out into the real world.
Just landed in Dallas.
--Sommer
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday and Thursday Photos
Many of the participants of the march were children and teens brought by church groups or their family members.
Crowds pack the streets in front of the Supreme Court Building on Thursday. On the anniversary of the famous court case Roe V. Wade pro-life groups marched from the Capitol to the Supreme Court Building.
Officials said higher than normal amounts of checked luggage were part of the reason for the long lines for U.S. Airways passengers
Lines at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday exceeded 200 people in some cases
out on the town
In the Lincoln Memorial-- Julie's favorite! It's so pretty here at night. I'm glad to finally get to see it. Reading the words of the Gettysburg address engraved upon the wall made Tuesday even more special. We've come a long way. Didn't realize Lincoln was so far away though. I've seen the Jefferson, the Korean War monument, Vietnam War, and now I'm very cold.
Visited the Holocaust museum earlier. It's just unfathomable to me how so many millions of people could be killed so carelessly, so callously.
There's so much history here. I love it. Makes you stop and remember all the little things that you take for granted every day, like the simple fact that we even live in this country.
--Sommer
Visited the Holocaust museum earlier. It's just unfathomable to me how so many millions of people could be killed so carelessly, so callously.
There's so much history here. I love it. Makes you stop and remember all the little things that you take for granted every day, like the simple fact that we even live in this country.
--Sommer
Stories
Here are the links to the Lariat stories we've done so far this week. Jordan had some AMAZING photos, which you can see if you download the PDF versions of the Lariat on the Web site. (Let me know if I missed any or if the link doesn't work)
U.S. Airways in D.C. packed
By: Anita Pere, Photo by: Jordan Wilson
Jan. 22, 2009
Inaugural speech, events seek to spread message of inclusivity
By: Sommer Ingram
Jan. 22, 2009
Economy top priority for new administration
By: Ashley Corinne Killough, Contributing: The Associated Press
Jan. 22, 2009
Energy of inauguration crowd more than media hype
*Column
By: Ashley Corinne Killough
Jan. 22, 2009
Obama takes office as 44th president
By: Anita Pere, Contributing: The Associated Press and Ashley Corinne Killough
Jan. 21, 2009
Meaning of historical inauguration goes beyond rousing rhetoric
*Column
By: Sommer Ingram
Jan. 21, 2009
Massive crowds invade Capital for inauguration
By: Sommer Ingram and Ashley Corinne Killough, Contributing: Anita Pere
Jan. 21, 2009
Baylor students at the Inauguration
By: Anita Pere
Jan. 21, 2009
Baylor ITS director goes to D.C. with enthusiasm, hope
By: Ashley Corinne Killough
Jan. 21, 2009
Alumnus performs in choir in D.C. for inauguration
By: Ashley Corinne Killough
Jan. 21, 2009
Alumnus Allan Marshall leads youths to D.C.
By: Sommer Ingram
Jan. 21, 2009
U.S. Airways in D.C. packed
By: Anita Pere, Photo by: Jordan Wilson
Jan. 22, 2009
Inaugural speech, events seek to spread message of inclusivity
By: Sommer Ingram
Jan. 22, 2009
Economy top priority for new administration
By: Ashley Corinne Killough, Contributing: The Associated Press
Jan. 22, 2009
Energy of inauguration crowd more than media hype
*Column
By: Ashley Corinne Killough
Jan. 22, 2009
Obama takes office as 44th president
By: Anita Pere, Contributing: The Associated Press and Ashley Corinne Killough
Jan. 21, 2009
Meaning of historical inauguration goes beyond rousing rhetoric
*Column
By: Sommer Ingram
Jan. 21, 2009
Massive crowds invade Capital for inauguration
By: Sommer Ingram and Ashley Corinne Killough, Contributing: Anita Pere
Jan. 21, 2009
Baylor students at the Inauguration
By: Anita Pere
Jan. 21, 2009
Baylor ITS director goes to D.C. with enthusiasm, hope
By: Ashley Corinne Killough
Jan. 21, 2009
Alumnus performs in choir in D.C. for inauguration
By: Ashley Corinne Killough
Jan. 21, 2009
Alumnus Allan Marshall leads youths to D.C.
By: Sommer Ingram
Jan. 21, 2009
The end of all work and no play
Sitting in a coffee shop with Ashley reading while I wait for Anita so we can go sightseeing. There's great music playing, very soulful, the sun's shining, and it's warmed up to about 40 degrees. I'm just excited about this day! My list of things to see keeps growing longer. I think our first stop will be the Supreme Court, my future place of employment. Ha!
--Sommer
--Sommer
We're still here!
We don't leave til tomorrow, so don't forget about us! We've got a couple stories for today, and I intend to finally upload some video here in a little bit of inauguration day.
Well we attempted to go "out on the town" last night, but unfortunately, everywhere we tried to go was either closed, too crowded or too expensive, so we ended the night with some good conversation at Subway.
Sommer and I took a cab home last night. Our driver was from Ethiopia and very friendly. And as soon as he found out we were from Texas, the conversation became political.
"Ohhh, George Bush! Do you know him?" he asked. We said we'd heard of him. "He's going back to Texas. I bet he sooo doesn't want to go back," he said.
"Umm...he might be ready for a break," I said. "I get the feeling he doesn't have as many friends here anymore."
He asked if we were here for the inauguration, and we said yes. He then sang Obama's praises, talking for a few minutes about how if he had ran eight years ago we wouldn't be in two wars. He said he watched the ceremony on his 60 inch t.v. at home. We also talked about Hillary Clinton being confirmed Secretary of State. He then informed us that McCain's wife was cheating on him. "Really? When did this happen?" we asked.
"Ohhh, it happened during the campaign. She was caught cheating on him with a guy much younger. She's really, really rich, you know," he said.
I think the conversation soon died after that. We were a little surprised to hear this news update and were almost at our apartments. But apparently, according to our cab driver, Cindy McCain is a cheater. Oh well, he may have been misinformed but at least he cranked up the heat for us.
- Ashley
Here's some pictures I took in the crowd on inauguration day. Video to come soon!
Waiting in line
Getting closer--you can tell how crowded we are
This is Oral Ofori. I interviewed him after the ceremony, only to find out he also interned at Voice of America last year. He's an aspiring journalist so be looking for his byline!
Our final spot...post breaking through security and storming the area.
Well we attempted to go "out on the town" last night, but unfortunately, everywhere we tried to go was either closed, too crowded or too expensive, so we ended the night with some good conversation at Subway.
Sommer and I took a cab home last night. Our driver was from Ethiopia and very friendly. And as soon as he found out we were from Texas, the conversation became political.
"Ohhh, George Bush! Do you know him?" he asked. We said we'd heard of him. "He's going back to Texas. I bet he sooo doesn't want to go back," he said.
"Umm...he might be ready for a break," I said. "I get the feeling he doesn't have as many friends here anymore."
He asked if we were here for the inauguration, and we said yes. He then sang Obama's praises, talking for a few minutes about how if he had ran eight years ago we wouldn't be in two wars. He said he watched the ceremony on his 60 inch t.v. at home. We also talked about Hillary Clinton being confirmed Secretary of State. He then informed us that McCain's wife was cheating on him. "Really? When did this happen?" we asked.
"Ohhh, it happened during the campaign. She was caught cheating on him with a guy much younger. She's really, really rich, you know," he said.
I think the conversation soon died after that. We were a little surprised to hear this news update and were almost at our apartments. But apparently, according to our cab driver, Cindy McCain is a cheater. Oh well, he may have been misinformed but at least he cranked up the heat for us.
- Ashley
Here's some pictures I took in the crowd on inauguration day. Video to come soon!
Waiting in line
Getting closer--you can tell how crowded we are
This is Oral Ofori. I interviewed him after the ceremony, only to find out he also interned at Voice of America last year. He's an aspiring journalist so be looking for his byline!
Our final spot...post breaking through security and storming the area.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Because the quote got rave reviews...
I got a few compliments on finding a certain source for my Inauguration story.
I interviewed a guy who climbed on top of a port-a-potty to get a good view of the ceremony. He said it smelled, but it was worth it. Here's some footage I got on my digital camera of the crowd and the guy: (and sorry I couldn't edit it--imovie 08 won't work with MPEG 4 files. Still working on that...)
Here's a picture of another someone sitting on a port-a-potty:
I interviewed a guy who climbed on top of a port-a-potty to get a good view of the ceremony. He said it smelled, but it was worth it. Here's some footage I got on my digital camera of the crowd and the guy: (and sorry I couldn't edit it--imovie 08 won't work with MPEG 4 files. Still working on that...)
Here's a picture of another someone sitting on a port-a-potty:
tired ramblings
I still haven't seen the White House. There's something wrong with that.
I just saw an excerpt of Obama's speech on TV and it JUST now hit me that I was there. Watching the crowds on tv is just like... whoa. I wonder what I'll remember the most about this experience years from now.
Oh wow, apparently Obama retook his oath after the slip-up yesterday. It wasn't even his fault, but I think that's interesting.
Been working all day. My lack of sleep is slowly catching up to me. I think we're all so beat that we're just going on auto pilot. We are about to meet up for dinner though, and hopefully have some fun tonight.
As a side note, I cannot believe Denzel Washington was in the same city as me yesterday and I didn't see him! Maybe better luck tonight.
--Sommer
I just saw an excerpt of Obama's speech on TV and it JUST now hit me that I was there. Watching the crowds on tv is just like... whoa. I wonder what I'll remember the most about this experience years from now.
Oh wow, apparently Obama retook his oath after the slip-up yesterday. It wasn't even his fault, but I think that's interesting.
Been working all day. My lack of sleep is slowly catching up to me. I think we're all so beat that we're just going on auto pilot. We are about to meet up for dinner though, and hopefully have some fun tonight.
As a side note, I cannot believe Denzel Washington was in the same city as me yesterday and I didn't see him! Maybe better luck tonight.
--Sommer
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