Gay mayor faces multiple calls to resign after lying about sex with teen

The first gay person elected as Mayor of Portland should resign, a local LGBT publication has said.

Just Out has taken a similar stance to local Oregon newspapers and called on Sam Adams to leave office less than a month after he was sworn in.

On Tuesday he publicly apologised for lying for the past 18 months about the natue of his relationship with a teenager.

He admitted that his previous assertions that he was merely "mentoring" Beau Breedlove for a career in politics had no foundation and were simply a front for their sexual relationship.

Mr Breedlove was 17 and working as a state legislative intern when he met then-City Commissioner Adams, who was elected Mayor last year and took office on January 1st.

Mayor Adams said they had sex several times during the summer of 2005, by only after Mr Breedlove turned 18.

In 2007, while considering his candidacy, Mr Adams accused another mayoral hopeful of spreading fase rumours about his relationship with Mr Breedlove and explained the "mentoring" nature of their relationship.

The Oregon Attorney General is to investigate if Mr Adams is telling the truth - if he had sex with Mr Breedlove when he was 17 he has broken state law, which stipulates no-one under 18 can give consent to sexual acts.

A local gay magazine has joined the Portland Business Journal, The Oregonian and the Portland Tribune in calling for Mayor Adams to resign.

"By his own admission, by committing the act of lying to the citizens of Portland, Adams has failed to show the principled character that this publication feels is a basic requirement for an elected official, " the Just Out editorial board said.

"Just Out acknowledges that over his two decades as a public servant Adams has risen to become one of Oregon's most revered openly gay leaders.

"This publication has long admired Adams' vision, his intelligence and his tenacity.

"Ultimately we have concluded that these qualities cannot overcome the weakness revealed in Adams' recent admission.

"Adams' apology of yesterday, including specific reference to the gay community, while sincere, is not enough.

"The bond of trust and confidence has been broken. Adams has previously stated his hope that gay and lesbian youth might one day look to him as a role model and example.

"His own actions have now rendered this implausible.

"Adams must resign his seat as Portland's Mayor."

The Oregonian reports that the Mayor is losing support.

"I've been involved in Oregon politics for a long time, and I obviously understand people's anger and frustration," he told the paper yesterday.

"Portland isn't San Francisco, it's not Los Angeles, it's not the federal level. We have a standard for our politicians, and I violated that standard.

"I need to take some time to figure out what's best for Portlanders, but I'm not going to drag it out. There's too much work to do."

Remembering Heath Ledger

Today is the first anniversary of the death of Heath Ledger.

There is no better way to honor this movie legend then how the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has done today by nominating him for an Oscar for his portrayal of the Joker in "The Dark Knight".

Heath Ledger passed away on January 22, 2008, at the age of 28, from an accidental toxic combination of prescription drugs in his New York apartment.

He starred in several movie hits including Monster's Ball, 10 Things I Hate About You, Casanova, A Knight's Tale, Candy, and I'm Not There. But his most memorable role was as Ennis del Mar on the critically acclaimed movie, "Brokeback Mountain".

Congratulations to Heath on his best supporting actor nomination! May he be celebrating this special day surrounded by angels.

Breaking News! - Oscar Nominations

The Oscar nominations are in for the 81st annual Academy Awards.

Here are the nomination for all of the top categories.

Best Picture

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

"Frost/Nixon"

"Milk"

"The Reader"

"Slumdog Millionaire"

Best Actor

Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"

Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"

Sean Penn, "Milk"

Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

Best Actress

Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"

Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"

Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"

Meryl Streep, "Doubt"

Kate Winslet, "The Reader"

Best Supporting Actor

Josh Brolin, "Milk"

Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"

Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"

Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"

Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road"

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams, "Doubt"

Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Viola Davis, "Doubt"

Taraji P. Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler"

Best Director

David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon"

Gus Van Sant, "Milk"

Stephen Daldry, "The Reader"

Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Best Foreign Film

"The Baader Meinhof Complex," Germany

"The Class," France

"Departures," Japan"Revanche," Austria

"Waltz With Bashir," Israel

For a complete listing of all categories, visit http://www.oscars.com/.

Watch the Oscars on your local ABC TV station on Sunday, February 22nd at 8:00 pm EST. ABC's Red Carpet coverage starts one hour earlier.

Pic of the Day: Day One!

President Barack Obama makes a phone call in the president's official office on day one of his presidency.

Nominations for the 81st Annual Academy Awards

The nominees for the 81st annual Academy Awards will be announced later this morning at approximately 8:45 am (EST). Come back later tonight and see the complete listings for all the top categories.

Who will receive this year's Oscars. Tune in to ABC on Sunday, February 22nd at 8:00 pm (EST) for this year's telecast.

Parents' Group Protests Britney Spears Song

The Parents Television Council is warning parents about the Britney Spears song "If U Seek Amy" and urging radio stations not to broadcast it because the nonprofit organization believes it "would violate the broadcast indecency law" if aired between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Saying the title phrase quickly out loud produces a sound akin to spelling out the F-word, said PTC president Tim Winter. "There is no misinterpreting the lyrics to this song, and it's certainly not about a girl named Amy," he said of the track, the third single from Spears' new Jive album, "Circus."

"It's one thing for a song with these lyrics to be included on a CD so that fans who wish to hear it can do so, but it's an entirely different matter when this song is played over the publicly-owned airwaves, especially at a time when children are likely to be in the listening audience," Winter says.

Founded in 1995, the PTC describes itself as "a nonpartisan education organization advocating responsible entertainment." Jive was unavailable for comment on the PTC's advisory.

The controversy isn't stopping U.S. radio from playing "If You Seek Amy." Six top 40 stations have the song in rotation this week, enough to place the track at No. 92 on the Billboard Pop 100 chart. Leading the pack is WFLZ-Tampa, Fla., which has played it 19 times.

"We're confident the version of the song we air is not crossing any lines," program director Tommy Chuck told Billboard.com, adding that WFLX plays a Jive-created edit of the song that changes "Seek" to "See" as well as a jokey version in which morning host MJ shouts his name every time the word "Amy" appears.

Digitally, "Amy" has sold 107,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Source: Reuters.com

Sex And The City Stars Agree To Sequel Deals

The stars of Sex And The City have agreed deals to star in a big screen sequel, according to reports.

Just months after the first movie adaptation of the hit TV series became a box office hit - making more than $400 million (GBP285 million) worldwide - producers have gathered actresses Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis and Kim Cattrall together, and thrashed out lucrative agreements for them to reprise their roles.

A source tells Us Weekly magazine, "Not all the contracts are signed, but everyone is on board. It just happened."

Parker publicly rebuked Cattrall last year after she prematurely announced the sequel was going ahead during an interview on TV in Britain.

Parker said, "I'm thrilled to know Kim is excited but all the deals are not yet done... We need to figure this out in the next couple of
months."

And, last month, co-star Nixon announced, "We don't know if it's (sequel) coming up. We're in negotiation. I'm very hopeful, but certainly nothing is for sure. I don't think anyone's deals are done.

"We were very excited to get to do the first one, and we're keeping our fingers crossed that we get to do another one."

Shooting is scheduled to start this summer.

Caroline Kennedy Drops Out of Bid for Senate

Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn her name from consideration to take over Hillary Clinton's vacant Senate seat in New York, the daughter of the 35th President of the United States announced early Thursday.

On Wednesday, Kennedy, 51, telephoned the state's Gov. David A. Paterson, whose decision it is to choose Clinton's replacement, and apparently expressed her concern for her uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, according to The New York Times.

In a brief statement released by her spokesperson, Caroline Kennedy said only, "I informed Governor Paterson today that for personal reasons I am withdrawing my name from consideration for the United States Senate."

The elder Kennedy, 76, suffered a seizure Tuesday during President Obama's inaugural lunch and is being treated for a malignant brain tumor first diagnosed in May. He was released from the hospital on Wednesday.

Paterson is expected to announce his decision regarding the Senate seat on Saturday, according to The Times. Clinton resigned from the Senate late Wednesday, immediately after she was sworn in as secretary of state.

New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, 51, has also been mentioned as a likely appointee to the Senate.

Caroline Kennedy is the sole surviving child of slain President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Her bother John F. Kennedy, Jr., perished in a plane crash in 1999.

Source: People.com

Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade Will Honor 20+ Year LBGT Couples

Message from Cindy Brown, Proud Operations Director

Thanks to Miami Beach Mayor Matti Bower, the most famous sandbar in the world will join the ranks of world class cities like Sao Paulo, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, and Madrid that officially honor the gay & lesbian community by hosting its first city-supported pride event April 18, 2009.

"It is hard to believe a city as diverse and as inclusive of the GLBT community as our city has not had an official Miami Beach Gay Pride in the past," says Bower. "I am very proud to be a part of such a historical event in our community and will make every effort to ensure that PROUD, the Miami Beach Gay Pride celebration, will be a success."

The historic inaugural event will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2009, from noon until 7pm and will include a Parade down Ocean Drive, a Business Expo/Festival in Lummus Park, live entertainment and seaside tea dance, food and drinks.

One of the most exciting floats at the event will be one that the Miami Beach Gay Pride (MBGP) will be sponsoring to honor South Florida's longstanding LBGT couples. As such, the MBGP planning commitee is looking for out couples comprised of individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender and who have been and can document their committed relationship of 20 years or more. Couples with children - even adult-age children-are included and welcomed. Please pass this information along to your friends, clients, families, colleagues and co-workers, so that this message will have the optimum reach. We are proud to honor these couples and are excited for the maximum turn-out of participants.

Interested participants should register with Cindy Brown, Operations Director by calling 786.210.0613 or via email at cindy@miamibeachgaypride.com.

Thanks very much for spreading the word, and joining us to make PROUD, the first Miami Beach Gay Pride celebration, a spectacular success.

Visit the website www.miamibeachgaypride.com for details and information on this premiere event.

George Clooney Headed Back to ER

George Clooney has agreed to return to the show that launched his career: ER.

Sources close to the series tell People that ER co-creator John Wells has ordered a closed set to keep Clooney’s appearance under wraps.

It’s not known how many episodes will feature Clooney as the show films its final season. Neither NBC nor Warner Bros. reps would comment, nor did Clooney’s publicist.

Clooney, himself, denied reports last March he was returning.

Clooney’s Dr. Doug Ross was last seen on ER in a 2000 cameo walk-through in a remote lake scene with Ross’s ex-Juliana Marguilies.

Clooney is the most famous ER alum and Wells has always wanted him to return for the show’s last season.

The 15th season was extended by an extra four episodes by NBC executives last week

Source: People,com

Marc Anthony & Jennifer Lopez Share Romantic Duet at Inaugural Ball

That Marc Anthony sure knows how to end his set.

The crooner completed his inaugural performance by bringing "my wife," Jennifer Lopez, on to the stage with him, for a duet.

This thrilled the crowd at the Inauguration's Western Ball, held in the largest ballroom of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, where the guests also included Angela Bassett and Harold & Kumar and House star Kal Penn, reports The Washington Post.

The 10:25 p.m. appearance of Lopez also further put to rest rumors of a marital rift between the couple.

Earlier in the evening, Anthony had said, "I wrote this next song about Jennifer. I must have been psychic." The song was his decade-old "You Sang to Me."

"She didn't get the point, but eventually it worked," said Anthony, the Associated Press reports.

The couple ended their duet with a kiss. "Man, she's cute," Anthony said after Lopez exited the stage.

Source: People.com

Pic of the Day: Stairway to History!

Barack Obama arrives to his inauguration at the US Capitol.

Source: Getty Images

Amy Winehouse Was at Death's Door, Says Dad

Amy Winehouse came "close to death" twice during her worst moments, says her father.

Detailing his daughter's lowest points for the upcoming TV documentary Saving Amy, Mitch Winehouse says that while the media have been reveling in her downfall, "They didn't see her lying in bed for days in a dark room," he is quoted in Hello! magazine.

"She was close to death twice. We have been working a lot to get her to where she is right now," said the elder Winehouse, who now claims his daughter is drug-free.

Amy's mother, Janis, also appears in Saving Amy – and is highly critical of Winehouse's husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, who announced last week he is divorcing the singer after seeing photos of her with hunky rugby player Josh Bowman.

Monday brought tabloid reports that Amy Winehouse, 25, has moved from Bowman on to another man at the St. Lucia resort where she is vacationing.

Mitch Winehouse is quoted in Hello! as saying about Fielder-Civil's intention to divorce: "I had to call Amy before she heard about it from someone else. She asked me, 'Daddy, why does he wants to divorce me?' I said, 'You know I don't like him, but I have to admit that your behavior with another man is not what marriage is all about.' "

Source: People.com

Gay Rights Agenda Now on White House Website

The new administration in the United States has already posted a lengthy statement on gay rights on the White House website.

The redesigned site is intended to "serve as a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world," said Macon Phillips, the Director of New Media for the White House.

"Millions of Americans have powered President Obama's journey to the White House, many taking advantage of the internet to play a role in shaping our country's future.

"WhiteHouse.gov is just the beginning of the new administration's efforts to expand and deepen this online engagement."

Under the heading 'Civil Rghts' the new administration sets out its agenda for the LGBT community.

"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."

– Barack Obama, June 1, 2007

* Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, colour, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.

* Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

* Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defence of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognised unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.

* Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.

* Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.

* Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.

* Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma — too often tied to homophobia — that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.

* Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.

Source: PinkNews.co.uk

Jim Carrey "Comes Out" at Sundance

Jim Carrey outed his new movie "I Love You Phillip Morris" at the Sundance Film Festival this week, taking a risk in the gay romantic comedy by sharing passionate moments with co-star Ewan McGregor.

Based on a true story, Carrey plays cop-turned-conman Steven Russell, who falls in love with his cellmate Phillip Morris (McGregor) and escapes four times from the Texas jail where he is being held in a bid to be with his partner.

For Carrey, one of Hollywood's biggest box office draws in mainstream comedies such as "Liar, Liar" and "Bruce Almighty," taking the role in an independent film like "Philip Morris" could prove to be a real gamble.

Carrey, 47, risks losing the audiences that flock to his mainstream comedies such as "Yes Man," which has grossed about $100 million at U.S. box offices since its December release.

In the past, when he has starred in a movie that is not a broad comedy, it often flops.

Carrey's serious portrayal of late comedian Andy Kaufman in the 1999 drama "Man on the Moon" tanked at U.S. box offices with only $34 million and his 2007 horror movie "The Number 23" also stumbled with $35 million.

Yet, early reviews are good for "Phillip Morris" and, for their part, Carrey, McGregor and the directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa told reporters at a Monday news conference at Sundance, the top U.S. independent film festival, that the movie should not be pigeonholed.

"I don't think it's a gay movie," Carrey said. "It really is about the lengths we go to for acceptance and love."

While McGregor has played gay roles before, Carrey has not and the comic actor acknowledged a few initial fears.

"If I were to be really honest, there's a homophobic voice that rises up inside me and goes 'Gee this is kind of scary,'" he said.

"First of all, what will people think? And second of all, will I like it? Will I like kissing Ewan?" he added with a laugh.

McGregor said he and Carrey performed intimate scenes together on the first day of filming. He described it as "strangely usual. It's not terribly much of a big deal."

"Phillip Morris" producer Andrew Lazar said he was drawn to the love story of the movie and believed it had universal appeal.

"We've all been lovesick and I think anybody, whether you're gay or straight, can identify with that," he said.

So far, critics like what they see.

Showbusiness newspaper The Hollywood Reporter said "Carrey is at his nimble best" and Daily Variety said the movie will leave "audiences both laughing and stunned."

The Times of London gave the movie four out of five stars, describing it as an "extraordinary film that serves as a reminder of just how good Carrey can be when he's not tied into a generic Hollywood crowd-pleaser."

Still, the critics suggested the film could be a hard sell to broad audiences because of the gay storyline.

The "sexual bluntness of Carrey and Ewan McGregor's onscreen romance could limit the film's exposure," wrote Daily Variety.

Source: Reuters.com

Barack Obama Becomes U.S. President & Turns Page on Bush Years

Barack Obama took power as the first black U.S. president on Tuesday and quickly turned the page on the Bush years, urging Americans to rally to end the worst economic crisis in generations and repair the U.S. image abroad.

"Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America," Obama said, addressing an exuberant sea of people in an inaugural speech that was optimistic but realistic about the challenges ahead.

He pledged bold and swift action to bring new life to the U.S. economy and declared to millions watching abroad: "We are ready to lead once more."

Underscoring the tough road ahead, Wall Street ushered in the new presidency with a record Inauguration Day slide amid signs the global banking crisis was far from over.

Hundreds of thousands of people erupted in cheers on Washington's National Mall grounds as they watched Obama stand with one hand raised, one hand on a Bible used to swear in Abraham Lincoln in 1861, and repeat the brief oath to become the 44th U.S. president.

Beaming, the new president kissed his wife, Michelle, and his school-age daughters, Malia and Sasha. Then he turned to the crowds stretching into the distance on a cold, wintry day.

"Obama, Obama," the crowd cheered.

Obama, a Democrat, succeeded Republican George W. Bush, who served two terms and left office having plumbed record lows in approval ratings and leaving a legacy of two wars and an economy in recession.

Obama offered a sharp break from Bush, emphasizing the need for sacrifice and pledging to restore U.S. global standing, responsibly end the war in Iraq, and focus less on the size of government and more on whether it works.

During a triumphant ride down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House in a heavily armored limousine, Obama and his wife thrilled wildly cheering crowds by getting out of the limo and walking a part of the way on foot.

Security personnel -- part of a contingent that numbered in the thousands -- kept close watch.

Obama has to hit the ground running given the state of the economy and the U.S. Senate confirmed several key Obama appointments, including Steven Chu as energy secretary and Tom Vilsack for agriculture.

The Senate Finance Committee is expected to vote on Timothy Geithner as treasury secretary on Thursday. Hillary Clinton, Obama's fierce rival for the Democratic presidential nomination and his choice as secretary of state, is expected to be approved by the full Senate on Wednesday.

The inauguration of Obama, 47, the son of a black Kenyan father and a white mother from Kansas, was steeped in symbolism for African-Americans, who for generations suffered slavery and then racial segregation that made them second-class citizens.

The jubilant mood was jolted by the collapse of Massachusetts Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy at an inaugural lunch honoring Obama on Capitol Hill. Kennedy, 76, who underwent surgery in June for a brain tumor, appeared to suffer convulsions, a congressional aide said.

Wheeled out on a stretcher, the brother of the late President John F. Kennedy was driven away by an ambulance to a hospital, where he was described as awake and answering questions.

Polls show widespread U.S. public support for Obama and optimism about the coming four years of his presidency. But Obama sought to temper soaring expectations with reality.

The new president cited the worst U.S. economic conditions in 70 years and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars as having put the country in crisis. "What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility," he said.

He said the "badly weakened" U.S. economy will be a top priority as he works with the Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress on an estimated $825 billion economic stimulus package.

The economy had fallen victim to "greed and irresponsibility" and an avoidance of hard choices, Obama said. The economic crisis showed that markets can spin out of control "without a watchful eye," he added, signaling he would put a priority on revamping financial regulations.

Obama will meet his senior economic advisers on Wednesday to discuss the stimulus plan.

Turning to foreign policy and the standing of the United States abroad, Obama vowed the United States would leave Iraq "responsibly" and help Afghanistan win a hard-earned peace.

He did not provide a specific timetable for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, but under a U.S.-Iraqi agreement, U.S. troops would depart by the end of 2011. Obama has pledged to increase U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan to turn back a resurgent Taliban.

He was due to meet military commanders on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of accelerating the U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq, and the need for more forces in Afghanistan.

In a clear reference to harsh U.S. interrogation practices of terrorism suspects that have been widely condemned abroad, Obama vowed a change, saying he rejected as false "the choice between our safety and our ideals."

There has been broad world disapproval of many Bush policies in the U.S. war on terrorism that Bush declared after the September 11 attacks in 2001 that deeply shaped his eight years in office.

After years of tense relations with Muslims, Obama offered conciliatory words to the Islamic community, saying he would seek a "new way forward" based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

But on the issue of terrorism, he said: "You cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."

Bush, his public approval ratings in the basement as the cheers for Obama resounded around the city, left Washington for his home state of Texas after the inauguration.

The recession has saddled the country with a $1 trillion deficit and 11 million people unemployed and has become the top concern of the U.S. public. Economic woes helped Obama beat Republican John McCain in the November presidential election.

"I don't care what color he is," said Garrell Winstead, a 67-year-old real estate investor from Cincinnati, Ohio who was in Tuesday's crowd. "If the economy doesn't improve and if he doesn't create enough jobs, patience will evaporate."

Obama gave no specifics about his proposed stimulus package. But he said the plan that would pay for new roads, bridges, electrical grids and other projects would set the foundation for future growth.

He also repeated campaign promises to "restore science to its rightful place" -- the Bush administration was criticized for packing scientific advisory panels with industry representatives and ideologues. He also promised to put technology to work transforming healthcare, and action toward an alternative energy policy.

Source: Reuters.com

It's Inauguration Day!

Change has finally arrived.

New Hope for our country is here.

Let's celebrate the inauguration of

the 44th President of the United States.

President Barack Obama!

Millions Await for this Historic Event

Barack Obama is poised to make history on Tuesday as the first black U.S. president, buoyed by surging public confidence for dealing with the biggest economic headaches in 70 years, two wars and a web of other international problems.

Obama, 47, the son of a black Kenyan father and a white mother from Kansas, will take the oath of office at 12 p.m. EST on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, his hand placed on a Bible used by Abraham Lincoln at his first inauguration in 1861.

His inauguration as the 44th president caps hopes and dreams of, among others, generations of African-Americans who suffered slavery and then racial segregation that made them second-class citizens.

Crowds of people bundled up against the freezing temperatures streamed before dawn toward the inauguration site and the national mall, a long grassy park that stretches from the Capitol Building in central Washington.

More than 1 million people were expected to fill the Mall to be as close as possible to the event and watch it on huge television screens.

Traffic backed up at parking lots at metro rail stops and even at 5 a.m. trains were packed. Some die-hards camped out to be the first through security checkpoints, where crowds quickly built up.

Overnight, the capital buzzed with "Obama-mania," with well-wishers, many in tuxedos and formal gowns, attending formal balls in a run-up to a bigger round of inaugural bashes Tuesday.

No president has begun his four-year term in office with as much public confidence -- a 78 percent approval rating in the most recent Gallup poll -- and a sharp contrast with outgoing President George W. Bush, whose ratings plumbed record lows, weighed down by unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the worst economic problems since the Great Depression.

Thousands of security personnel were in place to maintain order and guard against any attempt to disrupt the inauguration. Much of the city center was barricaded and shut to private cars.

"Slavery to History, The Obama Inauguration," was the slogan on a handwritten cardboard sign held by a smiling man on a downtown sidewalk.

In an eagerly anticipated inauguration address he has been working on for weeks, Obama will rally Americans to an era of responsibility, urging them to join in a spirit of unity to take on difficult issues.

"Government can only do so much," he told participants in a service project honoring slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday. "We're going to have to take responsibility -- all of us."

Obama in recent days has stressed that Americans should expect even rougher economic times and that his plan to revive the struggling economy will take time to work.

The president-to-be appeared in a giddy mood on Monday night as he spent the evening at dinners honoring former Republican rival John McCain, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Vice President-elect Joe Biden.

At the event for McCain, he could not resist referring to the sometimes testy campaign debates in which they took part.

"I'm here tonight to say a few words about an American hero I have come to know very well and admire very much -- Senator John McCain. And then, according to the rules agreed to by both parties, John will have approximately 30 seconds to make a rebuttal," he said.

His eight years in power over, Bush is returning home to Texas on Tuesday.

Bush's vice president, Dick Cheney, 67, pulled a muscle in his back while moving boxes and will be in a wheelchair for the inauguration ceremony, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

The incoming vice president, Joe Biden, was chagrined to hear his wife, Jill, make news by telling "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that her husband had been offered his choice of two plum jobs, vice president or secretary of state.

Internal deliberations over top-level jobs are usually kept secret. Biden's spokeswoman, Elizabeth Alexander, later issued a statement saying Obama had offered Biden only the vice presidency.

Obama, who campaigned for the presidency by criticizing Bush, is to spend the morning with him before taking the oath of office. By all accounts, the two men have gotten along well since Obama won, and Bush has repeatedly spoken warmly about him.

Obama and his wife, Michelle, and the Bidens are to attend a church service on Tuesday morning at St. John's Episcopal Church. Then they will have coffee with the Bushes and the Cheneys at the White House.

The group will proceed to the U.S. Capitol for a time-honored ceremony in which Obama will repeat a short oath, pledging he will "faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Source: Reuters.com

Jennifer Lopez Starstruck by Barack Obama

Even celebrities get starstruck. Just ask Jennifer Lopez.

At the Latino Inaugural Gala in Washington, D.C. on Sunday evening, the singer-actress said even with all of Hollywood flocking to the city for the inauguration, President-elect Barack Obama was undeniably the biggest A-lister.

"He is the biggest star here, even though it's chock-full of celebrities," said Jennifer Lopez. "The night he won the election, you could feel it in the air. I was … watching him with tears in my eyes, thinking, 'Yes. Something is different. Something is happening.' We're very excited."

"Washington's never had a bigger rock star at the helm," her husband Marc Anthony agreed.

At the event, Rosario Dawson – whose Voto Latino organization worked to register young Latino voters – said her pinch-me moment was meeting the Obama family Sunday afternoon at the We Are One concert event at the Lincoln Memorial.

"It was really incredible. They're really poised and incredible and just magnificent people," the actress told PEOPLE at the Latino Inaugural Gala. "I'm sort of, like, freaking out right now."

Throughout the evening, guests milled about the vast marble ballroom in Washington D.C.'s Union station, noshing on quesadillas and egg-salad sandwiches on mini-croisssants as a mariachi band played in the background.

Other celebrities in attendance included George Lopez, David Archuleta and CNN's Soledad O'Brien.

Shakira, the last celebrity to walk the red carpet, arrived sheathed in a green Oscar de la Renta gown in time to perform close to midnight.

The pop singer was also pumped up about meeting the President-elect earlier in the day at the Lincoln Monument. "He said that he had my music (on his) iPod," she told PEOPLE. "I hope he was not being just nice."

Source: People.com

New Release Tuesday!

As we celebrate the inauguration of our 44th president, the entertainment world is "inagurating" new releases today.

Here is what's new on CD, DVD & Blu-Ray:

CD - Music

Frank Sinatra - Seduction: Sinatra Sings of Love

Gervaso Silva - Sade in Bossa: Bossa Now! Volume 7

Mariah Carey - The Ballads (shown above)

Markus Schulz - Progression Progressed

Matt York - Mine

Various Artists - L Word: Menage a Trois Original Soundtrack

DVD & Blu-Ray - Motion Pictures

12 Going on 30 (B)

City of Ember (D)

The Deal (B/D)

The Express (B/D)

Igor (B/D)

King Kong (2005) (B)

Max Payne (B/D) (shown above)

The Notebook (B)

The Pink Panther (B)

Saw V: Director's Cut (B/D)

Unfaithful (B)

DVD & Blu-Ray - TV Shows

Criss Angel Mindfreak - Season 4 (D)

Emergency! - Season 5 (D)

Moonlight - Complete Series (D) (shown above)

My Three Sons - Season 1, Volume 2 (D)

The Powerpuff Girls - Complete Anniversary Collection (D)

The Rockford Files - Season 6th (D)

(B) - Available on Blu-Ray only

(D) - Available on DVD only

(B/D) - Blu-Ray & DVD formats available