I love this story, click here.

Listen to this.

My sister Lydia has Downs Syndrome and so this story is unavoidably personal for me. I did think about making her the topic of my blog, but its hard enough taking criticism for my writing on Obama let alone my own sibling.

Eating my hat

Don't click here.

Hmm yes well, ah, bugger.

Anyway I'm delighted.

Skags

I've just had my first real experience of a crime.

I live in a London basement flat in a good bit of a 'bad area.' Apparently there is a nearby bail house. What's that I ask the police? Oh could I be anymore sheltered?

Crime statistics, the police, skags, I LIVE IN DEVON, what is this tomfoolery you speak of?

I'm sat on my bed, quietly deciding if I should sell my Mulberry bag on ebay for a couple of hundred pounds so I can afford a Mui Mui Tassel bag when outside my very window a similar conundrum is taking place. Namely, shall I break into this house so that I can get my next fix of heroin?

I am amazed at my senses really, my ears were immediately alerted to an alien sound outside he french doors in my bedroom. The quiet movement of something unnatural, the feel of a hand against the wall and a firm push at the door, once and then twice.

I have to whole heartedly commend my housemate on his immediate action in calling the police, no messing about. 'THAT'S IT, I'VE HAD ENOUGH!'

And the police were amazing; for all the stick the Met get in London for various terrorist cock ups, the assistance I received in this house, on this night (Obama has infiltrated my mind) has made me feel safe and protected.

Four police personnel arrived within minutes of us dialing 999, I thought they would think we were wasting their time, er it's London, we've got actual stabbings to deal with love, but they were on the ball and fierce about reassuring us.

Our neighbours have a wendy house for their children to play in, and that was the first place the police looked for the intruder before bolting across the gardens. Next time they said they would bring their sniffer dogs.

Fuck; next time?!

Obama and the Puppy

Puppy over Policy?

When Barack Obama promised his daughters Sasha and Malia a new puppy little did he know that in some circles the new first puppy is more important than Obama's policies. 

For example you can now vote on youtube for the puppy you feel should be in the White House, bearing in mind that the first family do have some special requirements. 

Speaking to the BBC Barack Obama has specified that he would like a resuce dog, 'a mut, like me' while his daughter 'Malia is allergic and so the dog has to be hypoallergenic.'

Playing the waiting game

Malia and Sasha are going to have to wait until January 20th for their puppy, as their Mum, Michelle Obama has said it wouldn't be fair to get the puppy until the big move to the White House. 

It's not just Obama's daughters who will have to wait, if reports about Obama's secretary of state are to be believed Hillary Clinton will be waiting to be appointed come January. 

Clinton and Obama on the same team?

This cannot be true. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama hate each other more than Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston hate each other. As if he will choose her. 

All this speculation is the media equivalent of selling stories during the silly season months of July and August. 

Trawling the internet there is no definitive quote from Barack Obama on who he will approach to be his Secretary of State. 

NBC and The Washington Post have reported that Mrs Clinton was under consideration for the top US diplomatic position because she flew to Mr Obama's hometown of Chicago for 'personal business.'

Neither her aides or his aides would comment on the nature of the visit which took part behind closed doors in his Chicago office. 

In fact, the only person to make any sort of official statement would be ex President Bill Clinton. 

Can you offer any clarity Bill?

Speaking at an economic conference in Kuwait, Bill Clinton said, 

"If he (Obama) decided to ask her and they did it together, I think she'll be really great as a secretary of state." 

"She worked very hard for his election after the primary fight with him, and so did I, and we were very glad that he won and we have a lot of confidence that he can do a good job.

"But she didn't do what she did with the hope or expectation of getting any kind of job offer, much less having this discussed."

"The truth is I don't know," he said. 

That makes two of us then Bill.

EXCLUSIVE - OBAMA'S ELECTION PHOTOS

Some very intimate photos from election night.

You've got to love Sarah Palin

'Off the record' becomes public...



1. She refused help?! WHAT?
2. Republicans are still looking for her to stand in 2012? I hope I'm dead.
3. Knowledgability?! Translation? Fox News is bollocks.

Bending The Arc of History

Change has now come to America

What does 'change' mean? Is it pure rhetoric? Have people voted for a man on the basis that he is a great orator with unbelievable charisma?

Don't be ridiculous.

At the most basic level 'change' means a rejection of Republican policies, of George W Bush's eight years in presidency.

George Bush Junior is the most unpopular President EVER. He has led the American people to vote left of centre they were so unhappy with the status quo.

This is a rejection of Bush's reign of horror (they did elect him a second time...you can't really gloss over that), this is a victory for democracy.

Obama's campaign was spot on; emphasize the change and you have appealed to the 80% of Americans who felt the USA had lost it's bearings.

Obama faces a country on its knees and a Presidency which history may not treat kindly. I hope it doesn't beat him.

One man can't withdraw peacefully from Iraq, bring democracy to Afghanistan, make healthcare more affordable and avaliable AND rescuce the economy but he is the best of America and we are ready for him.

President Obama

So he's done it, 'the history man,' he's bring 'change'. Sorry I haven't updated, I'm pulling my hair out trying to find words that express how I feel about it without using huge cliches.

His acceptance speech was stupendous, bending the 'arc of history,' awesome, inspiring, how a president should be.

In one single moment America has been transformed, and Obama has done that. How and why?

1. He is the first black president in the White House. (Yeah he is, oh you knew...oh ok) How far away from that is Britain? We barely have any chief execs who are black.
2. His foreign policy, (ending the war in Iraq etc) has instantly dissolved much of the animosity which has built up over the last eight years.
3. His blinding charisma moves everyone.

I hardly remember Bill Clinton and so in my mind, America has always been associated with George Bush Junior. It has been such a delight to watch America transform from the narrow minded isolationists George Bush typified to the progressive superstars Barack Obama embodies.

Maya Angeou's reaction:

At a time where language is banal and insignificant it takes true talent to be able to comment along side history. Maya Angelou sincerely expresses everything I want to say. Watch it here.

Asked, 'Who were you thinking about while watching the election?' She said, 'I was thinking of all of us before...I am so filled with pride for my country..what do you say we are growing up...I'm so grateful!

'Look at our souls, look at our hearts, we have elected a black man to talk for us'

She described Obama as 'intelligent...he has common sense which is I'm sorry to say is most uncommon...he is inclusive as opposed to exclusive..he is the President of the bigots.'

Breaking News: Barack Obama's Grandmother Has Died

Barack Obama's Grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, 86 has lost her battle with cancer.

Barack Obama recieved this news before a rally at Charlotte, North Carolina and has made this statement with his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng.

"She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility.

"She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances.

"She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure."

When Barack Obama chose to take time out from his campaign to fly to Hawaii it went unsaid that his Grandmother didn't have long to live.

This makes it no less tragic. The woman who raised Barack Obama will never see his presidential campaign through to the very end.

Can he be stopped?

Both John McCain aka 'Mac' or 'Rocky' and Barack Obama have been today fighting it out for votes.

Obama is on the offence, targetting states that George Bush won in 2004, such as North Carolina, Virginia or Florida.

McCain, traiing in every poll is gunning for votes in a marathon of state visits namely Florida, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada.

Both presidential candidates are urging everyone to get out and vote.

Who will be the 44th president of the United States, winning the magic number of 270 Electoral College Votes?

How on earth are you supposed to keep up?

To be honest I feel swamped with information about Obama and I'm not even in America. Check out The Times' 'state by state guide' by clicking here.

Are we in an 'American age of Transformation'?

Obama has said, 'I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views.'

Will eight years of the Bush regime have meant that Americans join to vote for Obama in hope of 'change.' My guess is that is probably isn't just Colin Powell who has swapped camps, because 'We are better people than the last eight years.'