mardi 20 janvier 2009

INAUGURATION DAY

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INAUGURATION DAY -BARACK OBAMA



Today, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United-States, and a new family will make the White House their home.

- The White House has been the home of every U.S. President except Washington, who semected the site for the building.

- The White House has been called "Executive Mansion", the "President's Palace" and "the President's House". Its current name was made official in 1901 by Theodore Roosevelt.

- The White House has 132 rooms and 35 bathrooms, but at most, only 15 rooms have ever ben set aside for the First Family, according to the White House Historical Association.

TODAY, Obama will stand on the steps of the Capitol building and place his hand on the same Bible that Abraham Lincoln used at his Inauguration. The Chief Justice of the United States, John G. Roberts Jr., will administer the oath of office. The 44th President will promise to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
After President Obama gives his Inaugural Address, poet Elizabeth Alexander and the Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery will speak. Then the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters will perform the national anthem.First Days
On Wednesday, after the speeches, the parade and 10 formal parties (the Inaugural balls), Obama will begin the hard task of leading the nation. He told TIME magazine that he has a long list of goals: helping the economy recover, creating jobs, revitalizing public schools and working with other governments to solve problems. "Two years from now," said Obama, "I want the American people to be able to say, 'I feel like the government's working for me.' "

In the United States, the oath of office for the President of the United States is specified in the U.S. Constitution (Article II, Section 1):


" I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I 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.


The oath may be sworn or affirmed. Although not present in the text of the Constitution, it has become a standard practice for modern presidents to add "so help me God" at the end of the oath.





JF KENNEDY'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS

lundi 19 janvier 2009

MARTIN LUTHER KING'S DAY -19 JANUARY

Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.
On January 19, America honors one of history's most important civil rights leaders
On January 19, the USA will pause to remember civil rights hero with a national holiday. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most influential and respected civil rights leaders of the 1950s and 60s. King inspired the world and helped bring about laws that ensure fairness and equality for all Americans. A firm supporter of bringing about change with nonviolent protest, King's own life ended violently when he was shot on April 4, 1968.

All across the country, people will remember King's efforts and honor his legacy. In addition to public ceremonies and commemorative marches, thousands will participate in service projects. Throughout his life, King advocated lifting up the less fortunate and empowering the voiceless by attending to their basic needs: providing food and shelter, teaching them to read. On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, individuals and service groups will conduct food drives, community clean-ups, literacy workshops and more.

US AIRWAYS PLANE CRASH INTO HUDSON RIVER, NYC



A passenger plane has crashed into the Hudson River in New York City. According to the live pictures on MSNBC, passengers, some wearing life jackets, are being rescued from the chilly waters.
According to the TV reports, Flight 1549 was en route from La Guardia to Charlotte, North Carolina, carrying 148 passengers and 5 crew members. Prior to going down in the water the pilot reported a bird strike after hitting a flock of geese. The plane was in the air for just six minutes after take-off.
Temperatures in New York are in the low 20s. Within minutes of hitting the water, the jet was nearly completely submerged. Still, there have been no reports of fatalities as a flotilla of boats — many of them water taxis — converged on the plane to rescue the passengers and crew.