Archive for Administration

Hard to Resist the Human Adventure

June 1, 2009 at 5:42 am · Filed under Administration, dining out, First family, health, Michelle Obama, President Obama ·Tagged , , ,

Two days have passed, and I’m still thinking about the reality of the current Administration. I promised her a trip to New York and the theatre after the whole election process was over. That was the way President Obama explained their night out in New York City. 

My take: No explanation needed. You two have given the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers image a heightened perspective. After all you are the President and the First Lady and when you waltz into a room or glide into a theatre, the literal swoon takes over.

The approach and philosophy are such human qualities. It’s so wonderful. As noted before it is terrific to have an Administration that’s in touch. That has a life.

Sure we don’t jet off to New York in Air Force One or its cousin smaller plane and then take the helicopter into the city for dinner and a play. We aren’t the First Family. What do you want them to do, take the $25 bus from DC to New York and miss the play?

Time is too critical; there are too many matters that need desk time before the promise gets fulfilled. Let’s not forget security. It is the elephant in the room at every juncture. It’s in place for a reason. Transport them in the safest way possible. 

Anyway the transportation accouterments come with the office; better to use them than to take the plane for a flyover publicity stunt. Oh, that genius of a marketing person is history!

The homage to Dan Barber is well deserved. He is the New York king of local product and leader of the East Coast freshness movement with his New York restaurant Blue Hill and his upstate dining experience, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, a restaurant and a working farm (The Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture): Perfect Symbiosis. 

The First Family has very carefully chosen their dining out evenings. The fact that they have date night just enhances their human quality appeal. The streets of New York were lined with the gawkers. Why not? Gawk away; it is a privilege to see them out and about. The New York Times photo shows the excitement.31obama.650

The Fairy Tale continues.

That’s great news for everyone.

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It’s Not a Bad Word Anymore

May 22, 2009 at 6:53 am · Filed under Administration, dining out, First family, news ·Tagged ,

37605I know the last Administration thought if you said “French’s” mustard, you were somehow supporting the French!

Those days are long gone. It was a tough 8 years, and now we are friends with everyone. Well, almost everyone.

Yet, we do have a little problem: Grey Poupon. Please, President Obama, you know how I elated I am about you as President and continue to glow with your many improvements and changes, but seriously, just ask for mustard and take what you get. No need for name calling, especially what some consider high-end calling.

Remember the beer debacle during the long election process, well, this is its cousin. Those who are not as accustomed as you and Michelle are to dining out, may consider this branding a sign of elitism. I call it “mustard.” You can, too. What you serve in the White House Mess will be what you want and you can ask for whatever–your secret is safe. No one will tell.

When dining out, the world is watching. It’s a good watch to see that you are out and about. Keep on dining out. Forget the state dinners; that’s not where the action is. It’s the restaurant scene: Dining Out by the President and the First Lady shows the country that you are in touch. That you are human and enjoy many of the same activities as your constituents.  

Keep up the good work.

Celebrate life with an all-American favorite.

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Here a Food, There A Food; Everywhere a Recall

March 26, 2009 at 9:18 pm · Filed under Administration, FDA, food ·Tagged ,

A day, scratch that, make that a half a day, barely goes by without a new food recall or food scare. This stuff just keeps on pumping out. Sara Lee recalled Ball Park Beef Franks because someone was not paying attention and they may not even be beef. They may contain meats not listed on the label such as pork or poultry or may even be cheesy. Products need to match labels. Labels need to tell the whole story.

Case in point:  Back to Nature Foods recalled the Nantucket blend trail mix this week because they  may contain pistachio nuts. You can be allergic to one type of nut and fine with all the others. The ingredient list needs to be thorough and accurate. Mistakes like this can be life-threatening. Yes, you could eat every nut in the world except the pistachio which could do you in. You need to know.

Of course, we have plenty of knowledge about peanut butter, or do we, since this is an old problem that’s still with us. The first reports came out in January, and that is the problem with a potential salmonella outbreak. Costs are excessive and trust can be lost for a significantly long time. Remember the tomato scare of summer 2008?

Who do we trust? How? What about the report that says many food problems cannot be traced to the source. Swell.

The new FDA holds the promise. The Administration has found well qualified individuals who hopefully will be able to right this disaster of an A09_09_22_thumbgency.

Let’s remember the first word of the FDA’s name–FOOD.

We can no longer sidestep our safety.

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The White House Rocks

March 20, 2009 at 12:51 pm · Filed under Administration, First family, Michelle Obama ·Tagged ,

First Lady Michelle Obama is like a magician who appears out of nowhere and electrifies the room. She’s everywhere with her smile encouraging everyone in the city. Washington, DC, as a city, needs the boost, and certainly as a nation we need her vibrancy. Yesterday she demonstrated her understanding of “how tough things can be” by visiting Anacostia High School, a school that often makes negative headlines, and sharing her beginnings with a small hand-picked group of juniors and seniors.

Her message was clear: You can succeed. To drive her point even further, she, in celebration of National Women’s History Month, enlisted other famous woman to go out into the communities and help young people understand that success can be reached. With the likes of Alicia Keys, Sheryl Crow, and Alfre Woodward and a host of other successful women, the message emanated from the White House to the schools. Accomplished women showing other young women that their future does not have to be bleak, that they can overcome obstacles.

The women traveled to 11 nearby schools to show that The White House is not just a building in a history book, but that it is nearby and is a place with a strong message: success can be achieved. Students were chosen for their athletic and academic achievements and included young men and women who had the opportunity to meet headliners and sit with them and ask questions.

The day concluded with a special dinner for 110 young women who shared dinner with the luminaries who had taken their message around town earlier in the day.

Lots of Firsts in this new Administration.

This First Lady gets it.

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Somebody IS Listening

March 14, 2009 at 8:37 pm · Filed under Administration, FDA, food ·Tagged

cantaloupesIt sure does get tedious to say, “wash the outside of the melon.” Everybody looks and you and wonders if you’ve flipped, but you know better. Melons, especially cantaloupes, have a little bit of a history with salmonella. Yes, it’s been traced to the outside skin and rind and with proper scrubbing even when there is no known outbreak, you might be safe.

Food safety–that’s a duplicitous expression. We expect our food to be safe. We want to believe that the fresh food we buy has been purchased from a safe facility and that prepared food has gone through the proper handling and  proper care in packaging. Yet we are continually bombarded by bleak news. Peanut butter was the most mystifying. Tons of violations at one plant became a nationwide recall of a food staple.  Last week it was alfalfa sprouts–not the first time those crunchy little guys caused a problem.

Well, today we heard the President say he was creating a special advisory group to oversee the whole issue of food safety. This, mind you, was after he appointed a new head at the FDA, Dr. Margaret Hamburg, who actually is a bioterrorism expert with extensive familiarity in dealing with pandemic flu possibilities.

Hello, what about me the grocery shopper? The advisory group is going to look out for us. They’re the back-up team that’ll  be in place to make certain that processes are in place and that science matches logic.  I want to know that my food is safe. That it actually has passed inspection and not just magically appeared on the shelf.

It’s about salmonella, e-coli, and all the other possible foodborne illnesses that could occur. Let’s pay attention and be tough. Close down plants that sneak past inspectors. No halfway points. All or nothing.

Let’s take the worry off the dinner plate and enjoy ourselves. I am encouraged that a proactive step has been taken. Let’s make sure it produces results.

I’m watching.

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Signed, Sealed and Delivered

February 1, 2009 at 3:24 am · Filed under Administration, Biden, Economy, First family, food, President Obama, washington post

Amazing what’s going on. It’s a true lovefest, and no one wants it to end. Here we are at almost week 2 of this new Administration and everything is still darling. We love Him and Her, and don’t forget the two young ladies. Everything is smooth, fun, and seemingly public.

Look, this is the week that was. We learned that you could be yourself if you worked in the White House on weekends. No need to dress up. No coat and tie rule. You’ve come to work, so work. That’s pretty straightforward. Leave your torn jeans at home and come on in.

Washington’s real welcome to the new President came in the form of a snow storm which was followed by an ice storm. Now people here do not drive well normally and when it snows, it’s better to sit it out for a while as the SUV’ers think it’s a breeze, but somehow they wind up on the nightly news as the vehicles that overturned and blocked lanes of traffic –too fast, big guys.

No one likes ice. It’s very hard to drive in and the coating it gave our snow was miserable. Somewhere in the middle of a meeting, a publicly recorded event, the new President interjected how tough Chicago is as no school/snow days are unheard of.  He said Malia even commented that they go out for recess everyday in Chicago, not just when it’s above freezing, Washington style. Welcome to the snow-adverse city with minimal amounts creating cancelled classes and delayed openings. Yes, I believe the new President will be able to figure out how to fix this little issue, too. Two words: snow removal.

It wasn’t the fact that it snowed that was interesting. It was how human the new President was to comment on a life issue, a family matter. Family is clearly important to this new DC resident who speaks of having breakfast with his family prior to a school send-off and the 30-second walk to his office. He is delighted to have this time together. Listen up official Washington: That means dinnertime, too. This man wants dinner with his family. He is not afraid to go back to the office after family time. The message is clearly something that can translate into many lives. Be home. Spend some time together. Make it quality time.

Let’s stop here a minute: there was plenty of other news from the White House this week. We do not need to talk Stimulus, Tarp, bipartisan cooperation, etc. etc. Those weighty matters are with us. It is much healthier to focus on the newness of life in this city. The fact that we again have a pulse.

Michelle Obama was a darling of the media this week, too. Deservedly so. She championed Lilly Ledbetter who was deprived an equal salary so many years ago when she found out it was too late to complain. The new Equal Pay Bill, aptly called the “Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act,” assures workers more time to complain about unequal pay in the workplace. If Michelle Obama continues to champion women’s rights and fairness, this country will thrive even higher.

Yet, there’s always time to go out: To celebrate the city. Why not grab your new friend Jill, the vice-President’s wife, and meet up with Mayor Fenty and his wife for a little lunch at one of my favorite downtown restaurants, Georgia Brown’s. I sure hope she ordered the chicken livers. They are dynamite.

Every restaurant within close proximity of the White House should be keeping its fingers crossed as the two publicly mentioned outings have been to nearby restaurants, easy walks, if that were only possible.  Who’ll be next? You can hear Ten Penh, Bombay Club, and Old Ebbitt Grill shouting, pick me, pick me. Wherever the Obamas, individually or as a family dine, they will make a lot of people happy. Having the first family eat out is good for business, and smiling faces are especially appreciated at this economically gloomy time.

The city’s mood is more upbeat. It’s been a good ride. Let’s hang on. This city somehow feels so much more normal. We have real people in charge with the interest of the country and their values at the forefront. Score another victory for this new President and his family.

Keep on the Normal Track.

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I Heard It Again

January 27, 2009 at 1:14 am · Filed under Administration, Economy, life, President Obama, washington post ·Tagged

What a treat. Every time I hear the two words together, I think I am imagining things. That it’s a dream. A sweet one, but a dream.

Yes, it is true, the words “President Obama” have a sweet ring. It is not fantasy nor A Dream Deferred. This life had been deferred, but now it is fulfilled. It is reality, and a very good one at that. Instead of waiting for the first 100 days, the talking heads are focusing on the first 100 hours, and what a whirlwind it has been. Instead of slowly acclimating to the new position, this President and his Administration have hit the ground running, at record speed. So much has been done already. So many issues in play.

We do not even need to talk specifics. Rather our focus should be on the President’s quick action and fulfillment of his many campaign conversations. No one is sitting around and talking about what they are going to do in the upcoming weeks. They have put programs into place already; immediately. This is truly impressive.

Now all they have to do is modernize The White House and its technology capability. It needs to function at the level that the campaign used so effectively; rather than the more primitive, basic conditions that staffers found. This Administration has a lot to communicate and needs the most effective means possible to match the speed of change.

If we were hopeful before, we now understand what our excitement was all about.

Yes, President Obama. A sweet sound.white-housewhite-house1whitehousewelcomepg

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