Inauguration day. Bye bye, Mr. Bush. And not a moment too soon.

Media Matters observes that mainstream media have misreported the costs of the Obama inauguration.

Citing “estimates” ranging from $150 million (MSNBC) to $170 million (ABC News) in total costs for Obama’s inaugural events, the outlets have compared the purported total costs in 2009 to the approximately $42 million in private funds spent on Bush’s 2005 inauguration. However, as Media Matters for America has noted, these outlets omit the additional costs of security, transportation, and other expenses incurred by federal, state, and local governments in conjunction with the events in 2005 — which reportedly reached $115.5 million — while including them in the projections for the 2009 events. Further, Media Matters senior fellow Eric Boehlert noted that many media outlets have failed to show any evidence to support their estimates.

Thanks to a reader for pointing to this interview with Dr. Alice Dewey, who served as dissertation advisor for Ann Dunham, Barack Obama’s mother, when she earned her Ph.D. at the University of Hawaii. It appears on the Anthropology Department’s web site.

With the legislative session officially opening tomorrow, Maui News writer Ilima Loomis has raised an interesting linguistic question. Should we refer to the folks gathering at the State Capitol as the Leg? Ledge? Lege? Check out her discussion.

In light of my recent questions about the June Jones Foundation, I was quite interested in this recent story about foundations created by NBA players. Very interesting.

Don’t miss the Saturday Night Live report on Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Check out this memory of one New Year ritual in Hawaii.

From a former Hawaii reporter, now in Oregon, comes this comment on dieting cats.

Vet said it’s dangerous to cut back too much all at once, and to decrease food by 10 percent over each two week period. We’re due to go back for a weigh-in soon. And no more 24/7 food.

I felt like the meanest person in the world, particularly when they sat by their bowls with pleading, hopeful looks on their faces. I know they had to fight for food as kittens, so they have some food insecurity issues. I’m hoping that as time goes on, they’ll realize there will still be food, not just every minute of the day. At feeding time, Fuzzy chows down and doesn’t look up until his food is gone. Tiger is a more of a snacker. I tried putting his kibble on the dryer, but it took Fuzzy about 20 minutes to figure out that’s where it was. (He also knocked a jar of Costco capers off the cabinet in the utility room, trying to get at the bag of food. I found it when I heard Tiger in there pawing the floor, trying to cover it up. I’m sure it was Fuzzy who did the deed.

p.s. I learned to be skeptical of the pleading looks. The first time they did it, I caved and put more food down. They each ate about 3 pieces of kibble and then walked away. They weren’t really hungry, just wanted the bowls filled.
Keep us updated on your diet progress. My biggest challenge is keeping Fuzzy out of Tiger’s food. I can’t imagine what it’s like with 9 of them.

It was late in 1938 when 140 surfers gathered on the beach in Long Beach, California, for what was billed as the First National Surfing Championship. Unfortunately, the waves didn’t cooperate. But it was quite a scene nonetheless. Just click for more.