Surely this...

January 20, 2021 6:50 AM

Celebration thread for the end of the previous Administration and roughly 10,000 years since a certain individual entered national politics.
posted by nicoffeine to MetaFilter-Related at 6:50 AM (345 comments total)

I’ve begun the day by texting a photo of a gorgeous sunrise to my likeminded friends, and blasting the gospel song “Oh Happy Day” at full volume.
I don’t work until this evening, so I’m camped out on my couch with my lovely cat, and snacks ready to go in the kitchen. Feel like I can almost take the first deep breath in four years.
posted by bookmammal at 6:53 AM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

Happy tears. It's been a long four years. I took the day off and I'm going to keep up with the news until I see Joe and Kamala officially in.

I will never say that man's name again.
posted by nicoffeine at 6:56 AM on January 20, 2021 [16 favorites]

Noise! Joy! And all the other complex feels. Today I'm going to focus on the relief I feel that he is no longer president, because the grief for all the damage done by his administration will still be there tomorrow, but today I'm relieved and happy.
posted by danielleh at 6:57 AM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

Ooh now that's a nice idea bookmammal - going to play that very tune myself. Congratulations, West-of-the-ponders, not quite home and dry but getting him out of the White House without needing a crane, a pick-up truck and a dozen burly guards is one mighty strike off the list.
posted by penguin pie at 6:58 AM on January 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

Thanks especially to the mods. These last 5 years have been hard on you, trying to keep this creaky old online community from breaking down entirely, and growing in positive directions.

And thanks extra-especially to the people of color here at metafilter who have kept constant pressure on the mods to do better, do more, and see things in ways they weren't seeing before.

Sad for all who've buttoned because we couldn't do better as a community. Cheers to all those working to make this a better place, a healthier place, a more welcoming place even while we argue and snark and have fun together.

Hugs for everyone today!
posted by rikschell at 6:58 AM on January 20, 2021 [85 favorites]

I posted all the anti-Trump/ Good Riddance crap to social media yesterday; today is for celebration.
posted by theora55 at 7:00 AM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

My playlist includes Funky President by James Brown, and (We Don’t Need This) Facist Groove Thang by Heaven 17.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 7:01 AM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

I'm saving the real celebration for when the indictments are unsealed, but I am in a very happy place today. I think I might order a nice dinner tonight.
posted by SansPoint at 7:01 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

The sun is shining in Chicago for the first time in over a week. What is this feeling?!!?
posted by merriment at 7:03 AM on January 20, 2021 [19 favorites]

I am a huge plane nerd and can while away hours watching YT videos of planes taking off. The one I watched this morning on C-Span was by far my most favorite.
posted by sundrop at 7:05 AM on January 20, 2021 [22 favorites]

Happy New Year, everybody!
posted by SoberHighland at 7:05 AM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

Paraphrasing one of my Facebook friends: From now on, I will do my best to limit my appetite for Trump news to:

- Trump being arrested
- Trump in court
- Trump going broke
posted by box at 7:05 AM on January 20, 2021 [40 favorites]

I'm torn between hoping SDNY drops a massive pile of indictments on Trump and his family this afternoon or hoping they wait until next week so that Trump isn't back on top of the news cycle on a day we should be celebrating Biden and Harris.
posted by COD at 7:05 AM on January 20, 2021 [19 favorites]

- Trump being arrested
- Trump in court
- Trump going broke

- Trump dying

I'd say I hope he gets eaten by an alligator, but I wouldn't wish that on an alligator.
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:09 AM on January 20, 2021 [12 favorites]

So wait, did he yell "The Aristocrats!" yet? Does he have to wait until 12:01? Will CNN cover it live, or do I have to switch over to C-SPAN?
posted by PlusDistance at 7:09 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

Are we playing Yub Nub yet?
posted by zeptoweasel at 7:11 AM on January 20, 2021 [17 favorites]

It feels like a shame that I have to be at work today, with a couple of meetings scheduled that I can't opt out of, because what I really want to do is sit at home listening to the news and reading Twitter and sending celebratory memes around to friends and gradually getting drunker and more stoned. Sadly, that is not an option, and my spouse has to work late today, so it's gonna be a day of happiness that I can't really share. Glad to have this place just to say: goodbye, Trump, you sack of shit. May you never have a good night's sleep again and die in prison.
posted by Ipsifendus at 7:11 AM on January 20, 2021 [9 favorites]

bideninaugural.org/watch is live. People may also want to join chat if this gets too chatty for the mods.
posted by theora55 at 7:16 AM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

I can feel a weight lifting. It's been coming ever since the election, in slow, steady pieces.
posted by ChrisR at 7:17 AM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

Direct quote, from Jay Smooth of Ill Doctrine/Underground Railroad/etc. fame:

In a way I'm savoring staying up a while to find out who he pardoned, because I know tonight will be the last night I ever give this much headspace to tracking his latest activities.

Starting tomorrow I reserve a downsized version of that space, for his pursuit of these three activities only: 1) Being sued 2) Being prosecuted 3) Going broke.

posted by box at 7:21 AM on January 20, 2021 [16 favorites]

I trained for four years so I would be physically able to run from Chicago to Canada after the apocalypse and it was all for nothing.
posted by srboisvert at 7:21 AM on January 20, 2021 [12 favorites]

No Yub Nub yet, but I've been giving this a listen.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 7:22 AM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

I did this back in June 2019, thinking about today.
posted by aesop at 7:26 AM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

At 12pm today, I will be playing the L'Orchestra Cinématique version of Yub Nub. Spread the word.
posted by nicoffeine at 7:27 AM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

America's long national nightmare is over.
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 7:28 AM on January 20, 2021 [13 favorites]

Oh, oh, oh...I'd also like to request that, as we celebrate the departure from the White House of the worst, most incompetent, most corrupt, most visibly riddled with moral and ethical failings of every variety, person ever to hold the office, that we also take a moment to celebrate that Mitch Fucking McConnell is no longer in charge of the Senate. Choke on it, Mitch, you poisonous fuck.
posted by Ipsifendus at 7:30 AM on January 20, 2021 [66 favorites]

One side effect of the pandemic is that my parents became very close to their socialist farmer neighbor (in a very red portion of Michigan). He helped my parents start a garden and their dog became buddies with his horse. After the election, my parents made plans to toast the inauguration with him. He was diagnosed with lung cancer a month ago and went south very quickly. When my dad went to take champagne to him this morning he discovered he had passed early this morning. I'm devasted he didn't make it out of the Trump presidency but grateful he gave my parents some friendship when we couldn't be together. So here's to America. Here's to the next four years. Here's to Farmer Bob.
posted by MaritaCov at 7:33 AM on January 20, 2021 [124 favorites]

Sadly, I have to give Twitler head space for a bit longer to see if he actually obeys the injunction limiting him to three non-consecutive weeks a year at Mar-a-Lago, but it's still a damn good day in my estimation. There's still a county between me and that shit, people are singing in the streets, and the weather is fucking beautiful, not even one cloud in the sky.
posted by wierdo at 7:34 AM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

Here's to Farmer Bob!
posted by Ahmad Khani at 7:36 AM on January 20, 2021 [20 favorites]

To quote Spider Robinson, I feel as if a great weight has been lifted from my testicles.

Though I'm not going to feel even halfway safe until after Biden takes the oath of office with no violence. And then I'll be waiting to see if there's a MAGA uprising for the next few weeks.
posted by sotonohito at 7:39 AM on January 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

In the spirit of American patriotism, let’s listen to a little Woody Guthrie via Rhiannon Giddens, shall we?
posted by Big Al 8000 at 7:40 AM on January 20, 2021 [9 favorites]

Trump worked so hard to exit with the trappings of the presidency and without acknowledging his successor that it's obvious what a narcissistic injury he's feeling right about now, and I am not above reveling in it. That Trump also no longer has his Twitter feed to complain about Biden is [chef's kiss].

Based on last night's Covid memorial, I welcome the next for years of basic competence and appropriate tone-setting, and hope that this time, the American public takes note of the genuinely different styles of the two parties.
posted by Gelatin at 7:43 AM on January 20, 2021 [13 favorites]

Though I'm not going to feel even halfway safe until after Biden takes the oath of office with no violence

I agree 100%. I am heartened, though, that Trump has left Washington, so it's not like he can just come back and get into the building if everything falls apart.
posted by Buy Sockpuppet Bonds! at 7:43 AM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

2021 begins at noon Eastern Standard time.
posted by y2karl at 7:48 AM on January 20, 2021 [10 favorites]

YOU'RE FIRED.
posted by loquacious at 7:48 AM on January 20, 2021 [29 favorites]

It just occurred to me that I can drink something other than coffee out of my newly acquired MetaFilter mug. They say it holds 16 oz, but it doesn't look like that much whiskey.
posted by mollweide at 7:52 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

I am apparently only capable of complex feelings right now.
A small tiny glimmer of pure joy, a lifting of a weight of gotten I’d never really gotten used to.

But mostly, grim sadness at the damage done that can’t be fixed. And determination to demand that the underlying rot, as well as the rot installed by hand in so many agencies by the last administration, be torn out from the root, and treated with flamethrowers whenever it is found again.

Also, do I dare hope that during the Biden administration, somewhere along after all of today’s coming executive actions, that Biden could be big enough to constrain his own available actions, to constrain future executives? I am happy for the coming actions, but the reason they are needed is because of the *bad* executive actions of the last four years. Wouldn’t it be better for those actions not to have been possible in the first place?
posted by nat at 7:54 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

I very much doubt Trump is watching this, but a little bit of me can't help wishing he's seeing this gathering and hallowing of All The Most Important People In The United States and suddenly feeling a massive stab of regret at his decision not to be there. Leaning over to the Air Force One pilot and asking if they could maybe make it back to Washington in time. Like when you leave a nightclub early and halfway home you suddenly wish you were still having a banging time with your mates instead of out on the cold street alone.
posted by penguin pie at 7:56 AM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

I hope the WH door did hit him on the ass on the way out.
And the next significant door he sees is one made out of metal bars.
Because the state AGs are salivating. I bet they'll file indictments as soon as Biden's sworn in.

Son of a bitch must pay.
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:59 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

There’s still time for one last listen to Blaze Foley’s Oval Room - written for Reagan but sadly timeless.
posted by Rumple at 7:59 AM on January 20, 2021

My dad and his SO get vaccinated today, starting push to 100 million. So much weight is lifting from me.
posted by joeyh at 7:59 AM on January 20, 2021 [13 favorites]

YOU'RE FIRED.

Bringing it back one more time.
posted by phunniemee at 8:00 AM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

I hope politicians and opinion leaders take note of how happy people are at this transition. Four years ago, Trump's inauguration was dwarfed by the first Women's March as we signaled that we would not sit still for a second Electoral College squeaker in two decades -- and not to this man. Many of his supporters showed a mean sort of pleasure, but in great contrast to today, how many rook actual joy?
posted by Gelatin at 8:00 AM on January 20, 2021 [27 favorites]

Michelle Obama is glam as all hell, even with a mask on. What a gal.
posted by freya_lamb at 8:02 AM on January 20, 2021 [9 favorites]

The Officer Goodman news is bloody awesome. :)
posted by MattWPBS at 8:04 AM on January 20, 2021 [13 favorites]

Less than an hour, now. That's going to be a loooong hour.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:04 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

Last night felt like Christmas Eve...eating buttered (real butter) popcorn in front of TV right now.
posted by Archipelago at 8:05 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

That Pence entrance was awkward.
Like the ex-husband at a funeral or something
posted by fullerine at 8:06 AM on January 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

My social media feeds are all so joyful today . . . it'll be nice to argue about regular policy issues again, not whether certain people are fully human or not.
posted by exlotuseater at 8:06 AM on January 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

I'd say "like Banquo's ghost", but Banquo was a victim and not one of the villains.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 8:07 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

Comedy thought - imagine if Trump's car didn't make it to Mar-a-lago before 12:00.

Pull over for two seconds, remove the flag and the seal, carry on with a fuming Trump in the back of the car.
posted by MattWPBS at 8:09 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

Ah how fine it must be, to be on the receiving end of one of those Obama fist-bumps.
posted by penguin pie at 8:09 AM on January 20, 2021 [12 favorites]

Oh, man, I teared up at the hand the crowd gave Eugene Goodman, the police officer who lured the insurrection away from an open door to the Senate. This inauguration is getting to me.
posted by y2karl at 8:12 AM on January 20, 2021 [29 favorites]

Am I wrong, or is Officer Goodman getting a promotion? Acting Sergeant At Arms for House or Senate?
posted by cooker girl at 8:15 AM on January 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

The should end the Medal of Freedom that Trump gave to despicable people. Then make a new top medal for other than the military, and make Eugene Goodman the first recipient.
posted by NotLost at 8:16 AM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

On the Biden Inauguration stream, they said he was Acting Senate Sergeant of Arms for today.
posted by ceejaytee at 8:16 AM on January 20, 2021 [9 favorites]

Surely. Fucking. This.
posted by medusa at 8:16 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

Acting Deputy Senate Sergeant at Arms Eugene Goodman.

Fuckin’ eh right, goddammit!
posted by Big Al 8000 at 8:17 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

Surely. Fucking. This.

So say we all.
posted by Alterscape at 8:17 AM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

Watching this I can't help thinking "thank fuck Trump isn't there"
posted by fullerine at 8:18 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

I don’t seem to have any joy or hope left anymore, after these four years. I don’t seem to be capable of really internalizing that Trump is about to be out of office. That every new day might not be uncontrollably lurching from horror to outrage to tragedy anymore. I’m still braced for impact.

I’m anxious and antsy and can’t concentrate on work. I turned on PBS Newshour’s live stream, hoping that might help me feel less anxious. It’s a good livestream but I’m not sure I feel any better. Maybe as I watch, it’ll start to feel like it’s really happening.
posted by snowmentality at 8:18 AM on January 20, 2021 [10 favorites]

I was going to post this at 12:01pm EST...

...but I can’t wait!
posted by Big Al 8000 at 8:19 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

I usually try and refrain from focusing in on the clothing of women in public life, but I have to pay tribute to the level of coordination of all the Biden women, grandkids included, whose masks are all perfectly matched to their outfits, each one a different shade.
posted by penguin pie at 8:22 AM on January 20, 2021 [13 favorites]

I began the day with a rewatch of the Foo Fighters performance of "Times Like These" on SNL, from the night that Biden was officially confirmed as the President-Elect. I also noted that there is a bottle of champagne in the fridge, which my roommate will be popping precisely at noon. ....incidentally, he has a second bottle from a winery called "Yes", which he says he is saving for "when we hear Trump is in jail."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:23 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

The should end the Medal of Freedom that Trump gave to despicable people. Then make a new top medal for other than the military, and make Eugene Goodman the first recipient.

I am watching on NBC and I swear I heard a nomination for the Medal of Honor mentioned. That could have been a misstatement but still... the concept has merit.
posted by y2karl at 8:24 AM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

Klobuchar (giving the opening remarks) sounds like she's halfway between laughing and crying.

Me too, Senator, me too.
posted by soundguy99 at 8:25 AM on January 20, 2021 [14 favorites]

Virtual hugs to all my American friends today!
posted by Harald74 at 8:26 AM on January 20, 2021 [10 favorites]

In some terrible twist of fate the updates my computer ran last night started my computer up in EST, so I've thought it's been an hour later all morning right up until we didn't have a new president 28 minutes ago, and I have to tell you it was a pretty crushing blow.
posted by phunniemee at 8:28 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

"we are less than we hope to be"
cspan cut to Brett Kavanaugh
posted by phunniemee at 8:29 AM on January 20, 2021 [17 favorites]

Soundguy: which feed are you watching? I'm on CSPAN and I'm not seeing Klobuchar, it's still just people showing up.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:29 AM on January 20, 2021

There was a brief snow this morning, just enough to dust parked cars and wet branches. By the time I got outside with my toddler, the snow had stopped falling and the sky was peach & pink & glorious and the street trees looked like soft clouds or dandelions. It was quiet and lovely and I wanted so badly today for that to feel like a benediction, like something not just clean but cleansing—but I see the fallacy & naïveté & phenomenal privilege in feeling like I get to have a moment of rest.

These last 4+ years I’ve gotten used to a sort of ragescrolling bloodlust in myself, all those dopamine hits triggered by whatever fucking thing Trump just did. I’ve wanted his humiliation in a way that was never going to happen and has frankly been unhealthy and ugly for me. Yes, I still want that—I want him to face justice and bankruptcy and public shame—but it’s been exhausting to hold such outrage all the time. And I am looking forward to not checking the papers and megathreads every morning in search of new ways to gnash my teeth with y’all.

That said: for those of us who grew up with abusive / narcissistic / ASPD parents, Trump’s departure brings a specific and welcome sort of relief. For me it’s like: Good, here’s a set of buttons that won’t be pushed every time I look at the fucking news. THAT is a kind of good-riddance I feel perfectly ready to enjoy.

For the rest, I’m going to let myself feel some relief, but I am committing to applying that reclaimed energy to active antiracist work instead of just slumping in a chair and saying JFC I’m glad that’s over. That's the direction I want to be pointed in in the world. We just got this cool print of Stacey Abrams that I’m hoping will encourage me to work hard and then to keep working harder.
posted by miles per flower at 8:30 AM on January 20, 2021 [22 favorites]

EmpressCallipygos, I'm watching MSNBC and Roy Blunt just finished speaking and the chaplain is now starting the prayer.
posted by cooker girl at 8:30 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

Podium wipedown guy is totally going to be a meme, isn't he?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:31 AM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

Empress, refresh your page and click "watch live," I think you might have started from the top of the feed.
posted by phunniemee at 8:32 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

Watching from across the pond, I love to read the running commentary of happy, relieved mefites. Hugs and congrats to all.
posted by fregoli at 8:32 AM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

VP and hubs selfie SO CUTE
posted by seanmpuckett at 8:33 AM on January 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

I am put in mind today of this scene from the end of Band of Brothers, where Webster harangues a line of German POWs as "ignorant, servile scum." Ron Livingston's face is all of us.
posted by whuppy at 8:33 AM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

Watching from the middle of the night in Hong Kong. I am so proud.
posted by mdonley at 8:34 AM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

Don't be alarmed by the gun salute, cautions NPR!
posted by Glinn at 8:36 AM on January 20, 2021

Lady Gaga is just about to sing and I am so happy.
posted by DingoMutt at 8:37 AM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

Lady Gaga!
posted by medusa at 8:37 AM on January 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

The thought that must go into Lady Gaga deciding what would be an appropriate-yet-Lady-Gaga outfit to wear to inauguration.
posted by penguin pie at 8:38 AM on January 20, 2021 [31 favorites]

I confess I am not overly fond of our National Anthem (and unsingable British drinking song, what?!), but I'd buy the album of the Marine Band and Lady Gaga's version.
posted by Gelatin at 8:38 AM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

Lady Gaga's gold mic has to be some kind of glorious middle finger to Trump.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:38 AM on January 20, 2021 [14 favorites]

Soundguy: which feed are you watching?

Ummmm . . . well, technically it's the "NBC Now" live channel on the PlutoTV app on my Roku . . .

(Man, just typing that out made me feel oooold.)
posted by soundguy99 at 8:39 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

I like Gaga's all-gold mic, and that she can't help but to play to the audience that's actually there
posted by EatTheWeek at 8:39 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

Gotta say that I really dislike any concertized version of the national anthem; it's plenty moving in the plain, effective, official DOD version arranged by Sousa.
posted by LooseFilter at 8:40 AM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

Lady Gaga’s rendition was on point!
posted by Big Al 8000 at 8:41 AM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

The thought that must go into Lady Gaga deciding what would be an appropriate-yet-Lady-Gaga outfit to wear to inauguration.

If anything, it was too regal.
posted by whuppy at 8:41 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

Highly recommend kexp.org’s morning show stream today. It’s been epic.

Thanks mods and everyone for helping me through the last four years.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 8:41 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

And she shouldn't be performing per se, the singing/playing of the national anthem is not an entertainment performance, but is ceremony instead. Singing/playing music for a ceremonial purpose is not performative in the way that music concerts are.

(personal nit-pick)
posted by LooseFilter at 8:41 AM on January 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

straight-up bawling during the national anthem and pledge
posted by medusa at 8:42 AM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

Gaga captured my joy.

We are here!
posted by mochapickle at 8:42 AM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

OH MY GOD A WOMAN IS VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!!!!!!! How great is this.
posted by LooseFilter at 8:43 AM on January 20, 2021 [27 favorites]

I have to confess I have mixed feelings about the Pledge of Allegiance but firefighter Andrea Hall’s recitation in word and sign brought me to tears.
posted by Big Al 8000 at 8:44 AM on January 20, 2021 [16 favorites]

Aughghghhhhhh the CNN feed froze mid-Kamala.
posted by penguin pie at 8:44 AM on January 20, 2021

J Lo!
posted by medusa at 8:44 AM on January 20, 2021

"This Land Is Your Land" (which should be our national anthem)!
posted by Gelatin at 8:45 AM on January 20, 2021 [23 favorites]

So excited about Kamala Harris. I'm so glad I watched, just to see that.

Meanwhile, and completely off-topic, her shoes are amazing.
posted by Mchelly at 8:45 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

J Lo singing Woody Guthrie?

I’M DONE.
posted by Big Al 8000 at 8:46 AM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

tuned in and caught the Vp swearing to defend against enemies both foreign and domestic. i'm in the country next door and i felt that from here. cracking out the octomore to lift a glass to toast my neighbour's success. hope everyone else can take a moment to celebrate as well today.
posted by LegallyBread at 8:46 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

And she shouldn't be performing per se, the singing/playing of the national anthem is not an entertainment performance, but is ceremony instead. Singing/playing music for a ceremonial purpose is not performative in the way that music concerts are.


Could you consider granting an official special LooseFilter dispensation for performance and celebration and whatever the fuck anyone wants to do, just for today?
posted by medusa at 8:46 AM on January 20, 2021 [18 favorites]

Lopez's outfit reminds me of Avasarala on The Expanse.
posted by medusa at 8:47 AM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

Eh, "This Land is Your Land" is too dissmissive of the Native peoples "we" stole the land from. And the lyrics about bread lines and no tresspassing signs always get dropped. "America the Beautiful" is no better with its prominent use of "brotherhood."
posted by rikschell at 8:48 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

Can anyone translate what J Lo shouted ?
posted by Big Al 8000 at 8:48 AM on January 20, 2021

To see VP Harris inaugurated means the world to me. I started crying when she arrived, cracked the bubbly, and tears ever since.
posted by theora55 at 8:48 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

And it's official!
posted by Gelatin at 8:49 AM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

Good lord, what's in that Bible? More Bibles?
posted by Room 101 at 8:49 AM on January 20, 2021 [16 favorites]

I just heard a crying baby. Did they mic someone on the Trump team?
posted by phunniemee at 8:49 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

It is! It's over!!!

Hell yeah!!!!
posted by Is It Over Yet? at 8:49 AM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

PRESIDENT JOSEPH R. BIDEN!!!!!!!!!!
posted by LooseFilter at 8:50 AM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

I’m crying here. Thank all y’all for being here the last few years.
posted by inpHilltr8r at 8:50 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

As we say in England:- GET IN!
posted by Cardinal Fang at 8:50 AM on January 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

Can anyone translate what J Lo shouted ?

It was the end of the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish.
posted by Buy Sockpuppet Bonds! at 8:50 AM on January 20, 2021 [9 favorites]

Finally!
posted by Surely This at 8:51 AM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

TBH it would have been even more awesome if J.Lo had been accompanied by Tom Morello with a "This guitar kills fascists" sticker on his axe.
posted by soundguy99 at 8:51 AM on January 20, 2021 [9 favorites]

"This Land is Your Land" is too dissmissive of the Native peoples "we" stole the land from. And the lyrics about bread lines and no tresspassing signs always get dropped. "America the Beautiful" is no better with its prominent use of "brotherhood."

I mean, yes, I would've preferred a cover of 'Do They Owe Us A Living,' but the band probably doesn't know it.
posted by box at 8:51 AM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

My NYC neighborhood just exploded with people cheering and banging pots and pans from everywhere
posted by Mchelly at 8:52 AM on January 20, 2021 [30 favorites]

Oh happy day! Weeping in happiness!
posted by silverstatue at 8:52 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

THE LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT'S DONE!!!!!!!!!!

Did slightly wince at the mispronunciation of Kamala, sigh, but oh well.

Folks, four years ago, I made a .... certain item. It has been used in binding rituals, had pins stuck in it, has been trapped under something heavy or thrown in a freezer for the last four years. This morning, I dismantled this item and it was joyous.
I'm debating if it's safe at this point, what with the Secret Service and all, to post photos of this online. What do y'all think? (Disclaimer: NOT posting on social media, just where people aren't usually looking.)
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:54 AM on January 20, 2021 [18 favorites]

(My legislation making TLIYL the national anthem will mandate the trespassing sign lyrics, of course.)
posted by Gelatin at 8:54 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

*lets out long, relieved sigh, at last*
posted by darkstar at 8:54 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

10 minutes early, could Trump still launch the nukes? Or is it official with the oath?
posted by Rumple at 8:55 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

In the spirit of American patriotism, let’s listen to a little Woody Guthrie via Rhiannon Giddens, shall we?

Couldn't finish. Too many tears.
posted by that's candlepin at 8:56 AM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

It’s official with the oath. And the timing comes with a serendipitious kind of poetic justice for 45: Biden literally took away 15 minutes of his fame.
posted by mochapickle at 8:59 AM on January 20, 2021 [20 favorites]

From my 11 year old:

Knock knock
Who's there?
Orange
Orange who?
Orange you happy I'm no longer President?
posted by Rumple at 9:01 AM on January 20, 2021 [77 favorites]

Was hoping they’d take T into custody as soon as the oath was over, ah well.
posted by Melismata at 9:06 AM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

Man, aren't you glad that this man is saying these honest heartfelt things to us? And making a stinging unspoken indictment after stinging unspoken indictment of the loser in the process of doing so.
posted by y2karl at 9:08 AM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

I shed a tear in pride when Obama was first sworn in. But at noon, when 45 was no longer President, I thought, "Oh God, it's finally over" and wept.
posted by jet_pack_in_a_can at 9:08 AM on January 20, 2021 [9 favorites]

My kiddo is practicing his musical instrument right now and he is playing Ode to Joy. Seems appropriate.

And I opened a bottle of sparkling rose, aptly named Bitch Bubbly.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 9:17 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

I cried NGL.
posted by kevinbelt at 9:18 AM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

DR. BIDEN!!!!
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 9:19 AM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

Hope the lectern wiper doesn't have Covid.
posted by fullerine at 9:20 AM on January 20, 2021

Yeah, I teared up a bit during the Oath of Office. Not gonna lie.
posted by SansPoint at 9:24 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

Garth Brooks: the only person who gets to wear jeans to this shindig.
posted by esoterrica at 9:26 AM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

I was watching my clock count down to noon as Biden was giving his address and felt a surge of anxiety during the last 15 seconds followed by immense relief when it hit 12:00:00. On that precise second he became President and the codes changed for the nuclear football.
posted by mono blanco at 9:27 AM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

Amanda Gorman, people
posted by Caxton1476 at 9:28 AM on January 20, 2021 [10 favorites]

Amanda Gorman was fucking amazing. That's all I got.
posted by Alterscape at 9:31 AM on January 20, 2021 [15 favorites]

Somewhere out there, Corn Pop is smiling, eyes glistening.
posted by SoberHighland at 9:33 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

@TheAmandaGorman . You can see her followers ratcheting up in real time.
posted by Rumple at 9:35 AM on January 20, 2021 [9 favorites]

I really liked Amanda Gorman’s poem— the intricate rhymes, the shoutouts to George Washington via Miranda’s Hamilton, the optimism linked to fiery determination. It felt like a response to Langston Hughes’s Let America Be America Again (also, always, still worth reading today & every day.)
posted by Pallas Athena at 9:42 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

My only complaint, really, is that I wasn't expecting the swearing-in to take place until noon. I switched on the TV just in time to be caught off-guard by the "so help me God" bit. Oh, well.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 9:42 AM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

NIGHTMARE SLAIN

posted by Arson Lupine at 9:46 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

We survived.
posted by peacheater at 9:48 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

We survived.

Far too many didn't.
posted by Gelatin at 9:51 AM on January 20, 2021 [26 favorites]

Garth Brooks: the only person who gets to wear jeans to this shindig. Lady Gaga wore red, JLo was in white, so Garth needed to wear blue!

Amanda Gorman's poem and presentation was perfect - and she's only 23! I'm still wiping away tears.
posted by kbar1 at 9:51 AM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

Far too many didn't.

Touche.
posted by peacheater at 9:52 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

Democracy is coming to the USA
posted by SystematicAbuse at 9:53 AM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

Touche.

No slam on you is intended at all, peacheater. The fact we survived is, indeed, something to observe and celebrate.

But we must never forget or forgive those who abetted Trump's mishandling of the pandemic, among many other things that had deadly consequences.
posted by Gelatin at 9:54 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

I am here for Bernie's mittens, Dr. Biden, a BIPOC woman as VP and her adoring Jewish husband, science, a rescue dog, a President who hugs his son and can forgive, a return to (at least some) decency, and an administration that can help us process just how much we've lost in the last four+ years.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:56 AM on January 20, 2021 [93 favorites]

I'm just happy to be able to breath a bit easier.
posted by bondcliff at 9:58 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

This is what's been going through my head all day. You don't have to watch the whole video, but stick around until 30 seconds in.
posted by deezil at 10:01 AM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

It really does feel easier to breathe, doesn't it? That seems like a metaphor, but it really feels literal today.
posted by kevinbelt at 10:03 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

I can't decide if I should start drinking to celebrate, or celebrate by stopping drinking.
posted by aramaic at 10:05 AM on January 20, 2021 [17 favorites]

_
(Not a ., but not a !, for me, either. An exhale, that this moment was reached.)
It surprised me that I got a little misty as Biden was sworn in, but then, I haven't watched an inauguration before.
My celebration so far has been reading out loud a few passages of Hunter S. Thompson from the piece he published after Nixon left. ("May he choke on the money he stole.")
To everyone else out there exhaling: may we see even better days soon.
posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 10:08 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

Another unspoken stinging indictment of Trump is he has never had a dog or cat.

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened."
-- Anatole France
posted by y2karl at 10:09 AM on January 20, 2021 [17 favorites]

Canadian here. I wasn't going to watch the inauguration, but my wife put it on, and I couldn't resist watching. I'm glad I did - I felt a noticeable lifting of a burden when I realized that "President" was no longer followed by "Trump".

And I can get seriously used to this whole Madam Vice President thing.
posted by tallmiddleagedgeek at 10:10 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

I don’t seem to have any joy or hope left anymore, after these four years. I don’t seem to be capable of really internalizing that Trump is about to be out of office. That every new day might not be uncontrollably lurching from horror to outrage to tragedy anymore. I’m still braced for impact.

Same here. At the risk of being Sergeant Buzzkill might I say...there's still a lot of horror, outrage, and tragedy on our docket for the foreseeable future. Impact's still coming; can't hurt to stay braced.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 10:10 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

I've never run out of favorites here but I might today. So much joy.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:11 AM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

Hello beautiful people! I was busy watching and crying and then I had to make a credible show of working but now I am here to HUG EVERYONE!

Also today I learned that Joe Biden used to show in obedience. I am replete.
posted by HotToddy at 10:16 AM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

Four years ago, I began to hit my 'rock bottom' with addiction and mental issues, and Donald Trump getting installed as president added to my disastrous life situation and the mess I made of everything. I was a Metafilter member from the very early days, and eventually even got banned here (for good reason) because of a few depressed, desperate and drunken diatribe posts.

I was graciously allowed to rejoin Metafilter after a year or so and I'm happy to say that I'm over two years clean and sober right now and in a much, much better place. My very long-term relationship even survived—somehow. I still remember what I was doing (bad things) on that rainy, dark day four years ago and it's something I will continue to carry with me like a scar.

Today has been good for all of us. But it's been good in a very personal way for me, too. I'm happy that I can still be a part of this community and I thank you all. Metafilter is a part of my daily life.
posted by SoberHighland at 10:20 AM on January 20, 2021 [149 favorites]

I must admit that I was carrying a lot more stress and feels than I thought possible, so I ended up with a bunch of sand in my eyes towards the end of the ceremony.
posted by wierdo at 10:22 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

For me it still feels a little like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop or something. Hasn't quite hit me. Biden said all, or at least many, of the right things. I'm hoping he delivers.

Even though Trump is gone, his supporters are still out there. We have a lot of work left to do.

Another unspoken stinging indictment of Trump is he has never had a dog or cat.

I feel this. So glad to see the Bidens bringing two doggos and a cat to the White House.
posted by jzb at 10:22 AM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

My partner and I will now be celebrating this day with the meal of our mortal enemy. Big Macs.
posted by Buy Sockpuppet Bonds! at 10:26 AM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

Good work, SoberHighland! May your future continue to be good to you!
posted by Harald74 at 10:27 AM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

The horse has left the hospital.
posted by Mchelly at 10:29 AM on January 20, 2021 [38 favorites]

Reportedly, King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn wore "joyful yellow" at court when Catherine of Aragon died.

In other news, I really appreciated Amanda Gorman's reciting her poem for many reasons.
posted by sgranade at 10:50 AM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

I put this elsewhere but I’ll put it here too because I’d love to do something good with all of these (and the many, many other) strikingly surreal images of the past administration.

Chris Wade (@saywhatagain): Four years ago, I started saving the best of the incredibly bizarre, stupid and bad vibes photos being rapidly produced by the Trump administration to cathartically post today. Here is my Surreal Trump Photo Dump

The McDonald’s image is just so striking and evocatively nightmarish. I love it (but also, you know, hate it).
posted by Going To Maine at 10:57 AM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

Can I just highlight a moment of monumental synchronicity that appeared this day on the Blue?

First this:

The Complete List of Trump’s Twitter Insults (2015-2021)

then this:

Dinosaur Butthole

in a matter of minutes, MetaFilter found an insult waaaaaaaaay better than anyone of that LOSER REPUBLICAN DINOSAUR BUTTHOLE
posted by chavenet at 11:02 AM on January 20, 2021 [15 favorites]

I have so much to look forward to today. Responsible governance. Justice. A mobilization of the country to actually fight this pandemic, rather than surrendering to it. Accountability. And remixes of Amanda Gorman's poem.
posted by MrVisible at 11:08 AM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

I'm having sangria and lava cake for lunch.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:11 AM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

Greta Thunberg wins Twitter today.
posted by BlueNorther at 11:13 AM on January 20, 2021 [24 favorites]

Sorry to bother you, but: can someone point me to the article (NY Magazine or Atlantic) that (I'm pretty sure) was posted here somewhere, specifically about T's dealings in Manhattan real estate? It was a complete history of his dealings there and went into great detail. It's hard to Google.

I'm looking for it because I remember the part where they describe how he just slunk away after the NY folks had enough of him, and there was a great quote along the lines of "he may yell and scream a lot, but he goes away quietly since he's such a coward." Thank you!!
posted by Melismata at 11:13 AM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

I'm having sangria and lava cake for lunch.

Kid Ruki is out picking up lunch from our local Indian restaurant.

We also have cake.
posted by Ruki at 11:21 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

I remember the part where they describe how he just slunk away after the NY folks had enough of him

Yeah, I remember something similar (actually, probably multiple similar things...it's been quite the four years) and can't seem to turn up anything that's Atlantic or NYT. But I listened to this while making dinner last night, so it's fresh in my mind, dunno if it helps...the second-last episode of the Trump, Inc. podcast (it always has a full transcript available), had this quote from David Fahrenthold of the Washington Post as part of a discussion about "what now for Trump" if this helps:

FAHRENTHOLD: I'm of two minds on this. One thing that Trump has always benefited from was, he would fail in one arena and then find a new arena in which he was not known — you know, he was known only for good things, and not for bad things. So, like, basically always looking for a new audience.

After New York City kinda got, uh — understood him, and people in New York City didn't want to deal with him, he moved to Atlantic City. After Atlantic City didn't work, then he moved to television. After, you know — and after The Apprentice’s ratings started to fade, he moved into politics. So, you know, there are not many corners of the world left who don't understand Donald Trump, who don't understand how he works. So there's not much virgin territory left for him. That's one reason to — for it to sort of be pessimistic about his prospects.

Maybe it was a Fahrenthold piece?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:23 AM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

I feel honestly better in my heart. Woohoo!
posted by ichomp at 11:23 AM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

It may have been New York Magazine (not NYT).
posted by Melismata at 11:24 AM on January 20, 2021

BlueNorther: "Greta Thunberg wins Twitter today."

Very close runner up, Femi with "I'm disappointed Greta... I thought you didn't burn fossils"
posted by chavenet at 11:26 AM on January 20, 2021 [30 favorites]

I wanted cake, but couldn't decide what ingredients I have would work, so I made brownies. Shrimp Scampi & Linguini, roasted asparagus for dinner and watching the Inauguration show. Pls. share celebratory food plans.
posted by theora55 at 11:26 AM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

We're getting tacos and burritos and tamales from a local place. Because "taco trucks on every corner." Still waiting for that utopia to appear.
posted by cooker girl at 11:28 AM on January 20, 2021 [14 favorites]

So there's not much virgin territory left for him. That's one reason to — for it to sort of be pessimistic about his prospects.

There are pathologically narcissistic grifters who have been going strong for decades as televangelists. Maybe he can say that he's gone from "baby Christian" to "grown-up Christian" and do that.
posted by clawsoon at 11:31 AM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

My partner and I will now be celebrating this day with the meal of our mortal enemy. Big Macs.

Canadian here. Four years ago my co-workers and I were so peripherally upset over 45s inauguration we went out in the middle of the morning and got Consolation McD breakfast sandwiches. We did it again today, separately since we've all been working from home since last March, but this time they were Celebration breakfast sandwiches and tasted SO much better. What a nice morning.
posted by notethisbean at 11:33 AM on January 20, 2021 [9 favorites]

[joy noise!]
posted by mazola at 11:45 AM on January 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

I am just so happy that I don't have to hear the walking asshole's awful voice or see those stupid hand gestures he makes, like the one where it looked like he was playing an invisible accordion. And I'm also happy that my breaking news alerts will no longer say "President Trump."

I just think it's too bad Trump didn't have to do the Walk of Shame thing where everyone turns their backs on him as he slowly walks away from the building, and no one is ever allowed to mention his name again.
posted by holborne at 11:51 AM on January 20, 2021 [9 favorites]

I could think of nothing better than chocolate pudding for inauguration day. So I made some.

HUGS FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.
posted by msali at 11:55 AM on January 20, 2021 [12 favorites]

I just want to call out how happy I am that the ceremonies today are being streamed live with audio description provided by the committee. That was unthinkable four years ago.
posted by Alensin at 11:57 AM on January 20, 2021 [18 favorites]

There is some champagne saved for me when I get home from work. I have a handful of recipes for cakes that make just-enough-for-two people; my roommate and I had discussed takeout, but my budget took a bit of a hit so that's not in the cards. So I'm making up for it by making chocolate cake. I will also insist upon trying to watch some of the inaugural concert tonight (at least until I've seen both Bruce Springsteen and the Foo Fighters, because I already know the FF will be doing "Times Like These").
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:07 PM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

I just want to call out how happy I am that the ceremonies today are being streamed live with audio description provided by the committee. That was unthinkable four years ago.

Thanks for the heads-up Alensin!

I hadn't considered that would be a thing this year owing to the tyranny of lowered expectations of the last few years. I think I did an alright job of describing Lady Gaga's wardrobe and hair here at home, though. Wouldn't be the first time I've had to describe a Gaga outfit.

It looks like it's all available for replay on the Accessible Inauguration site, along with CART/ASL and cued language transliteration.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 12:11 PM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

I saw my wife cry today. She was wearing pearls, and a blazer and a pair of Chucks. She was drinking champagne.

She's cried so much since that time I saw her crying November 8, 2016. When she told me that he reminded her of the man that molested her as a child. For 4 very long, miserable years, that memory would come back every time he was on the news.

I don't know if the ones that voted for him in 2016 are ashamed today. I don't care. I stopped caring what they thought before that November night. She's happy, and already a bit tipsy.
posted by DigDoug at 12:17 PM on January 20, 2021 [57 favorites]

Over here in the UK, Mrs. Example and I have celebrated by roasting up an absolute ton of garlic and eating it with some flatbread, prosciutto, and Camembert. We're now working our way through a couple of bottles of really nice Malbec.

It feels good to be indulging ourselves to celebrate something good rather than to forget the bad stuff for a change, y'know?
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 12:19 PM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

I am taking my first easy, deep breath in 4 years. I want to say thanks to everyone that posted in the political threads these last years. (This is the single and only moment where I say "Wow, has it been four years already?!") You all kept me sane and informed!
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 12:21 PM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

Ooh, that Amanda Gorman poem delivery linked upthread is really something! Well worth your time to listen to.
posted by Harald74 at 12:22 PM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

YOU GUYALS!

My heart is so full watching the replay of our VP and P taking their oaths of office. I will have time later today to listen to the full speeches but for now... just that poem, and of, a few tears.
posted by MiraK at 12:32 PM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

I’m working the night shift this week, so I just woke up 20-30 minutes ago. “Alexa,” I asked to the open air, “who is the president of the United States?” She told me. It was lovely.
posted by ocherdraco at 12:43 PM on January 20, 2021 [46 favorites]

Parade time!
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:57 PM on January 20, 2021

Today I too moved from a horrible living situation to a brighter beginning. Biden / Harris is giving me hope as I sit in my new unit here in Australia.
posted by daybeforetheday at 1:03 PM on January 20, 2021 [16 favorites]

I am getting a kick out of all the virtual parade kid acts.
posted by y2karl at 1:05 PM on January 20, 2021

YES

The skateboarding/cranberry juice/Fleetwood Mac dude just showed up in the parade with a new video of himself skateboarding to "Dreams" and this time he was carrying a flag.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:10 PM on January 20, 2021 [10 favorites]

I'm really loving the singing/roller skating duet. That's a figure skater on roller skates, right? From the outfit?
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:14 PM on January 20, 2021

Where are these parades viewable?
posted by jonathanhughes at 1:21 PM on January 20, 2021

PBS for me.
posted by y2karl at 1:22 PM on January 20, 2021

Honestly, this virtual parade is doing more to choke me up than anything.

This country is so big and full of so many different things, and that's the beauty of it. One of my all-time favorite memories from when my Irish friend came to visit for the first time was that every so often I would catch her just stopping on the street and staring around her with a giddy smile, but she wasn't really looking at any landmark in particular. I finally asked her what she was looking at. "The people's faces," she told me. "They're all different colors. And it's just beautiful."

She's right. We are a country of mariachi bands and cloggers and hockey players and painters and Chinese dancers and skateboarding cranberry juice drinkers and poets and boy scouts and bhangra troupes and figure skaters and equestrian riders and fife and drum players and medieval re-enactors and wheelchair basketball players and it's just such a rich country, and I can't understand why anyone would want to say "no" to any of that or turn any of that away.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:24 PM on January 20, 2021 [50 favorites]

jonathanhughes, I also asked this in the inauguration thread and was directed to this youtube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-qYgs_yOXA
posted by NotTheRedBaron at 1:26 PM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

Seriously, this parade is everything. Celebrating the diversity of the United States is such a great way to kick off this administration.
posted by Ruki at 1:32 PM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

Speaking as a petrified dinosaur butthole I just want to say I've been really uncomfortable with the all the recent gleeful attention to the subject in the news.
posted by loquacious at 1:32 PM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

There's so much relief that the daily escalation of worse and worse things, grievance stacked on grievance, is halting and we can grieve what was lost as we go into each new day.
posted by k3ninho at 1:35 PM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

loquacious: "Speaking as a petrified dinosaur butthole I just want to say I've been really uncomfortable with the all the recent gleeful attention to the subject in the news."

Christ, what an asshole!

(boy does that ever depend on the inflection; imagine it being said in the voice of a small child on a field trip just in gobsmacked awe of the prehistoric pooper)
posted by chavenet at 1:37 PM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

Been waiting four years to finally play this (Thank you o Sensible one)
posted by gtrwolf at 1:38 PM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

Okay, you know what this parade needs is the 610 Stompers.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:43 PM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

I live with a 45-er. We don't talk politics. Amazingly, I haven't heard fox news on the tv at night since sometime in December. But like some above, I'm still in the waiting for the other shoe to drop mode. I'm going to watch some of that parade linked above and try to relax.
posted by kathrynm at 1:43 PM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

OMG THOSE BLING GRANNIES FLINGING THEIR WALKER AND DOING SPLITS.

Followed by the New Radicals :)
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:44 PM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

.....but i will take a live performance of "You Get What You Give"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:44 PM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

Five hours since the oath was taken...

Can't stop crying.
posted by Windopaene at 1:44 PM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

HOLY COW DID I JUST SEE THEPINKSUPERHERO IN THE PARADE??????
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:46 PM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

"Five hours since the oath was taken..."

ALREADY? Wow, time is moving so much faster now that I'm not dreading every single moment!
posted by NotTheRedBaron at 1:46 PM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

If you told me in the 90s that the New Radicals would make me weepy, I’d have laughed at you. Yet here we are.
posted by Ruki at 1:47 PM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

What's in the note!!??!!! (my comedy guess: "I'm fired.")
posted by wellred at 1:48 PM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

this is just to say
that
you only get what you give
is older now

than don’t stop was
in 1993

forgive me
every day it’s something hits me
i’m so old
posted by Huffy Puffy at 1:52 PM on January 20, 2021 [26 favorites]

EmpressCallipygos: "HOLY COW DID I JUST SEE THEPINKSUPERHERO IN THE PARADE??????"

I thought that was her too.
posted by octothorpe at 2:02 PM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

watching Parade across America, and some of it just brings tears. So, so relieved. It's streaming live, but you can go back and (re)watch stuff.
posted by theora55 at 2:02 PM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

I couldn’t stay up to watch last night, but waking up this morning, there was a deep sigh, and a feeling like an immense weight is suddenly gone.

I know there’s still work, that the world didn’t suddenly become a wonderland, but goddamn, there were times when I thought this kind of feeling would never happen again, and here it is. I’m going to enjoy this for a bit.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:15 PM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

Oh my god I'm losing it in the best way. Apologies, this is going to get personal.

In addition to the inauguration, as if that isn't amazing enough, I just got wonderful news at work. For about three years we've been led by sexist MBA dudes with no knowledge of what we do and no desire to learn, really no desire to do anything except further their own careers at the expense of our department. We just learned our new director is a woman who worked her way up the ranks, and is a smart, talented, compassionate, fantastic human being.

For most of 45's administration, my job has been a toxic microcosm of the garbage playing out at the national level. I looked for new gigs, got turned down, felt shittier, the cycle continued, and I just gave up. As a crowning turd, last year's plan to leave and go back to school was derailed by COVID. I was very fortunate to still have a job, awful as it was.

But now, ON THE SAME DAY no less! All the holidays and birthdays rolled up into one! Is my stomach unknotting? Is this hope? I think it's hope!
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 2:15 PM on January 20, 2021 [41 favorites]

Colin Powell may have had a hand in lots of bad things as a Bush II lackey, but he just gave a really wonderful and hopeful interview on BBC World News about attending the inauguration, being the son of Jamaican immigrants, being educated in US public schools, and advancing in life through opportunities provided by the US military, and how it all relates to the nature and future promise of the US. They unfortunately don't seem to have a copy of it online yet but lest I forget here are some places it might show up: BBC News site US & Canada news, videos, BBC News YouTube channel.
posted by XMLicious at 2:17 PM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

i'm minding the rest of the site and doing some math but i just wanted to pop in to let out a ten-minute-long exhalation, thanks for being here through all this everybody
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:19 PM on January 20, 2021 [58 favorites]

Thank you for handling these last 5 years
posted by Windopaene at 2:20 PM on January 20, 2021 [12 favorites]

i just wanted to pop in to let out a ten-minute-long exhalation

Ten minutes? I've been holding my breath continuously for 5 years. I exhaled a couple of hours ago and blew the house down. Next house: made of brick.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 2:22 PM on January 20, 2021 [9 favorites]

Truly the most pressing question of our time -- with the new Senate, does that mean someone other than Toomey gets the candy desk? I guess not, looking at the Wikipedia page, Toomey's held it through a few reshuffles.

(I would be okay with Senator Fetterman taking it over when he wins Toomey's Senate seat, of course)
posted by kalimac at 2:22 PM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

Wonderful day. I couldn’t believe that I cried.
posted by gt2 at 2:31 PM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

This is just such a gratifying day.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:35 PM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

I can't believe how long four years can feel. Fuck that fucking sucked.

For most of 45's administration, my job has been a toxic microcosm of the garbage playing out at the national level. I looked for new gigs, got turned down, felt shittier, the cycle continued, and I just gave up. As a crowning turd, last year's plan to leave and go back to school was derailed by COVID. I was very fortunate to still have a job, awful as it was.

Are we the same person? I learned about an hour ago about something that might change things for me but my situation is similar to yours! A good day.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 2:36 PM on January 20, 2021 [11 favorites]

MetaFilter: THAT FUCKING SUCKED.
posted by loquacious at 2:41 PM on January 20, 2021 [10 favorites]

Honestly, this virtual parade is doing more to choke me up than anything.

You and 80 million other people.

Also,

"HOLY COW DID I JUST SEE THEPINKSUPERHERO IN THE PARADE??????"

You did -- someone in a control room somewhere flipped over to PBS Kids for a second.
posted by y2karl at 2:41 PM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

Whew, just whew!
posted by sammyo at 2:42 PM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

Best wishes and all the high fives, OnTheLastCastle!!!
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 2:46 PM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

& Bonus: QAnon kiqked de bucquet today, too.
posted by y2karl at 2:54 PM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

Well, it's officially bed time over here, and I just looked up and out of the window and there are suddenly big, fluffy snowflakes falling outside in the dark, and I'm going to do a little Yoga With Adriene to try and chill myself out enough to sleep, and then head to bed while President Biden continues to sign papers that will bend the moral universe just a little back further towards Dr King's arc.

Thanks everyone for sharing the day.
posted by penguin pie at 3:05 PM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

I will simply never understand people who say things like "the parties are all the same". Can't you just feel the difference? That electric hope in the air? The joy?
posted by peacheater at 3:08 PM on January 20, 2021 [13 favorites]

Catching up on all the excitement waking up on Japan time - mostly relieved to see no terror-related headlines, and being happily blown away by Amanda Gorman. Congratulations all, and thanks again MeFi mods!

After some celebrating, I hope we all remain politically active even during the happy times - never too early to start calling your congress folks again!
posted by p3t3 at 3:14 PM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

Trying to explain to my 20 year old Communist child why today is an important day, and why I have been crying all day...

We can do better, yes.
.
But today has been a good day, even is Harris was a prosecuter.

We stopped Authoriatarion bullshit for now
posted by Windopaene at 3:20 PM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

We can do better, yes.

Yes! I have no doubt that in the coming few years I'll have plenty of reason to bemoan Joe Biden's overcautious reticence to be as dramatically transformative as I'd like him to be, but today: the distance between how good we could be doing in the best case, and how good we actually are doing? That distance is smaller than it was yesterday.
posted by Ipsifendus at 4:03 PM on January 20, 2021 [15 favorites]

I had to look up Bowling Green Massacre and then I laughed. heyho got me! It's been difficult to keep track of facts for many people and I wish we could end that too.

I had to stop at a crowded gas station last night cuz someone had to pee and everybody was happy because somebody had a big can of 9mm and was giving it away. They were on our side and happy happy joy joy! It was infectious and wrong. So wrong. 5 minutes down the road kid started laughing as hard as she ever does and I smile at her and shake my head. Way too much surreality has she seen of late.

Today had to happen in order for anything else we want to happen. It does seem like there is less of a chance of the world being carved up between 3 totalitarian powers.

If my trauma group tomorrow doesn't seem just a little less traumatized they are going to see an old man's...butt? No. I'll think of something.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 4:11 PM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

I wore my Kamala sneakers today and was able to watch the ceremony while at work. Yay!

I'm now home and still so keyed up that I am queasy, so I only took a couple of sips of bubbly before I had to give it up.

But I'm so f*in relieved that this day has been successful!
posted by mightshould at 4:13 PM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

ORANGE FOOL
A celebratory recipe from Dining with the Washingtons

Ingredients

4 large eggs
1 cup fresh orange juice
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons unsalted butter, softened (optional)
2 oranges, peeled and segmented […]

What? Oh, no reason.
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:13 PM on January 20, 2021 [9 favorites]

So wait, did he yell "The Aristocrats!" yet?

That's what's in the note.
posted by carmicha at 4:17 PM on January 20, 2021 [16 favorites]

I'm watching the first daily press briefing held by the Biden administration. A few minutes ago, the press secretary took a question from a woman reporter, in the back row, from Brazil, who asked about how soon they can expect the President to help their government in dealing with global climate change. Trump would fucking never.
posted by Ipsifendus at 4:29 PM on January 20, 2021 [15 favorites]

I cracked up when someone asked if the colors on Air Force One were going to change and Jen was all, "That's a good question, I haven't gotten time to get to that one what with all the executive actions, I'll check into that tomorrow." Not to mention the vague politeness when asked what's in the letter (nope, not saying!) and if they are going to have a phone call or not.
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:36 PM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

She looks forward to doing this again tomorrow!
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:39 PM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

All this pomp and circumstance, and Biden hasn't even acknowledged the victims of the Bowling Green massacre? The gall of this man!

It’s weird, because you’d think it hit close to home for him.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 4:49 PM on January 20, 2021

I cracked up when someone asked if the colors on Air Force One

ngl, Trump proposing to change the Pan Am baby blue AF1 color scheme hit me harder than expected.
posted by Buy Sockpuppet Bonds! at 4:57 PM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

Looking forward to fewer “Look at what Trump did TODAY!” posts and more “The world is full of cool and interesting things; here are some I’d like to share with you!” posts.
posted by TedW at 4:58 PM on January 20, 2021 [29 favorites]

I feel like today is the actual new years eve. And I keep catching myself automatically seeking out news of Trump and realizing that–other than the current impeachment, and what will certainly be a string of lawsuits–there is no reason to seek out news of Trump. The habit of keeping constantly informed, of keeping constantly focused on the problem in an attempt to control things is hard to shut down. But, eventually, I am going to adopt a more passive consumption of news regarding Trump. And just knowing that is such a relief. There is still so much to do politically. That will always be true. But everyone in this country just got back an enormous amount of bandwidth. And I hope tomorrow I fly seamlessly though my workday like a dense fog has been lifted from my brain.
posted by marimeko at 5:08 PM on January 20, 2021 [20 favorites]

World's randomest Garth Brooks story: My grandparents retired from Michigan to Tennessee, and they had season tickets to ... whatever theater in Nashville performs live theater every season and gets the Broadway touring shows. ANYWAY, completely randomly, their season-ticket seats were right next to Garth Brooks's and Trisha Yearwood's season-ticket seats! At the first show of the season they all sat down and my grandfather, who was a ridiculously gregarious man, started chatting with them, having no idea who they were. (They were not country music fans.) They just chatted a while about Brooks's kids and my grandpa's grandkids, and it wasn't until intermission, when people started asking for their autographs, that my grandparents asked, "So, wait, are you famous?"

Anyway, Brooks and Yearwood only came about half of the time, but they always chatted with my grandparents and asked about their grandkids and remembered things they'd said last time. My grandparents thought they were just really nice, really decent people. (They sent a nice card when Brooks and Yearwood got married -- my grandma saw it in People -- and Brooks and Yearwood thanked them the next time they saw them.)

I'm always glad to learn that Garth Brooks continues to be a really nice, really decent person. Also, 20 years ago, Garth Brooks had to listen to a lot of very braggy stories about how great I was doing in college, and always told my grandpa he was really glad I was doing so well and my grandpa must be so proud, so thanks, Garth Brooks, for cheering me on.
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 5:20 PM on January 20, 2021 [106 favorites]

Idle thought... If an ex-president, who had not been stripped of his right to Secret Service protection was sentenced to prison, would the Secret Service detail have to go to prison with him?
posted by HiroProtagonist at 5:35 PM on January 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

secretary took a question from a woman reporter, in the back row, from Brazil, who asked about how soon they can expect the President to help their government in dealing with global climate change. Trump would fucking never.

Like I'm not just going to go out there and look professional, I'm going to make The Cheeto look bad.
posted by Mitheral at 5:38 PM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

I'm appreciating that this "Here Comes The Sun" video literally gets sunnier and sunnier as it goes on.
posted by jenfullmoon at 5:47 PM on January 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

I think the secret service might have to babysit an ex-president in prison to manage potential leakage of state secrets.
posted by Blue Genie at 5:52 PM on January 20, 2021

I missed the Garth Brooks "Amazing Grace" controversy, but I'm loving Yo-Yo Ma's version. Specially because of the story of the man who wrote it -- a man who started as a slaver and ended an abolitionist. And its use as a protest song in the Civil Rights Era.

I'm fundamentally anti-religious, but this song, and this moment, may sway me toward a motif of redemption through action.
posted by basalganglia at 5:57 PM on January 20, 2021 [9 favorites]

Were any of the delusional "news" networks at the briefing (OAN, Newsmax, Breitbart, etc)? I'm guessing that there's now a mask requirement to be in the briefing room, and maybe they refuse to do so, so they can't get in?
posted by LionIndex at 5:59 PM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

Inauguration but every time someone says "democracy" it speeds up.

2021 Getting-sober game where you drink every time Trump's name is mentioned, but that happens less and less often.

Like a drinking game, but instead the state Attorneys General ramp up their criminal investigations every time the name of someone Trump pardoned is mentioned.

ok that's all I got
posted by Greg_Ace at 6:10 PM on January 20, 2021 [9 favorites]

I missed the Garth Brooks "Amazing Grace" controversy

To steal my own joke from the other thread, it was just the usual Democratic circular choiring squad.
posted by clawsoon at 6:17 PM on January 20, 2021 [17 favorites]

To steal my own joke from the other thread, it was just the usual Democratic circular choiring squad.

That was a quality joke.

The other thing that occurred to me is that it beats parsing the lyrics to a Toby Keith song commissioned for today's inauguration had things gone differently.

"Wait a minute...is the chorus a direct Goebbels quote?"

"Actually, yes."

Instead, right now, we're getting Lin Manuel Miranda reciting a Seamus Heaney poem.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:23 PM on January 20, 2021 [11 favorites]

Now we're on to DJ's encouraging everyone to dance, which...um, yeah....
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:37 PM on January 20, 2021 [1 favorite]

Shit, go ahead and dance in y'all's living rooms! Why not?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:38 PM on January 20, 2021 [7 favorites]

I do not think I have ever experienced such an impeccably hopeful day in my life. I know the bigger picture needs so much work, but I can breathe again.

I love you all.
posted by vers at 7:01 PM on January 20, 2021 [14 favorites]

My three favorite moments of the day, I think (in the order they happened).

1. Amanda Gorman's "The Hill We Climb", of course (yes, I did just pause writing this to rewatch it for the second time), but for me especially these particular lines:

It’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit.
It’s the past we step into and how we repair it.

(I am annoyed, however, that there doesn't seem be online-source consensus on the poem's formatting?)

2. Biden, when swearing-in something like 1,000 appointees telling the story of Xi Jinping asking him if he could define America:

I said, "Yes," and I meant it. "And I can do it in one word. One word: possibilities." […] You're my possibilities. You're the way we're going to get this done.

3. Katy Perry performing "Firework" on the National Mall and getting to gesture to what Rachel Maddow later described as "all the fireworks left in America".

(I have a weird soft spot for the song; it's kind of clunky but its energy is so god damned relentlessly "affirmation or get out".)

((ETA: With the proviso that I actually hate the disruption of fireworks, and I expect everyone I know in the area was all, "Oh god, no."))
posted by bixfrankonis at 7:26 PM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

Eat the Cake.

Drink the Drinks.

Get ready for tomorrow!!!
posted by Windopaene at 7:33 PM on January 20, 2021 [4 favorites]

its really over? normal things are going to happen now?
posted by vrakatar at 9:03 PM on January 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

I have to go out, and I need (for work stuff) to meet with a couple people who are near and dear to me. I'm going to take a bottle I've been saving for a couple months now, Hardywood's Christmas Morning stout. I've had it before, and it's a wonderful beer all Christmas spiced and everything, but I decided several months ago that there was no way December 25th, 2020 would hold a candle to waking up in a better world today. I'm going to (responsibly distanced) share that beer and enjoy every damn sip of it. Merry Christmas to all.
posted by Ghidorah at 9:24 PM on January 20, 2021 [5 favorites]

I missed the Garth Brooks "Amazing Grace" controversy

Saw a suggestion on Twitter I can't stop thinking about: he should have done I've Got Friends in Low Places. I think the singalong would have worked if he'd gone for it.
posted by EatTheWeek at 9:32 PM on January 20, 2021 [8 favorites]

Surely this...

This is this. And stop calling me Shirley.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 9:40 PM on January 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

its really over? normal things are going to happen now?

The AUMF will be revoked! SuperPACs won't be allowed! The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution will be ignored and we'll go back to requiring Congress to formally declare war! J-Hope of BTS will stop styling his hair that weird way! Hershey bars will be wrapped in metal foil and paper again, rather than plastic!

Oh, sorry, I got carried away there, that stuff probably won't go back to normal. But yes, simply not having a Nazi president will make everything seem much more normal. We'll be able to have summits without our president throwing candy at anyone or pushing people out of the way to be in the front in photographs, or getting his head stuck in Vladimir Putin's rectum in tragic ass-kissing accidents. Biden won't stand in front of 9/11 memorials and ask our allies when they've ever really helped us.
posted by XMLicious at 9:42 PM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

This ongoing CELEBRATING America has been such a delight -- even got the International Space Station in on the action.
posted by y2karl at 9:59 PM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

I ate the cake. It was a grapefruit cake because a colleague had door-dropped a pile of their citrus tree fruit for us. Also because I have no idea what grows in Delaware.
posted by nat at 10:57 PM on January 20, 2021 [6 favorites]

Grapefruits grow in California though, so you can say it was in honor of Kamala Harris.
posted by NotTheRedBaron at 11:40 PM on January 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

I enjoyed a normal day of landscapes without looking at the news to see what terrible thing happened in the USA (still plenty of terrible elsewhere but less likely to destroy Earth). I hope y'all can return to normal, but wherever we are we'll have to be wary now.
posted by unearthed at 12:24 AM on January 21, 2021 [4 favorites]

So during the rolling trumpocylipse of the last several years, I've personally had to contend with such things as business & financial failure, family estrangement, suicide, and the resulting crippling depression(s).

Metafilter, its thoughtful members, and the megathreads through which they fought and informed, have helped me keep a much needed grip on sanity and (even the possibility of) hope throughout the worst 5 consecutive years of my entire life.

I felt a weight lift today, a grinding background radiation of anxiety dipped ever so carefully in the delicious caramel of the void itself, suddenly vanish. And with that, I just wanted to say:

Thank you.
posted by Scientician at 12:48 AM on January 21, 2021 [33 favorites]

I just woke to the news on NPR and heard them refer to “senate minority leader Mitch McConnell.” It was a nice way to start the day.
posted by TedW at 2:08 AM on January 21, 2021 [23 favorites]

It was good to see Dave Grohl. I saw Scream at DC Space a couple times after he joined. My friends made fun of him cause he had long hair and was kind of a stoner but I knew how young he was and a bit about the family situation.

One show, there was this guy Mike something-I cant remember-who could just pick anything up and play it well and he was on rototoms and Dave on a kit and Mike was way better and Dave just let him go. He had no ego. Seems like he's still that sweet kid.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 2:35 AM on January 21, 2021

So, this is just funny. I was watching Seth Myer's opening monologue, and it was funny, they had to pull random stories to fill time, like that they were feeding gorillas popcorn at a zoo. Usually they can fill the entire time with Trump's stupidity, but there is little riffing on the fact Biden took the oath of office and then issued some executive orders, and didn't say stupid things.

What brave new world this is.
posted by zabuni at 4:36 AM on January 21, 2021 [3 favorites]

Seth Meyers, all the late night hosts and SNL are losing the easiest comedy topic they've had in years. Biden has some foibles but he's just not the 24/7 continuous rolling farce that Trump was and I assume that they're going to have to start making fun of celebrities and current events again.
posted by octothorpe at 5:26 AM on January 21, 2021 [3 favorites]

Just want to add my gratitude for this community for getting me through the past 4 years. 2016 election night broke something in me. My parents had been going far to the right for years, and knowing that they would not be in the same despair I was going to be in made the gulf feel even wider. I often found myself thinking of the scene in Deep Impact, when Tea Leoni's character after her mother's suicide tells her father "I feel like an orphan". For the past 4 years I've been limiting my news intake at home, but especially around my parents (whose car radios are set on some Sirius 'Patriot' channel).

Last Sunday my mother fell at home and fractured her pelvis. Luckily not badly enough to need surgery or a stay in a rehab center (well, in non-COVID times she probably would have gone to rehab, but with the current state of things it was deemed best to rent a hospital bed and have home visits from the physical therapist). So I packed up some belongings and my WFH computer equipment and my cat and moved into my parents' place to take care of her until she's mobile again. Yesterday the cable/internet cut out at around 10am and didn't come back until close to 6pm. So I didn't get to watch any of the inauguration coverage live, just what I could follow of the Metafilter/Metatalk threads on my phone. So I wasn't able to have a good cathartic cry over it. But a weight has been lifted. This morning mom watched some CNBC 'Squawk Box' and it was so soothing hearing people say the words "President Biden". I feel like now even if I do get stuck listening to them watching Fox News, it will not fill me with the same hopelessness.

(I probably won't be posting much for the next month. Between the constant getting up & down of taking care of Mom while trying to get my remote work done, I don't have the time or mental space for watching my usual amount of tv, not sure when I'll be back to my normal Fanfare posting habits.)
posted by oh yeah! at 5:40 AM on January 21, 2021 [22 favorites]

Wait, what’s the recipe for grapefruit cake?
posted by Mchelly at 5:49 AM on January 21, 2021 [2 favorites]

I'm interested in the grapefruit cake recipe too.

....I did make the mini chocolate cake, and in fact I split it into two separate cakes (it made one super-tall two-layer cake, so I cut each layer in half and turned it into two mini cakes) - but I went a little overboard on the buttercream and literally couldn't finish mine. I may have the second half today for breakfast.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:35 AM on January 21, 2021 [1 favorite]

There are a few Trumpers in my neighborhood, but there's one in particular just two houses up the street who emblazoned his house with a massive (20+ feet wide) "KEEP AMERICA GREAT" banner covering the side of his house. Every time I looked out my window, there it was. I kept waiting for it to come down, but it remained up through all of the vote counting, after Biden's victory speech, and even after the Capitol insurrection.

The banner is gone as of this morning. I won't ever forget that the owner of the house is a neo-Nazi supporter, but at least I don't have to see the un-President's name staring back at me every day.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:46 AM on January 21, 2021 [26 favorites]

I haven't felt this kind of relief since Obama won in 2008. Yesterday was amazingly cathartic. Thanks everyone for the camaraderie. I couldn't have made it to yesterday without you all.
posted by HyperBlue at 6:53 AM on January 21, 2021 [11 favorites]

I was surprised Wednesday by the amount of weight that was lifted off my shoulders at 12:05 PM EST and I know I’m far from the only one who feels that.

The mouse in the house is feeling the optimism too and is spending more time on the coffee table. I’m half-heartedly trying to scare it off but dang it mouse I’m feeling as brave and optimistic as you are. Rock on with your bad self, mouse.

My teeth are slowly relaxing from the constant clench of the last ten months.

Amanda Gorman
posted by bendy at 7:34 AM on January 21, 2021 [9 favorites]

I can sense our air getting cleaner with each sunrise.

When Amanda Gorman started speaking, it truly sunk in that we made it.
posted by filtergik at 7:36 AM on January 21, 2021 [9 favorites]

I've just pulled up and rewatched the Broadway stars' "Seasons of Love/Let The Sunshine In" medley about three times already this morning.

They'd already got me in the feels when they started "Seasons of Love" - I don't know what it is, but that does trigger some sort of Pavlovian mushiness in a lot of theater people's hearts, and seeing a whole lot o' Broadway folks - most of which have been out of work for the past year, and even the super-famous people are kinda on shakey ground because of the nature of theater - just got me all sentimental.

But then they switched into "Let The Sunshine In", which was a much more personally Pavlovian thing for me. My high school did Hair my senior year, and I was on the tech crew - and each night, during that finale, the whole crew would gather for a wild and celebratory backstage dance party, one which spilled out a couple feet onto the stage on closing night. So I'm not only sitting here in "Yay we have a new president" relief, I am awash in theater-kid camaraderie hormones.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:42 AM on January 21, 2021 [13 favorites]

i'm minding the rest of the site and doing some math but i just wanted to pop in to let out a ten-minute-long exhalation, thanks for being here through all this everybody

Wooo! I added the 46th favorite to this post!
posted by bendy at 7:47 AM on January 21, 2021 [1 favorite]

A few minutes ago, the press secretary took a question from a woman reporter, in the back row, from Brazil, who asked about how soon they can expect the President to help their government

For a minute I thought you were talking about the movie Brazil and it seemed normal.
posted by bendy at 7:52 AM on January 21, 2021 [1 favorite]

Let the sun shine in!
posted by Melismata at 7:59 AM on January 21, 2021

Grapefruit cake.

Ok, California for Kamala Harris it is. The grapefruit is also a fruit with an interesting history, being of Asian origin (as are all citrus). It was a hybrid likely first made in Barbados (between the pomelo and some kind of orange). Grapefruit’s other weird property is that it messes with an enzyme involved in metabolism of many drugs, so it can either result in too high a dose or too little (depending on whether the drug has to be metabolized in order to work or not).

I don’t really know what this last property of grapefruit has to do with anything, and I can’t quite make it work symbolically. But it is interesting (and since this cake has the juice of more than one grapefruit in it, fair warning).
posted by nat at 8:57 AM on January 21, 2021 [9 favorites]

I thought the "Celebration of America" broadcast was all at once cheesy and inspiring. I'm sitting at my desk at work now listening to the Black Pumas, who I was entirely unaware of, so that's nice.
posted by Ipsifendus at 8:57 AM on January 21, 2021 [5 favorites]

SoberHighland, your post made me so happy. Congratulations on your sobriety, your love, and your new start.
posted by Orlop at 10:46 AM on January 21, 2021 [2 favorites]

Ah HA! Found a clip of the Colin Powell BBC interview I mentioned above: “a bunch of ruffians and other crooks and bums tried to see if they could overtake us, and they couldn't.” (video, ~5¼ min)

The BBC only put a tiny bit of it online, but the above link goes to the Internet Archive's Television News Archive project where it was captured in full, and transcribed, thanks to MeFi's Own™ brewsterkahle (ultimately, he organized it all.) The way the archive works is, as each segment ends, you have to click on the next segment to continue viewing.
posted by XMLicious at 11:32 AM on January 21, 2021 [1 favorite]

Grapefruit’s other weird property is that it messes with an enzyme involved in metabolism of many drugs, so it can either result in too high a dose or too little (depending on whether the drug has to be metabolized in order to work or not).

Yeah, I just copied down that recipe and saved it into my folder before remembering that my husband can't have any grapefruit anymore since it messes with his medications. Sigh.
posted by Mchelly at 11:33 AM on January 21, 2021

Confession time: I recently created a Fox News account so I could get into troll-fights in its comments section.

Yesterday, around 12 EST, I deleted said account.

Second Confession: I dowloaded Telegram and have spent time lurking (NOT joining) Q Anon Chile. Seriously, Q Anonn is bad enough, but Q Anon Chile? It's hilarious and scary and sad at the same time.
posted by signal at 11:49 AM on January 21, 2021 [2 favorites]

bendy: "A few minutes ago, the press secretary took a question from a woman reporter, in the back row, from Brazil, who asked about how soon they can expect the President to help their government"

Don't know if Joe's planning to play the old Geopolitical Dominoes game, but the main help Brazil needs is regime change, no?
posted by signal at 11:50 AM on January 21, 2021 [3 favorites]

Um, your username is “signal”, but you did this on Telegram? Not eponysterical... do we even have a word for that?
posted by XMLicious at 11:52 AM on January 21, 2021 [2 favorites]

I downloaded Signal as well, but it's more person-to-person. Telegram is for large groups of qanonites, as far as I can tell.
posted by signal at 12:34 PM on January 21, 2021 [1 favorite]

I'd say it's antiponysterical.
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:32 PM on January 21, 2021 [6 favorites]

I have new Hope for our future.
posted by Splunge at 2:26 PM on January 21, 2021

I spent most of the morning on the phone with a friend, and we watched together, talking about outfits, snarking about the orange one, and crying happy tears during speeches.

I watched JB sign some stack of orders and the WH press person give a presser, and they just all seem so normal and I have to get used to it, again.
posted by SillyShepherd at 3:23 PM on January 21, 2021 [2 favorites]

My colleague's kid wanted to know why Joe Biden had to say swear words to become the president. I love that idea.

Biden: "Shit. Damn. Fuck! So help me God."

Roberts: "Congratulations, President Biden!"
posted by Stanczyk at 3:27 PM on January 21, 2021 [25 favorites]

I made myself an ice cream cone and ate it during the inauguration.

It was delicious.
posted by meinvt at 6:39 PM on January 21, 2021 [7 favorites]

I have been randomly crying with joy and relief all day.
posted by inpHilltr8r at 7:05 PM on January 21, 2021 [2 favorites]

My colleague's kid wanted to know why Joe Biden had to say swear words to become the president.

You just reminded me that when I was a small Example and was just starting to read fantasy, I'd run across phrases like "swore an oath of loyalty". I worked out what they meant pretty quickly, but preteen me found the idea of someone solemnly proclaiming "Holy fucking shit, will I be loyal" just hilarious.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:31 AM on January 22, 2021 [14 favorites]

thank fucking god that's over.

The collapse of the QAnon thing is... seemingly a non-event? When it was a nexus of all the craziness, a staging point for all the misery to spring off of. And now its just... done? What the fuck really happenend there? The guy (whatshisface - can't be bothered) just decided to quit? Because Trump wasn't re-elected? But what about Trump's upcoming 'new form'? What I mean is how can we convince him to stay gone?

Actually - I'll put this all aside and enjoy the relative silence for a bit.
posted by From Bklyn at 3:21 AM on January 22, 2021

What the fuck really happenend there?

As far as I can tell, Trump declared martial law, the inauguration is a kind of Honeypot so Biden et al can be accused of breaking a law, the military is in charge of DC, which is a sovereign state, and something is going to happen at the end of the month or maybe next month, and Trump never actually left.
posted by signal at 4:01 AM on January 22, 2021

And now its just... done? What the fuck really happenend there?

I've seen a handful of articles comparing Q-Anon to Millerism, which leads the mind down some interesting paths: Back in the 1830s, there was a preacher named William Miller who became one of those dudes who claim that if you read this edition of the Bible in exactly this way and use this specific algorithm on it, you get an exact date and time for the End Of The World. He came up with a date in 1844, and talked it up over the next several years - urging people to repent and join him - and ultimately he and a bunch of followers all gathered in a field in Pennsylvania on the anticipated date and stood around all day waiting for Jesus to show up. Which didn't happen.

Now, some of Miller's followers dug in and started figuring out if they'd made a mistake in the calculation, and occasionally would pop up in later years with a "new date" (they were largely ignored). Some decided maybe Jesus didn't come because they personally weren't holy enough, and underwent changes in their own religious outlook (a number of his followers joined the Shakers). Some just said "fuck this" and went back to their regular lives. But a number of the "Millerites" ended up staying in touch, having several fervent religious discussions amongst themselves, and ultimately the ideas they discussed lead to the birth of an entirely new Christian Denomination, which still exists today.

Some articles I've read suggest that something similar may happen to Q-Anon - that what we're seeing now is the "what the fuck happens now" confusion that the Millerites went through, and if that's the case, we may see several people slink back to their old lives thinking "we were duped" - but we may also see several people discuss "okay, maybe let's set aside all that stuff about the adrenochrome and stuff, and think about - how do we think a government should look?" and we may see a new political party come out of this.

(I have a soft spot for the Millerites and the whole end-of-the-world prediction thing for two reasons - I am actually one of William Miller's descendants, and his immediate followers referred to the whole world-failing-to-end incident as "The Great Disappointment".)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:30 AM on January 22, 2021 [12 favorites]

....and I have just this minute learned that The Great Disappointment influenced two religions - the Adventists, as I mention above, were a direct offshoot of Miller's followers.

But I've just learned that the Baha'i faith suggests that William Miller had a point - the only thing he got wrong was who would be coming on his appointed date. They suggest that maybe William Miller was inadvertently fortelling the arrival of their prophet Báb instead.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:30 AM on January 22, 2021 [2 favorites]

...he and a bunch of followers all gathered in a field in Pennsylvania on the anticipated date and stood around all day waiting for Jesus to show up. Which didn't happen.

Spoiler alert next time, please!
posted by TedW at 6:39 AM on January 22, 2021 [5 favorites]

Well obviously, he’s not really coming until Season 2.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 6:41 AM on January 22, 2021 [1 favorite]

The collapse of the QAnon thing is... seemingly a non-event? When it was a nexus of all the craziness, a staging point for all the misery to spring off of. And now its just... done?

Right now a bunch of Neo Nazis have targeted the most vulnerable of them for recruitment and further blackpilling and radicalization while the rest of us make fun of them, so, yeah. I'd say keep watching that space, for the foreseeable future.
posted by EatTheWeek at 7:11 AM on January 22, 2021 [7 favorites]

I want to go back to celebrating now.
posted by Namlit at 7:35 AM on January 22, 2021 [6 favorites]

Okay, ALL the disclaimers, here. I know this is far more serious than the analogy I'm about to employ. But I can't stop picturing the boisterous puppy who won't stop pestering the sleeping older dog, biting its ears, etc. And the big dog takes it for a long time. Finally, though, it wakes up enough to swat the youngster away, and put it in its place. The youngster does go away, and the big dog goes back to sleep. That's what I think we're seeing.

I think the big dog of the American public wants personal, every-day peace at almost any cost. They want to be able to ignore politics and think lazy thoughts and go about their business uninterrupted. They are even willing to ignore Nazis for a very long time. But at some point enough is enough. They wake up and swat the Nazis enough so they can go back to sleep.

Not saying that's smart, or a good solution, or any solution, really, it's just how it looks to me.

(on preview, apologies to Namlit.)
posted by probably not that Karen Blair at 7:40 AM on January 22, 2021 [4 favorites]

Spoiler alert next time, please!

Dude, I am the spoiler alert that the world didn't end during my great-great-great-great-great-grandpa's lifetime. :-)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:23 AM on January 22, 2021 [13 favorites]

Empress! Having grown up in one of those denominations, it’s like meeting a celebrity!
posted by probably not that Karen Blair at 8:45 AM on January 22, 2021 [3 favorites]

There's a new Farenthold article in WaPo elucidating just how fucked Trump is financially right now, and I grinned the whole way through.
posted by aspersioncast at 9:39 AM on January 22, 2021 [6 favorites]

I did go back to celebrating! It worked...
posted by Namlit at 11:59 AM on January 22, 2021

Empress! Having grown up in one of those denominations, it’s like meeting a celebrity!

Hee! Ironically my branch of his descendants are not in that denomination - I grew up Catholic, and didn't find out anything about him until adulthood. But my aunt has an old-timey photo portrait of him somewhere, and all we knew about him was that he looked really grumpy. Which, given a story like that, kinda makes sense.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:37 PM on January 22, 2021

There's a new Farenthold article in WaPo

What the Seattle Times version lacks in pictures and links, it makes up for with non-paywalled-ness.

Spoiler alert:

The backlash to Trump’s actions has even hit the smallest of Trump’s business partners, including the organizers of a triathlon — the Tri at the Trump — held at Trump’s golf course outside Charlotte, N.C.

“It was all on track before the Capitol,” said Chuck McAllister, the founder of the event, which he expected to attract 450 athletes and 1,000 spectators.

But then, McAllister said, the Capitol attack caused sponsors and vendors to pull out. He had to cancel the event. It was actually the second time he had to cancel the event because of political backlash against Trump: In 2017, he canceled a previous triathlon after Trump said there were “very fine people” among white supremacist protesters in Charlottesville, Va.

But he came back to Trump, and got burned again.

“It is déjà vu. It’s like Groundhog Day,” McAllister said. He said he was unsure whether he would come back in 2022. “The name’s toxic. It’s toxic to some people. That’s never going to change.”

posted by box at 12:55 PM on January 22, 2021 [7 favorites]

It is déjà vu. It’s like Groundhog Day

I gotta say, you don't seem to have a ton of organizational savvy if you try to re-up with Trump (unless, I suppose, your customer base was/is man-children driving giant diesel trucks festooned with Trump propaganda).
posted by maxwelton at 1:22 PM on January 22, 2021

talking about outfits, snarking about the orange one

There's a picture making the rounds on FB of some of the various inauguration outfits arranged in a rainbow - Kamala in purple, Dr Biden in blue, Bernie in green, Amanda Gorman in yellow, Senator Klobuchar in yellow, and Michelle Obama in red. My brain immediately turned that into part of the Lantern Corps emotional spectrum - purple (violet) represents love, blue for hope (or maybe indigo, which is compassion), green is willpower. It kinda breaks down there (yellow is fear, orange is greed, and red is anger), but I would TOTALLY read a comic book series with those six playing appropriately-colored Lanterns.
posted by hanov3r at 2:28 PM on January 22, 2021 [2 favorites]

I guess Bernie Sanders could be a Green Lantern, but note that he already has a doppleganger in comics: Sidney "The Gaffer" Levine, who in Marvel comics originally was SHIELD's equivalent of James Bond's "Q" (which I've always presumed stood for "quartermaster" and not any sort of conspiracy stuff).
posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 2:41 PM on January 22, 2021 [1 favorite]

Seth Meyers, all the late night hosts and SNL are losing the easiest comedy topic they've had in years. Biden has some foibles but he's just not the 24/7 continuous rolling farce that Trump was and I assume that they're going to have to start making fun of celebrities and current events again.

I assure you that at least as far as Seth Meyers and Stephen Colbert are concerned, they will not shed a single tear for this "loss." I had to stop watching Colbert a couple years ago because he was just clearly so broken by everything. The joy went out of that farce for them a looooooooong time ago.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 2:58 PM on January 22, 2021 [13 favorites]

You think Metafites are happy about kicking the Cheeto to the kerb? We ain't got nothing on Colbert. If you can watch his last couple of weeks if episodes. It is amazing and joyful just to see him live the rollercoaster from countdown to coup attempt to successful inauguration.
posted by Mitheral at 4:46 PM on January 22, 2021 [6 favorites]

"Seth Meyers, all the late night hosts and SNL are losing the easiest comedy topic they've had in years. Biden has some foibles but he's just not the 24/7 continuous rolling farce that Trump was and I assume that they're going to have to start making fun of celebrities and current events again."

I've never understood this rationale. They live in this country, too and care about the policies of our government. I look forward to watching them be able to tell jokes with actual joy at something silly rather than with snark-filled existential dread. Comedy will always exist because the human condition is inherently ridiculous. You don't need a disastrous government to poke fun at in order to make a living as a comedian.
posted by NotTheRedBaron at 4:54 PM on January 22, 2021 [10 favorites]

is anyone else actually feeling...worse, somehow, now? I can't tell if I'm feeling worse or if my general feeling-terribleness is just standing out more acutely against the sea of happiness?
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 6:34 PM on January 22, 2021 [2 favorites]

Yeah. I am on a certain level - doom scrolling is a hard habit to break and I have that waiting for the other shoe to drop feeling.
I think that the past four years have taken a deep toll on many of us.
posted by hilaryjade at 6:38 PM on January 22, 2021 [4 favorites]

Just a quick update, Kevin Sukho Lee won the Bernie mitten meme (hands down one might say),
posted by jeremias at 6:38 PM on January 22, 2021 [4 favorites]

If Trump, most of his family, and his cult members in Congress and the Senate are jailed, I will breathe easy. While he is still kingmaker for the Republicans we can't really rest.
posted by benzenedream at 8:18 PM on January 22, 2021 [5 favorites]

On the plus side, the impeachment trial is set to start February 8th which is a week earlier than the previously mentioned February 14th.
posted by NotTheRedBaron at 8:54 PM on January 22, 2021 [2 favorites]

For me, it's more that I was expecting to feel better after all that, but I don't feel MUCH better, and there's a letdown. I mean, I AM deeply relieved. But everything is still so, SO fucked. So yeah, I'm there with you.
posted by rikschell at 8:56 PM on January 22, 2021 [4 favorites]

I was expecting to feel better

Exactly, so many people showed their true colors and they are still out there plotting.

I started thinking about which countries had the most to lose if we became a totalitarian state and might be willing to help. Cuba and Japan don't have consulates near me but Germany does. Hmm. Something else I never imagined thinking about.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 12:06 AM on January 23, 2021 [3 favorites]

This is way up there in the comments, but re: kid asking why Biden had to cuss.

When I was in elementary school and hearing discussion of fighting guerillas in Viet Nam, I heard gorillas, and was very confused...
posted by wittgenstein at 7:03 AM on January 23, 2021 [3 favorites]

It's going to be a long, slow process in getting better with a lot of aspects of life working against it. But at least we have the potential for things to get better, and people in charge who actually WANT IT TO.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:22 AM on January 23, 2021 [5 favorites]

The good thing about the coup attempt was it made a very visible and telegenic disaster out of right wing fascism. Before if you were paying attention you might know about the 3%ers and Oath Keepers, but now it's much more widely known. Dems realize that these orgs are an existential threat, and have an excuse to clean house. Before it was dismissed as oh well cops are conservative, instead of realizing it was white supremacist infiltration and indoctrination.
posted by benzenedream at 12:04 PM on January 23, 2021 [15 favorites]

I can't help but wonder how differently the reaction might have been if it had been anywhere other than the Capitol building. Anyone other than Congress. They gave our Legislative Branch the most personal reasons possible to go hard against them.
posted by NotTheRedBaron at 3:09 PM on January 23, 2021 [5 favorites]

Also because I have no idea what grows in Delaware.

Soybeans. And chickens.

And corporations.
posted by Pax at 4:45 PM on January 23, 2021 [8 favorites]

Don't forget chunkable punkins.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 6:40 PM on January 23, 2021 [3 favorites]

The collapse of the QAnon thing is... seemingly a non-event? When it was a nexus of all the craziness, a staging point for all the misery to spring off of. And now its just... done?

here's my guess - the guy running it has been making up shit and profiting off of it for as long as he could, and now that his followers stormed that capitol and there may be actual real consequences, he's "oh whoops I guess we should start obeying the law now bye"
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:58 AM on January 26, 2021 [6 favorites]

I don't know about others, but Inauguration Day spurred me to shut up and get to work. Volunteering at local food bank (they are so careful with C19 precautions it is refreshing). Donating more, and just looking for every opportunity to help. I don't care who I'm helping left, or right. I don't want to hear anyone's politics. We are all on this boat and I finally decided I should either be bailing, or rowing. I will resist the urge to throw those not needing help, (but also not helping), or those actively obstructing the fuck overboard.
posted by HyperBlue at 7:04 AM on January 27, 2021 [3 favorites]

it seems abundantly clear now that just about everyone I know has actually gone beyond their breaking point. If the inauguration helped any of them, it was just for a few hours. The reality of another full year of lockdown and ruin and isolation came roaring back and nobody can even hold it together for the length of a work call anymore. People are sobbing, swearing, quitting mid-meeting.

The parents have stopped posting funny quarantine parenting memes and are just straight up asking for referrals for psychiatrists. Nobody bothers posting anything about anniversaries, birthdays, engagements...especially now that people are celebrating their SECOND quarantine birthdays. My social media is just a long scream punctuated by cheerful ads for internet therapy. We're just all done for. I don't think all of us are going to make it out.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 10:45 PM on January 27, 2021 [11 favorites]

I realized that I could open the news without wondering: "What fresh hell am I about to learn about?". I now recognize that I am looking up the news less often because it is getting normal.

What a relief!
posted by Midnight Skulker at 3:56 PM on February 1, 2021 [3 favorites]