So I am watching the inauguration from the safety of Sam's common room on the campus of Columbia University in New York City.  In case you didn't know (which you probably didn't, because he refuses to talk about it, much to our dismay), Obama is a Columbia graduate, Class of '83.  This is something the Columbia community is INTENSELY proud of, and as a celebration of this event, there is a jumbotron out on the steps of Low. I was out there to begin with, but the combined facts that (1) I am short, (2) The people out there are tall, and (3) The jumbotron made all the people look as purple as Barney the Dinosaur, I came inside. That, and it's damn cold in New York right now.

Because of all that, I have decided to liveblog the event!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Things that happened earlier: 

Sam: "Hey look, George HW Bush is as red as a beet [on the big screen]!"
Mike: "Maybe he's just ashamed of his son?"

 Mike: "WOAH now they're purple."
Sam: "I can't see... like Barney purple?"
Mike: "Yeah..."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 11:41 EST So I'm starting late, but that's okay. 

11:44 EST They just introduced Obama, and I can hear the screaming of the students from where I'm sitting, inside.  I particularly like the chants of "O-BA-MA, O-BA-MA".

 11:45 EST Diane Feinstein, coordinater or chairman of somesuch.  Not as many cheers from outside as for Obama, but that's to be expected I guess.  I love the odd smirk that the current President Bush has on his face. I can't decide if he's cold or just pissed.

 11:48 EST (Okay, I'm going to stop putting EST, ya'll get the point) The invocation. From a suitemate- "Let us pray? Are you serious?" Me- "... That's what an invocation IS." On a campus that's very very very liberal (not something I complain about, personally), the prayer part of this is frowned upon. And I have to say, it seems that the Obama daughters are a little fidgety too- every time CNN focuses on them, the little one is squirming in her seat.

11:52 The man leading the invocation sounded a little... *odd* as he talked about Obama's daughters. "Malia, and SASHA" That actually made people on the steps laugh. Like, laugh loud enough that I could hear them from here. (Here is the fourth floor of a building off of the quad).

11:54 Woo! Aretha Franklin! Lady looks good in a fancy hat.

 11:57 Administration of the oath of office to Biden. Another suitemate quote- "About time! Damn." It must be bright in DC, because Biden is squinting his eyes shut like this: >< It's funny, you wouldn't think that an emoticon could only represent so much, but I swear that's exactly what his face looks like!

11:58 OOH Awkward pause. Always fun. Apparenty Biden thought there was going to be more to repeat and there wasn't. Whoops.

11:59 Wow, that's an impressive lineup of musicians. But why did Yoyo Ma get more cheers than Itzhak Perlman? You would think that they, as comparable musicians in quality, would get the same amount of enthusiasm from the audience. Eh. Sam says that he thinks Yoyo Ma is more famous.

12:00 Huh, apparently Obama just became President, even though he hasn't taken the Oath of Office. The constitution is funny like that.

 12:02 Sasha and Malia are fidgeting again. I'm sure they're a little bored, even though it's a big event.

12:04 "It is my honor to introduce to you..." Suitemate interjection: "Who will introduce someone else, who will introduce someone else..."

12:05 Haha, Obama jumped the gun a little. A smattering of laughter from the crowd outside. Apparently they didn't practice this!

12:07 My suitemate: "Well, he's under oath, but he didn't say the whole thing. He's missing a couple of articles, it was a little like nonsense. Does it still count?"

AND Wild cheering from the steps! Someone just pointed out that there are more people in DC watching the inauguration than there were in Times Square watching the ball drop on New Year's Eve. That's impressive, because that's a HUGE crowd. Unimaginably huge. I'm actually a little glad I'm not there, as interesting as it would have been. 

12:09 "Fourty-four Americans have now taken the Oath of Office..." Ummm actually, fourty-three. Cleveland is counted twice. (Woo, nonconsecutive terms in office!)

 12:10 "We gather because we have chosen hope over fear..." That is a fabulous line, I think. Beautiful.

12:12 Does he have this whole speech memorized? That's impressive. I can't even imagine how nervous he must be. He's keeping a really cool head, though. 

12:14 "We must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin the work of remaking America". Another great line!

12:15 "We will restore science to it's rightful place"- Obama, if you keep just one promise, let it be this one. Restore education, restore the renown for science and technology in this country. Please, please, please.

12:17 Another shot of Dubya looking bored. Too many big words? (That was mean, I know, but I couldn't help taking the shot.)

12:19 Obama's discussion of responsibility in terms of warfare is heartening. (More cheering from outside...) I also like the shots of random people in the audience smiling and nodding.

12:20 "Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus. And nonbelievers." That last addition just didn't quite fit...

12:23 I'm honestly a little surprised they haven't shown anyone in the audience crying yet..  I'm sure someone is so moved that they are (some people are... more emotional than others.) I think their tears might freeze, though. It's so cold...

12:25 His words can paint a beautiful picture. That sounds silly and cliched, but it's true. I just love the description of the Revolutionary War. "Carried forth that great gift of freedom [for future generations]" (I can't type as fast as he talks). THUNDEROUS cheering from outside AND on the TV.

12:27 Awwwww hugs and kisses for the kids! Mike just pointed out that there are labels on the carpet. "Oh hey- Sasha, Malia, Mrs. Obama... Mr. Obama. Hah!" Apparently they all need to know EXACTLY WHERE TO STAND.

12:28 "Praise Song for the Day". Pretty poem, but the reading is really... interesting. Mike: "You... don't... have... to.... read.... like.... that..." 

12:32 Oh my lord, people are leaving in droves. Poor lady reading her poem, people aren't listening...

12:33 Benediction. Charline: "What is this? Is he speaking English? Oh... he is...  huh." This guy is better than the invocation, though.  Sam: "This guy could definitely be a wizard or something." Charline: "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"

12:35 The camera is focusing on a slightly bored-looking lady who hasn't moved in a little bit... Sonal: "His rhymes more than the other lady's poem!" Maria: "Is he doing a poem too?" No, no he's not.

12:37 The Obama girls are being very still now. WOAH, did he just say "When brown can stick around"? I'm impressed.

12:38 The resounding AMEN was FABULOUS.

12:39 THE NAVY SEA CHANTERS CHORUS. That's awesome. AWESOME. I'm also glad that Obama and Mrs. Obama are singing along.

12:40 So I think I'm done. Any more updates will come in the comments!