Net Miles Of Smiles

Kiwanis International President Donald Canaday was in the island recently to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Kiwanis in Jamaica, which coincided with the 94th anniversary of Kiwanis International. Jamaica comprises four Kiwanis divisions, 58 clubs and 2,400 members.

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Canaday, a 38-year veteran Kiwanian, was elected president at the 93rd annual International Convention in Orlando, Florida, in June 2008, to serve a one-year term. The highlight of his visit to the island was the induction of 75 new members during a ceremony at the Hilton Kingston hotel last Thursday. Associate Editor Byron Buckley spoke to Canaday before the start of the ceremony.

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Why are you in Jamaica?

I am here to celebrate with the Kiwanians of Jamaica. They are a great bunch of men and women who wear the pin of Kiwanis proudly and they serve those who are in need. We are hoping to grow.

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Comments (0) Feb 04 2009

The average age in the House of Representatives is 57, while the average age in the Senate is 63.  While President Obama is one of the youngest presidents ever elected, he’ll

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Comments (0) Feb 01 2009

Barack and Michelle: Hopeful

This photo was taken at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN at the end of the 2008 Democratic Party primaries.

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Comments (0) Jan 30 2009

Barack, Michelle and Malia: Stuck in the Middle with You

It’s an Obama family group hug (with Sasha) in this photo, which was snapped at a rally in Des Moines, IA.

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Comments (0) Jan 30 2009

Inaugural prayers aim for a more diverse America

AP – The Rev. Rick Warren, of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., gives the invocation as President-elect …

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By RACHEL ZOLL, AP Religion Writer

The clergy were Protestant, and so was the new head of state. But the inauguration Tuesday of President Barack Obama aimed for a much broader audience: an increasingly diverse America, where people want their beliefs acknowledged in the nation’s most important ceremony. In his address, Obama referred to God and Scripture, saying, “the time has come to set aside childish things,” from 1 Corinthians.

But he also reached out to American secularists, calling the United States, “a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and nonbelievers.” The Center for Inquiry and the Council for Secular Humanism, based in Amherst, N.Y., called recognition in the inaugural address “truly historic and remarkable.”

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Comments (0) Jan 22 2009

Obamas dance to , “At Last”

President Barack Obama, left, and first lady Michelle Obama arrive at the Western Ball in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Pablo Monsavais)

U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama wave at the Western Regional Inaugural Ball in Washington, January 20, 2009. Obama took power as the first black U.S. president on Tuesday and quickly turned the page on the Bush years, urging Americans to rally to end the worst economic crisis in generations and repair the U.S. image abroad. REUTERS/Mitch Dumke (UNITED STATES)

President Barak Obama kisses first lady Michelle Obama as they dance at the Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, Tuesday, Jan 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama dance at the Biden Home State Inaugural Ball in Washington January 20, 2009. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES)

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama dance during the Commander in Chief’s Ball, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama dance at the Youth Inaugural Ball at a Washington hotel Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

  President Barack Obama gives a kiss to first lady Michelle Obama as they dance together at the Obama Home States Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

U.S. President Barack Obama, the newly sworn-in 44th President of the United States, and first lady Michelle Obama dance at the Commander-in-Chief Ball in Washington January 20, 2009. Obama took power as the first black U.S. president on Tuesday and quickly turned the page on the Bush years, urging Americans to rally to end the worst economic crisis in generations and repair the U.S. image abroad. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn (UNITED STATES)

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama dance at the Youth Inaugural Ball in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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By LISA TOLIN, Associated Press Writer  

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle capped their historic day with a speedy tour through 10 inaugural balls before retiring, at last, for their first night in the White House.

The Etta James classic “At Last” was the Obamas’ song of the evening, crooned by Beyonce at the Neighborhood Ball, the first of 10 inaugural celebrations they attended into the early hours of Wednesday.

The president wore white tie, while Michelle shimmered in a white, one-shouldered, floor-length gown. It was embellished from top to bottom with white floral details and made by 26-year-old New York designer Jason Wu.

“First of all, how good looking is my wife?” Obama asked the crowd of celebrities and supporters.

The president pulled his wife close for a slow, dignified two-step to the song that marked the end of a long day of formal inaugural events and the two-year campaign that put them in the White House.

Obama cut loose in a faster groove a few minutes later, as Shakira, Mary J. Blige, Faith Hill and Mariah Carey sang along with Stevie Wonder to his “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.” The song was played at nearly all of Obama’s rallies throughout the campaign.

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Comments (0) Jan 21 2009