Photo of the Day: Supreme Court Justice

The minute I saw this headline, I knew who the story was about:

An immigrant student invited a Supreme Court Justice to dinner. She took him up on it.

Chef Ferrufino, left, and Meridian Pint owner John Andrade flank their special guest. (Jill Collins PR)

Sotomayor, the Bronx, N.Y.-raised daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants, visited the Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School last year, a school in Northeast Washington serving the city’s adult immigrant community. There, she had lunch with several top students, including Francisco Ferrufino, a native of El Salvador who was doing culinary training at the school. Over lunch, Ferrufino offered a bold invitation to the visiting justice: He would love to cook for her someday...

Sotomayor accepted, and on Friday night, she brought along three friends, including Mexican opera star Carla Dirlikov, to sample his wares.

Love you Justice Sotomayor!!!

Photo of the Day: NASA Masterpiece

This one is off-the-charts:

A not-so-long time from now in a planetary orbit not far away, a team of astronauts will head to the International Space Station. NASA just revealed the official poster for Expedition 45, and it is a Star Wars-themed masterpiece...Each astronaut has a differently hued lightsaber. There's a satellite that looks deceivingly like an X-Wing with its S-foils in attack position. And that eerily familiar object next to Scott Kelly's head... that's no moon.

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

President Obama pays homage to the peacemakers:

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bishop Oscar Romero

Nelson Mandela

Cesar Chavez

Mahatma Gandhi

Everybody Matters

I want our actions to tell every child in every neighborhood, your life matters, and we are  committed to improving your life chances - as committed as we are to working on behalf of our own kids. I want future generations to know that we are a people who see our differences as a great gift, that we’re a people who value the dignity and worth of every citizen -- man and woman, young and old, black and white, Latino, Asian, immigrant, Native American, gay, straight, Americans with mental illness or physical disability. Everybody matters. I want them to grow up in a country that shows the world what we still know to be true: that we are still more than a collection of red states and blue states; that we are the United States of America.

President Barack Obama, State of the Union, January 20, 2015

Talk...meet walk.

Image of the Day: Schrodinger's Candidate

OMG - he's serious!!!

Key theme Romney quietly making in convos w/ conservatives: He'll run to right of Jeb http://t.co/WYLnR5waeV
— Robert Costa (@costareports) January 12, 2015

Seeing as how Mitt plans to run to the "right" of Jeb, let me be the first to resurrect this golden oldie.

Photo of the Day: Pillars of Creation

This kind of thing absolutely takes my breath away.

From NASA:

Although NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has taken many breathtaking images of the universe, one snapshot stands out from the rest: the iconic view of the so-called “Pillars of Creation.” The jaw-dropping photo, taken in 1995, revealed never-before-seen details of three giant columns of cold gas bathed in the scorching ultraviolet light from a cluster of young, massive stars in a small region of the Eagle Nebula, or M16.

Though such butte-like features are common in star-forming regions, the M16 structures are by far the most photogenic and evocative. The Hubble image is so popular that it has appeared in movies and television shows, on T-shirts and pillows, and even on a postage stamp.

And now, in celebration of its upcoming 25th anniversary in April, Hubble has revisited the famous pillars, providing astronomers with a sharper and wider view. As a bonus, the pillars have been photographed in near-infrared light, as well as visible light. The infrared view transforms the pillars into eerie, wispy silhouettes seen against a background of myriad stars. That’s because the infrared light penetrates much of the gas and dust, except for the densest regions of the pillars. Newborn stars can be seen hidden away inside the pillars. The new images are being unveiled at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Seattle.

Photo of the Day: Flip-Flopper-in-Chief

Photo of the Day: All Grown Up

A lot of people have been talking about how President Obama has aged during his tenure in the White House. But the dramatic change has come elsewhere. Take a look at the family on election night November 2008.

Now take a look at them this month at the annual Christmas in Washington celebration.

Yes, the President has aged. But Malia and Sasha...OH MY!!!!

Ten Memorable Photos from 2014

Here are some of my favorite moments from 2014.

10. This is exactly why I'm a dog-lover

9. The Listener-in-Chief

8. This year brought a lot of POTUS fashion commentary. I personally got a kick out of all the pearl-clutching over this one.

7. But the media went into full freak-out mode over this.

6. As a strong supporter of AG Holder, I was disappointed when he announced that he was leaving the administration. Not to worry...in steps Loretta Lynch.

5. A 2014 recap has to include something about the protests in Ferguson. I can think of no picture that demonstrates what it's all about better than this one.

4. I've always been a bit of a nut about Stonehenge. So of course, I enjoyed this day a lot.

3. The #PrezRezVisit was a true highlight of the year.

2. Nothing...and I mean nothing...captures the politics of 2014 better than this one.

1. And finally, the VERY BEST of 2014 - hands down, no contest!!!

A nugget of hope from Chris Rock

In a less quoted portion of Chris Rock's interview with Frank Rich, I think he nailed what is driving the confederate insurgency absolutely bonkers.

...my kids grew up not only with a black president but with a black secretary of State, a black joint chief of staff, a black attorney general. My children are going to be the first black children in the history of America to actually have the benefit of the doubt of just being moral, intelligent people.

President Obama has said that he's not interested in leading a national conversation on race. He's busy having a different kind of conversation that's going right over the heads of most pundits who are whining about leadership.

Something deep persists

Obviously the Civil Rights Movement brought about some important changes. But something deep persists.

Then...

And now...

Unless we change it for the future...

Photo of the Day: Lunch Meeting

On this day when most of us should be reminded that we're immigrants to this land, President Obama had lunch with the one group for whom that isn't true...Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Youth. I don't know if they planned it this way, but I LOVE the juxtaposition of this as a prelude to his announcement about immigration tonight!

Best of Halloween 2014 (updated)

I'm seeing wonderful Halloween costumes on twitter. Here's some of the best (I'll keep adding if I find others).

The notorious RBG

Olive-a-Pope (notice the wine glass)

Check out My costume! It was surprisingly easy to make. pic.twitter.com/EvU3r1Nxra
— God (@TheTweetOfGod) October 31, 2014

Photo of the Day: Solidarity

The re-trial of Michael Dunn for the murder of Jordan Davis began today. In a powerful display of solidarity, Jordan's mother was joined by Oscar's uncle, Emmett's cousin and Trayvon's mom. 

Obama Hugs!!!

According to my twitter timeline, this week Rachel Maddow made a most outrageous statement that CANNOT go unchallenged!

Really Rachel? PBO isn't a hugger?
— Matt Murphy (@MattMurph24) September 12, 2014

Now...I'll grant you that Michelle Obama might hold the title of "Hugger-in-Chief." But our POTUS is no slouch in that department either. Hence, I come with photographic evidence.

But before we begin, please note that quantity is not the only measure of a world class hugger. Quality matters as well.

With that in mind, let us begin.

And last, but surely not least, we have the hug heard round the world.

So with that Rachel, I'll await your apology :-)