Michelle Obama shines in Isabel Toledo

First lady Michelle Obama wore a sparkling yellow-gold sheath dress with matching coat by Cuban-born American designer Isabel Toledo for the inauguration of her husband, a choice many applauded as a cheerful message of hope and a vote for the American fashion industry.

She paired the embellished ensemble with green gloves from J. Crew and green shoes.

President Barack Obama wore a red tie and white shirt with his suit, topped with an overcoat adorned with an American flag pin.

Their daughters were style icons in their own right, with 10-year-old Malia in a double-breasted periwinkle-blue coat with a blue-ribbon bow at the waist, and Sasha, 7, in a pink coat with orange scarf and satin belt, a coral-colored dress peeking out at the hem. Their coats were from Crewcuts by J. Crew.

The fashion industry has anxiously looked to the election of Obama for months, embracing his wife as an emblem and ambassador of modern American style. She has won praise for her penchant for lesser-known designers and bold fashion choices, mixed with her unabashed love for mass fashion from mainstream American retailers.

Text of President Barack Obama's inaugural address

Text of President Barack Obama's inaugural address on Tuesday, as prepared for delivery and released by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

OBAMA: My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

For complete text visit here!

American Idol Idol’s Back! Season 8 Kicks Off in Phoenix with New Judge

“The beauty of Idol is the journey itself.” Yes! So true! Ryan Seacrest provided those words of inspiration during the opening moments of the show’s eighth season Tuesday. Are you ready, America? Let’s take that journey!

The season’s two-hour kickoff introduced perhaps the most dramatic change since Idol premiered: The addition of a fourth judge. For the auditions in Phoenix, songwriter Kara DioGuardi was allocated a new spot between Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, with Simon Cowell still seated to have the final word. (He also has a strengthened vote that lets him break what might otherwise be a 2-2 tie.) DioGuardi, who looks like an older, more languid Katharine McPhee with a touch of Anna Paquin, is presumably meant to be a level-headed counterpoint to Paula, who lives in a magical, sometimes baffling world.

Kara — pronounced “care-ah” — was slickly pleasant, but you get the feeling she won’t really tolerate too much nonsense, and she knows how to make a point. Example: Katrina Darrell, nicknamed Bikini Girl because she auditioned in a teeny, tiny two-piece bathing suit that pleased Simon and Randy, was given a golden ticket to Hollywood over Kara’s strong objections (watch a clip). Kara’s parting shot: “Next time, come naked.”

The standout auditions:
• Scott MacIntyre, to our knowledge the first blind singer on Idol
• Emily Wynne-Hughes, a rocker girl
• Stevie Wright, who drew comparisons to Kelly Clarkson
• Michael Sarver, an oil-rig worker
• Alex Wagner-Trugman, a Clay Aiken-y nerd
• Deanna Brown, who had a strong country-rock vibe

Producers have decided to cut back on the audition shows this season — and also on the absurdly non-serious wannabes, which is a relief after the recent tragedy involving Paula’s suicidal fan. So why did they include a reminder of that disaster with the audition of Lea Marie Golde? An aspiring singer-songwriter in a pink cowboy hat and top, she described herself enthusiastically as “Kara DioGuardi’s biggest fan” and was presented as something of a cutie-pie kook. After she was thrown out, Simon said: “That was uncomfortable.” Kara laughed it off.

[PIC] The World According to Americans

Click on the picture to enlarge and see how Americans describe this worldwide :)