Sybaritism in Seattle

…health wise and about our country! I’m stoked about the direction this ship has turned and what President Obama (love that) is doing:

-froze salaries for top White House staff members

-Set a deadline for the closing of Guantanimo ( which is a great thing given it operates as something from the dark ages. No trails, no convictions, and TORTURE?)

-Fast-tracked the process to apply new fuel standards to 2011 car models AND initiated steps to allow California to set its own standards for auto emissions that are stricter than that of the federal government.

-signed a detailed executive order to ban torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners

-asked the military leadership to engage in additional planning necessary to execute a responsible military drawdown from Iraq

-signed an executive order that restored a 30-day timeframe for former presidents to review records before they are released. It also eliminated the right for the vice president or family members of former presidents to do the reviews.

-signed an executive order that requires that appointees sign forms saying that they were not hired because of political affiliations or contributions

-signed an order banning gifts from lobbyists and banning anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years

-lifted a ban on giving federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide abortion information

-granted his 1st tv interview as president to al-Arabiya, a channel described as a “voice of moderation” to the middle-east. A very smart move to help angered nations and groups feel a bit less cast-aside, and let them know that they need not resort to violence to be made a part of the world discussion.