Well, I can barely even believe it happened. Looking back at the sparse posting over the last year on this blog, you can see how caught up I've been in Obama's push for the White House. Way back at the start of 2006 I emailed Dr Mike and suggested that we try to find out more about the young Obama who was just starting his rise - there was something exciting about him. We agreed that though it was unlikely he'd get past Hilary in a selection battle, he was a talent to keep an eye on. And so he was. After one of the most extraordinary campaigns in US history, America (and the world) has its first African-American president and what a man he appears to be. For the first time in my life, the world has a politician who has shamelessly embraced the big picture, who sees value in inspiring hope and unity, who speaks of an enormous vision, who can give a speech that reduces people to tears and inspires them to try to make a difference. The US is in a horrible dark hole and it wi...