There are a few amusing things about this press release, chief among them the fact that "Youth Ball to Focus on Young Americans" was deemed to be more headline-worthy than Delaware getting its own, well, half a ball. It would be happy to hand over the whole thing to Pennsylvania, but it would charge interest. And a toll.
God, I hate Delaware.
The other amusing things all have to do with making jokes about "balls."
PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA TO HOST YOUTH BALL, REGIONAL BALLS ON INAUGURAL NIGHT
Youth Ball to Focus on Young Americans, Service
WASHINGTON,
D.C. - President-elect Barack Obama will host a Youth Inaugural Ball,
five Regional Inaugural balls, and a ball for his Home States -
Illinois and Hawaii. Vice President-elect Joe Biden will host a ball
for his Home States as well: Delaware and Pennsylvania. These balls
round out the list of official inaugural balls to be held on Tuesday,
January 20, along with the previously announced Neighborhood Inaugural
Ball and Commander in Chief's Ball. The President-elect and the Vice
President-elect will appear at each of the ten inaugural balls.
"This
is America's inaugural celebration in every way," said Presidential
Inaugural Committee Executive Director Emmett S. Beliveau. "Young
people are more engaged in this country's future than ever before and
we want to harness that excitement by inviting them to participate in
this historic occasion. In that same vein, we are hosting events to
bring people from all walks of life and from across the country - from
the President-elect and Vice President-elect's home states, as well as
every corner of the nation - to celebrate this country's unity moving
forward."
The Youth ball is intended for young Americans aged
18-35 and will celebrate the inauguration of the new president and the
role young Americans can play to serve their communities. Tickets
will be available at a reduced price of $75.
The Regional Inaugural Balls are an inaugural tradition that
President-elect Obama will continue, inviting guests from the Midwest,
the West, the East, the South, and the Mid-Atlantic regions to their
own celebrations. Tickets will be available to invited guests for $150.
To
cap off the night, Obama and Biden will each host guests from their
home states to a ball to celebrate their inaugurations with those who
know them best - their friends, families and local supporters. Tickets
to this event will also be available to invited guests for $150.
Additional details about the balls are below:
Youth Inaugural Ball - Young Americans aged 18-35; Washington Hilton
Obama Home States Inaugural Ball - Illinois and Hawaii invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Biden Home States Inaugural Ball -Delaware and Pennsylvania invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Eastern Inaugural Ball - CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT, PR, and USVI invited guests; Union Station
Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball - MD, VA, DC, NY, NJ, and WV invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Midwest Inaugural Ball - KS, IN, IA, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI, and MO invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Southern Inaugural Ball - AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, and TX invited guests; National Guard Armory
Western
Inaugural Ball - AK, CA, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY, AZ, CO, NV, NM, UT, OK,
GUAM/AS invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Neighborhood Inaugural Ball - DC residents, additional guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Commander-in-Chief's Inaugural Ball - Enlisted active duty and reserve military; National Building Museum