Inside the Situation Room

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P050111PS-0210 by The White House
P050111PS-0210, a photo by The White House on Flickr.

Here is a fascinating photo of the Situation Room in the White House as top government officials receive updates about Osama bin Laden in live time.

Their faces reveal a lot of information, and what is so interesting is they are all seeing the same thing, yet are giving us such different reactions. If you don’t know who the people are, click on the photo above, and in the caption, their names are broken down in order so you can see who is who.

Joe Biden is just taking information in with not much of a reaction in this split-second photograph.

President Obama is INTENSELY immersed in what he is watching.  I would say if he could talk at this point, he would tell you he has great respect for what he saw.  I think he was taken back by what he was watching or hearing, and perhaps has a healthy apprehension about just how good they were, if you will. I see notable amount of apprehension in his face.

Brigadier General Marshall B. “Brad” Webb gives us nothing as he is looking down.

Denis McDonough is just taking it all in without a lot of expression.

Hilary Clinton is shocked at what she sees, and is clearly having a hard time with what is in front of her.  We often cover up our mouths when we are having a hard time processing what we are seeing and find it shocking.  There are other reasons for this behavior as well.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is feeling a pride.  He is getting satisfaction out of watching this.

Admiral Mike Mullen is humbled in this photograph.

Advisor Tom Donilon is watching with confidence about what is going on.

Chief of Staff Bill Daley is intensely watching and absorbing what he is seeing.  I think there is a slight pressing of the lips here. It could have several meanings.

Tony Binken is trying to get a good look and Audrey Tomason doesn’t appear to be able to see, though she is listening.

John Brennan has furrowed brows which is suggestive of dislike, concern or distress.

John Brennan is pretty neutral — just taking it all in.

With all photos, it is a split second in time.  While it does give us information about how people are feeling in this instant, it can and does change every second.   It’s just a window, a snapshot, and sometimes people aren’t even aware they are feeling these emotions when they express them.

Royal Wedding of William & Kate

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Many of you have asked my opinion on the royal couple. Compared to Prince William’s mom, Princess Diana, I think this couple stands a real chance at success in their relationship. When young Princess Diana wed her more mature prince, Charles, 30 years ago, the relationship was unbalanced on many levels. Diane was unsure of herself, and didn’t know who she was. Charles was in his element. It took Diana years to find her footing and place in the world, and when she did, she realized they were very different people with opposite values in life.

With Kate and Will, we have maturity in the both of them and a solid sense of self in each. They are both well grounded and seem to know what they want, which is important for success in anything we seek to do. I suspect with that, they have a good idea that they share similar interests.

When I look at Kate, she gives us lots of genuine smiles.

William on the other hand does not. His face strains in almost a painful way when he puts on the “media grin” as I call it, but it is logical, considering he is expected to smile every time he is in public, and has had to do so for his entire life. When I look at the media images of Prince William, it is a common face, so I do not use it to judge his emotions towards Kate. It seems to be his baseline behavior when in the media.  It is much less common for the media to capture true emotions out of William in their photographs.

Talking of smiles, I was actually quite surprised at the photo released to the media by the royal family before their wedding.  The grin on Prince William was painful. I would call it a torturous smile — so forced it almost hurts him to do it.   They need a facial expression expert to help them before they release official photos!

To judge William, I would need to see him one-on-one with Kate to have more of an honest critique of his true feelings outside of the media glare. Prince William understandably has a distaste for the paparazzi–considering how his mom died.

But from the outside looking in, I’d say this couple has a good start, likely a solid foundation and will stay together for many years.

Janet Walters Body Found

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I wrote last week about Gary Walters, who was pleading for his wife’s return after she went missing because  I felt it was refreshing to see an honest plea by a husband looking for his missing wife as so many have tragic and dishonest ends.

Sadly, Janet Walter’s van was found in a Meijer’s grocery story parking lot this past Saturday afternoon  insider her van which sat unidentified in the lot for at least 10 days.  News reports give differing accounts.  One says a shopper found her.  Another one says an employee of Meijer’s note the van due to an odor and flies, and when they looked inside, on the third row seats, was Janet’s body.

Police believe Janet Walters committed suicide, though they are waiting for official word from the coroner and toxicology reports.  You can read more at the IndyStar.com.

Gary Walters’ Wife Janet is Missing

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Janet Walters went missing on April 14 and hasn’t been since.  Her husband, Gary, has offered up $10,000 of his own money with hopes it might help someone find her.

He speaks in an interview on 6 News in Indiana.  Gary is so refreshing because I believe that he is being honest and is a good example of honesty.  His words flow, his emotions match what he is saying and they are consistent.  He speaks positively of his wife.  However, the story he tells is painful.  I am worried that his wife either met with foul play after she left the house or chose to check out without telling anyone.

Two days before Walters disappeared, she got a devastating diagnosis, and did talk about taking her own life.  She left home in a 2004 green Toyota Sienna with Indiana license plate #GZ7587 and VA parking stickers in the front and back windows.

What a painful story for this family. My heart goes out to them.