Obama Squares Off with John Cena

From the same people who gave us Doink the Clown and Koko B. Ware, comes a presidential smackdown. Barack Obama will appear on an upcoming WWE show.

The president is taping a message to the troops which will air during NBC's "WWE Tribute to the Troops" special. This isn't even Obama's first appearance on WWE. He, McCain and Hillary Clinton all taped messages during the election.

Dalai Lama Fist Bump

Remember the Obama's terrorist fist bump. Well, by that definition, the Dalai Lama is also a terrorist. Check out the Dalai Lama on a recent visit to Memphis, TN.

5040 Greenwood Ave, Chicago, IL

Chicago house for sale: Hyde Park, 8 Bedrooms, 3 full + 2 half-baths.

Don't bother asking how much; the owner is offering this property for sale, unpriced.

If you do decide to buy, you will be subjected to an intensive background check by the Secret Service.

More info here.

You Too Can Be Kenyan!

Have you heard of the "Birthers"? They are obstensibly a group of people who are challenging whether Barack Obama was born in the United States. They claim he was born outside of the U.S., in, say, Kenya.

Now you can get your own Kenyan Birth Certificate (false, like all the ones attributed to Barack Obama) from kenyanbirthcertificategenerator.com. Enjoy!

Playing Hooky, Get Excuse note from the President

President Obama was in Green Bay talking about his health care plan when a father got up to ask a question. The man said his daughter, Kennedy was missing the last day of school to be here. He hopes she doesn't get into trouble. President Obama offered to write Kennedy an excuse note.

Here is the exchange:

John Corpus: My name is John Corpus, I am fortunate enough to be here with
my 10 year old daughter who is missing her last day of school to be here, I
hope she doesn't get in trouble..

President Obama: Oh no. Do you need me to write a note?

Corpus: Actually I'll take you up on that Mr President..

Obama: Okay go ahead, I'll start writing. What's her name?

Corpus: John Corpus

Obama: No, her.

Corpus: Oh...(laughter)...well considering I have some people here from
work, they're very interested..

Obama: No no I'm serious, what's your daughter's name?

Corpus: Her name is Kennedy.

Obama: Kennedy, all right, that's a cool name.

Corpus: It's a very cool name, thank you.

Obama: I'm going to write, "To Kennedy's teacher.." okay go ahead I'm
listening to your question.

Obama: Here you go Kennedy, here's your note..there you go, you got it.

Kennedy: He wrote..to Kennedy's teacher. Please excuse Kennedy's absence..
she's with me. Barack Obama.

Kennedy described the whole thing as "like, really
awesome."

So, the next time you want to play hooky, you know where to get a note.

Obama Mania of a different sort

Perhaps trying to capitalize on President Barack Obama's popularity, a German frozen food company has come out with a product called 'Obama Fingers.'

The package describes the fried chicken fingers as "tender, juicy pieces of chicken breast, coated and fried." A company sales manager says "American products and the American way of eating are trendy at the moment."

Needless to say, the chicken now in German freezers, is causing quite a bit of furor. NY Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn) says "it's racist and inappropriate."

So, how long before see the President as a person rather than a race?

First Dog Search Narrowed Considerably

In a selection process that's generating more attention than the search for Commerce Secretary, Michelle Obama has said that they've decided to go with a Portuguese Water Dog (left) which looks sort of like a poodle. Like poodles, Portuguese Water Dogs don't shed, a consideration for Malia Obama, who is allergic to dogs.

Jimmy Orr at Christian Science Monitor notes that "this breed is known not only for having webbed feet and being a favorite of Jacques Cousteau, but they usually pay their taxes on time and rarely back out at the last minute."

Of the various hypoallergenic dogs they might have chosen from, I rather wish they'd gone with a Pomeranian. So cute.

(pictured: a Pomeranian puppy. Aww.)

Lincoln: Celebrating 200 years of greatness

You'll hear a lot about Abraham Lincoln this week. His 200th birthday is coming up on February 12th. To commemorate the day, four new postal stamps will go on sale starting this morning.

I knew three (Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana) states have been fighting over Lincoln's legacy, but I recently learned it's now 5 states (add Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.) They all have events scheduled to celebrate the man who has been used by both Republicans and Democrats in recent memory to bolster their arguments.

Speaking of politicians using Abe's name, President Barack Obama invoked Lincoln's name many times. So many times that the Chicago Tribune asked the question, 'does Obama have Abe envy?' They called it a 'man-crush.'
After reading Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals, I can understand why someone would have a man-crush on Lincoln. Who is your presidential man-crush? Jefferson, FDR, George Washington?

Take a Number Please...

New occupants to the White House bring hope for many. As you can imagine, people are finding ways to make money off of The Obama Presidency.

Hawaii hopes tourists will come in droves to see the Baskin Robbins where the commander-in-chief worked while in high school. Obviously Chicago will cash-in with a package called Presidential Chicago or maybe you want to shop for books for your children... perhaps the same ones Sasha and Malia read. Of course you can dine in Chicago like the Obama's. Speaking of food, foodies hope Obama will revolutionize the way Americans eat. How about appointing a food czar? Talk about having a lot on your plate. As if 2 wars, a slumping economy and a failing health care system is not enough to keep the new president busy, how about the game of golf. Some golfers hope African Americans will take up the game because they see Obama playing. I am starting to feel like I am at the bakery. Take a number and wait your turn. Next...number 102.

HOW WE SPENT 350 BILLION DOLLARS

The Treasury department has spent 350 billion dollars of the bailout money. How exactly did we spend that? The answers are just coming to the surface. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that some members of Congress took care of banks in their home state. Congressman Barney Frank seems to be one of the worst offenders. The Massachusetts Congressman is the Chairman of the Financial Services Committee. He's not the only one, Ohio benefited quite a bit from the bailout cash. The last chapter is still not written on how this money was spent. So, politicians are motivated by politics. Are we surprised? Are we going to see a real change with Barack Obama's Administration?

"A Technicolor cast"

From an article by Jodi Kantor in the New York Times, Jan 20th, 2009 (emphasis added):

For well over two centuries, the United States has been vastly more diverse than its ruling families. Now the Obama family has flipped that around, with a Technicolor cast that looks almost nothing like their overwhelmingly white, overwhelmingly Protestant predecessors in the role. The family that produced Barack and Michelle Obama is black and white and Asian, Christian, Muslim and Jewish. They speak English; Indonesian; French; Cantonese; German; Hebrew; African languages including Swahili, Luo and Igbo; and even a few phrases of Gullah, the Creole dialect of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Very few are wealthy, and some — like Sarah Obama, the stepgrandmother who only recently got electricity and running water in her metal-roofed shack — are quite poor.

Presidential in-laws

When Barack Obama's mother-in-law moves into the White House later today, she'll be joining an elite group of in-laws. Four other presidential-in-laws have lived at the White House: Ulysses S. Grant's father-in-law, Harry S Truman's mother-in-law, Dwight D. Eisenhower's mother-in-law and Benjamin Harrison's father-in-law.

When as if his mother-in-law is moving to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Barack Obama tells 60 Minutes, "Well, I don't tell my mother-in-law what to do." Obama went on to offer 60 minutes correspondent Steve Croft some tips on dealing with mother-in-laws. All joking aside, experts say two things are necessary to keep the peace. The Obama's need to discuss privacy and disciplining the children ahead of time. You can find more information about Michelle's mother here.