Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has been laying low in Hawaii for a couple of days, taking a break from campaigning to soak up the sun and surf of the state where he spent his most formative years. But while the guy clearly has a bit of money and a few connections, his trip has been anything but extravagant. The AP has the lowdown on what the Obama family has been up to on Oahu, and how you too can experience the island like the nominee.
Obama did some bodysurfing in the waves off Sandy Beach Park on the island's south shore, a cheap and fun pastime to be sure. Take care if you try to swim in his footsteps, though: park officials warn that strong currents and dangerous shorebreaks make this a place for "experienced shorebreak bodysurfers" only. In keeping with the water theme, Obama also went snorkeling with his daughters at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, and had a family picnic and swim at Ala Moana Beach Park. Sounds fun to us.
We could go on, but it sounds like the guy knows how to have a good time, even if the itinerary seems a tad bit over-scheduled. Oh well, I'm sure they found a few moments to chillax amid all the action.
The Democratic National Convention is just eight days away, and the mile-high city of Denver is gearing up for four days of speechifying, glad-handing, and baby-kissing as Barack Obama officially accepts his party's nomination for the presidency. And while organizers are looking forward to a week of virtuous pronouncements, other groups are expecting the seedy side of the DNC to rear its ugly head.
News crews from CBS reportedly discovered a "concentration camp" that was built by local police to house all the protesters they expect to arrest during the convention. A warehouse on the north-east side of town was equipped with metal holding pens, fences topped with barbed wire, and a sign that warns of "electric stun devices used in this facility."
Meanwhile, an organization called Street's Hope is planning on reaching out to the 40,000 prostitutes they estimate will be in town to entertain the philandering delegates. The group aims to offer a way out for sex workers who want to leave their lives of prostitution, offering outreach, counseling, and lots of prayer. One can't help but wonder how many prostitutes they estimate the Republican convention will draw. Would they low-ball the figure to make the GOP look a bit more saintly?
In any case, if you're headed to Denver, be careful of where you protest and who you go to bed with, because plenty of sanctimonious moralists will be watching your every move.
With plenty of hip museums in and around LA, the Museum of the American West in Griffith Park is not usually high on the itinerary. Essentially a shrine to cowboy culture, the museum's drab permanent exhibits are far less interesting than the aging Will Rogers wannabes who show up dressed in full Western gear, right down to the boots and spurs.
But this year's election-themed special exhibit is worth a trip for both Wild West lovers and political junkies. The exhibit traces how the cowboy image has shaped US electoral politics, from Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders to George W. Bush and his brush clearing in Crawford. Visitors are left with the realization that you can't get to the White House without having at least a little John Wayne in you--hence Cowboy Obama, above).
Cowboys and Presidents is on display at the Museum of the American West through September 7, before heading off on a national tour.
Until now, our coverage of Bucharest has focused on Dracula, but come this April, there'll be more scary creatures there: lots of politicians. The 20th NATO Summit will take place in the Romanian capital between April 2 and 4, carefully avoiding the prospect of starting talks on April Fools' Day.
So who and what will we see in Bucharest this April? Well, surprisingly, Russian president Vladimir Putin has agreed to show up, the first time a Russian leader has been there in six years. Along with him, the usual suspects--that is, heads of government of NATO members--will be in town, too.
Whether they'll take a countryside trip to haunt Dracula's region or spend more time at some of the sites made famous during the 1989 revolution (remember Ceausescu?), we are sure to see some pretty Bucharest churches in the background on TV. If the delegates have too much fun, we'll just be grinding our teeth about where our taxes are going.
