President Barack Obama shortlisted for two British book awards.

At least the Brits will be showing him some love.

Mr Obama could be crowned Borders' author of the year for The Audacity of Hope, which outlines his own deep-felt political and personal values.

Also, his memoir of his early life and African-American heritage Dreams From My Father is a candidate for Tesco biography of the year.

The awards, which cover commercial bestsellers and literary prize-winners, give readers a say, with the winners decided by a mix of industry academy and public voting.

The Galaxy Book of the Year, the ultimate prize for the reading public's very best book of the year, will be selected on the night.

President-In-Touch

Hard to imagine Mr Bush giving a crap about reading citizen's letters isn't it?

The letter to President Obama came from a woman in Arizona whose husband lost his job. He was able to find work, but the new gig came with one-third the pay; the family is struggling to make their mortgage payments.

(snip)

In his first week in office, President Obama requested that he see 10 letters a day "representative of people's concerns, from people writing into the president," recalls Gibbs, "to help get him outside of the bubble, to get more than just the information you get as an elected official."

Says Axelrod, "he did it because his greatest concern is getting isolated in the White House, away from the experiences of the American people...The letters impact him greatly."

President Obama Boards Air Force One For The First Time

President Obama Gives First Interview To Arabic News Channel parts 3 & 4

From CSpan junkie via CNN. Transcript here.

President Obama Gives First Interview To Arabic News Channel parts 1 & 2

From CSpan junkie via CNN. Transcript here.

President Obama's aunt remains in US legally for now

Poor woman, just the mention of her is sure to get the loons yipping again. From the comments over at CNN on this- What is wrong with this picture?????? Let's ask her if she was present for his birth in Kenya? Poor sad things.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Barack Obama's Kenyan aunt is in the United States legally, at least for the time being, CNN has learned.

Just days before the November election it was reported that Zeituni Onyango, the half-sister of Mr. Obama's late father, was living in Boston despite a deportation order issued four years earlier when her asylum request was denied.

(snip)

"While she is in proceedings she can stay in the country," says Margaret Wong, the attorney representing Onyango. Wong said her client had not received any special treatment in the immigration system.

The Etch-A-Sketch President

Oh bullcrap he did that in one line.

The face of newly sworn-in American President Barack Obama is a familiar sight on posters, T-shirts and badges – and it has now appeared on an Etch-A-Sketch too.

The portrait was created by artist George Vlosich, using the retro toy which originates from the late 1950s.

The likeness took 80 hours to draw with two dials on a plastic frame – all using one unbroken black line.