The White House is releasing today the first official photo of the First Family which was shot last month by famed celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz (who has been struggling with HUGE debt problems lately). Here is our first look at the official White House photo of the First Family — President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia Ann and Natasha (Sasha) Obama:

The Obamas have released a new official first family portrait this morning. As you can see at left, Barack and Michelle Obama are seated in the Green Room of the White House, along with their daughters Sasha, age 8, and Malia, age 11. The portrait was taken last month by famed photographer Annie Leibowitz, who has taken a number of Obama family portraits in the past.

Such a beautiful family, such a beautiful portrait. If you would like to have a high-res copy of this photo suitable for framing or what have you, you can download the file HERE at the official White House Flickr photostream. Great photo!!

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We are just a couple weeks away from Hallowe’en and already we’ve seen a few celeb families (HERE, HERE and HERE) steppin’ out to pick their pumpkins for seasonal carving … but a gardener named David Finkle in Chelmsford, Essex, England is already hard at work carving his very special Hallowe’en pumpkins … here are a few examples of his work:

Yes, that is US President Barack Obama and Michael Jackson on top along with a couple of traditionally themed pumpkins on the bottom. When I carve pumpkins, I tend to keep it simple … you know, triangle eyes and nose, jagged teeth … so I’m always very impressed with work like this. Hallowe’en is one of the funnest times of the year … hopefully these jack-o-lanterns will inspire all y’all to have fun with the pumpkin carving this year. I would also like to urge all y’all to send in photos of your carved pumpkins so that I may feature them here on the blog!

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Congratulations goes out to President Barack Obama who has just been named the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize recipient at an announcement ceremony in Oslo, Norway by the Norwegian Nobel Committee Head Thorbjoern Jagland. Cited for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy, cooperation between peoples and vision for a world without nuclear weapons” in just the first few months of his presidency, President Obama becomes only the 3rd sitting president to win the Nobel Peace Prize (after Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson). Obama becomes the 4th president to win the Nobel Peace Prize overall (President Jimmy Carter won his award after he left office). Here are photos of Jagland making the award announcement in Oslo earlier today and President Obama making his acceptance comments at the White House just moments ago:

US President Barack Obama sensationally won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday just nine months into his term, prompting world leaders to urge him to use the accolade to step up efforts for global peace. The jury hailed Obama’s “extraordinary” efforts in international diplomacy and to hasten nuclear disarmament, but criticism surged quickly over how the award could be given so soon. The US leader, 48, said he was “humbled” by the distinction. “Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future,” the Nobel jury said in making the stunning announcement. A gasp went through the Nobel Institute in Oslo as Obama’s name was read out. The committee attached “special importance to Obama’s vision and work for a world without nuclear weapons” and said he had created “a new climate in international politics.” Obama took office on January 20 and has sought to restore US standing after widespread criticism over the war in Iraq and the world superpower’s attitude to efforts to control global warming. The first black American president has brought the Israeli and Palestinian leaders together for a meeting, approved new diplomatic engagement with Iran, Myanmar and North Korea and signalled a new willingness to attack growing environmental problems. Obama went to Cairo to make a major speech on relations with the Muslim world, badly tarnished by President George W. Bush’s order to invade Iraq. At the United Nations, he has launched an initiative to reduce the number of nuclear weapons. The US president was awoken at 6:00 am at the White House by his spokesman to be told of the award. An administration official quoted Obama as saying he felt “humbled”. Obama was honored “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee Thorbjoern Jagland said, adding that it was “a unanimous decision.” The jury said: “Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations,” it said. “Thanks to Obama’s initiative, the US is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic changes the world is confronting.” The committee said it was seeking to encourage Obama’s ideals rather than recognise concrete results. Speaking to AFP, Jagland said: “It was unavoidable to give the prize to the man who has improved the international climate and emphasised negotiations and dialogue. Before he took office the situation was so dangerous. Step by step he has given the message to the world that he wants to negotiate on all conflicts, strengthen the United Nations and work for a world without any nuclear arms.” German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the award, calling it an “incentive to the president and to us all” to do more for peace.

This is quite an achievement and much congratulations goes out to our President today. Obama seems to instill a vision of hope that resonates beyond our US borders and was clearly recognized by the jury of the Nobel Prize. I fully expect this honor to inspire President Obama to do even more to work towards “strengthening international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples” not only for the duration of his time in office as president but for the rest of his life. Much, much congrats President Obama!!

UPDATE: President Obama has announced that he will donate the $1.4 million in prize money to charity. That’s classy, y’all!

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Pop culture artist Dan Lacey has been inspired by US President Barack Obama to create a series of paintings that show our nation’s leader engaged in various fantastical acts which include saving Wall Street, saving impaired airplanes and riding unicorns … like this painting, for example:

When I first saw this painting of President Obama astride a mythical unicorn, I was reminded of the fun graphic that was created by THIS site (which features lots of NIN/Reznor inspired artwork) of Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor riding on a unicorn of his own:

There seems to a growing trend of incorporating unicorns in fun artwork like this … a trend that I endorse and support wholeheartedly. After the jump, check out a few more pieces of Lacey’s Obama artwork — trust me, it’s not to be missed …

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Altho I haven’t made any public announcements, I think I will be following the New York Post blog Pop Wrap’s lead in NOT covering Kanye West anymore on my blog … but this is too good to not share with all y’all. In the wake of Kanye’s horribly selfish and outrageous decision to ruin Taylor Swift’s moment at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards last Sunday night, President Barack Obama was asked what he thought of Kanye’s behavior. Unknowingly, President Obama was recorded giving his honest opinion on Kanye West’s actions and was heard calling him a jackass. As it turns out, the recording of President Obama’s assessment of Kanye has made its way to the Internets, courtesy of TMZ:

TMZ has obtained the audiotape of President Barack Obama calling Kanye West a “jackass” for hijacking Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech during the VMAs. The audio was recorded just before Obama went on camera to do an interview with CNBC. Before the interview began, Obama — referring to Kanye’s antics on stage — said “I thought that was really inappropriate,” then adding, “He’s a jackass.” After making the remarks, Obama said “Where’s the pool?” Presumably, he was worried the joke would go wide. He noted the last time that happened, he got burned for killing a fly. Obama said, “Cut the President some slack.”

LMAOOOO. When the president calls you a jackass, you’re pretty much a jackass. While I’m sure President Obama wouldn’t have been quite so open with his opinions had he known he was being recorded, I’m glad that this little nugget of awesomeness was recorded for posterity. The president was only saying what pretty much everyone else believes. After the jump, hear the snippet in full …

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President Barack Obama was on hand at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO last night to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the 2009 MLB All-Star Game (he was the first sitting president to do so in 33 years, the 5th president to do so overall) and, as it turns out, managed to chuck a left-leaning pitch towards the home plate. Some described the pitch as “shaky” but, in all honesty, most ceremonial pitches are shaky … at best. Here are a few pics from last night’s game:

As you would expect, President Obama leaned to the left while making the ceremonial first pitch at Tuesday’s All-Star game in St. Louis. While he was lacking in style points on his short southpaw lob to the plate, he certainly made a striking fashion statement — not to mention showing his South Side sentiment — to the worldwide television audience. Yes, he wore a zippered black baseball jacket emblazoned with a white script S-O-X down the left side. “My wife thinks that I look cute in this jacket,” the president said later on the Fox game telecast. The president left his favorite well-worn Sox cap at home, although Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle had a pair stashed in his American League locker that he hoped to personally hand to Obama. Buehrle missed out on catching the ceremonial first pitch. That honor went to hometown favorite Albert Pujols, who received a hug from the president. Pujols deserved the hug, saving the president from embarrassment by moving on top of the plate to save the pitch from bouncing. As they would say in the dugout, the president needs some work on his mechanics. It might not have shown, but Obama, who said during the game telecast that he did not play organized baseball as a kid, had practiced for the big pitch. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday that the president had been testing out his arm with personal aide Reggie Love, a former Duke basketball player. In the Oval Office, Obama was asked about his pitching: “Well, I think it’s fair to say that I wanted to loosen up my arm a little bit,” he said. “You know, my general strategy the last time I threw a pitch was at the American League Championship Series and I just wanted to keep it high. “Now, there was no clock on it, I don’t know how fast it went — but if it exceeded 30 miles per hour, I’d be surprised. But it did clear the plate.” Baseball legend Willie Mays flew with Obama from Michigan to St. Louis on Tuesday. Mays went to the press cabin and said he gave the president one piece of advice about throwing out the first pitch: “Follow through.”

Aww … well … I don’t think anyone expected him to throw a pepper right over the home plate. And I agree with Michelle Obama, our prez does look cute in his White Sox jacket. Tho, in regards to that first pitch Mr. President, I wouldn’t quit your day job.

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President Barack Obama announced his nominee to the US Supreme Court to replace Justice David Souter who announced at the start of this month that he is retiring from the Supreme Court. There was much speculation as to who Obama would select to join the court in Souter’s place and today that announcement was made. Federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor is Obama’s pick and if approved by the US Senate, she would be the Supreme Court’s first Hispanic Justice and the the third female Justice (after Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsberg). Here are a couple pics from the President’s announcement in the East Room of the White House earlier today:

President Obama on Tuesday nominated federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic and third female U.S. Supreme Court justice if confirmed. Obama announced the nomination Tuesday morning in the East Room of the White House. “Thank you, Mr. President, for the most humbling honor of my life,” Sotomayor said. “My heart is bursting with gratitude,” she said. She gave special recognition to her mother, who was sitting in the audience. “I am an ordinary person who has been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences,” Sotomayor said. Obama called Sotomayor “an inspiring woman who I believe will make a great justice.” She “has worked at almost every level of our judicial system, providing her with a depth of experience and a breath of perspective that will be invaluable as a Supreme Court justice,” he added. Obama said Sotomayor “would bring more experience on the bench and more varied experience on the bench than anyone currently serving on the United States Supreme Court had when they were appointed.” The president met with Sotomayor at the White House for an hour on Thursday, according to senior administration officials. He was impressed with Sotomayor’s personal story and professional qualifications after meeting her, but he did not immediately offer her the job, two senior administration sources added. Obama made his final decision Monday, the sources said.

It was pretty much assumed by all that Obama would be selecting a woman as his nominee but there was much speculation about which woman he would pick. As a Hispanic myself, it thrills me that there is a strong possibility that Sotomayor will join the US Supreme Court. I cannot for the life of me imagine what it must be like to get the call from the President informing you that you have been selected to join the Supreme Court. I am not familiar at all with Sotomayor’s record as a judge so I had to do some reading up on her credentials. If you, too, would like more information on Sotomayor’s legal experience you can read more about it after the jump …

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