Things I've Learned This Week

) A person who farts continuously for 6.5 years expends the same amount of energy as an atomic bomb (or so say some of my students). (But its true. See here - along with some other interesting facts.)

2) Don't park in the main parking lot at Seef Mall on Thursday night. It just may take you an over half an hour to get out. (You'd think I'd know this - but its never been THAT congested when I've been there)

3) Most big American companies - Starbucks, McDonalds, Burger King, Pepsi, Coca-cola - they're all donating their next two weeks revenue to Israel. Info compliments of "comments" posted on various websites. "I got a text, so it must be true!"

4) Obama is Jewish. Apparently there's a new video of him praying with some Jewish people and he revealed this in a private interview.

It's interesting that now people are starting to say this about Obama, possibly as a reaction to Obama's mild reaction to Israel's war in Gaza. More accurately, the stance he's taken that doesn't look to force Israel to end. I say to my students often that "Barack Obama has come to save the world! He will fix everything for everyone! And end poverty! And give everyone free education in the United States!" Don't get me wrong - I like Obama and think he'll do some good things. But people have grand expectations for him that he won't be able to fulfill.

He may be running into another problem, though. Having not defined himself strongly for any particular demographic, he may end up being defined by everyone - in ways he doesn't like.

By not taking a strong stance against Israel, he may be starting to lose the Arab "vote" (and thus new rumors that he's Jewish). By not taking a strong stance against Hamas, he may start losing the confidence of the conservative Christians. By asking Rick Warren to pray at the Inaugeration, he may infurate the liberal left. But in having the gay priest from the Episcopal church speak, he will anger the conservative right.

We'll see what happens, but in his desire to please everyone, he may end up pleasing no one. Obama's smart, though. If that actually happens, he'll learn quickly and take stronger stances - at least making some people happy and leaving the rest of the people unhappy.