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Obama says he ignored Beck rally He seemed intent on casting himself as above the political fray, saying he had more important work to do than to engage in the back and forth of the political “silly season.” For example, Obama said he did not watch any of Fox News Channel host Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally Saturday on the National Mall. “It’s not surprising that somebody like a Mr. Beck is able to stir up a certain portion of the country. That's been true throughout our history,” he said. But “I’m making decisions that are not necessarily good for...

An end of the season tribute to summer....the fireworks at Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs. Excited for the bright lights, Sally Caron said she'd like to picnic with Barack Obama, because he's popular. "Soooo?" I asked. "I'd like to be popular, too," she answered. Islander Joanne Connolly already has her story to tell. She said, "It's the first time I've met a president. I've met a Pope and it's right up there with that!" Connolly works at Bunch of Grapes Bookstore in Vineyard Haven on Martha's Vineyard -- and had about 5 minutes to prep before the President and first...

The operators of businesses visited by the first family last weekend are unsure if their visit will have a direct impact on their establishments, but they and local officials are hopeful it will boost visitor traffic and the economy in Panama City Beach. “Having the first family visit Panama City Beach is international news,” said Dan Rowe, executive director of the Bay County Tourist Development Council. There are no hard numbers available about direct economic impacts, Rowe said, but articles printed around the world about the visit will increase the area’s profile as a tourist destination, and he expects far-reaching...

ESTEPONA, Spain — Spanish police have cleared off a stretch of beach for U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha to relax by the Mediterranean after a busy day of sightseeing. Police used palm trees Friday to mark off the boundaries of a 100-meter (100-yard) expanse for the American delegation. On either side, onlookers gawked. As the first lady rested inside a canvas hut ...

US First Lady Michelle Obama and her nine-year-old daughter Sasha on Thursday visited Granada, the former seat of Moorish rule in Spain, during the second day of her holiday in the country. The two had ice cream in the centre of the southern city as dozens of cameramen and local residents looked on before they began their tour of Granada amid temperatures that soared to nearly 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Michelle Obama smiled and waved to the crowd before entering the city's imposing cathedral, which contains the tombs of Spain's king Ferdinand of Aragon and queen Isabella of Castile,...

Call it rocky road rage. An ice cream truck vendor is facing criminal charges after allegedly assaulting another ice cream truck vendor he claims cut him off in traffic. Christopher Schurr, 31, of Poplar Branch, is charged with assaulting Artem Vladimirovich, 20, of Kill Devil Hills, in Corolla Thursday afternoon. Lt. Jason Banks of the Currituck Sheriff’s Office said Friday that Schurr punched Vladimirovich in the face during an altercation in the Whalehead subdivision. According to Banks, both men were delivering ice cream in the Corolla area when Schurr claimed that Vladimirovich cut him off. The men, who drive for...

Take away the spoon and what have ya got?.......

President Obama and his family arrived today in Maine to begin a weekend vacation on Mount Desert Island and, within 40 minutes of landing, were taking a bike ride in Acadia National Park.

Click the image above to see a larger version. The Looking Spoon is a conservative humor/satire/art/commentary blog, visit www.thelookingspoon.com to see more posts and art

Steamy city sidewalks got you melting? Cool off with the best ice-cream concoctions in town — from decadent sundaes to double-dipped gelato on a stick. A generous pool of dark chocolate sits at the bottom of the shallow bowl that cradles the salted caramel sundae ($10) at ABC Kitchen, Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s new eatery inside ABC Carpet & Home. A sundae you might cobble together — if only you had heavenly salted caramel ice cream, homemade candied peanuts and popcorn and fresh whipped cream. “I really like the sweet and salty combination,” says pastry chef Cindy Bearman, who uses organic milk...

​Although we haven't experienced the pleasure (terror?) of sampling it, we're willing to bet that the fish 'n' chips ice cream being produced by an English dairy company qualifies for the Strange Snacks of the World Hall of Fame. The ice cream is creamed cod-flavored, encased in a vanilla and pepper batter, and served with potato ice cream chips and, naturally, salt, vinegar, and lemon wedges. On the face of it, cod doesn't seem to be the most auspicious ice cream flavoring, but the deep-fried crust is reminiscent of the Mexican fried ice cream that Chi-Chi's began pimping in the...

Drink 'like eating 68 bits of bacon' A 2,000-CALORIE milkshake that is the equivalent of 68 rashers of bacon and 30 chocolate-chip cookies has been dubbed the worst drink in the US. Made with chocolate ice cream, milk and peanut butter, the drink - called the Cold Stone PB&C - packs a whopping 2,010 calories, 131 grams of fat - 68 grams of which is saturated - and a massive 153 grams of sugar. It topped the Men's Health 20 Worst Drinks in America 2010 list, beating a McDonald's Triple Thick Chocolate Milkshake to the post. Delicious The magazine said...

There is a lot of bad news coming out of this election, and we won't burden you with more of what you already know. Bush's reelection and Republican gains in both houses will make the struggle for justice and peace in our country harder over the next four years. Yep, we've got a lot of work ahead of us. Maybe it's the lack of sleep talking, but we here at TrueMajority still have hope for our future. Why? Because TrueMajority members had a front-row seat to the beginnings of a revolution in American politics. It's just in the beginning phases,...

HENRY:I talked to a couple of his classmates from the class of '79. He was on the basketball team that won the state championship. And a couple of funny things, one the basketball court, they say he was a slasher, and one of his colleagues, it was the point guard, told me that that sort of slashing, take no prisoners attitude he thinks is carrying over into the presidency because this is why Barack Obama is now not afraid to make tough decisions. He also said he's a real trash talker on the court, even today, because some of friends...

Ben & Jerry's has given chubby hubbies its blessing to marry each other. The Burlington-based ice cream maker is celebrating Vermont's move to legalize gay marriage by rebranding its popular "Chubby Hubby" as "Hubby Hubby" for the next month. "Now more than ever, Vermont is for lovers ... and for lovers of marriage equality," proclaims product literature.

Same-sex couples in Vermont began to marry on Tuesday after a law legalizing gay and lesbian marriage took effect... As couples tied the knot at the stroke of midnight, the South Burlington, Vt.-based Ben & Jerry's ice cream company renamed their popular "Chubby Hubby" flavor to "Hubby Hubby." "The legalization of marriage for gay and lesbian couples in Vermont is certainly a step in the right direction, and something worth celebrating with peace, love – and plenty of ice cream," said Ben & Jerry’s CEO Walt Freese, according to the Boston Herald. Free "Hubby Hubby" was handed out Tuesday. The...

Some of my best friends are gay. Suspiciously large numbers, it has sometimes been suggested to me. But that’s OK, I’m cool with that. What my friends get up to in the privacy of their own homes - or, indeed, the scary back room of their local boite - is very much their own affair. And if they want to get married (Hell-ooo! Why sacrifice the single greatest benefit of being gay?), well I’m probably OK with that too. I don’t believe that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice so I guess it’s only fair that gay men and women too...

Vanilla Creme Packed Fudge coming soon!............

Ben & Jerry’s is temporarily renaming popular “Chubby Hubby” ice cream “Hubby Hubby” beginning today to celebrate the start of legalized gay marriage in its home state of Vermont. “The legalization of marriage for gay and lesbian couples in Vermont is certainly a step in the right direction, and something worth celebrating with peace, love - and plenty of ice cream,” Ben & Jerry’s CEO Walt Freese said in announcing the sugary switch.

Warm ice cream is the holy grail for scientists at Unilever, owner of the Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s brands, which is developing a “low-carbon” product to be sold at room temperature and frozen at home. Unilever hopes that a product sold at room temperature will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ice cream is one of the company’s more energy-intensive products because of the need to keep it frozen during transport and storage.