Grayer Obama Plays Up 'Older-but-Wiser' Theme

Longevity expert debunks myth that White House duty shortens life

(NEWSER) - President Obama's graying hair has set off the typical chatter that serving as president is so stressful it's bound to take years off a person's life. Not so, says a longevity expert in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In fact, our presidents tend to live longer than the rest of us. S. Jay Olshansky of the University of Illinois crunched the numbers involving 34 presidents who died of natural causes and found that 23 exceeded the life expectancy of men in their era, reports Reuters . More»

Dana Milbank's hilarious imagining of the cards Congress might send Obama

(NEWSER) - President Obama is officially 50, and he rang in the milestone with a joke. At a fundraiser in Chicago last night—where he was feted by the likes of Jennifer Hudson, OK Go, and supporters willing to pay up to $35,800 a plate—Obama predicted what his first day as a 50-year-old would bring, notes the New York Times : "By the time I wake up, I’ll have an email from AARP, asking me to call President Obama and tell him to protect Medicare." The levity beats on in today's Washington Post , by way of Dana Milbank's takes on what select members of Congress would write in a birthday card to Obama. A sampling: More»

With, what else? A fundraiser

(NEWSER) - President Obama got what he wanted for his birthday , so now he can celebrate turning 50 under a little less pressure. The big day is tomorrow, but the festivities start tonight in his hometown of Chicago, where he will fly this afternoon, reports the Tribune . A $35,800-a-head dinner fundraiser is planned at the Aragon, with a concert to follow featuring Herbie Hancock, Jennifer Hudson, and OK Go. It's a quick trip: Obama will be back in DC late tonight. More»

(NEWSER) - What does turning 30 mean, anyway? Sam Greenspan knows, because he got Book of Ages: 30 for his, um, 30th birthday. He runs down 11 factoids on the appropriately named 11 Points website. A sampling:

• 30-year-olds keep resolutions: Though 26% less likely to make New Years resolutions, 30-somethings are 26% more likely to keep them. "I totally believe this," Greenspan writes.

Veteran White House reporter asks for 'a real health care reform bill'

(AP) - President Obama celebrated his own birthday today by leading the White House press corps in singing Happy Birthday to veteran reporter Helen Thomas. Obama is 48 today; Thomas turns 89. More»