Climate Activists Torqued By Obama Nobel

Energy secretary 'actually deserved' his prize, president quips

(NEWSER) - President Obama made light of his increasingly controversial Nobel Peace Prize during a speech on energy. He praised the efforts of Energy Secretary Steven Chu before quipping: "Chu’s the right guy to do this, he’s got a Nobel prize in physics—he actually deserved his Nobel prize," reports Mediaite. On weekends, Chu "goes into his garage and he tinkers around and figures how to extract natural gas," Obama told laughing students at Georgetown University. More»

Obama family's Portuguese water dog was a gift from Ted Kennedy

(NEWSER) - The Obama family's Portuguese water dog, Bo, cost $1,600, according to financial disclosure documents made public today. The scoop on Bo's price tag is the most interesting tidbit from the forms; President Obama's financial situation was made clear when his tax returns were released last month, the Washington Post notes . More»

Most goes to veterans, Haiti, and education

(NEWSER) - President Obama has donated the $1.4 million he got with the Nobel Peace Prize to 10 charities, with a heavy emphasis on education. The most money, however, went to Fisher House, which provides care for patients at VA and military hospitals. It gets $250,000, while the Clinton-Bush Haiti fund gets $200,000. More»

Terrorism trumped health care over vacation, and there's more

(NEWSER) - President Obama is back at the White House after an 11-day vacation in Hawaii, and he has his work cut out for him. USA Today runs down the most pressing issues awaiting the president in 2010.

• Terrorism: The attempted bombing of Flight 253 returned security to the top of the list. Some heads may roll after the near-catastrophe.

Has a little fun mocking the president in conservative Texas town

(NEWSER) - A Texas car mechanic has turned President Obama’s unlikely Nobel Peace Prize into an even unlikelier promotion, and his conservative customers are loving it. At Horizon Auto in Rockwall County, an oil change comes with a Nobel—well, a sticker with a picture of the prize. And these stirring words: “Conferred for the effort and peaceful intention of getting the oil and filter changed.” More»