Smoking Obama

Barack Obama, among his policy priorities, wants you to “smoke and be happy.” He shared that wish with the purveyors at the Paradox Coffee Shop, who passed it along during my recent visit to Amsterdam. These guys seem to know him pretty well – they even sell (along with weed and smoothies) a limited-edition poster of the President.

Obama also wants you to eat pizza, and in promotion of the food has lent his name and recipe to Pink Flamingo. This Paris pizzeria was chosen because of its delivery policy (they give you a balloon and use it to find you along the Canal) which has been described as both “carbon neutral” and “a message of hope.” In any case, the namesake Obama is delicious, topped with bacon and pineapple chutney.

Across town in Belleville, Obama has lent his image to the side of a bin, clearly endorsing the city’s efforts to recycle. And while I admire each of these initiatives in its own right, I regret that Obama hasn’t yet been able to unite the disparate factions and create a new world where one can smoke, sate muchies and recycle the box… with hope.