OBAMAMANIA not taking hold in Japan. “Japanese media seem concerned that officials there have few contacts with Obama or his advisers and that Obama doesn’t seem to know much about Japan.” Reader Paul Harper, who’s living in Japan and sent the link, adds: “Hope? Over here we have a different four-letter word to solve problems: w-o-r-k.”

Work? That’s unAmerican! Besides, who needs to work when Obama will be paying our mortgages?