Obama’s Chia
The Chia Obama sparked controversy earlier this year when Walgreens pulled the potted presidential head from its shelves. But Chia Pet creator Joe Pedott told WGN-AM 720’s John Williams on Tuesday that he presented President Barack Obama with a Chia Obama of his own last month in Indianapolis. Word of the plant with the growable green hair apparently hadn’t reached the president. “What’s a Chia Obama?” Pedott quoted Obama as saying. You can listen to the interview at chicago tribune.com/chiaobama.
The number: 5
Sticking to tradition, recipients used just five words in their acceptance speeches at the 13th annual Webby Awards in New York on Monday. “Creativity is a renewable resource,” Twitter co-founder Biz Stone said in accepting the honor for breakout of the year. Also, Jimmy Fallon on his award for using the Internet to promote his new “Late Night” gig: “Thank God Conan got promoted.” And Huffington Post’s Arianna Huffington, accepting for best political blog: “I didn’t kill newspapers, OK?”
Depp’s kind of town
Actor Johnny Depp tells Vanity Fair that Chicago is his favorite U.S. city. Depp was here last year to film “Public Enemies,” a movie about notorious bank robber John Dillinger. “Everybody [in Chicago] treated me normal,” Depp told the magazine. “They’d say, ‘Hey, Johnny,’ then left me alone.”
One-liners
Former President George H.W. Bush plans to celebrate his 85th birthday Friday the same way he did his 75th and 80th — by parachuting out of a plane. … Jena Castro of Bridgeport, Conn., says the city is foreclosing on his home over $51.69 in back taxes; $3,000 was collected from his mortgage company, leaving the small balance due. … Wednesday is Ballpoint Pen Day, commemorating Hungarian journalist Laszlo Biro’s 1945 patent on the instrument. Celebrate by returning all those you’ve taken from the office.
