Obama turns 54 today

Happy Birthday, Mr. President.

Politics aside, anyone who achieves presidential office makes a fascinating study as a human being. Like his predecessors, much has and will be written about the 44th president. But how about the lighter side of this man who turns 54 today?

Did you know the president:

1. Doesn't like ice cream? He had his fill working at Baskin Robbins as a teenager.

2. Has read every Harry Potter book?

3. Is left-handed?

4. Has red boxing gloves autographed by Muhammad Ali?

5. Tried dog meat, snake meat, and roasted grasshopper while living in Indonesia?

6. Loves black forest berry iced tea and chocolate peanut protein bars?

7. Won a Grammy in 2006 for the audio version of his memoir, "Dreams From My Father"?

8. Had a pet ape named Tata?

9. Favorite films are "Casablanca" and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," favorite book is "Moby Dick," favorite artist is Picasso, and favorite music includes Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, and Bach? His heroes include jazz pioneer John Coltrane, Gandhi, and MLK.

10. Was called "Barry" until his university days, when he asked to be called by his full first name, which means "blessed"?

11. Can bench-press 200 pounds?

12. Carries a tiny Madonna-and-child statue and a bracelet belonging to a soldier in Iraq? On his desk is a carved, wooden hand holding an egg - a Kenyan symbol of the fragility of life.

13. Likes to play Scrabble and poker?

14. Doesn't drink coffee, rarely drinks alcohol, and makes a mean chili?

15. Still gets his hair cut by the same Chicago barber, who still charges $21?

16. Married his one-time boss and mentor, Michelle Robinson, who supervised him when he was a young associate at a Chicago law firm?

"Choose people who lift you up." - Michelle Obama

Sholeh Patrick, J.D. is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at [email protected].