Looks like your Potato soup link has some extra characters -- should be:

http://www.bitchincamero.com/mel/2008/09/loaded-baked-potato-soup/

Fixed! Thank you!

http://www.tofugu.com/2009/02/18/obama-sushi/ I don't speak Japanese, but it seems that Koichi of Tofugu knows what's up.

Here's a partial translation from my sister, who used to live in Nishinomiya:

"Is that an illustration of President Obama? Actually, it's sushi. The first time I made it, I tried using shako ( a crustacian) and seaweed, then all sorts of other toppings - it was very difficult to come up with the right ingredients."

caption: To make Obama's skin color, small shrimp are boiled with the rice. For his hair, black sesame seeds are mixed in with the rice, and for his teeth, a piece of fishcake.

Not a lot of help, but cool.