Obama does the Politico Shuffle: Maybe, he’s not a messiah after all. Obama dances on a tightrope by saying that he’s maybe open to offshore drilling, saying he wouldn’t rule it out if a compromise meant overall success in the long run. This, of course, is angering his most ardent lefty fans. On affirmative action, where he’s been fastidiously pro for much of his career, he’s now toeing the line, saying that his well-off daughters shouldn’t get an immediate pass, if a poor white person demonstrates greater need. It’s a highly nuanced class vs. race discussion that might fly over the heads of many hardened lefties, who believe AA is a solution that should never be messed with. Over the weekend, he’s also switched his position on fully counting those Michigan and Florida delegates that were such a pesky thorn in his side during his battle with Clinton. He’s also not in favor of straightforward reparations, which might put him on shaky ground with a community that’s already taken to heckling him. He’s between a rock and a hard place. As he said in June at a church, “You remember at the beginning, people were wondering — how come he doesn’t have all the support in the African American community. That was when I wasn’t black enough. Now I’m too black.”

Going Local: It appears that the whole trendy movement towards supporting local growers and suppliers of goods might be getting some legs thanks to the rise in oil prices. Because the cost of an avocado goes up exponentially once you factor in fuel and travel costs, consumers might be supporting their regional farmers without resorting to feel-good Whole Foods-esque propaganda. Especially interesting to note in the NYTimes piece is the revelation that many furniture outlets that were outsourcing the making of couches and kitchen tables to China are now turning to local carpenters. Because there are so few of them, business is hopping.

Cheap Foods?: In light of the expensive trade developments, Whole Foods is looking to sell itself as Cheap Foods, writes the New York Times. Their stock has dropped 70 percent since the company’s high in 2006. To combat their well-earned nickname, “Whole Paycheck,” the store is hosting “budget tours.” This is only half as eye-rolling worthy as the news in our next item.

World’s Smallest Violin Plays for Rich People Who Can’t Travel On Their Private Jet: The AP has a story about rich people’s version of cutting corners. It includes such Real or Onion? moments as one guy lamenting that his $7 million house on the market is considered a deal next to his neighbor’s $9 million home, replacing Mercedes Benzes with Hybrids in the heated garage (yeah, the cars get so cold), and forgoing $50 boxed lunches for deli meals. The horror.

AIDS Figures Rise in Re-tally: More than 56,000 people are infected with the virus every year, a 40 percent hike from previous numbers according the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The new numbers are a result of better methodology in measuring newly diagnosed infections. They also mean that a fire has been lit under the asses of various prevention agencies.