Obama stressed?

Body language experts often analyze politicians' body language on television. In Body language books and training, politicians' pictures are examined. It is a hobby of many, as politicians are coached in body language and catching them is considered fun, as well as useful for air time in a talk show.

Being in the States quite often, I get exposed to local politicians. With the upcoming elections it is impossible to avoid.

I haven't made much of an attempt to read their body language until recently, although they seem very schooled in what they do. They use open gestures, a good posture, maintain eye contact with the crowd, move around so people maintain eyes on them, etc.

Obama is said to be very schooled in body language. It may be true. I can easily spot Hillary Clinton somewhat "trying" to control her body language, acting it, while Barack Obama seems to become it (except for giving a feeling of aloofness and his suit being a bit too big for him - maybe that neckline? I can't quite place it).

Because Obama is apparently so good at displaying cool, and sure, body language, as well as mastered how he approaches speaking to crowds, today's blip was so obvious.

He is handling damage control, after being assaulted by the press and his opponents for using "insensible" words when speaking of small towns' people.

While addressing the subject today, he maintained his usual body language. He failed completely on tonality. He made so many speech errors that it was embarrassing--but only because he usually is really good at being clear. Every speech is probably memorized and rehearsed, maybe he even thinks the words before uttering them. He regularly does pace himself.

He repeatedly used 'ah' as a filler when he paused for thought--strike that, he paused for thought which I haven't observed before. He stopped in mid-sentence and started over or clarified. Once, he even stuttered at the beginning of a sentence.

Is this stress or just regular talking? "Pulling words" out as in regular discussion rather than rehearsed speeches?

Due to his usual elegance this was very noticeable, at least to me.

Pinky.

Out for a steak: Jane the Ripper

Sitting at the restaurant waiting for our steak, I noticed the couple sitting next to us.

The woman, sitting on the "couch" against the wall I didn't even notice at the time. The guy, sitting opposite her on a chair stood out. His body language was extremely animated, he gestured with his hands enthusiastically, waving them in front of his face, leaning toward the woman.

Next, I did notice the woman. She was sitting straight, back to the wall. The asymmetry of him leaning in and her leaning back (as far as she could with the wall at her back) just screamed at me. As if joking I said to my friends: "he sure isn't getting any tonight". My friends, though, weren't sure if this was even a date.

During the course of our meal, I looked to the couple a few more times, noticing more. The woman, Hands lying on her lap, fingers interlaced half-way. Legs crossed. Was she thinking/considering or purely in a closed position? It almost seemed like she was trying to keep her patience.

At some point her head moved forward, perhaps she opened to the guy slightly, or maybe she was just trying to figure something out. The guy, completely oblivious to her body language just kept trying very hard. Silence may have been a better strategy.

Later on, I noticed the guy still leaning in, excited and animated as ever. The woman's body language was escalating negatively: she was leaning back against the wall as far as she could, her hands were slowly becoming fully crossed and being crossed-legged, she was moving her foot at an increasingly fast rate. It was like watching a car accident. It was like halos of hellish fire and heavenly blue fighting each other in between the two like in paintings of demons and angels.

The steaks were long gone when we heard a raised tone from the woman "we are not discussing that!"--I guess they knew each other for more than just some date.

I felt like combustion was imminent, her foot creating a whirlwind under the table and her body becoming stiffer than ever. Her voice, which we did not hear before, was now matching tone to body language.

"We better get out of here before the table next to us explodes" I mused. We paid the bill and apparently ran out just in time as we could hear explosions behind us.

This was one of my first conscious continual reading of body language, and I am very happy about it, obvious as it may have been. I could not see her face but apparently, her body was very good at communicating displeasure, impatience and maybe even hate.

Pinky.