Seventh-Grader Finds Barack Obama, All Presidents, Save One, Related

We already knew that President Barack Obama was distantly related to both former president George W. Bush and former Vice-President Dick Cheney. But did you know he was related to all other U.S. presidents, save one?

In fact, according to seventh-grader BridgeAnne d'Avignon, who attends Monte Vista Christian School in Watsonville, CA, they are all related to each other (save one). With the help of her 80-year-old genealogist grandfather, she determined that Obama and all other U.S. presidents, with the exception of Martin Van Buren, are related to John "Lackland" Plantagenet, a king of England and signer of the Magna Carta.

The two spent the past summer designing the first known family tree chart in history that shows the presidents' direct relationship. In fact, she also discovered that Obama is her own 11th cousin. BridgeAnne has written to Obama, in hopes that she will get a chance to present the president with the chart.

The U.S. Presidents Family Tree is set to be on display Oct. 28 at Monte Vista Christian School.

Bush Shoe Thrower to Get Out Early, For Good Behavior

Remember Muntadar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who threw both of his shoes at then U.S. President George W. Bush during a press conference in Iraq in December of 2008? He was sentenced to one year, 6 months for each shoe, but it now appears he will get out early.

The sole of the shoe is considered a severe insult in Arab cultures.

Originally, al-Zaidi had been sentenced to three years, but the sentence was reduced to 12 months because he had no prior record. According to his lawyer, Karim al-Shujairi, al-Zeidi will now be released on Sept. 14, three months early.

Apparently the early release is for good behavior. al-Shujairi said, "We have been informed officially about the court decision. His release will be a victory for the free and honorable Iraqi media."

al-Zaidi's act of defiance made him a national hero to many Iraqis. The Iraqi administration, of course, demonized him, but many Iraqis emulated his act in nationwide protests, and sales of the so-called "Bush Shoe" (the Ducati Model 271), skyrocketed.

Neither Bush, nor Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who was standing next to him, was injured, but Bush was forced to duck, and al-Maliki was embarrassed publicly. As he threw the shoes, al-Zaidi shouted in Arabic: "This is your farewell kiss, you dog! This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."

Watch the video below.