3 1/2 Time-Outs Tuesday - the Time- Killing Edition..

Time once again for another 3 1/2 Time Outs Tuesday; the brain child of LarryD.

1)
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I checked two books, by Betty MacDonald, from my local public library. I finished reading the books rather quickly. I'll be returning the books and checking out the only other book by MacDonald to be found in that particular library - Anybody Can Do Anything. I find it amazing that MacDonald could find humor in the most dreadful situations.

2)
I was a big fan of the BBC series Sherlock (season 1). I have been looking forward to season 2 for a year. I watched all 3 episodes on PBS recently and was not disappointed.
Anyone who missed season 2 can view the series on the PBS website until June 19, 2012.

3)
My six year old will be going into 1st grade in the Fall and his school has assigned him a "Summer Math Skills Sharpener". Fortunately, I know all the correct answers. (I'm no math whiz, but I can handle 1st grade.)

1/2)
Dailymail.co.uk recently released a list of hundred of keywords and phrases it says the Department of Homeland Security has been using to "monitor social networking sites and online media for signs of terrorist or other threats against the U.S.".

I couldn't help but notice that the list they provided is in the form of an image, so, presumably, they won't attract the attention of the Department of Homeland Security.

Egg & I.

As I mentioned in previous post, Simcha Fischer recently published a list of, so-called, LOL books.

One book on her list was The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald. Simcha had praised the book so much,I decided to go to my local public library and check it out. While there, I also picked up MacDonald's, The Plaque and I , which had been recommended by someone commenting on Fischer's article.

I had seen the Hollywood version of the book on TV sometime in the 1960's - as best as I can recall. I don't recall much of the movie, however. I don't think I could have told you who starred in the movie if I hadn't read up on it recently. With Simcha's recommendation, I was sure the book would be worth reading.

As Simcha wrote in her review, the story is completely engrossing, but although sections of the book are quite funny, I wouldn't describe the whole work as "LOL". There are portions of the book which are not funny.....nor were they meant to be; I'm certain no one was laughing while reading MacDonald's story of how she was very nearly raped by two drunken Indians. I was completely surprised by her discussion of the prevalence of abortion in the community were she and her husband lived; no LOL moments, there.

Don't get the wrong idea. I loved the book and highly recommend it, though it isn't what one would call a laugh a minute.

Both the wikipedia article on the book and Simcha Fischer mentioned that modern readers might find MacDonald's treatment of native Americans objectionable. True enough, she is very critical of many native Americans in the book. I didn't find her descriptions objectionable because I believe that MacDonald wrote the truth as she experienced it. Besides, MacDonald was critical of nearly everyone in the book, not just the Indians. She gave everyone Hell.

The only thing I did object to was MacDonald's blasphemous use of the Lord's name. Her use of words like "bitch" or "son of a bitch" or "bastard" didn't bother me so much, but I didn't care for what I'll euphemistically render as "GD". Other than that, I'd say the book was the best I've read in quite some time.

Another 3 1/2 Time Outs Tuesday.

It's time for 3 1/2 Time Outs Tuesday . Host, LarryD is posting # Volume 25; I haven't done that many. I haven't kept track of the exact number.

1)
On May 09, 2012 the CENTER for BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY issued a press release announcing that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the eastern diamondback rattlesnake may qualify for Endangered Species Act protection . According to the statement, eastern diamondbacks are in steep decline because of habitat destruction and human persecution.

Some have wondered how this might affect those Pentecostal churches in the U.S. in which snake handling is a central ritual. I'm sure the Federal govt. would allow a religious exemption like the one given Catholic institutions regarding artificial birth control in their health insurance.

What?

2)
Speaking of snake handling. this Catholic priest has an interesting take on the ritual.

3)
In a recent article, Simcha Fisher recommends a number of humorous books. Two book - one recommended by her and one recommended by someone commenting on her article - piqued my interest ........ The Egg and I and The Plaque and I ; both written by Betty MacDonald. The books are available at my local public library. I'll pick them up later in the week.

1/2)
Hope you get to feeling better soon, Larry.

Obama Campaign Working to Counter New Voter ID Laws.

From The Washington Post: (sort of)

President Obama’s reelection campaign launched a national drive Friday to counter new restrictive voter-access laws, which advisers said threaten his electoral chances in November.

The Obama campaign’s “weekend of action” is part of a field effort that in 2008 helped identify, register and turn out millions of new dead voters.

Those new dead voters gave Obama wins in unlikely places, including North Carolina and Virginia, where young and minority voters zombies helped make the difference. Turning out those zombie voters again this year is key to the president’s reelection strategy, but it is also more challenging this year in part because of the new voting laws passed by evil Republicans.

3 Cheers..........

Three cheers for Manny Pacquiao.

3 1/2 Time-Outs-Tuesday....a "Firsts" Edition.

Is it Tuesday again, already? You know what that means......another 3 1/2 Time Outs Tuesday.

1)
Yesterday, I relayed the news that Newsweek had declared Obama the first gay POTUS. Today, Dana Milbank opines in the Washington Post that Obama is the first female President.Evidently, Milbank was unaware that Kathleen Parker had done the same in 2010.

2)
The Atlantic Wire has gone so far as to announce that Obama is "Our First Gay-Female-Hispanic-Asian-Jewish President".

3)
At least President Obama isn't our first vampire President. Should he be elected this fall, that honor would befall Mitt Romney.

1/2)
I wonder if anyone has thought to call Obama the first illegal alien President?

First Gay POTUS?

OK........I'm not making this up.

Honest.

According to news reports, [Daily Mail-Fox News-Christian Science Monitor- to name three] Newsweek has released the cover of their upcoming issue proclaiming, Obama as the First Gay President.

I suppose, if Bill Clinton can be considered our first black POTUS, then, I guess we can declare Obama as the first gay U.S. President.

Surprise, Surprise.

In a move that really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, President Obama has has endorsed the concept of allowing same-sex couples to marry.

Evidently, the President believes that it is only the old fogies who would be against gays marrying one another;

"You know, Malia and Sasha, they have friends whose parents are same-sex couples. There have been times where Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table and we’re talking about their friends and their parents and Malia and Sasha, it wouldn’t dawn on them that somehow their friends’ parents would be treated differently. It doesn’t make sense to them and, frankly, that’s the kind of thing that prompts a change in perspective."

No. What it tells me is that the Obama's haven't passed down any particular moral values onto their two children.

This is the sort of issue which Obama will use -should he lose in November- to place the blame for his defeat on "homophobes" in the country, rather than properly placing the blame on his failed economic and health care policies.

I don't know if this will change anyone's vote....but it may bring out voters - both Republican and Democrats - who might not have been enthused enough to vote otherwise.

3 1/2 Time Outs Tuesday. The Musical Edition....sort of.

It's Tuesday again and here's my 3 1/2 Time Outs Tuesday post.

1)
Cher.......does anyone take her rambling seriously?

She recently Tweeted that  
" If ROMNEY gets elected I don't know if i can breathe same air as Him & his Right Wing Racist Homophobic Women Hating Tea Bagger Masters".

It really is so sad that she believes this crap about Republicans, Conservatives and the Tea Party folks. I think she is beyond help.

2)
Speaking of Cher, one of her former husbands, Gregg Allman has written a book in which he speaks of Cher. According to this review,  
"Ex-wife Cher is described as a 'sweetheart,' and he thanks her for proclaiming him her best lover, but confesses he didn't like her singing. Ever Southern and polite, he writes: 'I was really glad that she never asked me what I thought of her singing, because I'm sorry, she's not a very good singer. When she talks she has the sexiest-sounding voice … that's the way she ought to let it out when she sings.' "

3)
It feels like summer has arrived early here in North Georgia. The weather is passable - at least we're aren't being invaded by tiny frogs like some folks . (This has nothing to do with anything musical....this is the "sort of")

 1/2)
Trying to get back in the swing of things, musically speaking, I've ordered a Brass bodied Resonator Guitar. I'm hoping it will arrive in a day or so. More to follow on this.

Dinosaurs Passing Wind may have Caused Climate Change

From Telegraph.co.uk:  

"Huge plant-eating dinosaurs may have produced enough greenhouse gas by breaking wind to alter the Earth's climate, research suggests."

Here's the proof, I guess -

The Wednesday Evening Post

As opposed to the Saturday Evening Post, I guess.

As I mentioned in a post from January [Wednesday's Child is Full of Woe.] participating in LarryD's 3 1/2 Time Outs Tuesday projects basically obligates me to post something on Wednesday as well. This has become a bit more difficult as I've returned to work.

I really don't have anything today. I'm only posting this for to clear out Tuesday's post.

It was much easier finding material when the President's dog eating habits were still in the news.

3 1/2 Time Out Tuesday ....... the No 1/2 Edition.

It's that time again.........another another 3 1/2 Time Outs Tuesday.....hosted by theLarryD

1)
As readers of this blog know, I had surgery in early March and have been home from work, recuperating these past 2 months. When I talked to the Dr. about returning to work, he said it was up to me; I could return around May 21/22 as originally planned or I could return earlier, if I choose.

I decided to return to work last night (I start at Midnight, so technically I returned to work on May 1st). I think this day is appropriate as Occupiers and other assorted Communists wanted us all to stay out of work today.

2)
Being run by eevilllll Republicans, Georgia, where I live, requires a photo ID when one goes to the polls to vote. Naturally, you need a Georgia driver's license for ID and proof of residency when you register to vote as well.

My wife became a U.S. citizen last year and she and I went down to the county courthouse Friday so she could register to vote. This will be the first election when she can help choose the President of the United States. At the courthouse, she filled out an application, writing down her driver's license number as required. She was putting the license away, when I said that she'd probably have to show the license to the woman working in the elections office. No, the woman said, she had seen my wife write down the number, so there was no need to look at the license .

The majority of elected officials here may be Republican, but I suspect that most of the bureaucrats are Democrats.

3)
Also, this past Friday, the school where my 6 year old is enrolled, held it's annual FunRun......the kids help the school raise money by getting friends and relatives to pledge money for every lap he or she completes. My wife and I attended and I was shocked to see two or three Kindergarten boys take short cuts - cheating, essentially - in order to get the maximum number of laps without wearing themselves out. I was shocked because this is a Catholic school !!!!!!!

The boys should not have been pressured to complete the entire 36 laps. They should have been taught not to even consider cutting the laps short.

1/2
Like the title says......there's no half this week.

Biden's Exaggeration.

At a recent press conference, President Barack Obama admits that Vice-President Joe Biden may have exaggerated a bit about the size of the President's stick.

 "This is closer to the truth", he told reporters.