I didn't have to look far or do hardly any research into today's "This Day in History" because today is near - and - dear to me in a literary sense. F. Scott Fitzgerald was born on this date in 1896. He is the author of my 2nd favorite book of all time, The Great Gatsby. If you've never read it, lie to me, say you have, then go read the sucker! If you have read it, read it again! Gatsby is Fitzgerald's most commercially successful book, but it also happens to be a great book. So, once again, do yourself a favor and read it. My copy was given to me by my favorite undergrad English professor. It has all of her notes in the margins & passages underlined for class discussion; I will never part with it.
I have lots of favorite lines from the book, but these are near the top of the list. Are these words reminiscent of any government we know?
I couldn't forgive him or like him, but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified. It was all very careless and confused. They were careless people, Tom and Daisy - they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made...
If you like Fitzgerald, you also owe it to yourself to see Last Call, a movie in which Jeremy Irons (hubba - hubba - hubba - HUBBA!!) portrays Fitzgerald in his final declining years but was trying to finish one last work. Sissy Spacek plays Zelda.
Thanks for indulging me in one of my passions! YOU ALL ROCK!! Let's Countdown for Hump Day.
#5 "Calling a Timeout" - I would look forward to the Senator Obama Solo show on Friday night. Why the heck not? If Senator McCentury is "suspending" his campaign, does that mean no more offices & no more running of ads? If not, it’s not much of a "suspension." I love Senator Obama’s response; the guy is GOOD! Senator McCentury threw over David Letterman for Katie Couric?! I’ve read in other threads about the "fun" Dave is going to have tonight – a fellow "Hoosier" I can be proud of! There’s not many of them, you know. OK, I’ve got the DVR set for Dave tonight. Here’s Richard Wolffe [insert wanton sigh here]! Senator McCentury’s shenanigans today make him look like an incompetent chicken $hit. And, GWB finally speaking to the American people prime – time some 10 days after the initial news after the econ troubles began to be really newsworthy look absolutely Katrina – esque. The GOP will invent a virus for mad moose disease to prevent Gov. Palin from debating Senator Biden. I want him to wipe his a$$ with her, and I can’t wait to see it! I hate to say this, but I disagree with Richard; I’m not sure "a deal will be done" by Friday. I have a feeling a lot of angry Americans are contacting their representatives, and I don’t think the more "fiscally conservative" GOPers are too crazy about this plan, either. Senator McCentury & Gov. Palin are throwing around the "d" word to play the fear card. I can’t imagine where they learned this campaign tactic from. Remember that America’s Mayor wanted to stay America’s Mayor for a bit longer after the 9/11 attacks because he didn’t think New Yorkers should be concerned about getting a new mayor? The administration wants to postpone Friday’s debate, too. Whatever...GWB’s credibility is below sludge slim levels and has been for forever. Take their attitude with half a grain of salt.
#4 "Pres. Bush Invites Obama & McCain..." - Rick Davis was getting coin for lobbying efforts as recently as last month. I hope Rick doesn’t mind Phil Gramm & Carly Fiorina as roommates in their secret undisclosed location if Senator McCentury has the cojones to toss him under the bus. Way to go, John Harwood! I think it’s very telling that Congressional reps trying to iron out all this econ crap are basically telling the POTUS nominees to stay away. Keith, attacking the media will never stop "resonating with the base." They are like Pavlov’s dogs when it comes to this message; we can thank Nixon & Agnew for this plan of attack.
**Thanks for the Network mention, Keith! That will ALWAYS win with me – and, so will models taking a tumble. Hey!! There’s the RCA Dome deflating! My town made Countdown! Thanks for the sound effects; I, for one, am absolutely not above the childish humor of flatulence sounds! BTW, it used to be called the Hoosier Dome, and it will always be the Hoosier Dome to me.**
"McCain in the Membrane" – Only Sarah Palin can make Katie Couric look like a Pulitzer prize winner. I don’t know if that bodes worse for Palin or Couric.
#3 "Senators Obama & McCain Release..." - We have a joint statement from the 2 POTUS candidates. Keith said "joint" – hee...hee...hee! Senator Obama threw in his 2 cents’ worth on the "joint statement"! HA! Way to take "the Maverick" by the...well...let your imagination run wild!
WPITW – Airplane pilots are sleeping during flights – OOPS! I’ve been tired, too, but damn! One of McCentury’s surrogates is invoking "spear" language. Classy! "The comedian" is pushing the "Obama’s a Muslim" memo? Maybe, he’s distracted by erotic daydreams of what he’d do to/with the MooseMom in a dark bedroom – or a lit bedroom – maybe, he’s "kinky"!
#1 "Palin Problems" AKA "Palintology" - The governor wants HER TrooperGate investigation. Laura Bush doesn’t think Sarah has foreign policy creds. Well, give her a blue ribbon for honesty; I hope she doesn’t get in trouble with the ‘ol ball & chain! Pastor Thomas Muthee protected Gov. Palin from witches, and it’s on videotape! Holy crap, that was scary! I was half expecting snake charmers to come on stage. Once again, this guy makes Jeremiah Wright look like a boring white Methodist.