1)  Welcome to Double Deuce Cottage.  That's a joke between me and Chuck.  The name has to do with the address here, and the fact that I always wanted to live in a cottage.

All is pretty quiet here.  I am still learning how to be retired.  Before, I had money coming in, but no time to do anything.  Now I have plenty of time, but very little money coming in.  Good thing a lot of the things I like to do are free....like taking a walk or reading a book.

2)  Quote:  "My formula for living is quite simple.  I get up in the morning, and I go to bed at night.  In between, I occupy myself as best I can." ~~Cary Grant

3)  Maxine:

4)  In the News:

ACLU sues to protect right to swear.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) argues that the right to use profanity is protected by the United States Constitution.  The ACLU is suing the police in Pennsylvania for issuing tickets (which carry a jail sentence) to people for swearing.

One lawsuit involved a woman who was given a citation (which carries a maximum penalty of $300 and 90 days in jail) after she yelled an offensive word at a motorcyclist who swerved close to her.

In a separate case, a man was arrested, cited for disorderly conduct and briefly jailed after shouting a double expletive at a policeman who was writing him a parking ticket.

The two are among at least 750 people in Pennsylvania a year who face disorderly conduct charges because of the use of profanity the ACLU said.

There are more citations given out for profanity in Pennsylvania than in any other state.  The ACLU said it will continue to bring lawsuits until the practice of issuing citations for swearing is stopped.

Source:  Yahoo News

5)  Cute Kitten Quote:

"In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him."

6)  Movie:  "Stolen Babies" (1993 - made for cable)

I recently watched this movie on TV.  It is based on true events that happened in 1940s Tennessee.  Georgia Tann, a charismatic Tennessee socialite, ran a black-market baby ring behind the Tennessee Children's Home Society.  It is said she grossed over $1 million before she was stopped.

Georgia Tann:  "Don't be shy, come and get your baby!"

Many of the babies placed for adoption were taken from the mother without the mother ever knowing her baby was alive.  Ms.Tann and the physician would tell the young mother that her baby had died or was stillborn.  Tann would then ask the mother to sign papers to take care of the burial of the infant.  However, the papers the young mothers were signing were actually forms giving up custody of the infant to the Tennessee Children's Home Society.

Tann claimed she was doing "good" by taking babies away from their "illiterate whore" mothers and selling - I mean giving - them to rich, needy, childless parents.

Lea Thompson plays Anne Beales, a welfare worker, who uncovers the "baby farming" scandal.  Mary Tyler Moore won an Emmy for her role as the "purse-lipped, bespectacled, quietly sinister" Georgia Tann.  Also of interest to me:  Dan Biggers (student activities director at the college I attended) had a small role in the movie.  You may remember him as the doctor in the TV series "In the Heat of the Night."

While looking for information on the movie, I found this website:

http://tennesseechildren.tripod.com

I discovered some of the "stolen babies" are still out there and still looking for their parents or other relatives.  Founder of the above site says:  "I started this site to help the children from the Tennessee Children's Home find their family.  I found out after 40 years that I was a stolen baby.  I have found my family."

I highly recommend this movie.  But if you watch it, be sure you have a good supply of tissues nearby.

7)  Joke: 

8)  Book:  "The Massacre at Fall Creek"  by Jessamyn West

I picked this book up at a yard sale for fifty cents after recognizing the author's name.  I had read other books by Jessamyn West, the first one when I was a teenager.  My introduction came by way of "Cress Delahanty", a delightful coming of age book about a precocious teen.  Later, I read "The Friendly Persuasion".  But neither book did anything to prepare me for the impact of "The Massacre at Fall Creek". 

West takes a little-known historical occurrence and weaves it into a captivating novel.  On the Indiana frontier in 1824 five white men killed a small encampment of Seneca Indians at Fall Creek.  Why is this notable?  White settlers killed "Injuns" all the time.  Indians killed white settlers.  This "massacre" was premeditated and in cold blood.  And before the Indians could retaliate and slaughter all the settlers, Colonel Johnston, the Indian agent, brought the men to trial.  It was the first recorded instance of whites being formally charged with murder for killing Indians.  It remains, in my opinion, a mere footnote in history.

Hannah Cape, the fiery young daughter of Fall Creek's preacher, is a strong and memorable character.  History with a touch of romance makes this book an interesting read.

9)  Seen on a T-shirt:

"Make your boobs stop staring at my eyes."

10)  Norm (RIP):

"Too old to be 'newd' jest 'nekkid'.....!  In response to pl8_time's "Good newd!"

Tags: Ramblings Book Movie Jokes Quotes

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