Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Hodgepodge Headlines

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go- 

From this Side of the Pond
1. Where do you get your news these days? 

Define news. Everything is so biased, so curated to present a particular point of view, so full of double speak and opinion and 'facts' presented as 'facts' before we even know the actual facts that its hard to find the news. 

I watch almost none and listen to very little. I peek at what's trending/making headlines on Twitter most days, and then I go on the hunt for details. I like to check 'news' sources on both sides of the political fence knowing the truth lives probably somewhere in between. 

2. It's National Crab Day...do you like crab meat? What makes you crabby? 

My favorite kind of seafood so a definite yes for me! There's nothing like sitting beside the water with a table full of friends and a pile of steamed blue crabs to end a summer day. 

What makes me crabby? See #1. 

3. Does freedom mean more choices? Have you ever felt there were too many choices? Elaborate.

Maybe the converse would be a better way of stating things...the more choices we have the more freedom we have. But an abundance of choice can also weigh us down, create anxiety or regret (did I choose correctly/I wish I'd chosen differently), and leave us feeling not quite satisfied. Sometimes choosing between A and B is simpler and more satisfying, more freeing if you will, than choosing between A and B, C, D, E, F..... 

All that being said, I'm grateful for all the choice we have about so many things in the land of the free. 

4. Barbara Millicent Roberts was introduced to the world on March 9, 1959...that's Barbie to most of us. Did you have Barbies as a kid, or did you let your own children play with Barbies? What well known Barbara (living or not) would you most like to meet? 

We did have Barbies when I was growing up and my sister and I set up elaborate games with them. Sometimes in our living room but also quite often under the great big tree in the corner of our backyard. We spent a lot of time dressing them and assigning them boyfriends, less time actually having them go anywhere or do anything. 

My own girls had Barbies and also enjoyed dressing them. Really wasn't she all about the clothes? I mean you could call her lawyer Barbie or Senator Barbie or Doctor Barbie but if the outfit wasn't appealing we were't buying lol. 

A famous Barbara I'd like to meet? Barbara Bush...she lived an interesting life. 

5. What are three things you value most in another person? 

kindness, optimism, faith

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Hubs and I have been on the road quite a bit in recent days and have been listening to a most fascinating book on Audible. Do you do Audible? Anyway, the book is called Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe. It's long (18 hours and six minutes on Audible) but reads like fiction so it moves. Sadly it's not fiction...the Sacklers brought us OxyContin and it's quite a story. Highly recommend the read, just be forewarned it's not light.

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12 comments:

  1. I enjoyed your answers! I actually forgot to answer the part of the question about which Barbara I would like to meet. I agree with you -- Barbara Bush. I read something recently about when oxycontin was first being prescribed freely and how it "supposedly" wasn't addictive . . .has that come up as you've been listening to the book?

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  2. We do enjoy audible books on road trips. That one does sound interesting. Sounds like fun hours playing with your sister and Barbies. Oye...the news. It would be so good to find actual news and not opinions. We are fortunate still to live in this land with freedom. Hope it lasts. Thank you for the questions!

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  3. I picked Barbara Bush also. She was a very interesting woman who lived an interesting life.

    I also had the same sorts of thoughts you had regarding freedom and choices, but you stated the "too many choices" much better than I did.

    Interesting questions this week. I enjoyed them! Thank you for hosting.

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  4. Similar answers to #1 and "What makes you crabby" in #2. Yes, Barbara bush would be nice to meet. Love the 3 things you value in a person. No I haven't listened to any audible books. Enjoy your travels.

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  5. I totally agree that I like to do my own research because the truth seems to lie somewhere in the middle. Sadly, everyone is so divided now.

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  6. I haven't tried Audible but have Hoopla through local library. I always have an audio book checked out on there and also have started checking out Beverly Cleary to listen to on the way to school with Titus.

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  7. We had lots of similar answers. Speaking of the Sackler's, did you watch Dopesick on Hulu? Very eye opening. Thank you for the fun link up!

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  8. So many summers were spent covering the tables with newspapers and eating crabs...Man I would love to have some now! The world would be a much better place with some kindness.

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  9. Thanks for another fun Hodgepodge, Joyce. We both chose Barbara Bush! I have trouble with audible books. My attention span doesn't work well with them. Sounds like an interesting read, though. Thanks for the review. xo

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  10. OH yes I had tons of Barbie dolls and it was all about the clothes and shoes and earrings and accessories! I also try to avoid the news and when I want to know something I tend to look for articles from both sides and assume the truth has to be somewhere in the middle. I like crab meat but I don't think I have ever eaten and had to crack an actual crab. I've had crab legs and crab cakes and enjoy most any type of seafood.

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  11. I'm with you on the news. I don't pay a lot of attention to it. I haven't listened to much audible. I find I get easily distracted and miss things. I will listen to it sometimes on a plane and there have been a a few books that my hubby played on a road trip.

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