Hosts

This is such a weird weekend.  Not until I overhead someone talking about this being a holiday while at work did I realize we're supposed to be celebrating Labor Day.  This isn't to say I wasn't aware it was approaching, for some reason I just didn't realize that for some, this is going to mean 3 days off.  I get my 3 days off next weekend.  That's the way the schedule worked out.  And, oddly enough, I am off tomorrow, which is the holiday.

Last evening, as I was working on The Body in Repose, my wireless keyboard died.  At first I thought the batteries had run out of juice.  However, after replacing them, I realized the batteries were not the problem.  I'd power it up, the green indicator would light up, and then a few seconds later, that light would go off.  So, I did what seems to come naturally to me these days, I ordered a new one.  The reviews are mixed.  As long as it does what I want it to do, I'm fine.

And that portable heating pad I ordered?  Well, it's not portable, but it does massage with heat.  Woah.  I plugged that baby in last night and almost fell asleep in my chair.  And this morning?  While I'm still stiff, I'm not dealing with serious back spasms.  It's the things we don't think of sometimes, like massage therapy.

Let's take a moment of silence for Willard Scott.  He may not have been the best weatherman on national TV, but he was entertaining.  I'm one of those who can claim to have practically grown up with Willard Scott. He was your perfect host.  This is what aging is, for those of you who don't know, leaving familiar things behind.

And what about that Cracker Jack Crazy Jose Oliva?  He's that loony Florida representative who called women 'hosts.'  I don't know about you, but when I hear host in regard to another life form, I think of parasites.  True, the word host has many definitions, but Oliva wasn't talking about hosting a Tupperware Party, or, if you want to strain for an analogy, the eucharist.  Nope.  He was talking about women who host another lifeform in their womb.  I think of movies like Alien.  And tapeworms.  Not babies.  I think that's rather degrading of women.  You do know that in his mind, women will never be anything more than hosts.

These are not White Republicans

My weekend begins today!  I was going to post a gif of a puppy joyously dancing in celebration, but I chose not to.  That might sadden some of my readers... those who are returning to a work week.
I am a bit on the tired side since I stayed up to watch the Oscars.  The show moves so much faster without a host.  I think that change was very smart of the producers.  The TV viewing audience isn't sitting on pins and needles waiting to be entertained.  Nope.  They're just waiting for the names of the winners.  I was glad Brad Pitt won.  Isn't it nice to know some pretty boys can grow up to act?
The acting awards were pretty much in the bag before their names were announced.  Brad's and Laura's speeches were nice and short.  Joaquin's was too long, but at least he had a focus point.  Renee's... ?  She had no problem serving up a word salad with a southern twang dressing.  She reminded me that some actors are only as good as their script.
About the diversity thing some complain about.  Two years ago the Academy of Arts and Sciences increased their membership by 842 - all of whom were women and minorities.  This was done under the belief that more minorities would equate to more minority nominations.  The truth is minority members are not like White Republicans.  They do not nominate simply because of color or gender.  To do so would put them in the same playing field as White Republicans, who only nominate and vote for White Republicans.
Last evening black animators won their first Academy Award for a film about... black people dealing with their hair.  One of the winners said "cartoons are the first movies children watch."  Hidur (I can't pronounce or spell her last name) was the first woman to ever win an Oscar for Best Original Film Score.  Two women (one a Director and one a Producer) won the Oscar for Full Length Documentary Feature.  An Asian won the award for Best Make-up Design.  And then, of course, there was this little winner.

"Parasite," a South Korean film released in the United States with sub-titles won the Grand Prize, Best Picture of the Year.  In fact, "Parasite" won 4 very, very prestigious awards:  Writing, Directing, International Film, and Best Picture.  This is what you call diversity.  I'll bet this pissed off a lot of MAGA heads and White Supremacists.  Do not expect minority members of the Academy to only nominate and vote for minorities... that's racist.  These voting members of the Academy are not White Republicans.