Special Update: News That Make You Go Hmmm....

I've come to realize that the news is a phenomenon of being a constant 24-hour feed for people with no attention span because every few seconds a new stream of information comes tickering past the bottom of your screen... that the truly huge WTF moments are completely lost amongst the filler. Although, I suppose that people that read the ticker on the bottom of the screen can legitimately say that they read the news. *sigh* Anyways... 3 things that have made me go, "Hmmm..." and surprisingly... Rod Blagojevich is not among them (mainly because I have reached a media saturation point for that particular story.) ***** Number 3: Sasha and Malia Obama Beanie Babies. One question: Why? I can understand turning the president into some action figure or something... go ahead, Google the words "President" and "Action Figure" the first two links that pop up are the Former-President George W. Bush in flight gear and Former-President Bill Clinton in a blue business suit available for purchase. (Although I find it ironic that the iconic images to be preserved for posterity in plastic is a GI Joe-esque figure and another that is advertised as a "Talking Action Figure.") Go figure. Anyways... those are little kids that some company is profiting off of. My friend Abby posted this on her blog: http://www.paradoxdaily.com/2009/01/arianna-huffington-saves-day.html It's a pretty interesting read. So... what's the What's YOUR Deal?!? take on something that has already been covered? Two questions: Why wasn't Chelsea Clinton made into some doll? Or perhaps the Bush Twins... Although... I do suppose they bear a slight resemblance to those latex blow-up dolls... (Too soon? Sorry.) ***** Number 2: Why Are Human Beings Having LITTERS of Children? Yes, I said LITTERS. OCTUPLETS?!? Seriously? And the woman that just had them already has SIX CHILDREN. This is an interesting article to read from the Brits: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5618449.ece This part of the article made me Scooby Doo-ify and go, "Rooooo?" with my head tilted: "However, most practitioners - while confirming that guidance tells them not to implant multiple embryos - acknowledge the choice is not ultimately theirs to make and rests solely with the mother. 'Who am I to say that six is the limit?' Dr Jeffrey Steinberg, medical director of Fertility Institutes, which has clinics in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York City, told the Associated Press news agency. 'There are people who like to have big families.' Dr James Grifo, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the New York University School of Medicine, added: 'I don’t think it's our job to tell them how many babies they’re allowed to have. I am not a policeman for reproduction in the United States. My role is to educate patients.'" So... with all the crap I've been giving the American Life League and the other EXTREMISTS in the Pro-Life/Anti-Choice movement... (I have to make that distinction because Pro-Life folks are cool... I think most of us are Pro-Life... it's the Anti-Choice part that's the incredibly stupid argument) the right CHOOSE pops up again!!! Anyways, why is the right to choose a GREAT thing when someone chooses to give birth to baseball team (minus one)? Or be able to have an entire NBA roster with one's offspring? That concept boggles my mind. So... Dr James Girfo... I salute you... "I am not a policeman for reproduction in the United States. My role is to educate patients." Ah... education... what a wonderful thing.... (SARCASM ALERT: But of course only when you're educated on just one slice of the opinion pie... and rest of it is SINFUL AND POISONED...) ***** Number 1: The Chinese Are Champions of RIGHTS?!? Well... maybe not HUMAN rights... but this story made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. What can I say? I'm a sucker for cute animals. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2176812.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=gay Gotta love the Brits... In case the link doesn't work, here's the article in its entirety: Gay penguin pair tie the knot By STAFF REPORTER Published: 27 Jan 2009 A PAIR of GAY penguins are so loved-up they have been given a WEDDING service. The besotted male birds turned out to be such a great parenting pair their keepers thought they deserved a reward and let them marry. They were once given the cold shoulder at the wildlife park in China for stealing heterosexual couples' eggs to nest as their own. But after being allowed to try out with eggs rejected by their mothers the couple have become the zoo's best penguin parents. Now keepers at Polarland Zoo in Harbin, north east China, have rewarded their devotion with a wedding day. One wore a tie and the other was dressed in a red blouse – a traditional Chinese bridal colour – as they stepped into their icy wedding room to the music of the Wedding March. Keepers then served them their favourite dish for the occasion – spring fish. "They have been a good couple and deserved their reward," said one keeper. ****** With all the drama regarding gay rights in the United States and the controversy of California's Proposition 8, which eliminated the previously existing right in that state for same-sex couples to marry, the CHINESE?!? PENGUINS?!? REALLY?!? Wow. (SARCASM ALERT: But before social liberals rejoice in this teeny tiny step towards equality in the animal kingdom, we must be prepared for the potential fall of penguin society and the possible extinction of the penguin race.) Do you think penguins can exist in the warmth of Hell? But seriously though, if the Chinese can open up their human rights trampling Commie hearts up to two adorable penguins in love... why can't everyone else?