November 19, 2009

What’s a Thursday without a Three?

Hmm? What’s that? You don’t understand what I’m saying?!

Well, first of all, that’s because I’m not saying anything, I’m writing it.

And second, actually, I’m not even doing that, since I don’t blog anymore.

But by way of backstory, here at Possumblog back when it was fully funct (and not defunct as it is now), we (the editorial we) and our (again, editorially) vast swarm of readers would take every Thursday and engage in a bit of alliterative memery, namely, the Thursday Three. Three (or more) probing, insightful questions would be proffered by the editorial staff writers, and readers would chime in with their very own answers to said questions. By doing so, we (collectively) could all learn what made each other tick (or how we got ticks) and revel in each others virtual companionship.

Believe it or not, at one time the Thursday Three was the most widely-read and participated-in, weekly day-of-the-week meaningless Internet meme in the entire world. (You shouldn’t believe that.)

Sadly, though, as occasionally happens with such things, the fun came to a screeching halt on August 1, 2007 when I was getting ready to take on my new job and pretty much lost the free time I once had to sit around and piddle and maunder. Since that time, I have completely never blogged ever again--not even a single post. With the exception (maybe) of the last Thursday Three on August 9, 2007.

So, why am I posting something now?

I’m not. Since I don’t blog anymore, this can’t be a blog post.

However, my good friend Jim Smith (his real name) mentioned he’d like to see something like the ol’ T-3 from Possumblog again. You know, it being that his 60th birthday is coming up this Saturday. Not that there’s any pressure.

Geez--nothing like a load of GUILT to make you heave a heavy sigh and grudgingly grab your keyboard and knock together a quick simulacrum of a quiz to give all both of my remaining readers something to do for several minutes. And celebrate Jimbo's SIXTIETH BIRTHDAY! ICE CREAM AND PONIES AND CAKE!

But how to do this, since I no longer do this?

How about the Non-Thursday Non-Three!

Sounds good to me.

SO, take a moment to peruse the following non-three non-questions and either leave your answers in the comment section below, or a link to your blog (although it’s been so long since I’ve done this, the idea of people having a blog is so early-21st Century that I should probably have some accommodation for you not-quite-as-early-21st Century Twitter people. Good thing I don’t care about you like that.)

ANYwho--since we’re coming up on Thanksgiving, answer me these nonqueries:

1. What one person are you most thankful for this year?
2. What one thing are you most thankful for this year?
3. What one event are you most thankful for this year?

AND, as a big fat bonus unquestion:

4. So, how’s it going? How’ve you been lately?

Okay, go off and figure those out. As for my answers...


1. Well, there’s always the one I’m always thankful for, Miss Reba. But if you exclude her (and understanding that you do so at your own peril) and other immediate family members, I’d say Andrew Breitbart. Big Government’s takedown of ACORN took some guts and savvy, and it’s nice to have someone willing to out-Alinsky the Alinskyites. For those who have some sense of what classical liberalism means, it’s heartening to see someone exposing illiberal utopian statists (thanks to Charles Austin for that apt turn of phrase!) for what they are. In what would have been an otherwise rather depressing political year, it has been a breath of fresh air.

2. Obviously, the one thing I’m most grateful for this year above others is having a job, and my wife having one, as well. And Rebecca and Ashley, too. I know people make fun of bureaucrats and their general level of uselessness (I know I do), but I do try to make sure that I actually do give the folks who pay my salary their money’s worth. I really am thankful that I still have that opportunity.

3. Hmmm. I’d say the fact that there are at least 12 people in the U.S. Northern District of Alabama who refused to be hoodwinked, bamboozled, led astray, or run amuck. What a sad, pitiful little tale. I'm glad it's over, and I'm heartened by the outcome.

4. Hey, thanks for asking! It’s busy in my little corner of the world, and Reba’s been even busier, and it all sorta blurs together and I lose track of time and what I’m doing. That’s one of those things that was nice about blogging--it helped me keep track of what I did.

But you know what? I do know that life’s good, and I’m thankful for it. All of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a happy Thursday before Thanksgiving. OH, and Doc Smith? Happy birthday, sir!

Posted by Terry Oglesby at November 19, 2009 12:58 AM
Comments

First. And a Thursday without a Three would be exactly like the previous 117 Thursdays.

I'm up

http://skinnydan.blogspot.com

Posted by: skinnydan at November 19, 2009 09:15 AM

::grumble grumble:: Who tried to comment before comments were open? huh? (and we are right back to normal - Terry having to break up squabbles in the comments)

I'm up, too.

http://www.quiltbabe8.blogspot.com/

Posted by: Diane at November 19, 2009 09:23 AM

Break up squabbles? The heck with that--it's time for a STEEL CAGE MATCH! Winner take all, no holds barred!

OH, and another thing--I had comments turned off this morning, so I've undone that, and also I have the comments set to reject html, so if you leave your web address, just type it out in the comments rather than making a link. Both of these were done to keep down the spambots, and it has worked, but it does make it sorta hard on everyone else. Sorry 'bout that.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 19, 2009 10:15 AM

I'm up i think. This technology stuff can get to an old man.

UNFREEZING

if this doesn't work go to unfreezing.blogspot.com

Posted by: jim at November 19, 2009 11:08 AM

How can it be a Non-Thursday Non-Three when it *is* Thursday and you sort of asked three questions (well, 3+1)? Well, seeing as how I think you should be encouraged in your non-blogging, I guess I'm off to make up some answers.

Posted by: Jordana at November 19, 2009 01:44 PM

Okay, if you're gonna be like that and question everything, then you get a place in the STEEL CAGE, too!

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 19, 2009 01:54 PM

Done. Finally. Why'd you have to make the questions so hard?

Posted by: Jordana at November 19, 2009 05:23 PM

Because I am evil.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 19, 2009 06:40 PM

Hmm - trapped in a steel cage with two attractive women. Hmmmm...

Posted by: skinnydan at November 19, 2009 07:47 PM

Dang--I didn't think that one through well enough.

OKAY! Skinnydan, OUT of the STEEL CAGE, ME in!

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 19, 2009 09:04 PM

I'm up too at http://spudlets.wordpress.com/, though I'm not interested in a steel cage, as I'd end up as stage kill. May all y'alls cornucopias overflow with goodness, blessings and tasty pies (topped with real whip cream of course).

[PS I hear someone Facebooks now. I've been spurning it, but could weaken. Is resistance to assimilation futile?]

Posted by: Marc V at November 19, 2009 10:35 PM

As always late to the party, so any cake left?

http://lifeatfullvolume.blogspot.com/2009/11/thursady-three-its-baaaaack.html

Posted by: Sarah G. at November 19, 2009 11:24 PM

Hurrah! Feels like old times, even if my T3 skills are rusty. Can we do this more often please?

Jim- Happy Birthday and congrats for getting Terry to open the T3 meme again.

And I've got a response tonight- http://wasted_electrons.blogspot.com/2009/11/its-thursday-three-day.html, plus some other stuff posted this evening.

Posted by: Nate at November 19, 2009 11:55 PM

Facebook? Nah. It'll never catch on.

AS FOR CAKE, um, well, there's not any left, but actually that's okay, because we didn't have any to begin with. Although I do have a whole bag of those tiny Tootsie-Rolls left over from Halloween.

AS FOR "MORE OFTEN," I can't promise that it would be any more often that it has been of late. The job simply doesn't allow any time to think of non-work thoughts. Look at the time stamp on the post--take away one hour for my failure to fix the software to make it regular time instead of DST, and it's still midnight. Any of the stuff I've posted over the past few years has either been after work or stealing about five minutes during my abbreviated lunch time.

AND to make it worse, with the change of administration at work they're talking about doing away with the four 10-hour-per-day work week, meaning I won't have Fridays off anymore. Which really, REALLY stinks.

::sigh::

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 20, 2009 10:37 AM

Tootsie Rolls, as I am sure you do not know, are soon to be under kosher supervision. Which means I can probably have some of those leftovers.

Posted by: skinnydan at November 20, 2009 02:01 PM

COOL! I'll be sure to put them in your stocking along with your chocolate Santa dreidel!

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 20, 2009 03:14 PM

Theologically unsound, and yet delicious! Can you deep fry that for me?

Posted by: skinnydan at November 23, 2009 11:48 AM

Of course! As long as it's dipped in pancake batter first...

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 23, 2009 09:06 PM

Here's a Friday Fourth (to follow the Thursday Three):

We're all thankful for an Iron Bowl to follow Thanksgiving. Best of luck to Auburn. I may have time to watch the second half (I hope). Time to make the pizza dough ...

Posted by: Marc V at November 27, 2009 02:46 PM

::sigh:: Well, at least we didn't stink up the joint. It was a good game, and even though I don't believe in moral victories, it at least gives me hope for a pretty good season next year.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at November 28, 2009 09:25 AM

I'm thankful for Barack Obama.
I'm thankful I have a job. A badly paying, crappy job, but it's a job.
I'm thankful for discovering zerohedge's blog, dj, and IRC channel.

I have been, well, treading water. How's by yourself?

Posted by: vachon at December 1, 2009 08:39 PM

Yep, any job's a good job right about now. I keep hearing all the young urban hipster swells going on and on about funemployment, but I think the concept needs some work.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at December 1, 2009 09:59 PM