Socks and Cats

Not to be confused with Socks the cat...

I've been trying to finish up UFO's (unfinished objects) and I did manage to do the finishing on 3 pairs of socks.

I don't want to tie in any more ends on socks.

The lump on Cat's chin was cancer, but the vet thinks they removed it all.

a Barack Obama

I notice that political commentators and pundits often use the expression "a Barack Obama" -- as in the question:

"Will white working class men vote for a Barack Obama?"

I know who Barack Obama is, but I'm not sure what "a Barack Obama" is.
(Who besides Barack Obama is "a Barack Obama?
If no one, why not just say "Barack Obama"?)

Usually, such an expression turns a name into a predicate, a description.

To say someone is "a Fred Astair" would be to say he's a great dancer.
To say someone is "a Harry Houdini" is to say that he is a magician or escape artist.

It seems that when you predicate a proper name of someone, you are saying that that individual possesses the salient characteristics of the bearer of that name.
(I hope that clears things up!)

So, what does it mean to say that someone is "a Barack Obama"?
What are Obama's salient characteristics?
What other words describe "an Obama"?
"...a senator"? "...a good speaker"? "a magnetic leader"?

Nah...
No pundit is going to bother to ask whether working class white men will vote for a senator, a good speaker, a magnetic leader, etc.

Given the contexts in which this expression appears, I think that "a Barack Obama" is a black guy with a funny name.

And I think that people that use that expression are raising the issue of race while trying not to be too obvious about it.

If I'm wrong, tell me what "a Barack Obama" is.

To be fair, people sometimes say "a Hillary Clinton," and even "a John McCain" once in a while.

I guess "a John McCain" is an old white Republican guy, but I'm not sure what "a Hillary Clinton" is supposed to be. Maybe a woman. "Former first lady" seems too particular.

My hunch is that, for the most part, media people started using those expressions after they started using "a Barack Obama" as a euphemism, and they do this to try to appear as if they are talking about all 3 candidates in the same way.

Though I'd have to go back and study the tapes to be sure.

a few reasons why I love to watch tennis

My Trip to the see the Sandle Crayons

My crane kicked Jan's crane's ASS!!

That's Nebraska for you.

I think I see some cranes!
Or maybe they're flying monkeys...

more pics

Here are some things I've made in the past few weeks.Baby socks.

Booties!

Pink and white booties.

All the booties for Sewing for Babies.

2 afghans for Sewing for Babies made from Red Heart Strata. The pastel one is crocheted in side-saddle on the bias, and the bright one is made from 12 squares of half double crochet in 4 different color-ways. Love the stripes.
4 afghans out of Bright and Lofty (and some Homespun) for the nieces for Christmas.

Cats with his collar after his lump-ectomy.
He's doing good.
I'll find out about the biopsy next week.

Out of Touch

I haven't been on the internet much because I've had a series of computer problems. Now my main computer is in the hands of my computer repair man, and hopefully it will be all fixed soon.

My cat has a tumor under his chin and he's going to have it taken off and biopsied tomorrow.
The big sweetie is sitting on my lap right now. I'm a little worried.

I made 3 quilt tops and am not sure how to finish them.

I made several pairs of baby booties for Sewing for Babies.

I'll post pics when I get my computer back.

Earth, Wind, and Fire

...and water.

Earthquake in China
Tornados in the South and Mid-western parts of the US
Flooding in the North East
Fires in Florida
Cyclone in Burma

It's been a tough couple of weeks.