All I've Been Doing has been Watching the Olympics

No movies.  No comics.  Basically, I've got none of my usual stuff to cover.

I've really been enjoying watching Volleyball.  Men's.  Women's.  Beach.  Otherwise.  I love the pace and the athleticism, and, of course, watching May-Treanor and Walsh-Jennings again has been a lot of fun.  The addition of Longhorn Destinee Hooker to the US Team has been just terrific.  It's great to see her get attention on such a huge stage.

I watched Little Girls' Gymnastics, and that was very sweet.  And seemingly not a headcase in the bunch.

Archery was pretty great this weekend, and this coming weekend I get to see Track & Field, the one time every four years when I watch those events, but I can't wait.



Books

I finally finished the audiobook of For Whom the Bell Tolls.  Turns out, it was tolling for Thee.

An absolutely amazing book, and one I know I'll revisit again.  We don't really do book or literary reviews here as I don't feel qualified, and when you get into discussing Hemingway?  Nope.  Not going to to do it.

Comics

I've also recently finished a few other things.

• T-Minus: The Race to the Moon - a non-fiction graphic novel for junior readers about the space race.  It's really pretty great.
• Bloom County Volume 5 - the final installment of the 80's-era satire comic strip by the famed Berke Breathed.
• Several issues of Popeye and Fury, two comics on opposite ends of the spectrum.

ADVICE FROM YOUR UNKY LEAGUE:

and if I can make a suggestion not related to comics or books or movies:

Freedom of Speech, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America is defined by the First Amendment to the Constitution thusly:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Pretty neat! Well done, Founding Fathers.

What it does say is that the government is not in the business of coming up with laws or regulations that would enable them to toss you in jail for speaking your mind.

It does not mean that if you say what you think about the doings of fast food chain and what they do with their profits, the folks who throw away a day of work "debating" you in your comments are ignoring the Supreme Law of The Land.  Or even the spirit in which the law was written.  It means you're engaging in a Constitutionally Protected right to call someone a jerk for what they believe.  Which may be (or likely is) the same belief you just poo-poo'ed in your Facebook Status - so when they toss back a few rude commenst your way or go on a rant - they get to do that, too.

I'm not saying you can't post whatever you want wherever you like, but that doesn't mean you, your Facebook Friends, the Board of Fast Food Companies, nor the folks who are speaking against the Board of the Fast Food Company are free from scrutiny.  Basically, so long as we aren't lying, we can say anything we like.  Nobody gets a pass.  Well, maybe Sarah Silverman.

You know, pre-internet, we stuck to a pretty simple rule:  In mixed company it was considered unwise to discuss sex, religion or politics.  It's a pretty straightforward rule intended to keep it simple.  That didn't mean you didn't have some pretty hot politics (we used to have Anarchists as a fringe but sizable movement, y'all).  Facebook is the ultimate in mixed company.

Look, if that's what you want to get engaged in - go nuts.  But (a) don't be shocked when someone disagrees with you.  Angrily.  And (b) they are not un-American for doing so.  In fact, they're being very American and shooting their dumb mouths off because, unlike England under a monarch, you likely will NOT go to jail for whatever comes out of your mouth.  Or fingertips.  Onto your computer or phone.  But don't lie and check sources. because you also don't want to be hit for slander or libel.

And this is my way of saying:  I probably unsubscribed from you this week from my personal account.  My entire Facebook feed is now comprised of sports teams and Cracked.com.