Spelling Bee!

Hello, hungry people.

One of the first things I do every morning, in an often-futile attempt to jump-start my calcifying brain, is play the New York Times Spelling Bee.

So take a quick look at the seven letters in Monday’s Spelling Bee. What words come to mind?

Sure, there are some easy ones — back and bark and crack.

But what jumped right out at me and probably plenty of others was: Barack Obama. Which, since it’s two words and a proper noun, is not an acceptable word in the Spelling Bee.

Still, it being President’s Day and all, it was one of those sly little nuggets that whoever puts the Spelling Bee together often sneaks in there. Like back in October, on the day before the second “No Kings Rally,” when one of the pangrams was MOBILIZE.

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It was a nice way to start President’s Day, thinking about Obama. He had quite a run over the past week.

In response to the Very Stable Genius posting AI slop portraying Obama and Michelle as apes, No. 44 bemoaned the lack of “shame and decorum” in the Oval Office. Considering the ugliness of the VSG’s¹ crude attack, it was a restrained and dignified comeback, what you’d expect from someone who respects the sanctity once typified by his former office.

Obama later went on a podcast to discuss his remarks. When the topic took a 180-degree turn, as so often happens on podcasts, and veered to extraterrestrial aliens, Obama said he believes they exist. Maybe he was thinking about the one who landed in the White House. I dunno. Anyway, it caused quite a hubbub and Obama walked it back, laughingly saying he knew of no evidence in secret government files to verify it.

That same week, along with Michelle and daughter Sasha, he attended the NBA All-Star Game, where the three were greeted with loud applause. Compare that to just a week earlier when the VSG² chose not to attend the Super Bowl because he feared getting booed.

Here’s hoping this is just the beginning.

Which brings us to Today’s Poll.

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OK, enough politics. Let’s get back to the Spelling Bee.

While some folks play the Spelling Bee in an attempt to reach Genius level (guessing about 70 percent of the possible words) and a rarified few people with way too much time on their hands and bigger brains than mine strive for Queen Bee status (guessing every possible word) I’m only in it for the pangrams.

I set the timer, give myself three minutes and try to come up with a word that uses all seven letters. Most days I’m successful. On days when I’m not, it’s pretty much downhill from there.

Anyway, one of the pangrams on the President’s Day Spelling Bee (above) was: BACKROOM.

Which, come to think of it, also has the whiff of politics.

So, to clear the air, I’m outta here.

And please, as always, punch some of the buttons below, especially the one that will put a little money in my pocket.

1. Vomiting Slander Gleefully

2. Venue-Shy Germaphobe