Silflay Hraka

Hello and welcome to the Carnival of the Vanities. This week’s 219th edition bears a Thanksgiving theme, even though Thanksgiving has come and gone. I personally feel that thanks is something we should give all through the year.

One thing I’m thankful for this week is the time to edit the Carnival. The last few editions of the Carnival have been unedited due to time constraints. I haven’t even had time to read all the entries. This week, I do. For those of you in the Carnival this week, you should be thankful that you’re in it. Not everyone who submitted an entry is included. Why? Because I’m an asshole, that’s why.

Actually, I feel a little pruning of the carny is good for it, allowing it to grow stronger in the weeks and years to come. I include what I feel led to include and exclude on the same basis. If you submitted and didn’t make it in this week, keep submiting. You might make it in next week.

Anyway, I have time, but it isn’t infinite so I’ll get on with the show.

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As I said, this week’s edition has a Thanksgiving theme. Thanksgiving means gratitude and plenty of bloggers were talking about it. My favorite bit of Thanksgiving gratitude comes from Sarakastic in Who says I’m not grateful? I think she’s got the Thanksgiving holiday nailed. She reminds me to say “Thanks, mom” for all the years of turkey and trimmings and thousands of other unsung acts.

Daniel Brenton speaks of gratitude in What a Difference a Day Makes, a reminiscence of Septemer 11th.

Christine Kane explains Why Gratitude Makes You Happier and Wealthier. I’m really, really grateful for everything. Really. Where’s my money?

Lisa shares the Thanksgiving experiences of her son inThanksgiving with the Lil’ Duck. It reminded me of my own Thanksgiving in Boston, spent with my brother and his family. I was thankful to be able to spend some time with them all since I don’t get to see them often. I was also thankful for the twelve hours a day we spent playing Lego Star Wars II.

Sortof, kindof related, dad tells how he duped his son into eating bread crust in Dealing With a Finicky Four Year Old Eater. I am thankful for every sandwich I ever received that was cut in triangles. I like triangles.

I’m also thankful for Cracker Barrel. I love that restaurant. There’s one off almost every Interstate exit from North Carolina to Mississippi and I ate at almost every one of them the last time I drove my folks to the family reunion in Gulfport. I also had breakfast there on Saturday before flying home from Boston.

Love.it.

It’s not for everyone though and especially not for gays. I say all this to set up Rich’s post on Boycotting Homophobia. Sorry, Rich. I’m thankful for Cracker Barrel’s “Sunrise Sampler” with biscuits and apple butter. Yum.

Phil expresses his thanks for endless piles of junk mail in Dear Junk Mail Solicitors. I’m sure we can all give the same thanks. I’m thankful for OptOutPrescreen.com, a website that allows you to opt out of prescreen credit offers. I receive less junk than I did.

Jennifer Miner is, overall, thankful for JetBlue Airways and weighs the JetBlue Airways Pros and Cons. I am thankful that my own holiday travels were uneventful. No delays, no lost luggage, no huge crowds and smelly, sweaty stranger next to me on the plane. I even had an empty seat to me on the way to Boston. I’m officially the luckiest man alive. Some might even say I lead a charmed life. It’s true. And I’m grateful for it.

What else am I thankful for? I’m thankful that Wayne Hurlbert finally ended his boycott of Blog Carnival and used the website to submit his post. It makes it so much easier on me. Thanks, Wayne. I’m also thankful for the fifteen minutes of fame this blog brings me every week around Carnival time. That and Andy Warhol are, coincidentally, the subjects of Wayne’s Carny entry this week.

Looking ahead to the Christmas holiday, Madeleine Begun Kane gives us rules for attending company office parties in Office Party Follies. Sounds like she’s had a lot of personal experience with these things. Still, office parties are better than no office parties. I’m finally with a company that throws a holiday office party. This year’s bash is at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. I’ll be truly thankful if there’s an open bar.

If there is an open bar, I’ll be thankful for beer goggles.
Mark A. Rayner talks about The Beer Goggle Effect with Professor Quippy. One factor he fails to mention is the amount of time that has passed since one has enjoyed the companionship of the opposite sex. I’m sure that has something to do with the power of beer goggles.

From Goggles to Google: (Don’t you love my smooth transitions? Sure you do.) Leon Gettler asks How does Google stop turning evil?. Answer: sharing the wealth. For which we’d all be grateful.

Back to Christmas, Steve Faber gives a word of warning about Deficit Spending – It Works for the Feds, Why Not You Too? I found it personally relevant as I’ve been spending like nuts since moving to Atlanta. The new furniture is nice, however. I’m thankful for it.

Speeding things up because I’m winding down:

Avant News presents Magician Disillusioned. This reminded me of the recent movie “The Prestige”. I read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Avant News has apparently seen it as well.

Brandon Peele presents The 3 Lens Integration. Brandon submitted three different articles for inclusion in the carny. Brandon, be thankful you got one in. I include this one over the others because I was talking to a friend of mine the other day about the “Seek Ye First” Bible verses.

Paul gives advice on How to deal with information overload. To be honest, I only read the headline. One step ahead of you, Paul.

motherjones-rn presents Nurse Ratched’s Place: Confessions of a Closet Trekkie. Nurse Chapel: meeeooow!

Starling David Hunter presents No Fries With That, Sheikh?. No comment. Fading fast. Sorry.

Big Picture Guy presents Court Martial. I’m thankful I’m not being sued. Thanks for sharing, BPG, and good luck.

Abu Sahajj presents Geisha: The Center of Social Contrast. Note: Geisha’s are not prostitutes. Thanks for clearing that up, Abu.

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Lastly, I’m thankful that it’s bedtime. I’m worn out and need some shut eye. Thanks to all those who submitted to this week’s Carnival of the Vanities and thanks to all of you who’ve stopped by to check it out. CoTV is truly thankful for all the support.

If you’d like to submit an entry for consideration in Carnival of the Vanities, you can do so at Blog Carnival. CoTV appears in this space every Wednesday and the submission deadline is 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening.

Thanks again for stopping by and, until next week, enjoy your Carnival of the Vanities.