IAN McLELLAN IMPRESSION OF MAGGIE SMITH

This is Oscars weekend and I managed to dig up this marvelously funny Oscar-related clip from The Graham Norton Show in 2017.

Patrick Stewart (check out his socks) and Ian McLellan are the guests. McLellan, who played Gandolf in the Lord of the Rings films, does a pitch-perfect impression of Maggie Smith (Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies) when he ran into her at an Oscar ceremony.

This year's Oscar show will air on ABC-TV on Sunday at 8PM eastern U.S. time.

WHAT THE PRESIDENT TWEETED AFTER THE ACQUITTAL VOTE IN THE SENATE

Terrifying that a president does this:

pic.twitter.com/JDS4zUXXJG

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 5, 2020

MANUFACTURING HUGE PAPER LANTERNS IN CHINA

Due to the virus outbreak, China canceled a lot of lunar New Year celebrations. Here's a story about the traditional lanterns – huge ones – made in a small Chinese Village.

WHAT IF BEING AN OLDER CUSTOMER...

...were as hard as finding a job after age 40?

More at AARP.

DOOMSDAY CLOCK MOVES CLOSER TO MIDNIGHT

Actually, not just closer, but closer than it has ever been – moved up 20 seconds to 100 seconds to midnight from two minutes to midnight.

"The decision was made by the group’s science and security board, in consultations with its board of sponsors, which includes 13 Nobel laureates...

"In a statement accompanying the clock’s advance, the organization said the nuclear and climate dangers 'are compounded by a threat multiplier, cyber-enabled information warfare that undercuts society’s ability to respond.'

"'The international security situation is dire, not just because these threats exist, but because world leaders have allowed the international political infrastructure for managing them to erode,' it said."

There is more to read at AP.

FRESH GUACAMOLE

This short film was a 2013 Oscar nominee and has been viewed on YouTube more than 180,000,000 times. It's the shortest film ever nominated. Produced by PES.

(There are two other short films in the same vein – sequels - linked at the end of the video. They are clever too but this one, the original, is the best.)

REAL ID

Beginning 1 October, 2020, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the United States, make sure it is REAL ID compliant. If you are not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles.

Here is a video about it.

There is more information at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) webpage and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website.

SLANG FROM THE AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD

That period in U.S. history ran from 1607 when America was just a group of British colonies to the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The settlers brought the English language with them and Mental Floss provides us with 15 slang terms from that period.

Here are three to get you started.

KEDGE
When someone asked how you were doing, you might have replied, “I’m pretty kedge.” It’s a bizarre but wonderful term that essentially means being in good health.

CIRCUMBENDIBUS
From 1681 something unnecessarily roundabout - like someone telling a rambling story or taking a weird road when driving somewhere,

TWISTICAL
Unfair or immoral – primarily used in New England.

There are 12 more at Mental Floss.

KITTENS IN THE BOOK SHOP

Kittens! And lots of them! Playing around and napping among the books. And probably reading Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat when no one’s looking.

The best part is, you can adopt any of the cats in the bookstore and give them the forever home they deserve. Cats, coffee, and books. Does it get any better than that?

The kitties are at Otis & Clementine’s Books and Coffee, Halifax, Nova Scotia and so far, there is a 100 percent adoption rate. Here are three of them. Well, three photos, but more cats than that.

More kitty book shop photos at Bored Panda.

Interesting Stuff is a weekly listing of short takes and links to web items that have caught my attention; some related to aging and some not, some useful and others just for fun.

You are all encouraged to submit items for inclusion. Just click “Contact” at the top of any Time Goes By page to send them. I'm sorry that I won't have time to acknowledge receipt and there is no guarantee of publication. But when I do include them, you will be credited and I will link to your blog.