A JTI Candidate

What can I say, The few, the proud, the insane...

Thanksgiving Quiz

Hope you enjoy this little quiz.

Let's see how much you know about Thanksgiving

Turkey Quiz

The Coordinator's Report - what fun!!

We had a great time tonite!!
Not a bad turn out but those of you that didn't make it sure missed it!
Our bowling was fun, we threw things, things fell down, all in all,
a great time.

Logjam... we waited for you...
AA, eventually you will have to come out of hiding...
Beejay, HaleBopp and Whynot, you have to come sometime!
The rest of you - it's time to get on board already!

Our next outing will actually be an 'inning'
Date and time - Mark your calendars NOW
Saturday, January 10th, 4pm
Highlights of the evening -
1st annual Irregular Christmas Party
Potluck/game night/Christmas Party/Christmas cookie eating contest

Watch for more info as to HOW to get hooked up and be part of it,
info to follow closer to actual Christmas!!
Any questions, email me anytime

lizardmom@wi.net

From your humble coordinator...

Russian Bar Trio

All I can say is WOW!

Hamster On A Piano (Eating Popcorn)

That's one mellow hamster. Why can't he get up after he falls off the key?

Rust in Pieces, Yugo

The last Yugo, the car that became the joke of a generation, is about to roll of the assembly line. If you are like me, you are probably finding yourself amazed that they still make those things.

And you think Detroit has problems, look at the Yugo!

Name that Rover (18 and under, some restrictions apply)

NASA is having a contest to name the next Mars Rover, open to students. The new rover, to be launched in 2009, desperately needs a new name as it is currently known as the Mars Science Laboratory.

This beefed up rover will be nuclear powered and focus on whether Mars is or has ever been a place hospitable for microbial life. More power means more science instruments and a greater range for more exploration.

The winning entry gets a free trip to the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena (where they build the rovers). Pass this on to teachers you know so we can get a lot of entries!

Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicst Blog.

One Can Shy of a Six Pack

This post was inspired by Drewzepmeister with his post of "Sounds like this lady is a burger patty short of a full burger" on the goofy lady from Oregon post. And in my past post of "What two things will end at midnight" I think it was he that came up with "Sounds like the cheese is sliding off the cracker." (or was it Orbs?). Anyhow, what snappy repartees do you have in your arsonal? (If you rather not divulge them now and save them later for the appropriate moment that's fine). Just no quoting the "Grumpy Old Men" movies......there are ladies that read these blogs!

From your events coordinator... Confirmations needed!

Hi guys, time for roll call for Friday nights get-together.
You should have received the info and invite,
if for any reason you didn't,
** please email me ASAP at **
lizardmom@wi.net

Now is time for corrections, updates, forgotten RSVP's, etc.
This is who I have coming...
ORBS, KK, SER, DREW, ABBY, LIZARDMOM, LOGJAM, and CYNDI

Those that I know can't make it -
the hibernating Beejay :)~ ,
Whynot, HaleBopp, also hibernating in warmer climates...
and AA. If you are on the list in either category and need to change it
please let me know. If you haven't responded yet - hint, hint...
EMAIL ME SOON!!!
I probably have too many lanes reserved but don't want to give any
up unless I'm sure we won't need them.
If you forgot what's going on, again, please email me soon!!

Thanks for you help, hope to see more of you Friday!!

***UPDATE***
I am going to correct the number of lanes needed down to 4, but will
insist on keeping them those nearest the door,
watch for our sign, anyone from the picnic should recognize it well

First It Was "One Small Step For Man". Now It's "Oh Great"

This from Fox News:

'Oh Great': Astronaut Loses Tool Bag During Spacewalk

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,453845,00.html

Astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper was working on a solar panel when her grease gun exploded. As she was wiping the grease off her face shield, she let go of her tool box which floated off into space. Kinda like your wife or girlfriend dropping your Craftsman rench down a sewer.

Change – What is it?

The 36th President Lyndon B. Johnson was in office when I graduated from high school. I turned 18 in May graduated in June and 5 day later received my draft notice.

LBJ was going to change the world. Since we have had several changes in Presidents. Nixon, Ford, Carter, then the people of the United States wanted a big change so Ronald Reagan was elected.

Then came Bush, Clinton, Bush and now President elect Obama. All of them where or are out to make change.

In the mid to late 60’s and early 70’s many protest songs where written and recorded. One which comes to mind is “Eve of Destruction”. This song is a protest song about political issues of the '60s, this song was banned from many radio stations for its antigovernment lyrics, but still managed to hit #1 in the US. The song takes on racism, hypocrisy and injustice.

Imagine that, racism, hypocrisy and injustice, look around, its 2008 where is the change.

I believe it’s time people, politicians in particular, add the word “hope” or “pray” in front the word “change” every time they use it!

Some feel the song Eve of Destruction was written “before it’s time”. Please listen to the song and you decide, where’s our change.

More about the song can be seen at Eve of Destruction.

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hi, my friends! It’s good to be with you again.

I’ve decided that this week I would tell you little about my family background. The picture below is of Grandpa Emilio Zoltar, the first psychic to foresee the Great Depression and throw himself off of a Wall Street window ledge because of it:
Before he made his grand exit, though, Grandpa Emilio married. He was a strange man with strange tastes. He fell in love with a wax dummy named Marge:

It was love at first sight. They melted into each others arms. Their connubial bliss produced a son, the man I later married, Karl “The Reptile” Zoltar, known for his cold, almost mechanical, mannerisms:



Our union produced a son, Karl “The Robot” Zoltar, Jr.:



Unfortunately for everyone involved, Karl Sr. is a piece of trash lowlife who can’t keep his pants on. I had to divorce the lying scumbag and raise Junior on my own. It’s pretty funny to listen to Karl talk about “doing” versus “intending” in that video. He was always “intending” to pay the child support, but never “doing” anything about it. So I had to come up with a way to support myself and our son. Thus, Madame Zoltar was born. I tapped into my personal psychic sources and became a legend. Today Junior is successfully engaged in his YouTube career and paint huffing activities. We live a modest suburban life, but don’t really lack for anything. I owe it all to you, my faithful friends and fans, and my many loyal customers. Thank you for making Madame Zoltar your Guide to the Spirits and the Stars.

Please remember to send you comments and questions to me at madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Thank you for letting me chat with you today. I look forward to doing it again next week. Until then, farewell my friends.

$700 billion? What the Frak?

If you are like me, you have been hearing a lot of numbers thrown around with all the bailouts of banks and what not. Trying to keep a running total in my head, I started thinking, hmmm...that sounds like more than $700 billion to me.

Turns out my powers of estimation served me well, but not well enough. CNBC has been keeping track. They came up with a number of almost $4.3 trillion for all the bailouts! That's off by about a factor of 6! This really is a government operation complete with huge cost overruns.

Today Must Have Been "National Idiots Day"

In a earlier post we saw a woman in Oregon pee away 400 grand on a Nigerian e-mail scam. Later today a postal worker in Milwaukee was arrested for delivering more than mail.

lhttp://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/34714699.htm

Tuesday Noon Grin

POWER OUTAGE DURING A MAMMOGRAM

I actually kept my mammogram appointment. I was met with, 'Hi! I'm Belinda!' This perky clipboard carrier smiled from ear to ear, tilted her head to one side and crooned, 'All I need you to do is step into this room right here, strip to the waist, then slip on this gown.

Everything clear?

I'm thinking, 'Belinda, try decaf. This ain't rocket science.'

Belinda skipped away to prepare the chamber of horrors.

With the right side finished, Belinda flipped me (literally) to the left and said, 'Hmmmm. Can you stand on your tippy toes and lean in a tad so we can get everything?'

Fine, I answered. I was freezing, bruised, and out of air, so why not use the remaining circulation in my legs and neck and finish me off?

My body was in a holding pattern that defied gravity (with my other boob wedged between those two 4 inch pieces of square glass) when we heard, then felt a zap! Complete darkness and the power went off!

'Oh, maintenance is working. Bet they hit a snag.' Belinda headed for the door.

'Excuse me! You're not leaving me in this vise alone are you?' I shouted.

Belinda kept going and said, 'Oh, you fussy puppy...the door's wide open so you'll have the emergency hall lights. I'll be right back.'

Before I could shout 'NOOOO!' she disappeared.

And that's exactly how Bubba and Earl, maintenance men extraordinaire, found me, half-naked and part of me dangling from the Jaws of Life, and the other part smashed between glass!

After exchanging polite 'Hi, how's it going' type greetings, Bubba (or possibly Earl) asked, to my utter disbelief, if I knew the power was off.

Trying to disguise my hysteria, I replied with as much calmness as possible 'Uh, yes, yes I did thanks.'

'You bet, take care ' Bubba replied and waved good-bye as though I'd been standing in the line at the grocery store.

Two hours later, Belinda breezes in wearing a sheepish grin. Making no attempt to suppress her amusement, she said, 'Oh I am sooo sorry!' The power came back on and I totally forgot about you! And silly me, I went to lunch. Are we upset?'

And that, Your Honor, is exactly how her head ended up between the clamps...

How About Coming Up With a Ban of Your Own

With a new batch of legislators headed of to Congress, Madison, and Municipal Boards around the country, you can bet something is going to be targeted to be banned. Kenosha is instituting a ban on texting while driving. In Madison they are thinking about a ban on bisphenol A in plastics. I'm not saying all bans are ill thought out or stupid. It's something we are going to see a lot more in the future. Knowing the JTIs, this is a group that could come up with bans; some serious, some darn right....well you know. Perhaps one like this: Banning driving while operating a motor vehicle.....

Another Lawsuit Against City Hall?

The Racine Post reports today: "The same attorney who filed sexual harassment charges against City Administrator Ben Hughes is now threatening to file a discrimination claim on behalf of Racine Public Health Administrator Janelle Grammer."

http://news.racinepost.com/2008/11/city-facing-charges-of-discrimination.html

Attorney Nola Cross, who filed charges in July against Hughes on behalf of Sandra Tingle, Mayor Gary Becker’s ex-administrative assistant, sent a letter to the city on November 13th alleging that Grammer has been discriminated against on the job.

Is this a case of a litigious attorney looking to stir up trouble, make some money and a name for herself, or is there something hinky with the Becker administration?

Boogie

O'Mary sent this to me...I have it playing in the background right now. So cool. http://www.paradisecomputerclub.org/boogie.htm

How Many Ways Can You Spell "Stupid"?

This from Fox News:

Oregon Woman Loses $400,000 to Nigerian E-Mail Scam

Regrets

As it is with most things in life, things move fast. I regret that I will be unable, once again, to attend our upcoming meeting of the Irregulars. I was really hoping to meet you guys and gals.

I was invited to go up North for opening day at this really nice hunting lodge. It is a slot I've been hoping would open up for some time.

For you Bambi lovers: I have no intention of shooting a deer. I love being out in the woods, but, because there are things that consider me food, and, the occasional drunken idiot, I always carry some firearms with me.

BTW, the mail account of avengingangel@wi.rr.com is working again, so please send updates there.

Once again, sorry I can't make it.

Pirates Capture Saudi Supertanker

"DUBAI -- The U.S. Navy said Monday that pirates commandeered a Saudi-owned supertanker hundreds of miles off the Kenyan coast, an attack officials said was unprecedented for its distance from shore and the size of its target."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122693177440733229.html

Arrr, shiver me timbers, the price of gasoline just went up a few doubloons.

I was saying to my sister yesterday that the only good thing to come out of the economic meltdown is the drop in gas prices. Now, along with everything else, we have to worry about pirates hijacking oil? Where's Captain Jack Sparrow when we need him?

Maukie

http://www.broenink-art.nl/anneke/maukiehome/

Hale-bopp's blog (below) made me think of Maukie, the virtual cat. Move your mouse cursor over Maukie to play with him. According to the website, you can get one for your desktop, but I've never tried.

My Cat Got a Word in the Dictionary

Yep, she did. My old cat, who I got in November of 1996, has an unusually large vocabulary. In addition to the traditional "meow" and purring, she could say a lot of other expressions including "rah", "nah" and, the winner, "meh".

Now it turns out that Harper Collins in including "meh" in the dictioary! It is defined as "as an expression of indifference or boredom, or an adjective meaning mediocre or boring" which my cat agrees with totally. Since the article states that it gained popularity in 2001 after being used on the Simpsons, my cat's usage of the word clearly pre-dates that by several years.

You can even buy shirts and sweathers with meh on them.

For future editions of the dictionary, "rah" is an expression of extreme annoyance and "nah" means "don't pet me there!"

Her name is, of course, Hale-Bopp.

Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicsit Blog.

Jouranl Sentinel Online Photo Gallery

http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/photos/28511814.html

These are weather related pictures submited by readers of the Journal Sentinel. Some are spectacular. I was going to post one of the winter ones, but we'll be seeing that for ourselves soon enough.

C-leberty

I recently won tickets to see Queen+Paul Rodgers at a theater. Won them off on our regular irregular friend's Barbara's blog. My son and I had a great time. They played a two hour set that included some of their usual hits,new stuff,solos,and Bad Company songs. People were dancing in the aisles. I was surprised at what my son knew about Bad Company and Queen. He was air guitaring and singing along to whole thing.

Here's a video of a song that was played at the movie. The song is off of their latest release The Cosmos Rock I think the song is quite catchy. I like it! Enjoy!