FALL IS HERE IN SC!! September 29th, 2009

Well, it was in the 40’s this morning, PERFECT fall morning for me personally. I’m so sick of summer. I feel it in the air, the summer’s outta reach (thanks Don!). As I always say, I can easily warm up, I can’t always get or make myself cooler. Not unless I have one of those COOL hats like Muammar Qaddafi wore at the UN last week!!

Time to play catch up with what’s going on with me. Kinda slow here at work today- taking 9-1-1 calls.

My Steelers AND Tarheels lost their respective football games. I apparently have WON my Fantasy Baseball Leagues regular season- WHOO-HOO! I'm 2-1 in my pay-fantasy-football league; second place in the FREE league I ACTUALLY have fun with and care about.

Went to the doctor late last week- he gave me the official diagnosis of having “the crud”. Swabbed and tested me for the flu-s- had neither. Instructed me to go home, take my Z-pack, mucinex, zyrtec, and be sick no more. Still working on the latter but I AM feeling better. Now my wife has it. SORRY!

Got a new cell phone. A fancy schmancy Blackberry 8520 Curve. Wow. It’s still a little awkward to use to me; even after 3 days. I can see how the device can be addicting and a very, VERY useful tool. I stayed up until 4:30am Sunday playing with just some of the features. It’s got Wi-Fi too. It ALSO adds an extra $20 to my monthly bill, LOL!!

We had an issue with my wife’s car over the weekend as well. We were quoted around $300.00 for a tune-up to get it running. For an extra $450.00, they’d change the oil, repair a broken cable on the driver’s side window, and replace two rear light bulbs (that aren’t really burned out). In the end, I couldn’t see the bruned out bulbs after the usual battery of tests (braking, turn signal, on/off, etc). The window is up, just can’t roll it down right now without a $51.00 part. I wound up replacing a frayed spark plug wire that was arching causing the diagnoses of a needed tune up. Grand total -$4.99 + tax.. Thank you, Lord!!

BTW, my dog’s puppy died. I didn’t blog that. It WAS 11 days premature, and DID make it nearly 48 hours. If it had lived, my brother would have named it Moses. Mama dog is doing well.

Heard that the newly slimmed down Rush Limbaugh has been invited to be a judge at next year's Miss America pageant. Man, are they desperate for ratings or what?

A 7-point-9 earthquake has shaken American Samoa causing tsunami warnings for Hawaii.

Disney is offering a free day's admission to 1 million guests who complete a day of volunteer work next year.

TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8" will soon be simply "Kate Plus Eight."

DJ AM died accidentally from a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs and cocaine, the medical examiner's office ruled today.

Right wing mobsters and extremists rejoice- Obama's personal job approval and health care popularity/support has dipped below 50%.

Well, other than that, nothing else is going on. What’s up with you?

A Puppy Is Born!!! - Thursday, September 17th 2009

about an hour ago (4:50am ET), my pomeranian 'Nikki' gave birth to her first puppy. It's a male. THe birht is about 11 days early, so we'll see if it lives or if she 'drops' another one. It's been an hour and so far, no more puppies. My wife says dodgs usually continue the birthing process around 30 - 45 minutes apart. We'll see.

'Just another Tuesday (9/15/09)' or "Patrick Swayze is dead and I don't feel so well myself!!"

Because Patrick Swayze is dead, I've been reading many references to "baby in the corner" (Dirty Dancing) and some "Rumble Fish", "Red Dawn" movie quotes. I really liked him in "Too Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar" with Wesley Snipes, John Luguizamo, Stockard Channing, et al. Who can forget the skit with the late Chris Farley on SNL - the Chippendales Dancer Tryouts? You fought long and hard, now you can rest. See ya Patrick!!

Taking 9-1-1 calls today. The usual types of calls. Cloudy/rainy weather usually means more traffic accidents, etc. Sitting back, cruising the internet, sipping coffee between emergencies. Occasionally providing levity to my co-workers. I'm known for that I guess. I'm scheduled to train someone on taking 9-1-1 calls the second half of my day. God help them....

Fooled around with my fantasy football leagues a little- I'm DFL (dead freaking last) in the one I care about, 1-0 in head-to-head matchup in my paid one. I'm cruising along to victory in my fantasy baseball league, holding on tightly to a slim lead.

Cleaned up my Yahoo! email accounts. I really don't know why I have so many. For SOME reason, I thought it was a good idea to create a new one every year using the reverse of my initials (tcj)then designating the year as 2k'x'(2k8, 2k9, etc). My other email addresses are usually former past names I've used in radio, reporting, etc (adamharper, dochaprer). Some are just for fun (misterslapnuts,emsjohnny, FreaknikJohn). Continuing proof that ANY psychologist would have a field day with me.

My pomeranian Nikki is SO FREAKING HUGE! She's due to give birth the last week of September- my wife insists on or around the 28th- I believe the 24th.

well ENOUGH about me, let's see what I have found interesting on the internet this morning..

Harrison Ford is ready for another Indiana Jones movie- he tells a French newspaper - "The story for the new Indiana Jones is in the process of taking form. Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and myself are agreed on what the fifth adventure will concern, and George is actively at work. If the script is good, I'll be very happy to put the costume on again."

The 25th anniversary of U2s 1984 album, "The Unforgettable Fire" will be celebrated with a host of reissue configurations. Due October 27 from Island/Universal, four options will be available that include B-sides, rarities, alternate versions, and previously unreleased songs including "Disappearing Act" (a.k.a. "White City").The four versions will include a 180 gram vinyl album version, a standard re-mastered CD version, a deluxe double version with a 36 page bound book and a limited edition super deluxe box set, which includes the 2 CD version, a 56 page bound book, 5 portfolio prints and a DVD that will feature rare videos, concert footage and a "Making of" documentary of the album.


A new animated movie featuring Batman and Superman entitled "Public Enemies" is due out in a couple of weeks. It features a couple of scenes form the soon-to-be-finished animated DVD movie about the Justice League and an alternate earth where the good guys are bad and bad guys are good entitled "Crisis on Two Earths" According to the description, voice cast is led by Mark Harmon (NCIS) as Superman, James Woods (Ghosts of Mississippi) as Owlman, Chris Noth (Sex and the City, Law & Order) as Lex Luthor, William Baldwin (Dirty Sexy Money) as Batman, Gina Torres (Serenity, Firefly) as Super Woman and Bruce Davison (X-Men) as the President.

The NBC series "Heroes" is scheduled to begin soo. Whoopty doo!! I'm really not interested. I dont' like shows like this and "Lost" who produce new material every 3 to 4 years or so. If i want this, I'll read books!! (LOL!)

Saw the 'Jay Leno Show' last night. It's a 10pm version of the 'Tonight Show' without the desk to sit behind and different music, different graphics. Even Jerry Seinfeld commented on how unusual is was that there was a big to do about his 'final show' leaving the Tonight Show and now months later basically doing the same show an hour and a half earlier than usual. He said "When we quit (the Seinfeld Show) in teh 90's, we stayed gone!" Kanye West did multiple imitations of SC Senator Joe Wilson (apologizing) and declared he was going to 'take some time off' from the business. Jay made him cry when he asked if Kanye's mother would approve of his antics. MAN!!
I still believe the annual Kanye West act is just that: an act. It's a classic thing you'd see in WWE wrestling.

A 107-year-old Malaysian woman says she is ready to marry for the 23rd time because she fears her current drug addict husband might leave her for a younger woman.

Swimming in chlorinated pools may increase the risk of a child getting asthma and respiratory allergies like hay fever, according to a Belgian study

The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at former President George W. Bush was released Tuesday after nine months in prison and in a defiant address, he accused Iraqi security forces of torturing him with beatings, whippings and electric shocks. This makes me smile.

A NASA rocket experiment set to launch Tuesday aims to create artificial clouds at the outermost layers of Earth's atmosphere.

I've jsut read where the US Open was marred by profanity laced tirades by both Serena Williams and Roger Fererererererererererer.. My brother Terry Self made the comment about Serena:" I don't blame the line judge for fearing for their life, I would too if som DUDE came at me cussin' with a tennis racket!"

Disney is making another Winnie the Pooh movie.

The trailer for A Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey is online. http://movies.yahoo.com/premieres/15536466/standardformat

Will Smith, Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman are gearing up to reunite for the sequel to Columbia Pictures' "Hancock," with Peter Berg set to helm the action-comedy. Berg disclosed the news at the Toronto Film Festival where he said, "Everybody's going to come back for a sequel."

The upcoming "Forrest Gump: The Chocolate Box Giftset" actually comes in a real box of chocolates.

and finally,

A group of British schoolchildren who reared a lamb from birth and named it Marcus have voted to send the animal to slaughter. The 14-member group of children aged 6 to 11 -- voted 13-1 to have him killed yesterday. The decision has provoked fury among animal-loving celebrities, animal and human rights campaigners and the parents of some of the children, and led to threats against Lydd primary school and its teachers, according to a member of staff.

Have a good day!!

Happy Friday!!

Despite today being "9/11", I hope everyone's on their way to having a great weekend after remembering the tragedy 8 years ago and such. How can anyone forget?

Spent a few hours with my brother this morning/afternoon. Checked out the new Rock Band 'Beatles'. He KILLED the drums for two songs. The background animations were great. It's a good interactive game. Also saw game footage of "Fight Night Round 4" "Champions Online" for the PC. WOW! Games have come a long way from the Playstation 2 years when I played. He bought me and my wife lunch too. WHOO-HOO!!

Dreading going back to work on Monday after a 6 day lay off. C'est la vie!! Didn't really do anything during these past 3 and a half days off. NOthing planned ofr the rest of today, Saturday, or Sunday unfortunately....

Here's what I saw today on the news that I thought was interesting...

From YahoO! Entertainment_ – Avast! Disney says a new "Pirates of the Caribbean" film is on the horizon. Johnny Depp sailed onstage Friday on a pirate ship at the Anaheim Convention Center to help announce the forthcoming installment of Disney's blockbuster film franchise. He was welcomed with a rousing standing ovation. Depp will reprise his role as Capt. Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," slated for summer of 2011. It's the fourth in a series. Dressed as Sparrow, Depp staggered around the stage and embraced Walt Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook, who announced the news to about 5,000 fans on hand for the D23 Expo, Disney's answer to Comic-Con. In his presentation of upcoming Disney films, Cook also announced that Depp would play Tonto in an upcoming big-screen adaptation of "The Lone Ranger." The first all-things-Disney convention runs through Sunday.

Two Austrailian newspapers are reporting that gender tests show the world champion at South African runner Caster Semenya has no ovaries or uterus and internal testes that produce large amounts of testosterone. The international sports federation that ordered the tests wouldn't confirm the reports.

Gertrude Baines , the world's oldest person, has died in Los Angeles at 115 years of age.

Democratic leaders are planning a House vote early next week to admonish Republican Rep. Joe Wilson if he does not apologize on the House floor for yelling "You lie!" during President Barack Obama's health care address to Congress.

Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs returned Wednesday to the showman role that has helped define his company leadership, taking the stage for the first time since his medical leave to announce such new products as an iPod Nano that records video.

The group ACORN has fired two employees who were seen on hidden-camera video giving tax advice to a man posing as a pimp and a woman who pretended to be a prostitute.

La Toya Jackson tells ABC News' '20/20' Friday night that her brother Michael was "special," explaining that "he wasn't God, but he was certainly God-like. He was the closest thing to a god that I knew." She also says her brother Michael looked "absolutely fabulous" when he was laid to rest last week.

Sunday marks the long-awaited season finale of HBO's True Blood. It also marks the series finale of King of the Hill on Fox.


Courtney Love says she will sue Activision for using Kurt Cobain's image in Guitar Hero. Many record companies are suing Ellen DeGeneres and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" for using their music during her "dance' segments without permission or payment.


that's all ffffolks!!
Ciao!
John

Thursday September 10th 2009

This isn't just some right winged FOX News kinda thing. This isn't a Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck thing. This really isn't an anti Barack Obama thing. Remember the ACORN organization from the election last year? Check out THESE videos where ACORN officials out of Baltimore are encouraging and instructing someone (undercover) how to not only cheat on their taxes (which many people do but shouldn't), but how to GET AWAY WITH IMPORTING UNDER AGE CHILDREN FOR PROSTITUTION.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtTnizEnC1U
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNYU9PamIZk

ACORN is a shady organization at best. Much like some of the banking and financial organizations both Republicans and Democrats are in bed with, they were influential in getting Obama elected. Which is normally a good thing in my opinion, I believe not ENOUGH people vote nowadays. Unfortunately some of those who vote are truly clueless (that's another blog.

Take Obama's speech to the kids. I saw nothing wrong with it after reading the text. Look at other speeches to school kids from presidents back from the 40's. Obama was criticised for no reason in my opinion. It's a shame because it detracts from any legitimate concerns and issues about his policies and such.

This is a good example of how things are perceived in today's society. Just because Beck or Limbaugh or Fox News broadcasts the ACORN incident (and the like), it's considered racist hatred and biased right wing nonsense. Either Bush or Obama could come up with a cure for cancer and SOMEONE will always be there to discredit their accomplishments or to report 'ulterior' motives. There is such a distrust nowadays. And rightly so, in my opinion. It healthy to question authority to a point in my opinion, but not to the point of McCarthyism.

What are we gonna do as a nation- just sit by and hope things change on their own?

Unusual Items For Sale

Clearance Items for sale

It began as a slow Sunday morning here at work so I had an opportunity to check my email and surf the internet a little. I came across an ad for HSN (Home Shopping Network), the company I bought my laptop from, and I saw where they were having one of those ‘Labor Day Clearance’ sales. I clicked on a link in the email that took me to the web site where these bargains were to be found. I came across many humorous items; at least to me. One was for the “Limited Edition Esteban Guitar: A Tribute to Paula Abdul”. Remembering all the acoustic guitar hits of Ms. Abdul, I eagerly clicked on the link (and YOU can too here)- Here’s some of the product description.

" Experience the promise of a new day when you play the Esteban Guitar 'A Tribute to Paula Abdul' Limited Edition. In honor of the music industry's top artists, Esteban brings you this timeless collection. Own the first release in this special Tribute Series. Plus, with the stylish snakeskin embossed case you'll not only sound good, but look good as well."

Reading some of the comments from previous buyers of the “Limited edition Esteban tribute to Paula Abdul” guitar was also amusing to me. ‘Linda’ wrote:

“was so looking forward to getting this guitar. It could have been beautiful. But there are paint runs on the guitar, I couldn't believe this. It appears there was no quality check on this guitar. I bought this guitar because I love Paula Abdul, and I wanted to get back into music”

HAHAHAHAHA! Like me, she too remembered ALL of the great acoustic or guitar oriented hits Paula had! Most of the comments railed on the poor quality and workmanship of the guitar and it has an overall rating of 2.5.

In case you don’t know, this Esteban guy looks like a clone of the late Roy Orbison; even down to the sunglasses. He hawks guitars on infomercials and TV programs like HSN and QVC. My thinking is WHO at HSN thought this was a good idea? What’s next – velvet paintings painted by Stevie Wonder?

Another item I found amusing was a video game for the Playstation 2 console based on the TV show American Chopper entitled “American Chopper 2: Full Throttle!” There was an American Chopper 1 video game?!?!?!? Here’s the tease:

It's bigger, badder and better than ever with more of everything you loved about the original game. Play as your favorite characters - Paul Senior, Paulie, Mikey and Vinnie - and experience all the pressure and drama of the hit TV show as you need to build four choppers for a motorcycle competition that is taking place in a couple of weeks. Of course, building your own custom creations never comes easy at the Teutuls's shop. Deal with the conflict and problems that arise when you compete in family battles, races and other biker challenges in order to earn your parts and respect from Paul Senio r. Everything culminates to a final showdown where you'll find out if your custom creations are up to the challenge!

I’m probably too old to appreciate the intricacies and challenges of being a crotchety old man and two cool, hip off springs and their comedic sidekick sweating in motor grease. Maybe it’s not really that funny to anyone else but me.

What are some weird or funny things YOU have seen for sale?

FOOTBALL EDITION!! Saturday, September 5th, 2009

Happy Saturday

Though summer and it's oppressive 80+ degree heat won't relent, there's relief in the air- today marks the FIRST weekend of College football- YAY!! Which means that NEXT week is the first official week of the NFL!



I know, I know, big whoop to some and a HUGE groan from others. The mighty, mighty Greer (SC) High School Yellow Jackets won big last night over the Berea Idiot-Dogs or whatever their mascot is.


My College Football Predictions

College Football- I guarantee that either Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, USC (Southern Cal), Alabama, or Ohio State will win the National Championship. Maybe LSU has an outside chance to be in contention. Realistically, the college football gods (and most importantly sponsor $$$) have spoken. Mark my words, regardless of the records, ONE of these teams will "win it all". Everyone else is playing for pride and giggles.

My Prediction for National Champion? Florida Mastergators

For giggles, this is how I see the ACC shaping up:

Atlantic .....................Coastal
1. Florida State .............Virginia Tech
2. Georgia Tech ............North Carolina
3. Clemson ....................Wake Forest
4. Duke ..........................NC State
5. Boston College ..........Virginia
6. Maryland ..................Miami

Va Tech again, ACC Champs

and the SEC- which I know little about, but LOVE the VOLS

EAST ...................... WEST
1. Florida ...................... 1. LSU

2. Georgia .....................2. Mississippi

3. South Carolina .........3. Alabama

4. Tennessee ................4. Auburn

5. Kentucky ..................5. Arkansas

6. Vanderbilt ................6. Mississippi State

Florida winning the SEC...

tomorrow....

My NFL thoughts-

Wednesday September 2, 2009

Happy Wednesday from the back deck of the Thomas compound.

It's a gorgeous sunny afternoon. Around 2pm ET as I type this. The trees and the roof of the upper deck in the backyard is providing shade from the bright sunshine. The wind is blowing a little. My wife is here folding clothes, enjoying day 2 of her forced two week sabbatical from her job. My dogs are here either lying in the sun on the lower deck or up here with us in the shade. We're unfortunately listening to my wife's "Lite Rock" station, but it's the only negative aspect of the occasion. One more day off after today and it's the 3 day weekend o' work I do every other week.

Had a great lunch a couple of hours ago with my brother Jim, his mom and nephew at the "Hibatchi Grill" asian restaurant. Came hoem, did some minor household chores and realized how great things were outside.

RIght now, I'm checking out email and facebook while typing this. It's becoming less and less important to visit facebook each day, but it's still great. I've gotten in touch with people I've lost touch with over the years. My cousin Tim Suttles sent me a message this morning via facebook talking about possibly getting together in a couple or three months; possibly during Thanksgiving. I haven't seen him in about 30 years or so. He's just came back from his umpteenth tour in Afghanistan and that area. He's in the Air Force and has been all over the globe. He's got a wife and kids of his own. There's too much to catch up on between us. Makes me very thankful for my extended family and the few biological ones I am in touch with.

Missing my buddy Brian who's now down in Florida protecting and serving the citizens in the West Palm Beach area. I HOPE that's the right area anyway. I would pack things up and be down there if I could, but that would be unfair to my wife who's going through a lot since the death of her mother and all the things that come along with that. Besides, she's already told me 'no' twice, LOL!!

It's been 3 years, to the DAY to be exact, since the death of Lydia Mae Ducker. She's the closest person to me I've ever had to die. The passing of my mother-in-law was nearly as tough though but for other reasons. Lydia, like my brother Jim's mom and my other brother Terry's mom was like a mom to me too. She had brain cancer and died in her bedroom. I was working in Charlotte the day she passed. It's been real tough on my dad. I plan on leaving soon to be with him this afternoon.

My nephew Cody, a senior at Wade Hampton High Shcool this year, is coming over to spend the day with us. Wish I could make mroe time with him today. He loves his Auntie Jaye Deane!! I suppose my other neices and nephews are doing well.

Well, I'm gonna close and get going with the rest of my day.

Ciao!

Tuesday September 1, 2009

Happy Tuesday!!

It’s been a steady day here at work all day. As my buddy Andrew would say, It’s been 1’0-busy’ this afternoon. Outside the temperature is about 15 to 20 degrees cooler than it has been- YIPPEE!! My wife continues her forced temporary sabbatical from work. Hopefully for only a couple or three weeks. Money’s gonna be tight, but when in the last 2 years has it NOT been so? My Pomeranian Nikki is SO pregnant. Her due date is around the last week of September. I got a new job prospect to supplement my full time job here at the county- WHOO-HOO!! My car remains a jalopy with no air conditioning, but God provides me with transportation, so I’m very thankful. I have the best family and friends in the world. I’ve very grateful to them. Don’t know what I’m gonna do the next two days (Wednesday & Thursday). Hopefully something good.

Below is some stuff I noticed online this afternoon….

The Farmers' Almanac is predicting a cold winter for most of the US. Here in the Southeast, it should be mild and dry. The venerable almanac's 2010 edition, which goes on sale Tuesday, says numbing cold will predominate in the country's midsection, from the Rocky Mountains in the West to the Appalachians in the East. The almanac, which has been published since 1818.

The top-selling Bible in North America will undergo its first revision in 25 years, modernizing the language in some sections and promising to reopen a contentious debate about changing gender terms in the sacred text. The New International Version, the Bible of choice for conservative evangelicals, will be revised to reflect changes in English usage and advances in Biblical scholarship, it was announced Tuesday. The revision is scheduled to be completed late next year and published in 2011.

Police in Michigan say a first date went from bad to worse when a Detroit man skipped out on the restaurant bill, then stole his date's car. The woman told police that the man said he left his wallet in her car and asked for keys. He then sped away in the 2000 Chevrolet Impala. He was arrested a short time later.

President Barack Obama stuck with the picks of former President George W. Bush in reappointing Fed chief Ben Bernanke and Defense Secretary Robert Gates yesterday. He still does not have his own people in a majority of the government's top policymaking positions requiring Senate confirmation. But those he has put in top positions include a number of Republicans or nontraditional Democrats.

This year The Wizard of Oz plans to celebrate its 70th anniversary in a big way: A special edition of the movie will be released Sept. 29 on DVD and Blu-ray. One of the most fun Oz-related events happens Sept. 23, when the movie returns to theaters for a screening in high definition. More than 440 locations are participating in the one-night event, which will include the documentary To Oz! The Making of a Classic

20th Century Fox is the latest studio to start the process of overhauling one of its big Marvel Entertainment franchises, “Fantastic Four,” which has already hatched two films. The studio has hired Akiva Goldsman to oversee the re-boot as producer.

Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar of Tontitown, Ark., featured on TLC's "18 Kids and Counting." Are expecting their 19th child.

A wire-haired dachshund that held the record as the world's oldest dog and celebrated its last birthday with a party at a dog hotel and spa has died at age 21 — or 147 in dog years. The dog, named Chanel, died Friday of natural causes at her owners' home in suburban Port Jefferson Station, on Long Island

Two new Rand Corp. studies suggest that retail health clinics ( like the ones in CVS drugstores, WalMart, Target, etc) can offer cheaper, better-quality care for common medical complaints than doctors, urgent-care providers and ERs . Click on THIS link to read the entire story- http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090901/hl_time/08599191975400

An animal rights group publicized a video today showing unwanted chicks being tossed alive into a grinder at an Iowa plant and accused egg hatcheries of being "perhaps the cruelest industry" in the world. The undercover video was shot by Chicago-based Mercy for Animals at a hatchery in Spencer, Iowa, over a two-week period in May and June. The video shows someone tossing male chicks, which have little value because they can't lay eggs or be raised quickly enough to be raised profitably for meat, into grinders. According to United Egg Producers, a trade group for U.S. egg farmers, this is common industry practice.

Gasoline in North Carolina recently became a penny a gallon higher because of a new fuel tax.

And finally…..

A Connecticut man put his parents up for sale on Craigslist as a joke to pass the time on a rainy weekend. Michael Amatrudo, a 51-year-old Madison resident and insurance executive, says in the ad that he's gotten "lots of use out of these guys over the past 50 years, but it's time to move on." He says he'll take $155 or a trade for a younger set of parents, an Erector set or a "hot blonde." Amatrudo says he's gotten dozens of responses from around the country, including inquiries about who would pay the shipping cost and how many days it would take to receive them. He says his parents, Ed and Arlene Amatrudo of Noank, have a good sense of humor and took the ad in stride.

Take care- see ya!!