Dec. 31, 2013 - Roberto Clemente

Every December 31, I am reminded of a tragedy that occurred on December 31, 1972 to a true INTERNATIONAL Hero.

We too seldom overuse the terms, "Tragedy" and "Hero" in today's world.  But in the case of Roberto Clemente, it is very accurate and appropriate.

Roberto Clemente, was all All-Star outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had obtained his 3000th career hit on his last at bat of the 1972 season, a milestone that would guarantee his enshrinement into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Clement died on New Year's Eve, 1972 in a plane crash while delivering food and first aid supplies to an earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua.

Known as a feisty competitor and a bit of a clubhouse prankster, I'm sure he would enjoy my bobble head tribute.

Attending the Roberto Clemente wake are (L-R) Vin Scully, Harry Carey, Rev. JJ Lewis, Johnny Bench, George W. Bush, Pirate Mascot, Indian Mascot.

It's hard to believe it's been 41 years since, Clemente left us.  RIP Roberto. 

2013 Pet Peeve Summary

Here is the JAY’S JABBERWOCKY PET PEEVE SUMMARY.

These are my 2013 PET PEEVES:

Dec. 25, 2013 – All I Want for Christmas is EVERYTHING

Dec. 23, 2013 – Duck, Duck, …Lose

Dec. 16, 2013 – The Elf Should Be Shelved

Dec. 9, 2013 – McPeeve (Minimum Wage)

Dec. 2, 2013 – Ready for Re-Launch (Obamacare)

Nov. 25, 2013 – 86 or (95) – Quality of Life

Nov. 11, 2013 – Non-Apologies

Oct. 30, 2013 – Halloween is TOO Scary

Oct. 28, 2013 – Spy Notice (NSA)

Oct. 21, 2013 – Obama-Scare

Oct. 16, 2013 – Kicking The Can (Debt Ceiling)

Sept. 30, 2013 – Government Shutdown (Manufactured Crisis)

Sept. 11, 2013 – 9/11 Discounts

Sept. 2, 2013 – Syrian Civil War

Aug. 26, 2013 – MLK Nightmare

Aug.19, 2013 – War on Women (Not)

Aug.12, 2019 – Send in the Clowns

July 8, 2013 – ObamaCare Doesn’t Work?

July 1, 2013 – TV Trials Don’t Work

June 14, 2013 – High School Graduations

May 27, 2013 – “Happy” Memorial Day

May 20, 2013 – Profile Discouraged (TSA overreaction)

May 13, 2013 – Taxing Our Intelligence (Benghazi)

May 6, 2013 – Train of Thought (lessness) - BART

Apr. 29, 2013 – Credit Worthy?

Mar.18, 2013 – Spring Draining

Mar. 11, 2013 – TSA IQ, MIA

Mar. 4, 2013 – High Valued Recruits

Feb. 25, 2013 – Se-Question

Feb. 18, 2013 – Drinking Water, not Kool-Aid (Rubio)

Feb. 11, 2013 – Lincoln b(logs)

Feb. 4, 2013 – Going non-Postal

Jan. 28, 2013 – Levy Me Alone

Jan. 21, 2013 – 2^nd Inauguration Oaf

Jan. 14, 2013 – Sagging Pants

Dec. 31, 2013 - Last Call?

It’s the last day of the 2013 Derby Dead Pool where you predict which famous people die each year.  My team scored with Hugo Chavez, Slim Whitman, Jiroemon Kimura, Roger Ebert, and a few others in 2013. 

I just need Lindsey Lohan to run over Wilford Brimley before driving off a cliff on her way TO a New Year’s Eve party.  I also need Zsa Zsa Gabor, Kayne West, and Kim Jong-un to be in Lyndsey’s car.  If it happens on the way home FROM the party, it will be 2014 and we will receive no credit.

Dec. 27, 2013 - Friday Funny - Selfie, Old School

This week's FRIDAY FUNNY is a take on the hip word of 2013, The Selfie.

This is how we would have done it, back in the day.

Dec. 26, 2013 - Motivation is the Key

I found a NEW way to get the children to complete their chores EVERY day.

Dec. 25, 2013 - Picture Perfect

As a child, one of the iconic pictures at my Grandfather's house was of "Dogs Playing Cards."

Well, it just got BETTER.

Santa brought me an oil painting of the Great Republican Presidents playing pool. 

Apparently, the artist was going to do a Democrat version, but he had to cancel the project for lack of adequate materials. 

Merry Christmas to EVERYONE, including ME!!!

Dec. 25, 2013 - PPM - Ho, Ho, No?

Because of Christmas, this week will have a BONUS PET PEEVE MONDAY (PPM).

Today's children have taken the "Letter to Santa" to an all-time low or efficiency, depending on your perspective.

I have several children, each with “Christmas Wishes.”

One child sent me an email along with internet links to the pages of the items she wanted.  She did everything but to put the items in my Amazon Shopping Cart and check-out.  I only hope she never learns my credit card passwords.

Another child ranked her items akin to the New York Times Best Seller list.  She updated the list every week leading up to Christmas based upon conversations with her friends about what they were getting.  This doesn’t work when you buy things in advance to avoid possible shipping delays.

Another child did have some ingenuity.  He provided a "Naughty and Nice" list along with pictures and graphics in a well-planned Powerpoint Presentation.  He also went for the "hard close" when he talked about how we need to support the Chinese Child Labor Market and the global economy with the purchase of the latest Apple iPhone 5.

Then there was the child that cried, “Wii, Wii, Wii, all the way home.”

What ever happened to the wholesome message of the Walton’s Homecoming Christmas movie, where they were all happy to receive ONE present?

What ever happened to sitting on Santa’s lap and lying about how you had been good “most” of the year?

What ever happened to responsible parents, just saying “NO” to these absurd requests?

Unfortunately, I’m guilty in the first degree.  I was like Oprah after a buffet on chicken wings washed down by Red Bull.

“You get an iPhone. You get an iPhone. You get an XBOX ONE….”

I should have taken the opportunity to teach them a lesson about wanton materialism.  Maybe next year…… after the newness of my new PC and printer wear off.

Dec. 23, 2013 - PPM - Duck, Duck, (A&E) Lose

This week’s PET PEEVE MONDAY (PPM) is the “Media Blow-up” over Duck Dynasty.  Let me start with a disclaimer, I have NEVER seen a TV reality show, including “Duck Dynasty.”

That said, the latest media blow-up was about how someone from Duck Dynasty said something “offensive” to someone.  Keep in mind, that there were no nanny murders or blonde co-ed disappearances this week. (i.e. SSLLOOOWWW news week.)  The actual “offensive” comments are 3 months old.

The comments were taken from a GQ interview.  Granted, based upon the interview candidate and target audience, the “interview” would have should have been performed by “Field and Stream.”

The headline that is buried is that:  a straight man finds women more attractive and quotes Biblical scripture as his reason.

Phil Robertson, the Duck Dynasty patriarch, directly quoted Corinthians 6:9-20.  Many say, if you have a problem with this, you should take it up with God.  Sure, Phil elaborated on the scripture, but he was sincere, not racist or homophobic.

Duck Dynasty is produced and shown on the A&E network.  The A&E network has suspended Phil indefinitely for his comments.  Maybe A&E shouldn't do reality shows if they don’t want REALITY.

The Robertson family has united their opposition to the A&E suspension and decided to all go on “strike” until Phil is exonerated.

The latest development is that the Reverend Jessie Jackson has demanded to speak with A&E executives.

I wonder if the reality trailblazers, the Kardashians would stand behind Kim?  Then again, MANY others have been behind Kim.  (That was a joke – but I don’t dare ask for a rim shot.)

In the end (pun again), A&E is the big loser.  They have painted themselves into a corner.  Walmart has sold out of all Duck Dynasty merchandize.  There is a large social Media backing for Duck Dynasty.

The “Duck” family are now free agents and can write their own TV contracts, endorsement deals, and merchandising contracts.

Well done Liberal media.  Capitalism WINS again.

I would guess the end game will be A&E backing down as they fall off of their moral high horse when it trips over the lost profits.

Dec. 20, 2013 - FF - True Love

This week's FRIDAY FUNNY is SO true.  I only wish I would have thought of it.

Dec. 16, 2013 - PPM - The ELF Should Be Shelved

This week's PET PEEVE MONDAY (PPM) is this holiday season's new rage, "The Elf On The Shelf."

The "ELF" is this year's Pet Rock, Mood Ring, or Cabbage Patch Doll.

The ruse is that you buy a stuffed miniature "copyrighted, trademarked, and official" Elf and place him throughout your house each night so that your children may find him. The Elf and it's accessories "magically" adds profits to it's producer and obvious descendent of P.T. Barnum. They are hoping to make this Elf, a Family Tradition.

In order to discourage and stop this tradition, at least in my "descendants", I have come up with some cool Elf placements.

Here is the ELF after a night out celebrating an Ohio State victory. OSU Coach Woody Hayes is there to remind ELF that "Nothing good happens after 10 p.m."

The next night, the ELF went on a late-night Chocolate Binge. Again, poor decision on the chocolate and with hanging with his new friend.

Speaking of hanging, finally, ELF was visually upset about the Ohio State loss in the Big Ten football championship game the next week.

I know this Elf sighting put a quick and correct end to the "Elf on a Shelf" in my house.

I know others have resorted to garbage disposals and fireworks to "reposition" their Elfs.

My only advice would be, is to leave no options, ON THE SHELF.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Dec. 13, 2013 - Friday Funny - Spock is Logical

This week's FRIDAY FUNNY "cracks" me up because I love Star Trek and have an affinity for Sir Mix-a-Lot.


I had a chance to be 1 of about 200 white people in Salt Lake City to see Sir Mix A-Lot sing, "Baby's Got Back" at a club concert in 1991. Back in the day... in SLC, you had to had to be sponsored to enter a club, and you had to buy a "membership" in order to have an adult beverage.

I did both on a whim, because I was in Salt Lake City and what could go wrong....or right?

I CANNOT LIE.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Dec. 9, 2013 - PPM Mc-Peeve

This week’s PET PEEVE MONDAY (PPM) is the recent protest about the current federal $7.25 per hour minimum wage by Fast Food workers.

Organizers of a movement demanding a $15-an-hour wage for fast-food workers attempted to sponsor a one-day strike in 100 cities last week. The news agencies tried to report on the protest, but there were met by silence and apathy. No real protests were found.

The wildcat strike effort was initiated by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). They are also demanding that restaurants allow workers to unionize without the threat of retaliation.

So if you follow the money, the “UNION DUES” money, now we know why there was a proposed strike. The SEIU actually paid people to pretend to be fast food workers and to picket the restaurants. The irony is that the SEIU paid the protesters LESS THAN the $7.25 minimum wage.

Fast Food Industry officials say that only a small percentage of fast-food jobs pay the minimum wage and that those are largely entry-level jobs for workers under 25.

Personally, I worked for McDonald’s for three years while I was in High School. That was over 30 years ago, when minimum wage was $2.15 an hour. It was a means to save money for college and to motivate me to seek an education and a better job. Most of my co-workers had the same plan. It was never meant to be life style or career. This picture is from 1979.

When I graduated to the college life, they ceremoniously gave me a McDonald’s flag so that would remember my roots and strive to never return. I still have that flag and only return to McDonalds for a “happy meal.”

My PEEVE is these SEIU gangsters are the lowest life form to prey on fast food workers’ emotions and try to manipulate them, all for their own gain: membership, money, and control.

Posted with Blogsy

Dec. 7, 2013 - Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela died this week.

I had blogged only last week about Nelson Mandela's poor health and that extraordinary means to extend his life were unnecessary. Very Timely.

What is ironic, is that as all of the political pundits race toward the camera to honor this legacy, that they never mention the below picture that was taken of Nelson Mandela as he tried to be a "Community Organizer" and to rally support:

I guess Nelson Mandela is just another RACIST according to the standards set by Sharpton, Jackson, and Obama. 

Why should anyone have to show an ID in order to vote?

Dec. 6, 2013 - Friday Funny - Beep Beep

This week's FRIDAY FUNNY takes me back to my childhood.

This concerns me deeply. Next you will be telling me that Popeye didn't like spinach.

Posted with Bl
ogsy

Dec. 2, 2013 - PPM - Ready for (Re) Launch?

This week's PET PEEVE MONDAY (PPM) is the "relaunch" of the Obamacare website, www.heathcare.gov.

It has been well documented the mess of the original launch of the site on October 1, 2013.  The White House says it has achieved their goal of making ACA site work for "vast majority" of users, two months after disastrous rollout.  The latest is that the Obamacare website “works 80% of the time” — but only when it isn’t down for maintenance. (1 a.m. - 5 a.m. on most days)

During my 20+ years in the IT field, I dealt with major networks and software roll-outs.  I worked with the FAA, NASDAQ, and the ATM networks of the 2 largest US banks.  The MINIMUM up-time agreement was for 99.999% up-time.

Using my "Rent" math there are 525,600 minutes in a year.  To achieve the "5 9's" (99.999%) up-time that is an industry standard, you can only be down 6 MINUTES A YEAR.

Obama claims success if the website is up 80% of the 20 hours it is operational a day.  In truth, this is actually 66.7% uptime PER DAY.  But I will use the “targeted 80%” for comparisons

So if success is 80%, that equals 4 out of 5. 

WHAT IF?

- Only 4 out of 5 planes arrived safely.

- Only 4 out of 5 financial transactions were processed

- Only 4 out of 5 phone calls went through (including 911)

- Only 4 out 5 patients made it out of the Operating Room alive

The White House is probably correct in saying the site is dramatically better than when it was launched on Oct. 1. On that day, 6 people signed up.

To add additional embarrassment, The White House cannot, will not tell us how many people have actually paid for the insurance of the ages of the people that have signed up.

Additionally, Obama's team is releasing enrollment numbers based on an "expanded definition" so they are basically worthless.  If you put it in your "shopping cart", they are counting it.  We don’t need shoppers, we need PAYERS.

I won’t share my PEEVE about web site security, program delays, insurer payment modules, or cost of the web site ...yet.

I will share 3 thoughts:

If Obama is willing to lie about Obamacare, he will lie to you about Benghazi, Iran, global warming, immigration, you name it.

Obama had from March 21st 2010 to Oct 1 2013: to create a website: 3 years, 6 months, 10 days.

World War II was from Dec 7, 1941 to May 8, 1945: 3 years, 5 months.

Maybe Obama should STFU about the rest of us signing up for Obamacare until he first signs up himself and his own family.

PEEVE OVER, for now.