Sunday, July 01, 2012

"THIS......IS........JEOPARDY!"

I’m sure most of you are familiar with the game show “Jeopardy” and the show’s host, Alex Trebek.  Alex has been doing the show since 1984 so he is a well known guy to trivia lovers like me.

Twenty-eight years is a long time in the fickle television business but Alex has managed to beat the system by remaining a constant on our screens when we hear that magic theme song telling us “Jeopardy” is on the air.

HAPPY 4TH!.........................

Unfortunately, Alex recently suffered a heart attack.  He insists he will be back for the new season’s tapings this month and I hope he is right.  This recent attack follows one he had in 2007 so I have my fingers crossed that at 71 he has a full recovery.

“Jeopardy” is a special show with a lot of fond memories for my wife Barb and me.  Although it has been broadcast as a syndicated series since 1984, the roots of “Jeopardy” go back much further than that to the day it started as a network daytime show on NBC in March, 1964. 


Merv  Griffin has been given credit for inventing the show although his  wife Julann in 1964 actually thought of the idea while they were on an airplane flight.  Merv had been looking for a show to present to NBC and his wife suggested he try a quiz show covering numerous categories where the answer was given and the contestant had to come up with the question.  As an example, under “movie roles” the answer could be “He played gangster Roy Earle in ‘High Sierra’ hence, the question would be “Who is Humphrey Bogart?”





Sarah Whitcomb and  me  at Jeopardy
tryouts in April, 2005
After we got married, my teacher wife Barb would watch the show in the summers at 11:00 a.m. and write down the final “Jeopardy” answer for me.  

While I was in between selling calls, I would call her on a pay phone and try to answer the question.  Those were the days in the late 60s and early 70s before VCRs so that is all the technology we had.   Needless to say, when VCRs came along, we had the luxury of taping the whole show.  Those are fun days to remember and when “Jeopardy” was revived in 1984, it was heaven for us.

In 2005, I was writing a weekly column for the North Scottsdale Independent and had the privilege of covering the “Jeopardy” tryouts at the Phoenician Hotel in Phoenix.   After all the years of being a watcher of the show, I got to meet some of the staff including a member of the “clue crew”, the gorgeous Sarah Whitcomb.

The new season of “Jeopardy” will begin in September.  It will be the start of season 29 for Alex Trebek.  I wish him well and I will be watching.

152 comments:

PfD (that's Phineas in Price-Pfister-speak said...

As much as I love "Jeopardy," you far surpass the fanaticism of most of us fanatics!

Can't wait to hear what you think of Wheel Of Fortune!

PfD again said...

And re your blog comment re "politics," if'n y'all think I cannot turn any topic you may choose to blog on into a Midnight Madness Pfisaco, think again, ol' buddy!

AHiredGun said...

Jim, you devil you. I had no idea you were such a celebrity. Can I have your autograph? On another note, is there some hidden meaning in the word "gotgeous", especially when used in referring to a babe? I may have to tell Barb to keep an eye on you - lol.

Mike slater said...

I've been watching Jeopardy for many years in fact it's the only game show I watch because the people on it are very smart unlike the other game shows.

Celebrity Jeopardy is another story. When they have news people or politicians on we can see how really dumb they are.

Anonymous said...

@AHiredGun......It is obvious that Jim can spot beauty when he sees it.....after all, he is married to Barb...isn't he?....lol...

PS....hope to see you and Barb on the 4th Jim!

midnightsstaff said...

I have never once watched Jeopardy.. and I probably will never watch Jeopardy in the future... I thought Alex died...
yep... maybe have to take a few days off.

got anything to add to the conversation Phineaus?- or was that just another drive by midnightsstaff envy posting?

You wish you had it but you don't and you can't get it- must be tough..

Well Joe finally showed up, I guess it's not true that they can hold you forever on a no bond charge eh?
...well have no fear, now they can tax you for anything and simultaneously for not doing anything.. what a deal!

Jim McAllister said...

PfD,

If I only had a photo of myself with my arm around Vanna White, I would do something on Wheel of Fortune.

I've been watching Jeopardy a long time as I'm sure you have so I'm sure you remember the old B&W Art Fleming versions where the money value went fro $5 to $50. It's now $200 to $1,000. Inflation!

Last week was definitely enough politics for a while. In four months we have it all over again.

Jim McAllister said...

AHG,

You have a sharp eye. I always re-read these things a couple times until I think I have all my t's crossed and i's dotted but I still missed "gotgeous".

Thanks for the correction, I fixed it. Sarah is quite a babe and very nice. That was a fun experience interviewing all those people.

Barb always has that Alfred E. Neuman "What, me worry?" look on her face when it comes to me. I'm not exactly a hot item with the ladies at my advanced age. LOL

Jim McAllister said...

Mike,

You're sure right about celebrity Jeopardy. I quit watching that a long time ago. Half those people I wouldn't even consider as celebrities and they are an embarrassment.

I'll never forget that Ken guy who won 74 shows. That was incredible. Turned out he was a damn liberal though!

Probably the dumbest contestants are on Wheel of Fortune but, what the hell, we get to still see Vanna walk around as worthless as she is since they went to an electronic board. lol

Jim McAllister said...

Sonny,

Barb says "Thanks" for the compliment. I agree, she is still a beauty.

Unfortunately, we can't make the 4th party after all but keep me in touch on your gigs. Barb and I enjoy you guys and we'll get a group of bloggers to come down there.

Jim McAllister said...

Middy,

You've never watched Jeopardy? Not even once? I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you!

Alex will be OK. If not they have my phone number and I can be in Hollywood in a couple hours to be host.

Jim McAllister said...

Ah, Middy and Phineaus....just like the good old days on Plugged-in!

Who is ... Glo? said...

Love Jeopardy! and watch it every day EXCEPT when Celebrity Jeopardy is going on! OH. DEAR. GOD. If there are 18 active brain cells among any of the three 'celebrity' contestants, I'll eat my dog. The only two celebs that I've seen with any real brains or actual desire to make it a competition are Michael Mckean (L&S's Lenny) and Greg Germann (Ally McBeal).

I'm pretty good at getting the film, TV and oldie music questions, but forget science or politics. So-so on geography.

Rick Kepple said...

I like Jeopardy. I used to answer most of the questions before everyone else in the room. That does not make one popular on my side of the tracks, but I couldn't do it these days. I'm out of touch with much of what is going on, but I still understand politics and human nature.

I'll take Martial Law in America for one hundred Alex.

"In what city did the U.S. Army conduct martial law training exercises from June 22 to June 29, 2012?"

"What is St. Louis?"

"You're right!"

Rick Kepple said...

http://youtu.be/h6gP7axTVgs

Just in case you don't believe me. They're teaching MP's how to drive on American city streets. I live minutes from Fort Wood and I never heard of it.

"I'm sorry Rick, but that is not the format of Jeopardy. Your answer is good, but does not count."

"Awww dammit Alex, give a guy a break man!"

midnightsstaff said...

he started it - haha..

been asleep all day... must be the antibiotics or something... just woke up,
on the other hand seeing how I am disoriented and confused I must be getting better.

Na... I just can't watch made for tv games for some reason, I always feel like I am being played as a viewer for the shill in the game, I never could believe that the answers were not prearranged and the phony champions were not pre selected..

maybe I am wrong, maybe I am cynical but I haven't sent money to that guy in Nairobi yet.. and no Rick, before it comes up in the conversation Vanna White will not respond to my letters either.

"Barb always has that Alfred E. Neuman "What, me worry?" look on her face when it comes to me. I'm not exactly a hot item with the ladies at my advanced age"

funny observation there Jim, women start looking at guys like they are potted plants sometime in your fifties and never see you for a guy again- same trick we pull on them when they turn thirty.
yeah.. I also remember being carded for a beer... now I'm lucky she doesn't ask where is my name tag they make me wear when I go to the store by myself.

I can vaguely remember my SO getting jealous because a babe at the beach said "hello" to me and Liz took offense.. we drove all the way from San Diego with not a word spoken that day.."did you think she was pretty?"

yeah, no good answer for that question...

I guess seeing how we guys do get a free ride usually until the fifties it could be worse- unless you are don...
live with it.

I might be ready for one of these shows now tho, I just fell asleep watching some guy catching alligators in Florida...
that sounds like a full time job.

Rick Kepple said...

Don't worry Jimmy. When Obama declares martial law, they'll have "I Love Lucy" and Jeopardy on 24/7. Happy shows. You can watch that stuff from your luxury bunker ... if the Army lets you get to it, otherwise looters are gonna kill every one of you and take everything you have.

I hope martial law doesn't happen. That would be a drag.

"Alex, I'll choose 'Rock stars with secret doomsday bunkers for a thousand.'"

"This rock star allegedly had a luxury bunker built under his mansion."

"Who was Michael Jackson?"

"That's correct, Rick!"

"I'll choose, Dead men can't hide for five hundred, Alex."

midnightsstaff said...

well that's my cue to let Rick talk to himself...

some more- have fun guys...

Rick Kepple said...

Poor Middy. Don't worry, Obama make you feel all better and kiss your boo boo.

PfD said...

Final Jeopardy

"Folk hero's - (bet it all)

No Googlin', no peekee at other search engines ..............

30 seconds on the clock ..........

Who was Billy Batson?

PfD said...

BTW (y'all probably won't understand this), but should Alex Trebek not make it, I sincerely hope the program is history.

CJ Phoenix said...

I used to watch Jeopardy back in the days of 5 free TV channels but that is only because it was the most interesting thing on at the moment & more than half the time it was just providing background noise while I was making dinner or something like that & I could never get into it obsessively. But then I was never much of a trivia buff. I am much better at doing things & figuring out how things work while the trivial details often escape me: I could always write pretty well but I wasn't so hot on spelling. I know what words mean seemingly intuitively but, if pressed for a definition, I often have to look it up. And I can often do the math in my head but I do not remember my times tables.

Have you watched Cash Cab, Jim?

Isn't it funny how quickly some of these blogs devolve into bitch and pick fests?

Rick Kepple said...

Jim even looks like a replacement for Alex Trebec. I could see that.

"Middy, no the correct answer is, 'What are nipple clamps. What are nipple clamps," in "Things used in the porn industry."

CJ, what category?

"Cows for a hundred please," ...

Jim McAllister said...

Glo,

Yeah, I never watched the celebrity junk. Most of those guests are two interested in trying to be cute or funny and fail at both.

Jeopardy is serious stuff; no screwing around!

That was an interesting duo of Greg Germann and McKean. I usually liked both of those guys acting ability.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

No kidding on the martial law practice in St. Louis? Get ready everyone; it's coming.

When JEopaRDY FIRST CAME ON THE AIR IN THE 60S, NO ONE COULD BUZZ IN UNTIL THE WHOLE ANSWER WAS GIVEN. tHEY CHANGED THAT LATER TO LETTING THEM BUZZ RIGHT IN WHEN THE ANSWER WAS EXPOSED IF THEY WANTED TO. It really sped up the game.

Jim McAllister said...

Middy,

Na... I just can't watch made for tv games for some reason, I always feel like I am being played as a viewer for the shill in the game, I never could believe that the answers were not prearranged and the phony champions were not pre selected..

They were pre-arranged in the late 50s with a show called "21" starring the late Jack Barry.

"21" was huge, especially when a handsome college professor named Charles Van Doran was a contestant for several weeks. He put on quite a show with his sweating, mind bending, etc.

He won a lot of dough but upon investigation, it was found that he had been supplied answers to the questions.

It was quite a scandal and he became persona non grata everywhere.

I'm not sure without checking but I think either the $64,000 Question or the $64,000 Challenge also had some similar problems.

I've never heard of any Jeopardy scandals and as long as its been on, I'm sure it is legit.

Jim McAllister said...

I'm not worried about martial law. We have enough hillbillies with guns across rhe country that they could haNDLE IT. wHAT THEY LACK IN SKILLS THEY COULD MAKE UP IN NUMBERS.

Two words: Alvin York!

Jim McAllister said...

FD,

That's an easy one. Billy Batson was the kid who would become Captain marvel when he shouted "Shazam!"

I can hear some people now saying, "No, it was Gomer Pyle!" yes it was but long after Billy Batson.

Jim McAllister said...

FD,

If Alex did die I'm sure the show would continue but it would certainly miss Alex. He has become quite a tradition.

Do you remember Art Fleming? He was excellent and I loved those cheesy sets they had with the hand operated board.

Jim McAllister said...

CJ,

I've always loved trivia. A lot of it is very fascinating. It also depends on the category too. Some stuff just doesn't interest me but get into movies, TV, books, American History, presidents, states, authors, geography, etc. and I'm ready.

I've seen Cash Cab and thought the questions were a little too easy. It's an interesting show though.

PfD said...

During the time that Fleming was the host of Jeopardy, Jim, I lived in an area where network TV was still a scarce commodity, so I have to confess that it was not until later that I became a fan - but once I did my clock was set to get me in front of the boob tube every day in time for the show.

Getting away from your topic here, but speaking of cheesy sets, for some reason, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune were always shown back to back where I lived and I have vivid memories of Vanna White turning the letters by hand on Wheel during the early days. The interesting part about that is when Merv Griffin lost control to Sony, they tried replacing Vanna with Sony's version of what a 'letter turner' should look like and found that 99% of American beauties couldn't spell. The replacement effort lasted about two weeks with Pat Sajak making sarcastic remarks every time a spelling error occurred and finally Vanna had a lifetime position. BTW, she's had more problems finding the letters on the electronic version than she ever did turning the letters by hand.

Shazam!

Rick Kepple said...

Jim, no kidding on the martial law training in St. Louis.

According to the news reports they drove those wheeled armored MP vehicles around St. Louis city streets from June 23 to June 29, 2012 and didn't advertise it.

Isn't it odd how I felt compelled to buy an AR-15 and din't know about the martial law training until afterwards?

Alex, I'll take weird coincidences for a thousand.

Jim McAllister said...

From: Joe Finnerty

I loved the picture. The arm wrap suggest you may have wanted to be in jeopardy.

The show’s longevity is a tribute to many factors, including the decorum of the host, the wide range of topic knowledge displayed by contestants, and the fact that the audience knows the question to many, but not all, of the answers. It makes those of us who get the final one right feel smart for the rest of the night.

I limit my viewing to the final answer/question segment of the show these days. Similarly, I try only to watch the last inning of a baseball game, thirty seconds of a football rumble, and five seconds of a basketball contest. I’m all about finality, zilch about prelude. Call to ask me who I’ll vote for the day before the election. I’m leaning toward Trebek.

Jim McAllister said...

I don't know how many of you remember this great parody of Jeopardy from 1984 by Weird Al Yankovic.

He was actually parodying Greg Kihn's hit from that year by using the TV show Jeopardy as a backdrop.

The announcer is Don Pardo who was the actual announcer of Jeopardy for many years.

It runs 3:45, very funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvUZijEuNDQ

Jim McAllister said...

Here is a quick 5 question version of Jeopardy.

I made these up myself, answers a little later today. Be sure your answer is in the form of a question.

Category: Movies: The answer is: He died in a car crash on Sept. 30, 1955 after making only 3 films.

Presidents: He died in office one month after his inauguration.

College sports Ivy League team known as the "Eli's".

Entertainment history This future president of NBC radio and TV was involved in tracking the Titanic on its last night?

Science This disease was basically eradicated by the Salk and Sabin vaccines.

PfD said...

I know, I know, I know!!!!

Every damned one of 'em (which is strange).

Save it for later for Final Jeopardy!

Jim McAllister said...

PfD,

Very good. Pretty simple, huh? Go tell Billy Batson that, right? LOL

I'll post answers later and a Final Jeopardy. I promise it will be a bit harder.

Rick Kepple said...

Jim, "Who is James Dean?"

"Who is President Taft?"

Bzzzzzz!

Bzzzzzz!

"What is the Polio Virus?"

Jim McAllister said...

PfD,

We both remember Vanna as a gorgeous young chick. Now she is a gorgeous woman who will be 56 next February (or at least that is what her bio says!).

She has been on Wheel since 1982 which is 30 years ago so her age could be legit I guess.

She is a lucky gal. Not exactly a Mensa candidate but an appealing nice person who has managed to fight the ravages of time and make a hell of a lot of money doing it.

I had concerns when they went to the electronic board but she has hung in and is a good gal for Sajak to play off.

Sajak is also fortunate in getting that lifetime job.

Quite a difference between the contestants on Jeopardy and Wheel.

Those Jeopardy sets on NBC daytime with Art Fleming were funny. Sometimes a contestant would call for an answer and they couldn't get the the door to open. Old time technology.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

I guess I better buy another box of shells!

Martial law would be something in this country. With this President, nothing that is negative surprises.

Now he is whining that he can't get any contributions and is trying to peddle tank tops for money.

Jim McAllister said...

Thanks Joe,

Sarah was a nice gal and I think she is still on the show.

I don't usually smile that much for photos but since she let me touch her it was an easy task.

Yes, Jeopardy has always been a classy show and usually had intelligent well mannered contestants. My wife and I would always bet on the Final Jeopardy answer. Like most people we had our favorite categories. When it was "Science" she would smile and I would cringe. Just the opposite if it was sports or movies.

I'm like you on sports these days. I can't sit and watch whole games. The last couple innings or minutes is usually enough.

Rick Kepple said...

I'm not surprised by anything the government does these days.

I actually bought the AR-15 in reaction to the health care decision for a survival rifle. And I couldn't figure out why the guy at the military surplus store said that people need to be getting out of the cities NOW. The Army is somewhat secretly training for martial law in America.

I live out in the rural area, but if something happens in the city, the refugees will be squatting in the country. Looting will commence.

I'm a little concerned, yes.

Rick Kepple said...

You'd make a good Jeopardy host, Jim. You look like you'd smile forever without breaking your own face. Me? I don't have the smiling muscles for that.

Jim McAllister said...

Jeopardy answers:

1.. MOVIES: Who is James Dean?

2.. PRESIDENTS: Who is William Henry Harrison?

3.. COLLEGE SPORTS: Who is Yale?

4.. ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY: Who is Robert Sarnoff?

5.. SCIENCE: What is Polio?

Jim McAllister said...

Thanks, Rick.

There was a time when I would have loved to do it.

Rick Kepple said...

I wouldn't worry about it too much Jim. There is nothing we can do anyway, but just know the authorities will be protecting the high dollar areas and you'll have to fend for yourself if civilization melts down.

You mind your side of the tracks and I'll help mind this side. I ain't no liberal and I don't side with the rich who turn on me.

midnightsstaff said...

Looks like Andy Griffith died..
I did watch the Andy Griffith show when I was young... oddly I don't remember any of the shows dealing with gay rights, him finding Floyd running a meth lab behind the barber shop or breaking up a KKK barbecue Saturday night saving Mayberry's token black family from a good ol 1950's style Alabama kidding session.

Na it was just everyday life that somehow caught the interest of the American viewing public, I can guarantee you that in this climate a ideal like the AG show wouldn't get past the initial screening.. it would never see the light of day.

On the other hand....how many episodes of Keeping up with the Kardashians or Jersey shore have we been subjected to?
and more to come..

trivia question Jim, what was Andy's middle name on the show?- very popular southern name some even named their car after him so that one should be easy for a southern boy... oh that's right, you were some too tall yankee from Cincy that couldn't wait to get out of town..

hahaha.. yeah everyone is from somewhere.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

I wish I was half as rich as you think I am. Just because I am handsome like a TV star and hobnob with TV celebrities doesn't mean I am rich.

Just the other day, the 2013 Rolls Royces came out and I wasn't there like I usually am for a new model purchase. I'm still stuck with my 2012 and the ash trays are even getting a bit dusty!

Jim McAllister said...

Middy,

Yeah, I miss that show and am sad to see Andy go. That means that of the original cast Ron Howard is about the only major one left other than Jim Nabors who moved to Hawaii many years ago.

Aneta Corsaut (Helen Crunp) is long gone as are Don Knotts, George Lindsey (Goober), Howard McNear (Floyd), Frances Bavier (Aunt Bee), Paul Hartman and most of the rest of the cast.

The original announcer at the beginning of the show was a guy from Cincinnati named Colin Male.

You're right, the plots were sure different from the crap on TV now. One of my favorite episodes was the one where Aunt Bee made her pickles and they tasted horrible but Andy and Barney didn't have the heart to tell her so they kept grinning and bearing it.

It's hard to believe that show's run was 1960-68. The early ones were the best as they had the original cast in tact and were shot in B&W.

You have me on Andy's middle name. I can't remember it.

Rick Kepple said...

Jim, things are NOT as you think they are either.

Too bad about Andy Griffith. He used to refuse movie roles if they had too much cussing and he was a staunch Christian. I also believe he was the voice of reason when it came to politics, but I don't think that he would have supported Obama or Romney. Christians are not supporters of the New World Order.

Isn't it strange how Justice Roberts, appointed by the Republicans, determined that the Obamacare fine was actually a tax? Well, the government is showing its true colors and God is taking all the good folks home.

Rick Kepple said...

Hey, the guy buying the land from me is a military weapons instructor. My housekeeper and I are thrilled! Woo hoo! That's bad ass, man!

On with Jeopardy! Questions ... we need questions!

midnightsstaff said...

Like I said before the world we knew will never return Jim, I was in Tennessee once and saw a sign pointing to Jackson Tenn and twenty miles down the road another sign pointing out the turnoff to Jackson Miss...
There are enough Jackson's in the South to float a boat.

I only remember because one of my girlfriends mentioned it to me in a trivia game and it stuck in my head...
Andrew Jackson **fill in the blank** are crawling all over the south.. the show was the complete package.

Turning up Andrew Jacksons in Alabama are sort of like noticing the Mitt, Chad, Teddy's or Biff's that are found all over the northeastern ivy league campuses..

...so what are the chances of Mitt picking another northeastern polo player team mate for vp?

I am encouraged...at least it's harder to cheat at polo than "Lady's tee" Obama does at golf mainly because it's it's hard to bribe the witness who in polo is a horse.

what do you bet that Mitt's horse is named Pegasus?- lol..

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

Isn't it strange how Justice Roberts, appointed by the Republicans, determined that the Obamacare fine was actually a tax?

Yeah, they loved it when he said it but now, suddenly, since "tax" is a dirty word at the moment, Obama and his crooks are shouting, "No, it's not a tax, it's a penalty? Ha-ha!

So far it looks like its nothing to Gov's Walker, Scott, and Jindal.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

Here's a Jeopardy answer for you. Give me the question.

Category: Hopefully sending Obama's ass to Kenya.

ANSWER: He just gave Romney $10 million towards beating Obama.

QUESTION: Who is.........

Jim McAllister said...

Middy,

One of the funniest things about the liberals of today all being staunch Democrats is that most of those dummies don't realize that it was the Dems who heartily endorsed slavery in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Just because Lincoln ended slavery in 1863 didn't mean that the population suddenly fell in love with black people. The Dems were the slavery party which explains why Dem candidates could always count on carrying the South for so long.

Too bad Mr. Plessy isn't around to tell some of his tales about "separate but equal." Anyone remember Strom Thurmond?

As late as 1962, there was a southern guy in my barracks in Missouri who hated the guts of anyone from the north. To him, they were "Damn Yankees" and he got in a few fights over it.

Yes, lots of Jacksons still down there. Some things never die.

Jim McAllister said...

Middy,

Does Obama really play from the ladies tees? I don't even do that and I am 20 years older than he is.

I'll bet he uses the "foot wedge" plenty too!

steve buzzardo said...

Jim, nice picture with the babe. She is a little better looking than Sherriff Joe. lol

I used to watch Jeopardy, but I haven't watched it in a long time.

I think the funniest Jeopardy was when Chris Matthews was on and he made a complete ass of himself. And he always made fun of Sarah Palin by saying that she was too dumb to be on Jeopardy.

Jim McAllister said...

Steve,

Matthews is an idiot. I loved it two years ago when the Reps swept the House and he started giving Michelle Bachmann a hard time. She laughed in his face and said "What's the matter, Chris? Not feeling that tingle tonight?"

Anyone who decides to be on that show better be prepared or be ready for embarrassment.

Rick Kepple said...

So it wasn't Donald Trump?

"Who is Karl Rove?" I used a Google lifeline.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

The question is: Who is Las Vegas billionaire Sheldon Adelson

Rick Kepple said...

Oh. Who's Sheldon Adelson? I know. A billionaire from Las Vegas.

The good news about the healthcare for everyone; VA health care for EVERYONE!

Rick Kepple said...

If I were you guys living in a city, I might be moving to a country home right about now. But that's impractical. Better to wait for a national emergency when the gas stations are out of gas and the highways are impassable, and the Army MP's are calming people. No need to worry.

President Obama has everything under control.

If you're hurt, go to the VA hospital and wait for about 12 hours for prompt government health care.

Rick Kepple said...

I posted the "Red Dawn" trailer and some psychological/patriotic stuff and Facebook just shut down.

"Your account is currently unavailable due to a site issue."

I made the Chinese angry.

midnightsstaff said...

Happy Dependance Day everyone..
another day to take my flag and hang it on the front of the house and wonder why I bother.
I'll give it a few hours and go count flags in the neighborhood... another disappointment awaits.

We have gone full circle from a nation that resists a tyrannical government to one that welcomes the fundamental transformation to a tyrannical government.. that is because the people of the 1700's grew up under the oppressive rule of the monarch and knew what it meant, this generation assumes that precious gift of freedom bought by patriot blood is their birthright and can never be lost.
so they are willing to pluck the low hanging fruit from the tree of slavery as tho it were inconsequential.

Well the house looks better with the stars and stripes even in the rain I suppose.

I guess we can pretend.

Rick Kepple said...

Happy Independence Day. I put out the U.S. flags on the fence next to the road.

Middy is going on routine patrol and so am I, but I'm not counting flags.

I found a rolled up one dollar bill on the side of the road by where unidentified people in vehicles sometimes sit and watch homes. The cops made a really big bust recently and retrieved a lot of stolen goods, thousands of dollars and lots of meth from a nice residential homes in a classy neighborhood in three different towns.

102 degrees today and no one is about and thieves might be stealing today.

midnightsstaff said...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087803/

a documentary...

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

Which VA hosp do you use? St. Louis?

Jim McAllister said...

Middy,

I don't know why so many people think the government is all omniscient and capable of taking care of us. What ever happened to individualism and people wanting to make it in a free society WITHOUT government regulations always looking over their shoulders?

Can they possibly really think that Washington is the answer to any economic problems? In reality, Washington IS the problem. They wonder why businesses are sitting on their capital. Could it be that they are afraid of the next set of regulations from Washington?

I agree with Stossel who says: "Intuition tempts us to believe that government can get the economy moving again."

However "Reality teaches us that Government does not spend money better than individuals do."

Jim McAllister said...

Rick, Middy.

I see one guy up the street with a flag out. Counting mine, that makes 2 in the neighborhood.

For a long time I WAS THE ONLY ONE. GOOD TO SEE SOMEONE JOINED ME. I REMEMBER AS A KID WHEN EVERY HOUSE WOULD HAVE A FLAG OUT ON HOLIDAYS LIKE THE 4TH. IT WAS JUST AFTER WORLD WAR II AND KOREA AND PEOPLE STILL HAD MEMORIES OF THOSE TIMES AND HOW GREAT THIS COUNTRY WAS.

NOT SO MUCH NOW. A LOT IS TAKEN FOR GRANTED.

midnightsstaff said...

Best watch your step there Jimmy, quoting a guy like Stossel will get people thinking you are not a dependable conservative voter..
..after all, John is not a conservative he is a libertarian. and one thing libertarians soon find out is that they are hated by the left because we believe in the principle of natural law defining the legitimacy of legal law and the conservatives/Republicans hating us because we don't mindlessly follow any party dictates and resist the temptation to get a discrete tattoo of an elephant somewhere on their body that is not visible.

Just imagine when president Mitt Romney has a law passed requiring everyone in America to join the LDS church or pay a tax, followed by a national security bill requiring everyone voting to possess and carry a firearm with new sweeps enforcment like drunk driving stops that by sheer force of edict require them to take yearly qualifications or pay a ten to one hundred thousand dollar penalty ..er... I mean tax..
depending on their income level for the first violation followed by a mandatory five year sentence for the second violation...

yes.. the short sighted among us always manage to shoot their selves in the ass when they try to bring a rubber Constitution to the argument- because by destroying the very mechanism for individual protection it logically follows that they need to maintain control forever or the tables of tyrannical rule will be turned on them.

I was in the VA system in Feb. of 2003 at Jerry Pettis memorial in Loma Linda Calif.- I had a stent removed at the very time the Branch Davidians were being murdered by the US government.

Maybe we should all redact our id numbers, and any other useless information on the document and send you a copy of our dd214 if there is any questions as to our military service..
I can get you mine in a day or so- the long form in fact...
I'll even throw in a few faded pics. of my life in the bush and my USMC boot camp photo- which was my finest day...

Transparency is the best cleanser whether it's an administration or dealing with a blogger with questionable motives ..questions like these don't just go away, they have to be dealt with honestly or they fester and create infections.

well time to cruise the neighborhood and see if anyone else has a flag up, last year it was less than twenty for a mid sized American city... with a little rain...??

midnightsstaff said...

I should have just stayed home, went by 250 or so houses and eleven flags including mine...

Maybe Roberts has a point - maybe this nation really doesn't deserve freedom- I mean how much effort does it take to put an American flag out in front of your home on the Fourth of July?- every house in Franklin Indiana had one up every Fourth I spent there when I was a kid..

You can complain about the post office but at least they fly the flag and at least put in the effort to get your mail to the correct housing tract..

I admit it is a bit uncomfortable to go out and put up a flag in the rain but laying in ambush many a rainy nights was a bit uncomfortable too.

Jim McAllister said...

Middy,

Ya gotta watch those goddam Libertarians like Stossel. If we let them get out of control, they might show how little we need of a strong national government hence, putting a bunch of gravy train blood suckers out of work.

Hell, I'd like to have a public office job just for the vcacation time those jerks get. What a fraud!

Jim McAllister said...

Middy,

11 out of 250? That's better than I thought. Sad.

midnightsstaff said...

yeah.. guess I should have known better but after the insult last week I thought maybe the average joe would be getting the idea, maybe they are but just lazy..

That is what goes for a comforting thought today.

Why can't a nation with three hundred and eleven million people produce one candidate that can bring a message like Nigel Farge?- here is one of his outbursts just yesterday where he laughs in the face of another bureaucratic eunuch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lYoh7XhYe1k

this guy rocks.

midnightsstaff said...

Well this is about as good a monsoon day as I have had for the past few years... this is what a monsoon should always be like, none of that haboob nonsense, no irritating wind damage to the hummingbird feeders, actually a real nice day once the rain stopped.

there's nothing like giving the air conditioner the day off eh??

I got google earth weather up and it looks like the worst is going to go a bit to the east... typical monsoonal pattern but if so I can leave my sling chair on the balcony for watching fireworks..
yeah.. this was a 9.6 on the scale- now for a world class sunset...

Arizona is worth the effort.

steve buzzardo said...

yep, Arizona is the place to be.

triple digits and high humidity in most of the rest of the country, power outages, fires, and storms

and all of these morons always make jokes about how hot it is in AZ.

Rick Kepple said...

Actually the humidity is pretty low in Missouri right now with 102 degree temps. The AC doesn't work right without humidity though.

I don't go to the St. Louis VA hospital. Definitely not.

Rick Kepple said...

Keep your visions to yourself.

"The visions of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future," Daniel 8:26.

If you don't know Christ, you're gonna be left to the wolves in this world. God will warn you when to leave your home and where to go, or what to buy. It might even be a stranger with a peculiar word of knowledge just when you need it, and these days we need all the help we can get.

Jim McAllister said...

Middy, Steve.

We only got a few drops here but pretty much cloudy all day.

The rest of the country is getting the heat that we are used to at this time of year. I see places complaining about 105 to 110 and I would like to ask them: And your question is?

Hell, we laugh at 110; just another beautiful summer day. We just have to be sure we don't touch anything made of metal that has been in the sun. It's the sort of thing AZ people learn.

I see some of libs starting the global warming fears again, mainly Benson with another of his lame cartoons today and that Eugene Robinson the columnist. Then there is the story that one if the big fires was caused by guns. They never give up!

I think that global warming scare column from 80 years ago pretty much disputes those guys.

Jim McAllister said...

I love AZ weather and wouldn't want it any other way.

Jim McAllister said...

102 in Missou; sounds toasty. Time for a dip in the Niangua.

midnightsstaff said...

Looks like the people on the east coast are seeing what living without electricity is like..

Keep in mind these are the same fools that are trying to shut down coal fired power plants with no back up.
California has lost San Onofre for good it appears, maybe it's time for Arizona to quit sending power generated in this state to them- they will never get it until they are sitting in the dark for a long time- these are not quick learners.

I hear that California is getting ready to claw back all of their out of state private prison inmates this year, guess when you don't pay your bill the private operators don't like it much better than the various counties do that have had their facilities jammed up with state inmates for a couple of years now and are going broke.

there is a term for doing the same thing again and again expecting positive results even when it never happens... but I can't remember it.

Rick Kepple said...

Yes, the underground rivers are about the only things feeding the above ground rivers now. We're supposed to be 103 for the next three days, then on Sunday, scattered storms move in and dropping into the 80's for a few days then inching back up into the 90's. There's an old belief that if there is a hot, dry summer, there will be a cold, wet winter. Nature has been a month ahead of schedule since the Japanese earthquake shifted the earth's axis, and there are some who believe that the GPS coordinates are off as well.

How does this dry spell affect food production? Hard to say at this point. But some crops are genetically modified for drought conditions.

There is so much information in this world to keep the game of Jeopardy going for many years to come.

Jim McAllister said...

It is so sad about California. They are broke and going down the sewer.

I've talked on blogs before about my 1959 trip to California at age 18 with my buddy from Cincinnati.

At the time it was a way to live a long desire to see the Pacific with the palm trees, the girls, and everything that was California in those days.

I met a girl there who took us to the famous Zuma Beach where I spent a day living the life that I had only seen via B&W TV and magazines in cold, wet Ohio. It was quite a thrill and I could swear one babe looked a lot like Sandra Dee and Deborah Walley, the two Gidgets.

I saw some movie stars, went to Marineland, and had access to the young lady's 1955 Buick Roadmaster convertible.

Today, I read about how California is broke, the roads are shot, and L. A. is not the flowery place I saw in 1959 but has become a raging lawless hellhole.

It's sad how human beings can't seem to keep things nice. So many groups have destructive agenda.

Here is a great tune from Shawn Millins called "California." It kind of takes one back to a better time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3-5PrA7kjc

Jim McAllister said...

Long live Jeopardy!

CJ Phoenix said...

Here is an interesting take on the recent Supreme Court decision involving Obamacare: http://spectator.org/archives/2012/07/05/chief-justice-roberts-you-fox

Now, while even I can't begin to completely comprehend all the issues of legality & legalese of what just happened, I do know a few things: At our highest level, the US Supreme Court, we are a nation of common law & common law involves precedents that must be followed, therefore, all this "partisan" nonsense is just that. NONSENSE. Judge Roberts was following precedent when there was one established & it is as simple as that. OTOH, I also believe that Obamacare, as it was presented to the Supreme Court to be decided upon & as it was buggered up by the real partisan interests involved in this mess-- particularly, by the insurance industry lobby thru our bought & paid for Congress men & women --sucked so hard that Ross Perot lost an ear. On the east side of his head, not the south ... Not sure if there is a legal way of saying that but I stand 100% behind the underlying truth of what I just said.

midnightsstaff said...

So with that thinking would deciding law based on the precedent of Plessy vs. Ferguson be considered as wise judicial jurisprudence?

"We consider the underlying fallacy of the plaintiff's argument to consist in the assumption that the enforced separation of the two races stamps the colored race with a badge of inferiority. If this be so, it is not by reason of anything found in the act, but solely because the colored race chooses to put that construction upon it."- so with that equally wise SC decision the colored-only signs and drinking fountains stayed as legal in the eyes of the law for another sixty years..

yeah, even if you didn't actually see them believe me they really were there.
I was in Nachitoches La. in 1955 and I saw them...

Sorry but Emmett Tyrrell is the very reason that American Spectator has gone from a cutting edge commentary in the early 90's when I used to get the subscription to what it is today...

Some of the contributors such as Rachel Alexander or J.Christian Adams are well worth reading, Emmitt has veered way off the reservation too many times for me to take him seriously.. he is just another variation of a RINOGOPHACK in my estimation..

I suggest if you want an honest evaluation based on an actual Constitutional authority that has read the papers and done the forensics on the decision you can listen to his interpretation here..

http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/your-world-cavuto/2012/07/03/report-chief-justice-roberts-switched-vote-health-care
you can read his thoughts here...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304708604577502824229271852.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Mark Levin knows what he is talking about unlike Obama he is an actual authority on the Constitution and was a valuable member of Ronald Reagan's cabinet, you would do well to read one of his books such as "Men in Black" if you want to understand the workings of the court.

Turncoat Roberts switched his vote at the last minute because he was scared... that is the bottom line.
..the only mystery left is what was he scared of?

If Obama is not defeated your good days are behind you and if you get another job it will be with TSA or some other tentacle of the police state- because they are the only shovel ready jobs Obama has planned for our future.

CJ Phoenix said...

Just another perspective, Middy. I found the link on Dennis Miller's Facebook page, for what that is worth ... And before you say it, you are continually asking me to believe what I see on a public blog right here. So I will continue to make up my own mind, thank you very much. Therefore I will continue to be open to both sides of the argument. Even to your side. But I am only going to believe what rings true to me.

CJ Phoenix said...

You are right about one thing: occasionally, precedent based on decisions can be & does get overturned. Maybe this current decision will be overturned somewhere down the road then. Other than that, though, what you are saying along those lines has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on the discussion at hand. And now who is acting like a liberal? You liberals are always bringing up irrelevant matters involving prejudice & racism in an attempt to win every argument, aren't you?

midnightsstaff said...

Here's another great article on the subject Cj.. Walter Williams wrote in an article a while back..

http://econfaculty.gmu.edu/wew/articles/12/ShouldWeObeyAllLaws.htm

he makes the point..

" Suppose Congress enacted a law -- and the Supreme Court ruled it constitutional -- requiring American families to attend church services at least three times a month. Should we obey such a law? Suppose Congress, acting under the Constitution’s commerce clause, enacted a law requiring motorists to get eight hours of sleep before driving on interstate highways. Its justification might be that drowsy motorists risk highway accidents and accidents affect interstate commerce. Suppose you were a jury member during the 1850s and a free person were on trial for assisting a runaway slave, in clear violation of the Fugitive Slave Act. Would you vote to convict and punish? A moral person would find each one of those laws either morally repugnant or to be a clear violation of our Constitution."

In other words moral people should not require the courts to tell us what is right or wrong, in fact we should not look to the court for our moral guidance.
From our courts we should expect nothing more than an unbiased interpretation of the law.

Our morality should have already provided for the statute, in this case that statute is the Constitution..
As you can see, the matter is not settled clearly because as with the judgment in Plesy vs. Ferguson decision it did not reflect the moral foundation that went behind the creating the statute in the first place..

Most people do not like nor did they want this, are the American people somehow out of step with the Constitution enough to start another civil war?- na.. this one is a stinker.

We all know the decision cannot stand so why pull everything in our society apart in a vain attempt to make 2+2=5?

"All laws that are repugnant to the Constitution are null and void"
Marbury v. Madison..1803

Arizona along with other reasonable clear thinking states should not obey this illegal, unconstitutional federal law- if it leads to something more definitive the better- sometimes you have to pick that scab.

Rick Kepple said...

Justice Roberts was a complete surprise.

After Waco and the killing of the Branch Davidians, I talked to an Army officer and he said that if a President ever declared martial law, the Army would have to obey, even if it was an illegal order. He was confident that the Supreme Court would overturn martial law in less than one day. Now, I'm not so sure. Republicans and Democrats are unpredictable.

These days, I'm putting the unnecessary bills on the back burner. To hell with the FICO score. Cancelling what services I can. Buying survival gear. I need to come up with a new Plan B. It's gonna get bad. Worse than you can ever imagine in your nightmares.

midnightsstaff said...

Maybe you should be more specific on the areas I am out of touch on..
I really don't know what you are talking about this time.

This is a simple issue made complex out of a necessity to deceive.. it's pretty the pattern of most political lies told since the tree of life ban was lifted.

I wasn't calling you names, this is a black and white issue that can only be seen through honest eyes and there are plenty of dishonest eyes working overtime to obfuscate the issue.

CJ Phoenix said...

For starters, Middy, where on earth did you first get the misguided notion that the Supreme Court decides on issues of morality? They decide on issues of constitutionality & there is a distinction there that you seem to be missing entirely. They also have certain other areas of law that fall within their jurisdiction: for instance, resolution of conflicts between states. But issues of morality are not within their jurisdiction. On top of that, morality is highly subjective.

Hey, where are you on the issue of mandatory liability insurance as required by the State of Arizona? Or requiring property insurance for property owners?

You know what I think? For one, I believe that too many in this country have lost sight of "certain inalienable Rights" including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" and "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed" ... NOTE: that says "Men" not corporations or the collective financial interest of well-to-do individuals over individual human beings. Just "Men".

We have also lost sight of the fact that in order to live in this world, one must have the opportunity to provide for at least oneself. Withholding means of support based entirely on one's inability to pay for insurance should be known as, at very least, against the expressed values of our Founding Fathers. Then there is also the Constitutional angle: "No person shall be ... deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law ..." And then just try to tell someone who is faced with losing their home, their transportation, and/or means of support ... due to the fact that they made a hard choice between which bills to pay one month or they became temporarily ill or ... that the automatic suspension of their license is not the denial of life, liberty, or property. You should probably also tell them to KEEP PASSING THE OPEN WINDOWS at the same time.

Hey, maybe I should take our state to court over all those insurance premiums I have paid unnecessarily for years and years. That's only if you all manage to get this other required insurance thing overturned that is. And, of course, any money won would probably have to go to my grandkids by the time it was settled ... But I just thought that I should point out what an inconsistent knothead you are on this point.

CJ Phoenix said...

Ooops: inconsistent knothead you are ACTING LIKE ... And when did the spirit of Bodo first start controlling you, Middy?

Rick Kepple said...

I don't understand.

Rick Kepple said...

The spirit of Bodo ...

So Jim, I've been studying the new Sig Sauer AR-15. I saw a Youtube demonstration where they buried that rifle in mud, pulled it out, shook it off and fired it. Then threw it in a pond, opened up, pulled it out, slapped a clip in and fired it wet! The only drawback is that the forestock overheats and I'm accustomed to the Colt style of AR-15. I decided to finally go with the AR-15 because the wife used to say "stick with what you know," so I bought a Windham. Got a five round clip for legal deer hunting.

Gotta stick with what I know, Jim. Bodo drops by my page now and then. I guess he's writing for the Washington Post now. Little too high browed for me, but he's nice. I like nice people.

midnightsstaff said...

On auto insurance I probably would come down on the concept of a vehicle owner being able to buy a regular policy for himself, the damages he might cause and that's about it- If he chooses to protect his interests, great.. if not...then that is their choice.
auto insurance is not required of every person, only those who drive on public streets.

In fact, if everyone in Arizona is demanded to carry auto insurance then why does my policy include uninsured motorist?
that should be impossible...
if we can't depend on mere legislation to force us to act morally (and don't you agree everyone should do the right thing?) then what makes you think any top down approach to something as large as health care will do any better?

Obamacare is all about control, I'm not going down that hole again, I'm just saying there is nothing about this bill that serves the cause of healthcare-

You might want to re read that link I sent, it was possibly too esoteric of concept that Dr. Williams makes on the relationship between morality as principle for creating legislation and the court's sworn duty to interpret not legislate- which should be of no argument with anyone yet remains a point with about fifty percent of the voting public.

It matters little from which misguided sense of morality a justice might use, whether it be to preserve the presidency or to avoid a nation wide race riot... either of those reasons even tho they are worthy are still non germane to their sworn duty.

I'm not saying you don't have a point on human misery, it's real and it's present.
Just don't go mixing theoretical philosophy and campaign promises..
just remember all those elected officials today dealing with the problems will not be around when the bill comes due, and it will come due in one day- payment immediate.

"I don't understand"- the memorable words of our treasury secretary... more howlers as good as this available at tinytimgeitnerlol.com
.. biggest laugh line I have seen in a month..

Rick Kepple said...

I cancelled my Blockbuster mail membership today after taking movies in to the store and they said no exchanges, even though the agreement says "unlimited exchanges." I look for them to be going belly up soon.

I'm getting rid of what I can to save money and stay out of the cities. They are potential riot zones.

I see Middy and CJ are at it again. It's always interesting to read their rants. I learn something new sometimes, but mostly to shut up and don't get involved.

You know Jim, I've got pawpaw trees on my land and they grow wild along the river. They're a cancer cure. In fact, I smoked cigarettes when I first moved to the forest and looked like death warmed over. Before my doctor died, he said that whatever I was doing was working and to keep doing it. So I am.

midnightsstaff said...

not at it.. just a discussion.

another great sunset.. gotta go.

Rick Kepple said...

I can never tell with some couples. I know this couple, and they claim they ain't together, but they're always arguing. Sometimes he beats the crap out of her, but she loves him.

Clearly I've forgotten how to play Jeopardy. So the answer comes and you have to ask the question.

In 2012, this man said 'screw it,' and moved to Australia.

CJ Phoenix said...

Yup. Just a discussion. And not a couple so domestic abuse is not even a possibility let alone an issue. BTW, I believe that your relationship with Bodo is about as real as that with your rock star. First clue was that you said he is nice.

midnightsstaff said...

Madness does not always howl. Sometimes, it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "Hey, is there room in your head for one more?"

Jim McAllister said...

CJ and Middy,

I love you guys. Our next lunch at Steakenburger should be interesting with you guys face to face.

What ounce gloves should I bring? Also: no biting in the clinches!

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

Australia doesn't sound too bad. They're a bunch of socialists like most countries but it is beautiful down there, they seem like a happy group, sell Foster's as a domestic brew, and take no crap from Muslims.

Yank Down Under moved there from here and loves it.

midnightsstaff said...

Wow there is no friday night fight card here, not even a disagreement..

Cj brought something up and I responded rather civilly that I saw it another way.
I thought that was what discussions were all about, at least Cj puts some thought into issues that are larger than Dancing with Stars on the blogs.

Looks like another jobs report and the usual cratering of the market in it's response, no one could put up with a bipolar partner under the roof but we are expected to cheer a bipolar stock market that is based on rumor and hope- good news is commodities like oil is plunging again- this will feel good for a while.

We are a collection of different people who have lived different lives discussing problems that affect us all- there should be a difference of opinion, this isn't Japan.
well there goes the opening bell.. hang on for eight seconds and you qualify.
after all...it's Friday.

Rick Kepple said...

Bodo is one of my Facebook friends.

CJ, I believe you when you say that SN and I aren't friends. Yes ma'am, I do believe you are telling the truth. She invested in the infamous Starck Club in Dallas and I know one of the detectives who busted that place. He wrote a novel based on his experiences. State police who trained me in the use of handguns don't like her either. Her guitarist was once arrested for child porn, charges dropped, but he's still a suspect. But I do believe you, CJ. We can't possibly be friends, because I don't associate with people like her. It would ruin my good reputation.

Jim McAllister said...

Middy,

Yeah, jobs still stuck at 8.2; that a nice way for BO to start his Ohio "elect me" trip.

Maybe he needs a few more beers like in that photo. What a guy; just the common man having a beer with "the people." I love the phoniness of politics.

I imagine Michelle will be ready to chew him out for doing something unhealthy. But first, she will have to hide her french fries.

CJ Phoenix said...

I predict that Middy & I will behave as we always have when we meet in person, Jim. No fighting, maybe even a few smiles. Nice & civil & nothing to worry about ... Unless the place we are going has a dress code or something. Then I should warn you that you will have a hard time getting me past the door.

Well, good for you, Rick. Those Facebook relationships can be so deep & meaningful, so I am glad that you & Bodo can relate now. Beware, though, if he asks too many questions about the affairs on Jim's blog. Unless you do not mind being used as a mole/snitch, of course. Because that's what it is probably really all about. Have you really forgotten what Bodo is like from your exchanges on AzCentral? No need to answer that last question. Just keep it in mind.

Rick Kepple said...

Mitt Romney hasn't got a chance in hell of winning.

Recently, a psychological examination of cell phone users was done. Heavy users are typically liberals.

I barely use my cell phone. I like guns. I don't like concerts, but I like church and follow Christ.

Rick Kepple said...

CJ, I have a horrible memory. That's why I saved those exchanges on disc and on paper. I do the same thing with Communists.

No, Bodo hasn't asked anything of me. He's offered to let me stay at his home while visiting, but I don't even trust my own family. I trusted a celebrity and that was a mistake. Bodo has only posted one comment on my Facebook page.

And yes CJ, I do like you, but don't think that we're gonna be exchanging slobbery kisses. I don't like you that much, but I don't hate you either. I think if we ever met, I might flirt with you, but I think you'd probably throw a drink in my face. You just strike me as that kind of woman.

Jim McAllister said...

CJ,

That's true, you and Middy have always been congenial to each other in public. I enjoy the interaction between you too either way. It adds some spark to the blog. Nothing wrong with differences of opinion; everyone is entitled to that.

No dress codes at Stekenburger. It's at 19th Ave and Dunlap on the south side of the street. The owner says he is located just west of Kevlar!

He makes a very good fire cooked burger. Mike S. turned us on to the place. Mike and wife will be there as soon as he is through moving this week. When I hear from him I'll drop a notice here.

Rick Kepple said...

I'm not good in public. My knuckles drag the ground and my best friend is Bigfoot. I grunt a lot and growl around certain people, but the Army taught me to behave myself. So I chew on a liberal and mind my manners. Liberals are typically vegetarians, but someone usually says, "Put that thing down! You don't know where it's been!" I snarl a little, but obey like a good conservative.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

Vegetarians and tofu eaters washing it down with spring water.

If you feel yourself slipping and dying to eat a Big Mac and fries, call those girls from the local middle school to follow you around like the guy on the Geico commercial did.

CJ Phoenix said...

Jim, You might e-mail me when you set a date too. Make sure I see it.

Rick, It couldn't be more obvious that you still have no idea what I am really like. Just look at what you said about me being the kind of person who would throw my drink on you. NEVER. I would never waste a perfectly good beer like that.

CJ Phoenix said...

Jim, I just checked that e-mail address & realized that I don't check it very often. Call me instead. Or I will call you if you don't have my number.

midnightsstaff said...

876-5309..

let it ring.

Rick Kepple said...

Geico commercials sound creepy. Why would kids follow me around if I wanted a Big Mac? In times like this, I don't miss mind numbing TV.

I called 876-5309 and I got Mitt Romney. He wants me to join him and Barack for a Big Mac to discuss Marshall Law. I told him that I don't know anyone named Marshall Law and the redistribution of wealth. Mr. Law must have a lot of money to give to poor folks. What a nice guy!

midnightsstaff said...

Well not to get off topic or anything but I have been noticing on down days like this one in the market with very light volume the Nasdaq lost around 1.35% in today's trading and the S&P lost less that a full percent, with all of the growth leaders in Nasdaq and most innovative and technological industries also found in the Nasdaq this just gives me further confirmation that the economy is unwinding.

The stock market is probably destined to be the ultimate lagging indicator, So it appears the economy is going to go south for the worst possible time for any incumbent.. much less for an abject failure like Barry tutone..

or is that Barry tuface?

Well might as well listen to some Jethro Tull, maybe "back to the plantation" which is the lesser known flip side to "back to the family"- cause baby that plantation just got a whole lot bigger.

My telephone wakes me in the morning --
Have to get up to answer the call.
So I think I'll go back to the plantation
Where no one can bug me at all.
Living real life has it's problems
So I think that I'll give it a break.
Oh, I'm going back to the plantation
`cos I've had about all I can take.

Master's in the counting house
Counting all the money he stole.
Sister's face down again on the mirror
She just wants to fix up her nose.
And here am I thinking to myself
Just wond'ring how things got this way.

I think I enjoyed all my problems
Where I did not get nothing for free.
Oh, but I'm going back to the plantation...
Doing nothing is better for me.
Take the bullet train back to the city
That work life is getting me down.
There's more fun away from the plantation...
Get some food stamps when I pull into town.

What the hell was I thinking?
four years of a guy with no clue
Phone keeps ringing all day long
telling me to be sure to remember to vote
I got no time for thinking.
keep voting the same old way...
And every day has the same old way
Of giving me too much to do.

..there Ian... fixed.

Jim McAllister said...

Middy,

Love the tribute you make to the great Tommy Tutone for his 1981 hit 876-5309.

Can't let this go without a call out to The Marvellettes from 1962 with
BEechwood 4-5789.

"You can call me up and have a date any old time."

They don't write lyrics like that anymore!

Jim McAllister said...

CJ,

I'll be in touch with you on the lunch thing. I have to hear from Mike first to be sure he is moved in his new house.

steve buzzardo said...

I thought it was 867-5309, maybe I'm wrong

speaking of arguments, It was very entertaining when Middy used to tear apart Red Mike, Bozo and Baghdad Don. that was good stuff

midnightsstaff said...

When I suffer a particularly potent senior moment combined with the full moon, I don't know what I am capable of writing..
..last night I couldn't see it rise because of the clouds...
doesn't matter, still makes the cat nuts...

This might actually turn out to be a nice monsoon season after all, the other day was just plain nice. the pool is staying warm even into the midnight..
I take it as a good sign.

Na I have always thought Cj was too good for me and I'm pretty sure she feels the same way.

Jim McAllister said...

Buzzer,

You're right, it was 867-5309. Actually, the full title was 867-5309/Jenny.

Thanks for the correction.

I love those 80s songs, Greg Kihn was another favorite with tunes like "Jeopardy" and "The Breakup Song".

Also, "My Sharona" by The Knack, "Ah Leah, Donnie Iris" All great stuff.

Jim McAllister said...

Buzz,

Middy was a surgeon when it came to taking those liberals apart. I didn't even bother commenting on that stuff much in those days. I enjoyed just sitting back and reading Middy's comments.

Rick Kepple said...

Middy's a surgeon? Cool.

I have a friend who has this weenie that drags the ground and he needs it reduced. Do you charge by the inch?

Rick Kepple said...

"It was very entertaining when Middy used to tear apart Red Mike, Bozo and Baghdad Don. that was good stuff."

Attention whores are like that. They'll say any ol' popular thing.

C'mon Middy. Say something witty and insulting. Your audience anxiously awaits.

Jim McAllister said...

Hmmmmmm.......,do I detect that this conversation is deteriorating?

As they used to say when Johnny Carson was going to break....."STAY TUNED, MORE TO COME."

New posts occur every 6 to 7 days.

midnightsstaff said...

Rick Kepple... there both witty and insulting.

Anyone over the emotional age of eleven might find this article interesting..

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304141204577508403022406864.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

From the way Obama has set the table Mitt Romney could be the guy that makes everyone stop referring to Reagan as the best president of our lifetime...
..of course that will do nothing for Obamacare, I still doubt he will be able politically to sign the paper ending this madness.

If the stupid Kenyan could see past his blind hatred of America he could have gone down as the greatest president of all time, but he has proved to be an absolute failure at everything he touches... because he is a criminal at heart.

Hell we know more about his chief of staff Vallerie Jarrett like the fact she is an Iranian muslim born in Iran who was born into an entire family of communists.

"Jarrett’s family history is rife with radical ties, including those of her father-in-law Vernon Jarrett, a supporter of such communist-American icons of the 1940s as Langston Hughes. Vernon Jarrett was the strongest link to Chicago’s Hyde Park environment that would be of such great influence on Valerie Jarrett, and then through her, shape both Barack and Michelle Obama’s adult outlook upon American and its place in the world. Again largely ignored by the media in 2008, Chicago’s Hyde Park was home to such radical figures as the socialist Arnold Wolf, an anti-Israel rabbi (yes, those do in fact exist) who had pushed for increased support for the terrorist PLO. At around that same time Rabbi Wolf was also deeply involved with the Chicago Communist Party. Mr. Wolf declared in a 2008 Chicago Sun Times interview of other Hyde Park elites’ excitement over the political potential of a young Barack Obama a decade earlier, declaring they believed to have found in Obama, “A guy who could sell our product, and sell it with splendor!”

Read more: http://newsflavor.com/politics/us-politics/the-ulsterman-report-valerie-jarrett-and-the-muslim-brotherhood/#ixzz1zxeovWD7

after five I along with most of us have problems Jim, might want to keep that in mind.

Jim McAllister said...

Middy,

My favorite excerpt from malone's WSJ column:

Together, these trends offer the potential for a golden era. Getting there won't be easy, as we are currently governed by leaders who want to manage our complex and dynamic economy from the top down, to tame entrepreneurs with regulation, to tax the productive and, ultimately, to pick the next generation of winners. That's never worked well and isn't working today. But a better world awaits us if we elect leaders who can imagine a better future and fight to unleash the animal spirits of the market that will get us there.

Success is all about free enterprise where companies have to produce or go under instead of government control which mandates that when they fail all they have to do is raise taxes and try and fail again.

Rick Kepple said...

I never read Middy's links. There is enough propaganda from Republican friends who hope Romney will give them money and Welfare after he's elected. What? You don't think there are GOP Welfare recipients? Never been to Missouri, huh?

So I told an off color joke, but it's okay to insult Kenyans? You guys are so elitist.

midnightsstaff said...

I'm an elitist because I'm better than you- it's not my fault, that's just the way it is.

Like I said, this nation is like a coiled spring being intentionally held back by this fool, all Mitt needs to do is strike the fear of god into anyone on the right from wandering anywhere near opposing his plan..

It's not the collectivists you have to worry about- they are going to be swept away by the mandate, it's the gutless junior varsity- the GOP that can sink his ship.

It will be interesting to see who he picks for vp.

midnightsstaff said...

http://silvervigilante.com/jpmorgan-complicit-in-vatican-bank-money-laundering-jamie-dimon-seeks-time-alone-with-pope-to-confess/

JPMorgan Complicit In Vatican Bank Money-Laundering: Jamie Dimon Seeks Time Alone With Pope To “Confess”

think about this for a moment...this is the type of stuff you just can't make up..

.. all you Catholics out there, get ready...

Rick Kepple said...

Middy, I never said you were better than me. I just picked a bunch of vegetables from my garden out by the apple orchard.

I got guitars to make my own music. I got guns to shoot my own meat off my own land.

Why do you think you're better than me? Because you have gold or stocks? When the economy collapses, that stuff won't mean a bushel of beans.

Rick Kepple said...

Middy would be better than me in the SHTF situation, because during a national emergency, people like me will die first - the disabled will die first, according to experts.

After Katrina, diabetics, disabled, obese, severe sleep apnea patients, Welfare recipients/Food Stamp recipients (socially dependent) and drug/alcohol addicts detoxing (shot during looting), died first. The neo-hippies, upper middle class elitists will die next in the SHTF scenario, because they are pacifists and don't believe in violence, will be victims, say the experts. The Republican/Democrat elitists trapped in the political games will be victims too, because they won't be able to psychologically cope with the failure of the system they believed would protect them.

I am disabled and I live alone. I'll be one of the first to die. Without a doubt. So it's a ridiculous notion to stock up on gold just to let the looters have it.

midnightsstaff said...

I left out the other stuff like incessant whining, delusional relationships, histrionic tendencies including self deceptions, the constant seeking of reaffirmation and clinginess drug abuse, lying about your mythical involvement with various law enforcement agencies and have I left anything out?

..come to think of it there are lots of ways that I can think of that validates that I or anyone not currently sleeping on the streets would be considered superior therefore elitist.

That is if I were stupid enough to compare myself to you.. but I don't. no one in their right mind would..

hey you asked for it.

Rick Kepple said...

Middy, yeah you left out facts. You don't know what the hell you're talking about.

How the hell did you ever get in the military? How in the world did you ever make money? Prison guard? ROFL. I can train a goat to guard prisoners.

Jim McAllister said...

Quote of the day from Ben Stein:

"Fathom the hypocrisy of a government
that requires every citizen to prove
they are insured...but not everyone
must prove they are a citizen."

Rick Kepple said...

Ben Stein said that, but he didn't write it. It was probably Bodo that said it, for it says "author unknown."

Rick Kepple said...

What did CJ mean when she said, "do you remember what Bodo did to you on azcentral?" Would she be referring to the different personalities including a fake SN? To my knowledge, things were handled and if it was Bodo, he will take care of himself.

I do get strange communications now and then, but I've got a few enemies. The farm was also created with defensive positions and God arranged it so a whole mess of ex-cops and ex-military live together.

Now I've not seen Bodo actually do anything illegal. But as Middy has pointed out and Jim has affirmed, I'm "delusional," and it's perfect plausible deniability. Jim and Middy are both highly respected people. Why would they make such a thing up? Therefore, I've never been a spy. That's ridiculous! I was a mechanic in the Army and I studied writing in college and I just wrote boring stories in my life, then retired after the wife died. I was no one special. Just ask Jim, Middy and CJ. They know me better than my neighbors.

Rick Kepple said...

Oh don't worry. I'm not gonna hurt any of you elitists. I just like messin' with ya. You're like that Republican FEMA guy. We're always arguing on Facebook! He's a little like Middy, except more sensible. That guy works in the entertainment industry too. FEMA trained, writing public relations for entertainers. A Republican. No, you can't talk to him.

midnightsstaff said...

Well Jim do you think we ought to send over a couple of our "associates" like Guido and Louie to talk to Rick?

Remember when they left you a message by mistake on the answering machine?-
..got your attention..

maybe he just doesn't understand the situation.. needs it explained to him nice and slow...
real slow.....
Scottsdale Loco Tiny Midget Elites 13, so vicious that Sheriff Joe doesn't even mess with them.
That's how we roll..haha.

SLTME-13 -
(as seen tagged on the side of designer boxcars everywhere)..

God... somebody stop me.

Rick Kepple said...

Middy's funny. Yeah send the best you got. Everyone bleeds.

My neighbor's here and he's laughing at Middy. "Can't send anyone the fuck here if he don't know where the fuck here is!" He's right.

Need directions?

Rick Kepple said...

In the magical course of things, when people have threatened me with harm in the past, they have suffered ten times worse than they wanted to do. The Bible warns of these things, but people generally do as they wish and suffer for it. Don't worry. It will just seem like a run of bad luck.

Jim McAllister said...

Middy,

Yes, it is time for Guido and Louie. Tell them not to forget their violin cases and to wear their best pinstripes.

Rick Kepple said...

"Stop letting people who do so little for you, control so much of your mind, feelings and emotions." - Will Smith.

I thought Jim and Middy for the biker type.

Oh, and I might note that in your just talking about this and my dangerous hunting of stalkers, terrorists and serial killers, if something were to happen to me, the cops would probably view Jim McAllister and Midnightsstaff as suspects. That's the trouble with making threats like this.

But thanks for the thought.

Rick Kepple said...

I think that I should warn you people that I know what you're doing.

You're trying to talk yourselves into murder, but rich people never do their own dirty work. You joke about it, but only because you're trying to justify it. Even if you are joking, there are weak minds who read your shit and believe it, then they'll come after me thinking that you two will pay them. Delusional people believe what they read on the Internet.

After Bill Gamelson's threats, I got real in-person stalkers. But the court and the cops both told me that the next time it happens, don't waste their time.

What Jimmy and Middy are doing is dangerous. But you boys have always used intimidation against ordinary people to shut them up. The Republicans are going to rip you two a new one.

You're elitists. People like you belong in prison, but sadly your money is necessary for the economy.

You're inciting violence and I'm gonna have to wind up putting some meth addict or crackhead down who thinks you people are gonna pay them and you won't. Then what are ya gonna do when they come looking for their money? Jimmy's address is on the Internet.

Rick Kepple said...

I don't remember any threats on my answering machine, Middy. So you're admitting to threatening me? Was that with murder, Midnightsstaff?

Or is this just another attempt to make me feel "delusional" so I commit suicide? TrailBoss even said once that you people have driven ordinary people to suicide before to protect Stevie Nicks. The shrink said that's what rich people do for fun.

You do realize that feds are reading everything you say, right?

And what will people on Facebook think of Mitt Romney now, since you two are such great supporters? Obama will win, thanks to you two.

Jim McAllister said...

Rick,

It sounds like you put a couple too many scoops of coffee in the Mr. Coffee this morning.

I posted a new blog this morning about music so I'll meet you over there.

JM

midnightsstaff said...

La la dee dah... "Just a spoonful of paranoia make the medicine go down.. in a most delight-ful way"..

Damn.. Guido is wrapped up in some doctorate program at ASU for another two or three weeks and Louie went to Cardinals camp trying out for left defensive tackle again... so much for the direct approach...

You got lucky this time Rick.. but luck can't run forever and Guido at some point will be done and back to working the streets.

Mitt was over for coffee last Thursday looking for me to give him some encouragement like he always does when he gets down and I told him and his wife both that once we get past the election he might want to start cleaning up the voting rosters of Democrats, gypsies and other undesirables..
.. he said he agrees and one thing he promised me is those FEMA camps won't go unused during his administration..

There will be a new tax on the way to encourage good behavior, he is introducing legislation that makes it criminal to not attend church at least three out of four Sunday's a week.
IRS agents will be instructed to account among other things the quarterly tithing check receipts and any missing "donation period contributions" will be grounds for an in house investigation session handled by Homeland Security...
.. see the mission will change only slightly.

Mormons. Foursquare and any other group handling live serpents will be given a exclusion, it will be called the "Restoration of American/Christian Principles Act of 2013"- it was my idea and Mitt jumped all over it..
do you like it?

See, unless you get your mind right and decide to commit your life to the LDS church or one that handles snakes during service your problems might have just started..

And that's not even considering how pissed off Louie always is when he gets cut from training camp again next month- so maybe the best course for you is hoping he gets picked up this time.

Jim McAllister said...

Middy,

LOL

midnightsstaff said...

watch it bud... as you know they already have your phone number...ha-ha-haaaaghaah...

Anonymous said...

buy valium valium side effects memory loss - valium 5mg erowid