Jolly Monday Wishes A Happy Birthday To Sesame Street!!!

Posted on November 11, 2019 by jilldennison under animals, Bits 'n Pieces, cartoons, education, Humour, Politic-Free Mondays

Welcome to another episode of Jolly Monday on this cold Monday morn. This is a special day in many ways, but one of those ways is that it is Remembrance Day (Canada and the Commonwealth countries) and Veteran’s Day (in the U.S.), a day to remember and honour those who died while in military service. I’ll have more about that in a later post today, but I just wanted to mention it here. Well, toss your coats over there, and grab a nice hot drink and a snack off the table, for I have a couple of cool things to bring smiles to those blue lips this morning!

Sorry guys, no bacon today! I forgot to buy any, and I used the last of it last week!

🎈 Happy Birthday Sesame Street!!! 🎈

The anniversary was actually yesterday, November 10^th, but since yesterday was Sunday, there was no appropriate venue for me to celebrate, so we are celebrating this event one day late. Do you know what the event is? I’ll give you a hint … 1969. Still don’t know? Okay, how about this … Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Elmo, Bert & Ernie … NOW you got it? That’s right, folks, it was fifty years ago yesterday that Sesame Street made its television debut!

The show was the brainchild of Joan Ganz Cooney, a former documentary producer for public television. Cooney’s goal was to create programming for preschoolers that was both entertaining and educational. She also wanted to use TV as a way to help underprivileged 3- to 5- year-olds prepare for kindergarten. “Sesame Street” was set in a fictional New York neighborhood and included ethnically diverse characters and positive social messages. There was Linda, the librarian who taught sign language, and Tarah who taught us about wheelchairs …

Sesame Street taught ABCs and 123s, but also much more … it taught our children about diversity and acceptance, taught them how to deal with tough situations and emotions. And most important of all, it made learning completely painless and even fun!

They had a foster child character, an HIV-positive character, and once Elmo even testified before Congress! When Will Lee who played the shopkeeper Mr. Hooper, died unexpectedly of a heart attack, Sesame Street tackled the concept of death …

Well, okay, now I’ve gone and made you cry on Jolly Monday. But, say ‘Hi’ to the gang over at Sesame Street, wish them a Happy 50th Birthday, and then I promise to make you laugh!

Big Foot has been STOLEN!

Police in Florida are seeking information on the disappearance of an unusual piece of property — a 300-pound Bigfoot statue.The Boynton Beach Police Department said the 8-foot-tall Sasquatch statue was stolen from in front of a store called Mattress Monsterz in October.

“Bigfoot is missing,” the department tweeted.

But if you think that’s bad …

In Marysville, Ohio (I used to work at the Honda plant in Marysville!) thieves made off with a roller coaster!!!The Union County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a white, Dodge Ram with a flatbed that was spotted by a traffic camera taking the roller coaster.The roller coaster, which is worth about $50,000, has alligator-themed cars that measure 20 feet in length.

Who the heck steals a roller coaster??? What are they thinking they can do with it … give it to their kids for Christmas? Set it up in the back yard? Sheesh.

Campus parking fines payable by … WHAT???

This one caught my eye, and while I expected to find humour, and I did, I also found something kind of nice. I never had to pay parking fines during my undergrad years, but when I went to grad school, I racked up quite a few. They were all written off thanks to a couple of kindly profs, but still …

This happened at University of Alaska in Anchorage. Students can pay outstanding parking fines with donations of peanut butter and jelly for fellow students facing hunger.

“Any nut butter-almond, cashew, peanut butter- or any flavor jam, jelly, marmalade, preserves, etc. will be accepted. All donations must be commercially produced (no home canning), unopened and not expired.”

The jars will be distributed through the UAA Emergency Food Cache at the UAA Student Health and Counseling Center. Two jars can erase $10 worth of fines, while five jars eliminates $60.

I think that’s really nice, don’t you?

Time for a few ‘toons, don’t you think?

And a few cute or funny pictures

I’m sorry guys … I just couldn’t resist! You know I don’t mean it, right? Right? Guys???

And that wraps up another …

{pssssst … Gwammie … did ya forget about the aminamal video?}

Oh … Jolly just reminded me … how could I possibly end Jolly Monday without a cute animal video???

Okay, folks, this is really it for this morning, for some of you have jobs (you know, the kind where they pay you to go there and do work?), and others of us have … um … jobs that pay only in the currency of personal satisfaction! Please, remember to share those lovely smiles with others you see today … speak kindly, for you don’t know what people are dealing with. Have a great week, dear friends! Love ‘n hugs from Filosofa and Jolly!

Afternoon ‘Toons!

Posted on November 9, 2019 by jilldennison under Bits 'n Pieces, cartoons, Environmental Issues, Global Issues, Humour, Law and justice, Political commentary, Social commentary

The first thing I saw in the news this morning made my blood boil … the republicans in the House of Representatives are requesting that Hunter Biden and the whistleblower be subpoenaed to testify before the investigative committees. First, Hunter Biden? They have no reason to ask Hunter Biden to testify … that is harassment of a private citizen without cause. But even worse, is their “demand” that the whistleblower testify. That is akin to painting a big, red target on his or her back. It would almost certainly be signing his/her death warrant, given the crazies in the Trump camp that are running around fully loaded for bear. So, I knew that anything I would write at the moment would be a rant. It’s Saturday, and this afternoon I will be going out for lunch and a bit of shopping with the girls, so I really don’t want to be in a growlie mood. So, instead I decided to look at some of those brilliant political cartoons and at least maybe have a chuckle or two, at the expense of the idiots in Washington.

Lindsey Graham. Sigh. Lindsey seemingly has no conscience, is two-faced, and seemingly goes in whichever direction he perceives the winds of fortune to be blowing, even if it means stabbing a friend in the back, as he once did his ‘best friend’, John McCain. More recently, ol’ Lindsey, who fully supported Bill Clinton’s impeachment back in 1998-1999, is refusing to even do his job, says he won’t even read the transcripts from the impeachment investigations.

Since long before he took office, Trump has called climate change a ‘hoax’. Since taking office, he has actively done everything in his power to add to the problem, to decimate and destroy our environment. He has long said that he would take the United States out of the Paris Climate Accord, making us the only nation on the planet not committed to doing everything in our power to keep the planet from becoming uninhabitable. Last week, he kept that “promise”, and took the first step toward pulling out of the Accord. It was a sad day for the citizens of this nation, and one that will ultimately make us the pariah, the most hated nation on earth. Climate change is real, folks … it’s Trump who is the hoax!

Trump recently announced that he is changing his state of residence from New York to Florida. I don’t recall what b.s. excuse he gave, but the reality is it’s naught but a tax dodge. New Yorkers cheered, while Floridians drowned their sorrows in either a bar or the rising sea tides.

I rather thought this looked more like Boris than Donnie …

There was some good news last Tuesday, as people in states like Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania used their vote to tell the nation that they are fed up with the GOP corruption running rampant in the Era of Trump.

And, of course, as I mentioned in my opening blurb, there is the whistleblower and the fact that the GOP is basically calling for his/her execution …

And, of course, there is that proverbial ‘elephant in the room’, the looming impeachment, which I hope succeeds beyond our wildest dreams and that Trump is booted out of the White House before the end of the year! Yeah, I know, I’m dreaming.

And, to offset any angst you might be feeling … take a look at this … guaranteed to give you a chuckle. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, my friends!

J-J-Jolly M-M-Monday

Posted on November 4, 2019 by jilldennison under animals, Bits 'n Pieces, cartoons, Humour, Politic-Free Mondays

Good morning, friends! Once again it is that day of the week, the dreaded … Monday. But, at least you gained an hour over the weekend, so you should all be happy and rested, yes? Then why the glum looks on your faces? Looks like Jolly and I have our work cut out for us this morning, turning those scowls into smiles before you leave here. Well … grab a snack from the table, and let’s see what we can find!

Larry’s bacon

World’s oldest ‘Happy Meal’?

It has probably been 15 years since I have eaten a McDonald’s hamburger. Never my favourite fast food, when Miss Goose was little, she liked McDonald’s, so like any grandparent worth their salt, I took her there about once a week after picking her up from the sitters after work. But those days are long in the past.

McDonald’s closed its last restaurant in Iceland in 2009, the year after the financial crisis devastated the nation’s economy, and one of the last meals sold at the location in Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, was bought on Oct. 31, 2009, by marketing consultant Hjörtur Smárason. He had read about online rumors of never-rotting McDonald’s burgers and wanted to put the myth to the test. He bought a cheeseburger with fries, drove home and left the box on a shelf in his garage.

Three years went by, in which Smárason forgot about the souvenir of a bygone era. He had other problems to worry about. The financial crisis had hit him hard.

“I lost all my savings. My clients were going bankrupt. I was trying to hang on to my house.”

Three years on, as he was preparing to move to Copenhagen, he came across the McDonald’s meal in his garage. When he opened the box, he was shocked — but not for the reason he expected. Contrary to the rotten remnants he was prepared for, he found what appeared to be a fully intact meal.Last week marked the burger’s 10^th birthday, and it still looks as fresh as it did the day Mr. Smárason purchased it! For a while, it resided in Iceland’s National Museum, but it is now on display at a small hotel, the Snotra House in Þykkvibær, South Iceland. AND … there is a livestream video of the burger and fries if anybody feels inclined to watch it!

McDonald’s apparently felt this was not the best publicity for their product and has attempted to debunk the myth that its burgers do not decompose, arguing there is a scientific explanation for Iceland’s never-rotting burger …

“Without sufficient moisture — either in the food itself or the environment — bacteria and mold may not grow and therefore, decomposition is unlikely.”

Think about this next time you consider taking the kids to Mickey D’s!

Astronauts like cookies too …At any given time, there are between three to ten people on the International Space Station (ISS). The three ‘permanent’ crew members rotate periodically, generally every six months, though some have stayed as long as a year. No doubt, spending six months confined in small quarters with two other people, can be trying. Think about it … no walks in the park, trips to the mall, dinners in restaurants, no family. Most of us wouldn’t last six days, let alone six months. And then, add to that, the fact that there are no chocolate chip cookies!!! This is trauma beyond belief!

But never fear, for help is on the way to the brave crew of the ISS! An oven has been launched to the International Space Station (ISS) for astronauts to bake chocolate chip cookies in. A cargo craft containing the specially-designed “space oven” and baking ingredients took off from the US state of Virginia on Saturday.

Never let it be said that NASA doesn’t have a heart!

Actually, this is all part of an experiment to test what impact high heat and zero gravity have on the shape and consistency of the cookies. The experiment is being dubbed the first instance of baking in space. Hilton’s DoubleTree hotel chain, which provided the dough, said the “landmark microgravity experiment” was aimed at making long-duration space travel “more hospitable”.

Hedgehog cakes???

I have mentioned a few times that I have no artistic talent. Nada. Zip. Zero. Zilch. And that extends to cake decorating. I can make an awesome tasting cake, but it will not look like a work of art. Recently, for some reason unbeknownst to me, people attempted to bake cakes resembling a hedgehog.

Shouldn’t be a big deal, right? Well, the results … I didn’t know whether to shake my head and roll my eyes, or laugh out loud! Take a look for yourself …

Some of those were downright creepy looking!!! At least I don’t feel quite so bad about my own lack of decorating talent now!

For Larry, rawgod, and Emily …

I came across these, and couldn’t help thinking about my bacon-loving friends …

We need a few ‘toons, don’t we?

And a few fun pics …

And last, but not least … a cute animal video!!!

Well, folks, that’s all I’ve got … you’re looking a little happier than when you first got here. Keep those smiles in place today, but share them, okay? A smile is one of the few things in life that actually grows the more you give it away! Have a safe and wonderful week, dear friends! Love ‘n hugs from Filosofa and Jolly!

‘Toons To Brighten Your Day … Or Not

Posted on October 30, 2019 by jilldennison under Bits 'n Pieces, cartoons, Humour, Political commentary, Social commentary

It is a dreary, dark, rainy day here today, and I thought a few cartoons might brighten the day, lighten the mood.

The big story of the day … every day for the past month or so, and for the foreseeable future … is that of the impeachment inquiries taking place in the House of Representatives, and the response by Trump and the republicans …

Ol’ Mick Mulvaney has been in the news a lot lately, since he did that “open mouth, insert foot” trick, and then tried unsuccessfully to remove his foot from his mouth …

Corruption runs rampant in Washington these days, from the “president” down through his rank of minions, and among some in Congress who feel compelled to defend Trump’s speech and actions, though for the most part there is no defense.

You all remember last week when Trump was giving a speech and he claimed that he’s building a wall … in Colorado!

Trump’s treatment of our Kurdish allies will not be forgotten any time soon. Pulling our troops out of Syria, leaving the Kurds vulnerable to Erdoğan’s brutal attacks, was beyond unconscionable, and has shown our allies around the globe that the U.S. can no longer be trusted.

The GOP once stood for “Grand Old Party”. Those days are long gone, and for the past ten years or so, it has stood for only the wealthiest in the nation, willing to abandon the rest of us. Still, I think they bit off more than they could chew when they nominated and later elected Donald Trump to the presidency, and they are now struggling to figure out how to support him, how to defend the indefensible.

And last, but not least, since tomorrow is Hallowe’en …

Have a safe and fun Hallowe’en!

Howly Jolly Monday!

Posted on October 28, 2019 by jilldennison under animals, Bits 'n Pieces, cartoons, Humour, Politic-Free Mondays

Good Monday-before-Hallowe’en morning, my friends! Not only is this the Monday before Hallowe’en, but it is also the last Monday in the U.S. before the end of Daylight Savings Time (DST), and this time next week, darkness will fall even earlier. On the other side of the pond, the time changed this past weekend. You know what this all means, right? Winter is coming. Snow. Shoveling. Slippery roads. Sweaters. Socks. Shoes. Sigh. Hey … I just realized … everything to do with winter starts with the letter ‘S’. Yes, yes, my mind does work in odd ways, but we all knew that. Anyway, to start this week out right, let’s have a little snack, a warm drink, and see about finding something to bring a smile to our faces on this cold, dark winter morn … (Sorry guys … no bacon today … I ran out!)

Teeny tiny rats driving teeny tiny cars

Scientists at University of Richmond in Virginia have taught rats how to drive! Now, the scientists claim this research is going to help them better understand human anxiety and depression … I’m not sure what the connection is, but the rats driving their little specially-made cars are too adorable!

They claim it proves that little rat brains are much more capable of performing complicated tasks than previously realized. The scientists also claim that driving appeared to reduce the rats’ stress … hmmmm … quite the opposite effect than it has on humans. But then again, the rats weren’t driving on the Interstate highway with 10,000 other rats trying to get ahead of everyone else!

Take a look …

Parking sticker shock …

A week or so ago, we had the occasion to go into the city. Now, I avoid going into the city like the plague … for one thing, I almost always get lost downtown, and for another, I just don’t like crowds and tall buildings, much prefer trees and wide open spaces. But, in this case, it was something that needed to be done for a friend, so we braved it. We were parked in one of the many underground parking garages for less than three hours, and when we left, I got the shock of my life … $14! Not only that, but to get out, you couldn’t pay cash, but had to use a credit or debit card! Luckily, daughter Chris had hers handy! But, if you think that was bad …

Johnny Cheung Shun-yee owned a parking space in front of the 73-story office tower The Center, in Hong Kong. Take a wild guess what someone was willing to pay for the spot, one of only 40 in front of the building? Nope … nope, more than that. The equivalent of $969,000 USD!!! That’s almost one million dollars for a bloomin’ parking space! Turns out, it is also more than three times the average home price in Hong Kong! And we thought the cost of living here was high!

‘Tis the season … for zombies???

In Key West, Florida, they hold an annual ZombieFest Street Party this time of year. Some 11,000 zombies are expected to show up, riding bicycles down Duval Street, joined by a smattering of other creatures such as skeletons, evil clowns, witches and the like.

Hmmm … I know a few people who would fit in well there!

Now THAT’s scary!

We’ve all been, at one time or another, in those Hallowe’en haunted houses, right? Personally, I don’t care much for them, for there is always something that reaches out and touches you in the eerie darkness, and I’m trying hard not to die of heart failure just yet. But, there is a haunted house in Summertown, Tennessee, that must really be the haunted house to top all others!

Just to give you an idea, in order to even enter McKamey Manor, one must first complete a sports physical, sign a 40-page waiver, pass a drug test, provide proof of medical insurance, and prove they are at least 21 years old. If you meet all those criteria, you must then watch a 2-hour video called And Then There Were None, which features footage of every visitor from July 2017 and August 2019 quitting before the end of the experience. Visitors leave by uttering the code phrase, “You really don’t want to do this.”

The owner of the house, Russ McKamey, says admission is cheap … a bag of dog food to help feed his five dogs, and the prize for finishing? A cool $20,000. Thing is, nobody has ever finished! McKamey claims that the key to inspiring terror is a “mind game” that relies on hypnotism to have visitors tricked by their own minds. He said each experience is video recorded to prove to visitors — and authorities — that nothing illegal took place.

“When I use the hypnosis I can put you in a kitty pool with a couple inches of water and tell you there’s a great white shark in there, and you’re gonna think there’s a shark in there. And so, when you have that kind of power over people, and have them do and see things that you want them to see, then they can leave here thinking it really happened, and they’ll go to the authorities and say, ‘oh, whatever,’ and I have to come back and show the footage and say, ‘it didn’t go that way at all.”

Um … I don’t know about you guys, but I won’t be heading to Summertown, Tennessee, any time soon!

Let’s wrap up with some ‘toons …

And a few funny signs …

And, what would Jolly Monday be without a cute animal video?

That’s a wrap, folks, for we all have things we need to be doing. Please, please, remember to share those gorgeous smiles you’re wearing … I know from my own experience how much it can help sometimes just to have someone smile and say “Hey … how ya doin’?” Keep safe and have a great week! Love ‘n hugs from Filosofa and Jolly!

Jolly Funday Monday!

Posted on October 21, 2019 by jilldennison under animals, Bits 'n Pieces, cartoons, Humour, Politic-Free Mondays

Good Monday morning, friends! I hope you all had a fun and/or relaxing weekend. Mine? Oh, nothing much … you know, hiked up Mount Everest, paddled down the Amazon … just the same ol’, same ol’. Okay, okay … I did next to nothing! The girls and I did our usual lunch/bookstore trip on Saturday … I took a break from my blog on Saturday, by the way! A whole day without writing a single post! That’s the first time since sometime late 2018, I believe! But, now begins another week, and I’m trying to psych myself into getting back into my household chores routine, because for the past several weeks I have seriously lacked motivation to do more than the absolute essentials.

Anyway, enough of that … there are treats on the table … I have no idea what, since I let Jolly prepare the table, though I baked the treats (you remember how Jolly is in the kitchen!) So, grab a bite and let’s start this week off with some fun!

Larry’s bacon

Note to rawgod: Note that all three plates of bacon are uniquely different. Take whichever you wish, but take only one, please, for the others are for Emily and Larry!

When you go fishing, you expect to catch … er … fish, right? Sure, you might get a surprise by catching a mollusk of some sort, or these days you might well pull up a net full of plastic bottles ‘n such. But what you really do not ever expect to catch is a …That’s right … a bobcat!

Bob Hereford was out fishing on Flathead Lake in Montana, with his wife, son Brett, and the family pooch, when they heard something thrashing around in the water. Bob very carefully steered the boat in the direction of the splashing for a closer look, and there he was, struggling to stay afloat, the little bobcat. Son Brett gently scooped him up in their fishing net, and they drove the bobcat back to shore, releasing him on dry land.Experts say that while bobcats can swim, they typically avoid bodies of water, and they speculate that it is possible an eagle had picked up the bobcat and dropped him over the water. Either way, all’s well that ends well, and this fish story had a happy ending!

It’s no secret that cats like to get ‘in’ things. Leave a cardboard box lying around … before you can turn around, there’s a cat in it … well, if you have cats, that is. When Orange was still alive, his favourite place was the fruit bowl! A laundry basket full of clothes left unattended? There will soon be a cat in it. Every time daughter Chris is packing for a band trip, the cats love getting into her suitcase.Last week, Nick and Voirrey Coole – a couple from Isle Of Man, the United Kingdom – had scheduled their 40th birthday celebrations in New York. When they went through airport security with their carry-on baggage, the security staff repeatedly asked them if that was their bag after it had gone through the scanner, they were puzzled. They had purposely put very little into their carry-ons, for they intended to use them to bring back souvenirs.

The security staff unzipped the bag in question, and out climbed the Coole’s cat, Candy! Nick later posted on Facebook …

“You know that feeling when you get ushered into a side room at airport security because you’ve got a cat in your hand luggage? Candy decided to sneak into our hand bag, thanks Barry and Lorna for picking her up so we can head off on our holiday. Fair play to airport security for helping to get her home so we could catch our flight.”

As one commenter, Richard Lee said, “Cat was obviously thinking, ‘I fits, I sits, I fly’”

How about a few houses, all decked out for the spooky season…

Oopsie … my bad … wrong scary holiday!

Shay Bradley died earlier this month, and his funeral was held on October 12^th in Kilmanagh, Kilkenny, Ireland. As friends and family stood around the grave where the casket had just been lowered, imagine their surprise when, from down in the hole, came a knocking sound and “Hello … hello!” … more knocking … “Hello. Let me out! Where the f*** am I?” … knocking … “Let me out. It’s f***ing dark in here.”

His daughter, Andrea, posted on Twitter …

“It was his dying wish that we played this at his funeral. What a man, to make us all laugh when we were incredibly sad. He was some man for one man. Love you forever Poppabear.”

I think we have time for just a few cartoons …

Alright, folks … time for us all to go forth and be useful … no, Joe, not multiply … you’ve already done your share of that! Oh, but first … how could I forget the cute animal video? This one comes to us courtesy of Colette … she saw it, and knew we would all love it! It’s short, but guaranteed to bring a smile to your face!

And now, we must really go. Jolly and I have so enjoyed spending time with you this morning. Share those smiles, friends … some people seem to have lost their own! Keep safe and have a wonderful week! Love ‘n hugs from Filosofa and Jolly!

Jolly Sleepy Monday!!!

Posted on October 14, 2019 by jilldennison under animals, Bits 'n Pieces, cartoons, Holidays, Humour, Politic-Free Mondays

Good … {yawn} … Monday mor {yawn} ning, friends. Sorry ‘bout that … I’m super {yawn} sleepy this morning for some reason. Maybe it’s the season change, for it was definitely autumn here this weekend. Hugh tells me they even had a bit of snow out there in Minnesota! So, did you all have a good weekend? Anybody do anything exceptionally fun?

And now, it’s back to the grind … er, um … the joy of the work week! But first … there are treats over there on the table, and then let’s see what fun adventures we can find to get into today, okay?

Bacon — the one on the left is Larry’s, the one in the middle is rg’s, the one on the right is Emily’s. Now guys — she’s younger and doesn’t have to worry so much about her cholesterol. I’m just looking out for you guys.

Coffee or tea?

Benjamin’s donuts ‘n juice

A few holiday treats!

A night in a blimp?

You all know the Goodyear blimp that flies over football games and such, right? Well, guess what? Now, you can spend a night in the famous dirigible! Goodyear listed one of its blimps on Airbnb for three separate one-night stays October 22 through 24.

Somehow, Goodyear squeezed a bed, a couch, two chairs, several tables, a potted plant and plenty of football knicknacks into the tiny blimp gondola, and it looks surprisingly cozy. And imagine the views you’ll have … why, I would stay awake all night just looking at th … what??? It won’t be leaving the ground? Bummer. The blimp will remain grounded in an air hangar minutes from Goodyear’s headquarters in Akron, Ohio. Guests can step outside the blimp into an open entertainment center complete with a TV and open bar. Heck, I can stay home and have television and a glass of wine. I wanted stunning views!

Anyway, if you’re interested, it’s only $150 for a one-night stay. Goodyear advises those interested to monitor its Airbnb listing on October 15 for a chance to make a reservation.

Tough luck …

A Japanese businessman traveling on business in Paris had his watch stolen last Monday. Now, normally I would have empathy … I mean, it’s rather an invasion of person to have your watch snatched right off your wrist, yes?

The man had stepped out of the Hôtel Napoléon, near the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysées, around 9 p.m. on Monday evening to smoke a cigarette, when he was approached by a man who asked him for a cigarette, but when he put his hand out, the thief seized the timepiece and ran away.

But, there’s a reason I’m not terribly empathetic here … the watch was valued at $830,000. Obviously, if he could spend that much on a watch, when one that costs $30 would keep time just as well, then he isn’t in need of my compassion. Perhaps at least the thief will find a way to do good, to help others, with the money he gets for the watch.

What, you may ask, does a nearly million-dollar watch look like (for nobody reading this post has likely ever seen one!)? Well, it was a Richard Mille Tourbillon Diamond Twister, and it looks like this …

Seriously??? And people pay almost a million dollars for THAT???

Pumpkin carving … glub blub

‘Tis that time of year, when people are carving pumpkins into scary faces and other things. Where do you carve your pumpkin? Chris is the pumpkin carver in our house. She used to do it in the kitchen, but now she usually just sits on the floor out here in the living room and carves away. But there is a group of people who have a unique pumpkin-carving place this year … underwater!

Nearly two dozen artists of all ages, working in teams of two, used dive knives and fine carving tools to transform their orange gourds into sea creatures Saturday. The divers also were challenged to keep the hollow, naturally buoyant pumpkins from floating off while they carved their critters. Take a look …

Josephine Walker and Stephanie McClary from Detroit, Michigan, placed first with their representation of two moray eels encircling a heart. Their prize? A dive trip for two at Key Largo’s Amoray Dive Resort, the contest’s organizer.

And now for a few ‘toons ‘n pictures …

I had to think a few minutes to get this one, but once I did, I chuckled

This is soooooo me!

And this one is for Hugh, with a little something extra, since I forgot Maxine last week!

Well, friends, I’ve really enjoyed spending a bit of time with you this morning, but I know you have things to do, places to go, people to see. Please remember to share those gorgeous smiles you’re wearing … remember that some people didn’t make it over for Jolly Monday and they might need a smile. Have a wonderful week all! Love ‘n hugs from Filosofa and Jolly!

Time For Some ‘Toons!

Posted on October 12, 2019 by jilldennison under Bits 'n Pieces, cartoons, Global Issues, Humour, Law and justice, Political commentary

It’s been another of those weeks that was filled with ‘breaking news’, most of it angst-inducing. These days, as never before at least in my recollection, has it been so difficult, nearly impossible, to keep up with it all. To a large extent, perhaps that is the intent of the small mind in the Oval Office. I have no less than five posts started, but before I can finish one, something else pops up and the result is I cannot focus at all now, so … I decided it’s time for a cartoon break!

Last Monday morning, after a telephone conversation between Trump and Turkey’s President Recep Erdoğan, Donald Trump announced that he would be pulling U.S. troops out of Syria, thus leaving our Kurdish allies to fend for themselves. Since then, hundreds of Kurds have been slaughtered by the Turkish army. Nothing funny about the situation, but the cartoonists sum it up well …

And, of course the other big news concerns Trump’s other phone conversation, this one with President Zelenskyy of the Ukraine, whereby he attempted to bully, blackmail, or bribe Zelenskyy into ‘digging up dirt’ on one of Trump’s potential competitors in next year’s election, Joe Biden. A whistleblower, concerned about the call and other issues, came forward, and it was this that at long last motivated the House to open a formal impeachment inquiry …

Just under three weeks ’til Hallowe’en, folks. Those kids who are hoping to score some treats at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue might want to re-think that plan …

We all know of Trump’s ego … it goes beyond ego, really … narcissism, megalomania … I’ve never seen someone who thought himself to be so superior …

A last one … this, I believe, sums up the entire past three years …

Enjoy your weekend!

Jolly Monday! 👻 🏚️ 👻

Posted on October 7, 2019 by jilldennison under animals, Bits 'n Pieces, cartoons, Humour, Politic-Free Mondays

Good Monday morning, friends. Well, that’s something of an oxymoron, isn’t it … ‘Good’ and ‘Monday’ really don’t seem to belong in the same sentence. However, for me, Mondays are special, for it means that I get to see all of you and spend a bit of time with you! So, did you have a wonderful weekend? Mine was fine … it was nice to have the cooler temperatures and be able to get out and about without struggling to breathe. Now, I know it’s a little early yet, but it is October, and so I did a bit of Hallowe’en-themed baking for you guys. Jolly helped, but after the time he set the kitchen afire, he’s only allowed to help with supervision. So, grab a bite of something, a cuppa, and let’s see if we can find something to smile about!

Benjamin’s juice boxes — but he’ll share if you ask nicely!

Legally haunted???

See this house?

This house can be yours for a mere $1.9 million! It’s a large house … 4,628 square feet, with five bedrooms, five bathrooms, stained glass windows, arched doorways, a three-car garage, a sun room and a saltwater pool overlooking the river. Oh … and it comes with one other accoutrement: ghosts. 👻

It all began in the late 1960s when Helen Ackley and her family moved into the Victorian house at 1 LaVeta Place in Nyack, New York. Side note but here’s a fun fact: Nyack sits on the West bank of the Hudson River, and right across the river rests none other but the legendary Sleepy Hollow.

According to Ms. Ackley, there were ghosts sharing the house with them. She said that one ghost woke her daughter, Cynthia, up every morning for school by shaking the bed. It gets better. When Spring Break rolled around, Cynthia made an announcement that there was no school and she was planning on sleeping in. Turns out the bed did not shake that next morning. Despite all of these instances, Mrs. Ackley says that it was a “peaceful coexistence with the spirits”.The Ackleys would live in the house for more than 20 years before deciding to sell, not because of the ghosts, but simply to move to a warmer climate. They sold the house to Jeffrey and Patrice Stambovsky, who placed a $32,500 deposit into an escrow account. But, turns out the Ackleys rather forgot to mention that one pesky little detail about the ghosts. Well, it wasn’t all that strange that the Stambovskys would hear about the ghosts, since Ms. Ackley had submitted an article to Reader’s Digest that was printed in 1977 detailing the paranormal experiences inside her home.

When the Stambovskys learned of the ghosts, they decided to call off the purchase, but the Ackleys refused to refund their deposit, so the case ended up in court. Long story short, in what would come to be known as the “Ghostbusters” ruling in 1990, the appellate court ruled that, because a routine home inspection would never uncover it, sellers must disclose that a house is haunted to potential buyers. And thus, this house is now considered to have been declared ‘legally haunted’.

In 1993 paranormal researchers were able to contact the ghosts and published a book on those events.

Since then, the house has had two more owners, but is once again up for sale for a mere pittance ($1.9 million). Any takers?

Notice anything?

Take a look at these pictures. Notice anything? Some pretty detailed photography, right? Wrong. These are not photographs but are portraits done by artist Dylan Eakin.

“I’ve been training myself in photorealism since 2016. It’s been a bit of a journey, but I’m finally at a place, where I’m truly proud of my work. Charcoal is the main medium I used, with graphite for the finer details. Every once in a while, I’ll use tiny points of white paint for the highlights.”

I am in awe … but then, my artistic skills are zip, nada, zilch. You can see more of Mr. Eakin’s work at Bored Panda.

Pics ‘n ‘toons

Here are a few cartoons and funny pictures I snagged …

Adorable Lions

What’s your favourite critter? Mine is … lions, tigers, bears, kitties, elephants, hedgehogs, giraffes, cougars, ducks, dogs, geese, camels, peacocks … well, you get the picture … I’m a critter-lover, so I loves ‘em all! For today, let’s watch some baby lions having fun!

That is about it for me this week, folks. Have a safe and awesome week, and remember to share those smiles with people you run into, people you work with, people you live with … we all need smiles … and yes, Roger Jacob, this means you too!!! Love ‘n hugs from Filosofa and Jolly!

‘Toons … Just ‘Toons

Posted on September 29, 2019 by jilldennison under Bits 'n Pieces, cartoons, Election 2020, Environmental Issues, Global Issues, Humour, Law and justice, Political commentary

It’s Sunday … I think we’re all exhausted after a week of one ‘breaking news’ story after another … so I think we should sit back and let those talented cartoonists entertain us this afternoon, don’t you? No doubt they’ve had plenty of material to work with this week.

This is one I can certainly relate to … can you?

On Monday, young Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg gave a show-stopping speech at the United Nations Climate Summit. Trump chose to attend some other function instead, mostly in order to thumb his nose at the planet and the 7+ billion people living on it. Overall, the summit did not produce the commitments from nations that we had hoped, and was rather a disappointment, but there have been increasing numbers of people turning out for the climate strikes, as Wolf Boy showed us yesterday. Some people are taking climate change seriously, just not the world leaders who need to.

In 2016, the Russians influenced the presidential election in favour of Donald Trump and clearly with his knowledge and approval. Now, Trump apparently felt that his buddy Vlad (Putin) wasn’t doing enough to help him, so he attempted to blackmail and bully the newly-elected President Zelenskyy of the Ukraine to dig up dirt on one of his opponents for the upcoming 2020 election.

But, of course Trump still has a ‘healthy’ relationship with Russia …

And … the topic I know you’ve been waiting for … impeachment! The phone call between Trump and President Zelenskyy was the straw that broke ~~Nancy Pelosi’s~~ the camel’s back, and finally Speaker Pelosi was convinced that impeachment is necessary, despite her misgivings.