John abuzz

2015 Update

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:56:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I'm still taking a break from blogging.

You can find me on Facebook. I'm also on Twitter, Instagram, Google Plus, and Pinterest!

I especially like Twitter. So if you're on there, follow me and I will follow you back.

Now you know why I don't have time to blog!

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Troubled Diva Amy Winehouse Dead at 27

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 03:37:00 +0000

By now, I'm sure everyone has heard about the death of Amy Winehouse. Nonetheless, I wanted the date documented on my blog, so here is an interesting summary by AP video.

Like most people, I am saddened by the news and my sympathy goes out to her family. Out of respect for her family, friends, and fans, I will save my commentary for a later date.

~ John

And here is a more in depth AP article:

Amy Winehouse, singer whose addictions overshadowed a major talent,
found dead at 27 (AP)

Blagojevich guilty on 17 counts

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:39:00 +0000

Breaking News:
Former Illinois Governor guilty of trying to sell U.S. Senate seat previously held by President Obama.
The ex-governor will be going to prison.

Read all about it at the link below to the Chicago Tribune!

Blagojevich guilty on 17 counts

Not surprising. Justice has been served!

~ John

Too funny not to share!

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:21:00 +0000

Watch "Grandma Got a Facebook (in case you missed it)!

A Sunday Drive

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Wed, 04 May 2011 07:37:00 +0000

I'm baaaack! And it didn't even take a swift kick is the butt to get me to blog again. I really did not mean to go for so long without posting to the blog! Time really does fly by. The more time that went by the harder it became to get back to posting.

I felt like I should give some reasons as to my unplanned hiatus. But I also realized that anything I said would just be an excuse. Don't you just hate excuses? I have many excuses though and will not bore you with them. I will give some explanation in the next few days. It all boils down to time management though!

I knew I should have taken that time management seminar, when I had the chance! Oh wait, I DID take it! That was many years ago though. I think I may have actually slept through much of that seminar though (boring)! During that time, my employer had a generous cafeteria benefit plan and paid for that seminar and many others that was considered educational and work related. Those seminar days were a nice change of pace and a good reason to get out of the office for a full day with pay and a decent free lunch..

What REALLY got me back in the saddle was seeing my blog as one of ten featured on As The Crackerhead Crumbles for the "A Sunday Drive" post.

I don't do meme/faux awards or tags anymore, but I didn't see this as a tag. I was under no obligation to do anything. I want to thank FishHawk over at As The Crackerhead Crumbles for making it easier to jump back in feet first. I am also looking forward to visiting the other blogs mentioned and encourage each of you to check them out with the links provided. Each blog is unique in it's own way and you may just find yourself following a new blog.

Author FishHawk says that back during his childhood, his parents would often load up his brother and him after Sunday morning church services for a leisurely drive around where they lived. Even though they were seeing mostly familiar sights, it was still good to see them, and this is why “A Sunday Drive” sounded about right for the name of a weekly series revisiting familiar sites that are well worth seeing again and again. As explained on his blog, the link below the image is to the site itself, and the image is linked to the post it was first included in here.

I also want to thank those of you who have emailed me to ask about my blogging absence. You have received a more personal and private response than will appear in the blog, because I always want to keep the blog positive, upbeat, interesting, funny, entertaining or something like that! And I hope you will leave a comment, when you get the chance! Thanks!

~ John

Town says NO to naming building Hairy Balls (even though it's spelled differently)

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:37:00 +0000

In Fort Wayne, Ind., in the 1930s and 50s, Mayor Harry Baals was very popular. But city leaders won't name a building after him. The issue is pronunciation. The former mayor pronounced his last name "balls." His descendants have since changed it to "bales." (NPR)

What's YOUR opinion? Personally, I see no problem naming the building after the former Mayor. The people in Ft. Wayne seem a little uptight! Just sayin!

Remembering President Ronald Reagan

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 03:17:00 +0000

On this momentous day, which would have been your 100th birthday--we have not forgotten you.

Somewhere I have a great photo that I took in NYC in 1987 of a building that was plastered with this poster. The poster was EVERYWHERE. I hope I can find the photo and post it for President's Day, since I missed it for this occasion.

It's Caturday!

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 19:01:00 +0000

This is for you, Marie!

Sorry I can't do it every Saturday.

But when I do, I will mention you.

And if by chance you have not seen the original
"Keyboard Cat," (already over 12 million views)
here he is:

Britt: The smoking guns in Tucson - Springfield, IL - The State Journal-Register

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:11:00 +0000

Britt: The smoking guns in Tucson - Springfield, IL - The State Journal-Register

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 04:31:00 +0000

John abuzz is now iPhone and Android friendly.

Now if you would like to view this blog on your smartphone, it will automatically re-format to a mobile view. You can even comment from your mobile device.

If you use blogger.com (blogspot), then I hope you will also activate this feature at:

http://draft.blogger.com/home

The mobile view only works for weblog based browsers (ex. mobile Safari and mobile Chrome), so if you are using a Windows Phone 7 device or even Opera mini, it won't work.

Please let me know if your blog is set up for mobile view and I will bookmark it, and read it and comment more often!

The blogger dashboard has no mobile view. It will be easier and faster for me to just go to the bookmark, when accessing blogs from my mobile device.

Today was a rare snow day for my grandkids in the deep south, but they enjoyed it.

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 02:24:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 01:41:00 +0000

Testing mobile blogging. This is the closest thing to a blogger app, so I am simply testing it.

Hey, anything that will get me posting more often has to be a good thing, right?

I like Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:35:00 +0000

...but getting this message sucks.

What's my twitter name?
@JohnAbuzz
of course!

In all fairness, it doesn't happen too often.

Who painted the moon black?

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 02:01:00 +0000

It was too cloudy here to view the lunar eclipse. Were you able to see it?

Happy Solstice!

They just wanted to show their national pride

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:40:00 +0000

I saw this on CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS this morning and couldn't resist sharing. The 2010 Asian Games have recently ended, and so have the patriotic swimsuits of one team. Singapore's information ministry rebukes the water polo team's swimsuits as "inappropriate."

Perhaps the Singaporean government has embarrassed the country more than that pair of swimming trunks ever could.

Illinois to be sixth state to allow civil unions

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 04:02:00 +0000

Illinois Senate approves civil unions; bill headed to governor - Springfield, IL - The State Journal-Register

The bill becomes law on June 1, 2011, even if the Governor does not sign the bill. Governor Quinn made a campaign promise to sign the bill into law, so I expect he will follow through. I'm still in shock that this bill passed!
~ John

Medical Marijuana snuffed out at Illinois Capitol

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 23:51:00 +0000

Medical marijuana bill stalls in Illinois House - Springfield, IL - The State Journal-Register

Had it passed, Illinois would have became the 16th state to legalize medical marijuana, but if fell short by just seven votes.

Our very own local State Representative in the 97th district, Jim Watson was one of legislators who voted "no." Thanks Jim for giving us another reason not to re-elect you, when the time comes.

Even though the Illinois senate passed the bill last year, the Illinois house voted it down today. It needed sixty votes to pass an only got fifty three. Click the link above for full story and how local legislators voted.

Supporters of the failed bill even brought in former talk show host Montel Williams to lobby for legalizing medical marijuana. Williams says he uses medical marijuana to help ease the pain caused by multiple sclerosis. Montel left Springfield and headed to New York a little disappointed. (source).

Here is one of State Rep. Lou Lang's passionate pleas on the house floor for medical marijuana in Illinois. The awesome speech is under four minutes and worth watching. Educate yourselves!

TSA Humor

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:13:00 +0000

Funny Skit, but sad that American travel really has come down to this.

Jacksonville City Council member hoping for civil unions in Illinois

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:24:00 +0000

Jacksonville's gay alderman is cautiously optimistic about the possibility of civil unions in Illinois by year’s end... (click the shared link for full story).

Jacksonville City Council member hoping for civil unions in Illinois | The New WLDS.com and WEAI.com

This is a local news story, but of interest to many Illinois citizens. Will candidate Quinn say anything to get elected? It wouldn't be the first time that we have been deceived by a candidate for high office.

For example, Obama swore an oath before God that he would DEFEND the Constitution. He has called DADT unconstitutional, yet he defends it. That's just one example (don't even get me started).

~ John

Update on John abuzz blog domain

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:50:00 +0000

I just wanted to let everyone know that I still have not had a chance to switch over to my new domain name. I had planned to do it over the long Columbus Day weekend, but too many things came up. At this point I am still planning to make the switch (which involves a lot more than simply forwarding to the new domain name). It will occur sometime soon and probably over a weekend. If you try to access the blog and get a DNS error, then you will know the conversion is in process. Thank you for your patience!

~ John

John abuzz blog may be down a few days

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 01:50:00 +0000

...as I attempt to switch to a new domain name (minus the blogspot). During the switchover, if you try to access this blog, it may result in a DNS error message.

The process can take up to four days (wish me luck). I had a local "so-called" self-employed computer tech tell me it could not be done, but I think I have learned how to do it on my own. We shall see. After the switch over, I will ask you to start using the new domain name.

Hopefully I will do this in the next day or two. If it works, I will SURELY make more blog posts! Please forgive me for not being as engaged in blogging lately.

I would love to hear what you like about the blog and what you don't, and any suggestions you may have. One thing I already know, is that I will leave all politics off this blog in the future and devote another blog just to that topic.

Thank you to my readers...all twelve of you (just kidding!--I hope)!

Two new comedy shows worth checking out

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 22:28:00 +0000

"Ma's Roadhouse" is one of my favorite new shows! It comes on the tru channel (formerly CourtTV) on Wednesday nights. Here's a trailer to wet your appetite, but if you don't get that channel someone has posted the show on YouTube! Let me know what you think!

"Raising Hope"debuted last week on FOX, and I found it hilarious! It has a great cast, including Cloris Leachman. Check it out on Tuesday nights.

9/11 Tribute

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 13:06:00 +0000

Never forget.

Time is running out to get your Chocolate covered Bacon

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:42:00 +0000

Would you try this "food?"

If you are pregnant and the photo or thought of this food make you sick, I'm sorry! Where can you get such a delicacy? You can find it and other odd foods at the Illinois State Fair, of course! You better hurry though, because the fair ends Sunday! (State Journal-Register)

It's Caturday!

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 10:22:00 +0000

Thinking of "TheMom" with fond memories.

These and other funny cat photos, videos, and so much more can be found at ICanHasCheezBurger.com