Category: humor

Waterblogged!

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 3 Comments

I have been blogging about swimming a lot recently, hence the title of this blog post. Clever, huh?

Editor’s Note: No.

Anyway, I have been blogging a lot about water since I have been swimming across Lake Michigan this summer in my backyard pool. After swimming more miles than expected in July, it became mathematically apparent that I would likely make my mileage goal by the end of summer. I started to think about finishing with a flourish or grand gesture, and I had one in mind.

I was aware of this event as I had considered competing in it in my younger days.

I certainly couldn’t finish the 5K (3.1 miles) unless I was being towed by a boat. But I had done a mile open water swim in July, so I am pretty sure I can slog slowly through the 2.5K (1.55 miles) course. Oh, you’re asking why it is called the Big Shoulders swim?

Editor’s Note: Nobody asked.

Well, Chicago was called the City of Big Shoulders by poet Carl Sandburg. Of course, he also called Chicago the Hog Butcher for the World. I think the swimming race organizers chose the better name.

And there’s another reason.

Continue reading “Waterblogged!” →

Pack It Back Up

~ Jim Flanigan

I was moved by the passion of this speaker in this video tweet. You may have already seen it. When someone speaks with such passion, I feel there has to be some truth to what is being said. Well, let’s take a look before we unpack what is being said.

https://twitter.com/alexkramers/status/1428784100463333380?s=20

Such passion. Such raw emotion. Such an apparent lack of facts. There’s so much to unpack, so I did just that because if I’m anything, I’m helpful. Oh, and I like to poke fun at people like the speaker. Come join in as we take a deep dive together into this video.

Continue reading “Pack It Back Up” →

It’s Not Nice to Confuse a Puppy

~ Jim Flanigan

As owners of a new puppy, we are trying to teach him some things like sit, stay, walk on a leash, and to stop stealing our shoes, the smellier the better. But look how sad he is after being confused by one of his toys.

He was chewing on his Chewbacca toy yesterday. Hey, why is it that when people mention Chewbacca, they often say, “Chewbacca from Star Wars?” Has there ever been a Chewbacca from anywhere else? It’s Chewbacca. Period.

Anyway, our little puppy was chewing on his Chewy when this happened …

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Another Edition of … Am I a Bad Guy?

~ Jim Flanigan

I received an email with this pic from an extended family member.

My immediate reaction was to reply with, “Thank you. Amazing. I’ve never seen a picture of birds before.”

Am I a bad guy?

Mite Be a Reblog

~ Jim Flanigan

Sorry to get you all excited, but this is NOT a bonus Mite Be Funny cartoon, the universally shunned Sunday morning cartoon. But I was surprised amazed shocked stunned aghast that yesterday’s Mite Be Funny cartoon was actually reblogged by someone. Sure, it was hilarious when compared to other mediocre Sunday funnies like the Nancy comic strip. Take a look …

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Rapid Climate Change

~ Jim Flanigan

The newly released UN report on climate change warns of devastating changes in the coming decades, especially to coastal areas. The east coast of the US, including our nation’s capital, may eventually be submerged. But then I saw this news item, and climate change seems to be happening much faster that anticipated, at least in Washington, DC.

I hate to think of President Uncle Joe’s man cave in the White House basement being flooded. I envision him slogging around on a squishy carpet in hip waders trying to play pool. Anyway, if true, this story is huge and underreported. Then again, it is from Fox, so the chances of it being true are the same as a glacier’s in 2050.

So, what, if anything, can be done about climate change? Click here to buy my book on Amazon to find out. Two of the stories are set in the future. See what I think the future may bring.

Back to School!

~ Jim Flanigan

As my youngest child started 8th grade yesterday, I sent her on her way with these pearls of wisdom from me to consider.

  • Don’t miss the bus, because I’m not driving you.
  • Don’t forget anything, because I’m not driving it to school.

I’m sorry, but after 5 kids, that’s the best I can muster.

Taking the Temperature of the 2020 Election

~ Jim Flanigan

This is a big story, if true.

This story about thermometers throwing the election to Joe Biden got the investigative team at Jim Flanigan Looks at the World whipped into a fever pitch. I took the temperature of the team on this subject. Opinions were running hot and cold over whether we should delve behind the facts to generate reckless stories full of conjecture and speculation. My mercurial views were ignored, and cooler heads prevailed.

Fresh out of temperature references, we assigned our top two Jim Flanigan Looks at the World investigative reporters to the story.

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Read This Blog – Rachel Being Chatty – or the Hostage Gets It

~ Jim Flanigan

Don’t worry. I really don’t have a hostage … yet, but I am willing to learn how to take one. I was approached by Rachel (not her full real name) from the Rachel Being Chatty blog asking if I would reblog some of her posts in return for cash. No, wait, it wasn’t cash. She would reblog one of mine. It was a deal that I couldn’t refuse. You see, over time, I have become convinced that the Rachel Being Chatty blog is actually run by a famous comedian (Sarah Silverman perhaps?) who is workshopping new stand-up material. It’s full of brilliant stuff like this one …

Again, click this link to the Rachel Being Chatty blog for more of her observations on life. If you read and follow my blog, really reconsider the choices you have made in life, but you will definitely like to read and follow the Rachel Being Chatty blog.

Here are a few more to enjoy, and then click this link to go to the Rachel Being Chatty blog, read, and follow.

Continue reading “Read This Blog – Rachel Being Chatty – or the Hostage Gets It” →

Mite Be Funny #234 – Dog Days of Summer

~ Jim Flanigan

And what better way is there to spend the dog days of summer than reading my book of short stories about our ultimate destination? Click this link to order.

Guaranteed Delivery

~ Jim Flanigan

COVID has resulted in global supply chain shortages. That’s a nice way of saying that delivery times can suck these days. My small medical equipment business is no exception. Our delivery times have been extended from time to time since COVID. But we received this PO from a customer and even with COVID-extended supply chain shortages, I think we should be able to make their requested delivery date as shown on their purchase order.

We’ll definitely get it delivered by the last month of 2050. I just may not be the person arranging the delivery in 2050.

But for instant delivery of my book of short stories about the afterlife, click this link.

Weight No More

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 1 Comment

July was a real up & down month weightwise for me. Up is not the direction I want to go, but 2 personal trips, 1 business trip, and a family birthday party throw my eating and exercise plans off a bit. I was up a couple pounds, down a couple, up, down, up, down, etc. But the final result for July was down 3 lbs, and I made my goal weight set at the beginning of the COVID lockdown.

It wasn’t because of my steps. They were down, under 10,000 per day, but purposely so.

I had my reasons for my reduction in steppage.

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Not a Republican Politician Story

~ Jim Flanigan

It might appear from the featured image and headline below that this post may be heading toward a story about Republican politicians like Ron DeSantis or Matt Gaetz, but it’s not. This post is NOT about any elected Republicans, but about an actual penis snake as shown in the picture that follows the headline.

You can see I removed where the penis snakes were found, just so you can make a guess. There is a hint in the first sentence of this post. Click HERE to link to the full story and check your answer, or read the following excerpt with the answer.

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Mite Be Funny #233 – A Bedtime Story

~ Jim Flanigan

Click this link for a special bedtime story, or read on to see a mite-specific excerpt.

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Open Water Swimming Was Closed

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 2 Comments

As you must know by now (since I post constantly about it), I am swimming across Lake Michigan this summer, primarily via laps in our small backyard pool.

Out of sheer boredom, I have been trying to schedule some open water swimming. But Saturday, my attempt to actually swim across the actual Lake Michigan was actually rebuffed as Lake Michigan was actually closed! Actually! I took our youngest daughter to stay with our oldest daughter on Saturday for a sister-bonding sleepover, and we stopped at beautiful Montrose Beach in Chicago on the way for a quick swim.

Montrose is a beautiful urban beach, complete with sand dunes. But on Saturday, it was closed because of a brisk wind from the northeast creating some dangerous riptides. I still wanted to give it a try. Where were the “my body, my choice” anti-vaxxers when I needed them to back me up?

Anyway, we walked and relaxed a bit on the beach instead of swimming. I had already gotten some laps in my pool, and after a half mile on Sunday (that’s 175 laps!), I find myself here in Lake Michigan.

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A Swinging Retirement

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 3 Comments

My wife and I have discussed where we would like to retire. Maybe some place with a little warmer climate, by the water, and with affordable housing would be nice. Hmm, sounds like a trailer park in Louisiana would possibly qualify for consideration. But not just any trailer park will do. How does Tee Boi’s Swinger Trailer Park in Louisiana sound? Take a look and decide for yourself.

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I’m Killing it Professionally Today

~ Jim Flanigan

Good things are happening for me professionally today. As you may have read in one of my previous posts, I am now an elected government official in my township. I went in to the township office to audit and approve some expenses this morning, and was pleasantly surprised to see this …

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