We got this pearl of wisdom (among others) from His Orangeness this morning …

Jim Flanigan Looks at the World
Turning the Mundane into Fundane Since 2015


Let me just start out by saying that the title of this blog makes no sense except that this post is about music and my quest to become one with music. You will only find out at the very end if I reached that lofty goal. I workshopped many alternate blog post titles, and they all sucked as much as this one, so what’s the point of even trying? It’s good enough (maybe too good?) for the likes of us.
Moving on, this is my longest blog post ever, and perhaps the longest ever in the history of blogging. I have no interest in checking, so let’s just take my vague hunch as gospel truth that this is a record-setting post. It is chock full of nonsensical words in a seemingly random order that would rival a Sean Spicer press conference, links to older posts (in a pathetic attempt to increase views), pictures, animated gifs and video links. If you are not up for a herculean, visually-stimulating blog post, bail out now. Warning, do not click the “Continue reading.”





As former FBI Director James Comey’s Senate testimony looms, I feel like a kid the week before Christmas who is expecting a new bike under the tree on Christmas morning. I just have to get that new bike. Right now I feel like I’m riding a girl’s coaster bike with a hot pink seat. James Comey’s testimony on Thursday will be that cool new BMX bike waiting for me on Christmas morning. However, all the time running through the back of my mind is the fear that rather than the BMX bike, I’ll get clothes, heavy on the underwear.



Where I live in Illinois, the race for Governor in 2018 is starting to heat up which typically means more politicians will be going to jail. A couple of months back, I saw Democratic candidate for Governor Chris Kennedy speak, and while blogging about it, pondered why gubernatorial is used rather than governal. There is fascinating history behind the word “gubernatorial” which I am happy to share with you in this essay.
The origins of the word “gubernatorial” can be traced back to the pre-Civil War Deep South. Back in those days (and still today in some southern states), educated people were mocked and ridiculed. Those literate types running for public office like governor were regularly called derogatory names. One of the most popular derogatory name thrown at candidates was “goober.”
At southern political rallies in the early 1800’s, one could always hear taunts of “hey you goober!” directed at the candidates. Southerners are not known for being long-winded, and as the 1800’s drew close to the mid-point, the “you” in “hey you goober” was combined with the “goober” part to create a single word taunt of “guber!”



Melania Trump has grown even more despondent after returning from her international trip with Donald Trump.

Sources tell us that the depressive trigger on the trip was when Melania Trump had an opportunity to meet Brigitte Macron, wife of French President Emmanuel Macron.