Oddly Enough Blog
News, but not the serious kind
The last huzzah?
So this is the end. The last post for this blog.
It’s a good thing we’ve said our farewells, because this is also the last day for new comments.
Today, this site freezes in time. You can always revisit it for a little nostalgia, like that old amusement park in the creepy part of town, with all the chains and cobwebs.
Former presidential candidate Herman Cain was fond of telling his supporters, “Stupid people are ruining America!”
Well, maybe that’s true, Herman, but stupid people also provide cheap entertainment, which is a useful service. We should thank them for it, without using any big words.
My readers, my commenters, my friends, you are the best. You can find me on Facebook. Some of you have even found me in person, so please remember I know how to get restraining orders.
The best goofy but true stories from 2011
As I said recently in a post which began a countdown to tomorrow’s final entry in this blog, one of the things I have enjoyed most is presenting stories that are goofy but true.
Sure, it’s fun to make up funny stuff and riff on news photos, but real life often finds a way to top me.
Here are my seven favorite TRUE stories featured in my blog this year.
7. Come over to my yard for a fling?
We’ve had fun with an epidemic of consumer product recalls this year, but I still break out laughing over this one, a hammock that was recalled because its wooden stand may break ““if left outdoors.”
Now where am I going to go to decompress my crowded mind? WHERE???
You’ve got till tomorrow to pay up, pal…
Blog Guy, I know you’re following the New Hampshire primary closely for your readers. All state primaries follow pretty much the same format, right?
Not at all. The New Hampshire race mainly involves a series of physical challenges between hopefuls and local voters. The one who wins the most fights wins the primary.
Wait just a minute, Blog Guy. Is that really true?
Sure. Here you can see former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney arm-wrestling a barber in Manchester. Romney beat the guy.
And here on the right is a photo of almost-candidate Donald Trump, picking a fight with a New Hampshire resident a few months ago. It’s a very brutal system.
JC: Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
Yes, the OESU can help with stilletos on their feet and an extra pair in their hands!
I wish I could tase everyone on Reuters responsible for the demise of this blog.
The stuff dream photos are made of…
Hey, Blog Guy, I’m here! Do you recognize me?
I am in the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come?
No, you dimwit. This isn’t “A Christmas Carol.” I’m the guy who sets up all those great fantasy photos for your readers, so I’m sorry to see it’s going away.
Well, thanks for all your good work. You’ve pulled off pictures I would have thought impossible, especially the ones involving world leaders.
You’re much too kind, Blog Guy. With the huge budget you gave me, let’s just say miracles could be performed.
I loved that time you got Nicolas Sarkozy to grab…
Seinfeld, a show about bupkis…
Blog Guy, you have the most authoritative entertainment news anywhere, so I’m coming to you first about something I heard.
There’s a rumor that my all-time favorite sitcom, “Seinfeld,” is coming back to TV next season. Any chance it’s true?
Basically, yes. They’re shooting it now, with Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander and Julia Louis-Dreyfus reprising their original roles.
That’s GREAT! I can’t wait to see what they…. Hey, wait a minute. What about Kramer?
Well, that’s the new twist. Kramer is out. Instead of New York City, the other three live in Israel, and their wacky neighbor across the hall is President Shimon Peres. I’m telling you, the stuff those guys get up to…
I have to say, Blog Guy, that sounds to me like a VERY different show.
I have seen a few episodes of Seinfield and I liked what I saw..
Really liked Jason Alexander’s character.. he made me laugh quite a lot, and yes ofcourse Kramer.
But like they say, all good things must end. 
Yule laugh, yule cry…
Blog Guy, what do you think is the biggest holiday for your blog?
Christmas, for sure. We celebrate it for most of the year. Not only that, we’re able to appreciate BOTH holidays.
You mean the religious Christmas and commercial Christmas?
No, I mean the magical goosebump childhood excitement Christmas, and the darkly absurd, “Look, somebody shot at Santa’s helicopter!” Christmas.
Well, those two aspects do fit together better than most people think, don’t they?
Indeed, it’s almost like “The Gift of the Magi.”
She’s goin’ for your knee again, Ronald
Blog Guy, with your blog going away soon, we need some closure regarding Ronald Basler.
You mean that total stranger whose spam keeps landing in my rbasler e-mail account?
Yeah. Remember, the last time we looked at the spam Ronald seemed to be shopping for a Russian bride, but then it looked like he was being unfaithful to her, getting photos of single women. So what’s he up to now?
I’m still getting mixed signals from his spam. He may be worried about the future, going the tarot card route. He appears to be in a holiday mood, what with a letter from Santa AND personalized Christmas ornaments.
And his career?
He seems to be considering being an event planner, a school counselor or maybe even a marriage counselor, though I’m not sure I’d want marital advice from somebody with his personal track record.
Why do I have the feeling that the remark “Rubbish shoes” from @CrowGirl and the remark “Rubbish shoes” from @Shra have different meanings?
Your favorite posts of all time…
I mentioned a few days ago that this blog is going away soon, so it seems appropriate to take a look back at what readers clicked on the most.
I must say, this list of the top 10 posts for the past five years surprised me. But I can’t argue with our official traffic statistics, these little nicks by the snack room vending machine were definitely made by Lamar.
Some of the items make sense. People would want to know which jobs they should avoid, what not to do with cameras around, and even the worst idea of all time.
But some of these others just seemed to be popular for no apparent reason. And as for the one in first place, maybe it has something to do with the photo.
Here are your favorites. If you call in the next 30 minutes, this treasured collection can be yours for the low, low price of….
I liked the ones which had some muscly, good looking dudes.
And ofcourse, Shoeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssss!!!!!
Nine ways to lose weight and live forever
People say to me all the time, “Bob, your blog is SO stupid, how do you get people to read it?”
These folks don’t understand how online journalism works. You can write anything you want, and if you put a good headline on it people will read it. Especially if you hint at immortality, easy weight loss or better sex.
If your headline offers a numbered list, that’s even better. The best thing of all is a moderately clever play on words, which will attract people who think they are smart, and improve your demographics.
Toss in a photo of a nice dog or the Duchess of Cambridge, and it’s a hit.
This is a very good deal, because it means I work about five minutes a day.
Looking back at the blog for this year, here are my favorite headlines. Smart people, come on down!
That dog looks just like Medo the bear, only a few years older. We’ll miss that bear too.
I will be having withdrawal symptoms soon. Maybe I’ll start blogging myself on facebook, and try to honour the BG’s spirit of blogging. Anyone else up for this? Maybe we should do a joint-blog together and give the throne to Mr. Bas himself.
He’s making a list, and Czeching it twice…
Blog Guy, I need to tap your background in psychology. I can’t get my husband to enjoy the Christmas holidays. When he sees festive decorations he just breaks down and sobs.
Hmmmm. Did he by any chance grow up in Prague?
Why yes, he spent his childhood there!
I thought as much. Have a look at these photos from Prague, where revelers dressed as Saint Nicholas and a devil approach small children on the street and demand to know if they’ve been good or bad. It’s enough to warp any child for life.
You mean a child has to figure out what a saint and a devil are doing together, and then decide whether to tell them the truth about his behavior?
That’s about it.
Now that I am being laid off from my job as OE’s Taser Weilder and Zapper, I am sad.
However, until the last day of this blog (and my last day) you shall NOT learn and you shall NOT teach!
Any serious commentators are seriously, NOT welcome!
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Resident Oddly Enough blog Expert
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It’s not pining, it’s passed on. This blog is no more. It has ceased to be. It’s expired and gone to meet its maker. This is a late blog. It’s a stiff. Bereft of life, it rests in peace. If they hadn’t nailed it to the perch, it would be pushing up the daisies. It’s rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. This is an ex-blog.