J M Wetherington Sr

Amazon Fire TV Stick

Posted on December 7, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

The new Amazon Fire TV Stick was delivered to us today (thank you, Amazon, for arranging Sunday deliveries with the USPS) and I’ve set it up on the TV in our room.

Back in October, I believe, Amazon announced the coming release of their Fire TV Stick and for 2 days only offered it for $19 instead of the regular retail price of $40, so Cindy and I ordered two of them; one to use here and one for me to take with me on the road when I’m traveling.

Now we can watch streaming videos from both our Amazon Prime account and our Netflix account on the larger TV screen instead of the smaller laptop or iPad screens. What a difference!

We’re late adopters, having passed on earlier opportunities to buy a Chromecast or Roku stick, but it looks like we’re going to enjoy our Amazon Fire TV Stick.

Posted in Technology, Television | Tagged Amazon Fire TV Stick, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Technology, TV | 2 Comments

Girl Scout Digital Cookies

Posted on December 6, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

I believe we have reached the peak of achievement in technological advances. At least we have if what was announced last week is true; that Girl Scout cookies will now be available to be ordered online!

The girls stopped going door-to-door years ago, and I think that was a good thing but I missed the ability to place my order from the convenience of my front porch. Then the girls’ parents began bringing order sheets to work, but if none of your co-workers had a daughter in the Girl Scouts then you missed out. Then they began setting up tables outside of grocery and department stores and if you were lucky enough to be going into one of those stores on a weekend that they were there you were good to go but if not, well you missed out again.

So I was thrilled to read last week that Girl Scout cookies will now be available online and be shipped directly to my door. And I’m also thrilled to know that there are several safety factors built in to the process. For instance, you have to receive an email invitation from a Girl Scout to order from her (and, since I don’t currently know any of my family or friends who have members of the Girl Scouts in them, I’d appreciate anyone reading this who does adding me to their email list) and only the Scout’s first name will be used. In addition, all online transactions are encrypted for the safety and privacy of both parties.

When I was younger and could eat as many sugar-based products as I wished, I would buy a case of Thin Mints, put them in the freezer (the cold REALLY brings out the mint flavor) and then eat a sleeve of them each night after dinner with a big cold glass of milk. These days I don’t do that anymore, but I still enjoy a few of those frozen Thin Mints as a snack or dessert.

So, thank you, Girl Scouts for making your wonderful cookies available for online ordering. I’m convinced we will never be more technologically advanced than we are now. 🙂

Posted in Technology | Tagged Girl Scout Cookies, Technology, Thin Mints | Comments Off

Introverts, Unite!

Posted on December 5, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

Posted in Humor | Tagged Humor, Introversion, Introverts | Comments Off

It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Posted on December 5, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

Posted in Comic Books, Holidays | Tagged Batman, Holidays | 1 Comment

All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey

Posted on December 4, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

I’m working on a post about Holiday songs that will be ready in a couple of days, but until then I thought I’d post my favorite Rock and Roll Holiday song video by the wonderful Mariah Carey.

It’s three weeks until Christmas Day and chances are I will listen to this song each of those 21 days.

Isn’t she just adorable in that little elf outfit? 🙂

Posted in Holidays, Music | Tagged All I Want For Christmas Is You, Mariah Carey, music | Comments Off

Reading Old Comics – Batman Model Kit Ad

Posted on December 4, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

I’ve been reading some of the old comics I read as a kid (a sure sign I’m getting old and reaching the end of my years) and it has been fun to re-live the enjoyment I experienced as a 6 to 17 year old.

And it’s not just the stories and artwork within the comics, but also the ads for things like making money selling Grit Newspapers, 200 plastic Army Soldiers, How to Hypnotize People and, of course, X-Ray Specs. I remember a long, spirited debate among my male peers as to:

whether those things would actually work when we looked at a girl
if they DID work would we see underwear, skin or bones
and which of us would actually spend the money to order a pair in the hopes that they really would let us have x-ray vision

which none of us ever did, lol.

But when I came across the ad below for Aurora superhero model sets it reminded me that I used to build quite a few models when I was a kid of 9 to 11, usually cars and airplanes, but I also built this Batman model along with the Superman and Superboy models shown. I did not build the Wonder Woman model because, well, you know, in my young mind those were for girls, lol.

Many thanks to my mom and dad who, even though we were a middle class income family, always found a way to buy me things like books, comic books, science kits, art courses and models…really anything they thought would contribute to my knowledge, entertainment and acquisition of different skills that I might use in later life. You never really appreciate those acts until you grow up.

Posted in Comic Books, Comics, Family | Tagged Batman, comic books, Superheroes, Superman | 1 Comment

A Somber Anniversary

Posted on December 2, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

Today marks 15 years since my dad passed away. What I wrote last year is still as true today as it was then, so I’ll just let you read that.

But I found this photo of my dad that I hadn’t seen in a while and thought I would share it. That’s my wonderful sister-in-law (how my brother EVER got her to marry him is beyond me) on the far left, my brother, my sister-in-law’s brother and my dad enjoying a meal and show at a (I believe, judging by the pineapple drink glasses) Polynesian or Hawaiian dinner and show in New York in the late 80’s.

I still think about you every day Dad, and the good times we shared.

Posted in Family | Tagged Dad, Family | Comments Off

San Diego Comic-Con

Posted on November 30, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

I’ve been wanting to attend the San Diego Comic-Con for years and years, but something always keeps me from being able to go; work, lack of time and/or lack of money are the usual culprits. A couple of years ago I officially moved it off my “Things I’d Like To Do” list and onto my “Bucket List” because it seems that I’ll have to be heading for a dirt nap before it works out for me to get to California and attend Comic-Con.

The funny thing is that for the past few years I’ve found my interest in modern-day comic books to be declining more and more. I find it hard to enjoy the writing and the art is usually not to my taste. I long for the days of Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, John Buscema, Curt Swan, Neal Adams, John Byrne, Chris Claremont, George Perez and those of their ilk.

It’s hard to get tickets, hard to get a hotel room (though I did successfully book one with points a few years back when I thought I might get to attend) and expensive as hell, but despite all that I still want to go, if only to say “I went to Comic-Con!”

But at the rate I’m going, by the time I get to Comic-Con THIS is what Wonder Woman will look like.

Posted in Comics, Humor | Tagged comic books, Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con, Superheroes, Superman | Comments Off

Wendy’s Secret Ingredient Is Its People

Posted on November 29, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

My brother sent me this a couple of weeks ago and of course the first thing that pops into the mind of anyone over the age of 40 is the 1973 movie, Soylent Green. I can still hear Charlton Heston’s character rasping out the words, “You’ve gotta tell them! Soylent Green is PEOPLE!”

Posted in Humor | Tagged Humor, Soylent Green, Wendy's | 1 Comment

The First Black Friday

Posted on November 28, 2014 by J.M. Wetherington Sr.

Posted in Holidays, Humor | Tagged Black Friday | Comments Off