What it is!

United States, 1917. J. M. Flagg's Uncle Sam r...
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These are the musings and rantings of a liberal and open-minded individual.  (Who actually holds a few libertarian viewpoints.)  It’s a hodgepodge of political, societal and general life views, on what’s going on in this crazy, mixed up world . . . from an unreal writer.  I’m a US citizen who thinks that his country has been hijacked by extremists, fear-mongers and – most of all – gross profiteers.  I promise I’ll try to be as inoffensive as possible, but occasionally I’ll throw all caution to the wind.  Besides, in this day and age just about anything said is going to offend someone.

Consider me the mouthy uncle you never wanted.

Comments, both pro and con, are welcome and encouraged.  I’ll be trying to keep this site suitable for all ages, so obscene and objectionable language (totally my call, but use your own common sense) will result in comments being edited or deleted.

So . . . Bookmark/save to Favorites: https://unclerave.wordpress.com/

Check in on a regular basis.  Tell all your interested, and interesting, friends about your ol’ uncle, and . . . enjoy!  And of course, listen to your uncle!

Uncle Rave

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45 comments

  1. Hey Uncle, way to mark yourself as a target for the Repuglican right! Why not just get a t-shirt with the words “Will Terrorize For Food” or “Hates Your Freedoms” and take a run toward the front door of the White House? Better yet, just let me put a canvas bag over your head & lock your liberal ass up in a rickety tool shed for a while, avoid the rush to round you up & ship you to Gitmo. Oh, yes, I’m paranoid. I love my freedoms!

    And, did you hear about Bush telling some Afghan war soldiers that he envied them, wish he was young enough to be out riding the range with them? It literally made me sick. This is a guy who allowed Rich Daddy (who was known to Prescott Bush’s friends as ‘Prescott’s idiot son’) to pull strings aplenty & get him a rare spot in the TX Air National Guard, so his preppy ass wouldn’t be in any danger of ground fire. It still steams me that, during the last campaign, Kerry allowed himself to be painted as a total fegeleh, when he had actually not only gone to war but shouldered a weapon in combat. Chicken hawks are the lowest form of human life. Or, not even human fucking beings, but worthless, disorganized pieces of grabasstic shit.

  2. Gotta love the “Full Metal Jacket” reference. I think our loyal minority right-wingers need a Gny. Sgt. Hartman to slap some sense into their silly asses. I’ve seen some neocon sites and blogs that use the phrase “Wake Up America” as their rallying cry, in dealing with things like illegal aliens and the so-called terrorist threat. Ironically, these are the very people who need to waken from their slumber. Since 9/11 the federal government has debased many of our constitutional rights, all in the name of “national security”. And, our right-wing, conservative buddies have happily surrendered these rights, while mindlessly chanting “USA, USA, USA!” It used to be that conservatives were against the federal government having too much control over our lives. My, how times have changed.

  4. I did them, but could not post them in time to be “spoilers”, so I didn’t post them at all. If you’re looking for the Jumble answer, remind me what the clue/question was and I’ll see if I remember the answer.

    YUR

  6. Here’s a jumble that I need your guys’ help with. It’s pretty old (one amongst various old ones). I’m not sure of the answer, so I wanted to compare what others come up with.

    Visual description: pitcher ready to pitch while batter is ready to swing. A man is yelling: “it’s going to be a fight to the finish”.

    Words: dinghi yerkut nacune uplarb sautle cindit

    Clue/question: The scoreless baseball game turned into a—.

    I appreciate the help, thanks. I hope I am not causing a disturbance, Uncle Rave. I figured since you are the wise one of jumbles, you could help me out?

  7. Ideally, Glass Delusion, we need four more items of information:
    1. We need the circle/highlight positions of the six – unscrambled – jumble clue words. (This will give us the individual letters to use in the jumble answer.)
    2. We need to know how many words make up the jumble answer.
    3. We need to know how many letters make up each of those answer words. (In their proper order, of course.)
    4. And, if there were any *filler* words provided in the jumble answer. (and where they are situated.)

    Being that this was a Sunday Jumble it must have had (around) 12 – 17 letters, and probably two or more answer words. The six clue words were not that difficult for me. (Maybe I’ve done this one before?) Can you provide the above four?

    YUR

  8. Right, right, I apologize! I knew there was something that I was missing. I am going to use an X for the non-circled words, and an O for the circled word.

    1. DINGHI OOOXXX
    2. YERKUT 0XXXOX
    3. NACUNE XXOXXO
    4. UPLARB OXXXXO
    5. SAUTLE XXOXOX
    6. CINDIT XXXXOO

    Answer: “OOOOOOO” OOOOOO

    The answer is made up of two words (the first is seven letters, and the second word is only six. There are no extra words in the answer. Thanks for the help.

  9. Now we’re talkin’, glassdelusion!

    DINGHI = HIDING, YERKUT = TURKEY, NACUNE = NUANCE, UPLARB = BURLAP, SAUTLE = SALUTE, CINDIT = INDICT — Giving us: HIDTEAEBPLTCT

    Clue/Question: The scoreless baseball game turned into a . . .

    Answer: “PITCHED” BATTLE

    Like the first two games of this world series! Tonight’s game should be a beaut, too. I can almost swear that I’ve done this one before. Maybe it was before I started this blog. Thanks! It was fun!

    YUR

    GO YANKEES! (Just this once. Then I can go back to rooting against them!)

  10. Thanks for all the help. I’m not much of a baseball fan, but I was able to figure out the answer. I had to be absolutely sure. I knew you could help me out!

    Oh, and yes, you might have done this jumble before. It was dated January 13, but I put it somewhere, and now I find myself with a ton of old jumbles! I fathom this particular one can’t be more than three years old, although I could be wrong.

    I’m glad you enjoyed the jumble, even if you had previously solved it. I might have another problem like this, so let me know if you would be willing to help. Thanks again.

    -Glass Delusion

  13. Hey YUR;

    Surgery went fine, but as you might tell from the timestamp I can’t sleep – too much pain, and the Rx they gave me won’t work, I’ve tried it before for my back injury along with a dozen others, and there’s only a couple compounds that DO help me cope with pain, so I’m sweating the night out until I can straighten it out.

    As you said, the cut went fine and we think it was a 100% success. Now if I can just man it out until the worst passes…

    We struggled with Sunday’s Jumble, BTW, but figure that she usually gets the words I can’t and vice-versa, so they got solved in 5 or so anyway, except “fitful”. I then peeked at your page for the solution and eliminated the letters I had, which gave me the first 2 letters of that word and the solution. That’s not a bad thing to do, is it? Heh!

    Anyway, remember your statements above, and throw out some wisdom for us political junkies as well as wordy fans, willya? You nailed it so well – we NEED more folks with your kind of views and insight on things to speak up and try to knock some sense into fence-sitters, if nothing else!

    Take care
    John

  14. Hey, John!

    Sorry to hear about the pain aspect of things, but very glad to hear that the surgery went fine! We missed you over here at Unclerave’s. Glad to have you back, brother!

    I throw in some commentary with the spoilers, but devoting the time to specific political issues always takes a little more time than I seem to find nowadays. Although the libertarian, wordsmith in me has strangely gotten me more upset with an aspect of the liberal left, and has nearly driven me to support someone who I generally disagree with. It’s one of THE touchiest issues out there, and my opinion on it runs totally contrary to political correctness, and would possibly alienate a good number of my readers. Writing it with the proper amount of sensitivity is my challenge. Maybe I’ll get to it. Maybe I won’t. The world will keep on spinning either way.

    Take car, John!

    YUR

  16. I have never seen this happen before but it seems your jumble puzzle for 2/10/11 is diiferent than the one in my paper. Mine being a baseball game with the caption of the umpire callingball 4. The clue is “when he walked in the winning run, the victors had —

    calli oxoxx
    pymub ooxxx
    trulia xooxox
    qualep xxxoxo
    ANS: OOOOO A “OOOO”

    I notied the date is 2/11 so maybe I just gave away tomorrows puzzle

  17. Glenn,

    I’m going to hold off on “approving” your comment until tomorrow, 2/11. I think your paper just published it out of order. (Or, maybe it’s from a previous 2/11?) Maybe Jeff Knurek can explain how newspapers get the Jumble. Maybe a number of days, or a week’s worth, in advance?

    Maybe you should contact your newspaper, and inquire/complain!

    Too bad there are no major lottery drawings on Thursdays. Maybe your paper is from *the future*! Check the daily numbers and win-4, or the horse racing results. Maybe this is YOUR lucky day! If you win, don’t forget to cut Your Uncle Rave in on the action!

    YUR

  21. Hey, Uncle Rave,

    Thanks for stopping by my blog. You have some fun stuff going on here. I love crossword puzzles, but I am not very good at them. Other word games, too, I suppose.

    I like your clear statement on this “what it is” page. I don’t try to keep my content free from obscenities, but I like how you put your directives….

    Cool and ciao! twinkly

  22. Hey, Katherine (aka: twinklysparkles),

    (Yes, I read your About page.) The purpose of this blog has kind of veered off it’s original course, but it has settled into something that I can do on a daily basis. Occasionally, I’ll spice up the comments portion of my spoiler posts with my political bent – much to some readers’ chagrin – but my overriding message is to encourage my readers to NOT accept all that we’re told, particularly by those in positions of authority. I ask them to read between the lines, and to search for the deeper “truths”. I’ve never liked the “I got mine” complacent attitudes that so many people have. I think people need to get angry. It’s normal, and it’s healthy, as long as you can channel it constructively. I think you can rant and rave AND be positive, at the same time. The positivity that I – more or less – preach is about hope. The hope that things can get better, and the hope that we can be better.

    I hope that you’ll continue to visit us, and contribute when *the spirit moves you*.

    — YUR

  23. Hey, hey, I stopped back! Thanks for the reply.

    Not wanting more emails in my inbox, I’ve never subscribed to follow-up comments on any blogs. It is kind of a hassle to try to check back though and I appreciate that you reminded me.

    See you around I’m sure, thanks, twinkly

  24. twinklysparkles,

    I’m generally very easy going, in regards to commenting on others blogs. I don’t go around recruiting people, or anything like that. I just saw the Detroit connection, and thought you and Jeff K might get the chance to chew the fat.

    Stop by any time!

    — YUR

  27. Wow! An award! You like me. You really like me! First off, I’d like to thank the Academy, for even nominating me. And, to all my fellow nominees . . . I am humbled to be even mentioned along side of you. You’re ALL winners in my book! And to the really REALLY great people at CESD, for believing in me, and giving me this chance. I am forever indebted to them! To all the loyal readers, who visit here on a nearly daily basis, some more than once a day! To my mom . . .and dad – wherever you are now – for making me the mixed up nut-bag I am today. And, my beautiful wife . . . for having the patience and allowing me to pursue my passion. I love you, honey. And, to my kids . . . Go to sleep, now. Daddy will be home soon!

    Thank you, folks. Goodnight, everybody!

    — YUR

  29. Hi again, YUR!

    Yes, I know it’s been a long time since I left a comment, although I really DO stop by every now and then, mostly for your excellent Jumble work, of course…but every once in a while I think of you and the exchange we had about our political views, which are so much alike, and thought that today, since I only have a minute, I’d just say………
    RIGHT ON BROTHER!!!!
    YOU GO, MAN!!!
    and add a sprinkling of
    YOU GOT THAT RIGHT!!!

    Seriously, I love your point of view, still – or maybe even moreso – because of the climate of hate and biased invective in American politics today – if only more people were like US instead of becoming more like “THEM” (“THEM” are those shadowy characters who spread hate and fear to advance their sinister agendas, of course)…because we’re always right, right?

    OK, this time I AM serious (seriously!). YUR, thank you for not changing, and for standing by your viewpoint that we need to NOT accept the status quo OR the propaganda, but learn to look for the truth and think for ourselves before we throw ourselves into the fray – right?

    And this final thought – we need more people like you to speak up for US, not THEM.
    I just wish we had millions more like you.
    Peace,
    John

  30. Thank you, John! Nice to see you back. I thought you might have forgotten about us, or worse. You sound like you’re in a great mood, and that is putting me in a good mood. Thanks for the kind words and sharing your mood!

    — YUR

  32. Howdy, Thanks for visiting American Male. I hope you enjoyed your visit I hope you come back our way soon!

  35. Hey, “Andy”! I think you made a wise decision in renaming your blog. If your original name hit me the wrong way I’m sure some others were seeing it with a bit of a raised eyebrow as well.

    Oh. And just for your – and your readers’ – edification I never said that “the history of Watergate is immaterial”. I said that it was irrelevant to the Benghazi issue. I felt you were comparing apples to oranges. Now, we COULD debate the merits of each of our positions until the cows come home, but my point is I never said what you say I said.

    Thanks for dropping by. And, good luck with your renamed blog. — YUR

  36. Dig your posts, son. Been enjoying them since March of this year. You sure are a verbose one. This one quote you just posted is a new fave of mine since the college I teach at has been overtaken by a Czar called “Special Trustee with Extraordinary Powers” who was put in place to depose of a locally elected Board of Trustees: “To get something done a committee should consist of no more than three men, two of whom are absent.” — Robert Copeland (The Rear Admiral, NOT the racist.)
    The parenthetical is perfect too. Keep it coming, my likeminded pal.

  37. Glad to stop by your blog. Very original. Love the brain teasers. Would also love to read more about you, in a show not tell kind of way. Come and visit Colltales some time. All the best.

  39. Enjoy my visits with my “uncle” on the world and culture. I do jumbles daily for a little brain yoga. Though it’s rare I can’t solve a puzzle, I love the layers you put into each spoiler. Keep up the good work! And perhaps run for office.

  40. Thanks for the kind words, Jeannie!

    After I approve a comment directed towards the “What it is!” page I usually forget to reply, because they don’t show up on the main page. So, I guess I should apologize to those who commented here earlier without replying. Sorry, folks!

    — YUR

  41. I have enjoyed your blog for quite some time. Sometimes I have peeked at the jumble answers. But usually it is to see the visuals you have chosen and to read your comments. And to check out some of the interesting links. You have not entered anything in a few days and I hope you are OK.
    Concerned

  42. Thank you, Elissa!

    If there were more commenters like you I’d be more inclined to continue posting these spoilers. But, I’ve grown tired of no comments and few “Likes”, and comments unrelated to my commentaries. It makes me feel that I’m wasting my time. I’m perfectly fine – other than throwing out my back this morning – I just can’t do this right now.

    Apologies to all.

    — YUR

  43. Dear unclerave, would you believe i finally saw this response today when i was exploring my wordpress app. Did not know this was here. Isn’t there a way for you to find how much traffic you have? (I am slowly learning about WordPress and plan on possibly a blog and website). I do enjoy your comments, your photographs and your links. I have told my mom and sister about your web blog as we all do the jumbles. I have been enjoying your site for at least over a year. Maybe you need some way to know how many of us are out there. Could be brainstormed! I hope you are feeling much better. Sincerely, elissa

  44. Yes, Elissa. My Stats Page tells me how many visitors my blog receives each day. It shows a breakdown of today’s and the prior day, so I do know how much traffic I’m receiving. I do pretty well, in that respect, just not as much in the Likes and Comments. Some of my regulars have been picking up the slack since my complaints, but they were my regulars anyways.

    Thank you, both for the recommendations and the kind words. They are greatly appreciated.

    — YUR

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