• Speaking of first-ever, there is no such thing as a first annual. If you submit something and you’ve officially called it the “first-annual” so and so,  it will be changed even if it’s on your posters. Nothing can be the first annual.
• Neck beards are out. Not only are they out, they’ve never really been in. So why must every European professional athlete insist on having one? I use the Mach 3 and I know the cartridges are expensive, but c’mon man. You’re pulling down  $30,000 a night and can’t shave?
• Speaking of hair, while any adult who has a mullet and welcomes the ridicule gets a pass, to allow your offspring to have a mullet when they’re at the age where they have no say in the matter is border line criminal.
• And back to beards. There’s a reason they’re called Amish beards. Unless you’re a former surgeon general or Amish, you shouldn’t have one. If your kid has one, sit down and have a heart to heart.
• For those who throw cigarette butts out the window, that’s littering. You want to argue about being able to smoke in public  places, first convince me that you haven’t contributed to the thousands of cigarettes along the roadways and on our beaches.
• Much to the chagrin of many parents out there, chances are really, really good that your child is not going to be a Division I athlete. For that matter, they’re likely not going to play college sports at  all. If they can get an education provided for by athletic ability at any level, that’s wonderful. But, at age 7, chances are pretty good that Bob Huggins is not on your speed dial.
• People who like their own posts on Facebook. We know you like your post, otherwise you wouldn’t have posted it.
• People who use LOL every other line and multiple exclamation points. Actually, I’ll give the LOL a pass, but the exclamation points are something I’ve never understood. It’s been almost 20 years in various forms of media for yours truly and I’ve used an exclamation point in a headline a grand total of one time. If you’ve used an exclamation point more than once in one paragraph, you’ve used your yearly allotment.
• The Kardashians.
• The “speeder-upper.” You know who you are. You’re the person who is in the passing lane on the two-lane freeway going 10 miles per hour under the speed limit for half a mile until someone gets over to pass you and you suddenly find the accelerator.
• If you feel the need to have a vanity license plate, at least make a feeble attempt to be creative. The ideal situation would be for you to avoid things that are along the lines of spending money for a plate that says “Jeff” or “Jeff1.” If that’s the best you got, donate your money to a soup kitchen.
• People that don’t return phone calls, particularly businesses. You call here, unless I’ve totally forgotten (which is another post-40 trait that’s developed),  you’ll get a return phone call. If you’re a business, particularly a contractor, and you can’t answer or return phone calls, then get out of said business. Most folks would rather a call back saying “we’re too busy to do your project” or “too busy to give you an estimate” than to wait around all day for you not to call back.
• Contrary to what you might believe, your kids screaming and destroying things in public places is not cute. There’s a difference between mischievous kids and those who have no respect because the parents or guardians are too afraid of or incapable of discipline. And contrary to what you may think, most folks know the difference between cute and nuisance.
• The authority Nazi’s. These are the individuals who volunteer – which is a good thing – but end up being told to check the gate for proper passes and suddenly think they’re with the Secret Service or TSA. I understand you have a job, but most folks don’t go to games toting tape recorders, cameras and binders full of information to get in free (although I probably would do that).
• Bags of chips filled with more air than chips. They all do it. It’s a conspiracy to chip lovers everywhere.

Here's my grievance: I can't standing being at a sporting event and hearing the crowd yell "O!" when the National Anthem reaches the line, "Oh say does that Star Spangled banner..." That tradition makes sense in one venue in America, Camden Yards in Baltimore. I would venture to guess that 99% of the knuckleheads yelling "O!" don't know where the phenomenon originated or why. They're sheep and they think it sounds cool.

Posted by Tim Brady
May. 29, 2012 at 10:55 AM EST

I absolutely destest when folks running for political office DON'T remove their political signs in a timely manner, if at all. I think there should be a law in effect that states they will get fined if their signs aren't picked up within 7-10 days after the election. Also, I cannot stand the makeshift political signs drapped over an 18 wheeler's truck trailor. It's an eyesore people and really makes our state look tacky.

Posted by John Minnocci
May. 27, 2012 at 12:59 AM EST

I think my number one is the people that make signs at sporting events using either the school's initals (ie WVU) or the station that is broadcasting the game. I hate watching a game and seeing this:

N-obody B-eats C-arolina This is not clever and witty, it's stupid and annoying. I've aired my peace, for now, but there may be more to come later.

Posted by Jimmy Coberly
May. 26, 2012 at 4:27 PM EST

Where Are All Of Our Rivalries Going?

by John Antonik