Happy Old Year

A couple of observations as we head into a new year:

--Auto Review: I had to take my car in for repair the other day. I was given a Dodge Durango as a loaner. Being that this was the first time that I had an SUV for an extended period of time (3 days), I now understand a little bit more the allure of these vehicles. You really do command the road. You're so high off of the ground, and you feel like you're in a tank. Here's the serious drawback, however: the 2006 Dodge Durango gets 14-16 mpg (city). My car gets 25-26 mpg (city). I wasn't thrilled by the fueling costs, to say the least. In the end, the Dodge Durango is a vehicle that is entirely too large for basic necessity and is completely inefficient. Boo SUVs.

--Speaking of efficiency: I really admire winter cyclists. Immensely. I bicycle all the time during the summer, but I don't ride as a commuter in any season. And I have good reasons: to commute by bike for me, considering my job, would be a major hassle as well as a bike security issue. If I ever switch careers, however, I will reconsider.

--Question: Why doesn't anyone make a bigger deal about the lack of minority coaches in the National Hockey League?

--Tip: If you're moving, and you ask you're friends for help, make sure to have everything packed and ready to move when your help arrives. Just being courteous.

--Holidays: The Blog of Failed Dreams prefers "Happy Old Year" to "Happy New Year". It's a way of putting the past in the past and clearing the slate. I kind of like it. I think.

--Question #2: Why don't they ever show the "Player's Wives / Girlfriends" seating area during televised figure skating competitions?

--News: No news yet on the "ink" thing (see previous post).

--News #2: "Doogie" of KFAN-AM 1130 Twin Town fame did the sports broadcast on two television stations Thursday night. I haven't heard how it went, but, knowing Doogie, I will.

--Observation: One on One Bike Studio is one of the craziest, and yet successful, business concepts I've ever encountered. And the bike basement / junkyard may be the best enclosed space in the entire Twin Town.

--Gambling: Pro Football picks for this week (normally I would never do this, but I was asked to by a friend, so I thought I'd let everyone else know my picks as well; it's only fair). Not using the spread:
Denver
NYG
Carolina
Baltimore
Seattle
Indianapolis
Cincinnati
New England
Buffalo
Pittsburgh
Tampa Bay
San Francisco
Jacksonville
Chicago
Washington
Dallas

--This "Reggie Bush Lottery" is ridiculous. As per usual, the guess here is that the best player in the draft (when discussed in 2015) will be someone other than Mr. Bush.

--Observation: Did you know the the people of this country have the power to cancel the charters of every U.S. based corporation, and could do so tomorrow (through Congress and/or state legislatures)? Just like that...poof...gone. Just like me.

Fogbot Gets Ink and Looks to Get More

A couple of quick thoughts from the lonesome, crowded Midwest:

--Fogbot got some ink earlier this week in the "Uni-Watch" column on ESPN.com. Expertly written by Paul Lukas, "Uni-Watch" focuses on trends in uniform design and usage by professional, college, and national sporting teams/individuals. The column also addresses Fogbot's serious personal interest/illness in sports uniform design. In fact, this is one of the areas that Fogbot points to when he argues that he may or may not suffer from a mild form of autism. Anyway, take a look at the article by hitting the link above and see if you can identify the real name of the man they call "Fogbot." Enjoy.

--Fogbot is hot on the trail of an endeavor which may gain him more, shall we say, "ink", as well. Check back for updates -- you'll know as soon as Fogbot does.

--Enjoy your New Year's celebrations, and make sure to get your "Dead Pool" lists in to your leagues. If you don't partake in a "Dead Pool" league, you're missing out.

Later,
Fogbot

I Heart Holidays

Celebrate Christmas
Invite relatives over
Hide downstairs, get drunk

Titled Heavy Beat, Part Me

Christmas time again
Does god know we're lonely souls?
My brother's in trash

Hannukah time
Does god know we're lonely souls?
Brother's in garbage

It's Yule time again
My god I'm a lonely soul
Pick it up pick it

Peace to you and yours
But especially to yours
Definitely yours

Or is yours now mine?
Mine mine mine mine mine mine mine
Was yours is now mine

I try to sing 'long
But I keep forgetting words
I can't sing along

The tone is all wrong
Turn my headphones up, up, up
Turn my headphones up

Give me heavy beats
And drop that bass line right there
Yeah, that bass line there

I can't hear myself
I said turn my headphones up
Oh, ok, there it goes

I am inside you
It's to let you fall in love
Walk 'round inside you

Send me a lesson
Please just send me a lesson
Just let me know why

Just let me know why
Baby knows baby knows why
Got my lesson nigh

Fat bloody fingers
They're sucking your soul away
Losing my patience

Fat bloody fingers
I am losing my patients
Suck your soul away

End of the Nightmare

It seems as though the movement of the nation towards conservatism, and, by nature, Conservatives, is drawing to a close.

I'll wait for you to grab a tissue...

Waiting...

Waiting...

Ok...if you're ready to continue, I can tell you that the evidence of the demise of the conservatives is all around us. Look around. Do you see it?

You're not convinced, are you?

I'll help: look at KSTP 1500 AM here in Twin Town. They're shaking up their broadcast schedule. Big time.

Limbaugh? Gone.

Hannity? Moved to late night, 10PM - Midnight.

Bob Davis? He loses his morning drive-time slot.

Non-conservatives like T.D. Mischke (formerly 10PM - Midnight; now 5:30-7:30PM) and Ron Rosenbaum (formerly 9AM-Noon; now Noon-2PM) shift to time slots associated with higher listenership.

It's stunning how the crumbling of conservatives/Conservatives is reflected in pop culture, especially in the self-revision of the former conservative radio giant in Twin Town.

Look for more evidence soon.

Commentku

Tired of haiku yet?

Comments have not been telling

Need to update links

Holiday v. Christmas

"Christmas" discussion

Or is it called "holiday"

Big controversy

-

Ponder if you will

This isn't about belief

Or non-believers

-

It's about language

And who controls the culture

And the spoken word

-

I frame the debate

As a battle for culture

And who defines it

-

Rankles Christians

Dishonest are their motives

Let's be very clear

-

Either that or this:

They don't understand the stakes

Larger than Jesus

-

Culturally open

We must try to be open

And to embrace all

-

Not about "Christmas"

And not about "holiday"

Respect all beliefs

Torture

McCain wins Bush feud

U.S. Army can't torture

Best hire "contractors"

Infallible to Fallible

Bush admits failures
30k Iraqis dead
Seems like a fair trade

Ode to LA While Thinking of Stanley "Tookie" Williams, Deceased

"An eye for an eye!"

The ol' conservatives cheer

Quelling their own fear

-

Their Bible is clear

"Punishment should be severe

Oh, and repent, too"

-

Now blood's on our hands

We're guilty for we condoned

State-sponsored murder

-

And that's what it is

Execution is murder

Will you now repent?

Soviet Assassin Journalist

Siegenthaler joke

Went too far, humor lost

New Internet regs?

Sheep Skin

Classes are over

Hooray, graduation day

Hers -- with distinction

Hollywould

Past "stars" on TV

Pitching infomercial shit

Staying off welfare

Trash 'Stache

Decorate your face

With a moustache in this case

Disrespect your race?

The Sounds of the St. Lawrence

Montreal music scene
Arcade Fire's anthems cascade
The Stars in your ears?

Vinter

It's so cold outside
Frigid wind, blowing snow and
I'm staying inside