I'm at the Cardinals game

I'm at the Cardinals game wondering a) why the roof is closed on a gorgeous day, b) why people pay $10 for a beer, c) why Cards suck!

A not-so-pale charred dot

Someone mixed Pink Floyd with this footage from a Discovery Channel show about a catastrophic asteroid collision with earth. Don't worry, you'll probably never see it coming.


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Year In Review Pt. III

My "Best (Favorite) Films of 2008" list will be coming soon. Here is one from Dennis Hartley over at Hullabaloo:

• SaturdayNightAtTheMovies
  

I've only seen two of these pics. But I'm trying to see a couple more before the end of the year.

Coal in the stocking

I don't know about you, but we still spent a lot of money during the holiday shopping season this year. But we cut back on presents. The difference is that we also got hit with some needed computer and house repair bills that sucked cash right out of our wallets.

But the mall parking lots still seemed full to me. But when I wandered the mall and store aisles I sensed that the place was actually less crowded, and the check out lines were much shorter. So my guess is that the holiday retail sales figures will be from average to horrible. And most stores won't be able to make it with average or below average sales figures.

Here is Kevin Drum noting a report on this from another angle:

NIGHTMARE ON MAIN STREET....From the Wall Street Journal, this is as gruesome a statistic as I've seen yet:

Corporate-turnaround experts and bankruptcy lawyers are predicting a wave of retailer bankruptcies early next year, after being contacted by big and small retailers either preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection or scrambling to avoid that fate.

....AlixPartners LLP, a Michigan-based turnaround consulting firm, estimates that 25.8% of 182 large retailers it tracks are at significant risk of filing for bankruptcy or facing financial distress in 2009 or 2010....Recent changes in the bankruptcy code make it more difficult for retailers to emerge from bankruptcy reorganization....Lawrence Gottlieb, a New York bankruptcy attorney at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP says that only two retailers have successfully emerged from bankruptcy proceedings since the amendments to the code were passed.

A quarter of all major retailers may be in either Chapter 11 or liquidation next year? Holy cow.

UGLY!

Just saw Slumdog Millionnaire ...

Just saw Slumdog Millionnaire ... best picture of the year!

We're buying caramel apples at

We're buying caramel apples at the Tempe light rail party! Modern mass transit comes to Arizona!

Snow Dog

I don't care about the song much, but this clip is funny ... this is pure joy!


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Watch Rachel Maddow dammit!

Our favorite ... Rachel Maddow receives big kudos from David Sirota for following up an interview from the night before with a clarification and apology. Well done!

"Maddow Busts Morgan Stanley Board Member for Lack of Transparency

Thankfully, when I pointed Tyson's conflict of interest out to Maddow and her show's staff, they did the responsible thing and made a big effort to inform viewers about what happened. Indeed, in doing this follow-up piece, the Rachel Maddow Show displayed the kind of integrity and respect for their audience that is almost unheard of in political journalism. In being so honest about this, they really showed what their program is all about, and how they aren't willing to be used or deceived by corporate spokespeople."

Watch it here:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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Year In Review Pt. II

Jib Jab strikes again with a look back at '08.

Year In Review Pt. I

Plenty of end of the year lists are on the way. Here is a good one from Jason Linkins at HuffPo:

• TEN THINGS THAT MANAGED TO NOT SUCK IN 2008, MEDIA EDITION

UPDATE:

Jason follows up with ...

• TEN THINGS THAT SUCKED OUT LOUD IN 2008, MEDIA EDITION

A holiday favorite

This '80s music video was very powerful, raised a ton of money to fight starvation in Africa, and it's a good song too!




Stars include Sting, Paul Young, Bono, Simon Le Bon, George Michael, Bob Geldof, Boy George, Phil Collins, Bananarama, and more

Taking photos of the Tumbleweed Tree

I'm taking photos of the Tumbleweed Christmas Tree in downtown Chandler today.

I can blog from anywhere

I can blog from anywhere with my phone. Tehnology has given me so many communication options. But that doesn't mean I have more worth saying.

testing my mobile posting capability

testing my mobile posting capability

Obama-mania

We luvs us some Obama! Is it January 20 yet?

Barack Obama has a 79% approval, 18% disapproval rating. That is huge!

Hmmm. I wonder why?

CNN's Bill Schneider, on Barack Obama's 79/18 approval/disapproval rating:

"That's the sort of rating you see when the public rallies around a leader after a national disaster. To many Americans, the Bush administration was a national disaster."

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Cleanup on aisle 3

Saturday Night Live has been hit and mostly miss this season, but this past episode had some of the funniest bits in a long time. Here is one that is definitely not kid friendly. If you loved D#*K IN A BOX you will appreciate J*#Z IN MY PANTS.


I hope the video works, if not, go to this link:
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/digital-short-j-in-my-pants/866262/
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Back to blogging

Well, after obsessively blogging about the election, I needed a long break.
Unfortunately, a bout of pneumonia made the break longer than I would have liked. But I think I'm ready to get back to blogging, and I am going to try very hard to get back to more balance and not just focus on politics. Although, the politics never seems to get old and there is so much happening now ... the good, the bad, and the ugly ...
But I will get back to doing movie reviews, adding photos, talking about our travels, pets, sports, interests and, of course, life with teenagers.
If you are reading this ... I appreciate that you have visited this site, and I hope that you will consider leaving a comment or sending me an e-mail.
Let's have some fun!