PSoTD

At the end of next week I'm going to transfer this domain to Cup 'O Joe so he can use it to increase his blog's visibility with the links to this domain. I'm not receiving any remuneration for this transfer, it's just the final deed of PSoTD.com in promoting another blogger's efforts.

This blog's archives will still be online, just not under the domain. However, if you go to psotd.powerblogs.com, you'll see it as is, if, for whatever reason, you felt you wanted to do so.

Thanks!

BTW, the PSoTD.com domain expires as of March 2nd, 2009. If you for some reason want it, probably just easiest to let me know and I can set up a transfer before that occurs. The main value to a blogger would be the redirect that can be made so that the 350 or so views each day would be to your site, rather than to an empty domain.

And I'd rather let someone from the blogroll take it than to have it scavenged by ordinary domain traffic speculators.

It's hard to believe that I've been blogging in some manner or another since February of 2003. If I bother to go through the archives - and there's a lot there so it would become a bother very shortly - I suspect it would become clear to me that I have blogged a bell curve, somewhat in quantity but definitely in quality. It was probably in 2006 and early 2007 that I did what I consider my best blogging, at least for current interest and amount of time spent considering a post, and it's been a slow but constant retreat from that point for me since.

Blogs are creations, and everyone gets tired of their creation at some point, and wishes to begin anew in creativity. Sign me up for that, but not with a blog. On to something else. Wish me luck, and perhaps you'll see something I do someday, although I have no idea of how or where, and only a belief in what. But I have faith in randomness, and find hope in chance, which gives rise to a lifelong general philosophy: You just never know! ;)

Some blogs end with a bang, some end with a whisper. This blog is the latter. Thanks for anytime you stopped by - and enjoy your days and nights!

Twitter Updates

This way my Twitter blatherings can LIVE FOREVER!

Another one of those sites I bookmarked at one time, this one about epublishing.

Damn, that's an addicting game for anyone who would like to be a pro football general manager.

I'm becoming a freakin' commercial!

(not me physically, just this blog)

Very strange. I use Comcast's cable internet service, have for years, the past few days I cannot get to Gmail, Coolcart.net, Google News, etc. Times out every time. Coolcart.net is apparently up the whole time, I'm sure the Google services are as well, so my problem apparently is through my connectivity, either here at the house or through Comcast. Anyone else having any issues with Comcast like this?

Very strange. I powercycled my modem and it fixed the problem. I had powercycled the router a couple of times and there was no difference. Weird.

Fix the defense.

Time to find replacement for Urlacher at middle linebacker and Brown at safety. That doesn't mean get rid of either player, particularly Urlacher who should move to the side. Defensive line needs help, so do the corners.

Any team that had some balance to their offense was a problem for the Bears. Houston was a prime example, they can pass and they can run. The Bears spent all season trying to stop one or the other - but not both - in a game. You can't win that way.

In other thoughts about the NFL, it looks to me like two teams that didn't make the playoffs in the AFC - the same Houston Texans, and surprisingly, the Oakland Raiders - are climbing towards playoff caliber. Don't believe me about the Raiders? 5-11, and sadly the second best defense in their division. The last three weeks, the offense seemed to figure out how to score - that's what ought to scare the Chargers.

In the NFC, the 49ers are the common candidate for improvement to playoff status next year, and Singletary should prove to be a tough coach and move them forward. I think the most interesting offseason could be the St. Louis Rams - the right head coach could make a big difference.

Not that it really should surprise you who is writing your blog.

So when did/will the Christmas holiday end for you in 2008?

Ouch, California.

As bad as it is with stores playing up Santa to push merchandise before Christmas, I find it even more abusive to see this Circuit City email advertisement this morning:

Did Santa Let You Down This Year?

Really, are stores going to try blame to move their stuff now?

I wish that I had access to the pay version of this news article search engine a few years ago.

Very, very soon.

Mostly due to an acceptance of what this blog can and will be able to accomplish, and how poorly that fits into my interests and needs at this point in time. It is what it is, and that was enough. There's still a bit of string to be unwound, but like a yoyo, it may be surprising how quickly it runs out.

Still, there's loose ends to take care of, sites I've bookmarked that are worth a mention, etc., so here's a bit more string.

For Pennsylvanians in search of pubs, this review blog can be helpful.

They call it the naked wine show, but it's really much more about wine than about naked.

An interesting version, by The Slackers. Kinda boozy sounding...

8 AM on Christmas Eve Day, I'm the only one awake and out of bed.

Tomorrow the kids will be awake by 6:30

Friday the kids will be asleep still at 8 AM

One of the things Christmas trains children for is sleeping anxiety.

I don't know if this is the end-all and say-all of the complete history of luminarias as a holiday tradition, but at least it's SOME history...

For three centuries, the Spanish villages along the Rio Grande have been displaying their unique Christmas Lanterns or ‘Luminarias’. This unique custom, which originated in the Rio Grande Valley, now appears in many parts of the world. The custom was introduced in the Novato area in 1962 by an Air Force family which had been stationed in the Rio Grande area. Since 1968, luminarias have become an annual event in the San Marin area and throughout Novato.

When the little lights that burn at Christmas are placed along roads, walks, and rooftops, the sight is beautiful. The idea was to symbolically light the way for Joseph, Mary, and the Christ Child. In the Rio Grande Valley, luminarias are also set out for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadeloupe, December 12, or for a great family fiesta. In the cities and suburban areas, luminarias are sometimes used to designate the home where a grand party is given.

The first luminarias were bonfires of crisscrossed pinyon boughs built in three-foot-high squares. When colored wrapping paper was brought from the Orient, the first small paper lantern was made. The idea of burning a light or lantern was borrowed from Spain and Old Mexico, where these were used on festive occasions. Instead of hanging the fragile new lanterns from trees or on wires, they were placed on the ground, patio, walls, rooftops, and along pathways as shown in the photograph above.

In the 1820’s, Yankee traders brought brown paper sacks down the Santa Fe Trail. This made the candle-sack luminarias accessible to all, and this manner of making luminarias has never been improved. The glow of the candles through the brown paper sacks on a dark night in Novato, multiplied by the thousands, is an awesome sight. Traditionally, these are lit at sundown on Christmas Eve after most other lights in and around the home have been extinguished. The warm glow on one of the darkest and longest nights of the year continues until the candles burn out, having done their job of putting extra holiday season joy in your heart.

This song by Trip Shakespeare has hit me just right.

According to this site, it's $38K per year.

Grandmother, Mother and Daughter sitting at breakfast table. Father and son also, but they're not part of this discussion.

Mother: You know, next year we should take Cee (daughter) to the Nutcracker ballet.

Grandmother: That's a wonderful idea!

Daughter: Nooooo!!!!!

Just curious is there's anything competitive to the Congressional and state legislator contact service Capwiz, particularly that offers the ability to plug into a web site:

Email, fax, or mail constituent letters to elected officials

zip code-to-district matching and legislative data matching, so that constituents can determine online which legislators/members of Congress to contact.

Federal and state vote scorecards and bill Information

So which team choked most when they most needed a win?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
New York Jets?
Denver Broncos?
Philadelphia Eagles?
Minnesota Vikings?

The Chicago Bears could add themselves to the list tonight, but I hope not. Special recognition to the Arizona Cardinals, who are getting into the playoffs but showing no reason for why they should be allowed to...

What does your family usually have for Christmas morning breakfast?

I want to play hoops at the White House. I have to figure out a way to be invited.

Obama gives Everyman’s game a shot in the arm, writes Matt Dickinson.

It was a victory celebrated across the world, but nowhere more so than in a Fifth Avenue office in New York. At the headquarters of the National Basketball Association (NBA), they did not just welcome Barack Obama as president-elect of the US, but as an exciting new star in the world of slam dunk.

We wait to discover how Obama will resolve the world’s financial crisis, when he will withdraw troops from Iraq and whether he can bring lasting peace to the Middle East.

But we already know he is intent on installing a basketball court at the White House so that he can wind down the way he loves best — by shooting a few hoop.

The top 100 songs from 1998, supposedly.

1. Too Close, Next
2. The Boy Is Mine, Brandy and Monica
3. You're Still The One, Shania Twain
4. Truly Madly Deeply, Savage Garden
5. How Do I Live, LeAnn Rimes
6. Together Again, Janet
7. All My Life, K-Ci and JoJo
8. Candle In The Wind 1997, Elton John
9. Nice and Slow, Usher
10. I Don't Want To Wait, Paula Cole
11. How's It Going To Be, Third Eye Blind
12. No, No, No, Destiny's Child
13. My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion
14. Gettin' Jiggy Wit, Will Smith
15. You Make Me Wanna..., Usher
16. My Way, Usher
17. My All, Mariah Carey
18. The First Night, Monica
19. Been Around The World, Puff Daddy and The Family
20. Adia, Sarah McLachlan
21. Crush, Jennifer Paige
22. Everybody (Backstreet's Back), Backstreet Boys
23. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing, Aerosmith
24. Body Bumpin Yippie-Yi-Yo, Public Announcement
25. This Kiss, Faith Hill
26. I Don't Ever Want To See You Again, Uncle Sam
27. Let's Ride, Montell Jordan
28. Sex And Candy, Marcy Playground
29. Show Me Love, Robyn
30. A Song For Mama, Boyz II Men
31. What You Want, Mase
32. Frozen, Madonna
33. Gone Till November, Wyclef Jean
34. My Body, Lsg
35. Tubthumping, Chumbawamba
36. Deja Vu (Uptown Baby), Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz
37. I Want You Back, 'N Sync
38. When The Lights Go Out, Five
39. They Don't Know, Jon B.
40. Make Em' Say Uhh!, Master P
41. Make It Hot, Nicole Featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and Mocha
42. Never Eve, All Saints
43. I Get Lonely, Janet
44. Feel So Good, Mase
45. Say It, Voices Of Theory
46. Kiss The Rain, Billie Myers
47. Come With Me, Puff Daddy
48. Romeo And Juliet, Sylk-E Fyne
49. It's All About Me, Mya and Sisqo
50. I Will Come To You, Hanson
51. One Week, Barenaked Ladies
52. Swing My Way, K.P. and Envyi
53. The Arms Of The One Who Loves You, Xscape
54. My Love Is The Shhh!, Somethin' For The People
55. Daydreamin', Tatyana Ali
56. We're Not Making Love No More, Dru Hill
57. Semi-Charmed Life, Third Eye Blind
58. I Do, Lisa Loeb
59. Lookin' At Me, Mase
60. Looking Through Your Eyes, LeAnn Rimes
61. Lately, Divine
62. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart), Backstreet Boys
63. I Still Love You, Next
64. Time After Time, Inoj
65. Are You Jimmy Ray?, Jimmy Ray
66. Cruel Summer, Ace Of Base
67. I Got The Hook Up!, Master P
68. Victory, Puff Daddy and The Family
69. Too Much, Spice Girls
70. Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are), Pras Feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mya
71. How Deep Is Your Love, Dru Hill Featuring Redman
72. Friend Of Mine, Kelly Price
73. Turn It Up [Remix]/Fire It Up, Busta Rhymes
74. I'll Be, Edwin McCain
75. Ray Of Light, Madonna
76. All For You, Sister Hazel
77. Touch It, Monifah
78. Money, Power and Respect, Lox
79. Bitter Sweet Symphony, The Verve
80. Dangerous, Busta Rhymes
81. Spice Up Your Life, Spice Girls
82. Because Of You, 98 Degrees
83. The Mummers' Dance, Loreena McKennitt
84. All Cried Out, Allure Featuring 112
85. Still Not A Player, Big Punisher Featuring Joe
86. The One I Gave My Heart To, Aaliyah
87. Foolish Games/You Were Meant For Me, Jewel
88. Love You Down, Inoj
89. Do For Love, 2Pac
90. Raise The Roof, Luke
91. Heaven, Nu Flavor
92. The Party Continues, Jd
93. Sock It 2 Me, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott Featuring Da Brat
94. Butta Love, Next
95. A Rose Is Still A Rose, Aretha Franklin
96. 4 Seasons Of Loneliness, Boyz II Men
97. Father, LL Cool J
98. Thinkin' Bout It, Gerald Levert
99. Nobody's Supposed To Be Here, Deborah Cox
100. Westside, TQ

Not that I'm a big fan of this song, but it sure doesn't seem like it was ten years ago that it was popular...

Whatever happened to Chumbawamba?

For the unemployed.

Our daughter was less than a year old - still crawling, climbing to her feet but not yet walking - when MMMBop by Hanson came out. It was a catchy bubblegum tune, on the radio a lot of the time, and after a little bit we realized that she liked that song. In fact, she liked it so much that we could sing it to her when she was upset, or when we wanted her to go to sleep, and she would calm down to it and at night or nap time she would go to sleep in our arms. It was gold to us.

One time my old boss, Rick, was out from Sacramento, and we had him over for dinner. By that time I had videotaped MMMBop as well, since we knew it gathered her attention, and we didn't have to sing it everytime, if we needed the tune. We were telling Rick about it, and he thought it was funny, so we gave him a demonstration. We sat our daughter on one side of our family room, set the tape up to play, and walked to the other side of the room. Of course, she wanted to be with us, so she started to crawl quickly to us, when the song kicked in on the television. She stopped immediately and looked at the TV, cocked her head, then crawled to it. She pulled herself up on our old entertainment center, and then proceeded to do the baby dance. We've all seen the baby dance - they're on their two feet, mostly bopping up and down in an effort to find some sort of musical rythym I guess, and it doesn't sync up to the beat but it's still as cute as anything. And she was. I have her, and MMMBop, on video somewhere.

There are songs that I really like, and then there are songs like MMMBop, which have an extrinsic value that far overwhelms any value the song may musically provide. It's a catchy song, but our daughter made it perhaps the most memorable song of the 1990s for us. Even to this day, she likes it, although she's embarrassed by the story.