PSoTD

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.

I'd probably think, like I do now, that this is a pretty dipshitty expense of money during tough financial times...

The final price tag for firing Chuck Long and hiring Brady Hoke to San Diego State could be around $1.8 million, including only the costs associated with the transition of one football coach to another.

Wouldn't be surprised to see the QB at Ball State bolt for the NFL after this...

Stan Parrish, Ball State's offensive coordinator the past three seasons, signed a four-year contract on Thursday and promised a smooth transition as the new coach of the 23rd-ranked Cardinals.

He replaces Brady Hoke, who resigned this week to become the coach at San Diego State, and his first game will be on Jan. 6, when the Cardinals play Tulsa (10-3) in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

"Brady's footprints, fortunately, will stay on the program," Parrish said at a news conference announcing the coaching change. "It makes the transition for me very, very easy. There will be a lot of continuity in this program, because I had a lot of say in what we did before. That's a wonderful situation."

Hoke was 34-38 in six years as coach, including 12-1 this season.

Why couldn't Hoke stick with the team through the bowl game? Their success this year is the ONLY reason anyone is offering him a job for next year.

There's less than a week left until Christmas Day: are you done with your Christmas shopping for this year?

It was delicious if you like salmon, and I guess I do.

Just how many middle class folks are going to take a stock or fund investment and sell in the next two weeks so they can get the loss applied to their taxes.

I know some have problems with the selection of Rick Warren giving the invocation at Barack Obama's inauguration.

Here's a bit of a surprise: Dr. Rick Warren of Saddleback Church will give the formal invocation at Barack Obama's inauguration. The good pro-life theologian first met Obama in 2006 at a Saddleback AIDS forum in California. Obama used the occasion to press the evangelical pastors present to embrace "realism" when they considered the issue; preach abstience, yes, but preaching against contraception can kill. (Here's some of what Obama said that day: "I know that there are those who, out of sincere religious conviction, oppose such measures. And with these folks, I must respectfully but unequivocally disagree. I do not accept the notion that those who make mistakes in their lives should be given an effective death sentence.")

My problem isn't the selection of Warren specifically, it's the choice of having an invocation, period. I don't believe there should be any faith-based invocation in the first place, I don't think it has much business in the formal swearing in of a President. I don't believe that selecting a religion to do this is appropriate, and when you select the religious leader, you select the religion. And being agnostic, I really don't have much interest in what Rick Warren has to say on such an occasion - I care what Barack Obama has to say.

It's not that I'm not opposed to some of Warren's public statements, because I am. But being agnostic about God puts me in the position of not feeling particularly interested in either the process of the invocation or the person chosen to deliver it. It's not much different than if somebody had been chosen to provide historical professional golf statistics as part of the inauguration - it has no application to me.

Have all Presidents had a religious leader of some sort speak at their inauguration? If not, I think that's a fact that deserves some public visibility. What did Jefferson do?

Seriously, I think it's questionable that the management that made this decision should should be even in charge of their own excrement. What a bunch of fools, ruining their future toy market for fifty cents a unit.

Remember last week's story about Jason Johnson, the Illinois man who sued Microsoft over his Xbox 360's alleged habit of scratching his game DVDs?

Documents unsealed in his court case revealed Microsoft discovered its Xbox 360 could scratch discs before it went on sale in 2005, and even got as far as considering three possible solutions to the problem, the Seattle Tech Report revealed today.

The characteristic circular scratches can occur whenever the orientation of the console -- which is designed to be used in either a horizontal or vertical position -- is changed while the drive is spinning. Johnson filed his suit after his console scratched three store-bought game discs, and is seeking $50,000 in punitive damages.

Testimony obtained from a Microsoft program manager indicates that Microsoft became aware of the problem months before the 360's launch when retail demonstration consoles malfunctioned. The company examined three solutions: strengthening the magnets that hold the discs in place, slowing the rotational speed of the discs, and installing rubber bumpers to cushion the discs, but rejected them all. Installing the bumpers could have cost as little as $0.50 per console, the suit claims.

Jackasses.

Wow, apparently I could go back to Rio de Janeiro, roundtrip, for my birthday for under $600 out of Philadelphia.

If that were the only cost...

As a parent, I am impressed with how much the Cumberland Valley School District has improved their parent notification of school delays and cancellations with their auto-call and email system. On many occasions, the time of doubt - not knowing whether arrangements need to be made for the kids the next day or not - has been greatly reduced.

Do you have a Christmas web site you like to share with friends and family?

Camp Hill's Mayor is expressing a need for a change in the water company. I'm sure Hampden Township's gonna hear that sentiment from residents now, too.

It seems to me that a heckuva lot of journalists are on Twitter.

750 Volts is closing their door, on to a new blog, the New Dominion Project. I'm not sure what that's going to do to the sites on 750 Volts' blogroll, but here's one more promotion of those blogs here.

13th Floor — 7-West — Ambivalent Mumblings — Anonymous Is A Woman — Bearing Drift — Bob Gibson — Bob Gibson — Brian Patton — Daily Whackjob — Donncha — Dougal — Fairfax County Democrats — In The Belly Of The Beast — Johnny Camacho — Kookinelli — Liberal Rage ™ — Mark Levine’s Inside Scoop — Mosquito Blog — Not Larry Sabato — One Man’s Trash — Ox Road South — Power Concedes — Raising Kaine — Renaissance Ruminations — Richmond Democrat — Richmond War Room — Rick Howell Speaks — Rick Sincere — Shrieks From the Booby Hatch — SLANTblog — South of the James — The Daily WhackJob — The Thicket — Too Conservative — Verns Blog — Virginia Progressive — Vivian Page — Waldo Jaquith

I would have slept in today. At least I would have hoped to...

Candy Canes: Good, bad or just bleh?

They ought to lock in George W. Bush for a worldwide tour of their locations before Payless Shoe Source does. I bet sales go through the roof! (or at least, maybe through the windows, if Bush is standing near them...)

Eventually, that's what people do when they feel that their desires and needs are constantly deprived by those with moneyed access to government.

Just a reality check for businesses that seem to be focused on screwing the American customer.

It seems to me that somebody in the news media might be able to write an interesting story on the traffic trends of the federal government web site USAJOBS.gov....

Actually, Puddle of Mudd.

Tomorrow it's supposed to be 61 degrees, so I think I'll practice throwing shoes at a head sized target for a while.

Do you have any good Christmas questions, and if so, what are they?

Also known as The Year of Living RickAstleyly...

1. Faith, George Michael
2. Need You Tonight, INXS
3. Got My Mind Set On You, George Harrison
4. Never Gonna Give You Up, Rick Astley
5. Sweet Child O' Mine, Guns N' Roses
6. So Emotional, Whitney Houston
7. Heaven Is A Place On Earth, Belinda Carlisle
8. Could've Been, Tiffany
9. Hands To Heaven, Breathe
10. Roll With It, Steve Winwood
11. One More Try, George Michael
12. Wishing Well, Terence Trent d'Arby
13. Anything For You, Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine
14. The Flame, Cheap Trick
15. Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car, Billy Ocean
16. Seasons Change, Expose
17. Is This Love, Whitesnake
18. Wild, Wild West, Escape Club
19. Pour Some Sugar On Me, Def Leppard
20. I'll Always Love You, Taylor Dayne
21. Man In The Mirror, Michael Jackson
22. Shake Your Love, Debbie Gibson
23. Simply Irresistible, Robert Palmer
24. Hold On To The Nights, Richard Marx
25. Hungry Eyes, Eric Carnen
26. Shattered Dreams, Johnny Hates Jazz
27. Father Figure, George Michael
28. Naught Girls (Need Love Too), Samantha Fox
29. A Groovy Kind Of Love, Phil Collins
30. Love Bites, Def Leppard
31. Endless Summer Nights, Richard Marx
32. Foolish Beat, Debbie Gibson
33. Where Do Broken Hearts Go, Whitney Houston
34. Angel, Aerosmith
35. Hazy Shade Of Winter, Bangles
36. The Way You Make Me Feel, Michael Jackson
37. Don't Worry, Be Happy, Bobby McFerrin
38. Make Me Lose Control, Eric Carnen
39. Red Red Wine, UB40
40. She's Like The Wind, Patric Swayze
41. Bad Medicine, Bon Jovi
42. Kokomo, Beach Boys
43. I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That, Elton John
44. Together Forever, Rick Astley
45. Monkey, George Michael
46. Devil Inside, INXS
47. Should've Known Better, Richard Marx
48. I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love, Chicago
49. The Loco-Motion, Kylie Minogue
50. What Have I Done To Deserve This?, Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield
51. Make It Real, Jets
52. What's On Your Mind, Information Society
53. Tell It To My Heart, Taylor Dayne
54. Out Of The Blue, Debbie Gibson
55. Don't You Want Me, Jody Watley
56. Desire, U2
57. I Get Weak, Belinda Carlisle
58. Sign Your Name, Terence Trent d'Arby
59. I Want To Be Your Man, Roger
60. Girlfriend, Pebbles
61. Dirty Diana, Michael Jackson
62. 1-2-3, Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
63. Mercedes Boy, Pebbles
64. Perfect World, Huey Lewis and the News
65. New Sensation, INXS
66. Catch Me (I'm Falling), Pretty Poison
67. If It Isn't Love, New Edition
68. Rocket 2 U, Jets
69. One Good Woman, Peter Cetera
70. Don't Be Cruel, Cheap Trick
71. Candle In The Wind, Elton John
72. Everything Your Heart Desires, Daryl Hall and John Oates
73. Say You Will , Foreigner
74. I Want Her, Keith Sweat
75. Pink Cadillac, Natalie Cole
76. Fast Car, Tracy Chapman
77. Electric Blue, Icehouse
78. The Valley Road, Bruce Hornsby and The Range
79. Don't Be Cruel, Bobby Brown
80. Always On My Mind, Pet Shop Boys
81. Piano In The Dark, Brenda Russell Featuring Joe Esposito
82. When It's Love, Van Halen
83. Don't Shed A Tear, Paul Carrack
84. We'll Be Together, Sting
85. I Hate Myself For Loving You, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
86. I Don't Want To Live Without You, Foreigner
87. Nite And Day, Al B. Sure
88. Don't You Know What The Night Can Do, Steve Winwood
89. One Moment In Time, Whitney Houston
90. Can't Stay Away From You, Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
91. Kissing A Fool, George Michael
92. Cherry Bomb, John Cougar Mellancamp
93. I Still Believe, Brenda K. Starr
94. I Found Someone, Cher
95. Never Tear Us Apart, INXS
96. Valerie, Steve Windwood
97. Just Like Paradise, David Lee Roth
98. Nothin' But A Good Time, Poison
99. Wait, White Lion
100. Prove Your Love, Taylor Dayne

For anyone that bought music in 1988, you should be embarrassed, whether you bought any of the incredibly listless crap listed above or not. Years from now, our children will be asking, who was Taylor Dayne or Rick Astley or Peter Cetera, and blame must be assigned. There are things that a complete generation should not be imbued, and the popular music careers of many listed above is one of them.

That listing has a couple of good songs, period, out of the entire 100. Most of it is rancid.

They are quite handsome looking reptiles.

The Cincinnati Reds strengthened their bullpen Friday by agreeing to a $4 million, two-year contract with free-agent left-hander Arthur Rhodes.

One word as a fan: Ugh.

Good ole' Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song that you never hear on the radio.

What does Comcast deserve for Christmas?

I wonder what the job market is doing to their revenues... I see that both are now going to advertise in next year's Super Bowl.

Consolidation of local government services, and consolidation of local governments. Money is going to force this issue to explode all over the Commonwealth.

So, what was yours like?

They make a fine gift for the wannabe hippie blogger you know, but this video commercial is kinda creepy.

Recipes, recipes.

One of the things that seems to be going on is a review process by individuals in the economy as to what others are thinking or seeing in the economy, from their standpoint. Wednesday I met with a client, and he was curious as to how I assessed how the economy would impact our business. Short answer is that I expect the economy to be worse, and worse longer, than the six months after 9/11, but that it was a mixed result back in 01/02 since we do annual agreements, our customer base is looking to us to find them more cost-efficient mechanisms than they currently have, so we benefit from both continuing revenue obligations and the search for lower-cost results. On the other hand, those benefits won't mean much if we're in a full-fledged depression, so I have to admit I'm always leaning for the more rosy future.

This isn't much different than questions I ask friends of mine in other businesses, or questions I've been asked before in the past few months. I think American small business people are trying to determine a consensus outside of the news delivery systems, particularly the business news delivery systems, because those systems don't seem to understand or recognize big trends until they are already upon us. In addition, they aren't particularly located in our geography or socio-economic ranges, so there's a doubt of their understanding and a distrust of their motives on any news about the economy. In short, we're all kind of gauging each other to figure out what to believe, and weighing that more heavily than we have done in the past.

What is your least favorite Christmas movie? I'm not talking about made-for-television fare, but films that actually received a theatrical release?

In this particular case, I do not understand why the individual's decision is not being respected by non-governing institutions questioning the wisdom of his actions. That position - the disrespect by non-governing institutions for the individual choice - is not worthy of respect itself. If death is inevitable within a short period of time, why can't the person dying try to figure out the best way to do it for all involved?

Cumberland Valley High School earned another bronze award in U.S. News and World Report's second annual list of America's Best High Schools but two other local schools on last year's honor roll didn't make the grade this time.

What living person best personifies the "Christmas Spirit" in your life?

I swear, we're eventually going to call the time period from 1946 to 2008 "The Sixty Year Blip".

According to a September survey on consumer anxieties over higher fuel and food prices from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University in Ames, 34 percent of respondents said that they were likely to raise more of their own vegetables. Another 37 percent said they were likely to can or freeze more of their food. The cousin to canning and freezing is the root cellar.

“I’ve been doing local food work for a long time,” said Rich Pirog, associate director of the Leopold Center, who conducted the study. “And I’m seeing an increase in articles in various sustainable ag newsletters about root cellaring.”

According to Bruce Butterfield, the research director for the National Gardening Association, a trade group, home food preservation typically increases in a rotten economy. In 2002, the close of the last mild recession, 29 million households bought supplies for freezing, drying, processing and canning. Last year that number stood at only 22 million — a figure Mr. Butterfield said he expects to rise rapidly.

There is actually a festival about this held in Stahlstown every year. The things you can learn about Pennsylvania, and the activities of others, using this Internet thing.

Make your pitch to promote a currently ignored animal as a symbol of Christmas. The reindeer, manger animals, and even penguins and polar bears have gotten too much of the wealth. Tell me a story about a Christmas ______________.

On the other hand, Nassim Taleb is saying some pretty scary stuff about the economy, and it's believable. From Charlie Rose.

I stumbled onto this show when I couldn't sleep on Sunday on FX, and it was this episode. I will admit, I haven't laughed so hard at a TV show since maybe ever. It might just be dumb guy humor, but it's the pure good stuff. I still am laughing.

But I am amused that there's an organization called The Pennsylvania Gourd Society.

This one is about Christmas ornaments. If you were going to buy a Christmas ornament for your tree, what kind or style would you prefer?

I wonder why some companies don't offer free sets of printed christmas cards as long as they can put in their product placement. A local business, even one with international reach such as Hershey, could probably include an attractive and clever coupon on the back of the card.

I did this a few years ago with a friend on January 1st, and I've created a bit of a monster. The day we went, it was in the 40s, no snow on the ground, little wind. Yes, the river was cold and my feet went numb almost immediately, but still, you really couldn't ask for better conditions.

And I recognize that. Last year my buddy wanted to do it again, and I wavered, explaining that I would go if the weather was similar but not if it was 10 degrees and windy, or freezing rain, or any of the nastier weather combinations that are more likely than mid 40s on New Years Day. We didn't end up going. This year he's back with more push to get me to go.

The problem really isn't the time in the river itself, because that is relatively quick, maybe a minute or so. The problem is the wait before, and particularly the cold walk and change afterwards. Especially if you're planning on going to Flinchy's directly afterward for the free buffet, because you're going to end up changing somewhere on City Island behind the bushes.

So... I'm noncommittal. Well, sorta. I've told my buddy that I'm not going if it's windy or raining or there's snow on the ground. He claims I am a "once and doner" which may be true. Maybe, but I'm also getting to the age where I should use my brain to keep my body from getting sick. Maybe this event is for the younger folks.

Do you have a Christmas decoration belly ring?

Central PA, you should bookmark Wisdom for Winos, promising with just a hint of walnut.

Some good, some very terrible... any favorites for you?

1. Shadow Dancing, Andy Gibb
2. Night Fever, Bee Gees
3. You Light Up My Life, Debby Boone
4. Stayin' Alive, Bee Gees
5. Kiss You All Over, Exile
6. How Deep Is Your Love, Bee Gees
7. Baby Come Back, Player
8. (Love Is) Thicker Than Water, Andy Gibb
9. Boogie Oogie Oogie, A Taste Of Honey
10. Three Times A Lady, Commodores
11. Grease, Frankie Valli
12. I Go Crazy, Paul Davis
13. You're The One That I Want, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
14. Emotion, Samantha Sang
15. Lay Down Sally, Eric Clapton
16. Miss You, Rolling Stones
17. Just The Way You Are, Billy Joel
18. With A Little Luck, Wings
19. If I Can't Have You, Yvonne Elliman
20. Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah), Chic
21. Feels So Good, Chuck Mangione
22. Hot Child In The City, Nick Gilder
23. Love Is Like Oxygen, Sweet
24. It's A Heartache, Bonnie Tyler
25. We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You, Queen
26. Baker Street, Gerry Rafferty
27. Can't Smile Without You, Barry Manilow
28. Too Much, Too Little, Too Late, Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
29. Dance With Me, Peter Brown
30. Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad, Meat Loaf
31. Jack And Jill, Raydio
32. Take A Chance On Me, Abba
33. Sometimes When We Touch, Dan Hill
34. Last Dance, Donna Summer
35. Hopelessly Devoted To You, Olivia Newton-John
36. Hot Blooded, Foreigner
37. You're In My Heart, Rod Stewart
38. The Closer I Get To You, Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
39. Dust In The Wind, Kansas
40. Magnet And Steel, Walter Egan
41. Short People, Randy Newman
42. Use Ta Be My Girl, O'Jays
43. Our Love, Natalie Cole
44. Love Will Find A Way, Pablo Cruise
45. An Everlasting Love, Andy Gibb
46. Love Is In The Air, John Paul Young
47. Goodbye Girl, David Gates
48. Slip Slidin' Away, Paul Simon 49. The Groove Line, Heatwave
50. Thunder Island, Jay Ferguson
51. Imaginary Lover, Atlanta Rhythm Section
52. Still The Same, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band
53. My Angel Baby, Toby Beau
54. Disco Inferno, Trammps
55. On Broadway, George Benson
56. Come Sail Away, Styx
57. Back In Love Again, L.T.D.
58. This Time I'm In It For Love, Player
59. You Belong To Me, Carly Simon
60. Here You Come Again, Dolly Parton
61. Blue Bayou, Linda Ronstadt
62. Peg, Steely Dan
63. You Needed Me, Anne Murray
64. Shame, Evelyn "Champagne" King
65. Reminiscing, Little River Band
66. Count On Me, Jefferson Starship
67. Baby Hold On, Eddie Money
68. Hey Deanie, Shaun Cassidy
69. Summer Nights, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-john
70. What's Your Name, Lynyrd Skynyrd
71. Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue, Crystal Gayle
72. Because The Night, Patti Smith
73. Every Kinda People, Robert Palmer
74. Copacabana, Barry Manilow
75. Always And Forever, Heatwave
76. You And I, Rick James
77. Serpentine Fire, Earth, Wind and Fire
78. Sentimental Lady, Bob Welch
79. Falling, LeBlanc and Carr
80. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, Santa Esmeralda
81. Bluer Than Blue, Michael Johnson
82. Running On Empty, Jackson Browne
83. Whenever I Call You "Friend", Kenny Loggins
84. Fool (If You Think It's Over), Chris Rea
85. Get Off, Foxy
86. Sweet Talking Woman, Electric Light Orchestra
87. Life's Been Good, Joe Walsh
88. I Love The Night Life, Alicia Bridges
89. You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On), High Inergy
90. It's So Easy, Linda Ronstadt
91. Native New Yorker, Odyssey
92. Flashlight, Parliament
93. Don't Look Back, Boston
94. Turn To Stone, Electric Light Orchestra
95. I Can't Stand The Rain, Eruption
96. Ebony Eyes, Bob Welch
97. The Name Of The Game, Abba
98. We're All Alone, Rita Coolidge
99. Hollywood Nights, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band
100. Deacon Blues, Steely Dan

I take it back. MOST are terrible. No wonder Foreigner, who was no great shakes, was so popular - not much push for other rock bands that year.

What are your favorite Christmas carols?

guess next week is when peak starts building for people going into places like the UPS Store to send packages for Christmas, but I think the one I go to daily has been staffed up considerably this week in anticipation of the regular holiday push, and when I've been in, the place has been empty, or near to it. Just another one of those signs of what kind of Christmas this is going to be for retail.

But losing to Buffalo last night pretty much insured I'm not buying this for our nephew for Christmas.

Nostalgia, I guess. I remember when this song, and Jeannie C. Riley, was huge.

But that's wrong.

Pennsylvania is the fourth-most visited state in the country, with an estimated 138 million visitors annually. Travelers to Pennsylvania spent approximately $27 billion in 2007, including nearly $20 billion by leisure visitors on transportation, food, rooms, shopping, entertainment and other items.

Now how do I get in on this 27 billion...

About how many Christmas cards will you send out this year?

I wonder how much lawyer business has been created with local government concerning the new Pennsylvania Right-To-Know Law. Not that there's anything wrong with that, just curious as to the economic impact. Seems like something that should be measurable.

Chris Matthews' sense of entitlement IS truly stunning, and would be horribly worthless for Pennsylvania's citizenry.

If you and your family had to be somewhere in the world on Christmas morning BESIDES where you or your family live, where would you prefer that be in the world?

Sure, maybe the video conferencing industry is going to explode as organizations are looking to cut travel costs, but the convention/business hotel industry is going to get a major asskicking the next few years...

Sara Bozich has a good list of local Harrisburg area bloggers.

And speaking of Capitol area bloggers and tweeters, there's a tweetup in Harrisburg on December 18th - anyone here going? I haven't been to one before, but thinking about going to one.

Based on the amount of spam I'm getting on Gmail, I'd say that the reduction of crapmail that happened a few weeks ago, when authorities cut off some of the heaviest servers sending it, is over with a vengeance.

If you were to erase from human memory and history just one tradition that comes from the Christmas holiday, which tradition would it be and why?

A few years ago we were in Colonial Williamsburg, and we saw a Great Wolf Lodge on our way to our motel. On the way back we stopped to look inside, it was a complete lure to our kids - an indoor water park set inside a hotel, with 3 or 4 story slides and lots of kids running around, having fun. Almost on the spot we told the kids that someday we would stay at one.

So last weekend we went up to the Great Wolf Lodge in Scotrun in the Poconos and stayed a night, and the kids had a blast. It WAS nice to get out of near freezing rain, put on a swimsuit and play in relatively warm water in an 84 degree air environment. We saw kids from toddlers to maybe 14-year-olds running around in the waterpark having a blast, but I think the place doesn't offer enough different rides to retain older teenagers - which, if you're like us and don't have older teenagers, is just fine.

It's not cheap, but you can take two days at the waterpark for every night you stay there, so you have to think of the cost in terms of both lodging and water time. Also, the GWL has several programs for the smaller kids, including crafts and story time and games. In the evening, we spent $25 to let our kids buy a wand and play a game called MagiQuest which was spread out throughout the hotel with interactive stations, and they played for four hours that night and a couple of hours the next afternoon after we hit the water slides again. It was ALMOST as big of a hit as the water slides, and there were kids running around all over the hotel, brothers and sisters in pajamas playing as teams, having lots of fun. Well worth the $25.

GWL has pricing deals that are better than the night we went, but because of school and sports our flexibility was limited and we were ready to end our kids' asking, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GREAT WOLF LODGE. We were a bit concerned that we would see it as not worth the money and effort, but we came away feeling like we had a fun and worthy weekend. Of course, now our kids are scheming to go with their friends again someday in the future...

It seems to me that in light of this news:

The U.S. credit-card industry may pull back well over $2 trillion of lines over the next 18 months due to risk aversion and regulatory changes, leading to sharp declines in consumer spending, prominent banking analyst Meredith Whitney said.

I've thought about this idea a bit the past few years, haven't really sold myself on it or decided it was terrible, but I do think it's worth some government study.

Sounds like a pretty interesting game if it happens:

There has been serious discussion between bowl representatives, school officials, conference commissioners and ESPN about pairing Ball State and Boise State in a bowl game—if the Cardinals win the MAC title to improve their record to 13-0.

The other night my wife and I caught a bit of the PBS showing of a 25 year old Everly Brothers concert, which reminded us how many hit songs they had that you still hear today. And we realized - of all the music icons of that time, it's maybe the biggest seller - the Everly Brothers - that we've not ever heard of any studio film biopic.

I like this month. I like this month's big holiday. I like it for the music and for the way people seem to feel so much better towards other people. I like it because there's a twinkle of excitement for young and old alike this month, that there's mystery, there's good and there's naughty and a recognition of both. I like the colors and the food and the shows.

So, why not, I'm going to try to come up with a CHRISTMAS QUESTION OF THE DAY for the rest of the days leading up to Christmas Day. And here's the first one:

What's your favorite thing, foodwise, associated with the holiday of Christmas?

I really wonder how bad squirrel damage to buildings will be this winter.

I wonder why Hampden Township changed Operation Ho Ho so much. They didn't get the word out very well to residents as to the new operation and schedule, and we missed it as the fire truck raced down the street.

Maybe next year.

So many choices, it could be Kyle Orton's interception extravaganza, or the fact that Devin Hester can't seem to keep his feet under himself anymore, or that the receivers couldn't get ready to catch the catchable balls that Orton passed.

Or it could be that horribly crappy Bears defense, unable to stop the run even with most of their players at the line.

Or it could be Lovey Smith's "look of the lost" during much of the game when the cameras panned to him.

So many choices. I'll go with the toothless defense, I guess.

Just spent our first weekend ever in the Poconos this weekend. Very nice place, but does it always rain this much?