If they want people to watch football, why would they air the game on NBC? Even before the networks went openly Bolshevik I rarely watched them; these days they get the leper treatment. Right now Da Chimpz are outside where it's really friggin cold. They wanted to go out earlier but I stopped them -- it was only 8 degrees. Now it's a little better, but not by much.

I drove around just now shopping at various places -- included the most gigantic Giant Beagle I've shopped in over in Middleburg Heights. Big-ass super-duper-market. Bought some meat to make tomorrow's meatballs. And the wine to wash them down. Yum.

Oh, and let's hear it for the working class in the Sunshine State. Yes, here's a man who is attacked by a gator an dragged under water -- but he fights off the varmint and the... gets back to work! Just goes to show you: outside D.C. the work ethic is still alive and well. And strange (well, it is Florida).

Got some big time snow falling around here. They say it will last all day. School is closed; from downstairs I can hear the sounds of Wii. I have read through the morning news blogs. Many people are furious at the looming theft of taxpayer money. Many will try to go Geithner. Others will go Galt. As I watch the snow dumping down I am reminded we've already gone Gore.

Giggity.

Yes, there will be more snow tonight. And yes, I did go outside yesterday and free the Jeep from the Gore-glacier that is slowly advancing down the buckled blacktop of my driveway. So the car is driveable. For now.

The school did its annual breakfast for parents this morning. We watched Da Chimpz eat their french-toast sticks while choking down some of the cafeteria coffee. Nice to have a chance to say hello to some of the teachers and staff and parents. I didn't go to the "Night at the Races" on Saturday night but I think I'll be sure to hit it next year.

Yeah, that Jeep has been good us over the years. In four-wheel drive it can hop through just about anything.

But not the ice that has caked onto our driveway in the last few days. I went out early this morning to clear the windshield and warm it up; came out a few minutes later with Cookie and Mojo and got it into gear.

Nothing.

The wheels spun and the ice offered no purchase. I did some quick work with the ice-pick but it was pointless: after almost a month of snowfall and a thaw-refreeze at the end of last week there is just too much ice to clear.

So we walked to school today in the bitter cold. Da Chimpz were afraid we'd get there late, but it appears they got through the doors in time. I walked back and sneered at our permafrost driveway as I keyed into the house.

I still like the old Jeep though. Would never buy another one, though, considering the company's contempt for us taxpayers... us very cold taxpayers.

Which reminds me: I gotta get my tax materials together. It's getting to be time for the annual hosing.

To paraphrase the Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher: "That's the problem with Democrats -- eventually they run out of other people's money." Then I'm reminded that these days they simply print more.

Well, this is what you get when you make home loans an entitlement. It's not unique: college loans have also been an entitlement for years -- a huge, unsustainable bubble has inflated there as well. It'll pop too, someday.

These crashes are just harbingers of the entitlement crisis yet to come -- they know the crash is coming just as well as they know their policies today will only make it worse. They don't care. They want money today. Other people's money.

Madoff may have been a crook, but at least his victims were willing participants! Then again, I got a quick look at yesterday's Plain Dealer (no, I did not and would not buy a copy) and it was clear they there are plenty of willing victims out there for this grand scam. And many of them seem to be on the paper's staff.

Today it's back to work. In a little while Da Chimpz will wake up and get themselves ready for school. We saw their classrooms at yesterday's open house.

I should call Steve later today. See if he's annoyed too.

UPDATE: It appears others are noticing this phenomenon as well. Heh. Let us all link arms and sing for Dear Leader.

I'm feeling pretty handy today -- I fixed my ailing stereo system and Berea-Rose can once again thump to the bass beat of obscure techno.

Yeah, I've had some positive experiences with Philips equipment. When they fixed my flat screen TV last summer I had good things to say about not only that but the Philips home theater I got when we first moved out here.

Well, since then the sound on that home theater has gotten bad: a buzzing crackle when they system is powered on. It took longer and longer for it to fade and then I noticed the subwoofer was dead. Some online research showed that this is a common problem for anyone operating the HTS-3450. The crackling would only get longer and eventually the whole thing would die.

So I disassembled the faulty system and put it in a box, expecting its next stop would be the curbside. Then I read a thread that included a fix -- open the guts and replace a couple of failed capacitors. At first I scoffed: there was no way I'd be soldering parts onto a circuit board. But then I got adventurous. Saw another blog confirming the fix. I got the components at Radio Shack and today I got a cheap-o soldering iron at Home Depot. I got everything spread out in the basement, opened the case, unplugged the board, made some of the ugliest solders ev-ah, then plugged it all back in and closed it up. Got upstairs and tested it.

And my revitalized subwoofer said: yes, there will be rock; yes, there will be roll.

(Though I see one more recent comment on that thread that reports that the fix is only temporary... which would suck mightily, as I am now glorying my supposed avoidance of having to shell out several Franklins to replace the thing -- and I'd like to keep avoiding that.)

Anyway, it's the little victories in life that count. And to complete today's adventure without having to involve the local fire department was definitely a triumph.

Don't get me wrong: I have nothing against People magazine. The citizenry needs its fix of starlets and fairy tales. My only beef is that nearly every major news outlet has put itself in the fairy tale business too -- and somehow they always find a way to write us in as villains in their morality plays. Sticks and stones, yeah... but we're about to find out what happens to media companies that vigorously deride half their potential audience.

I shall savor every bankruptcy.

And speaking of fairy tales, I hear 200 kegs of beer spilled onto a Florida highway yesterday. What the hell is going on down there? The citizens need their celebrity gossip! And they need their beer!

You're right, Jen. Television news is pretty much done. Even the shows that pretend to be serious can't stick to substantive issues -- they all want to be People Magazine.

So I read my WSJ, check a few blogs, and look at the withholding on my paycheck -- tells me most of what I need to know about the world. The most important stuff doesn't make it to the newspapers or TV news programs anyway.

It has been snowing off and on all day around here. Come to think of it, it's been snowing off and on all month around here. And none of it has melted. I should really shovel my driveway. It's damn-near impassable by now.

Like most conservative couples in this great nation, Steve and I have spent a great deal of energy avoiding watching the news. Our routine of turning on the tv and flipping between cnn and foxnews--has been altered--we now flip between reruns of Saved by the Bell and whatever cocky MTV show is on.

Today was quite depressing-- because not only was it Saved by the Bell (the middle school years) but Run's House was infiltrating MTV. I only have one word for such programming....DOUCHE!

According to Dictionary.com (I am a bit nerdy and enjoy a good word of the day), the day of the word is candor, meaning honesty. So, in the spirit of the word of the day, I must make a confession (quite like a good Catholic would do). I am not ashamed to admit that I am pissed off that this inauguration is getting in the way of my favorite tv programming night..This "occasion of significance," "the dream come true" or whatever title you want to give this event is taking precedence over Scrubs on ABC and A Double Shot of Love with the Ikki Twins on MTV..true American classic shows that epitomize and define what it means to live in the "land of the free."

I have already accepted the fact that this man is our president--but to be blunt, he already is pissing me off..

And on a side note--I did find a new word that I love
shittlecock....

Saw a soda commercial on TV last night -- an artsy montage of youth culture self-indulgence over the the last century (including the V-J Day celebrations on Times Square, which I would not characterize as inappropriately self-congratulatory). Anyway, it was a handy reminder that every generation worships its own idols.

Not that I care -- I rarely drink soda anymore.

But what really struck me was the ad's soundtrack: The Who's classic "My Generation." I hope they got some good money for the licensing of that gem (Pete Townsend might still have some fat legal defense bills in collection).

I've had a different song from The Who in mind lately:

The change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the fold, that's all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain't changed
'Cause the banners, they are flown in the next war

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
No, no!

I'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
Though I know that the hypnotized never lie
Do ya?

Yeah, the soundtrack for the next few years. Meet the new collectivist, same as the old collectivist.

I wish the friggin snow would stop. At least the temps have achieved double digits. After the this morning's Cub Scout meeting I cleared some snow and ice that was clogging the bottom of our driveway and now I'm lounging in front of the TV where Mojo is playing Mario Cart on the Wii. In a few minutes I'm going to take a lasagna out of the oven.

Tax statement for 2008 have been started to arrive in the mail. Which makes it that much harder to listen to the news -- every other report seems to involve some central planner's appalling project for spending more of my money. Asshats. I've basically stopped watching the news -- I read my WSJ in the morning, check some blogs, and that's about as much as I can stomach. No matter: pretty soon the rest of them will be out of business anyway. Heh.

Steve left a message the other day telling me he was going to Key Largo. He is incapable of saying the words Key Largo. He can only sing them.

Yes, "Real World: Brattislava" would be a smash hit. And if 60 degrees gives you hypothermia, maybe you don't really want to use your airline tickets to come to Ohio where it was -12 when I woke up this morning. Da Chimpz have had school canceled two days in a row now. I have the fireplace sparked up, with fake logs and stacks of newspaper (recycle this) to keep the living room warm.

I've been reading old blog posts and I'm rather convinced that Steve has always been completely out of is mind. The man really needs medical help.

A box of oranges arrived in the mail yesterday. Very tasty.

Apparently I recieved Jennie the Mute's airline ticket news after the Blog, which illustrates how I rate on her importance list...but its still awesome. Awesome that she can go anywhere in America and shes agreed to Ohio. Anyway, its a brisk 60 degrees outside right now, which in Jupiter is cold enough to give people hypothermia. This past week and half I had the extreme pleasure of some form of ebola/sinusitis, to which there were many great perks: like not being able sleep, speak, hear, breathe, swallow, or at a few points even walk...but I could sing exactly like Rod Stewart. Unfortunately, I had to be MIA from Spumoni Gardens and Ellexa and Christian, but I did manage to sneak out and cough my way through "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", which was more like "The Curious Smell of Benjamin's Belly Button". I'm far more excited for Friday's scheduled viewing of "The Wrestler", mostly because I'm going with Jenia, who is an ecstatic die-hard Mickey Rourke fan. Quite frankly, its not avery big fan club, but the movie looks pretty damn good. Indeed, I too have been avoiding cable news and feel quite good about it. Been watching Real World in Brooklyn on MTV, I was disappointed to find out that it didn't take place on 38th St. Tell you what, a real reality TV experiment would be if they had "seven strangers picked to live in Castle 1526 too see what happens when people stop being polite". I'd never miss an episode. Anyway, time for me to scoot. State buon.

Since Steve is a big poop head--and I hate (but secretly love...well maybe not so much secretly) being "the mute"--I will comment on our life in Florida..I am sure Steve will be quick to respond since he swears he does not need a lawyer to speak on his behalf..and god forbid I even utter a word...hahah just kidding...

Anyways, sunny south florida is also a bit too cold...You would think spending four years in Syracuse, New York or even just the few days I spent in New York City a few weeks ago, my blood would have thickened--nope...I am a "CHRONIC FLORIDIAN"..and I am ok with that...On a side note, if that were to be a true disease what would it be called? It is way too early for me to excavate through the ole "health services management" memory bank...Talk about a very huge investment that has gone unused...one of these days I will collect...but for now,
I am content in being an unappreciated servant to an industry that truly hates women..(wow--kind of harsh---but true)...No matter ....I got everyone fooled (she said with an evil laugh)...

And moving on---
I have decided to forgo the trip to Vegas for the International Builders Show (yes it is as fun as it sounds), and therefore I have a hefty voucher from Delta ....you see my parents are the kind of people who will never not fly first class...I kind of like that..especially now, because I can get TWO tickets for the price of one..and I can maybe even get four depending on the price of the flights and where the flights may take us...Steve and I have been talking about going on vacation..pretty much for as long as I have been dating him..and well we are approaching the one year mark...and its just time..and we have so many choices...I know one definite choice is to come up to Ohio (I have never been, and thanks to the Drew Carey show--I kind of want to) to meet the man who gave me a christmas dreidel and his family...and another if we can swing it to some place warm....Any ideas? There has been quite a bit discussion of a cruise...

It's a good thing Al Gore stopped calling it "Global Warming" and started calling it "Climate Change" because the Ice Age that is setting in really needs to be greeted with government money and bureaucratic regulation. And a stack of newspapers and firewood roaring in the fireplace (that was last night -- tonight I just have the furnace cranked up).

Yeah, the forecast says it'll be 3 degrees around here tonight. It has been snowing of and on since Friday -- it's piled pretty high out there. The car did some slipping and sliding tonight even during the short drive to Cookie's Cub Scout meeting (well, not so short since I first drove to the wrong meeting venue).

So now I sit here in my living room with the TV blissfully off (we've been leaving it off a lot more lately, and that much improves the quality of life) and I'm contemplating pouring one last glass of port for myself.

Yep, it's time. Stevie-baby, when you gonna report to the blog on life in the Big Sunshine?

Hey, where is everyone? This blog needs some action. And Berea needs less snow -- we got buried today. Spent some time on the sled hill this morning, but the rest of the day we hunkered inside, eating panettone and drinking coffee. Well, port now. (Picked up a bottle of amantillado sherry yesterday -- yecho.)

Spent a few days in NYC this week, getting the work year off to a running start. Ate a giant pastrami sammich from Carnegie Deli on Tuesday night -- yum. I even called home to tell Cookie and Moho what I was eating, since they'd seen a show on cable that went behind the scenes in the Carnegie pastrami-manufacturing ("If you can fit it in your mouth, we made a mistake").

Right now we're sitting here watching a Travel Channel show with some woman looking for obsidian rocks. Feh. Maybe there'll be a World's Craziest Crashes show on some other channel. I know I shouldn't let Da Chimpz watch shows like that, but hey... they can learn a lot from Tonya Harding's running commentary.