December 2011
13 posts
Odds and ends
Things I learned in the last couple of days:
The Chevy HHR stands for “Heritage High Roof.” Found out a little late — when reading an article announcing the demise of that model. Sadly, the article also reported that Honda will stop making the Element. That is such a cool vehicle, although the last time I shopped for a car I passed because it didn’t get very good mileage.
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525,600 Minutes...
525,600 minutes…
As that profound lyric from the musical Rent song, “Seasons of Love” asks, how do you measure a year?
“In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights
In cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.”
As we stand at the exit ramp of 2011, preparing to merge into 2012, what do we see?
In the rear-view mirror, most Americans will be glad...
A little verbal joyride
Christmas dinner at the Yonke house.
I’ve been on vacation for five days already, and I haven’t even taken the time to write a blog. Blame it on the holidays!
This hasn’t been your normal laid-back stay-cation.
Our home was brimming with family and friends for most of the week, and it was a real joy to have everyone together for the holidays. A little chaotic, but a...
Rock royalty
Next month, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will announce their inductees for the class of 2012.
As a lifelong music fan and a former music critic who attended 120 or so concerts a year and listened to tens of thousands of CDs, here is how I would vote on this year’s nominees:
Beastie Boys: Yes. Pioneering rap group worthy of the hall of fame. Favorite BB story is the Rolling Stone...
Man's bff?
An interesting poll was conducted this week by Levine Breaking News (an e-alert newsletter I receive daily that often beats the major news agencies to the punch).
If you faced a situation where you had to choose between saving your dog from drowning OR saving a drowning human stranger, which one would you save?
Tough question for dog lovers.
The newsletter said more than 3,000 readers, from...
Pricey bender for a pricey fender
Did you see the sad story of David Dopp, who won a dream car that turned into a nightmare?
Mr. Dopp won $300,000 Lamborghini Murcielago in a convenience store’s “Joe Schmo to Lambo” contest and took home this exotic beauty (still an awesome sight despite the obnoxious lime green color.)
Mr. Dopp, a 34-year-old truck driver from Santaquin, Utah, with 6 kids, was showing off...
WatchA little bit of Christmas caroling — done on a professional level — at Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Mich.
Message from behind bars
The city desk at my paper received a handwritten letter from an inmate this week. It was not addressed to me but since it was chock full of religious content it was forwarded to my desk.
This is not that unusual. A lot of inmates, who, let’s face it, have lots of time on their hands, mail letters to newspapers, usually asserting that they are innocent (ever notice that nobody in prison is...
Chess champ and the need to thrive
New world chess champ: The New York Times reports that Awonder Liang of Wisconsin is the new world chess champion — for players age 8 and under.
Seems like Awonder is a fitting name for the young chess phenom, who won his first 7 games at the World Youth Championship in Brazil before drawing his eighth and then losing in the last round (he won on tie-breakers).
I still love chess...
Church-state separation
Many churches across the country got their start by renting a school auditorium, eventually moving into other facilities. This provides income to cash-strapped school systems and gives the religious groups a viable place to meet while they are just getting started.
If yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling is a new precedent, it appears that any churches or religious groups will be barred from...
GOP name game
The scariest thing about Herman Cain dropping out of the presidential race is that pundits are now calling it a two-man race, and that means the Republican candidate will likely be named either Mitt or Newt.
Osteen plans Reality TV show
HOUSTON (Reuters) — The Rev. Joel Osteen, who leads the largest U.S. church congregation, said he has signed an agreement to develop a reality television show. “What I’m excited about is that it’s another way to take our message of hope and inspiring people to another venue,” Osteen said at a press conference this week. The series, which is still in the formative stages, would be based on the...