A lot of things shrink in the cold

It was -13° during the infamous Ice Bowl in Green Bay.

I don’t think tomorrow is going to best that, but to give you an idea of how cold it is here, right now, at 11:30, I’ll tell you there is not a cloud in the sky. It is one of the clearest days I’ve seen in Milwaukee and it is -2° with a wind chill of -20°.

Green Bay is experiencing a sunny day too, but it is -10° right now with a wind chill of -29°. I think the Ice Bowl and its thirteen below record temperature will stand because tomorrow it is supposed to get up to 6° in Green Bay. That might be warm enough to keep it above -13° by the time the game is over.

"...his grand bargain bill..."

Interesting.

The NFL Rant

For me, last week’s NFL games came as close as any week of the NFL has to rivaling, let’s say, a week of college football bowl games.

San Diego Chargers vs. Indianapolis Colts

Bottom line: I didn’t really care who won this game. If I were in a pool at work, I would have picked the Colts in a tough fight. I didn’t watch all of it, but was surprised that San Diego held on without Rivers and Tomlinson. After watching the highlights on SportsCenter I was pretty disappointed that the Chargers won because I didn’t realize how big of a jerk Rivers is. He was taunting the crowd and yelling at Colts fans, much like the way he did when the Chargers dashed the Broncos' playoff hopes. The ESPN anchor called him out on it by saying Rivers was “better than that”. I almost dislike Rivers enough to say that I hope the Chargers get destroyed by the Patriots. Who am I kidding? They will. Right?

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

Everyone in Wisconsin was rooting for the Giants in this game. If the Cowboys won, the Packers would have to go down to Dallas and play in horrible Texas. They lost because of Jessica Simpson, a trip to Mexico, and a good QB living like a celebrity QB. It was all worth this touching moment from TO:

I guess I am sort of unfair.

New England Patriots vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Oh, the Pats. Did anyone pick the Jaguars? No, because the Pats are good, damn good, but so freaking boring. Like most of the nation, I am not a fan, but I am over them. If they win it all, I won’t be upset. If they lose, I might be a little happy, but I might be a little sad because then we’ll have to hear more from the 1972 Miami Dolphins. My main gripe against the Patriots…All season long they denied that they cared about running the table and that all they cared about was winning the Super Bowl. Each time they did this they were lying. Athletes care about their record and if there is a chance for them to make history they will care about that too. When the Patriots had only one or two games left a number of them were all of a sudden revealing that they did care about going undefeated during the regular season. That’s sneaky. Act like you don’t care when there is a greater risk of you losing. Then, when the risk is not as great, and it doesn’t look like you are going to lose your dignity after all, let everyone know how you really feel.

Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks

The first three minutes of this game were painful. The Packers were down 14-0 after Grant fumbled twice. I think if that happened later on in the game, like in the late first quarter, the Packers wouldn’t have been able to brush the deficit off so easily. As we know, they did. They cruised through the rest of the game in the blizzard and cold of Green Bay. Now, the Packers and their fans get one more game at Lambeau Field. The local networks are going crazy, calling the Packers’ season the “Super Season” and using a logo of the Vince Lombardi trophy. The grocery stores have huge archways formed by alternating Green Bay Packers balloons and Super Bowl balloons. When it comes to Packers football, Wisconsonites are getting carried away. I think that’s what they always do. It's crazy. I predict the Packers will be playing another game after Sunday, but it will be interesting to see everyone's demeanor on Monday if the Packers lose. My guess...mass suicide. Maybe I won't have to go into work that day. If not suicide, it'll certainly be a statewide day of mourning.

Want Ad

What is up with Apple always coming up with the sweetest looking technology? They're so good it bothers me.

It's Back

The Idol. It's already back. Didn't it just end a couple months ago? No, it ended in May, but wow, they really stretch the season out. I may tune in tonight, but I am not planning on being devoted to the show like I was last year. It's not the show itself because I find it extremely entertaining. It is the time. A commitment to the show means watching a minimum of two hours of American Idol a week until the end of May. That was a lot of work last year. I don't think I'm prepared to do that again. I don't want to do that again, but I do want to watch some people make fools of themselves tonight.

The opening round cynicism is lovely.

The Packers Win

It was a great football weekend. I've been meaning to do an NFL rant for a while, but it won't be up today because I have to go to work soon and close tonight.

For now, the video...this was a memorable moment from the Packers win over the Seahawks on Saturday. Like my ghetto shirt says, Favre is "38 and STILL GREAT".

Why Obama?

At first I didn’t know why. A year ago, when all the presidential candidates were doing the same thing as they are today, campaigning, a lot more of us weren’t ready to pay that much attention to them. I wasn’t ready yet. I mean, 2006 just ended and the talking heads were getting jittery about an election in 2008.

But 2008 is finally upon us. This means, regrettably sometimes, that the nonstop coverage of the candidates’ parade around the country is justified, and almost necessary for those that have managed to stay mysteriously uninformed about who is running for president in 08.

One of those running is Barack Obama, the junior Senator from Illinois. He is the youngest Democrat in the field by eight years, and the youngest of all the candidates by six years. Obama is 46 years of age in a field of candidates in which the average age is 60. A tactic employed by Obama’s greatest competition, Hillary Clinton, is to touch upon this fact regularly in debates and press conferences. She thinks by doing so she will enlighten the masses about this man’s apparent lack of experience in politics.

There is a big problem though. I, and, I think, many others out there, don’t and can’t possibly equate experience in politics with smart decision making, a moral high ground, and leadership qualities; maybe in another era, but not this one. “Experienced” politicians have committed adultery in the Oval Office. They have unexplainably launched missile attacks at overseas targets when the heat was on them in America. They have squandered the immediate post-9/11, pro-American surge across the world with a misguided war in a country not responsible for the deadliest terrorism attack on US soil. They have used the most capable of minds to bend, shift, and change the law as they see fit.

Typically, experience is not a bad word, but recent politicians have tarnished its spit-shined image. Now, from experience flows polarizing agendas, dusty speeches, and low-ball tactics on the campaign trail.

The critics of Obama’s experience are right. He doesn’t have decades of practice behind him. He was born in the 60s, early enough to not possibly have been assimilated by the partisan politics of Washington. That’s why I like him.

I don’t think I take to too many trends easily. At first, I didn’t warm to Obama at all because he was so popular. My cynical nature refused to get excited about this man. After all, it was clear that he didn’t need any more people being excited about him. I did my best to avoid Obama and his throngs of fans, but that was all but impossible leading up to the primaries.

As summer turned to fall I started reading a lot more about the junior Senator from Illinois. He appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He was all over the blogs. He was in Time and then on the cover of Time. And, by then, I was hooked. I could no longer look at him and tap into my bank of cynical comments about untrustworthy politicians. I recognized this ability in him to comfort people across political parties, something that I have never seen a politician do. I, being 24, have lived my life reading and learning about legendary politicians like John F. Kennedy, to name one, and I’ve always wondered what it would be like to live during the life of a leader like that. The more I watch Obama, the more I feel like I am witnessing a revolution in the political landscape of America and, most importantly, a reversal of the status quo.

Maybe Bill Clinton was right. It all sounds like a “fairy tale” and I am caught up in it. But I have seen the alternative. I don’t want it and, I am not alone.

Ice Cold New Hampshire

I'm not completely over last night. I think I'm a little queasy still from Hillary's victory speech. Luckily, The Daily Show just came on so I had to change the channel, but I have caught clips here and there on the news and blogs. I think, by now, I've seen the speech in its entirety.

I know it is just the New Hampshire primary, but I felt devastated last night. I didn't only feel that way because Hillary isn't my choice for President, but because she was the choice of so many other people. They are hopeful that Hillary could win the presidency. I can't blame them. You want to be hopeful about your candidate's actual chances, but if she wins the nomination, Hillary doesn't have a chance. Her polarizing power will be on full display November 4 and I think America will have squandered the opportunity to elect a unifying candidate.

The antidote for all this madness: Beer and Bowling with Kate and friends at my employer's store party.

What? Too Close To Call

I'm scared right now. Clinton is rocking a 2-4% lead over Obama in New Hampshire.

Did the tears help? Did Bill calling Obama's campaign a "fairy tale" change people's minds?

I hope not.

Colbert's Strike Beard

Yes, I watched the best hour of political satire on television last night. Things were different though, very different. Since Stewart and Colbert are a part of the WGA they can't write any scripts for their shows. There is nothing in the teleprompter. There are no notes. There are no correspondents.

The Daily Show's punch has been diminished by the absence of its wonderful team of correspondents, but I'll take what I can get.

In the nick of time...

I'll be watching college tackle football tonight and I will cap it off with the return of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. A good evening.

And...

Today is January 7 and it reached 60 degrees in Milwaukee.

Wyoming (R)'s love Romney

I should have followed up on this sooner. I was flipping through the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel today and saw the coverage on Wyoming's Republican caucus.

It read...

Romney wins in Wyoming

He is quoted in the article as saying, "This is just the beginning," after gaining eight of Wyoming's twelve available delegates.

That is funny because I don't think Mitt has started a trend in Wyoming.

The Bridge is Out!

The Bucks is certainly wavering.

Stock down 42% in 2007.

The Bradleys Visit

A few pictures from the Bradleys visit for Christmas in Milwaukee.

Angela, Kendra, and Kate by our tree (that is still up by the way, and still drinking water).

The Bradleys brought their beloved Scotty dogs. Here, Kate is jostling for position with Molly, the pup.

We always have poppers on Christmas Eve. Each popper comes with a sweet paper crown and a present. I got a toy bike. Kate got an eye patch. Argh, me maties!

Tim sports his new hat. I want one. However, I would need a larger hat for a larger head.

V is for Victory

I tuned in for Obama's speech following his victory in the Iowa Caucus last night and was excited, honestly excited, about hearing a politician speak. His speech included typical political pleasantries, but unlike so many other candidates, his rhetoric struck me as genuine, honorable, and unifying.

I was captivated by the excitement in the room, by the young voters, by the turnout, and by Obama's ability to give a speech.

Obama says at one point, "I know you didn't do this for me." I believe him because I don't think that room of people did do that for him. That room of people thinks the world is changing and they think that America has gone awry in recent years. That room wants change. That room wants hope for America and they see Obama as the catalyst of that hope. I really do believe they did this for America. Obama gets to ride the wave now.

And, the man sure can give a speech.

Changes

I sent Jarrod another picture I took. This time the picture was of Milwaukee. He came back with the banner you see above. I love it. It has inspired me to change some things around here to better match up with the graphic.

Let me know if you like the new look.

There is a poll about it in the sidebar.

My Endorsments

First, my endorsements don't matter. I am not the Des Moines Register, the New York Times, or a consistently political blogger with any influence. However, I do have a place to endorse, even if only a few people are reading.

Second, can I just say that I think people in general don't talk about who they are going to vote for enough? Yes? Okay. People need to talk about the candidate they are going to vote for more. I don't know why so many people treat their choice for a future leader of this country as classified information. I want to be proud about my selection. I want to feel like I am informed about my candidate's platform. And, I don't want to make my choice and then file it away in some closet only to break it out on November 4 to find out my choice isn't on the ballot. So, share a name. Have a discussion. Debate. Don't lose your temper. Change your mind. Agree to disagree, but please, please don't hide your choice for the next President of the United States of America.

At this point, since it is still so early, I am endorsing one candidate from each major party.

The Democrats:

Obama.

The Republicans:

McCain.

That's right. I'm not going to explain in detail at this point why I like those two. I have my reasons. Those are big posts though. Today is not a big posting day. I just wanted to get my selections out there before tonight. Explanations will follow.

To Caucus

Sure, the Iowans caucus today, but do you know when and where the second caucus in the country is?

No? Not surprised.

January 5. Wyoming (R). For real. W00t!

Oral Culture

Andrew Sullivan linked to this great quote a few days ago and I just found it.

"We grew up in an oral culture and we like to laugh," Bill Clinton.

I'm sure he'll expand upon this quote in his follow up book to Giving, Receiving.

To Throw Off

This blog is an outlet for me. I shed a lot of feelings on here. These words lighten my load. One thing I am on here is incredibly honest. In speech I may avoid certain topics, but not on here. If I want to write it, I will most likely write it. However, I am getting better at thinking things over before I post. Just like there are things better left unsaid, there are things better left unwritten.

This is not one of those things…

Curse words. I have always sort of been fascinated with curse words. I had a very bad mouth back in grade school and middle school. I went through that stage that many of us go through; when I thought cursing was really cool. I thought if I could learn to be good at cursing, like they are in the movies, I could impress people or even make them laugh.

I grew out of that stage when I heard others cursing around me. They didn’t sound cool. They didn’t make me laugh or impress me with their ability to string a bunch of expletives together. Anyone can do it. Plus, they always sounded uneducated.

But there is an appreciation for curse words that I suppose may never leave me. For example, I will always appreciate the way gangsters curse in gangster movies like Goodfellas and The Departed. It is so believable. Everyone is doing it. And, by the end of the movie you are going to end up loving at least one character that has a mouth on him worse than any you have ever heard in person. That takes talent.

Timing is everything when it comes to a well placed curse word. It is best when no one is expecting, but you need talent to know when no one is expecting.

Curse words are filthy words, I guess. If I ever have a day, or a sentence for that matter, where I feel there was a surplus of curse words, I will feel pretty bad about it. I don’t want to be the person that curses a lot.

However, there are those rare instances though that creep up on you in life that couldn’t be described more beautifully by any other group of words.

Today, I find myself in one of those rare instances, and all I have to say about it is FUBAR.

Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition