AUGHT NINE

My first post of 2009...wow! What took me so long? And where has the time gone? Do I get some sort of gold watch (or perhaps, more appropriately, a gold laptop) for entering my fifth year of blog posting?

Writing anything down has always been it's own reward for me. As much as I like to think that there are people around the world breathlessly awaiting my next post, I long ago realized (and became quite comfortable with) the notion that just a few of my friends would take the time to read my blog and that I should be content with that. Whether no one reads it or fifty people do, I should keep doing it for as long as I am able or as long as I enjoy doing it--whichever comes first.

I could make some fancy highfalutin' promises about things I will do to this blog in 2009, but who would I be kidding and who are the promises for? This blog should remain what it has always been: a periodic glimpse into the funny, insightful, dumb and sometimes scary mind of a slightly smarter than average regular guy who likes to share his opinions and enjoys typing them into an old, beaten up PowerBook G4. Like that proverbial box of chocolates from the eternally overrated FORREST GUMP, you never know what you're going to get. Now, to the speed round...

Why It's Really About Health Care, Stupid

According to an essay by Paul Krugman in this week's Rolling Stone magazine, the United States currently spends as much money annually on the war effort in Iraq as the entire Wall Street bailout cost. Furthermore, the United States could begin the transition to a more universalized health care within the next two years for about that same cost. Makes me think...how much more money would your company have to spend on both employees and capital improvements if it didn't also have to set aside funds for the health care of both current and former employees? If you want a fascinating (and somewhat harrowing) read about our current financial crisis and what lies in store for President-elect Obama, check that essay out. It is on newsstands now and excerpts from it are available online.

I Might Be Half Right Most of the Time

With Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger reeling from concussions and shoulder injuries and hampered by the lack of a reliable running game, Pittsburgh looks very vulnerable hosting a playoff game tomorrow against the suddenly red-hot San Diego Chargers, a team the Steelers barely beat when they met in late November. If San Diego pulls the upset (and I think they will), they will be in position to possibly HOST the AFC Championship game if Baltimore beats Tennessee tonight (which I think they will.) This would give the Chargers a 50/50 chance of playing in the Super Bowl two months after being 4-8 and three games behind the Denver Broncos.

For the record, my preseason Super Bowl pick was San Diego beating Dallas. Half-assed or half right, it beats being all wrong.

A Restaurant Recommendation

If you're looking for good sushi in Denver but you don't want to deal with the long lines and oppressive trendiness of Sushi Den on South Pearl Street, I recommend Go Fish on 1 Broadway. Great food, reasonable prices and a chatty, friendly owner who knows just want to recommend and just when to step back.

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Sometime in the next week, I'll get around to my Best of '08. I wasn't going to do it this year (trying to be different and all), but sometimes it helps just to sort through the past year and get the thoughts down. I don't know if I'll do my movie recommendations though...I don't feel like I've seen quite enough flicks for a suitably comprehensive list. We'll see...

TEN DAYS UNTIL OBAMA'S INAUGURATION!! My stepmother-in-law (is that the term?) will be anchoring coverage for BET. I can't wait and part of me still can't believe it. I almost expect Howie Mandel to saunter out and say, "Psych!", then find out that somehow John McCain is president. What a nightmare. If anyone is going to Washington D.C. for the festivities, feel free to write me a note about it. I'd love to know what that experience is all about!

Until later...peace.