Congratulations to my brother Mr. Uncie and his wife Knobbleknees on the birth of their twin tax deductions on Wednesday, December 31st.  In keeping with tradition, they have already been assigned (Sponsor's Name Here)'s Official Nicknames.  Both were born at 4:47 PM on Wednesday.  Dick Clark weighed in at 6 lbs, 6 oz. and Rockin' Eve weighed 4lbs, 9 oz. 

I went down to the Greater Hoffman Estates Metroplex area yesterday to visit them, and Knobbleknees seemed to be in good shape, but Mr. Uncie's mother-in-law had Mr. Uncie already warn down to the nub.

For a number of reasons, I was at the hospital for two hours on New Years Day, but didn't actually get to see the babies.  My-Sugar-Na is driving down tonight and hopefully she will see them and get a few photos for posting.

Considering that your Milwaukee Brewers made the playoffs for the first time in 26 seasons, I am genuinely crushed that I can't talk reasonably and rationally about the team this week.  From "They suck" to "Their horrible" to "They suck", it seems to be the only conversation I can have about the Brewers this week.

First the set-up...  I have a week or so of vacation days left and three months in which to use them.  So when it was announced that the Brewers were playing Wednesday afternoon, I immediately took a half-day vacation and invited everybody that I knew that fit into one of these categories:

1. Unemployed
2. Retired
3. Work from home
4. Worker bees with possible vacation time to burn

Unfortunately (which goes to my true popularity) other than myself and My-Sugar-Na, only three others showed up; my bowling uncle UJ, my aunt, and my friend (formerly known as "My good friend, I'll call him Joe", but from here forward will be known as "Ray Sunshine").  I popped a coupla Nick N Willie's in the oven, poured my guests a Diet Coke with Splenda and started watching the game.

Without rehasing the entire game, the turning point was clearly the third inning when Bill Hall bobbled a bunt from the pitcher, and instead of getting the lead runner he instead had to throw to first to retire the batter but Rickie Weeks dropped the ball.  Shortly thereafter, a Mike Cameron misjudged a major league fly ball in a thunderstorm, and in giving a professional baseball team 5 or 6 outs, the score was 3-0 in favor of the Phillies.

So for the next six innings, I wanted to talk about "the worst part of the fielding problems is that Yovanni Gallardo had to throw 20 more pitches", or that "the wind is really playing havoc with the fielders."  Instead, Ray Sunshine kept hammering....

• "These aren't major leaguers"
• "Rickie Weeks is a collosal flop who should be released"
• "Oh, no!  Why is (fill in the blank) warming up?"
• "Major league teams play defense"
• "Ned Yost never stressed fundamentals"
• (If a Brewers batter looks at strike one) "I could have hit that!  You've got to be agressive"
• (If a Brewers batter made out swinging at the first pitch) "Come on!  You've got to know how to work the count"
• (After Weeks was removed in favor of Craig Counsell as part of a double-switch) "Great, replace one .220-hitting-bobble-glove with a .220-hitting-no-range-old-man"
• And so on, to the point where My-Sugar-Na actually said "Well you're just a ray of sunshine today!"

I then watched the Dodgers beat up the Cubs, and the homestanding Angels lose to the Red Sox, and I said to myself that the Brewers didn't look any worse than the Cubs or Angels - both superior teams.

Then on Thursday, before I left for bowling I watched part of the game.  I left after CC Sabathia gave up the grand slam to Shane Victorino.  When I got to the bowling alley, Sabathia was still struggling and there was action in the bullpen.  Ray Sunshine, who conveniently bowls with me, went on and on and on about how a struggling Sabathia is still better than the rest of the Brewers bullpen, and that Dale Sveum didn't get the team ready to play, etc.

And when that game ended with the Brewers on the short end of a 5-2 decision, my good friend, I'll call him Scott, said "Now that this garbage is done, can we turn on something that matters to the gambling public?" which turned out to be the South Florida / Pitt college football game.

Rounding out my long-winded set-up is an E-mail that I received a few weeks ago from my good friend, I'll call him John from New Berlin...

He said "All season I have been witness to the total ignorance of the football people who purport to be baseball fans because the team is suddenly in contention.  Now and here’s proof that the players know the fans are ignorant also.  Corey Hart made the out-of-right-field assertion that the Brewers were glad to go to Philadelphia -- a place famous for ornery fans -- to escape the boos.  "It actually felt more like a home game than playing at Miller Park," said Hart, who finished 1-for-3 with a double. "We didn't hear the boos that we have been. That's the way it goes, everybody is expecting to win and it's been a battle. ... Obviously, it's not for a lack of hustle or a lack of effort. It's just one of those things that if a guy makes an error or a guy strikes out and you have your hometown booing you, it makes you ready to get out of there and go somewhere else.”

I went last Sunday afternoon (in early-Sept) and had a “discussion” with a guy who insisted that Prince Fielder should be bunting more often.  He also insisted that Washington was an American league team.   Another fan stated that Yost continually took some pitchers out too soon and left others in too long.  I wonder how just he developed that knack to know exactly when a pitcher should be taken out of a game and never made it as a baseball manager in life.  How do you discuss baseball with someone of such an intelligence level?

If I were a player here I would NEVER come out for a curtain call just for the reasons stated above by Hart.  I’m sure Sabathia has duly noted the way his teammates are treated by the “adoring” throngs if they leave runners on base or commit an error.  I swear that 90% of these new fans never played hardball in their lives and think that it works about the same as softball with just a few rule changes.  In some ways I long for the days of 78-84 because you knew real baseball fans were there, especially in September."

John from New Berlin won't believe this, but I was mentally forming this blog for weeks before he sent this to me.  But he fact is that as a city, Milwaukee has lousy baseball fans.  Fans that don't know the game, and fans that think because guys like Narciso Elvira, Izzy Alcantara, Jimmy Osting, Tom Brunansky, Charlie Hayes, Bill Pulsipher, Joe Winkelsas or the Mouton boys couldn't propel the team into the playoffs when they played, that it is acceptable to boo Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks or Joe Dillon because YOU'RE frustrated.

One bone of contention with so many people that I talk to is who the leadoff hitter should be.  Personally, I like Corey Hart in that position.  Yost liked Rickie Weeks, and Sveum has tabbed Mike Cameron.  But everybody with an opinion on whomever is currently the leadoff hitter all agrees that THAT player shouldn't be leading off.  The judge of a good leadoff hitter is mostly On-base percentage (OBP) and Stolen bases (SB)  Let's look at these 2008 stats (these are for the year, not just the month of September when everybody stopped hitting at once)....

• Corey Hart - Batting Average (BA) .268 / OBP .300 / SB 23 out of 30 attempts
• Rickie Weeks - BA .234 / OBP .342 / SB 19 out of 24 attempts
• Mike Cameron - BA .243 / OBP .331 / SB 17 out of 22 attempts
• Entire Brewers roster - BA .253 / OBP .325
• Every leadoff hitter in the National League - BA .274 / OBP .342

This tells me a lot.  It tells me that Hart is the best hitter of those three Brewers, but if he doesn't get a hit, he isn't getting on first base.  Weeks doesn't have as high of an average, but must work the count and take a lot of walks.  He is also quite good at stealing base.  Mike Cameron is in the middle.  Clearly, for a leadoff hitter, Weeks and Cameron are better choices than Hart, and that is why Yost was and Sveum is a major league manager and I am not.

But look at that last line.  The average OBP of every leadoff hitter in the league is exactly the same as Weeks.  That tells me that Weeks is average, not "useless" like Ray Sunshine insists.  The only three other 2008 Brewers with a higher OBP than Weeks is Fielder (.372, and he ain't leadin' off), Craig Counsell (.355 OBP) and Ray Durham (.369) and both Counsell and Durham are old platooners.  Other than that, there is NOTHING.  Now, if you (or Ray Sunshine) want to argue that the Brewers need to upgrade the leadoff hitter, you can win that one easily.  But don't be down on Weeks or Cameron because they are the best of a motley lot.

I could go onto the bullpen (which, by the way, ranks FOURTH in the National League in ERA, and in eight innings in the playoffs have not allowed one run.)  But the common fan couldn't get past Eric Gagne blowing a save in Game 1 against the Cubs in April, or Guillermo Mota and Salomon Torres blowing a 5-0, 9th inning lead in Arizona in July.  But trust me.  I would win that arguement.

Look, my intent is not to knock all 3 million that paid $12 to $85 a game to watch the Brewers perform.  God knows that there were many times in the mid-90s when John from New Berlin and I were the only two in the entire stadium.  And it is you 3 million people that are paying Sabathia, Sheets, Gagne, etc,. and without you the team will be nowhere near the playoffs.

But if you are going to spend all that money, shouldn't you have some clue what you're talking about?  Understand the team's limits.  Their overall batting average isn't very high, they don't bunt, run or field better than most teams, and well, the starting pitching depth isn't great.  Gang, enjoy this.  This is the first time in 26 years the Brewers made the playoffs, and if they lose Sabathia it may be 26 more.  Have fun, and I'll see you at this weekend's games (that's right, I'll be at BOTH games!)

First things first - I really, really, REALLY want to throw my comments in about blogging in the 21st Century... about the Buzzy v. Deadspin guy on Costas Now in April... about Ned Yost, Doug Melvin, Jim Powell and others whining about a blogger who said that Nedley was about to get fired... etc.  Clearly, I am on the side of the bloggers, but I wanted to make some bigger picture points.  I just haven't gotten around to it.  I may get there (then again, I may not, what with Cheer Day happening at Casa de James this weekend).  My ten second take is that the internet has made media instantaneous, and that the world had better get used to it.  Some will get paid, I probably won't (Mark, I am still waiting for you to tell me I've been picked up by the Wall Street Journal), but the absolute worst part of internet blogs is the comment section.  Now, I only get about 18 people (up from six a year ago) who read my blog, but if more did, I would have to deal with some horribly stupid comments.  Want an example of the nutjobs I would have to deal with?  Check out the ravings of some depressing soul on this blog entry (you should've seen what I didn't approve!)

But until I get around to blogging about blogging, you will have to settle for what I cobble together below.

Thanks to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, promotions and dumb luck,  I was able to get to three consecutive Brewers games this weekend (bringing my season record to 4-5).  This was the first time I've ever been to three consecutive Brewers home games.  Here are a few comments on the Brewers and the Miller Park experience.  Note that I don't want to come across as too snarky, but if some of these issues can be addressed, I may just move to Miller Park. 

• Why are Rickie Weeks and Mike Cameron at the top of the line-up?  Neither get on base enough to be on the top of the line-up, and I don't think they've ever gotten on base in the same inning.  When it is Braun and Fielder's job to drive them in, it gets kinda difficult when they're not on base.  My preferred line-up would have Corey Hart leading off and Weeks batting second.  It would still require Weeks to take a lot of pitches (which is why Yost is forcing us to watch him lead off).  I would also put Cameron batting eighth (after the catcher).  Cameron is still a great fielder, but he is a black Rob Deer.  Let Cameron hit a homer before the pitcher makes the third out of an inning.
• Why is Bill Hall complaining that he was benched?  He is hitting in the mid-.220s, and his grace period ends at a year and a third (that would be the "I changed positions so I'm not concentrating on my hitting" grace period.)  Granted, too many players (including Messers Weeks and Cameron) are also hitting under .250 (notice that Kendall has slipped into the .250s?) but Hall was the only player with a replacement doing anything in AAA Nashville.  Hall should do his Derrick Turnbow impression - take his $4mil and be happy he signed a big contract at the end of the career year).
• In taking a quick look at Turnbow's stats in Nashville, he has a 10.13 ERA in 8 games, and has issued an astounding 23 walks in 8 innings.  Those 8 innings include TWO STARTS.  This guy'll be a roofing contractor in three years.
• It is amazing that when the Brewers starters go deep into a game, how reliable their bullpen is.  In their last 15 games (ending after tonights 7-1 win against Arizona), the Brewers starting pitching has had 12 good starts.  Their record in those 15 games is 11-4.  The new Derrick/Koko/Gagne, Salomon Torres always seems fresh, the bullpen hasn't blown a lead in three weeks, and the good pitching is keeping the games close for when the Brewers bats finally wake up.  A brilliant, brilliant blogger mentioned that the 2007 Brewers starters were the cause of the lousy bullpen.  That guy should get a contract to write his blog.
• In the three games that I attended (Sat, Sun and Mon), the Star-Spangled Love Song was sung twice, and a trumpet proudly played our National Anthem once.  We've got to continue to try to reverse those numbers.  The Star Spangled Banner is NOT a love song.
• What is up with the Brewers "at bat" tunes?  Do we realize that we've raised an entire generation of now-young-adults that don't acknowledge that what passes for popular music isn't exactly music?  The top seven spots in the order are brutal, with the worst offender being JJ Hardy.  The words to his tune appear to be something like "Finss Manna Hey / Finss Manna Oh".  The best two come from - go figure - the oldest players... Jason Kendall has Dragula from Rob Zombie, and Craig Counsell has "Along the Watchtower" from Jimi Hendrix.
• Remember the olden days, when you'd listen to the postgame show on the radio, and in the background you would hear a "popping" sound?  That was the sound of youngsters finding the waxed paper cups, placing them face down on the pavement, then stomping on them.  While walking around the stadium Sunday before the game started, I found a beer vendor that actually poured a beer into one of those cups.  I swear, I bought a Leinenkugel Summer Shandy just to drink from that cup.
• The Law of Unintended Consequences strikes again.  A byproduct of the Brewers current status as a "hot" thing to do - something cool to do - are the tens of thousands of people in attendance that wouldn't know a beautifully executed hit-and-run from a pommel horse.  I sat in the bleachers on Saturday with a total crowd of over 42,000.  About 74 of the 42,000 acted like they've ever been to a game before.  It was all about drinking, getting the next drink, trying to start the wave, calling their friends in a different part of the ballpark (then standing and waving their beer so their friend can see what lousy seats they have) and acting like a big shot to their significant others when they know that "Ryan Braun is a pretty good player".  As hard as I tried, those type of antics made it hard to actually enjoy the game.  It was very distracting, and I spent more time muttering to My-Sugar-Na than watching the game.
• Conversely, my new favorite time to attend a game in less-than-premium seats is a Monday night.  At the door, we got tickets on the fourth level right at 3rd base in the fourth row.  Average age in our section?  62.  The older men and women alike knew the game, and was a joy to watch a pitchers duel with fans that appreciated it.
• Robb Edwards, the PA guy, is back from his bypass surgery... relegating Gene Mueller to morning guy on WTMJ-AM.  I have never been a fan of Edwards, even when he had Mueller's job 20 years ago.  Gene Mueller did a great job on the PA, and when Edwards retires, I think the job should be handed off to Mueller.
• If the Brewers aren't within 6 games in mid-July, watch how fast they trade Ben Sheets.  Despite what I said above, Sheets is the only bankable starter, and he is a cracked fingernail away from yielding his spot to Zach Jackson.  Sheets current record could net him $15 million a year, and he will want more years than a pitcher should be given (in comparison, the brutally mediocre Jeff Suppan gets just under $11 million a year, and has-ben Eric Gagne gets $10 million a year).  I know the Yankees (and their unlimited payroll) and the Mets are both desparate for starting pitching.  Hell, the Mets are an outpost for former Brewer pitchers this year, having started both Nelson Figueroa and Claudio Vargas.  You think Sheets might be an upgrade?
• Finally, I've been invited to another Brewers game in Wrigley Field, this time on September 17th.  As blogged previously, the Brewers are 4-2 in Chicago this year, and I am 0-2 in games that I've been to at Wrigley this year.  Bet with the trend, folks.

I am not particularly the most well-versed in Hollywood stuff.  Going to the movies is always difficult for me, because unless you study them (and I don't), the only movies you've ever heard of are usually the ones with marketing tie-ins... which I have learned means that those movies are usually too lousy to stand on their own without the marketing blitz (side note - do you remember the movie Congo from the early-90s?  If you bought a 32 oz soda from Super America, you could get refills forever for $0.59.  I still have TWO of those cups!)

So when Heath Ledger died, I can honestly say I had never heard of him.  When somebody told me he was in Brokeback Mountain, I nodded, as I saw parts of the movie but I still couldn't connect the name to the movie.

What I am having a hard time understanding is the misguided outpouring of schmaltz since his death.  I don't watch Entertainment Tonight, Insider, or any of the other knockoff shows, but I can't tell you how many times I've seen promos for those type of shows talking about Ledger's "untimely death", or his "tragic death".

While waiting in a waiting room this morning, I was thumbing through People Magazine (side note, paparazzi will cease to exist if the zillions of people who read this crap find something else to read).  Specifically, I found the February 25th issue.  On page 8 are the letters to the editor.  Since I don't want to "hit" that site and give the impression that one more person is actually interested in their rag, I will type three horrifying letters...

I was shocked when I heard about Heath Ledger's death.  My heart goes out to Michelle Williams and their daughter Matilda.  My two sons lost their father when they were very young, so I know the path that lies before her won't be an easy one.  I pray God brings healing and peace to his family.  Heath was a great actor, but I will remember him best as a doting father. - Lana Baker via E-mail.

I enjoyed watching Heath Ledger's career develop, and I believe he was on his way to becoming one of the best actors ever.  But more importantly, he was an adoring father.  The most tragic thing about his passing is that his little girl will not remember him.  I just hope that the paparazzi let Matilda and the rest of his loved ones grieve privately. - Hayley Thorndike, Plano, TX

As I watched the Screen Actor's Guild Awards this evening, I shed some tears when Heath's face flashed across the screen.  He was undoubtedly an amazing actor, but besides that many of us viewed him as a down-to-earth guy.  He was someone you felt you could actually sit down with and have a cup of coffee.  We will miss him. - Anna Henry, Warren, OH

Icky.  Forgetting the garbage about "great actor", "on his way... best actor ever" and "amazing actor", nobody said anything about how he made his bed.  It is possible that these were all written before the cause of death became official, but since the first report of his death, drugs have always been a part of the speculation.  And that "doting father" nonsense... doting fathers don't (in essence) destroy themselves.

I couldn't even get past that page of People Magazine.  So I checked another stack of magazines, and sure enough, I found the March 3rd issue of People Magazine (special props to this particular doctor's office.  Their choice of magazines are akin to the Pied Piper leading the rats out of town, but at least they are current!  Extra special props to the receptionist who was kind enough to photocopy these pages so I didn't have to try to memorize them).

I turned to page 8 of that issue, and saw three more letters.  These letters were in response to People's February 11th issue, which in big, bold letters screamed "MICHELLE AND HEATH - THE UNTOLD STORY".

Rumor, innuendo and speculation have surrounded the tragic death of Heath Ledger.  The only resounding fact is that a talented young man is gone and his family and friends are left behind to mourn and wonder what might have been.  My heartfelt condolences to those who knew and loved him.  I pray that he has found some peace. - Angel Irizarry, Jacksonville, FL

How sad that drugs would be the deciding factor in Michelle's decision to split from Heath.  How painful that choice must have been for her.  And what shame that taking drugs was more important to him than staying with his family.  Drug addiction is an illness that can be all encompassing.  But there are "cures" for this disease that Heath chose not to explore.  Choosing not to get help for something that was impacting his life in a very negative way was a tragic error. - Linda Minnis, Huntsville, ON, Canada

Heath Ledger lived and died a life of substance abuse at its worst.  Now his daughter will grow up without a father.  I too had to raise a 20-month-old child alone because her father's life was taken by drugs at the age of 21.  Please, let's be responsible and warn our children about the deadly consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. - Sharon Matthews, Dearborn Heights, MI

OK, these are a little better.  Angel's was super-sappy, but Linda's is spot-on, actually.  His drug use was more important than his family.  Doesn't sound like a doting father to me.  Now Sharon's was a little over the top.  While true (that our kids need to be aware about the curse of drug use), I am positive that nobody reading People Magazine's "Mailbag" column are going to read that and say to themselves or their spouse "You know, I hadn't thought of actually telling our children about the dangers of drug use.  But Sharon Matthews' letter has changed it for me".

Heath Ledger died of a drug overdose.  End of my concern for him.  If he wasn't smart enough to stay clean and, um, alive, then he gets no pity from me.  But others pity him, and that scares me.

If that blog title doesn't say it all, there is nothing more I can do.

Russ' friend John and Harlan Huckleby are not conseratives.  Either one may do more damage to the country than the more manly Clinton, and (using my best basketball announcer voice) "From Honalulu and Occidental College, Six-one-and-a-half, Number 42, Buh-rock (pause) Oh-Baaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmaaaaa".

Fred Thompson was the man.  Thompson ran a non-traditional campaign on the internet, and focused on winning the southern states - specifically South Carolina.  But by the time the SC primary came around, there was no buzz.  (Side note, ditto Rudy G and Florida, although I wasn't much of a fan of him.)  So with Thompson gone, I focused on Mitt Romney.  Well, that barely lasted until Super Tuesday.  I knew Mitt was in trouble when he told the pastor to bail so he could get more votes.

So all four that remain have way - WAY - more negatives than positives.  None of the four are fiscal conservatives.  None of the four stand for much (McCain = whiney old man, Huckabee = the Republican Bill Clinton, Hilary = the mean Bill Clinton, Obama, the pretty boy with absolutley no qualifications for the Presidency).

I can see only one alternative.  Him.

1.  My-Sugar-Na and I stopped by Tommasino Italia' for dinner last night.  The restaurant on 74th & Greenfield (formerly the beloved Doyle's Milwaukee Inn) is owned by Thomas Doyle.  During dinner (fantastic pizza, by the way, with fresh giardinara and parmesan on the side), I spoke with Mr. Doyle.  He stated two very interesting and believable things. 

First, he is amazed that more of his business wasn't from West Allis residents.  Both the Milwaukee Inn and Tommasino Italia' were/are by no means George Webb-priced, but they aren't Eddie Martinis-priced, either.  My large, three topping pizza was about $16, and the restaurant featured checkered tablecloths, linen napkins and good silverware.  Some of the entrees were in the $15ish range, but that certainly compares favorably with other sit-down restaurants.  He said that business has improved since he changed the offerings to Italian, but there is certainly room for more.

The second thing he said was disappointing.  He said that the chain restaurants opening near Mayfair and Brookfield Square are killing the independant restauranteur.  The Cheesecake Factory, Maggiano's Little Italy and Bravo Cucina Italiana - though their employees are locals - take all the profits to their corporate ladder.  Sure, many of their offerings are good, but as Mr. Doyle said, if you ask for a Hollandaise sauce, Maggiano's will open a plastic bag that they received from their supplier.  Mr. Doyle would make his own for you.  All this, and a 60 minute wait for a table at Maggiano's, too. 

I have always, always preferred independant restaurants over chains (that's part of why the Devil Reincarnate has been replaced by My-Sugar-Na).  When I go out of town, I try shun chains (Do I really want to go to Applebee's in Durham, NC?).  I think West Allis residents - in order to keep local businesses healthy - owe it to themselves to make a point to go to independant restaurants... whether it is Tommasino Italia', Painted Parrot, or The Little Cafe.

2.  That nutjob, Mike McGee, Jr., made it on the local “bleeding heart or scare people needlessly entertainment program” (aka the news) from jail the other night.  Why, exactly did channel 4 do this?  McGee didn't say anything other than the garbage he usually does ("I'm a political prisoner", "I will be acquitted", etc).  McGee terrorized his district - and as far as he is concerned - "white" Milwaukee for years to the point where is ego is larger than Terrell Owens.  So channel 4 seeks him out to let him prattle on some more?  He has been held in jail since Memorial Day (that is seven months now) with no end in site, as he awaits both State and Federal trials.  He's done.  Toast (burned toast at that).  Let's leave him be.  We will all be better for it.

3.  Professional Bowlers Association exempt player Chad Kloss, from Greenfield, is back in town after completing the first half of the PBA schedule.  Because of an elbow injury, I am done bowling for the season and Chad bowled as my sub yesterday.  Not only did he shoot 792 for three games (and nobody else on our lanes had more than 650), he also made a bet with teammate one of my good friends - I'll call him Brad.  I don't remember the exact details, something about if Chad makes the Round of 8 in any event in the second half, Brad will shave his head, and if Chad qualifies for TV, he will shave his head.  I could be wrong on the specifics, but it is definatley worth keeping tabs on from early-January till the end of March.

4.  The Federal 2008 omnibus spending bill has been released, and Republicans are calling on George Bush to keep his committment from the 2007 State of the Union address to reduce both the number of Pork Barrel projects and overall pork spending.  I took a look at some of the pork projects (thanks to some prodding from My-Sugar-Na), and I can't believe one particular item that I saw.  Las Vegas is planning to open a Mob History museum in a shuttered post office in downtown.  Well, $200K in federal pork is earmarked for "a post office museum in downtown Las Vegas".  Now, that doesn't mean that they are connected, but they appear to be.  In a city in which billionaires are spending as much as $5,000,000,000 (that's five billion bucks, folks) to build a resort to outclass the guy next door (whose resort is only $4.8 billion), why in the world is my federal tax money going to finance yet another Las Vegas attraction?  A Las Vegas Mob History museum would really satisfy two of my loves, but my discretionary money should pay for it, not my tax money.

5.  To keep the karmic alignment proper, since I praised one West Allis business, I need to talk down one of them.  My-Sugar-Na is starting a new job in late-January (let's keep this to ourself, as her current employer doesn't know yet).  Panicking, she is now trying to find occasional doggie day care for Vier Pogo Squad 51.  I've learned not to argue this with her, and the pastures at the new place are, um, greener, so today she visited one potential place.  Playtime Doggy Daycare on Hwy 100 near I-94 told my wife that pomeranians aren't good at day care, but "we'll give it a shot".  My-Sugar-Na is horrified that her dog has been profiled by The Man (maybe she should talk to Mike McGee, Jr?).  Playtime also wouldn't show her the crating area, where they park the dogs during rest time.  Needless to say, Playtime Doggy Daycare is off of her list and she will continue looking.

6.  Work has been quite slow the past couple weeks for a variety of reasons, allowing me plenty of time for mindless internet searching.  I have seen a couple other blogger's lists of horrible Christmas songs, so I decided to make my own short list.

A.  My Favorite Things, What a Wonderful World, Let There be Peace on Earth, and Same Old Lang Syne.  These are not Christmas songs... they aren't even winter songs (like Jingle Bells and Sleigh Ride).  These songs don't belong during the Christmas season, and I believe that they only exist because they have too many hours to fill when radio stations go to "all-Christmas" formats.

B.  Any "new" Christmas song, because they attempt to be commerially saleable.  If a writer wants to pen a new Christmas song, how about something fun, like Rudolph's new girlfriend, or a strike at Santa's workshop, or something else fun.  But listening to some pop star warbling about how she misses her boyfriend at Christmas time... nah.

C.  Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer is about 20 years past its expiration date.  Kind of a dark song for Christmas, no?

D.  Any song where the singer (usually female [sorry, but true]) whose entire goal is to cover as many octaves as possible to show off (a la Joy Bach) and thereby ruining the song.

E.  Some song (don't know the name) about "Mary did you know / that your baby boy" somthing or other.  Pure schmaltz... Jerry Taff-esqe schmaltz (As Lisa Simpson said "They want cheap sentiment? I'll pump 'em so full of sap they'll be blowing their nose with a pancake".)  That song is extra bad when sung by Mr. Schmaltz, Kenny Rogers.  I need to take a shower.

F.  Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt or Madonna (or anyone else).  Christmas songs should be religious or Santa-ish.  Songs sung from the standpoint of a horny golddigger just don't cut it.  Eartha Kitt was fine purring as Catwoman on Batman, not so fine purring for this song.

You know, maybe this post was long enough to justify multiple entries.  But the damage is done.  If I don't post again this weekend, have a blessed Christmas.  Don't do something stupid like celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by drinking yourself into oblivion and shooting your neighbor because he bought his wife a new SUV for Christmas and your car broke down.

Meet Vier Pogo Squad 51

Vier Pogo Squad 51, a Pomeranian, joined our family on October 5th, adopted from Happy Tails Dog Rescue.  (Excuse his accent when he barks, he is originally from Kentucky.)

He and Brownie Girl, our Doberman, seem to be getting along quite well.  It is interesting to note, however, that this 7 pound ball of fur is clearly the Alpha Dog of the two, and our fraidy-cat 65 pound dog is begrudgingly learning this.  Rest assured that My-Sugar-Na remains the Leader of the Pack.

And unlike that nutjob Ellen DeGeneres, we don't plan on giving this dog to our hairdresser.