So long 2011

Well the year is just about finished and it's been a pretty good one overall. No major illnesses for anyone in the family, work went well, the kids did well in school, etc.

The Cardinals won the World Series and Manchester United won the Premier League.

I read a shit ton of books both paper and kindle as well as a healthy dose of comics.

I got a new car which actually starts when it's cold outside.

We went on a few vacations and still managed to put some extra money down on the mortgage.

I went to more concerts this year than in the past few and we took the boys to their first rock show. Thanks Ted Leo!

We continued a glorious Friday night tradition of hanging out with a hobo.

I got to see my good friend Fronte several times for beers and soccer.

The record collection continued to grow as did the boys appreciation for good music.

A few dictators bit it and the war in Iraq ended.

Overall, a pretty good year. Cheers to all of those who read this drivel and Happy New Year.

Happy Kwanza

Prometheus trailer

Holy shit a new Alien movie? And possibly a prequel? Could it show the back story to Newt? Possibly not, but how cool would that be? Lindy threw out the idea of the final scene being Newt climbing into her hiding place. That would be brilliant. But of course, no one knows exactly what the movie's story is yet.

American Horror Story

For those of you who watch American Horror Story and were wondering where the hell it was going to go after the finale, here's your answer. Every season will be a new house and a new haunting. So goodbye to Blossom.

Hobbit trailer, woohoo!

Manchester United back in Champs League?

It's a possibility since FIFA is threatening to ban all Swiss teams from international competitions if the Swiss FA doesn't take action against one of their teams by mid-January. This would mean Basel FC would be eliminated from the Champions League and Manchester United would take their spot.

As a United fan, I think this sounds like bullshit thought up by the corrupt FIFA folks to get a small team out of the tournament so they can get a money maker back in. United fucked up in the tourney and should have to try their luck in the second tier Europa League. Let Basel have their shot at glory.

Women set on fire in elevator

I saw this on msnbc.com this morning.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45711605/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

A guy sprayed a woman with accelerant and then lit her on fire with a Molotov cocktail in an elevator. The picture of the guy looks like he's saying, "OK, I'm just going to get a little more over here, and wait, I missed a spot. Ah there we go."

The best part of the story is that neighbors believed the woman to be mentally ill and paranoid. I guess she had a right to paranoia. What a messed up world.

Paltrow hate

This person seems to hate Gwyneth Paltrow almost as much as a certain hobo I know does.

http://gadgetbox.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/14/9449632-gwyneth-paltrows-iphone-app-for-the-1-percent

Lowe's

Lowe's pulled all of it's ads that were to air during "All American Muslim" because of this:

The conservative Florida Family Association, which is pushing advertisers to drop "All-American Muslim," cheered Lowe's decision. The group called the TLC show "propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda's clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values."

This is the most ridiculous thing I've heard in quite some time. My boss is Muslim and is one of the kindest people I know. I've had Muslim friends in the past and never once did they try to take away my liberties. These people are sick and the people in charge at Lowe's should be ashamed of themselves.

The Pirates! Band of Misfits

I took the boys to see Hugo (great movie by the way) this past weekend and we saw a preview for the new Aardman movie The Pirates!. Everything about it screamed the Pirates books written by Gideon Defoe. It turns out I was right! I have the four books and they are hilarious and delightfully absurd. Aardman rarely disappoints so I can't wait!

Oh Newt

Gingrich has made a fidelity pledge and promises to be faithful to his wife and uphold family values. Hahahahaha. He's been married thrice and had each of the next wives on the side before getting divorced from their predecessors. Some may say that's just being proactive, but we all know this guy is simply trying to court the nutty right wing religious types since they don't want to support Romney. Oh Newt, you silly boy. If Americans hadn't proven themselves blind to the truth time and time again, I'd say you were crazy for this stunt. But, as we are living in a nation the elected W twice, the ploy just might work.

New music for CG

I bought three new albums on amazon this week. First, the new Roots album. It is quite good. It's a concept album that is a man's life story played in reverse, which makes you listen a bit closer to the lyrics. The beats, music, and production show why ?uestlove is one of the best in the business. These guys care about their music. I've been a fan of the Roots since their second album and this one does not disappoint.

Second, the greatest hits of Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was five bucks this month and has "Cities in Dust" on it as well as a killer cover of "Dear Prudence." Connor really likes it too, which adds another layer to his musical knowledge.

Third, Hail Mary Mallon's debut. I posted a video for "Grubstake" a little while ago and as I couldn't get it out of the ol noggin, I bought the album. I haven't had much time to listen to it, but what I've heard is good. You have to dig deep anymore to find rap that isn't pure pop/crossover shit.

Fourth, I bought the vinyl of the lost Hank Williams covers since Third Man put it out and remembered why I'm not a country fan. Not all country is bad to these ears, but this just didn't do it for me so it will probably sit on the shelf as a collection rounder outer.

News?

Michelle Duggar miscarried. This is at the top of the msn.com page. Nineteen humans have sprung forth from her vagina. Her pussy probably sputtered, coughed, and said fuck it when the 20th embryo attached.

The Queen's salary has been frozen. Larry King wants to be frozen.

The world's oldest dog died.

Lindsay Lohan's Playboy pics were leaked.

This is the news.

Pujols an Angel?

Albert Pujols is going to sign a $250M/10 year contract with the Angels. He was fun to watch on the Cardinals. I guess Anaheim will get to watch him on the downward slope.

Childish Gambino - Camp

Everyone has been gushing over the new album from Donald Glover, aka Troy from "Community," aka Childish Gambino. I'll admit I was a bit excited to hear it after reading some reviews, but it's just not that good, at least not from the amazon clips. Pitchfork.com gave it the first bad review of a 1.6 and while too harsh, I think they're closer than the 73 combined metacritic score. He's really trying to be like Kanye West and Kanye isn't the god of hip-hop Rolling Stone wants us to think he is. Overall, it makes me like Troy a little less and that's not good.