What Happened in 2008

I was searching the Internet to find out all the events that happened in 2008. I had a pretty good list going, but I decided to narrow it down to my Top 5 events of 2008.

Barack Obama is elected the 44th President of the United States and Joe Biden is elected the 47th Vice President. Barack Obama becomes the first African-American President-elect.

Michael Phelps winning a record breaking eight Gold Medals at the Beijing Summer Olympics.

Hurricane Ike makes landfall on Texas as Category 2 and kills 27 in the United States, after killing 4 in Cuba, 1 in the Dominican Republic, and 75 in Haiti.

The death of Paul Newman.

And the Unemployment Rate Increases Again: The Labor Department reports that about 533,000 nonfarm jobs were lost in November, the highest number since 1974. The unemployment rate increases two-tenths of a point to 6.7%.

I think this one effected me the most since I was unemployed for most of 2008.

Of course there were some fun thing that happened in 2008 too:

• New Kids On The Block release their album The Block, their first studio album in 15 years, since Face The Music.
• A triangular conjunction formed by a new Moon, Venus and Jupiter is a prominent object in the evening sky — I even have a picture of it.

And here is what JibJab had to say about 2008 –

Now with 2008 coming to an end… I am looking forward to see what will happen in 2009.

Happy New Years!

Why, Why, Why??

I got this e-mail from family friend, Steve. I was drinking some water when I was reading this and I almost sprayed it all over the monitor.

Warning – don’t drink or read at the same time…

Why, Why, Why??

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are almost dead?

Why do banks charge a fee on ‘insufficient funds’ when they already know there is not enough money?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars; but have to check when you say the paint is still wet?

Why doesn’t Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an ‘S’ in the word ‘lisp’?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, ‘It’s all right?’ Well, it isn’t all right, so why don’t we say, ‘That really hurt, why don’t you watch where you’re going?

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that’s falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

And my FAVORITE……

The statistics on sanity is that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends — if they’re okay, then it’s you.

Asia – Only Time Will Tell

Asia

Asia – Only Time Will Tell is one of my favorite songs. I even saw Asia in concert in the 80′s.

I think this one of the first albums that I listened to all of the songs. Usually I just listened to one or two of the songs and that was it. Then I would copy it on a “Favorites” cassette (wow, just felt really old typing that!).

The members of Asia were John Wetton, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer and Geoff Downes.

Here are the songs that are an the album:

1. “Heat of the Moment“
2. “Only Time Will Tell”
3. “Sole Survivor”
4. “One Step Closer”
5. “Time Again”
6. “Wildest Dreams”
7. “Without You”
8. “Cutting It Fine”
9. “Here Comes the Feeling”

I’m glad when I finally got the CD because I got tried turning the album over every time I heard it and I listened to it a lot.

If you get the chance to listen to Asia debut album, you should. Thanks to YouTube for having some of their songs on their site.

The Detroit Lions are in the history books!!

Thanks to the Green Bay fans for the shout out for the Lions!

First of all, I want to say that I am and will always be a Detroit Lions fan. And they will always be my pick in the beginning of the season to take it all. Now that I have said that, congratulations to the Lions for making NFL history and going 0-16 this season. People were definitely talking about the Lions this season, so that is something good isn’t it?

It’s got to be difficult to go out week after week knowing that you were going to make history by becoming the worst team in the league and not win a single game.

Here are some stories from the Detroit Free Press:

It’s history: Lions fall to 0-16

The Lions have done the impossible. After giving up 17 fourth-quarter points to the Packers and losing, 31-21, today at Lambeau Field, Detroit becomes the first NFL team to go 0-16 in a season.

How the Lions went 0-16

Just how did the Lions become the first team in NFL history to finish the season 0-16? Relive the 2008 season, seeing pictures, recaps, notable quotes and other in-game highlights of the Lions’ historically bad 2008 season.

So here is looking at next season, hopefully the Lions will get some great picks in the draft and have a plan for the team to do better that they did this season. Heck, even if they win one game, they already did better!

And for the last post about the Lions this season, this one is for the Detroit Lions and all of their fans — Detroit Lions Fight Song – Gridiron Heroes

Gridiron Heroes
The Victory Song of the Detroit Lions

(Verse)
Hail the colors Blue and Silver let them wave.
Sing their song and cheer the Gridiron Heroes brave,
Fighting for fame, winning the game,
Dashing to victory as they go.

(Chorus)
Forward down the field,
A charging team that will not yield.
And when the Blue and Silver wave,
Stand and cheer the brave.
Rah, Rah, Rah.
Go hard, win the game.
With honor you will keep your fame.
Down the field and gain,
A Lion victory!

GO LIONS!

The Lions fight song, entitled “Gridiron Heroes” dates back to the late 1930′s. When the team become a part of Detroit, owner G.A. Richards called for a fight song. Wayne State University director of bands Graham T. Overgard, who was also the Lions director of entertainment, penned the lyrics and music to “Gridiron Heroes—The Victory Song of the Detroit Lions”.

Still one of the oldest team fight songs in the NFL, Gridiron Heroes is still played after every Lions score. The tradition has been carried over to Ford Field.

Some good things that happened this week in the NFL:

• The Dallas Cowboys got creamed by the Philadelphia Eagles in a “win and your in” game. I was cracking up watching the Cowboys and Tony Romo lose. As I said before, I have always rooted for any team that played against the Cowboys.

• With the Miami Dolphins win over the New York Jets meant that the  did not make the playoffs. I consider the New England Patriots and Tom Brady in the same category with the Cowboys.

10 Ways to Unclutter Your Life

With the new year around the corner, I thought this was interesting. I know that I have had a cluttered desk at times. I just got rid of a lot of junk… I mean stuff when I mailed a package to my sister, Cynthia. I had some extra space in the box and I sent some things that were laying around collecting dust like: a sweatshirt, iron-on transfer sheets, some cough drops and ear wax remover. Hey, it cleared up space in my life and it took up the empty space in the box!

How much stuff do you have sitting on your desk or in your work area? A while back, Coopers & Lybrand (now Price Waterhouse Coopers) released data from a poll on personal organization. One statistic found that, “The average desk worker has 36 hours worth of work on their desk and wastes up to 3 hours a week just “looking” for STUFF!” Finding stuff on my messy desk bears out that statistic. Being disorganized is responsible for a lot of wasted time.

While there is a challenge in the initial cleaning of the messy desk, the regular maintenance often poses the bigger challenge. Here are some tips to help keep the desk clean:

1. Sort your mail and toss junk as it arrives. Even with an in-basket, you need to process your mail daily to avoid accumulating a stack of paper.
2. Get rid of sticky notes and scraps of paper. Get a single notebook and use it to record notes, phone numbers, web addresses, ideas, to-dos, etc.
3. Create a list or binder of regularly referenced material, such as phone numbers, and keep it accessible in a desk drawer.
4. Schedule filing time at least once per week.
5. Add dated or calendar items to a tickler file system or a diary as soon as they arrive.
6. When you stop working on something, put it away until the next time you need it. Don’t leave half-completed projects sitting on your desktop.
7. Keep nothing on your desk unless you absolutely need them. If you aren’t joining sheets of paper with tape, move the dispenser off the desk. If you want personal photos in the office, have only one on the desk or better yet, hang them on the wall.
8. Keep a reading folder for material you need to read. Schedule a regular reading time to clear that material.
9. Create a “waiting for” or pending file to hold items dependent on outside action.
10. Create a weekly appointment to clean your desk and this includes dusting or polishing. You might be less inclined to mess up a shiny desk.

It doesn’t take much “neglect” for your workspace to fill up with things that eat at your productivity. A few simple and regular good habits can free up a bunch of extra time for getting things done.

Top 10 Comedy Movies of 2008

With the end of the year coming, there are tons of “The Best of Lists…” I found this one:

Top 10 Comedy Movies of 2008 — 10 Movies That Made Us Laugh Out Loud in 2008

The only one that I saw was: ‘Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa’. I thought is was a good movie, there were a couple of parts that I laughed at.

How many of them do you see?

Top 10 Comedy Movies of 2008 — 10 Movies That Made Us Laugh Out Loud in 2008

By Rebecca Murray, About.com

A batch of familiar faces returned to – hopefully – make audiences laugh in 2008. Seth Rogen’s responsible for a couple of comedies, Will Ferrell’s in his fair share, and even Jim Carrey is back in the land of laughter after a long departure into the world of dramatic roles. But which ones worked? Which actually tickled our funny bones? Here’s my picks for the funniest movies of 2008.

• ‘Tropic Thunder’
• ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’
• ‘Pineapple Express’
• ‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno’
• ‘Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist’
• ‘Role Models’
• ‘Step Brothers’
• ‘Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa’
• ‘Hamlet 2′
• ‘Happy Go Lucky’

Here are some other lists that were on the site:

Best of 2008

• Top 10 Movies of 2008
• Big Action Movies of 2008

The Brian Setzer Orchestra – Jingle Bells – Live!

Here is another one of my favorite Christmas songs…

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Light Humor‏

Got this in an e-mail from a family freiend, Steve. Reminds me of Christmas’ pasts.

This was the caption of the picture: ... She had been on my case for weeks to get the Christmas lights up. They are up, and now she won't talk to me.

I remember there were many times when I just wanted to throw the lights away and go get another set for two bucks!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. This is the time of the year to cherish your family and friends and to let them know how important it is that they are apart of your life.

I found this Christmas card that my sister, Cynthia sent me in 1990. There was a special note in there she wrote from my new niece or nephew who was not even born yet. (My niece. Pamela was born in January 1991.) It made me cry, just like it did 17 years ago.

I look forward to meeting you in 1991 (Jan. or Feb.?) My Big Brother (Brad) says you are a real neat Auntie. Seeyou soon — Baby. P.S. Don’t call me Barbie.

Well, it’s been 17 years and I have been the lucky one to be Brad and Pam’s aunt!

What if Santa answered his letters truthfully?

Some letters to Santa and the replies received

 

Dear Santa

I wud like a kool toy space ranjur fer Xmas. Iv ben a gud boy all Yeer yer Frend, BiLLy

 

Dear Billy,

Nice spelling. You’re on your way to a career in lawn care. How about I send you a friggin’ book so you can learn to read and write? I’m giving your older brother the space ranger. At least HE can spell!

Santa

 

Dear Santa,

I have been a good girl all year, and the only thing I ask for is peace and joy in the world for everybody! Love, Sarah

 

Dear Sarah,

Your parents smoked pot when they had you, didn’t they?

Santa

 

Dear Santa,

I don’t know if you can do this, but for Christmas, I’d like for my mommy and daddy to get back together. Please see what you can do? Love,

Teddy

 

Dear Teddy,

Look, your dad’s banging the babysitter like a screen door in a hurricane. Do you think he’s gonna give that up to come back to your frigid mom, who rides his ass constantly? It’s time to give up that dream. Let me get you some nice Legos instead.

Santa

 

Dear Santa,

I left milk and cookies for you under the tree, and I left carrots for your reindeer outside the back door.

Love, Susan

 

Dear Susan,

Milk gives me the runs and carrots make the deer fart in my face when riding in the sleigh. You want to do me a favor? Leave me a bottle of scotch.

Santa

 

Dear Santa,

What do you do the other 364 days of the year? Are you busy making toys?

Your friend, Thomas

 

Dear Thomas,

All the toys are made in China. I have a condo in Vegas, where I spend most of my time making low-budget porno films. I unwind by drinking myself silly and squeezing the asses of cocktail waitresses while losing money at the craps table. Hey, you wanted to know.

Santa

 

Dear Santa,

Do you see us when we’re sleeping, do you really know when we’re awake, like in the song?

Love, Jessica

 

Dear Jessica,

Are you really that gullible or are you just a blonde? Good luck in whatever you do. I’m skipping your house.

Santa

 

Dear Santa,

I really really want a puppy this year. Please please please PLEASE – PLEASE could I have one?

Timmy

 

Timmy,

That whiney begging shit may work with your folks, but that crap doesn’t work with me. You’re getting a sweater again. Santa

 

Dearest Santa,

We don’t have a chimney in our house, how do you get into our home?

Love, Marky

 

Mark,

First, stop calling yourself “Marky”, that’s why you’re getting your ass whipped at school. Second, you don’t live in a house, you live in a low-rent apartment complex. Third, I get inside your pad just like the boogeyman does, through your bedroom window.

Sweet Dreams, Santa