55 thoughts on “December 17, 2015: Pressure”

    1. I have a draft of a letter done. It has not been proofed yet. Once that happens I'll think about printing it. Then buying stamps. Etc.

  1. I've never sent a Christmas card in my life. I'm guessing most of that is because I see everyone I want to see every Christmas.

    When I worked at the nursing home, my clients would often get the "this is everything we did this year!" Christmas letter and for the clients with vision problems I would read them for them. I about fell asleep every time. Nobody cares how their third cousin's grandson did on his math test.

    My grandma would send out the best Christmas letters, though. They were often sarcastic, with biting humor.

    1. I have encouraged the idea that every year people should send a "good story" Christmas letter, instead of a rote update. This year I'm also on-board with "thoughtful reflection" as an alternative. Especially with the rise of social media, there's not the demand for updates anymore.

      I had also been toying with the idea of seeing if we wanted to do some sort of WGOM digital letter exchange - I wouldn't mind seeing what y'all are sending out, etc. But a lot of anonymity disappears that way, so I shelved it. But today's topic has me thinking about it again.

    2. Nearly 40 cards mailed out, plus 3 international ones. We send out a yearly update newsletter, but it certainly doesn't get into the detail of distant relations' school grades. 😉 I do agree that it's superfluous in many cases when we're in contact via social media.

      I have a binder of 27 years' worth of Christmas newsletters (and one mid-year newsletter because 1993 flood), and I have to admit that it's a nice historical keepsake.

  2. Last night, my aunt passed away (she's had a cascading set of complications for about six weeks after years of neglecting her wellbeing) and had been unable to communicate for a week. She was finally starting to recover well enough to communicate that she didn't want any further treatment (Note to everyone: draft a living will!), so it wasn't a shock and my mom got to spend most of last week with her to say hey goodbye.

    Then, the Valet came down with croup, so I didn't hey home from the ER until after 1. Me sleepy.

  3. No doubt that I'm interested in seeing whether GSW can win 73 games. But, I'm almost as interested as to whether Philly can lose an NBA record 74 games. Both teams are off to a helluva start.

    Basketball Reference as of today has both teams falling short: GSW is projected to win 67 games, Philly similarly projected to lose 67 games. That's not surprising, because long season, but I think both teams will outpace these projections. I'm gonna be watching.

  4. 'Forbidden Zone' SelectShow
  5. Cheap Trick inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqB9lhHqmsE

    1. Seeing as how the RR HOF is in Ohio (wrong city, but still), they should just induct Pete Rose. Wouldn't really require relaxing the standards much more.

    2. I've seen an online campaign to put Jim Croce in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I absolutely love Jim Croce's music, but he's not really someone I think of when I hear the term "rock and roll".

      1. I wonder why the Hall of Fame would have ₲₹€€₪ D₳¥?
        I cannot tell the difference between who the R&RHOF chooses and who the editors and staff of Rolling Stone would.

          1. The Rock Hall doesn't choose anyone. It has a nominating committee that drafts a ballot each year. The nominating committee has its own issues (my mentor is on it, so I hear about it) and blind spots, some of which are generational. When the Boomers finally give up control, things will improve. But the Rock Hall's electorate makes the BBWAA look astute.

            1. So:
              R&R HOF Committee ⊆ Boomers
              R&R HOF Electorate ⊆ Boomers ?
              Rolling Stone writers & Editors ⊆ Boomers ?

            2. I went to the museum a long time ago. It was a lot of fun. As I've gotten older, the idea of Halls of Fame really doesn't appeal to me at all. I prefer a museum that is much more objective and I'll make up my own mind about who was good and who wasn't.

              Rock 'n Roll was important in this country. I think the story needs to be told. And it's cool to celebrate bands who made it. But, beyond that I don't have a dog in the fight. I'm no schoolboy (well, actually, I was), but I know what I like.

        1. I see that while my work computer can render the New Rupee, my home computer cannot.
          Instead there's just a box, which looks like an "O":
          GOEEN DAY
          CASH GOAB

  6. This is cool.

  7. Twins non-roster spring training invitees, according to their facebook page:

    Eight pitchers: right-handers Jose Berrios, Nick Burdi, Brandon Kintzler and Jake Reed; left-handers Fernando Abad, Buddy Boshers, Dan Runzler and Aaron Thompson;

    Five catchers: Juan Centeno, Mitch Garver, Carlos Paulino, Alex Swim and Stuart Turner;

    Five infielders: James Beresford, Buck Britton, Heiker Meneses, Wilfredo Tovar and Engelb Vielma; and

    Four outfielders: Joe Benson, Darin Mastroianni, Reynaldo Rodriguez and Ryan Sweeney.

    1. Agreed. I love it when a show/movie uses songs that really add to the story, rather than just being background noise. Fargo is definitely in the former category.

      1. The AV Club ran an interview with the music person for the show. Fantastic read

        I love those reworked covers (Constant Sorrow, Just Dropped in, etc).
        It seems like everything involved with that project was gold.

    1. The day after the sandy hook shooting happened I called in sick to work and made my nephew and nieces Christmas gifts.

  8. Hopefully, the Rangers goalie didn't get a concussion from that Scandella slapslot, but man oh man the Wild cranked out another impressive win tonight. Mikko Koivu scoring goals is always a great thing!

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