2005? Bah! Pooh! Part Two!

Hey Old Timers,

It’s raining up here on The Hill. I’d like to think that 2005 is getting washed away. I’d also like to think that the knuckleheads who were thinking of lighting off fireworks tonight in order to burn down the forest (or, what, celebrate the new year? i’m supposed to be the cranky one around here. – ed) will think twice. They might get wet! They might even shrink!

Radio: I’ve decided for the time being to eschew cable TV, so I’ve been listening to a lot of radio. Reception is pretty poor up here—even for WNKI which is the only station that actually broadcasts locally—so I’ve been on something of a quest for a better signal. Streaming radio from that ol’ Innernut? Sure, that works fine for the stereo in the Lodge. I could subscribe to podcasts and carry day-old radio shows around with me. The iBook’s drive is filling up with them though. Then Christmas came and with it a new Sirius satellite radio tuner with connectors for the house and the car.

It’s a little like the college radio stations that only broadcast over the local cable TV system on channels in the hundreds. You always knew that there was a wealth of programming out there, but you never got around to actually tuning it in. Sirius seems to be a little like that. They have deejays who seem plundered from the ranks of voice talent who were barking about giant used car tent sales just last week. They’ve also obtained the services of minor (whew, real minor. Mojo Nixon?) celebrities to host higher profile music shows, thrown in some Martha Stewart nonsense, and then there’s Stern. I sure hope they didn’t think that Howard was the reason for my subscription. I simply grew tired of switching between four NPR affiliates during my commute to listen to the same program. Fairly dangerous business on the switchbacks, don’t you think?

I’m still switching channels on Sirius, but now I’m just trying to take it all in. All in a crystal clear signal carrying, well, nearly everything.

Vegetarianism: My grandmother used to ask, particularly at holidays, “when are you going to quit that diet of yours?” Not quitting. I might quit using the sauce I put on the pasta this evening. It’s involved in an epic struggle with my innards and I’m losing. It’d also be nice to quit all the other detrimental behaviors too. I’ll get right on that.

Politics: I don’t know what your problem is with covert spying and warrant-less surveillance. I spy on you guys all the time (hey! I saw that! yeah, sticking your tongue out at the screen is like so mature). Geez, lighten up. We’re at war, right?

Okay, fine. Maybe we should just indict everybody in government and start over. Term limits are working just great after all.

2006: The new year! Like, tomorrow! I hope your new year is much better than 2005. I know, I know… not hope, do.

Thanks for sticking around all year.

Your pal,

bob