So here's the 450,000,000,001st blog - Intro

Hello, cruel world! Because I like jumping onto trends that have pretty much played themselves out, I decided to start my own blog. This will be an interesting exercise to see if this becomes anything. Of course, that would require me to write interesting content. I make no guarantees that this will happen. I also make no guarantees that I will post much, at least not initially. Writing is something I like to do, but it's also something that takes discipline, of which I have little. Case in point...I started writing this because I am delaying going to work out. So, we'll see. When I do write, I will write about sports, music, politics, amongst other things. I have a quirky interest in cities and population trends, which I imagine normal people couldn't care a whit about. There will be a Midwestern regional bias in my writing. I take interest in two states' affairs in particular, Minnesota and Wisconsin; because I am from Wisconsin and live in Minnesota, and they have shaped my worldview. Politically, I lean right but definitely have a few left-leaning beliefs as well. Sports wise, my belief is as follows: "Packers, Badgers, Brewers, Bucks; every other state's teams suck." OK, that isn't entirely true. I was spurned at the altar by UW-Madison, so I consorted with the enemy. I am a proud pesky Gopher. Rah-rah-rah for Ski-U-Mah!! It doesn't matter that we suck at everything in sports. And, really the only team in Minnesota I don't like is the Vikings.

Oh, a quick warning: I like to think I am funny. Whether or not I am is subject to debate. So, I apologize in advance for all dumb attempts at humor, including ones made in this post.

By the way, Stinger is what I was dubbed a few years ago when I was in Las Vegas for my brother's bachelor party. I also sometimes comment on a different brother's blog (mrdilettante.blogspot.com) under that name. So, in addition to Stinger being my Vegas name, it's my blog's name too. But, my mom (or dad, I am not sure) named me Michael. I go by Mike. Or Mikey (only a select few can call me Mikey), or Michael (if you are a relative or a stoner). I am the youngest of six kids in my family.

So, here goes. Because what the world really needs is one more blowhard who thinks people need to know his opinion.