Bad day to be a celebrity

Have to note the passing of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Farrah Fawcett's peak of popularity happened before I was old enough to pay attention to such things as this poster. But, she had quite the career. I don't know enough about her life to say much, but she was beautiful.

I do remember Michael Jackson's peak of popularity though. I was just starting to pay attention to music when Thriller came out. It is hard to understate just how amazing this album is. There is not a bad song on here. There is not a merely OK song on it. Every song is at least good, and most are great to outstanding. He made iconic videos for this album, and really changed the music industry. He made two more solid albums, and then...well, let's not talk about that today. Despite those things we are not talking about, he was an excellent singer who made great music.

RIP

Since we seem to like quizzes...

...I think we'll have a general trivia quiz. Here are ten questions, ranging across many topics, but with an easy-to-decipher theme (so easy, I'll tell you...each question has some connection to Arizona). But, this is my first quiz, so I have to figure out how to more subtly make a theme.

Whoever answers all 10 questions correctly first wins...well, nothing, except the respect of all Stinger Nation readers. Frankly, I expect this to be done quickly. I made this pretty easy.

1. What university aims to potentially have an enrollment of 90,000 students in 15 years or so? Follow-up question: Why?

Answer: Arizona State, basically because the state dictated it. Given Arizona's enormous rate of growth, they expect more demand for their universities. Arizona State is expected to take up 90% of the growth slack.

2. Glenn Frey sang about standing on a corner in what city?

Answer: Winslow, AZ. "It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford." I really don't care for the Eagles much.

3. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald went to which high school?

Answer: Holy Angels in Richfield, MN...thus, a local angle on this quiz

4. Trey Wilson was an unpainted furniture store owner in what movie?

Answer: Raising Arizona...which if you haven't seen, you should

5. Which team was the Phoenix Suns' sister expansion NBA franchise?

Answer: Milwaukee Bucks...both came into the league in 1968. Interestingly, the Suns have been more successful overall, but the Bucks have one championship...Phoenix has none.

6. What/where is Shadow Mountain?

Answer: It is a high school in NE Phoenix (Paradise Valley). For hoops fans, it is best known as Mike Bibby's alma mater. Had to throw one obscure one out at you.

7. Why was Public Enemy so upset that they wrote a controversial song about the potential assassination of the governor?

Answer: "By the Time I Get to Arizona" was written in response to Arizona being slow to make MLK Day a holiday. Mark made the point about them imagining rather violent means to honor a man who preached non-violence.

8. How many TV markets are largely based in Arizona?

Answer: Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma

9. How did we acquire the southern part of Arizona?

Answer: Gadsden Purchase...basically purchasing right-of-way for a railroad if I am not mistaken.

10. Put in order by population the following cities: Tempe, Kingman, Flagstaff, Chandler, Tucson, Yuma, Apache Junction, Nogales, Surprise, Peoria

Answer (based on 2000 census, which means this order is likely no longer correct..for example, Surprise has tripled in population since 2000): 1. Tucson (486,699); 2. Chandler (176,581); 3. Tempe (158,625); 4. Peoria (108,364); 5. Yuma (77,515); 6. Flagstaff (52,894); 7. Apache Junction (31,814); 8. Surprise (30,848); 9. Nogales (20,878); Kingman (20,069)

Bonus: Which Peoria is bigger; Arizona or Illinois?

Answer: Peoria, AZ recently became bigger than Peoria, IL.

UPDATE: Answers are now posted with the questions.

The most important news....EVER!!!!!

This was one of the main headlines on the hometown paper's website. Things must be great all over the Valley, not just in Neenah.

By the way, the official view of Stinger Nation is that pretty much all "reality" shows suck. But, it's my own generation's fault for giving "The Real World" on MTV the ratings necessary for this to happen....and, I include me in the blame. I was into the first 4-6 seasons of that show. So, I am sorry.

Quiz time, suckas!!

When I first started at my current job, I ended up reading Isaac Asimov's Super Quiz every morning to my co-workers (mostly because when someone else did it, I answered too many questions and ruined the fun). I announced when it was time to do the quiz by saying the subject line of this post.

But, we aren't doing the Super Quiz. This is kind of a twist on the "Last 5, Next 5." Instead of just listing the songs, I am going to put down a line of lyrics, and you will tell me what the next five songs are (really, last five as I have to listen to them first). This should be pretty easy, as I am on a pop song kick of late (or cheeseball song kick, depending on perspective). I make no guarantees that you will like any of these.

1. "All around the world, statues crumble for me."
2. "I remember standing on the corner at midnight, trying to get my courage up."
3. "Why is the bedroom so cold, turned away on your side?"
4. "We don't follow fashion, that would be a joke."
5. "Never trust a big butt and a smile."

Good luck...shouldn't be too hard.

UPDATE: Here are the answers:

1. "Fly" by Sugar Ray.
2. "Main Street" by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
3. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division
4. "Goody Two Shoes" by Adam Ant

And, the elusive answer to #5...."Poison" by Bell Biv DeVoe. I am kinda disappointed in Amanda for not getting this one. Something tells me that song played at her school dances back in the day. Lord knows it played at mine.

Reunited, and it feels so...hey, where is everyone??

So I had my 15-year class reunion last weekend. We had it 28 miles from where we went to high school (went to Kimberly High School, had the reunion in Oshkosh), but I have to say that a rooftop patio with a great view of Lake Winnebago is pretty good. And, it was a beautiful evening weather-wise. Anyway, I don't think my class has figured out the whole reunion thing yet. My five-year reunion had about 30% attendance. We didn't have a ten-year, and the 15-year reunion had about 25% attendance. So, we are struggling with the general concept of a reunion. Hopefully we will collectively figure it out in the future.

But, I do have to say that it was the right 25%. With a few exceptions, pretty much everyone I was interested in seeing was there. It was a reunion of old friends as much as it was classmates. I was at least friendly with everyone there back in high school, and they were all great to be around last weekend. If nothing else, hopefully I can have a fuller social calendar whenever I go back to Appleton.

Just when I thought I had nothing else to say...

...people start talking about suing regarding the unallotment process that Tim Pawlenty is doing to balance the state budget (you know, because the DFL-dominated Legislature passed budgets they knew had no chance of being enacted). Anyone in the viewing area of Twin Cities TV stations has seen story after story trotting out supposed victims of this process and how we are going to be absolutely devastated by this.

Anyway, if the Dems go forward, I can see the commercials now. "First, they try to push through tax hikes, but fail. Now, they are suing to raise your taxes." Frankly, I don't think that is an unfair assessment. So, while I believe a lot of people in this state are completely behind the idea of suing Pawlenty (or the state, however that would work), I believe most will see this as it is...a blatant attempt to circumvent an established process with the specific intention to derail any political advancement that may happen to Tim Pawlenty. They want his scalp.

UPDATE: OK, while I do think they want T-Paw's scalp, to say that is their specific intention is too conspiratorial. It is not their specific intention, but it is one of them, IMHO. I wonder though if they really think they are going to get another crack to raise taxes? Do they think if they win, they'll get to pass a budget and have it bypass the governor?

Conkey's is conked out of business

A bit of sad news from Appleton, that really doesn't matter in the grand scheme, unless you are in or from there. But, this is a story that has happened many times before in every city in America, so most everyone can relate at least a little. Conkey's Bookstore, which has been open in downtown Appleton for 113 years, is about to close. It was beat out by Barnes & Noble....this is quantifiable in this case, as B&N offered a lower-priced contract to be the bookstore for students at Fox Valley Technical College. This represented half of Conkey's business. It's hard to make up a drop like that.

I remember going into Conkey's as a kid and buying Choose Your Own Adventure books. Any child of the 80s knows those books. Other times, there were books I wanted to buy that I couldn't afford. But, there were always a lot of interesting books there, many of which were hard to find elsewhere in Appleton. The last book I bought from there was a book on new urbanism by former Milwaukee mayor John Norquist. This was in 1998, not long before I moved back to Minneapolis. Can't say I agreed with everything in that book, but books like that are why I browsed Conkey's somewhat regularly.

I am not generally one to lament the loss of local businesses to national chains. In our economic world, if someone can sell the same product at a better price, they are going to get business. I know that lamenting local stores closing is a cause celebre for some people, specifically when it comes to Wal-Mart. I am not with these people, and this is not why I am posting about this. But, that doesn't mean losing an institution (and Conkey's was an institution) doesn't sting at least a little. Conkey's was a great bookstore for a city like Appleton, and Appleton is a little less cool for losing Conkey's. I am not aware of another quality independent bookstore in Appleton. Perhaps I have one more book purchase in me over on 226 E College Ave.

Hey Badgers fans...quick question

How many of you thought this man would be coaching a team in the NBA Finals 14 years after taking one of the most talented teams (on paper) in Wisconsin history to a 14-15 record? Notice how that entry kindly omits any mention of his college coaching days in Madison.....hmmm. How does a team with Tracy Webster, Michael Finley, and Rashard Griffith go 14-15?

He's had Paw-lenty

Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty is not going to run for a third term. I have to admit to being surprised at this. Even though there has been and continues to be speculation that T-Paw has national aspirations, I kinda thought he would try for a third term. As someone who thinks T-Paw has done a pretty good job as governor (most commenters on the Strib would disagree), I think whoever replaces him is going to have tough shoes to fill. He largely held the line on taxes (the "health impact fee" notwithstanding), and has managed to serve as an effective counter to the DFL-dominated legislature. Of course, critics say taxes did increase under his watch, and technically they are right. But, they seem to conveniently forget that he does not control local spending. If local governments can't hold the line, that's on them, not Pawlenty.

As for his chances on the national stage, I would say that he might do decently, but he does not have the national profile required to win the GOP nomination yet. I suppose having two years will give him that chance, though.

As for the 2010 gubernatorial election, this could become really interesting. I can't think of people on the GOP side who might win...yet. I have long believed that this state is returning to form, and now that T-Paw is not running, I have a feeling we may have the first DFL governor since Rudy Perpich. Then everything will be better, right Strib commenters?