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?

Sweeps, meets, and other stuff (or, how was your weekend, Stinger?)

I had a good Memorial Day weekend. Not as good as these two, but still pretty decent (BTW, congratulations!).

While those two were getting married, I took my nephew and niece to a Brewers game against the Twins. While the Twins won, I had fun with them anyway. For me, it was something new. I had never taken them anywhere without at least one of their parents. I had never gone anywhere with kids being the adult in charge before. I have to admit to being a little scared at the idea, but I think it went well. It helps that they are not little kids anymore.

The next day, I met this guy. I enjoyed hanging out with him (as well as Mr. D) at MOA, and it was nice to meet one of the first supporters of this little adventure. A little heavy on the Bears gear, but hey, nobody's perfect. We saw something that was pretty shocking when we were there, but I am sure Gino will fill us in himself (he took video and everything).

Interspersed with these activities were a couple of nights out in the Warehouse District and another Twins win over my Brewers. I have a theory on why the Twins seem to beat the Brewers with regularity (and no, it's not because the Brewers suck). I may have to put my theory out there for peer review.