The Musings of Peter DeHaan, publisher, author, and mentor

Spring is in the Air - Sort of

2010-03-08T22:31:00Z

Most of the people that I talk to here in SW Michigan are anxious for winter to be over and for spring to arrive.

While there is still snow on the ground, it is mostly relegated to shaded areas and snow banks, courtesy of the snowplows.

Yesterday, with the temperature topping out at an unseasonably warm 59 degrees F and sixth straight day of sunshine, some eager beavers apparently decided to rush things and were spotted wearing shorts.

Even though I, too, am anxious to put winter behind me and march into spring, wearing shorts when it is 59 degrees seems a bit optimistic.

Personally, I'd wait until it is at least 70. Does that mean that I'd be rushing things as well?

What Matters Most Is How You Finish

2010-03-02T12:51:00Z

Last night I finished watching the rest of the Olympic coverage that I recorded, including the closing ceremonies. Now I can recap the games, albeit a couple of days late.

The 2010 Winter Olympics didn't start out well for Canada with a fatal accident on the luge, a significant mechanical malfunction during the opening ceremonies, a couple of ice resurfacing machines that refused to properly resurface, and weather that didn't cooperate. Added to that was the pressure the host country athletes felt to medal, especially to earn gold, and there were many initial disappointments.

However, as is true with any competition, it matters not how well you start, but how well you finish -- and Canada finished strong, brilliantly and brightly shining. Not only did they claim their first ever gold medal on Canadian soil, but then went on to earn 13 more to go with it, setting a record for the winter games. They also finished third in the overall medal count. (The US led, also setting a record.)

The Canadian fans were loyal and enthusiastic supporters of their athletes and set great examples of good sportsmanship. They also know and love to sing their national anthem, setting a high bar for other countries to emulate.

The closing ceremonies were a true celebration. Cleverly and humorously responding to the mechanical mishaps of 16 days prior, they made a memorable impression and showed that flawless perfection is outclassed by a smart recovery.

Canada, host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, we salute you!

My Fever is Finally Starting to Subside

2010-03-01T13:14:00Z

My fever is finally starting to subside -- Olympic fever that is. Although the 2010 Winter Olympics is officially over, I still have a few recorded items to watch. Midway through the event, our DVR had a scant three hours of available recording space, but we did make it through the entire Olympics without filling it up. (We can record two channels simultaneously, so we missed some of the coverage. Had we been able to record four simultaneous channels, we would have surely filled up the hard drive.)

I've already mentioned several of the events. As for those contests that fit into the "sledding" category, I like the 4-"person" bobsled the best, followed by the 2-"person" version. Since they are traveling at 95 MPH, it's good that they are inside a vehicle to afford some protection. Although not as fast -- relatively speaking -- the luge and skeleton seem a bit too daring and foolhardy to undertake, with the 2-man luge being just too weird to watch.

I also enjoyed the pursuit, cross country skiing, alpine skiing, and especially the halfpipe (even though it is a "judged" event).

The Olympics treated us to some great hockey, with the men's gold medal match being one of the best games ever. Though I am happy that Canada won gold on their home soil in both men's and women's hockey, I was pulling hard for the USA to prevail in both. Even so, a silver medal is something to be most proud of -- which, sadly, the US men were yet to realize at the medal ceremony.

I skipped most of the figure skating and ice dancing, though I did catch the gold medal performances. It was not until the medalists performed in the Gala event, that I was able to truly enjoy their artistry, grace, and skill. At that point, there is no judging pressure and the skate can be rendered -- and enjoyed -- as pure art.

Although I devoted too much of my spare time the last two weeks to watching Olympic coverage, it served as a welcome diversion from our Michigan winter. I figure that once I've made it through February, spring is right around the corner, so it's all good!

A Healthcare Reform End Run?

2010-02-25T20:07:00Z

Although there seemed to be a momentary lull, healthcare reform is again in the spotlight. As I surmised, it seems that president Obama will doggedly pursue this, even if the majority of the people are concerned with -- or opposed to -- the overall direction the reforms are headed.

This time, new approaches are being suggested and different strategies are being advanced. However, there is one possiblity that no one is talking about, but which could come to fruition at any time and with little warning.

As I understand it, the House long ago passed one version of the bill, and the Senate another. The normal course of action is to send the two bills to a joint committee of the House and Senate to work on reconciling the differences between the two bills. The reconciled version would then be sent back to their respective legislative bodies for approval.

However, it is possible that the House could merely vote on the version already approved by the Senate. Healthcare reform would then be passed, without the Senate needing to vote on it (because they have already approved that version). Then the bill goes to President Obama and he signs it.

There are two reasons why I think this could happen:

1) The administration has already demonstrated their proclivity for cutting backroom deals to buy votes of on-the-fence Senators, so they would not be afraid to do so with borderline House members, and
2) House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, has made some very adamant assertions that healthcare reform will pass. This is a feasible means for her to do so that is within her control.

I hope that I'm wrong about this, but it could happen -- and would be a sad day for our political system if it did.

Olympic Fever

2010-02-18T19:46:00Z

I have Olympic fever. Do you?

My DVR has been busily recording all the televised coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics and I have been hopelessly endeavoring to keep up. The only way to completely do so would be to cease working for two weeks, which, although inviting, is not a viable option. So the next best solution is to be selective in the events I enjoy and fast-fingered with the buttons on the remote.

I gravitate towards those events that are evaluated by time or distance, eschewing those that are judged. Of course, those events that have both, such as ski jumping (distance and style), present a quandary.

I best like the short-track skating, and am especially amused by the fast-paced, organized confusion of the relay. The long-track/speed staking is good too, though with the longer races, I find myself skimming through the middle sections. (This often happens with any momentary boredom -- after all, why be bored when I have 30 hours of unviewed material awaiting me?) I also greatly like the snowboard cross, likely for the same reasons I enjoy the short-track. Even so, the frequent wipeouts seem so unfair.

I've enjoyed the biathlon (which I just realized, I've been pronouncing with an extra syllable), which is a combo of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. I readily admit to not grasping the strange combination of events or its appeal -- though any sport to the uninitiated is undoubtedly a bit strange and perplexing. Even more perplexing is the Nordic combined (ski jumping and cross-country skiing.) Then there is curling, which simultaneously draws in and repels me. I watch it -- and don't know why.

For the sake of time, I'm skipping hockey until we get closer to the medal rounds.

Figure skating, reportedly the most popular event, is one that I mostly skip. First, I don't like that fact that it is judged and second that the focus of the judging is on the negative, losing points for being less than perfect, instead of earning points for being stellar.

There's more to share, but that will have to wait -- I think the DVR is getting filled up.

How Secure Are Those Security Questions?

2010-02-12T01:33:00Z

In general, I am appreciative of the lengths that financial institutions go to in keeping my account -- and the information behind it -- safe from hackers. These steps include multi-page sign-in procedures, displaying a personal phrase, and requiring that a random security code be entered. Yes, it is a hassle, but it is a hassle I will endure in order to reasonably protect my information. What perplexes me, however, are the security questions -- they are either too simple or too hard.

Some security questions are in the category of too easy, such as what high school I went to. This and other basic facts can be reasonably uncovered online. Similarly would be my favorite food. Anyone who reasonably knows me, would be aware that the answer is pizza. Plus, I am sure that this fact has been mentioned in public, appeared in an article, and written in a blog on more than one occasion. My mother's maiden name is another such question that is not all that secret. If I have the choice I skip those security questions, as I question their security.

The other category is the impossibly hard questions. First, are the ones with multiple answers. For example, what street did you grow up on? What was your favorite pet's name? Or what color was your first car? For each of these, I have two equally valid answers. I moved while growing up; among scores of pets, two dogs tie as my favorite; and as far as my first car -- I had it painted. Should I note the starting color or the ending color?

Other hard questions are those that change over time. Examples include my favorite color, my best teacher, my preferred type of ice cream, my all time favorite movie, or my favorite TV show. Then to compound the whole issue, I need to spell the answer correctly (challenging for my dogs' names) and remember if I capitalized any of the letters ("School" or "school") or used abbreviations (such as "W" or "West;" "Ave" or "Avenue").

However, I think I have a reasonable solution for all this. I will simply make up an answer, random and completely secret, that I will use for every security question. For example, I might pick "Davenport45" as my answer. Then:

Q: What's your favorite food? A: Davenport45
Q: What color was your first car? A: Davenport45
Q: On what street did you grow up? A: Davenport45
Q: Is your security question really secure? A: Davenport45

Picture This

2010-02-09T00:44:00Z

Every time you read this blog, you see my picture -- rather you want to or not!

Occasionally, I have posted pictures of my family, too.

In addition to a few cameo appearances here, my bride has also served as a somewhat willing model -- of sorts -- for two of my websites: My Article Archive and Find A Teleservice Agency. She is in the upper left on every page of both sites. Even so, given the scant bit of information that is revealed, you would have no idea what she looks like.

So, here's another picture to check out (enter code 50413) to see her. She is with our daughter, Laura.

If you are so inclined, please vote for her by clicking on the heart in the lower right corner. (You can vote once per computer.) The top 10 vote getters will receive a prize -- and right now her picture is number 10 -- out of 1150 entries.

Thank you for your support!

Super Bowl Game and Super Bowl Ads

2010-02-08T13:14:00Z

By now, anyone who cares knows that the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl last night. The Colts came out strong, dominating the first quarter and building up a nice lead. The momentum shifted in the second quarter, even though the lead did not. After a halftime show with the Who -- great production, no so great performance -- the Saints returned invigorated. The game was close until the final few minutes when the Saints pulled ahead, winning by 14.

Now, what about the commercials? In a word good: there were some duds, but several notable ones. (See my top ten list from two years ago; I merely offered a commentary for 2009).

Here are my top picks from the 2010 Super Bowl (you can watch them all online):

Doritos - Casket [if the link doesn't work, try this one]
Doritos - Underdog
Doritos - House Rules
Timothy Richman - Cars.com 2010 Super Bowl Ad
Bridgestone - Killer Whale (but what's with the "bachelor party" reference?)
E*TRADE Baby - Girlfriend
Budweiser - Bridge
Diamond Foods - Emerald Nuts & Pop Secret
Monster - Beaver
Bud Light - Voice Box
Bud Light - Lighthouse
McDonalds - LeBron & Dwight Howard (I missed this one, but saw it online -- did it really air?)
Focus on the Family - Tim Tebow Ad was tasteful, cute, and not at all objectionable. It is sad that some choose to condemn it without actually seeing it.

There were too many spots for cars and movies, as well as online TV, so many that they became a blur.

As far as Doritos's customer generated content, those were the winners for me -- and an innovative way to advertise, hinting at what might be to come. The three ads that I picked as winners were all aired! Plus a fourth one was shown for good measure. Interestingly, my theory that ad views would equate to ad votes did not pan out.

(By the way, last night, my bride and I were at a coffee house with friends during the game, while my DVR recorded the event at home. Lacking a TV, patronage at the coffee house was understandably sparse. Also, the ladies significantly outnumbered the guys. When our group dispersed, we then returned home, watching all the plays and commercials in about two hours.)

Does IVR Stand for "Idiotic Voice Response"?

2010-02-04T01:07:00Z

Last fall I bought a new wireless router for my network. One of the features it boasted was the option to connect an external hard drive to it for backing up files from any network computer. As you might suspect, I wasn't able to get it to work, so I called their tech support line -- repeatedly.

Although their call center is staffed by real people, being able to talk to them is quite a chore. As is all too typical, I was greeted by an "Interactive Voice Response" unit (IVR), sometimes called an "Automated Attendant." (Other people merely call it "voice mail," but that is a misnomer.) As IVR configurations go, this was one of the worst I've every encountered.

Take a listen to it. I'm sure that it will provoke a response -- be it empathetic groans of comprehension or uncontrollable laughter.
It was bad enough calling it the first time, but each subsequent time became even more infuriating. After the tenth or twelfth time, I decided to record the entire ordeal. If you listen to all the prompts-- just once -- it takes two minutes and fifteen seconds before you are placed in the queue to wait for a person.

During my first call, I was given a case number. Logic would suggest that the IVR should ask forit early on in the conversation, allowing repeat -- and increasingly irate callers-- to bypass all the no longer needed options. Alas, this was not the case;the real person asks you for the case number -- after 2.25 minutes of key pushing.

Even more ironic is that after 135 seconds of interacting with a machine to properly route my call, the person answered usually routed me to another person.

By the way, I never did get the feature to work.

Doritos Consumer Produced Spots on the Super Bowl

2010-02-02T01:13:00Z

I recently blogged that Doritos will be running consumer produced spots during the Super Bowl. In January, voting took place to determine which three of the finalists will be aired during the Super Bowl. I watched all six and ranked them in the following order:

1) "Casket"
2) "Underdog"
3) "House Rules"
4) "Kids These Days"
5) "The Smackout"
6) "Snack Attack Samurai"

Although the Crash the Super Bowl website doesn't show vote totals, it does show how many times each spot has been viewed. I suspect there is a direct correlation between views and votes. Here is how they rank in terms of views:

1) "Casket"
2) "Snack Attack Samurai"
3) "House Rules"
4) "Kids These Days"
5) "Underdog"
6) "The Smackout"

"Casket" was watched almost 20% more often than the second most viewed ad. Interestingly, this ranking of views is the same now as it was a couple weeks ago. One might infer that the voting rank also didn't change over this same span. Regardless, watch the Super Bowl to see which ads won.

If people agree with me, then it will be "Casket," "Underdog," and "House Rules."

If views equals votes, then it will be "Casket," "Snack Attack Samurai," and "House Rules." Or it could be something else!

No Power Means No Heat

2010-01-30T17:18:00Z

I was wrapping things up last night and ready to start a blog entry when the power went out. This was peculiar as there were no storms and it was not windy -- the two prime reasons for us to lose power. Our power outages are usually a few seconds to a couple of minutes, so I kept working for a while (I have a small UPS for my computer). When power wasn't restored quickly, I began an orderly shutdown.

Once I turned the monitors off, I was in the dark. By the time I felt my way to the main floor, my bride had found and turned on a battery powered-lantern. We used it as a reading lamp for a couple of hours, hoping for the quick return of electricity. Alas, it did not happen.

Although we have gas heat, electricity is required for the thermostat to function, to ignite the pilot, and to power the blower fan. No power means no heat. The weather forecast was for a low of zero (it actually hit 5 below), so I knew that a prolonged outage, would mean a cold house.

I piled more blankets on the bed, put on extra clothes, including a hoody, and climbed in bed. Snuggled up in my cocoon, I pulled the hood over my head, with only my face exposed. It reminded me of camping out as a kid. My thoughts returned to those good times and I happily drifted off to sleep.

My sleep was short-lived as the power was restored a half hour later. I got up and did a cursory check to make sure things were okay -- and to turn off the couple of lights whose switches we had mistakenly left on when we lost power.

I also checked the temperature. In the two and a half hours without power, the temperature had dropped 5 degrees. At that rate, had power remained off, it would have been quite cold by morning.

Thankfully, the power did come back, saving us from that experience.

President Obama and The Future of Healthcare Reform

2010-01-27T00:50:00Z

Last week was a historical senate vote in Massachusetts of near epic proportions. Essentially, it became a referendum on the President Obama's first year in office, in general, and the healthcare debate, in particular. The result of the contest did not bode well for our President. I wonder if he's listening, really listening, to what the people have said. What I do know is that his demeanor is more subdued and he has lost a bit of his swagger.

In politics, our elected officials, including President Obama, have one of three primary goals, which becomes the focus for what they do and say:

Their job is to serve the will of the people,
Their goal is be re-elected, or
Their intent is to advance an ideology.

They can't do all three; ultimately, only one will be their true and overarching focus. That means:

If President Obama's views his real job as to serve the people, he will respond to their message and do an about-face on healthcare. He may not drop it completely, but at the very least, he will reverse course, providing what the people want.
If President Obama's true goal is to be re-elected, he will distance himself from this hot potato in order to avoid committing political suicide.
If President Obama's genuine intent is to advance an ideology, then he will doggedly stay the course.

I don't see him doing options 1 or 2, so we will likely see him continue his unrelenting push for a healthcare overhaul -- even if it's not what the majority want or if it will render him a one-term President.

The State of the Union address tomorrow may shed some light on what we can reasonably expect.

The Effects of the Flu

2010-01-26T01:54:00Z

I mentioned that I had the flu a couple weeks ago. Be assured that I will spare you the gory details, but I do want to share what I learned (or was reminded of) as a result:

I tend to take my health for granted -- until I don't have it.
Having the flu is a tough way to lose weight (but I do know that I could never be bulimic -- I don't have the stomach for it!)
Half of my flu generated weight-loss has been regained (which is to be expected), but I won't be disappointed if the rest of those pounds never return.
When I am sick I desire to be taken care of; my bride desires to keep her distance. She claims I am a big baby.

Aside from dealing with my illness and sleeping, the only other thing I could do was watch TV. Even though I have 200 channels to consider, there are even fewer worthy viewing options during the day then at night. Here are the "highlights" of my foray into daytime television:

Drew Carey now hosts The Price is Right -- which is just wrong.
Wayne Brady hosts Let's Make a Deal, which is a huge waste of his talent -- but they both do have steady paying gigs, so I guess that's the price of job security.
I watched the movie Spy Kids yet again -- and continue to enjoy it.
I watched the movie Shark Boy and Lava Girl a second time and liked it even less than the first time.
I watched a rerun of Friends, which seems to be on everywhere throughout the day.
I also watched Seinfeld (the one with the scenes aired in reverse chronological order), Everybody Loves Raymond, and Malcolm in the Middle. I don't think I ever watched a full episode of any of them -- just bits and pieces while channel surfing. I don't think I missed much -- or perhaps my judgment was clouded due to fever.
I also realized that I could easily become a Discovery Channel junkie. If in the future, I am ever reduced to watching TV all day, I will just switch to the Discovery Channel and stay there all day. But hopefully, I'll never have to!

Vikings and Packers and Lions! Oh, My!

2010-01-23T16:50:00Z

With Brett Favre playing for the Minnesota this year, I have become a bit of a Vikings fan. In most games, Favre has treated fans to spectacular plays and contagious enthusiasm that defy his years (he is 40). With each game, he seemingly breaks someone else's record or extends one of his own. Besides, he's just fun to watch. Tomorrow, Minnesota plays New Orleans, the prize of which is a trip to the Super Bowl. I'll be watching -- and rooting.

Favre's former team, my long-time favs, the Green Bay Packers, had a good season, earning a wild card spot in the post season. Aside from their first and last plays of their playoff game, their offensive push against Arizona was stellar. Alas, they ended up on the short end with an overtime 51 to 45, season-ending loss.

For my state's semi-pro team, the Detroit Lions, their season ended even sooner -- though perhaps not soon enough for the hapless underdogs. Nevertheless, there is much for them to celebrate, having improved this year over last year:

They didn't go winless.
They won two games.
They didn't have the worst record (the Rams earned that distinction, only winning once).
They finished the year with only a 6 game losing streak (as I recall, last year they finished with a 17 game losing streak).
The Lions will get the second pick of the draft!

The Vikings and Packers and Lions! Oh, my!

Crazy Rabbits

2010-01-21T20:03:00Z

Last fall, I posted a picture of the burning bush in my yard. Of course, it looks different now; the leaves have all fallen off and bare twigs are exposed to the elements -- and to the rabbits.

It seems that my burning bush has become a favorite hangout for the rabbits in my neighborhood. It's not that I've ever seen them there, but I have seen where they bed down for the night. I've also see where they have nibbled on the bush -- and I see their droppings that result as they digest their nibbles. They have left piles of evidence. Although a bit unsightly, it should provide a nice supply of natural fertilizer for the bush come this spring.

It doesn't surprise me that the bunnies are eating the bush. This has been a common sight over the years. In a harsh winter, I've even seen them eat an entire burning bush, albeit a small one. It would seem that they consider the tender twigs as a preferred delicacy. Fortunately, the larger more aged branches are either too big or not palatable, so my bush is not in danger of being completely devoured and the lower branched that have been eaten will not cause a problem.

Even so, it is the top of the bush that is need of a trim. I've been trying to figure out a way to have the rabbits eat the top and not the bottom. That would save me some extra work in the spring. But lacking four feet of snow -- to cover all but its upper reaches -- it looks like I'll be the one doing the trimming.

Those cwazy wabbits.

Did Avatar Hit Too Close to Home?

2010-01-21T00:09:00Z

Reportedly the largest grossing movie of all time in China is Avatar, ballooning up to $76 million in a couple of weeks.

That meteoric trajectory is about to stop, however; the movie was essentially banned in China when showings of all 2-D versions were abruptly halted this week. (The 3-D and I-Max versions will still be shown through February.)

Apparently, bloggers and activists began drawing parallels between Avatar the movie and China's large land developers' grab on the land of the locals who merely want to live simple, peaceful lives.

Doesn't China's suppression of Avatar then become an admission of guilt? After all, if there were no validity to the allegorical allusions, then allowing the movie to continue would not be problematic. However, suppressing the source of the dialog only seems to confirm that the allegations have merit.

Did Avatar hit too close to home with the Chinese power elite? That seems to be the case.

Doritos Ads to "Crash the Super Bowl"

2010-01-20T01:21:00Z

With only four football teams left in contention, the Super Bowl is fast approaching -- and with it Super Commercials.

This year, Doritos will again be running consumer produced spots during the Super Bowl. Their Crash the Super Bowl promotion generated over 4,000 submissions. The top six were selected as finalists and the voting has begun to pick the top three. The top three vote getters will be run during the Super Bowl.

I've checked them out and all are good, but three are decidedly better. Here's how I rank them:

1) "Casket"
2) "Underdog"
3) "House Rules"
4) "Kids These Days"
5) "The Smackout"
6) "Snack Attack Samurai"

I will be watching to see if my top three picks are aired.

Will Obama Make a Difference in Massachusetts?

2010-01-18T20:03:00Z

Anyone who follows the national news in the United States knows that over the weekend, President Obama made a last minute visit to the State of Massachusetts to weigh in on the campaign for the US Senate seat formerly held by Ted Kennedy. Democratic contender Martha Coakley, once considered a shoe-in and possessing a sizable lead, is now in a veritable dead heat with Republican challenger Scott Brown.

What lies in the balance is much more than who represents the State of Massachusetts, but the future of healthcare reform, the Obama agenda -- and the Obama legacy (since this person will be the swing vote for a filibuster-proof Senate). The vote is shaping up to be more of a referendum on President Obama than anything else, so this slide in the polls is not Coakley's fault.

Another time when President Obama threw his political weight behind something -- having the Olympics in Chicago -- the result wasn't good. It could very well be that his involvement failed to impress the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and actually backfired. I wonder if the people of Massachusetts will respond in like manner.

NPR (National Public Radio) reported that in Massachusetts although registered Democrats out-number Republicans by a three to one margin, Independents out number them both, so it will essentially be the Independent voters who will decide.

Tomorrow we will find out the answer -- of at least get closer to finding out the answer. If the vote is close, expect a lot of political ploys and legal maneuvering -- it could be that the State of Massachusetts will have a prolonged time of being represented by only one Senator.

The AWOL Blogger is Back

2010-01-17T00:49:00Z

It's been two weeks since my last blog and some are wondering what happened. This is the longest span of non-blog-activity that I have encountered since I began walking down this path.

It's not that I've run out of ideas; I have plenty: from the rabbits in my yard, to Super Bowl ads, to the worst automated-attendant recording I've ever encountered, to the packaging on my sandwich, to football. Then there's, politics, the healthcare debate, the economy, and unemployment. Oh, did I mention I had the flu? Yep, I'll blog about that too! I imagine that really excites you. Then there are the ideas that got away -- the one's that had a time-sensitive element, whose opportunity has come and gone.

So, if it's not ideas, is it time? No, it's not so much a time issue either -- though I have been busy trying to get caught up from the holidays and whatnot.

The real issue is I've been doing more writing than normal, rendering the allure of blogging a bit less appealing and more along the lines of work -- yuck.

Regardless of that, the reality is that I've all these blog ideas spinning around in my mind and the only recourse to free me of them is to release them into the blogosphere.

So, I'm back, I primed, and I'm going to resume blogging -- on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T10:41:00Z

It is hard for me to imagine, but 2009, which seems like it just started, has come to an end. In fact, the decade of the "aughts," which doesn't seem that old itself, has matured quickly and also concluded.

The practice of staying up late to greet the New Year has always seemed like a strange practice to me. However, as a teen, any excuse to delay my normal bedtime schedule was a good one, so I willing joined in on the festivities, even though I was a bit perplexed by the whole idea of staying up late to do a 60-second countdown.

As I grew older, I became less of a conformist and more pragmatic. Last night I turned in at the normal time -- and arose at the normal time. The only thing that was different when I awoke was that there was a different year on the calendar.

Ringing in the New Year is also a time when New Year's resolutions are traditionally made. I've never figured that out either. If you want to change something in your life, just do it -- don't wait for the year on the calendar to increment. In fact, by delaying needed changes, the result is merely allowing that particular bad habit or situation to become more ingrained, thereby making it harder to change.

So, I guess I am a bit of a curmudgeon regarding late night celebrations and timing the pursuit of needed change. Even so, don't let my killjoy attitude detract from the party you attended last night or the resolutions you made.

I say with all sincerity, "Happy New Year!"