SHAPING UP AT LAST — The Detroit City Council finally got religion. After weeks of dawdling and refusing to cooperate with the state of Michigan regarding an independent financial advisory board needed to straighten out the city's finances, the dysfunctional and obnoxious council finally is cooperating. The council also agreed to enter contracts with outside consulting firms to restructure city finances, and to terminate obstructionist city attorney Krystal Crittendon, who attempted to prevent the state from demanding the city clean up its finances. The state's blunt threat to grab the city by the metaphorical lapels and perp-walk it into bankruptcy court did the trick. You see, hidebound people and groups need to be dealt with in a pointed manner before they respond.
BIG TEN BASKETBALL — Until today's loss to Ohio State, the Michigan Wolverines were the last undefeated major college basketball team in the nation. Michigan started out today in Columbus, Ohio getting trounced by Ohio State, 31-13 in the first half, but tied it up late in the second half before succumbing to the Buckeyes, 56-53. Kudos to Michigan for making a game of it. Michigan is a talented, solid team, but not awesome as the sycophant sportswriters claim. The U-M preseason schedule was not all that difficult, and this was the Wolverines' first road game against a quality opponent. The Big Ten is loaded with talent this year, and perhaps three or four teams could tie for the conference championship..
The Michigan State Spartans defeated Nebraska 66-56, in a game that was much closer than the score would indicate. The Cornhuskers were expected to be the worst team in the confernce, but they played a tough game, staying within 2 or 3 points of the Spartans for much of the game.
A NICE CHANGE OF PACE — For years, I've been a lazy cook, often lacking in creativity. Spaghetti, chili, meat loaf, baked chicken, etc... Well, last Sunday for the first time in years, I made stuffed peppers, and they turned out pretty good. Green peppers, rice, ground beef and onions/mushrooms sauteed in olive oil. I used instant wild rice from Rice-a-Roni, and my wife complained about the sodium and saltiness. (She's right, but I still think it was tasty.) But today I will use white rice cooked in mi casa. To add to the Spanish portion of the headline: "Sin el sodio."
IT DOESN"T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS — Old Milwaukee, a run-of-the-mill cheap beer, had the nerve to use that expression in some of its commercials. (It wasn't INTENDED to be parody, but it seemed like one.) But that phrase fits a couple of this weekend's NFL playoff games: last night's Baltimore Ravens double-overtime win at Denver, and today's Atlanta Falcons thriller over the Seattle Seahawks, won by a late Falcons field goal. NFL playoff action is hard to beat!
SUNDAY NIGHT FRIGHT — The depression I used to feel on Sunday nights is a thing of the past. That was a problem in my insecure teenaged years. Nowadays, rather than be bummed out that the weekend is over and Monday morning is on the way, I am more philosophical. I think to myself, "Man, I am lucky to be in good health, to have a job, to get 3 squares a day and to live in a great country." Monday morning is but a minor blip.
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