The Chris Moeller Archives

Year in review- Part 2

Here, faster than expected due to a snow day at work, is the second installment of our look back at my "35 things to get excited about", posted back on January 1st. Some promises delivered. Sadly, most disappointed. Some delivered, then disappointed. Some disappointed, and then had to be drowned in alcohol.

Here they are: the next 12:


13) The last odd-numbered year with George W. Bush as president-- Thumbs up

I was trying to be cute with this one. Let's skip it so we don't get bogged down.


14) The Rose Parade--- Dammit, it's over already?-- Thumbs down

This is an example of some New Year's Day-themed humor that was popular about 11 and a half months ago. I find the topic of comedy history endlessly fascinating. The endless shifting of taste and time often leaves a hilarious joke or concept a more fitting piece for the time capsule. This may apply.


15) The best reality show since "Taxicab Confessions", (i.e. actor/environmentalist Ed Begley's reality program on the Home & Garden network that portrayed Ed driving his wife crazy with his "green" lifestyle)-- Thumbs down

I never saw this show. It may have been good. My cable company didn't offer Home & Garden in its Des Moines lineup last winter (I'm reasonably sure), and by years-end, I no longer even have a cable subscription. If I had a nickel for every TV program or episode that I promoted on this blog, and then didn't watch, I could afford cable.


16) The first "post-Bobby" Whitney Houston album-- Thumbs down

The release date is still to be determined, but wait to exhale.


17) A 95th year on Earth for Studs Terkel-- Thumbs up

This guy's a beauty, boy. The oral historian and liberal lion put out a memoir in the fall entitled "Touch and Go," his 12th book. Like George Burns before him, I hear he's booked at Caesar's Palace for his 100th birthday.


18) The continued Latin American explosion throughout Iowa and the Midwest, helping us combat our rapidly-aging and -declining population, and spicing up the culture, in general-- Thumbs up

New census figures aren't available, but the explosion is no doubt continuing, and we're all the better for it. I hope that all brown-skin people, undocumented or otherwise, are still feeling welcome here despite the domestic terrorism employed by the INS at Swift Co. in Marshalltown, and the blithering bigots of the Republican presidential ballot, of whom I hope really do feel unwelcomed in Iowa.


19) A bull-headed Howard Dean still chairing the Democratic Party, and now having the electoral success to back the agenda of the Democratic wing-- Thumbs down

Did I really write that? You people shouldn't believe a thing you read on this blog. The head of the Democratic party should be spending his time and using his position of influence to advocate for the amending of the Constitution to allow for citizen initiative lawmaking, battling tooth and nail against the crushing sphere of corporate influence on the political process, fighting tirelessly for instant runoff elections, and working relentlessly toward the abolition of the Electoral College. Dean has done none of these things, while refraining from making any policy statements whatsoever, even in connection to the war on the Iraqi people, of which he was once an outspoken and courageous opponent.


20) Four sporting heroes-- Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds, and Chris Carpenter-- each collecting their first championship ring at Busch Stadium in April-- Thumbs up

The ceremony wasn't televised where I was, so I couldn't enjoy watching it, but for this quartet of Cardinals, the accomplishment will last a lifetime. Mine, and theirs.


21) Wrigley-ville's high expectations for Alfonso Soriano-- Thumbs down

It started out kind of fun, when Soriano began the season at a turtle's pace, but I was hoping for more frustrated Cubs fans and directional booing at the intensity level of a LaTroy Hawkins.


22) The re-opening of the I-235 eastbound ramp at ML King in Des Moines-- Please God!-- Thumbs up

Again, I missed the ceremony, but the pavement dried just in time for the Moeller TV Festival last month.


23) Dennis Kucinich forcing his Democratic caucus and primary opponents to talk about the war in their presidential campaigns-- Side thumbs

He's trying his damndest, but it's getting more difficult all the time. At the Iowa Brown & Black forum in Des Moines December 1st, after being ignored by the moderators for an hour, he was forced (sound warning) to ask himself a question.


24) The final season of "Moonlighting" available on DVD in March.

Aaron's borrowing it now.



Next time, on our third and final installment of "Year in Review"-- Whatever happened to that Rosie O'Donnell? Don't miss it. It's all here, it's always on (in a manner of speaking), and it's always advertisement-free information and entertainment!

posted by CM @ 2:39 PM