Ouch. I bowled in a charity event for Celtic’s Captain Paul Pierce last night and before I knew it, it was 1:30 AM. Despite the late end to the day (or early start to the next), I feel great. Moreover, I feel like a million dollars…in pennies. Still, it’s Aye Wonder Tuesday and I need to make some sense of the jumble of thoughts rattling around in my head, though it could be something else rattling around. Ah well, let’s just get this thing jump started.
☞One of the greatest underrated pleasures is reconnecting with an old friend. I did that yesterday and it seemed (to me) like no time had passed at all. If you really want to kick start your day, pick up the phone and reach out and touch an old pal.
☞Does it seem to you like the Obama transition team is well organized and dug in deep on their due dilligence for cabinet and administration posts? It does to me. I don’t remember this much thought or work going into the last 3 Presidents’ pre-inauguration transition.
☞Everyone wants to bail out the big three automakers. I don’t think it’s a good idea. Yes, there are jobs at stake but keep in mind there are two automobile industries in the United States, one is in Detroit and the other, in the South. The Southern automakers are making Toyotas and Hondas and BMWs without a union and without being in financial trouble. Maybe letting the big three fail is the only way to get them to be competitive. You may have heard that the head of the United Auto Workers said they will not offer any concessions. That hardly sounds like the kind of talk that would make me think that bailing them out is a good idea. Am I wrong?
☞How ’bout those Goldman Sachs execs huh? Seven of its top executives made the magnanimous gesture to forego bonuses this year. Ahem. These 7 executives each made over $20 million in 2007. At least four of them made over $55 million. By the way, when the Treasury department had a meeting about saving AIG, there was one investment bank represented at the meeting. Yes, it was Goldman Sachs. And guess who owed Goldman $20 billion? Foregoing bonuses? Puh-lease.
☞Geez, I am depressing myself today. What about the Aye Wonder song of the week? Probably a good time for that right now. OK, first this disclaimer: usually, I hate remakes, especially entire albums of remakes. Case in point, Rod Stewart singing the standards is, for me, ridiculous. He adds nothing to the original interpretation. Today, though, I give you the exception. Seal’s new release is a tribute to some of the great soul singers and songs. You wouldn’t think Seal could add much value to Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come but he does. One of my favorite’s on the album is Seal’s rendition of Al Green’s I’m Still in Love With You. Hope you like it too.
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☞Can you believe it’s all about Hillary? Again.
☞Beagles are great dogs. They have the most amazing disposition. They are friendly and great with kids but if you can’t let the dog out (hey, I think that’s a song), you likely will have issues. They love being free and this hilarious video will give you a sense of their personality.
☞Oxford University recently published its list of the top ten most overused and irritating phrases. As a public service to you, dear reader, I will present them to you here.
- At the end of the day
- Fairly unique
- I personally
- At this moment in time
- With all due respect
- Absolutely
- It’s a nightmare
- Shouldn’t of
- 24/7
- It’s not rocket science
As usual, the BBC felt the need to weigh in and produced its own list of irritating and overused phrases. You can see them here, at the end of the….sentence. Many of these are indigenous to the UK but you’ll get the idea.
☞I read today that President-elect Obama has a serious addiction problem. He loves his BlackBerry. But as President and because of security issues he will no longer be allowed to send emails. George Bush hasn’t sent one in 8 years and reportedly is looking forward to that “pleasure” again. You have to wonder if he has any friends left to email.
☞Given how long it took to write this today, I feel that Lord Byron must be the AWT quote of the week when he said:
Man, being reasonable, must get drunk; the best of life is but intoxication.
Aye Wonder (slowly today)
And hope you wonder for both of us today!
Possibly Related Posts:
- Time for an AWT Good News Edition
- A New Decade AWT – I Feel Better Already
- AWT is on the Record
- The Decade in Review – The AWT version
- An Old Year’s AWT. The New Decade on its Way.
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