On the Seventh Day of Christmas

Really, is there any better modern Christmas song? Actually, I'm surprised at how well it holds up year after year.

"It's Christmas time in Hollis Queens
Mom's cooking chicken and collard greens
Rice and stuffing, macaroni and cheese
And Santa put gifts under Christmas trees."

"Christmas in Hollis"/Run D.M.C.



OK, all the Christmas cards have been written. All of the presents have been wrapped. Sorry to those who have stuff on backorder. I'm frustrated as I ordered early. The Christmas tunes are currently blasting. With this one on right now! I love the Vandals.

"How come, he always calls me "Kate"
and forgets his dentures on his dinner plate?"

Be nice to Grandpa, folks.

"Grandpa's Last Xmas"/The Vandals



Meal of Links

It's cold everywhere. Europe is distressed. And they cancelled all but two of the English soccer matches this weekend.

Ricky gets serious...just for a moment. Why he's an atheist.

It's science. Einstein was right.

The Senate is actually continuing to work. Due to some pretty pointed news coverage last week (Jon Stewart and Shepard Smith), the 9/11 First Responders Bill may get through. Voted down last time, changes made late. Let's hope.

Minimalism heroes. I like it.

How about renting a Christmas tree. it can be done.

Exercise Yard

It's taken me a few hours to digest today's Browns game. Losing to a team that had not won since September. Then lost its two primary receivers. Add it to the ever-increasing long list of disappointments from this team upon their return.

What did we learn today?

I think we may have seen the end of the Eric Mangini Era. I've concluded he gives way too much power to his coordinators. Today, the Browns could not stop the fuckin' run to a team that ranked 30th rushing the football. At what point do you take the headphones off and demand Rob Ryan fix that problem? I think Ryan's been overrated since he got here. Fans like his long hair and his boiler and the fact that his brother dressed like him. But the last two weeks have been awful defensively. Can Scott Fujita have meant that much to this defense?

End of the first half was a nightmare in clock management. Still can't figure out why, with 16 seconds left, the Browns were going to go for it on 4th-and-7. Then, after a five-yard penalty, decided afterward not to go for it. Complete the 12-yarder, if you can, and kick a FG. You had the timeout available. Inexcusable.

Colt McCoy was probably better-than-average today. Best on the first and last drives of the day. But they didn't exactly have the ball for a lot of time today, as the Bengals dominated possession after the first quarter. The Browns only had 43 plays.

Today's game makes you wonder what horrors lie ahead when the NFL moves to an 18-game schedule. We had a season that only 5 weeks looked promising. Since that point, it's been a slow crawl to the inevitable disappointment of every Browns season.

Wins in the next 2 games means a 7-9 season. Unfortunately, it looks the Ravens and Steelers need these games to position themselves for a playoff run.

I thought Mangini was a cinch to return next year. But his coordinators have failed him the last two weeks and we may be in for another overhaul. Let's hope not.

The Browns fail miserably, 19-17.

Visitor

None, on a cold Browns Sunday.