Who would you watch the Super Bowl with?

The Times Union's Kristi Gustafson is asking the following question on her blog:

If you could watch the Super Bowl with anyone — living or dead — who would it be and why?

This one was a no-brainer for me. There is no one I'd rather watch with than my dad.

To be honest, I can't remember what the last Super Bowl was that he and I watched together. But I'd give my right arm to sit down and cheer on "Uncle Art's" team with him this Sunday.

How about you? Who would you watch the big game with?

All Creatures Great and Small

Nolan's teacher played this video for his class. It's a pretty good story...

We've come a long way, baby

I wonder how many people took this seriously in 1981...

What Super Bowl?

Is there a big football game this week? I almost forgot!

Well, ok, maybe that's a slight exageration. But this is usually the point when I start getting really sick of the two-week Super Bowl hype.

However, my attention was captivated so much last week by the inauguration and the Senate speculation here in New York that I paid very little attention to anything going on in the world of sports.

But now things are starting to settle in and I can shift my thoughts to the things that really matter! ;-) Go Steelers!

Arts and crafts

Would you too like to have absurd portrait of yourself that says something like "HOPE" and makes you look like the savior of mankind? Than you can upload a photo and make your own at Obamicon.me.

Here's the one I made.

h/t Rob.

Rebellious youth

The movie "Less Than Zero" is now available on Hulu.

My main memory of the movie (besides the Bangles cover of "Hazy Shade of Winter") was that it was the first Rated R movie I ever tried to get into with my friends. I wasn't successful.

I was nearly two months shy of turning 16 when the movie came out in 1987 and the cashier (who I later wound up working with at that very movie theater) refused to sell us tickets. We went to see "Three Men and a Baby" instead, which the ticket seller assured us was a better movie anyway.

Weeks later, I did successfully get into my first R movies in the theater -- "The Running Man" and "Good Morning Vietnam."

I never did get around to seeing "Less Than Zero." Maybe I'll watch it now that it's on Hulu (but probably not).

A sketchy purchase

I walked into Barnes & Noble last Sunday with no idea what to buy. My sister-in-law and her husband had given me a gift card for my birthday (thanks Kim & John!), but there was no one particular book I had my sights on.

So I started browsing. There weren’t any novels jumping out at me. I looked at books that covered most of my interests – the Adirondacks, the Yankees, books about figures like Ben Franklin and Abraham Lincoln and even a book about Indiana Jones. Nothing seemed right.

Then I found a book that seemed perfect – because every page inside was blank. I got myself a new sketchbook.

When I was young I loved to draw. I filled page after page with my renderings of characters from the comic books I collected. At one point my dream was to be an artist for Marvel Comics.

Art was one of my favorite subjects in school. I won’t pretend I was any great artist, but I like to think I had some promise. I had one particular teacher (who is now my neighbor) who used to give me a lot praise and encouragement.

And yet, through a series of circumstances, I stopped taking art classes in high school.

That’s always been one of my biggest regrets. I’ve often wondered what would have happened if I took more art classes in high school and even college. No, I don’t think I would have wound up drawing Spider-Man. But I think I could have honed my craft to a level beyond the doodles in the margins of my legal pad.

So this sketchbook is my do-over. I’ve filled a couple of pages so far and I’ve found it to be quite relaxing. The misshaped image of my left hand seen here was my first attempt. If I ever come up with anything worthwhile I’ll be sure to share it.

A second chance on something you never should have given up on -- what could be a better birthday present?

Recession proof?

Is the video game industry a recession proof business?

I was surprised to see a report that said the video game industry as a whole saw a 19 percent increase in revenue in 2008. Hardware sales were up 11 percent. Software sales were up 26 percent. In total, Americans spent $21.33 billion on video games last year.

Of all the consoles sold last year, more than half were Wiis. Nearly 10.2 million of them found their way into people's homes (including our own). The hand held Nintendo DS was also a top seller -- 9.95 million sold.

More good news for Nintendo -- they have they also have the top four games (Wii Play, Mario Kart Wii, Wii Fit and Super Smash Bros. Brawl).

So now I ask you...what company do you wish you worked for?

'I sense much dork in you'

Kris' folks were pretty proud of Nolan when they heard he saved enough to get a Wii. So they decided to reward him by sending him the new "Star Wars The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels" game.

It's pretty cool.  As you might imagine, it lets you wield your Wii remote like a lightsaber as you try to defeat the forces of the Dark Side.

I freely admit I wasted about two hours playing it myself tonight.  Hopefully, I don't come across like these guys...



Thanks grandma & grandpa!

Good advice

When I left for work this morning I said goodbye to Thomas and told him to be a good boy.

"Okay. You be a good grownup!" he answered.