Thank you for 2008, and some hope for 2009

For many people, 2008 ended with no more sentiment than "good riddance."  For me, it was bittersweet.  The now-finished year treated me well - my first full year of marriage to my wonderful wife; a (largely free) trip to Colorado, where I learned to ski and didn't die trying; hiking around in the Swiss Alps and even popping into France for breakfast; buying a house in a wonderful neighborhood where we actually know (and like!) the neighbors; continuing to grow and learn professionally with great colleagues; and so much more that to mention it would risk driving you away from these posts forever.

It wasn't all perfect.  The Braves disappointed us all (again).  Small-government conservatism was thrown under a TARP by the Bush administration and a new administration will likely not help bring it back, which leaves it to those of us who still espouse true conservative principles to continue to claw our way back.

For 2009, I continue to be optimistic that the Obama administration won't be a complete disaster, though I'm less enthused for what could come out of Congress.  I'm also optimistic about the economy - but only if government can stop meddling long enough to allow Real People to make some decisions for themselves.

As is the tradition for anyone with a modest case of punditry, I'll venture a few predictions for where we'll be on Jan 1, 2010:

• Obama will have 65%+ approval ratings, bolstered by nearly 50% approval among Republicans but hurt by the disappointment of the fringe Left
  
• The Big Three automakers will be the Big Two
  
• The Dow will be back to 10,000 but not to 11,000 yet.
  
• The Yankees (ug) will win the World Series; the Braves will pull in a modest yet still disappointing 3rd place in the NL East
  

That's all I got.

To everyone who made 2008 great, thank you.  I look forward to live, work, and play with you in 2009.

Baseball - and still asleep at a decent hour

Are you excited about tonight's three-and-a-half inning showdown with the World Series on the line tonight? I am. Exciting baseball that should end early enough to get to bed at a reasonable time.

Tom Verducci at Sports Illustrated sums it up nicely:

For all the criticism of the weather, TV ratings and this strange World Series -- we've played 4 1/2 games over seven days and still there hasn't been one lead change -- baseball wound up with one of the most exciting nights it ever has seen: a 3 1/2-inning game with the world championship on the line. It is baseball's version of overtime, the shootout or penalty kicks. It is baseball for people who don't have time for baseball. It is baseball for the attention-challenged.

Fox should be working overtime to promote this game. It is an unprecedented situation with the urgency you never get from baseball. It can guarantee viewers that the game, if not the entire World Series, will be decided in the late innings -- without asking anyone to invest the time of watching the first two-thirds of the game. And there's yet another bright side to what people thought was a mess: Kids can watch the end of the game on a school night (assuming no rain delays or extra innings). The first suspended game in World Series history is not bad at all for baseball.

Read his whole article. Lots of good thoughts, particularly the point at the end about new stadium construction (I'm sure there's a company or two that would be willing to sponsor the domes on stadiums - the AllState Retractable Dome putting fans in good hands, etc.).