First of 101: Lose 40

I have 101 goals for myself in 2010. Since I failed so miserably to act on my minimal amount of goals last year, I thought I'd try something different. If I hit even half of these, it will be a good year.

I expect to share many of them over the year, but for now, just this one: to lose 40 pounds. A few people told me I'll be "too skinny" if I do that, but I know me better than that. I didn't let myself go too badly last year, but believe me...a 40-pounds-lighter me will be just fine.

Vikings Fall Short Again

Just a few thoughts right after my Vikings turned over a chance to return to the Super Bowl.

This one wont hurt anywhere near eleven years ago against the Falcons. I still have nerve damage from that game, which will no doubt help me avoid future pain in games like this.

I do hope Favre's legacy doesn't end up being that he fumbled away his last two NFC Championship games. But that is what happened, so it will be interesting to see how Vikings fans hold him in their hearts in the future.

I will be dreaming tonight that Brett decided to ramble, hobble, or hop six yards to get Longwell a chance to win it. I'm serious...I almost always have dreams after big emotional losses, and in the dreams the game isn't over yet.

Oh well. Not sure whom I'll pull for in the Super Bowl; probably the Saints when I'm over this. Let the fumble jokes begin.

What did Brett Favre order at the New Orleans McDonald's? A Hot Cajun Turnover.

Needs work, I know...

Air America

It appears Air America, the liberal radio network that wanted to offset Hannity, Limbaugh, et al, is going dark. As a left-of-center ex-radio guy, my honest feeling is good riddance.

I've always believed there is a huge market for liberal radio. It should be simple to fulfill, really: Hire good radio broadcasters with liberal leanings; don't hire liberal leaning folks and hope they'll make for good radio. Yet Air America never seemed to get it.

To wit: I love Al Franken's writing, and when I read transcripts of what he says, I tend to appreciate that, too. But he flat-out sucked as a radio host.

I don't mind conservative thinking; I have right-of-center views on more than a couple issues. But Limbaugh and Hannity, while I admit are very good as radio hosts, are scum of the earth in my book. I just want an honest argument, and right-wing radio fails miserably in that regard (not that liberal radio is perfect).

There is good liberal radio out there: Stephanie Miller, Rachel Maddow, and Ed Schultz immediately come to mind. Finding corporate sponsorship is no doubt more difficult for the format than it is for conservative radio. But the main problem liberal radio has had is that, so far, it has not found the right mix of talent and (lack of) scruples from its lineup to challenge the big boys on the right.

Late Night Stuff

In the Leno v. Letterman debate, I'm a Letterman guy. Jay's show is more polished, and the jokes are definitely more mainstream. Being in LA aids Jay in getting better names for guests, too. Dave did make his act more mainstream when moving to the earlier slot at CBS from his Late Night gig at NBC, which disappointed me a little, but I think was necessary to compete in the 10:30...excuse me, 11:30 time slot (you're welcome, East Coast snobs).

But Dave himself is a naturally funnier person, especially in impromptu moments while interviewing guests. Jay just bugs me whenever he delivers a line, scripted or not.

All of that being said, I found it a bit disturbing that Dave was going to great lengths to ridicule Jay on his program. We all know Dave wanted the Tonight Show when Johnny left, but he never seemed to hold it personally against Jay. They apparently no longer had been friends, but it was more likely due to their competitiveness.

All of that changed last week, as Dave was mocking Jay's high-pitched voice and large jaw, among other things. Jay fired back with a joke about Dave taking "shots" at him, but that he at least wasn't taking "shots" at interns anymore. A good one, I admit. I also enjoyed Dave's response tonight as to why he's been doing it so "mercilessly."

"Because I really enjoy it...that's all I've got!"

Two things are apparent: 1) Dave knows all eyes are on NBC for the moment, so he has to really push the envelope to keep people tuning in to see what he's going to say next. 2) Dave really feels Jay is in the wrong in all of this. I don't know why he would, but I wouldn't be surprised if he knows a little more than we do about all that has been going on behind the scenes.

What about the others?

Kimmel: Blah.

Ferguson: Took a while, but he's really grown on me.

Fallon: May as well have given Rob Schneider the show.

Daily: Never watch him.

Conan O'Brien: Has always bugged me in his impromptu antics. It's one thing to be a nerd and use it as your shtick so that it becomes cool. Conan tries to do that, and just comes across as more nerdy.

It's all opinion, of course, and I'll steal a Martin Mull line, appropriately (Mull was very good in the satire late-night talk show, "Fernwood Tonight"), which was originally meant for music as the subject matter, but relevant for comedy as well: "Talking about (comedy) is like dancing about architecture."

If you enjoy that line, I would guess you, too, are a "Dave person."

A Very Macro Microbrew

While in Columbus, Ohio on business last night, I went out to a bar with the work team I was meeting with for some after-meeting socializing. The young woman who greeted us asked for our order.

"I'm not from around here; can you recommend me a local beer?," I asked.

She replied, "Umm...Bud Light?"

Absolutely, 100 percent true.

Now, we all must remember that even the craziest thing a person says may have a reasonable story behind it. I found out later that Columbus has a large Anheiser Busch distribution.

Unfortunately for the under-dressed waitress, that actually precludes any possible excuse she might have for her hilarious response. You see, at first I thought perhaps she just misheard or misunderstood me. But knowing about the local Anheiser Busch plant, I realize she most likely actually thought she was giving me a "local" brand name.

That would be like me responding thusly to someone visiting Minnesota and asking me if I could recommend a good local restaurant:

"Umm...Dairy Queen?"