Before the total meltdown of the finance industry it was amusing that all the commercials during the Sunday political shows were about making retirement planning seem cool. One that ran alot this summer was a father and daughter playing in the woods. The little girls starts grilling her dad about money issues and he says something like, "We're with AIG honey, so I'm just thinking about butterflies."
Other end of the year shout outs: You have to hand it to Britney Spears on making a great comeback. I didn't realize until recently it was actually 2008 when she made multiple trips to the psych ward and now she has some decent songs out. Also, I watched the WBIR Sunday show a few weeks ago and Ragsdale was on, seeming giddy and loving life again and talking about jobs and seniors again! The pundits and McElroy all seemed to have reignited their crushes on him. That said, given Burchett's tendency to go around talking about "those illegals" and falsely saying illegal immigrants are on Tenn Care, without being called on it, I'd almost like to see Rags pull a Bloomberg and stay a third term, but its early yet and maybe someone else will turn up.

Also, the local news folks keep missing the point that OUTSIDE stuff on Market Square is free tonight, only indoors requires an admission fee! Happy freakin New Year!