How was your day, Dan?

'DOWNTON ABBEY' DRINKING GAME

2012-01-25T17:09:27-08:00

Take a drink... ...every time someone is announced before entering a room. ...any time someone pours tea. ...any time Carson decants wine through cheesecloth. ...any time cuff links are discussed. (Mr. Bates calls them just "links," and this counts.) ...any...

OSCARS

2012-01-24T11:58:47-08:00

Let's discuss the Oscars nominees. * I don't want to get into "The Artist." Read my previous post for that. NEXT-- *...speaking of French contributions to American movies, what is with the obsession with "Midnight in Paris"? I couldn't get...

FRIDAY

2012-01-20T19:14:36-08:00

All though dinner, I kept thinking about watching "Downton Abbey." We were at a lovely table, sitting on the water with massive ships sailing to and fro...and I've seen it before. The comings-and-goings of massive ocean vessels hold nothing in...

DEAR NEWT GINGRICH,

2012-01-20T03:41:34-08:00

If you don't want me to judge your personal life, then don't judge mine. Sincerely, Dan Renzi

BUSINESS TRAVEL

2012-01-17T19:01:05-08:00

Hello, Dear Readers. I would like to ask for your help on something. I'm writing a series on business travelers who go to seemingly-random locations, and manage to have a lovely time. Do you live in/travel to a suburb somewhere...

MONDAY

2012-01-16T11:04:17-08:00

Hello, and welcome to your Monday. I hope today finds you filled with optimism and joy as you look forward to all sorts of exciting things to come. It's a new year, and it may be a short one at...

DAY: RUINED

2012-01-12T19:08:23-08:00

1) Wake up sniffling, sneezing, coughing, wheezing. 2) Stumble to bathroom and look in mirror. Gasp in horror at own reflection. 3) Call in sick to work--not because of the coughing etc., but because the puffy face is too awful...

ANIMALS MAKE US CRY

2012-01-09T08:35:55-08:00

Start out with the sad video: ...as if I have to tell you "Cat tries to wake up dead friend" is sad--and after you feel so bad, go to this video about circus elephants (inherently among the saddest creatures on...

WEDDINGS

2012-01-04T11:37:31-08:00

My cousin, a spitfire of a little lady in northern Illinois, asked me for a favor: she's getting hitched and it's going to cost a pretty nickel, but I could help them save some cash if I performed the service...

THE SUPERGIRL PROJECT

2011-12-31T08:53:22-08:00

Attention, dear readers: I need your assistance. I'd like to compile a photo collection here: girls dressed up as superheroes. It's no fair to give all the cool superhero toys to boys and then teach girls it is better for...

JUST DANCE

2011-12-28T08:42:21-08:00

Are my arms sore from working out, or from getting punched repeatedly? Walking into a living room filled with pre-teen girls playing "Just Dance" on Wii is akin to Mad Max walking into the Thunderdome. Someone is going down, and...

I'VE STILL GOT IT

2011-12-27T05:37:53-08:00

Last night I beat a house full of pre-teen girls at "Just Dance 3." BADOW. Not only do I still have moves like a jungle cat, but I'm cool enough to know what "badow" means and how to properly use...

WEAKNESS

2011-12-22T05:45:17-08:00

A few years ago, I served time working at a prominent South Florida hotel. It was an exhausting job, but the experience was fun. Is "fun" the right word to use? I think so. Running around the lobby while getting...

MOVIE CLUB: 'SHAME'

2011-12-18T21:06:56-08:00

Have you seen "Shame"? Starring Michael Fassbender (who was the best part of "X-Men: First Class" as Magneto) and Carey Mulligan (who depressed the hell out of me in "Never Let Me Go"), it's another artsy film where the story...

DEAR RUPERT MURDOCH,

2011-12-15T09:28:20-08:00

Today is a big day! The U.S. officially ends the Iraq War, with formal removal of military forces from the country. Of course there are still subcontracted "security forces" in the country, who are paid to enforce U.S. policy in...