Ok, I've been really out of it...

A week in Iowa for vacation over Xmas, New Year's and my birthday and then 4 days without DSL after we got home that just about put me over the edge!

Not much now, either, but a few things for you.

+ Happy for Iowa's big win over the Gamecocks, obviously. Watched it in my Iowa shirt 10 miles west of campus back home.

+ Sad for the Vikes' ouster from the playoffs. No surprise, and they really didn't deserve to go any further. They've got a solid team if they can improve in the passing game next year. Tarvaris showed some good signs. Him or someone else.

+ Pulling for Carolina and Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl. No idea who will make it. Last year I was horribly, crushingly wrong.

+ A couple of nice Jaq posts: The Lark Ascending and Fixing the Prequels: Attack of the Clones (part two).

+ I often think of stealing 'Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo!' from Jaq's page. What do you think?

+ How on earth did I miss the new Killers Xmas song?!

Check the lyrics!

Well your eyes just haven’t been the same, Joseph
Are you bad at dealing with the fame, Joseph
There’s a pale moonshine above you
Do you see both sides, do they shove you around

Is the touchstone forcing you to hide, Joseph
Are the rumours eating you alive, Joseph

When the holy night is upon you
Will you do what’s right, the position is yours

From the temple walls to the New York night
Our decisions rest on a child
When she took her stand did she hold your hand
Will your faith stand still or run away
Run away

When they've driven you so far
That you think you're gonna drop
Do you wish you were back there at the carpenter shop

With the plane and the lathe
The work never drove you mad
You're a maker, a creator
Not just somebody's dad

From the temple walls to the New York night
Our decisions rest on a man
When I take the stand
When I take the stand
Will he hold my hand
Will my faith stand still or run away

And the desert
It's a hell of a place to find heaven
Forty years lost in the wilderness looking for God
And you climb to the top of the mountain
Looking down on the city where you were born

On the years since you left
Gave you time to sit back and reflect

Better you than me
Better you than me
Better you than me
Yes

Well the holy night is upon you
Do you see both sides, do they shove you around

Better you than me
Joseph
Better you than me
Joseph
Joseph
Joseph
Joseph
Than me
Better you than me
Better you
Better you
Better you
Than me

Well your eyes just haven’t been the same, Joseph

Who wrote it? I could be wrong, but it sounds like there's a little faith in there. Maybe I'm projecting ;-)

+ So bad it's good:
Europe - The Final Countdown

I'm outta' here...