We recorded The Power of Choice: The Life and Ideas of Milton Friedman last night so we could watch the most popular television show in the world instead. The degree of awfullness didn’t disappoint, but no one-liners had surfaced by the half-hour mark, so we celebrated MF Day by exercising our choice to turn off the TV and hit the sack early.

We live in the land of excitement, it’s true.

This is going to be a crazybusy week at work, so posting will be even less frequent than usual. Have a good one.

When I was younger, my apartments were filled with plants, but never of the flowering variety. I couldn’t appreciate their ephemeral beauty; in fact, I found that aspect of flowering plants terribly depressing, so I kept to the constant vigor of the spider plant, or ferns, or even herbs — short-lived, yes, but at least useful for cooking. Now that I’m older, living in the moment isn’t such a chore and I don’t want my life to be static or require it to be all sunshine and roses. Appreciating fleeting moments of beauty found in unexpected places is a more fulfilling way to live.

Thanks again, Deb, for the flowers.

Peyton Manning has a few words for the haters. I’ll admit, I thought it would be really funny for history to repeat itself last week, but it’s nice to see one of Archie’s kids make good. (Insert obligatory Eli-related grumbling here.)

Goooooo, Colts!

via The Agitator

Which will be more painful: Tonight’s State of the Union Address or American Idol auditions?

Via Asymmetrical Information, I found this website and have to admit the clip is pretty entertaining.

French mimes — a new low for me.

Harrumph!

So it isn’t the Saints’ drubbing or the fact that I have to work five whole days IN A ROW this week that has me in a funk. (Seriously? Whose idea was it to require such a grueling schedule in January?) No, a Cardiff University psychologist has scientifically proven that today is the suckiest day of the year based on a combination of six variables — weather (cold and sleety here), debt (manageable, but still there), time since Christmas (same for all of us), time since failing our new year’s resolutions (HA! I didn’t bother with resolutions), low motivational levels (oh dear, count me in), and the feeling of a need to take action (ditto).

It’s “Blue Monday.”

Which means you have everything to look forward to. Or you could just crawl under the covers until tomorrow. Me? I plan to hit the gym at lunch and get busy on the latest issue of The Atlantic. Exercise and Christopher Hitchens never fail to cheer me.

As far as I’m concerned, this NFC Championship game is like Godfather III (or Rocky V) — never happened. But looking on the bright side, at least my world makes sense again.

Thanks for such an exciting season, guys. See you next fall.

Btw, how did I manage to get through a whole football season without Deadspin coverage?