Happy 2006!

Soothsayers/naysayers — from business gurus to Bible decoders — have predicted all sorts of things for 2006, from the not-so-bright future of Google to a giant asteroid crash, in addition to 17 named tropical storms, nine hurricanes and five major, high-wind hurricanes. Well, I guess there’s only one way to find out!

While grownups are busy predicting the future, children are busy trying to start a snowstorm because a snowstorm means getting the day off from school. Some of the methods to conjure up a snowstorm include wearing pajamas inside out and backward, running around the kitchen table five times, and flushing ice cubes down the toilet. No mention on which method is the most successful.

This just in. A two-headed, albino rat snake will be up for sale on eBay. Bidding will start at $150,000. Two-headed snakes don’t usually live for more than a few months, but this one is already 6½ years old and is expected to live an additional 10-15 years. Interested?

Lake Superior State University releases its 31st Annual List of Words and Phrases Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness. The banished words and phrases include “breaking news”, “97% fat free”, and “dawg”.

The game for today is Beat the Meter. You work at a gas station and you have to fill the gas for every car that stops by for no more and no less than £10, or else you’ll lose money and spill gas all over the place. The game gets tricky as more cars stop to get gas and some will get impatient and honk at you for service. Fun (or not)!

In case you haven’t heard of it already, Do Copenhagen — an excellent MP3 blog — has come up with a list of Top 50 Music Videos of 2005. I don’t get to see too many music videos on TV here so it was nice to catch up. And I’m happy to see that 16 Military Wives by the Decemberists is on the list at #10. I love that video.

So, how’s 2006 been treating you so far? It’s given Troy a cold and I think I’m coming down with something myself. No fun! Here’s wishing you all the best for 2006.