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    <title>Argento&apos;s Front Stoop</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/" />
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    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2008-10-02:/mikeargento/9</id>
    <updated>2010-02-08T13:22:08Z</updated>
    <subtitle>

Mike Argento, a York native and graduate of York Suburban Area High School and Penn State, first came to the York Daily Record in 1983. He even had gray hair back then. After stints covering everything from cops to city hall to state government to the environment, he began writing a column for the paper, three times a week, in 1989. His column can be about anything and so is his blog, which encompasses life in York County and beyond. And, for the record, as he told his wife the other night, he wishes people would stop asking him, &apos;What&apos;s wrong with you?&apos; He really doesn&apos;t know. </subtitle>
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<entry>
    <title>Snowpocalypse Now, Redux Returns</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/2010/02/snowpocalypse-now-redux-return.html" />
    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2010:/mikeargento//9.34127</id>

    <published>2010-02-08T13:20:45Z</published>
    <updated>2010-02-08T13:22:08Z</updated>

    <summary>OK, the forecast is calling for more snow tomorrow, between 6 and 12 inches is what the TV people were saying this morning. Another foot of snow? That&apos;s nothing....</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Mike Argento</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Our Culture" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
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        <![CDATA[<p>OK, the forecast is calling for more snow tomorrow, between 6 and 12 inches is what the TV people were saying this morning.</p>

<p>Another foot of snow? That's nothing.<br />
</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>SAINTS WIN!</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/2010/02/saints-win.html" />
    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2010:/mikeargento//9.34126</id>

    <published>2010-02-08T13:09:10Z</published>
    <updated>2010-02-08T13:10:51Z</updated>

    <summary>It was over at the beginning of the second half. Whether the Saints recovered the on-side kick of not, that was the game. The Saints were not afraid to take a chance and they were rewarded. A great day for...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Mike Argento</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Sports" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
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        <![CDATA[<p>It was over at the beginning of the second half. Whether the Saints recovered the on-side kick of not, that was the game. The Saints were not afraid to take a chance and they were rewarded.</p>

<p>A great day for the city of New Orleans.</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Super Bowl betting. You know you have a problem when...</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/2010/02/super-bowl-betting-you-know-yo.html" />
    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2010:/mikeargento//9.34058</id>

    <published>2010-02-05T15:41:12Z</published>
    <updated>2010-02-05T15:46:29Z</updated>

    <summary>You are thinking about betting whether the national anthem, to be sung by Carrie Underwood, goes longer than 1:42 at one gambling site and 1:38.5 at another. And you seek out videos of Underwood singing the anthem at other sporting...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Mike Argento</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Sports" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/">
        <![CDATA[<p>You are thinking about betting whether the national anthem, to be sung by Carrie Underwood, goes longer than 1:42 at one gambling site and 1:38.5 at another. </p>

<p>And you seek out videos of Underwood singing the anthem at other sporting events to deliberate.</p>

<p>You can also bet on who will win the coin toss and the commercials and what color Gatorade the winning team will pour of its coach. </p>

<p>Personally, one vice I never picked up was gambling. I'm too cheap to gamble.</p>

<p>Check out the wacky proposition bets in this <a href="http://vegaswatch.net/2010/02/most-ridiculous-super-bowl-xliv-props.html">article</a>. </p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Geaux Saints!</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/2010/02/geaux-saints-1.html" />
    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2010:/mikeargento//9.34053</id>

    <published>2010-02-05T13:28:33Z</published>
    <updated>2010-02-05T13:56:23Z</updated>

    <summary>You may have heard about a big football game this Sunday. One of the teams in it is an outfit that fled its city for greener pastures and is now successful in its new home. And the other stayed put,...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Mike Argento</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Sports" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/">
        <![CDATA[<p>You may have heard about a big football game this Sunday. One of the teams in it is an outfit that fled its city for greener pastures and is now successful in its new home.</p>

<p>And the other stayed put, even though it had reason to flee. Its stadium was a wreck. Its city was a wreck. </p>

<p>But the team stayed and is a huge part of community.</p>

<p>That's one reason to embrace America's team, the Saints.</p>

<p>The city of New Orleans needs something good to happen. Winning a Super Bowl isn't going to repair the damage from the storm or really do anything tangible to assist the on-going rebuilding effort down there. But it can't hurt.</p>

<p>I visited New Orleans three years after the storm and it was starting to come back. Still, huge parts of the city were devastated. But the people of New Orleans are tough folks. And they are perhaps the friendliest and most hospitable people you'll ever meet.</p>

<p>One of my favorite places there is a restaurant called Dookie Chase's, a soul food joint. Leah Chase, in her 80s, runs the place and the food is spectacular. And Leah is one of the nicest, sweetest women you'll ever meet. She stayed during the storm and cooked for rescue workers. She's an amazing person.</p>

<p>To give you an idea what this all means to the city, check out Mark Lorando's <a href="http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/02/dear_miami.html">excellent piece</a> in the New Orleans Times-Picayune. </p>

<p>It begins:</p>

<p>"Dear Miami,</p>

<p>"The Saints are coming. And so are we, their loyal, long-suffering and slightly discombobulated Super Bowl-bound fans.</p>

<p>"While there's still time to prepare -- although a few hard-core Who Dats will begin trickling in Monday, most of us won't arrive until Thursday or Friday -- we thought we'd give you a heads-up about what you should expect.</p>

<p>"First things first: You need more beer.</p>

<p>"Yeah, we know. You ordered extra. You think you have more than any group of humans could possibly consume in one week. Trust us. You don't."</p>

<p>The city is a special place, even more special because of people like Leah and the rest of the survivors of the storm. They are tough, fun-loving people. </p>

<p>So on Sunday, I'm going have some gumbo and drink a toast to the city of New Orleans.</p>

<p>And pull for the Saints.<br />
</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Snowpocalsype Now: Redux</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/2010/02/snowpocalsype-now-redux.html" />
    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2010:/mikeargento//9.34051</id>

    <published>2010-02-05T13:04:13Z</published>
    <updated>2010-02-05T13:56:05Z</updated>

    <summary> The snow is coming. You can tell. It&apos;s close. Too close. I went to the grocery store yesterday at lunchtime. Couldn&apos;t get close. Went again last night, at about 11. Only a few people were there. The shelves were...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Mike Argento</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Our Culture" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
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        <![CDATA[<p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZDN9y2vTdUs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZDN9y2vTdUs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>

<p>The snow is coming. You can tell. It's close. Too close. </p>

<p>I went to the grocery store yesterday at lunchtime. Couldn't get close. Went again last night, at about 11. Only a few people were there. The shelves were barren. It was like the place had been looted. </p>

<p>One of the editors here, asked about the forecast, said, "We're all going to die."</p>

<p>Be careful out there. The horror...the horror...</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>New name, same company</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/2010/02/new-name-same-company.html" />
    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2010:/mikeargento//9.34018</id>

    <published>2010-02-04T13:06:59Z</published>
    <updated>2010-02-04T13:08:08Z</updated>

    <summary>Comcast is changing its name. Check it out here. The announcement is expected to come sometime between noon Tuesday and 4 p.m. Thursday. Make sure you&apos;re home for it....</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Mike Argento</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Our Culture" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/">
        <![CDATA[<p>Comcast is changing its name. Check it out <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/business/technology/20100203_Comcast_4Q_profit_up_on_revenue_boost__tax_gain.html">here</a>.</p>

<p>The announcement is expected to come sometime between noon Tuesday and 4 p.m. Thursday. Make sure you're home for it.</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Snowpocylpse Now</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/2010/02/snowpocylpse-now.html" />
    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2010:/mikeargento//9.34017</id>

    <published>2010-02-04T13:02:12Z</published>
    <updated>2010-02-04T13:06:05Z</updated>

    <summary>Well, not now, exactly. But this weekend, brace for the snowpocylpse. Get your milk, bread and toilet paper. They&apos;re predicting a snowstorm of Donner Party proportions. Don&apos;t know about the Donner Party. Check it out here. Now, that&apos;s a party....</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Mike Argento</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Our Culture" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/">
        <![CDATA[<p>Well, not now, exactly. But this weekend, brace for the snowpocylpse. </p>

<p>Get your milk, bread and toilet paper. They're predicting a snowstorm of Donner Party proportions.</p>

<p>Don't know about the Donner Party.</p>

<p>Check it out <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/donner/">here</a>.</p>

<p>Now, that's a party.</p>

<p><br />
</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>We got that...</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/2010/02/we-got-that.html" />
    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2010:/mikeargento//9.33994</id>

    <published>2010-02-03T21:03:18Z</published>
    <updated>2010-02-03T21:06:16Z</updated>

    <summary>Of course we have a groundhog joke in this week&apos;s edition of What Have We Learned. And jokes about Rahm Emanuel and others, including the requisite Uranus joke. Yes, we&apos;re talking about a special arrested development edition here. powered by...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Mike Argento</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="What have we learned" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/">
        <![CDATA[<p>Of course we have a groundhog joke in this week's edition of What Have We Learned. And jokes about Rahm Emanuel and others, including the requisite Uranus joke. </p>

<p>Yes, we're talking about a special arrested development edition here.</p>

<p><embed src="http://odeo.com/flash/audio_player_tiny_gray.swf" quality="high" width="145" height="25" name="audio_player_tiny_gray" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="transparent"  type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="audio_id=6627953&valid_sample_rate=true&external_url=http://media.ydr.com/audio/blog/988.mp3" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /></embed><br /><a style="font-size: 9px; padding-left: 35px; color: #6a99fe; letter-spacing: -1px; text-decoration: none" href="http://odeo.com/audio/6627953/view">powered by <strong>ODEO</strong></a><br />
</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>The fruits of failure</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/2010/02/the-fruits-of-failure.html" />
    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2010:/mikeargento//9.33982</id>

    <published>2010-02-03T13:14:36Z</published>
    <updated>2010-02-03T13:17:25Z</updated>

    <summary>AIG is paying out a round of bonuses -- $100 million in all -- to retain employees. For one thing, as I&apos;ve asked in the past, why would you want to retain employees responsible for nearly destroying the company? Another...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Mike Argento</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Our burgeoning economy" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/">
        <![CDATA[<p>AIG is paying out a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/02/AR2010020203036.html?hpid=topnews">round of bonuses</a> -- $100 million in all -- to retain employees.</p>

<p>For one thing, as I've asked in the past, why would you want to retain employees responsible for nearly destroying the company? </p>

<p>Another thing, even if these people left the company, where would they expect to find work? Taco Bell?</p>

<p>And after all we did for AIG -- remember the $150 billion bailout? -- we don't even get a thanks.</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Some good Harley news.</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/2010/02/some-good-harley-news.html" />
    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2010:/mikeargento//9.33981</id>

    <published>2010-02-03T13:12:03Z</published>
    <updated>2010-02-03T21:07:08Z</updated>

    <summary>The iconic motorcycle manufacturer is sending some bikes to Haiti. The motorcycles will allow relief workers to get to areas that may not be accessible by car. Good for Harley. Lets hope they send enough to keep people here working....</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Mike Argento</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Our Culture" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/">
        <![CDATA[<p>The iconic motorcycle manufacturer is sending some bikes to Haiti. The motorcycles will allow relief workers to get to areas that may not be accessible by car.</p>

<p>Good for Harley.</p>

<p>Lets hope they send enough to keep people here working.</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Nothing like climbing out of bed and...</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/2010/02/nothing-like-climbing-out-of-b.html" />
    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2010:/mikeargento//9.33980</id>

    <published>2010-02-03T13:08:21Z</published>
    <updated>2010-02-03T13:09:36Z</updated>

    <summary>Shoveling snow. Need more coffee....</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Mike Argento</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Our Culture" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/">
        <![CDATA[<p>Shoveling snow.</p>

<p>Need more coffee.<br />
</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Maybe it&apos;s because he doesn&apos;t have opposable thumbs...</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/2010/02/maybe-its-because-he-doesnt-ha.html" />
    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2010:/mikeargento//9.33940</id>

    <published>2010-02-02T13:35:43Z</published>
    <updated>2010-02-02T13:37:23Z</updated>

    <summary>I signed up for text messages from Punxsutawney Phil this morning, before dawn. I received confirmation that I had indeed signed up. And then, dawn broke and...nothing. Not one text message. Stupid groundhog....</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Mike Argento</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Our Culture" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/">
        <![CDATA[<p>I signed up for text messages from Punxsutawney Phil this morning, before dawn. I received confirmation that I had indeed signed up.</p>

<p>And then, dawn broke and...nothing.</p>

<p>Not one text message.</p>

<p>Stupid groundhog.<br />
</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Trying to explain it...</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/2010/02/trying-to-explain-it.html" />
    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2010:/mikeargento//9.33939</id>

    <published>2010-02-02T13:31:35Z</published>
    <updated>2010-02-02T13:35:32Z</updated>

    <summary>The BBC Web site has a great essay by political scientist David Runciman, a professor at Cambridge University, trying to explain the recent surge in anger among the populace regarding health care and just about everything else. It begins: &quot;Last...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Mike Argento</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Politics" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/">
        <![CDATA[<p>The BBC Web site has a great essay by political scientist David Runciman, a professor at Cambridge University, trying to explain the recent surge in anger among the populace regarding health care and just about everything else.</p>

<p>It begins:</p>

<p>"Last year, in a series of 'town-hall meetings' across the country, Americans got the chance to debate President Obama's proposed healthcare reforms.</p>

<p>"What happened was an explosion of rage and barely suppressed violence.</p>

<p>"Polling evidence suggests that the numbers who think the reforms go too far are nearly matched by those who think they do not go far enough.</p>

<p>"But it is striking that the people who most dislike the whole idea of healthcare reform - the ones who think it is socialist, godless, a step on the road to a police state - are often the ones it seems designed to help.</p>

<p>"In Texas, where barely two-thirds of the population have full health insurance and over a fifth of all children have no cover at all, opposition to the legislation is currently running at 87%.</p>

<p>"Instead, to many of those who lose out under the existing system, reform still seems like the ultimate betrayal.</p>

<p>"Why are so many American voters enraged by attempts to change a horribly inefficient system that leaves them with premiums they often cannot afford?</p>

<p>"Why are they manning the barricades to defend insurance companies that routinely deny claims and cancel policies?"</p>

<p>Very good questions and Runciman tries to explain in <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8474611.stm">this excellent essay</a>.<br />
</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>A gross injustice</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/2010/02/a-gross-injustice.html" />
    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2010:/mikeargento//9.33909</id>

    <published>2010-02-01T13:12:07Z</published>
    <updated>2010-02-01T13:18:16Z</updated>

    <summary> That&apos;s Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra, playing &quot;Bridge Over Troubled Water.&quot; Every year, Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra wins a Grammy for the best polka record. Every year. Jimmy Sturr has 18 Grammies. Springsteen has 19. The man is...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Mike Argento</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Our Culture" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/">
        <![CDATA[<p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0XtPFG-yPYk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0XtPFG-yPYk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>

<p>That's Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra, playing "Bridge Over Troubled Water."</p>

<p>Every year, Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra wins a Grammy for the best polka record. Every year. Jimmy Sturr has 18 Grammies. Springsteen has 19. The man is a monster.</p>

<p>So this year, how did Jimmy do?</p>

<p>He lost. </p>

<p>But not only that, the Grammy people eliminated the polka category. Jimmy Sturr was nominated in the best traditional folk record category. Traditional folk? Please. The Grammies still have a category for Hawaiian music. But no polka?</p>

<p>He lost to Loudon Wainwright III. </p>

<p>Jimmy was robbed.<br />
</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Heck of a job!</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/2010/01/heck-of-a-job-1.html" />
    <id>tag:www.yorkblog.com,2010:/mikeargento//9.33812</id>

    <published>2010-01-29T16:20:06Z</published>
    <updated>2010-01-29T16:22:51Z</updated>

    <summary>This is a great country. It has to be. It rewards incompetence and stupidity like none other. Take, for instance, Michael Brown. Remember him? The &quot;heck-of-a-job-Brownie&quot; guy whose training in running horse shows prepared him so well to respond to...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Mike Argento</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Politics" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.yorkblog.com/mikeargento/">
        <![CDATA[<p>This is a great country. It has to be. It rewards incompetence and stupidity like none other.</p>

<p>Take, for instance, Michael Brown. Remember him? The "heck-of-a-job-Brownie" guy whose training in running horse shows prepared him so well to respond to the destruction of a U.S. city as FEMA director?</p>

<p>He went to found a disaster consulting business, in which, I suppose, he advise people on how to turn disasters into catastrophes. </p>

<p>And now, he's landed a radio talk show in Denver.</p>

<p>Unbelievable.</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

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