Water Cool Week-in-Review

Good, clever, fun stories to share at the "water coolers" of your life.

Sports submitted by Tom Walsh

There's no rational reason why human beings should care about sports -- as Jerry Seinfeld used to say, it's just rooting for laundry. But so many of us do.  Here’s a long but amazing read  on the relationship between New Orleans and its Saints, which captures one of the most powerful bonds that has ever existed between a community and its team. The Saints' success is a symbol that a city that was left for dead is alive, thanks to the determination of its (unique) citizens. The downside of all this: sounds like the city will be traumatized if the team does anything other than win it all (& they did lose this weekend, so maybe that'll help people get ready for at least the possibility of disappointment). If you read this and still root against the Saints, you're probably a bad person.

Sports submitted by Mark Basnage

Should Pro Athletes Give Back? That's the theme of the provocative conversation going on here. Read the pros and cons, and see what people like Mia Hamm and Alonzo Mourning have to say.

Music submitted by Tom Walsh

Ready for a change of musical pace for these last few days of the Christmas season -- one that might appeal to different generations of your family to boot? That would be Sufjan Stevens' "Songs for Christmas," streaming for free here (click on 'Musical Downloads'). An indie impresario from Brooklyn, Sufjan put out Christmas CDs for family & friends each year, and then packaged them in 2006 for the rest of us. Some of the songs are funny originals (e.g. 'Get Behind Me, Santa!' & 'That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!,') but alongside them are heartfelt, low-fi versions of the classics that capture the Christmas spirit better than the usual glossy mass-market fare. Some favorites: 'Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella,' & 'Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming.'

Art submitted by Mark Basnage

"High Art" and "Alec Baldwin" in the same sentence?  Apparently so, when the art in question is classical music. Newly annointed as the announcer for the New York Philharmonic, Baldwin says about the music, “There’s something beautiful. There’s something that’s really carefully rendered, that I want to be a part of, no matter what my contribution is.”

Television submitted by Mark Basnage

Finally, a new animated  Christmas special!  Thanks perhaps to the Disney-Pixar aquisition, we finally get a new animated special for the holidays. Not that there's anything wrong  with 40 year old Rudolph screenings with Burl Ives-- for those who 
grew up with it. But for our kids, we needed a refresh. "Prep and 
Landing" shows that there's still life in the secular Santa  genre.

Movies submitted by David French

At the end of your rope?  Is there no joy in life?  No purpose?  Are you unfulfilled at work, at home, and in your friendships.  Is there nothing for you?  You might think so, but you’d be wrong.  No matter how dark the days may seem, there is something to hang on for . . . something worth seeing, worth experiencing.  Ladies and gentlemen, I give you  . . . Iron Man 2.

Gifts submitted by Jean Kingston

Last week I sent in a list of recommended toys for younger kids for Christmas, but don't forget those picky teenagers on your list.  

Santa submitted by Jean Kingston

This is an awesome site to track Santa, to play Christmas games with your kids and to have many of your Santa questions answered.  NORAD has been tracking Santa's flight across the world for over 50 years.