Me and my girlfriend are hosting a small gathering for New Years and I’m looking for a good party appetizer recipe that’s either vegetarian or fish-related.

For me and the likely few carnivores in attendance I’m going to do up a beef tenderloin on focaccia toast with spicy mayo, but need an alternative.

You guys got any favorites?

What’s everyone doing? I have no plans. As always, I don’t know what I’m looking for, but I’ll know when I hear it.

I’m going to make a mix CD soon, for no particular reason really, but for myself. I just want it to be high energy. There are a few bands from 2008 that fall under that category and it’s what got me thinking.

So far: Marnie Stern, Ponytail, Soil & “Pimp” Sessions, Lightning Bolt.

Thought this would be a nice thing to discuss. I’m just looking for something fast and steady and wild. Try your best to avoid any hardcore because I really don’t like that genre too much. I’m sure I’ll think of more myself when I get home and scan my library.

What is the first thing your eyes/mouse goes to when opening The Scrabbled? The second? The third? I need to confirm a suspicion, so I need as many of you to respond as possible—even if you rarely or never post or comment here.

I was going to write a list of the best things I’ve watched in 2008, but soon realized that’s impossible. The inexorable ease of Netflix ensures I’m not rushing out to see movies when they premiere and television can always wait until it’s plucked off DVDs in great, heaping gobs. Plus, my friends and I seem to seek out crap with the passion of flies and that doesn’t always lend itself to seeing finer fare like Milk, Rachel Getting Married, and Harold & Kumar 2. Did I mention that I’m one of those jerks that barely watches TV?

So with that said, hit the jump and add your opinions to a rambling, free-wheeling highlight of the most interesting stuff our eyeballs experienced in 2008. This is an incomplete and erratic list that demands your input!

JUMP!

christmas time is here

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I’ve had it in the back of my head. When, oh the Scrabbled, do you suppose is the correct time to post such a list?

The phils won the world series and had their parade, now it’s time for free agency. Who do you think they should retain, release and go after?

Alright, gang, we’ve elected this new president that we’re all very excited about. We’re entering a glorious new era of politics, but one very ominous question hangs over our heads:

How are we going to make fun of him?

Every Web site that involves music in any way always seems to suggest Andrew Bird to me. Any anonymous site member with music in common with me, always seems to have Andrew Bird in their list.

Does anyone listen to Andrew Bird? What’s he like? I noticed Hutch does NOT have it in his collection.

Okay, so occasionally, in the middle school, my students are maniacs. Naturally, I don’t want to just punish the bad behavior, but allow the good students to stand out.

So I devised a plan. Though it’s nearly November, I figured better late than never.

one down baby

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...that I cannot imagine Barack Obama pulling the clichéd democratic candidate stunt of dressing up in camouflage and going hunting or riding around in a tank.

I received a $20 online gift certificate from Brookstone for buying something sometime. What should I get?

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They’re town-hall format, with Brokaw moderating. A bit about town-hall debates and what to expect from Brokaw:

link!

If you haven’t, you need to get it in the mail this week to be sure it’ll reach the office by the deadline. Luckily, the state makes it pretty goddam easy to register. Just head to the NJ voter reg page and print out the form for your county. The form itself folds up and becomes a free, stampless envelope you can put right in the mail. So you have no excuse. Do it!

My major hobby since moving to Jersey City is cycling. I take at least 2 small weekday trips and one major weekend one each week. I usually end up on the Hudson waterfront, and I almost always stop to take in the view.

I only wear headphones/iPod occasionally. But I was thinking tonight about what would be good New-York-City-view-while-cycling music.

Any thoughts?

I’m covering the CMJ Music Marathon again this year for PopMatters.. so once again, you guys got band recommendations?

The massive list of this year’s performers after the jump.

Doug, my coworker, and I need your help. This jingle just popped into our heads and we can’t figure out what it is. Like Paris, I had Doug call up my house line and leave a message. Enjoy.

Audio file is after the jump:

China says “No more lending to US banks. Unemployment hits a 7 year high. New home sales at a 17-year low. The 700 billion dollar number is a cross-your-fingers-and-hope fabrication.

So what do you think, Scrabbled? Let’s all pretend we have doctorates in macroeconomics and discuss. Will the bailout work? Are we fucked? If not, what would work?

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Anyone ever buy a house with a friend (or know someone who did)? I don’t mean a significant other or spouse, I’m talking you and a buddy both signing on the dotted line.

How did it work out? Is it working out? What problems came up?

Weren’t all the bees supposed to be disappearing and crap? I haven’t heard any updates in a while. Are we still doomed?

Has anyone been using this new feature in iTunes very much? While some of the song selections are certainly questionable and despite the occasional annoyance of it not knowing a song, I’ve heard so much music from my own library that I’ve never listened to that I’m really enjoying. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the collected data of the next few months/years alters the song selection.

Anyone ever own an Akita?

So, I’ve finally gotten my hands on a Wii after stalking Best Buy’s doors at a completely unreasonable hour on a Sunday morning with a ripping hangover.

This being said, I’ve not had a video game console since Sega Genesis, and I’m TOTALLY out of the loop as far as games go. I’ve got Mario Kart, and I ordered Super Mario Galaxy, but I want to know what else to get.

I’m generally not a fan of shoot em’ up type games (E.G. GTA, No More Heros)ESPECIALLY those with first person vantage points. I actually threw up after watching some friends play Bond on Playstation.

So, Scrabblers, give me your suggestions and let me know what I should check out.