Numbers are symbolic for lots of people. Sometimes randomly prescribed by a fortune cookie, but usually just by reappearance in one's life, whether actually or perceived to be more frequent. For me, those numbers include 2 and 5. With both good and bad associations, there is a comforting balance when I see them. And in the form of the number 52, there is even more wonder. The number of weeks in a year, cards in deck, and a pleasantly offsetting multiple of two superstitious values. The Chinese and Japanese abhor the number 4 as it is a homonym for death in their languages. And most people also regard the Baker's Dozen (13) as an unlucky number. But multiply them together and perhaps two wrongs make a right in 52. (Or two Wrights make an airplane, I know, mom.)
But it is with this 52th installment of daily pseudo-Rooney reflection, along with a step increase in other daily responsibilities, that I am hanging up the typewriter. No, not for good, but just no longer in the capacity of this periodical. Look at Andy, he only ever had to report once a week, or at most 52 times a year. Not quite by design but in retrospect I figure each of my posts demands about an average of 2 minutes of readership attention, maximum, about the same length of attention needed to digest a closing Rooney rant. But if you're a speed reader, I imagine you can whip though each essay in little over a minute, perhaps then taking in all essays in a tad More Than 60 Minutes.
Absent finding a Lucky Penny today, I figure there could be some other cosmic significance in the fact that it is a New Moon tonight. But those occur 13 times a year so there was a 1 in 28 chance of that happening anyway. But it is also Fat Tuesday, the annual party in New Orleans. That's a plus. It also happens to be Ellen Page's birthday (she's 25), but I don't think that represents much of anything except what her Mama and Papa Pages were doing about 9 months earlier in 1986.
Since this post will ultimately become an intro to the overall blog, I figured I'd mention that upon it's start, there was no real format or goals, it was simply to transform eclectic views into print. Although initially biased towards pop culture and opinion, in hindsight I would add that there were also bits of investigation, stories, and experimental production. Nothing fanciful, but diversions from the main approach at times, for entertainment and, well, test purposes.
Also, while each post is stand-alone, there are some continuing themes throughout the entire collection. Admittedly, some are straightforward and calculated, but some are less obvious and evolving. Perhaps if you indulge in every article you might even figure out my grandma's famous chicken noodle recipe. But as a minimum you might learn something about cupcakes.
With quality the intended recipe, not every post makes it into the chef's rank of "favorite". If you do you have a mild interest, allow me to reference you to the following: MexWeCan, Spam, and Calendars. The directory is easily navigated so be rewarded those who seek.
I will also go old-fashioned in the web linking by suggesting that if you would like to support this endeavor, two options are available. There is a Facebook Page expressly set up for Andy Rooney's Revenge whereby, again, if you seek it out and friend it, you would be demonstrating a neighborly interest plus reciprocating in an audience appreciation fashion (in which case Thank You). Secondly, for y'alls pleasure, I made the Nacho Bama's graphic available as a bunch of cheesy novelties in Cafe Press. Just click the sidebar version to visit. Trust me, I don't get peanuts from this, but I figured throw it out there, especially if the Mexican Mitt Romney gets the Republican nod this year then the tagline "Vote Mexican" could perfectly ambiguate the whole message. C'mon Mitt!
In closing, let me revisit the quote offered in the very first post. Borrowing form Walt Whitman, "To be a great poet, you need a great audience." That's one naturalist's point of view. The realist would also say you need hard work, dedication, and some luck.
And a Don King-promotion of a headline.
