Do you think I get too maudlin around New Year’s? Maybe. Two thousand seven has been a roller-coaster, but then again, so have most of my living days. Well, I have a terrible cold, my little doggie is stapled up like Frankenstein, and my husband has to have a tooth pulled, but I say we let this year go out on a cheerful note.

Via Joe. My. God. We have a new ditty from Jay Spears, singer of one of the songs that makes me smile the most—“I Like Mike”

—called “Smak Dem Christians Down,” which may be my new favorite, at least in terms of its topical theme:

And on what I suppose is a somewhat related note, I also came across an old favorite from Futurama, the song and dance torture Bender endures in “Robot Hell.” My favorite line? As the husband of a musical theater composer, it has to be one of the first: "Aw crap, singing!" But "enduring tortures, most of which rhyme" is a close second . . . as is the delicious idea that the Beastie Boys, who have been the bane of my existence for decades, is one of them.

So turn that hippo upside-down, enjoy some fun tunes, and let's make 2008 our best year yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

OK, who am I kidding? But let's see if it can at least not be our worst.