Various and Sundry – January 6, 2012

* My year-end analysis of the year’s most memorable and meaningful quotes, The Words That Mattered in 2011 was published at the History News Network and in the December 29 edition of the Chicago Tribune.

* Fans of the University of Michigan football team enjoyed an incredibly exciting and encouraging season. From the last-second victory over Notre Dame during Michigan Stadium’s first night game, to the soul-invigorating win over Ohio State, to Tuesday night’s overtime triumph versus Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl, it has been a joyous and restorative ride. And it all started with the words of new head coach Brady Hoke, nearly a year ago today: “This is Michgan, for God’s sakes!”

* It’s been a rare good year of NFL fandom for followers of the Detroit Lions as well. Their success and the first-place finish of The Tabulatorz, my squad in the inaugural “You Paid Your Money…Shoot the Ball” Fantasy Football League, led me to watch more televised gridiron action than I have in many years. That means enduring hours of commercials. The one advertising-related quote of 2011 that I expect will continue to lodge a place in the deep recesses of my brain is, “You guys know how to post videos to fffaaacebook?!”