I wonder if the engineers who built "The Little Engine that Could" did so in anticipation of it having a particular rough lot in life. I also wonder if had the engine been unable to deliver the circus staff to the event on time, would it have suffered an identity crisis?

Maybe some of the other names they batted around the station were "The Little Engine that Should Work According to Expectations" or "The Little Engine that Has a Face on Its Smokestack" or "Thomas".

I have a roommate who’s into UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). This same roommate essentially lives on the couch in our living room, so there’s a fair chance that almost every day there will be two dudes hitting each other on the TV. I can’t say I care too much for the “sport” (plus I find the sweaty spooning to hitting ratio way off) but I take issue with the name itself.

Things needed to be considered the ULTIMATE FIGHTING Championship:

- a cage
- thousands of spectators
- blood
- swords (they don’t have to be used necessarily, but they have to be accessible)
- Goro
- a dead loser
- cheerleaders

UFC’s got a few of the items, but is missing some critical ones. Until it gets with the program and lives up to its namesake, it will still be Ultimate Okay to Hug Your Opponent Boxing Championship to me.