At some point during most calendar years, we all have to miss work for a day or so because of the flu or some kind of virus. Today is one of those days for me.

I feel terrible, but it could be worse. I have not (yet) been involved with the worst part of being sick, which is No. 1 on the top 10 worst things about not feeling well for a day.

Each of the 10 is rated 1 to 100, with 100 being the worst. Death might as well be knocking at your door if you are in the vicinity of 100.

1. VOMITING: 100. Throwing up. Puking. Whatever you call it. That is the absolute worst about being sick. In the highway of life, the mouth is an expressway leading to an amusement park — the abdomen. It is not supposed to be an off ramp.

2. SORE THROAT: 84. Not simple scratchiness, the all-out-feels-like-I-gargled-with-razorblades sore. THAT is awful.

3. RUNNY NOSE: 79. I'm talking the non-stop flow, not an occasional blow. When the end of your nose becomes little more than raw flesh from all the wiping, it can be especially irritating.

4. SLEEPLESSNESS: 63. You're too hot, you're too cold, you ache, you have to run to the bathroom. The more symptoms keeping you awake all night, the worse it becomes, because you are confident if you can just get some shuteye, everything will be fine when you awaken.

5. BODY ACHE: 47. When simple movement can make you want to cry. Simple soreness doesn't count. Be a man.

6. COUGHING: 38 (with sore throat, 72.) This can be brutal, especially with a sore throat. Without a sore throat, however, it's more physically demanding than anything else and can often lead to more blowing of the nose and watering of the eyes.

7. SNEEZING: 31. I'd rather sneeze than cough, as long as I don't blow an ear drum or loosen the left side of my brain.

8. HEADACHE: 24 (with migraine, 83.) Only a minor inconvenience, unless it reaches migraine status. Migraines are an entirely different animal.

9. WATERY EYES: 6. Until the areas around your eyes become like the end of your nose, it's not really a big deal.

10. WATCHING DAYTIME TV: 5. If you have to miss work because of the flu or a similar ailment, at some point you will turn on the TV. It's really not that bad if you can avoid Oprah. More than five minutes of her can worsen at least half of the aforementioned ailments.

I originally got hooked on country music in the late 1970s. Not the twang of Hank and Merle, but that new sound emerging at the time, "country pop" or "countrypolitan" as some labeled the genre. More Alabama and Restless Heart, less Porter Wagoner, Tammy Wynette and Whisperin' Bill Anderson.

At that time, much of the "new" country reminded me of what I had grown up listening to at the junior high- and senior high-age level, the classic and bubble gum rock of the late 1960s and early 1970s, which eventually gave way to — ugh — disco. That's about the time the "new" country music grabbed my ear.

I've drifted away from country in recent years, preferring to frequent those classic rock and oldies channels on my radio dial. But I'll never forget those 20 or so years when Alabama and Alan Jackson were on my must-listen list. During that time, I also learned to appreciate a few of the country stars from yesteryear, too.

Here's my all-time top 10 country songs:

1. "YOU WERE ALWAYS ON MY MIND" by Willie Nelson: The red-headed stranger's version is even better than the one Elvis gave us. Few singers could make a grown man weep, but Willie was — and still is — one of that select few. And isn't that what country music is all about — cryin' in your beer? (Or Mountain Dew, of course.)

2. "OLD FLAME" by Alabama: The best country band ever. Randy Owen was the perfect lead singer at the perfect time for the band that personified that "new" country sound.

3. "I'M ALREADY THERE" by Lonestar: I'm convinced it is impossible not to cry — at least a little — when you hear this classic. Interestingly, I think this song has more of an emotional impact on the radio or CD, rather than "seeing" it performed. The words have more of an impact if you don't try and follow along with the pictures. Normally, a picture is worth a thousand words, but not in this case.

4. "SOMETHING IN RED" by Lorrie Morgan: Don't tell my wife, but I still have a crush on Lorrie Morgan, who was the No. 1 ticket among female country singers for about a five-year period 20 years ago.

5. "I WAS COUNTRY WHEN COUNTRY WASN'T COOL" by Barbara Mandrell: From the lady who have us "You Can Eat Crackers In My Bed Anytime."

6. "HE STOPPED LOVING HER TODAY" by George Jones: Kind of old school, but a great, great classic. I always tried to figure out who used more hair spray, the ol' Possum or Dolly Parton?

7. "LOVE IN THE FIRST DEGREE" by Alabama: The Beatles of country music deserve to have two songs in the top 10. I saw Alabama in concert a couple of times during their heyday, and they were worth every penny of the ticket.

8. "SOME MEMORIES JUST WON'T DIE" by Marty Robbins: This was Robbins' only hit in the "modern" era of country music, and it was tremendous. Another artist who passed away long before he should have. He always seemed to me to be the kind of guy you'd want to invite over on a Saturday afternoon to watch Ohio State beat the living crap out of Michigan in a college football game.

9. 'WANTED" by Alan Jackson: It's ironic, at least to me, that Alan Jackson complains about the old country sound being gone, yet the "new" country is what made him his fame and fortune.

10. "REDNECK GIRL" by the Bellamy Brothers: "Redneck girl got the name on the back o' her belt" might be my most favorite line in any song by anyone. I had a tough time deciding between this Bellamy Brothers song and my equally favorite, "You Just Ain't Just Whistlin' Dixie."

I finally got to the theater to see "Saw V." Afterward, I wondered: Where does this successful movie franchise rank among the all-time greats? Among horror films and gorefests, it is the unquestionable king, but what about its place among the mainstream offerings?

Where "Saw" differs from other "scary" movies are the unexpected plot twists and psychological guessing games it likes to play with audiences. For those of you who are part of the worldwide "Saw' audience, no further explanation is needed. (By the way, if you are in New York City Nov. 14-15, you might want to check out the "Sawmania" convention. I kid you not.)

Here's my list of the all-time best movie franchises. Categories such as art direction, screenplay and costumes are inconsequential. These are simply the ones I've enjoyed the most over the past 45 or so years:

1. JAMES BOND: There is not even a close second. The latest installment, "The Quantum of Solace," opens Friday. The new Bond film opened in London on Oct. 31, breaking the British weekend box-office record with a gross of 425 million. It has already taken in more than $106 million worldwide. So look for some staggering numbers from U.S. theaters in the next few days. 

2. INDIANA JONES: Simply put, Harrison Ford is James Bond in a fedora.

3. SAW: "I want to play a game." Long live Jigsaw.

4. BOURNE: If any Hollywood type were to ever ask, I would cast Edward Burns over Matt Damon in the lead role for future sequels.

5. BATMAN: I'm not real big on the superhero genre, but this series has always appealed to me. The weakest link, by far, involved Michael Keaton in the early Batman roles. I know I am in the smallest of minorities, but I actually enjoyed Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl in "Batman and Robin."

6. PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: Johnny Depp's performance in the original should rank as one of the silver screen's all-time top 20 performances.

7. DIE HARD: Maybe the best action series (of films) ever.

8. ROCKY: Part of the lure of the Rocky films was the same as the Bond movies — the uniqueness of the "villains."

9. STAR WARS: This franchise would rank much higher if not for the introduction of the Ewoks. My all-time favorite Star Wars character is Jabba the Hutt, the world's largest pepperoni pizza.

10. STAR TREK: The thinking man's series. (Not sure why I like it then … )

(And in case you were wondering … No, I didn't forget about HARRY POTTER. It's just not my cup of tea.)

Change has come. Barack Obama is our new president.

That means we need to immediately start casting "Barack: The Movie," so it can be in theaters before the January inauguration.

So who could play the leading roles of Barack and Michelle Obama?

Denzel just looks
like a president.

BARACK OBAMA

1. Denzel Washington: Seriously, could there be any better choice? Movie audiences love Denzel, and he has many of Obama's qualities. The smile. The presence. He just looks like a president.

2. Will Smith: If Denzel's schedule would not permit, look no further than Mr. I Am Legend. Smith is as popular as Denzel among moviegoers, and he has the attitude to pull off any role.

3. Blair Underwood: He has the same kind of charismatic qualities.

4. Cuba Gooding Jr.: A real sleeper for the role, Gooding's effervescent personality could make it work.

5. Dennis Haysbert: A natural. He already has experience as the president in "24."

Regina King was in
"Jerry Maguire."

MICHELLE OBAMA

1. Regina King: She was Cuba Gooding Jr.'s wife in "Jerry Maguire" and was in several episodes of "24."

2. Halle Berry: Only if she is paired with Denzel, otherwise …

3. Jada Pinkett-Smith: Will Smith's wife would be a perfect pairing with him. Think about it.

4. Angela Bassett: One of the most underrated female actresses in Hollywood. Her only shortcoming (no pun intended) in landing thos role would be her (lack of) height.

5. Jennifer Hudson: Yes, that Jennifer Hudson. Former American Idol contestants can accomplish anything. Plus, she already has one Academy Award to her name.