Friday, November 30, 2012

What a difference a year makes

A year ago, Virginia Republicans were gathering at the Homestead and going bowling with Bolling.
This year, they're at the beach and it's time for complaining about Cuccinelli.

Weekend watchdog

Which team is going to which BCS bowl game?
Time to find out.
Top-ranked Notre Dame has its ticket to the national championship game on Jan. 7, and awaits the winner of Saturday's SEC title game between Alabama and Georgia. CBS has the action from the Georgia Dome Saturday at 4 p.m.
The Pac-12 crowns its champion Friday at 8 p.m., with UCLA meeting Stanford. ESPN2 has the MAC championship between Northern Illinois against Kent State at 7 p.m.
Nebraska takes on Wisconsin in the Big 10 championship Saturday at 8 p.m. on Fox, while the ACC battle between Florida State and Georgia Tech goes at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
Conference USA matches Central Florida and Tulsa in its championship at noon on ESPN2. In the Big 12, regular season play closes with Oklahoma-TCU at noon on ESPN. Oklahoma State faces Baylor at noon on Fx, and it's Texas taking on Kansas State on ABC at 8 p.m.
ABC shows Nevada against Boise State at 3:30 p.m., sharing the country with Cincinnati-Connecticut. ESPN2 has Pittsburgh at South Florida at 7 p.m.
After the dust settles, ESPN has the BCS Selection show Sunday at 8:30 p.m., and the bowl selection show follows at 9:30 p.m.
The Ravens can basically clinch the AFC North when the wounded Steelers visit Sunday at 4:25 p.m. on CBS. Earlier in the day, the Patriots take on the Dolphins. Fox has the Vikings at Packers at 1 p.m.
The Redskins try to win another against divisional foes, hosting the Giants on Monday night football on ESPN. The Eagles travel to Dallas on NBC Sunday night.
The MLS crowns its champion Saturday at 4:30 p.m., with the Galaxy meeting the Dynamo on ESPN.
ESPN has the Nuggets taking on the Lakers Friday at 10:30 p.m. The Wizards face the Knicks Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast.
ESPN has a college basketball doubleheader from the Big East/SEC challenge Friday. Georgetown meets Tennessee at 6:30 p.m., followed by Syracuse-Arkansas. The challenge continues Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN2 with Cincinnati taking on Alabama. Vanderbilt faces Villanova at 5 p.m.
Comcast offers four college basketball games Saturday, starting with American against Saint Francis at noon. It's off to the ACC at 2 p.m. with Duke-Delaware before Virginia hosts Wisconsin-Green Bay. Belmont battles VCU at 7 p.m.
MASN brings Big East Saturday at 1 p.m., when Louisville hosts Illinois State. The BB&T Classic tips Sunday at 12:15 p.m. when Manhattan meets George Washington. Maryland takes on George Mason at 2:45 p.m. Liberty battles Georgia State at 3 p.m. on MASN2.
NBC Sports network shows college ice hockey between Boston College and Boston University Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Wisconsin heads to Denver Friday at 10:30 p.m.
The PGA's World Challenge tournament is on NBC Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Get ready for the crash

ZeroHedge sees bad news behind the third quarter economic numbers.
Why?
Because a quick glance at the underlying numbers shows the true picture of the economy which contracted far more than most expected, with personal consumption collapsing to 1.4% Q/Q, on hopes of a 1.9% rise, and down from 2.0%.

Brave cheerleaders

Two Colts cheerleaders had their heads shaved Sunday to support coach Chuck Pagano.
What was the bravest part of the event?
Cutting off their hair or having a mascot do the job?
And what are those green things in his snout?

Good news for Republicans

Amidst the Republican wailing about the 2012 election, Blue Virginia offers a look at the Obama machine - and whether it can be transferred to other candidates.
Note to all Democratic hopefuls: the OFA field organizers did nothing without guidance and were held on a short leash. Not a one was required or allowed to demonstrate initiative or individual competence. They followed a well designed call-center playbook; they might as well have been selling time shares. Political acumen was not in their terms of reference. They consistently alienated their local Democratic contacts. Check beyond their references before bringing them on.
OFA can support Obama. But will 2013 look like 2009?

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Take your Bolling ball and go home

It's been an interesting day in Virginia.
Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling announced the end of his campaign for governor.
Then there's speculation he'll run as an independent.
Bolling has money and consultants have to eat, you know.
Ken Cuccinelli vs. Terry McAuliffe (for now) in November 2013.
Ought to be plenty to keep bloggers busy.

Alternet reality

We live in two Americas after the election.
One sees enoromous debt looming and wants to live a way through.
Another sees no problem, just rich people trying to keep their money.
I guess if you don't know where tax money comes from, you don't see a problem getting more of it.

Got debt?

Think the "budget cliff" is bad?
There are more cliffs ahead.
The actual liabilities of the federal government—including Social Security, Medicare, and federal employees' future retirement benefits—already exceed $86.8 trillion, or 550% of GDP. For the year ending Dec. 31, 2011, the annual accrued expense of Medicare and Social Security was $7 trillion. Nothing like that figure is used in calculating the deficit. In reality, the reported budget deficit is less than one-fifth of the more accurate figure.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Rice and the Senators

Apparently Susan Rice's meeting with Republican senators didn't go well.
Especially when she said she misspoke on blaming Benghazi on a certain Youtube video.
They were actually protesting the Gangnam Style video.

Hey punk, you didn't build that

Via a friend on Facebook, a mosaic of Clint Eastwood made with Rubik Cube keychains.

Give us what we want

Frank J. Fleming explains the basics of society.
Society is organized into three groups. First and most important, we have politicians — mostly unsullied by the stench that comes with having worked in the private sector — who decide the nation’s direction. Then we have everyday workers whose main job is to elect and re-elect those politicians.
And on society’s lowest rung, we have job creators and business owners. They’re awful people who often like to be all rich even though others find that infuriating — but thankfully, they’re not numerous enough to have much voting power. The only reason we keep these wretches around is for the jobs they provide and the tax money we get from them.

Today's Tied with me

Technorati gave this blog an Entertainment ranking this week.
We're tied with Gamer Syndrome, which looks at more details on Grand Theft Auto V.

Monday, November 26, 2012

For 2016

Right Wing News gives bloggers a chance to select their favorite Republican for 2016.
Or least favorite - that's you, Chris Christie and Jeb Bush.

Careful. Death spiral states ahead

Where should you put your money in the struggling economy?
Check out Forbes' death spiral list.
And watch out for those with big debt.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Them's the rules

A doctor gives the inside scoop on Obamacare.
How are you feeling?
Do you wear a seat belt?
Why go to the doctor when I can give you a free Obamacare visit?

Four score

Wilson Memorial will host its fourth postseason game Saturday, the most a team can host in the Virginia football playoffs.
The school only had four regular season home games in 2012.
Last year, the Hornets had six regular season home games and two in the postseason.
Sixteen home games in two seasons.
The groundskeeper has been busy.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Be grateful

Via Instapundit, tips to be thankful for what you have.

Why they kick extra points

Wilson Memorial stands a point-after touchdown from an unbeaten season - they lost 14-13 to Robert E. Lee early in the season.
Friday, John Battle pulled within 14-13 of top-seeded Fort Chiswell. The snap went past the holder to the kicker, who found a teammate for a two-point conversion and the win.
Thanks to that PAT attempt, Wilson gets one more home game - next Saturday against Goochland.

Facebook quote of the week

Today is Green Saturday.
Where people will compare what someone else bought on Black Friday and be envious of that deal.
It can get rather ugly.

G, an interesting stat

Wilson Memorial has reached the semifinals in Group A, Division 2 football and will play Goochland next Saturday.
Goochland beat them last year before losing to Gretna in the final.
In the past 10 years, eight times a high school that starts with G has won this division - Gretna, Goochland, Gate City, Giles and George Wythe of Wytheville.
G, it would be great to start a new tradition in 2012.

Saturday song

It's time to Rise from the dinner table and work off those Thanksgiving pounds. Like the dancers in the background of Herb Alpert's "Rise."

Friday, November 23, 2012

Blast from the past

In scanning some old photos, I found one of me reading TV Guide at age of 18 months.


















I was simply brilliant.
But what issue of TV Guide is that?
With the internet, you can find anything. Wikipedia has a list of all TV covers through the years.
Someone else has the copy from Feb. 15, 1964 with Andy Williams on the cover.

Almost game time in Fishersville

The state playoffs are supposed to be times you play against teams from other parts of the state - not have back-to-back games with county rivals.
Wilson Memorial has another rematch Friday - against Stuarts Draft in the state quarterfinals. Telemediaproductions.com will have coverage at 7 p.m.
If John Battle beats Fort Chiswell, Wilson could have one more home game next week.
It might be against Goochland, a team they played in the semifinals last year.

What's wrong with this picture?



I decided to scan some old baby pictures for preservation this weekend.
Here's a picture from March 1963.
Can you imagine bathing a baby without tons of safety equipment around?
Looks like my hand in on the hot water faucet.
How did we survive all those years with the government telling us how to care for a baby?
We made it - with common sense leading the way.

Free for Thanksgiving

Two weeks ago, Johnathan Montgomery thought he would be going home from prison when a judge ordered him released.
But Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli held up the release, thinking the judge lacked jurisdiction.
Tuesday, Montgomery went home with a governor's conditional pardon.
I think the governor has jurisdiction in this case.
Hope the home food tastes good.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

How to help Facebook

Facebook features lots of Thanksgiving wishes and photos of Thanksgiving food - being prepared, ready to go and finished.
If only they could add smells to the posts.
Facebook would really be worth something.

Darth on Thanksgiving


If you're at the dinner table with Darth Vader, let him have whatever part of the turkey he'd like.

Lessons from traveling

Heading north from Fishersville, I got gas for $3.09 a gallon at Sheetz in Harrisonburg.
A few hours later, I passed a Sheetz in West Virginia.
Gas there cost $3.69 a gallon.
Always good to check the gas price website before hitting the road.

Weekend watchdog - Thanksgiving edition

There's three NFL games on Thanksgiving Day - will any be turkeys?
NBC joins the rotation when the Jets host the Patriots at 8:20 p.m. The traditional hosts play in the afternoon, with the Texans going to Detroit at 12:30 p.m. The Redskins and Cowboys renew their rivalry on Fox at 4:15 p.m.
There will be special awards. Gather the family around the TV and enjoy the tradition.
Sunday, the Ravens head to San Diego at 4 p.m. on CBS. Fox has the doubleheader, with the Vikings facing the Bears at 1 p.m. before the 49ers take on the Saints.
The Packers take on the Giants Sunday night on NBC, while the Panthers and Eagles battle Monday night on ESPN.
North of the border, NBC Sports network brings the Grey Cup at 6 p.m. between Calgary and Toronto.
ESPN has a Thanksgiving night contest between Texas and TCU at 7:30 p.m.
After you've done your Black Friday shopping, there's plenty of college football on the schedule. ABC's doubleheader starts at noon with Nebraska-Iowa, then West Virginia heads to Iowa State.
Fox has the Apple Cup between Washington and Washington State at 3 p.m., while CBS offers LSU-Arkansas at 2:30 p.m.
The new Pac-12 rivalry between Utah and Colorado goes on Fx at 3 p.m. ESPN2 starts the day at 11 a.m. with a Big East contest between Syracuse and Temple, while ESPN offers a pair of primetime games - South Florida at Cincinnati at 7 p.m. followed by Arizona State against Arizona.
Top-ranked Notre Dame tries to claim a berth in the national championship Saturday at 8 p.m., traveling to Southern California on ABC. Earlier in the day, Michigan plays Ohio State at noon and it's Florida-Florida State at 3:30 p.m.
The Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn is on CBS at 3:30 p.m. Fox has Baylor against Texas Tech at 2:30 p.m., then Stanford battles UCLA at 6:30 p.m. NBC offers the Bayou Classic between Grambling and Southern at 3:30 p.m.
The ACC network closes the regular season with Miami facing Duke at 12:30 p.m. Comcast offers Maryland against North Carolina at 3 p.m.
ESPN starts its day at noon with Georgia Tech-Georgia, then Oklahoma takes on Oklahoma State. In primetime, it's the battle of the Palmetto State between South Carolina and Clemson. On ESPN2, Rutgers meets Pittsburgh at noon before Wisconsin-Penn State. New members of the SEC get together when Missouri faces Texas A&M at 7 p.m., then it's San Jose State against Louisiana Tech.
Fx has Tulsa-SMU at noon while NBC Sports network shows Air Force against Fresno State at 3:30 p.m. Connecticut tackles Louisville in the Big East game of the week Saturday at noon on MASN. The clash between Idaho and Utah State follows at 3:30 p.m.
ESPN has the finals of the NIT preseason tip-off tournament Friday at 5 p.m., with the third place game at 2:30 p.m. ESPN2 shows the Old Spice Classic and Anaheim Classic throughout the weekend. There's six games Thursday, starting with West Virginia-Marist at noon. Vanderbilt plays Davidson at 2:30 p.m., then it's out west for Drexel against St. Mary's. The evening starts at 7 p.m. with Drexel taking on Oklahoma, then Clemson plays Gonzaga. The night closes with Drake facing California at midnight.
There's a game from the Old Spice Classic Friday at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN, and two more on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Creighton meets Wisconsin at 10 p.m. The Old Spice Classic title game airs at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, followed by the championship game from Anaheim.
NBC Sports network has the Battle 4 Atlantis, starting Thursday at 7 p.m. with Memphis against VCU. Louisville meets Northern Iowa at 9:30 p.m. There's two semifinal games Friday starting at 7 p.m., with the consolation game at 7 p.m. and championship at 9:30 p.m.
Connecticut meets Stony Brook Sunday at 4 p.m. on MASN, while Comcast has Southland/Houston against Texas A&M Corpus Christi Sunday at 3 p.m.
The Wizards host the Bobcats Saturday at 7 p.m. on Comcast.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Thanksgiving dining

Show of hands.
How many people are replacing pumpkin pie with Twinkies at the Thanksgiving table?
I've heard more about twinkies in the last week than in the past several years.