Halloween Hank

There's been a few Monday Night football games on Halloween. In 1994, the Packers and Bears met in a rainstorm. Some nice pumpkin carving.

Halloween fashion faux pas

The youngest went out for Halloween dressed in a Scream mask.
He met up with his friends, and found two of them were wearing Scream masks.
"You didn't tell me you were wearing that," he said.
Worse than teenage girls, seeing someone wearing a similar dress at a dance.

Happy Halloween

Halloween seems a holiday for the kids, but my work gets in the spirit as well.
My group won the Halloween contest last year, and hope to ride to victory again this afternoon.
Ten years ago, I entered the pumpkin contest.
I was part of the computer support group.
I decided to take a pumpkin and smash it on the sidewalk, creating a large crack down the side.
I put it in a box, and noted a sign "Looks like you need to call the help desk."
Busted pumpkins can remind you where to take your computer problems.

Not a good sign

Augusta County has one delegate race with two candidates - Rep. Dickie Bell vs. Laura Kleiner in the 20th.
I've seen one sign for Kleiner in my neighborhood. Bell has big signs all over the place, even though I live in a neighboring district.
Kleiner's website has a page for campaign events.
All calendar events have expired.
Not a good sign for nine days before Election Day.

The $10,000 college degree

I don't think we spent that much for my college degree in the early 80s - the first semester's tuition was under $500.
Rick Perry has sought a $10,000 college degree for Texas, and it might be a very good idea.
Much better than sleeping in a snowy park in New York.

Blame the one percent

Most of the Occupy protesters are peaceful.
But about one percent are doing things to make the police take notice, and in some places, clash with the protesters.
While protesting the top one percent, Occupiers need to watch out for their own bottom one percent.

Checking out Occupy Richmond

Tom White paid a visit to the OccupyRichmond camp, and came off impressed by the people he met.

I believe that the mainstream media has managed to ferret out the worst of the Occupy participants and what we have seen is not representative of the majority of the group. I believe Chris and the woman I spoke with were more a part of the core of the group.

For the ones I spoke with today, what they have found is a group of humans who feel pushed out of the society we live in today. The sense of community they are seeking no longer exists. It has been replaced by an everyone for themselves mentality. I think the reason that they have no real demands is that they have yet to realize that they are looking for a time I remember as a boy. When the entire neighborhood knew one another. Where you could never get away with anything because everyone knew your name and your parent’s phone number.

Best thing about early season snow

How quickly it melts.
It's such a lovely sound, hearing the snowmelt trickle off your house.

Facebook quote of the week

Best dream ever, why in the heck did I have to wake up? I wanna go back really bad please!!!! Cancel football just this once.

Saturday song

Since I don't think there's a song about "saving it for a snowy day," here's Stephen Bishop from the mid-70s.

Fine at 50

It's almost time for the 50th edition of DaTech Guy on Da Radio.
I think he's ready.

All together now

Winter Storm watches and warnings in the Mid-Atlantic.
Let's get the meme out there
"This strange weather is proof of man changing the climate."
Global warming means snow in October.
Yeah, right.

Rearrange #OWS to make snow

Ace has the weekend forecast.
I'm betting it won't be long until #OccupyWallStreet becomes #reOccupyMomsBasement.

Weekend watchdog

We're down to the final game.

It's been rain-slowed and error-plagued, but the 2011 World Series comes down to an ultimate contest - Game 7 in St. Louis Friday. FOX has coverage starting at 8 p.m. as the Rangers try for their first championship.
The home team has won the last eight times in Game 7, most recently in 2002. We'll see if the All-Star game victory brings success to the National League representative.
Virginia posted a big win Thursday, and now it's time for the rest of the ACC to hit the field.
The ACC network brings home the Hokies this week, with the trip to Duke on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Comcast gives ACC fans Boston College taking on Maryland Saturday at 3 p.m. On ABC in primetime, undefeated Clemson takes on Georgia Tech.
Elsewhere in the country, ESPN's Friday night game matches BYU and TCU at 8 p.m.
A week before the big SEC showdown, CBS has the battle between Georgia and Florida Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Notre Dame tries to bounce back against Navy Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on NBC.
ABC's afternoon slate includes Baylor-Oklahoma State, Illinois taking on Penn State and West Virginia at Rutgers. ESPN2 will carry one of the games not on the air in your area. In primetime, Stanford at Southern Cal will go to areas not getting Clemson-Georgia Tech.
ESPN begins its day at noon with Michigan State heading to Nebraska, followed by a top 10 matchup between Oklahoma at Kansas State. The primetime matchup has Wisconsin facing Ohio State.
On ESPN2, Purdue goes to Michigan at noon. South Carolina tries to stay in front of its division at Tennessee at 7:15 p.m.
MASN starts the day with Syracuse at Louisville at noon, then goes to the Big South for Presbyterian at Liberty. At the conclusion of that game, it's off to the WAC for the finish of Hawaii vs. Idaho.
Comcast offers the CAA Saturday with James Madison at Old Dominion at noon.
FX has Missouri at Texas A&M at noon.
The Redskins head north of the border Sunday, meeting Buffalo on FOX at 4 p.m. CBS has the doubleheader coverage, with the winless Dolphins at the Giants at 1 p.m., followed by New England taking on Pittsburgh.
NBC offers the Cowboys against the Eagles Sunday night, while the Chargers head to Kansas City for ESPN's Monday Night Football Halloween night.
It's a short time until the end of the NASCAR, so let's visit the short track at Martinsville. The racers are on ESPN Sunday at 1 p.m. Carl Edwards maintains the lead in the Chase for the Sprint Cup as October finishes.
The MLS playoffs start this weekend. ESPN2 has Philadelphia taking on Houston Sunday at 4 p.m.
The Capitals are out west this weekend, meeting Vancouver Saturday at 10:30 p.m.
Comcast has ACC men's soccer Friday as Maryland visits Clemson.
The Professional Bull Riders hold their World finals this weekend. Versus has coverage starting at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, while NBC covers the final day Sunday at 4 p.m.
The Pan American Games close out this weekend in Mexico. ESPN2 has coverage Friday at 8 p.m.
The final of the WTA championships will be Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN2.
It's ACC volleyball Sunday at 1 p.m., with Virginia Tech taking on Miami.

Sideline trick or treat

It's Halloween weekend, thus time for NFL cheerleaders to break out different outfits.
But if your team is on the road this week, like New England, you had to think ahead.

Feet-book

I have a pattern with my Facebook friends this week.
One of my high school friends knocked off a knife set while working in the kitchen. A few stitches and a sore foot followed.
Today, a family member announced she had a broken right foot. Two weeks of finding if she can drive with her left.
Amazing feets on Facebook.

Wasting away again

Smitty gets inspired by two different sources - Jimmy Buffett's Key West and Occupy Wall Street - to create a classic.
UPDATE: Smitty adds the linkage.

Waynesboro's brand

Chris Graham of Augusta Free Press wonders why Waynesboro needs a brand.
I wonder if they'll consider any of my ideas:

• Waynesboro - where FishersvilleMike shops
• The spot you can see from Shenandoah National Park
• You like Charlottesville or Staunton? We're close to them.
• Home of your favorite chain restaurants and big box stores
• Like Hokie fans? We got 'em
• When the wind's right, you can smell the Hershey and Little Debbie plants

And since, the biggest industry in town is now owned by the Koch Industries:

• Waynesboro - if it's good enough for the Koch Brothers, it's good enough for me.

Nice basement, dude

Smitty has the video of the 99 percent's enforcer.
Watch the video and answer the multiple choice question. Is the dude:

• packing more heat than Chuck Norris,
• clueless as to the meaning of his well-enunciated words,
• strung out on something very, very good which does not affect his speech capacity,
• all of the above

UPDATE: Smitty catches the link.

Dramatically overpaying for civilization

Instapundit links a book review featurign a quote liberals love - from the cost perspective.
As an economist, Professor Sachs understands the difference between the concepts of “price” and “cost.” 4 percent of the GDP may be the “price” of civilization, but 24 percent of the GDP sounds more like the “cost” of tyranny.

Big mess

Will West Virginia's potential move to the Big 12 end well?
It all seems such a stretch, especially with Iowa State the closest school to WVU. That's going to be some long road trips, and not to Florida anymore.

The Buffet rules

While President Obama keeps trying to take more money from the rich - his famous "Warren Buffett rule" and corollaries - Republican candidates are offering a buffet of economic choices.
Herman Cain has the 9-9-9.
Rick Perry brought out his plan Tuesday.
You want something other than the same old, same old coming out of Washington? Vote Republican.
It's a better buffet than the Democratic leftovers.

Today's Tied with Me

Technorati has this blog dropping this week, joining Barrie Summy in rank.
Relax and enjoy the quiet when you can get it.

Your donations at work

Rush Limbaugh announced the Herman Cain campaign has purchased ads on his radio program.
I like the line "I approve this message, but Obama doesn't."
9-9-9 is fine-fine-fine.

It's the stupid regulations

Here's a poll showing small business owners seeing regulation as the biggest problem.
Big business can handle the regulation - more money to hire lawyers and economy of scale. But we need small businesses to fill the needed niches.
Bigfoot government has to watch where it treds.

Obama and the Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens were horrid Monday.
Terrible.
Disgusting.
No offense.
Bad penalties.
They have always been known for a good defense, but being good in one area doesn't overcome terrible performances in another important area.
Hear that, President Obama?
Just because you have solid support among the "never vote for a Republican" crowd, doesn't mean you can win all the time.
Jacksonville knew how to stop the Baltimore offense in the first half - contain Ray Rice and prevent the short over the middle passes.
If your opponent can figure out to stop your favorite tricks, you're sunk.
Beating President Obama isn't going to be an upset in 2012. Just watch him and exploit his weaknesses.
His strengths won't be strong enough to save him.

I'm ready for some football

The Ravens make an appearance on Monday Night Football tonight, visiting Jacksonville.
I need some Hank Jr. to get ready for some football.

October's winding down

It's just seven days until Halloween.
The leaves are starting to fall, and SWACgirl has the pictures to document the season.

What the Houck?

Fishersville doesn't have a competitive State Senate campaign this year, but listening to Charlottesville stations I get to hear about the 17th District.
The Democrat is "career politician" Edd Houck (extra D means extra spending). The Republican is Bryce Reeves, a businessman who knows how to create jobs.
Both are helping the bottom lines of Charlottesville TV and radio stations.
Then this morning, NBC29 ran a story about the 22nd senate district. The Democrat is a businessman who said "the last thing we need in Richmond is more lawyers."
We'd agree, if there were businessman among Democrats than lawyers and career politicians.
If I'd like a businessman in the state senate, he ought to have a few friends in his own party to get things done. Otherwise, he's just window dressing for the career politicians.

NFL MVP for 2011 - Peyton Manning

It's halftime of the Sunday Night Football game.
Poor NBC announcers - they began using their filler material in the second quarter as the Saints took a 31-0 lead over the Colts.
Indianapolis is terrible with Peyton Manning.
Really bad.
So bad, we'd find a replacement team for them if we could.
Thus, Manning is the best choice for MVP of the season.
Which player is most valuable for his team?
Manning. The Colts were in the playoffs for the last nine years with him, and might go 0-16 without him.
In 1968, Johnny Unitas missed almost the entire season due to injury. The Colts still went 13-1 in the regular season and reached Super Bowl III. And Unitas was the defending league MVP.
The Baltimore Colts were a team that could win without their star quarterback.
The Indianapolis Colts don't have a chance without their star quarterback.
If the Packers finish 16-0, Aaron Rodgers might be voted MVP. But his teammates helped the team be successful.
If the Colts finish 0-16, it really shows how valuable Peyton Manning is to their team.

Undefeated team watch

Green Bay held off a late Minnesota rally Sunday to remain unbeaten.
Since next Sunday they have everyone's very opponent - bye - the Packers have two weeks to prepare for their trip to San Diego.

Nov. 5 - end for #OWS?

Instapundit has a series of posts on #OccupyWallStreet, with the lead wondering about the exit strategy.
It's going to get cold soon.
You've made a public relations point, so what's next?
Perhaps the deadline is less than two weeks ago.
Nov. 5 is the last Saturday of Daylight Saving Time.
It's Guy Fawkes Day, and it's link to V for Vendetta provides a favorite mask at the protests.
Could that be the last big day of the protests?
After a month and a half, what else can they do in their present form.
Besides, the coverage as winter looms will be too much to handle.
I'm not looking forward to the sad media coverage if the camp lasts to Thanksgiving Day.
Would the protesters put up a Christmas tree? Or would they fight over it?

Frost on the windshield

I went to walk the dog this morning.
Is that frost or just dew on the windshield?
Touched it.
Frost, a shiny sheen on the windshield.
It's fall in SWACgirl's Valley.

Slogan for 2012

President Obama
Killing terrorists
Killing the economy

Facebook quote of the week

I was not having the most productive of days but I feel much better now that I stepped outside and threw my stapler about sixty yards across the road and into the woods. It made a very pleasing whirring sound and landed with a trio of faint thuds.

Saturday song

How about a return to the 1970s and the official Obama song "Couldn't get it right."

Official song of #OWS

The drummers at OccupyWallStreet are upset.
It's the restrictions, man.
Todd Rundgren's song ought to appeal to them.

88 vs. 99 in 11

In the ninth inning of Thursday's Game 2, players who began their pro careers in southern West Virginia faced off.
Arthur Rhodes, a member of the 1988 Bluefield Orioles, came on to pitch for St. Louis.
Why? Because Rangers' star Josh Hamilton - who played in 1999 for nearby Princeton - was due up.
Lefty vs. lefty.
Hamilton delivered the sacrifice fly to tie the game, and the Rangers went on to win and knot the series.
Rhodes has been bouncing around professional baseball for 23 years - his first appearance came in a 27-inning marathon in Burlington, N.C. That was my first season covering the Appalachian League.
Rhodes reached the majors with Baltimore, and has played for numerous teams while finding his spot as a late-inning left-handed specialist.
He's still in the majors in his early 40s. His career shows to teach your kids to be lefthanded pitchers with either speed or good control. You can work as long as you want.
Hamilton overcame struggles in his career to a starring spot on a two-time American League champion.
They rode the busses in the Appalachian League 11 years apart. Thursday, they met in the crucial spotlight.

Weekend watchdog

Can you imagine? A Fall Classic that ends in October.

The World Series got underway Wednesday on FOX and - unlike last year - will not last into November.

The National League's win in the All-Star game gives the wild-card Cardinals the home-field advantage - wonder if they'll thank Prince Fielder for that.

After splitting the first two games in St. Louis, the scene shifts to Texas for the weekend. Games start Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m. Game 5 is Monday at 8 p.m. 

If the teams return to St. Louis for the final two, they will be Wednesday and Thursday at 8 p.m.

For the second straight year, the NFL puts a Sunday night game against a World Series game - and again it's from New Orleans. The Saints play the flailing Colts at 8:15 p.m., and the ESPN Monday night game matches Baltimore and Jacksonville.

The Redskins will try to stop Cam Newton and the Panthers Sunday at 1 p.m. on FOX. Most of the nation will get to see the undefeated Packers visit Minnesota in the second game, while CBS in Washington offers the Steelers' trip to Arizona.

The Big East provides the college football action Friday at 8 p.m., with West Virginia meeting Syracuse on ESPN while Rutgers tackles Louisville on ESPN2.

NBC puts Notre Dame in prime time Saturday, when the USC Trojans visit South Bend at 7:30 p.m.
Top-ranked LSU hosts Auburn Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on CBS, while ABC offers three options in the time slot - Maryland vs. Florida State, Nebraska-Minnesota and Texas A&M taking on Iowa State. ESPN2 will have one of those games that your ABC affiliate doesn't show.
On ABC in primetime, Stanford hosts Washington while Texas Tech heads to Oklahoma.
The ACC network offers Wake Forest at Duke at 12:30 p.m. Virginia Tech hosts Boston College Saturday at 3 p.m. on Comcast. The PAC-12 game between Oregon State and Washington State follows at 10:30 p.m.
ESPN starts its day in the ACC, with North Carolina taking on Clemson at noon followed by Georgia Tech's trip to Miami at 3:30 p.m. In primetime, Wisconsin battles Michigan State. ESPN2 has Illinois battling Purdue at noon, then has Tennessee's trip to Alabama at 7:15 p.m.
MASN offers three games Saturday, starting with Connecticut at South Florida at noon. The WAC game between Louisiana Tech and Utah State will be joined in progress at 3:30 p.m., and at 7 p.m. it's the Big South matchup between Gardner-Webb and Coastal Carolina.
FX offers Oklahoma State at Missouri at noon, while Versus has Yale at Pennsylvania to start the day. At 3:30 p.m., it's Air Force at Boise State in a Mountain West contest that could move to the Big East in the future.
Did you know the UFL is still playing? And in Virginia?
Comcast has the Destroyers' game with Omaha Friday at 7 p.m.
NASCAR brings the excitement of Talladega to ESPN Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Capitals host the Red Wings Saturday at 7 p.m
ESPN2 has women's volleyball Sunday at 1 p.m., with Michigan taking on Penn State.

In the theaters

This week's movies include The Mighty Macs, with Carla Gugino as the coach of the Immaculata College in 1971-72.
Quite a change from her role as mom in the Spy Kids movies.

Your GOP menu

I like how Dan Riehl discusses the Republican candidates after Tuesday's debate.
After weeks of voters checking to see if their pizza was here, Governor Rick Perry brought a slight, if not completely filling, portion of Texas barbecue to last night's debate. It presented as a spicy contrast to Mitt Romney, the proverbial frozen TV Dinner of GOP Presidential politics.

All I need to hear

Smitty at the Other McCain posts the 9-9-9 plan by Herman Cain.
Bullet number two is all I need to hear.
Provides the least incentive to evade taxes and the fewest opportunities to do so
A tax you can't evade? Who doesn't love that?

Warning to tyrants

We will Barry you.
Bin Laden, Khadafi. Obama gets the credit, right?
Or he just happened to be there.

On the trail

SWACgirl has pictures from George Allen's campaign rally in Waynesboro.
The News Virginian has more on the visit.

There's hope for America

Think America's best days are behind it?
Not while people are using power tools to create cool new food - something that would be banned in public schools across the country.
Hooray for the Twister Dog.

Excited about the World Series?

The World Series starts tonight in St. Louis. Did you realize that?
Baseball just doesn't seem to catch the big interest this time of year.
Sure, if you're in St. Louis, you're excited. The World Series used to match the best of the season. Now it can be the best of the last two months.
The Cardinals got hot at the right time, while the Braves faded. So the Cardinals get to host Game 1 despite having the second best record in their own division.

They'll be talking about this 20 years from now

The Bluefield Daily Telegraph has an editorial in support of funding two roads through the mountains.
For those of you stuck in Northern Virginia traffic, people in the mountains think new roads will help from economic improvement.
Unfortunately, they've been talking about these roads for 20 years and have just a few bridges. Very few usable miles of road.
But they keep asking. And they'll probably be asking in 20 years.
With not much to show for it.

Today's Tied with Me

This blog still has a Technorati rating for baseball, tied today with this blog about Wisconsin sports.
More about the Packers than Brewers these days.
The Cheese stands alone.

Obama and "Bob's for Jobs"

When President Obama visits Virginia, he'll be joined at one stop by Governor Bob McDonnell.
Wonder if he'll mention "Bob's for Jobs?"

What goes to Vegas

The Other McCain has landed in Las Vegas for the Republican debate.
We'll see if Smitty and Wombat can keep him out of trouble.

Get a Job

Bible Summary, a project to do a daily tweet of the Bible, heads into the Book of Job Tuesday.
I wonder if President Obama has read the book of Job?
He probably thought, "Job thinks he has it rough. He doesn't have to deal with Republicans."

More rowdy for your Monday

It's another Monday night without Hank Williams Jr. opening Monday Night Football. He's moved on. For those who haven't, here's the song.

One is the loneliest number

The Occupy movement didn't fare very well in South Carolina over the weekend.
Florence? Zero.
Myrtle Beach? One.
I know there's more people than that in that section of the state.
h/t Legal Insurrection.

Cain takes the lead

Don Surber tells the latest sign of a good month for Herman Cain - he leads President Obama in the Rasmussen poll.
The Other McCain didn't need a airplane to fly to Las Vegas after hearing the news.

Were we right? Yes, we were

Victor Davis Hanson lists the concerns about Barack Obama from 2008 and the proof over the past three years that those who questioned his qualifications for the presidency were right.
The skeptics of 2008 proved prescient; those who demonized them should be embarrassed. And we should remember that candidates, of both parties, will govern mostly as they campaign. Slips are not indiscretions, but often will prove in hindsight windows of the soul.

Pass the bill, pass the buck

President Obama heads to North Carolina and Virginia the next few days to talk about his jobs bill.
Sounds like a campaign tour to two important states.
The White House disagrees.
President Obama will kick off a three-day bus trip through small towns in politically competitive North Carolina and Virginia Monday, but White House officials insist the trip is about jobs, not votes.

So much so, in fact, that they convened a conference call Sunday to reiterate that point several times, pointing out that the trip is fully on the taxpayers' dime, not the president's re-election campaign's.
It's not a campaign event. We aren't paying for it.
Never mind the words coming out of his mouth. That they sounds like a campaign.
Taxpayers are paying for the trip. We don't want to pay for his ego trip.

Bernie on banking

For a laugh before bed, lately I've been watching MSNBC. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders seems to appear on the show an awful lot.
Sunday, he said people should take their money out of the big banks.
The big banks were worried for a second.
Then they remembered, anyone who listens seriously to Sen. Sanders probably doesn't have any money to have in big banks anyway.

Undefeated team watch

After six weeks of the season, only the Green Bay Packers remain undefeated.
The Lions went down to San Francisco, 25-19.
The 1972 Miami Dolphins are watching. Next week, the Packers will be in Minnesota.

End of the season

It's mid-October, and there's a few open houses in the neighborhood this weekend.
But more houses have for sale signs out in front.
If your house doesn't sell now, you're going to have it a few more months.
The holidays are coming, then the winter. House sales don't crank up again until March or April.
One of the houses has a heart-shaped sign out front - "You'll love our new price."
The sellers probably didn't love putting it at that price.
And won't love keeping in on the market through the winter.
Such is life in the Obama economy of 2011.

Your 2011 World Series

The Rangers have earned their berth in the World Series again.
The Cardinals are one win away, but Milwaukee gets to host the final two games.
If the Brewers win, the World Series matchup is the former Seattle Pilots vs. the former Washington Senators.
Maybe Jim Bouton can throw out a first pitch.

Hey, OWS guys

Nice to check back on a summer post.
It fits perfectly as an answer to the OccupyWallStreet crow.
The slogan for the top one percent
We're here
We're rich
Get used to it
Bitch

We are the 9-9-9 percent

Herman Cain supporters.
We are the 9-9-9 percent.
DaTech Guy asked callers to talk their candidate this morning on the radio. I caught part of the first hour, when the Other McCain called in to boost Cain.
Cain knows small business from his time at Burger King and Godfather's Pizza. Businesses with low profit margin and low margin for error. And lots of competition in the food business.
As far as I know, neither Burger King nor Godfathers have used argula lettuce anywhere, anytime.

Where to find SWACgirl

It's a great weekend for traveling Augusta County.
SWACgirl shows why.

Mr. Top One Percent

Instapundit links a great photo.
Remember, whatever happens in November 2012, President Obama will retire with a full government pension by the age of 55.

Facebook quote of the week

at border crossing btwn singapore and malaysia, JT on radio - You've Got a Friend

Saturday song

With the new Footloose opening this weekend, time to look back at the 1980s.

Deficit spending

Jon Huntsman continues teaching the class "How to spend lots of money and get nothing for it."
Jon Huntsman’s presidential campaign is verging on broke after burning through more than $4 million since the former Utah governor entered the race for the Republican nomination in June.
Will he learn his lesson?

Awesome in Fishersville

Fishersville's Expoland is getting ready to host a pay-per-view wrestling card Saturday night.
Wonder if I'll be able to hear them from here.

Footloose and fancy free

It's Footloose Friday, with the remake of the 1984 film out.
Julianne Hough stars. That sounds good.
UPDATE: Topping the roundup at Jake Finnegan.

Weekend watchdog

It's halfway through the NASCAR playoff run - time for the final night race of the year.
With Jimmie Johnson lurking in third place, the Sprint Cup racers will hit the track at Charlotte Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on ABC. Johnson's win at Kansas brought him within four points of leader Carl Edwards, keeping alive his shot at a sixth straight championship.
The Nationwide racers will hit the track Friday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
It's off to Las Vegas for the Indy Car racers, who end their season Sunday at 3 p.m. on ABC.
We will have our World Series teams in place by Monday at the latest. Friday, the Brewers and Cardinals battle in Game 5 from St. Louis. Game 6 will be Sunday in Milwaukee and Game 7, if necessary, Monday.
The American League series travels back to Texas Saturday for Game 6. FOX has coverage at 8 p.m., and then Game 7 if the Tigers post the victory.
A week after unbeaten teams took the NFL spotlight, struggling teams play in primetime this week. The 1-4 Vikings visit Chicago Sunday night on NBC, while the winless Dolphins battle the Jets on ESPN Monday night.
The Redskins come off their bye to face the Eagles at home on FOX at 1 p.m., followed by the Cowboys visit to New England. CBS in Washington shows the Ravens' game with the Texans at 4 p.m.
The college football weekend starts Thursday at 9 p.m. when Southern Cal takes on California on ESPN. Friday, it's more West Coast action with Hawaii meeting San Jose State.
Saturday, CBS offers top-ranked LSU at Tennessee at 3:30 p.m., while ABC shows either Oklahoma State at Texas or Ohio State-Illinois (ESPN has the game that's not over the air in your area).
The ACC network goes with Miami at North Carolina at 12:30 p.m.
ESPN starts the day in Michigan, with the Wolverines battling the Spartans at noon. ESPN2 also has the Big Ten at noon, as Indiana visits Wisconsin. ESPN2 has Alabama facing Mississippi at 6 p.m. followed by Oklahoma-Kansas. ESPN offers Florida at Auburn at 7 p.m. before heading west for Arizona State meeting Oregon.
FX has Baylor vs. Texas A&M - on the field, not in the court room - Saturday at noon.
Comcast starts the day in the CAA, with New Hampshire taking on William & Mary at noon. Then it's off to Conference USA, when South Florida plays SMU at 3:30 p.m.
MASN has a Big East doubleheader Saturday, starting with Louisville at Cincinnati at noon. South Florida visits Connecticut at 3:30 p.m.
Versus starts its day in the Ivy League at 3:30 p.m. - Pennsylvania at Columbia - before showing Stanford at Washington State at 7:30 p.m.
The Capitals host Ottawa Saturday at 7 p.m.
As the MLS season winds down, ESPN2 shows Real Salt Lake at Colorado Friday at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Chivas USA meets Los Angeles at 9 p.m. on ESPN.

9-9-9 is fine-fine-fine

Ace links some good things to say about Herman Cain's tax plan.
And good words from Rep. Paul Ryan?
That's fine.

Rubio, Rubio, where for art thou Rubio?

The Other McCain has the latest on why Florida moved its primary into January - Sen. Rubio staffers with ties to the 2008 Romney campaign.
It's not like Florida needs more attention in January.
UPDATE: Linked in the coverage.

Fundraising fail

Professor Jacobson looks at the poor fundraising numbers for the Obama campaign.
The Obama email mentioned they had raised more in the quarter than the third quarter of 2007.
But back then, they were unknown underdogs.
And didn't have plans for a billion dollars raised in a campaign.

President Herman Cain

Get used to the idea.
The bandwagon is filling up.

Because or in spite of

Ace highlights President Obama's latest government push - people do well because of the help of government.
For many, we do good "in spite of" the government.
That's where the battle lies in 2012
Because
vs.
In spite of

Honey, they shrunk my crowd

Nice job by Drudge, posting pictures of Obama events side by side.
The thrill is gone.

Republican Avengers

Troglopundit links the trailer to the 2012 movie "The Avengers."
Will it be a good movie? Who knows.
But it's an interesting idea for a 2012 political theme.
The Republican heroes gathering together to fight a common enemy - President Obama.
We usually see them working solo, but bring their powers together and they can defeat any foe.
They may not get along - the trailer has Iron Man saying how he doesn't play well with others - but they realize they must work together for the common good.
Let's debate hard now, but in the summer it's time for the Avengers to join together on the road to victory.

Live from da scene

The Republican gathering at Dartmouth drew DaTech Guy north to cover the festivities.
Down south, Pat is doing a live-blog.
Let the fun continue.

Parka yourself here

How long with the #OccupyWallStreet protests last?
Pundette sees that OccupyDC got a four-month extension on its permit to protest.
Four months - that's middle of February.
The coldest part of the year in D.C., and it's probably colder in Boston and New York.
How many people are going to stay when the temperatures dip below freezing - and stay there.
The protesters will be wishing for some global warming if they stay that long.

Today's Tied with Me

This blog has a Technorati authority in football now, tied with OrangeandMaroonDaily.com.
If you like the Hokies, they have the stories for you.

How soon they forget

Staunton had its own Occupy event Monday.
It was a government holiday, after all.
I read the story and a name popped out - Eric Curren.
Yep, the guy who ran for House of Delegates in 2009 as a Democrat.
No mention of that in the story.
He mentions it on his website, but maybe that wasn't important enough to tell the reporter. Or make sure his first name was spelled right.
Maybe his campaign made so little of an impact, only I remembered his name from one election cycle ago.

Undefeated teams watch

The Packers and Lions both trailed early, and came back to win again.
Next week, both are home - Packers to the Rams and the Lions welcome the 49ers.
Their Thanksgiving Day matchup is getting closer.

Check out these rowdy friends

Even if Hank Williams Jr. won't be introducing Monday Night Football going forward, we can always look back. Check the 1990 promo, and see who you remember.

#OccupyLaneStadium

This #OccupyWallStreet continues to churn up interest and blog posts.
It's spreading to small cities like Roanoke.
It's time to take it to the next level.
College football.
Think about it.
It's not fair that some teams have success year after year while others struggle on the field.
Look at poor University of Virginia, watching neighboring Virginia Tech stay among the college football elite.
The Hokies have used roads paid by Virginia alums to recruit players away from the Cavaliers.
It's just not fair.
Virginia Tech got into the Atlantic Coast Conference thanks to its proximity to the University of Virginia. How do they show their appreciation? They beat the Cavaliers on the field year after year.
It's not fair.
With Frank Beamer taking the best players for himself, Virginia is left looking for scraps - hoping for six wins to go to a minor bowl.
It's not fair.
It's time for #OccupyLaneStadium. A protest against big football leaving the rest of us with nothing to cheer for Saturday afternoons.
I think the protests could spread. All across this nation, there are millions of college fans who sit by the wayside as the top one percent grab TV exposure, BCS bowls and the big bucks.
What are some other protest sites?
In early November, depending on the winner of the big game, you could have #OccupyDeathValley or #OccupyBryant-Denny.
Maybe #OccupyCampRandall, since people in Madison seem to love protesting.
Finally, something to try and get an Instalanche.
How about #OccupyNeylandStadium?
Nah. The Volunteers haven't been in the top one percent for years.

Occupy your mind with this

It's better for the rich to keep their money
than for the government to waste it
Solyndra
Fast and Furious
Fixing those will occupy plenty of your time.

Blogger in chief

Jonah Goldberg asks a simple question - where's the proof President Obama is a policy genius?
As he boils it down, Obama is considered a policy wonk because he likes policy - like Jonah likes movies.
Like bloggers like the topics they right about.
In the day, I wrote about baseball and knew plenty about the game - but don't put me in the dugout to run a team.
Maybe President Obama is a better commenter than president.
Couldn't be worse.

Spread the college endowment wealth

What's a major cause of complaints at Occupy Wall Street?
College debt.
Where's a big pool of money that could be used to help these people?
College endowments.
Who manages college endowments and makes money off their money?
Banks and investment firms.
If the OWS people want to hurt the banks, then all the colleges should liquidate their endowment funds.
Why save money for the future when people are hurting now?
Use the endowment money to cut current college tuitions.
Or give rebates to those who didn't find the jobs they wanted.
Cash out those endowment funds.
Stop hoarding it.
I'm sure college professors could get behind that.
When you're done, then we can talk about tax hikes or other possible solutions.
When you're done.

Fore! Hit his tip jar

This weekend, Tiger Woods is trying to earn his way back into elite status on the PGA tour.
Next weekend, a West Virginia golfer nearing 60 years old will try to keep his dream of tour golf alive.
John Ross will be raising money for an attempt to qualify for the Senior Tour at Bland County's Wolf Creek golf course - playing a tournament against local amateurs to pay expenses for traveling to the tournaments.
Ross has been all around the country pursuing his dream.
His fans can rattle his tip jar - from the putting green.

Short stack, tall stack, progressive stack

I'm used to the stacks at a pancake house - short stack of 3 pancakes and tall stack of 5 pancakes.
Professor Jacobson tells of another stack - the progressive stack.
It takes just one sentence to totally mock the concept.
Final note:  Mama Grizzlies don’t need a progressive stack to make their voices heard.

Big Sloth and the American Autumn

Mark Steyn looks at our luxury college digs and sees why the Occupy Wall Street crowd is upset - real life sucks.
In the old days, the tribunes of the masses demanded an honest wage for honest work. Today, the tribunes of America’s leisured varsity class demand a world that puts “people before profits.” If the specifics of their “program” are somewhat contradictory, the general vibe is consistent: They wish to enjoy an advanced Western lifestyle without earning an advanced Western living. The pampered, elderly children of a fin de civilisation overdeveloped world, they appear to regard life as an unending vacation whose bill never comes due.

Lonely boy

A year out from Election Day, we continue to get analysis to explain President Obama's failure.
Let the snark begin.
He came to change Washington.
If he doesn't change fast, he'll be leaving Washington fast.

Saturday song

Will Hank Williams Jr. return to open this week's Monday Night Football game?
No matter what happens, we know a country boy can survive.

Facebook quote of the week

All seven kids (three of ours and four of someone else's) are finally quiet. My eyes are getting bleary. We had a fun night--it was great to have so many children around. Tiring, but fun. And to think, six of them are poor, homeschooled children who get no socialization. You couldn't have proven that in my house tonight. They socialized very loudly and with lots of laughter and silliness!

Are you ready for a new song?

Troglopundit offers his choice to replace Hank Williams Jr. on Monday Night Football.
Why not this?


Then again, ESPN could hire Rebecca Black to rewrite her song.
"It's Monday, Monday, we play football on Monday."
or how about "Running with the offense, Fighting with the defense."
The possibilities are endless.
And we know Dustbury would approve.

Sunset, moonrise on the mountain

I'm hanging out in southern West Virginia for the weekend, where the leaves have started the change.
Even though it's going to be a warm weekend.

On the radio

I like the short, top of the hour radio news breaks.
The past week, they have mentioned the OccupyWallStreet antics right next to the Wall Street report - how it shows the economy is doing today.
The unserious and serious sides of Wall Street, put together by the radio networks every hour.

End the Occupation

Thanks to Tucson Tea Party and via Instapundit, the real occupation to protest.

Weekend watchdog

The WNBA championship could be decided this weekend. Then it might be a long time until there's pro basketball on TV.

While the start of the NBA season is delayed by lockout, the Dream and Lynx battle for the WNBA championship on ESPN2. Minnesota won the first two games at home, and Game 3 is Friday at 8 p.m.

If the Dream win, Game 4 tips Sunday at 4 p.m. from Atlanta. If necessary, Game 5 will be Wednesday from Minnesota.

Then it might be a long time until pro basketball tips again.

The baseball playoffs enter the League Championship round this weekend. FOX has the American League series, starting Saturday with the Rangers hosting the Tigers. Game 2 will be Sunday before the teams head to Detroit Tuesday. 

The National League championship round starts Sunday on TBS after a pair of Game 5 contests Friday. Milwaukee faces Arizona at 5 p.m., then the Phillies host St. Louis at 8:30 p.m.

It's the first week of byes in the NFL, with six teams getting the week off - including the Ravens and Redskins. CBS has the doubleheader Sunday, with Tennessee going to Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. followed by the Jets' visit to New England. FOX in Washington shows the Seahawks facing the Giants.

NBC gets the Packers' visit to Atlanta on Sunday night, while ESPN visits Detroit Monday night for the game with the Bears.

The NHL season gets underway this weekend, as the Capitals host Carolina Saturday at 7 p.m. on Comcast. Versus has a pair of games from Stockholm, as the Rangers face the Kings Friday at 1 p.m. and Ducks Saturday at 1 p.m.

The college football weekend begins Friday when Boise State faces Fresno State at 9 p.m. on ESPN.

CBS brings top-ranked LSU against Florida Saturday at 3:30 p.m., while NBC offers Air Force at Notre Dame.

ABC gets its day started with the Red River rivalry Saturday at noon, as Texas and Oklahoma play in Dallas. At 3:30 p.m., ACC country will watch the Hokies try to bounce back against Miami. Other areas will see Iowa at Penn State or Missouri-Kansas State, with ESPN showing one of those games in our area.

In primetime, Ohio State limps into Lincoln for a Big Ten matchup with Nebraska.

ESPN has Minnesota at Purdue at noon, while ESPN2 shows Louisville taking on North Carolina. Both networks go to the SEC at 7 p.m., with Auburn at Arkansas on ESPN and Georgia-Tennessee on ESPN2.

FX brings Texas A&M facing Texas Tech at 7 p.m., while Versus shows Stanford hosting Colorado at 7:30 p.m.

The ACC network brings Wake Forest vs. Florida State Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

Comcast has ACC action Saturday at 3 p.m. with Boston College going to Clemson, then it's off to the PAC-12 at 11 p.m. when Washington State battles UCLA.

MASN has the Big East game of the week Saturday at noon, with West Virginia hosting Connecticut. It's off to the Big South at 7 p.m. when VMI travels to Coastal Carolina.

NASCAR heads to Kansas Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN, while the Nationwide racers go Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

Virginia soccer hosts Maryland Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast.

ESPN2 has Big Ten volleyball Sunday at 1 p.m., with Indiana facing Nebraska.

We will occupy

Legal Insurrection highlights the cool new hashtag.
The silent majority.
The ones who pay the bills, and the taxes, and the tuitions, and the pensions, and the benefits, for the people who falsely claim to be the 99%.

Palin's not done yet

Sarah Palin isn't running for president in 2012.
What's the best way to keep her out of the 2016 contest? Vote Republican.
Re-elect Obama, and she stays on the radar.
Elect the Republican nominee and she's on the presidential sidelines for years.
Think about it, liberals.

Bad college choices convention

Instapundit highlights the main complaint of the OccupyWall Street folks - college debt.
Take a look at We Are the 99 Percent – a website on which protest sympathizers share their tales of economic hardship. Very few of them mention banks, or even bank bailouts. The vast majority of them, however, do mention college debt.
If you looked before you leapt into college, you might have found a cheaper way to spend those four or more years.
But being responsible isn't as cool as hanging out on Wall Street.

Let the fun begin

Sarah Palin has officially closed the door on 2012.
What will the left do now?
Palin will likely do what she does best - inspire and draw fire.
Time to get busy selecting a Republican nominee. The field we have is the field we will choose from.
To paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, you go to the campaign with the candidates you have, not the ones you wish you had.

First fast farewell

I guess Rule 5 doesn't work on network TV.
Playboy Club lasted just three weeks before getting the axe.
Barely enough time for the stars to get a Rule 5 mention.
On to the next project.

Laugh at the spectacle

This Bearing Drift post is occupied with the "who cares" about the "occupy everywhere" movement.
h/t SWACgirl

Take me back

With the Baltimore Orioles' season over, MASN is showing some of the best games of past seasons. Tuesday, it was Game 1 of the 1970 World Series.
I was eight that year, so I remember that season. But watching it on TV again, it seems like a different world.
When a foul ball went into the left field stands, you could see fans in coats and ties there. On a Saturday afternoon.
The 1970 World Series was the last one where all games were played in the day time.
And Riverfront Stadium - what were they thinking?
As a sports writer, I got to meet and interview several players from that team when they visited the Orioles' farm team in Bluefield. It's good to see them in action again.

Tea Party Morning Quarterback

Gregg Easterbrook writes a weekly TMQ column for ESPN - mixing football information with his political thoughts.
Some of those thoughts would make Tea Party members proud.
This seems another example of TMQ's contention that the reason fantastic sums are being spent by government, yet nothing's getting done, is that much of the money vanishes to corruption or to luxurious living for officials of both parties. TMQ believes plain old corruption, especially, is a bigger factor in runaway government spending than commonly understood.

Occupy Workplace

The Occupy Wall Street people have inspired other occupy sites, including Occupy Baltimore.
I'll be participating in Occupy Workplace.
Doing my job.
Bringing in money for my company.
Helping myself and coworkers feed their families.
Many of you will be joining me at Occupy Workplace.
Others will be at Occupy Cubicle, or Occupy Assembly Line, or Occupy Job Site.
Money is earned, people.

Today's Tied with Me

Technorati has this blog tied with Wyblog today.
He's getting rowdy about Hank Williams Jr. being pulled from ESPN for a night.

Border fence - making the U.S. sustainable

I've lived and worked near Charlottesville for 16 years, and a segment of the town amuses me.
The people who love living there, but don't want anybody else to join them.
Groups like ASAPnow want to use zoning and other rules to limit development and traffic throughout the area.
Not much success so far.
They now battle to "Keep Charlottesville Sustainable."
How?
Keeping people out.

Through education, research, advocacy, and policy formulation, ASAP is working to identify our region's optimal population and build sustainable communities here in Central Virginia.

How do you keep people away from a cool college town like Charlottesville? One so close to the good things of the East Coast, but still small enough to enjoy.

Thus, they fight plans to improve U.S. 29 and bypass some traffic from southern Virginia headed to Washington.

They look for a smaller population in the area, closer to the size of the good old days. Mostly people like them.

But each year, the University of Virginia welcomes a new class of students and some of them stay behind.

The University and its related entities keep growing and attracting people to the area.

Rural areas around Charlottesville have boomed as workers needed to run Charlottesville try to find housing for their price ranges.

Where there's opportunity, people will flock. There's opportunity in Charlottesville.

Just like Mexicans see opportunity in the United States. And make great efforts to get here, even breaking the law.

Those looking to build fences to keep illegal immigrants out of the United States aren't racist.

They're just trying to keep the United States sustainable.

I hope liberals will understand.

  

West Virginia wrap-up

The next big election happens Tuesday in West Virginia - to fill the year-plus left in the governor's term.
Since Washington, D.C. includes some West Virginia counties in its TV market, we got to see an ad this week.
A Republican win would be great, but keeping the Democrats spending money and running away from President Obama is just as good.

Jets fans - blame OccupyWallStreet

The New York Jets started the season so well - two big wins.
They've lost the last two - big on Sunday night.
Things began going downhill when the OccupyWallStreet kids came to town.
Doesn't make sense to you?
Neither do their demands.

Many happy returns

If you're watching the Ravens-Jets game, you've seen NFL history - the most returns for touchdown in a game with five.
Guess the Ravens are pretty in pink.

Undefeated teams watch

Now there's two undefeated teams - Detroit and Green Bay. And the Packers aren't lucky enough to play the Cowboys this year.
Want to see the best of 2011 so far next week? Both are in primetime - Packers on Sunday and Lions Monday.
On the other end of the spectrum, Miami, Minnesota and St. Louis remain winless. And the Colts will join them at 0-4 if they fail to beat the Bucs Monday night.
Will one of them tie the 2008 Lions as the only 0-16 team in NFL history?

Prediction time

Smitty looks at the scene and offers his thoughts - and a good closing statement.
At any rate, off to church to thank the Almighty for a safe return, a healthy son, and the certainty that we shall recover the country from this sad pack of jackwagons.
UPDATE: Smitty links. Who could have predicted that?

Soft-headed thinking

The latest interesting Obama meme - the United States has gone soft.
Byron York has an interesting take - we're soft because we're not listening to President Obama.
We don't want to sacrifice the way he wants us to sacrifice, so he calls the country soft.
Thus, here's his 2012 campaign theme.
I will allow you to ask me to be president for four more years, if you meet certain conditions.

Let's go Buffalo

Who thought the Buffalo Bills would be the last undefeated team in the AFC?
Let's give a salute to their cheerleaders, the Jills.

UPDATE: Part of Rule 5 Sunday, even though the Bills lost.

Saturday song

Let some sun shine on Obama's problems - Solyndra, "Fast and Furious." It's only 13 months until election day now. Bringing the Beatles "Good Day Sunshine."

Facebook quote of the week

Hat tricks in soccer, unassisted triple plays in t-ball.. My boy at 5 has already surpassed me in career hi-lites