The big win

Don Surber notes the return of 400 Marines from Syria - since their mission has been accomplished.
We supplied the air power and artillery. 
The Arabs -- Iraqis, Syrians, and the Gulf Cooperation Council -- provided the foot soldiers.
This was an urban war. 
That's how it should be. We may by default be the world's policeman, but it is good to see the neighborhood watch take over.

Up what creek is Matt Lauer

The Today Show opened with a shocker Wednesday - Matt Lauer fired for his behavior in his office.
This afternoon, Variety released its story on Lauer.
Make sure no one has a buzzer to lock the door behind you.

Empty chair times 2

Good job by President Trump, holding a press conference sitting between a pair of empty chairs.
Where Senator Schumer and Speaker Pelosi should have been.
The budget is due soon.
Schumer and Pelosi are pouting.
The empty chair picture is a great way to note that.

Why today?

Of all the times for President Trump to bring back the Elizabeth Warren "Pocahontas" theme, he did it today.
Why?
It's the first day of the battle over Warren's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Does Trump have the authority to hire a new leader of this department, or does the power reside with the department?
Trump reminds everyone today that he has the power - to upend the news cycle with a single word.

Why can't we have a championship game like this

I turned on the CFL's GreyCup on ESPN2.
It's just before halftime.
And snowing hard.
The lines have been cleared and beginning to fill in.
Much more interesting that most Super Bowl sites

Facebook quote of the week

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Thank you for being in my life.

Saturday song

Let the sun shine in with the Fifth Dimension.

Weekend watchdog

After the big day of eating on Thanksgiving, fans have plenty of choices to enjoy along with the leftovers.
The college football weekend continues Friday as Virginia and Virginia Tech close out their regular seasons at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
ABC has a Friday doubleheader, with Miami-Pittsburgh at noon and Central Florida taking on South Florida at 3:30 p.m.
Arkansas tangles with Missouri on CBS at 2:30 p.m., and Texas takes on Texas Tech on Fox at 8 p.m.
ESPN starts its day at noon with Navy meeting Houston.
On FoxSports1, Baylor battles TCU at noon. It's Iowa against Nebraska at 4 p.m. and California clashes with UCLA at 10:30 p.m
Alabama and Auburn meet in the Iron Bowl Saturday on CBS at 3:30 p.m. with a playoff berth in the SEC title game at stake.
Michigan meets Ohio State at noon on Fox, then Rutgers meets Michigan State at 4 p.m. It's the Apple Cup at 8 p.m. between Washington and Washington State.
ABC starts its day at noon with Georgia-Georgia Tech. Wisconsin meets Minnesota at 3:30 p.m. and Stanford hosts Notre Dame at 8 p.m.
Florida faces Florida State at noon on ESPN. West Virginia travels to Oklahoma at 3:45 p.m. and Clemson clashes with South Carolina at 7:30 p.m.
There's a Hoosier State battle between Indiana and Purdue at noon on ESPN2, followed by Kansas State-Iowa State. Oregon takes on Oregon State at 7 p.m. and Utah State plays Air Force in the nightcap at 10:15 p.m.
Kansas clashes with Oklahoma State on FoxSports1 at noon before Ilinois-Northwestern at 4 p.m. It's Utah-Colorado at 10 p.m.
The ACC network carries Syracuse-Boston College at 12:20 p.m.
Duke and Wake Forest clash on NBC Sports Washington at 12:30 p.m.
NBC Sports network has the annual battle between Southern and Grambling State at 5 p.m.
Sunday's play includes the Dolphins and Patriots at 1 p.m. on CBS and Rams-Saints at 4:25 p.m. Fox in Virginia will carry the Eagles against the Bears, with some places seeing Panthers-Jets and others getting the late game between the Seahawks and the 49ers. The Steelers host the Packers on NBC Sunday night, with Texans-Ravens on ESPN Monday night.
ESPN2 carries the CFL's Grey Cup Sunday at 6 p.m., with Calgary taking on Toronto.
The Wizards meet the TrailBlazers on NBC Sports Washington Saturday at 7 p.m.
On the college court, the Battle for Atlantis championship will be Friday at noon on ESPN2, with the third place game at 2:30 p.m. Then there's semifinals from the Advocare Invitational at 5 p.m. and Wooden Legacy at 7 p.m., with action from PK80 at 9 and 11:30 p.m.
At the Las Vegas Invitational, Fox has the championship Friday at 5:30 p.m. followed by the third place game on FoxSports1 at 8 p.m.
Miami meets North Florida Saturday at 4 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington and FoxSports1 has Boston College-Providence at 8 p.m.
The two divisions of PK80 have their third place contests on ESPN Sunday at 1 and 3:30 p.m., with championship games at 8:30 and 11 p.m.
 ESPN2 has fifth place games Sunday at 1 and 3:30 p.m., with the Advocare championship at 9:30 p.m.
Michigan meets California Riverside Sunday at 4 p.m. on FoxSports1 and Temple takes on LaSalle at 5 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
The Capitals tangle with the Lightning Friday at 5 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington.
NBC has Penguins-Bruins Friday at 1 p.m.
On the college ice, Minnesota meets Notre Dame on NBC Sports network Friday at 7:30 p.m.
NBC Sports network has the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Sunday at 7:30 a.m., after qualifying Saturday at 8 a.m.
West Ham United faces Leicester City Friday at 3 p.m. on NBC Sports network and it's Huddlersfield Town against Manchester City Sunday at 10:55 a.m.
Liverpool meets Chelsea Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on NBC.
Dortmund battles Schalke in the Bundesliga Saturday at 9:30 a.m. on FoxSports1, then Sunday Hamburg faces Hoffenheim at 9:30 a.m. and Koln takes on Hertha Berlin at noon.

Thankful for Trump

Kurt Schlichter plans to have a happy holiday.
No. 1: Be Thankful That Hillary Is Not Our President.
Every day, it is a joy to awaken, unlike Hillary Clinton, without a hangover. Oh yes, and also to awaken knowing that Felonia von Pantsuit is not, and will never be, our president.

Catch the turkey

 
 Hoping you have your turkey ready for Thanksgiving dinner.

You got too friendly with me

Today's list of shame - Hollywood division - includes John Lasseter of Pixar.
How far do these problems go?
To infinity, and beyond.

What's the matter McFly? Chicken?

Al Michaels gives the blame to President Trump for the NFL's troubles with pregame kneeling during the national anthem.
Michaels said it felt like tension over the protests was starting cooling down, until President Trump weighed in during a September rally in Huntsville, Ala., where he called on NFL owners to fire players who decided to protest while the national anthem was being played.
But it reminds me of the Back to the Future series.
Marty McFly's future turned out poorly because he didn't want to seem to be backing down from a challenge.
Thus McFly in 2015 lost his job.
The NFL players didn't have to respond as they did to President Trump.
They decided to kneel since they didn't want to appear to back down to the president.
They lost bigger than they would have if they had ignored Trump.

He was a cut above

The Daily Progress notes the passing of Charlottesville barber Kenneth Staples.
I used his services many times after moving to town in 1995.
The place had the great barber shop feel, with Staples directing which chairs customers would go to.
Former Gov. George Allen, who had his hair cut frequently at the barbershop when he lived in Albemarle County and was in the House of Delegates, called the shop “must go to place for anyone running for office.”
“It was the best place for a haircut as well as commonsense perspective, humor and wisdom. Obviously, they’ll keep going, but they’ll certainly miss Mr. Staples, as they did his father, they’re truly a part of the heritage,” Allen said. “It’s an institution.”

The bloom is off the Rose

After a hard day of work, what's the news story filling the airwaves?
Charlie Rose walking around naked in front of his staff.
The best writers can hardly keep up.
This scandal poses some unique problems for our liberal friends. The Democrats spent decades telling women how Republicans hate them and now, well, it appears the Democrats like women, just the wrong way, and they like obtaining consent not at all. Pervgate is generating gross revelation after gross revelation, and basically America’s ladies are being asked, “Show me on the doll where the bad party touched you.”
They’re answering, “Everywhere, and also on my houseplants.”

Showing the way

Interesting that a band member from AC/DC died on the same weekend as Charles Manson.
Their song shows where people think he's going.

As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly

Time for a Thanksgiving tradition.

Facebook quote of the week

Shall the Senate expel him under the new Roy Moore rule, or does he get the Ted Kennedy You-Can-Kill-a-Woman-and-Stay-in-the-Senate pass?

Saturday song

The things we do to find 10cc on Youtube.

Hey, it's right here.

Weekend watchdog

NASCAR will crown a new champion Sunday - and say farewell to Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Four drivers have a chance to claim the 2017 Monster Cup when the flag drops at Homestead at 3 p.m. on NBC.
Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr. both won three times during the playoff run, with Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski taking one checkered flag in the last nine races. Whoever finishes best at Homestead claims the season crown.
The Xfinity Series has its finale on NBC Sports network Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The last Truck Series race goes on FoxSports1 Friday at 8 p.m.
The Redskins visit New Orleans on Fox Sunday at 1 p.m. CBS offers Ravens-Packers at 1 p.m. with the Patriots' contest against the Raiders in Mexico City in the late afternoon slot.
The Eagles take on the Cowboys on NBC Sunday night, with Falcons-Seahawks on ESPN Monday night.
The college football weekend continues Friday as UNLV takes on New Mexico at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
Virginia travels to Miami on ABC Saturday at noon. It's Ohio State-Illinois at 3:30 p.m. with USC-UCLA at 8 p.m.
CBS has a pair of SEC contests, with Mississippi State-Arkansas at noon followed by Georgia hosting Kentucky.
Notre Dame battles Navy on NBC at 3:30 p.m.
Michigan meets Wisconsin at noon on Fox, then Michigan State takes on Maryland at 4 p.m. It's off to the PAC-12 for Stanford-California at 8 p.m.
ESPN starts its day at noon with Texas tangling with West Virginia. Oklahoma meets Kansas at 3:30 p.m., then LSU takes on Tennessee at 7 p.m. Utah meets Washington at 10:30 p.m.
Auburn faces Louisiana-Monroe at noon on ESPN2, then Kansas State takes on Oklahoma State. In primetime, Texas A&M meets Mississippi at 7 p.m. before Air Force faces Boise State at 10:15 p.m.
Texas Tech tangles with TCU on FoxSports1 at noon and Penn State battles Nebraska at 4 p.m.
The ACC network brings Virginia Tech against Pittsburgh at 12:20 p.m., with some areas getting Clemson's clash with The Citadel.
William & Mary take on Richmond at 3 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington.
MASN offers Lafayette-Lehigh at noon.
In college hoops, there's tournament semifinals on ESPN2 from Charleston and Myrtle Beach Friday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., then the third place game from the 2K Sports Classic at 5 p.m. The champion of that tournament will be crowned at 7:30 p.m.
Georgetown tangles with Maryland-Eastern Shore Saturday at noon on MASN2.
The Basketball Hall of Fame tip-off tournament championship will be Sunday at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN2, after the third place game at 3 p.m. There's championship action from Myrtle Beach at 7:30 p.m. and Charleston at 9:30 p.m.
Virginia hosts Monmouth Sunday at 1 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington and FoxSports1 has Western Carolina-Minnesota Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
In women's action, Maryland meets Connecticut on ESPN Sunday at 1:30 p.m
ESPN offers the Thunder and Spurs Friday at 8 p.m., with Pelicans-Nuggets in the nightcap.
The Wizards take on the Heat Friday at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington before going to Toronto Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
NBC Sports Washington has the Capitals' contest with the Wild Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Arsenal takes on Tottenham Hotspur Saturday at 7:25 a.m. on NBC Sports network, followed by Leicester City-Manchester City. Watford clashes with West Ham United Sunday at 10:55 a.m.
Bayern Munich battles Augsburg in the Bundesliga Saturday at 9 a.m. on FoxSports1 and it's Schalke-Hamburg Sunday at 9 a.m.

1 big headache for the NFL

Clay Travis identifies a big reason for the NFL's ratings problems - lousy games at 1 p.m. Eastern.
Because extra games outside of Sunday afternoon.
For instance, I’m going to watch Titans-Steelers tonight and I’m letting my boys stay up late to watch this game with me tonight. But I’ve already told my wife that we can do whatever she wants on Sunday during the usual Titans window — at one eastern — because we won’t be watching our local team play then
So the NFL will get my viewership on Thursday, but they will lose my viewership on Sunday.
I’m betting that’s true for many Titans or Steelers fan and that situation replicates itself for fans of teams all season long.

How to stop a bad guy

Via Hot Air, a story that might not have gotten much press but deserves attention.
A guy began shooting at a Dollar General store.
Across the street, a business owner gets into his car.
The shooter takes a break and the businessman takes action.
“At that point I put my car in drive and I proceeded to drive as fast as I possibly could to hit the individual,” he said. “I had full intentions to hit him if that’s what it would take to stop him.”
It sounds as if Green tried to leap over the car but didn’t avoid getting clipped. Pinnavaia says there is a shoe print on his roof. In any case, Green gave up on his attack and ran. Pinnavaia and Kaufmann chased after him on foot and moments later police arrived. An officer tackled Green and he was arrested (dash cam video is included in the clip below).
Good job, citizen.

How they saved so many

Via Hot Air, a riveting article from the Emergency Room physician in Las Vegas who helped many of the shooting victims in October.
It starts with preparation, put into place when word of the shooting arrived at his hospital.

At that point, I put into action a plan that I had thought of beforehand. It might sound odd, but I had thought about these problems well ahead of time because of the way I always approached resuscitations:

1. Preplan ahead
2. Ask hard questions
3. Figure out solutions
4. Mentally rehearse plans so that when the problem arrives, you don’t have to jump over a mental hurdle since the solution is already worked out

It’s an open secret that Las Vegas is a big target because of its large crowds. For years I had been planning how I would handle a MCI (Mass Casualty Incident), but I rarely shared it because people might think I was crazy.

How do you like me now?

Scott Adams gives President Trump grades on the top 10 concerns of the country.
A good economy gives the numbers a boost.
I’ll give President Obama 75% credit for the strong economy. But I think consumer confidence and the stock market tell us there is optimism about the current administration. That confidence is buoyed by Trump’s reduction in regulations via executive orders, his tough talk on trade, and his persuasion toward a higher GDP that is already becoming self-fulfilling. If people believe the economy will be better next year than this year, they invest this year, thus making next year better. We might see something good come out of tax reform, but I don’t think it will matter as much as people assume.

Pledge to practice safe lawncare

In light of the Rand Paul incident, I talked with my neighbor.
We promised not to attack each other while mowing the lawn - if we have any disagreement.
Join us and pledge to make neighborhood lawncare safe.

Limbo up north

Football players have been trying to do the best touchdown celebration throughout the season.
In the CFL, Ottawa came up with a great one Sunday.
Unfortunately, they lost in the playoffs.
They have until next July to think up new celebrations.

Facebook quote of the week

Keep an eye on this space for further developments.

Saturday song

Saturday morning is a great time to enjoy old songs, like this one from Barry Manilow.

Weekend watchdog

We know how the college basketball ends - with One Shining Moment after cutting down the nets.
The season starts with some long trips.
West Virginia and Texas A&M begin their hoop seasons with a top-25 battle in Germany. They meet on ESPN Friday at 6 p.m. from Ramstein Air Force Base.
It's off to China at 11:30 p.m. (early Saturday there) with Georgia Tech facing UCLA in Shanghai.
Back in the States, MASN shows Grambling-VCU Friday at 7 p.m. while MASN2 has Morehead State against Xavier at 7 p.m. and Mount St. Marys meeting Marquette at 9 p.m.
Notre Dame visits DePaul on FoxSports1 Saturday at 4 p.m. Seton Hall hosts Monmouth Sunday at 1:30 p.m. on FoxSports1 and Kentucky takes on Vermont on ESPN at 3:30 p.m.
On the women's side, top-ranked Connecticut meets Stanford Sunday at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN.
The college football weekend continues Friday, as Cincinnati clashes with Temple at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2 followed by BYU-UNLV. Washington takes on Stanford on FoxSports1 at 10:30 p.m.
In the Ivy League, NBC Sports network shows Brown-Dartmouth.
Saturday starts on ABC at noon with either Boston College-N.C. State or Iowa State hosting Oklahoma State. The game not shown over the air in your area will be on ESPN2. Unbeaten Wisconsin tries to fend off Iowa at 3:30 p.m. and it's the top 10 battle between Notre Dame and Miami at 8 p.m.
Ohio State and Michigan State battle at noon on Fox, followed by Southern Cal-Colorado at 4 p.m. and TCU taking on Oklahoma for Big 12 lead at 8 p.m.
CBS has a pair of contests, with Florida facing South Carolina at noon before top-ranked Georgia takes on Auburn.
Virginia Tech tries to bounce back against Georgia Tech at 12:20 p.m. on the ACC network.
ESPN starts its day at noon with Arkansas visiting LSU. It's Clemson-Florida State at 3:30 p.m. and second-ranked Alabama meeting Mississippi State at 7 p.m.
West Virginia tangles with Kansas State on ESPN2 at 3:30 p.m., then Purdue clashes with Northwestern at 7 p.m. In the nightcap, Arizona hosts Oregon State at 10 p.m.
Nebraska meets Minnesota at noon on FoxSports1.
MASN shows Presbyterian's contest against Liberty at 3:30 p.m. while James Madison meets Richmond on MASN2.
The Redskins face the Vikings Sunday at 1 p.m. on Fox, followed by Cowboys-Falcons. CBS offers Steelers against the Colts at 1 p.m., while areas around Washington will see the Texans tangle with the Rams at 4:05 p.m.
The Patriots visit Denver on NBC Sunday night, with Panthers-Dolphins on ESPN Monday night.
North of the border, ESPN2 has CFL playoff semifinals Sunday. Ottawa faces Saskatchewan at 1 p.m. followed by Edmonton-Winnipeg at 4:30 p.m.
NBC has NASCAR's Monster Cup race in Phoenix at 2:30 p.m., with the Xfinity race going Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The Truck Series will be on FoxSports1 Friday at 8:30 p.m.
Formula One has its Grand Prix of Brazil Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on NBC Sports network. There's practice Friday at 11 a.m.
The Lakers visit the Wizards on NBC Sports Washington Thursday at 7 p.m. The Hawks come to town Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Bucks battle the Spurs on ESPN Friday at 9 p.m. T
he Penguins tangle with the Capitals on NBC Sports Washington Friday at 7 p.m., with Edmonton visiting Sunday at 7 p.m.
On the college ice, Notre Dame hosts Penn State Saturday at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
Sweden tangles with Italy on FoxSports1 Friday at 2:30 p.m. on FoxSports1.

Let there be light

A Massachusetts commission is looking into moving its time zone to the Atlantic, one hour ahead of Eastern Time.
Being so far north and east, it gets dark before 5 p.m. through the late fall and winter months.
No good.
But Massachusetts wants some neighbors to join them in the move.
Okay, if it's just New England.
But it looks like they want to add New York as well.
New York City might like it, being the same longitude as western Massachusetts.
But what about western New York places like Buffalo, so close to the Midwest.
I can't see New York joining a different time zone.
Boston will have to go alone or stay where they are now - in the dark.

All you need to know

It's been 48 hours.
Enough of the complaining about election losses.
Time to focus.