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College Football Open Thread

Early with this today as I have to go out. Today is the 4th Saturday in October. Apparently in the SEC, math is not a strong suit, as the Alabama-Tennessee game is today, instead of the traditional 3rd Saturday in October. Alabama is probably the best team in the country. Bama's RB Mark Ingram is clearly the best player in the country. Tennessee has a good defense. Vols QB Crompton played great against Georgia (most QBs have). The game is in Tuscaloosa. Bama is a two touchdown fav. I like the VOLS (+14) to keep it close.

LSU hosts Auburn, which is reeling after a strong start to the season. Strangely, this is not the ESPN SEC game tonight (Florida- Miss State is). I think AUBURN (+7.5) bounces back tonight and wins outright. More . . .

Boise State travels all the way to Hawaii in a WAC matchup. They are big favorites despite their unimpressive performance against Tulsa last week. I think the BRONCS (-25) win big.

In minor conference action, Iowa travels to East Lansing to face Sparty. The undefeated Hawkeyes are NOT favored here. I like IOWA (+1).

Michigan hosts Penn State. Penn State will run over the Wolverines, who are about to spit the bit on this season imo. Take the Nittany Lions (-4.5).

Arkansas scared the bejeebus out of the Gators last week. They are quite good I think. I like the HOGS (+6) to beat Ole Miss in Oxford.

In other action, I like Clemson (+5), Minnesota (+16.5), GA Tech (-6), Purdue (-11) and Notre Dame (-7.5).

For the season, I am 25-15 against the spread (.625).

Go Gators! Go Yankees!

This is an Open Thread.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Big TL showdown! (none / 0) (#1)
    by Steve M on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 08:41:44 AM EST
    Iowa vs. Michigan State, a great rivalry.  Be careful betting against the home team!

    Auburn fans have a reason to party (none / 0) (#2)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 09:06:35 AM EST
    and they have proceeded to take full advantage of that opportunity.  Elementary school sleepovers for Saturday have been cancelled and designated drivers have been hired :)  This is a crazy place when the current state Losers look like they have a breath in them.  I'm just going to watch.

    i suppose it's probably true (none / 0) (#3)
    by The Last Whimzy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 09:17:43 AM EST
    but sometimes i wonder if there's a POLITICAL PRICE to pay for maintaining a truthful attitude, but an attitude that proceeds from the following assumption:  Democratic politicians only respond to political pressure, they never do anything because they actually believe it's the right thing to do.

    Can the Angels pull it off again? Will (none / 0) (#6)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 10:21:47 AM EST
    Joe Girardi ever smile?  

    Zoey never smiles (none / 0) (#7)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 10:30:10 AM EST
    I predict she will be the most overall successful woman this family has ever produced.

    Parent
    More successful than Vera--or Zoey's (none / 0) (#8)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 10:36:52 AM EST
    unborn sister?

    Parent
    Frickin hard questions now oculus (none / 0) (#10)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:03:11 AM EST
    Allow me my grandmother delusions.  More successful than Vera?  They say that she would have been considered a preemie when she was born, and she made it.  Left my grandfather at the ranch when he wouldn't go :)  Got the job in town she always loved doing, making clothing.  Became a prominent Dem party member in El Paso CO.  Called everybody on her list when the polls opened to make sure everybody was getting there or she'd come and get them.  I dunno?  And Naomi is not here yet even though I was up all night waiting for her to tell me to drive.  But on all the ultrasounds she seems to be a huge kid, her father is very tall.  Tall women often lead.  My daughter says that Zoey is me all over again and she has been cursed.  Zoey will fight the good fight and eventually end up blogging :)

    Parent
    This one's for Joshua: (none / 0) (#34)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 12:44:03 PM EST
    I have tears (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 01:37:09 PM EST
    thank you.  One more reference to make my case with too :)  Josh is at a sleepover, will be home soon.  They had to change the sleepover date because of Southern football parties :)

    Parent
    Background of Polanski matters (none / 0) (#11)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:05:06 AM EST
    makes front page of LAT above the fold:  LAT

    You've snagged me into all this now (none / 0) (#13)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:09:01 AM EST
    It is an opportunity to learn process and procedure though.

    Parent
    Spokesperson for CDCR recently (none / 0) (#33)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 12:34:44 PM EST
    stated it was uncertain whether Polanski will receive credit for time served as to the time he is in custody in Switzerland.

    See California Penal Code section 2900.5, subdivision (a):

    link

    Parent

    really unnecessary article (none / 0) (#74)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 10:30:48 PM EST
    all it does is recount the one-sided grand jury testimony. Totally not worth reading.

    Parent
    Here is NYT. One of Polanski's (none / 0) (#75)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:27:47 PM EST
    lawyers (friend of Eric Holder) tried to persuade Justice Dept. not to proceed with extradition request.  Didn't work.  

    LAT

    Parent

    DCA docket indicates Polanski and (none / 0) (#76)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:36:08 PM EST
    prosecution filed letter briefs 10/23/09 re effect of Polanski opposing extradition on matter before the DCA:  courtino

    Parent
    What (none / 0) (#77)
    by CoralGables on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:48:30 PM EST
    is the most troubling addiction... caffeine, nicotine, or Polanski?

    Parent
    Ha. TL. Then Polanski. (none / 0) (#80)
    by oculus on Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 10:46:15 AM EST
    How can you be thinking football (none / 0) (#12)
    by Peter G on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:05:43 AM EST
    when Soupy Sales died this week?  Soupy's madcap, subversive children's show, performed live, came on the air in New York when I was in junior high school -- just the right age to think it was absolutely the greatest.  Has anyone studied his no-doubt profound influence on the anti-authoritarian attitudes of the '60s generation?

    Hmmmmmm? (none / 0) (#14)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:09:42 AM EST
    I thought maybe Steve M would write (none / 0) (#15)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:25:46 AM EST
    an ode to Soupy. But here's one from TL sidebar:

    Ode to Soupy

    Parent

    Soupy Sales (none / 0) (#27)
    by joze46 on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 12:09:22 PM EST
    Yes reflecting on the past programming by our media giants does suggest a message today. Soupy Sales, was funny, the fun kind. Bridged to some of the best American or British social movie themes. Charlie Chaplin, another slap stick. The radio stuff, Bob Hope, "Amos 'n Andy," Judy Canova, Henry Aldrich, "Father Knows Best," Laurel and Hardy, Frankie Howard, George Burns, Fanny Brice's Baby Snooks, Abbott and Costello the famous "Who's on First" LOL. Flash Gordon...yikes.

    Oh man do I miss that stuff. Today, hate radio, Sean Hannity, Limbaugh, Fox news, ABC radio and cable hate news...at least MSNBC is exposing some of the nonsense of CNN and Fox crazy mad dog stuff. I relate Glen Beck to Blue meanies that were characterized on the Beatles Yellow Submarine cartoon movie. In my opinion Beck is a Psychotic mean Soupy Sales for screwed up immature minds called the modern Republicans.LOL  We wonder why our kids are stressed...

    Some of the more serious stuff best of Mickey Rooney stuff, Tom Sawyer, Young Edison, Sherlock Holms detective mysteries love to watch those old timers with misty dark ally's little kids should not go through. I was in grade school. Predators galore.

    So to close this and not be too verbose, I am still on a Champaign to discover the advantages or disadvantages of the so called Bell Curve. The article about Bell Curve Sully still echo's with laughter in my mind when Jeralyn wrote an article about this guy who uses that Gaussian Curve so oh, oh much. How does one examine the truthiness (Colbert Insight?) of such mathematics?


    Parent

    KUSC-FM opera show: today is all (none / 0) (#16)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:27:58 AM EST
    Mozart, starting with Abduction from the Seraglio.  Beautiful voices.  

    Greenwald indulges himself in a (none / 0) (#18)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:52:12 AM EST
    righteous rant today on a most important question:  why does U.S. condone deficits for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan when HCR purportedly must be deficit neutral?

    Yummy (none / 0) (#21)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:55:02 AM EST
    You are always the first one to read him around here.

    Parent
    The KUSC opera show is 3 hrs. long an d (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:56:09 AM EST
    I can only get it on my computer.  Lots of reading time!

    Parent
    This is my intellectual failure!!! (none / 0) (#24)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:58:41 AM EST
    I don't compute to opera.  I knew there was something!

    Parent
    Definitely an acquired taste. And it probably (none / 0) (#25)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 12:00:12 PM EST
    doesn't hurt to have a couple degrees in music.

    Parent
    Ohhhh, now you go all snobby (none / 0) (#26)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 12:05:55 PM EST
    in an attempt to keep me dumb and in my lower echelon.  Well, it won't work.

    Parent
    I'm doing it (none / 0) (#28)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 12:10:12 PM EST
    I'm finding an opera channel.  And for the rest of the day when I'm blogging I will be operaing.  They have studies you know, that when you listen to classical music while preforming tasks it improves your performance.  Opera can only make one brilliant I surmise.

    Parent
    Listen to KUSC FM. At the moment: (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 12:22:48 PM EST
    Mozart's "The Magic Flute"  Lovely. Plus I get to practice my German.

    Parent
    Okay, I'm back and I'm tuned in (none / 0) (#35)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 12:46:58 PM EST
    If this works oculus, I think I'll do it too when I'm figuring out how to replace my tub and shower surrounds.  They are old and I want tile.  I would like to do this so that my spouse comes home to it done.  His pay is tax free right now.  I paid all the bills this month and I'm not investing in the markets with the current regulations or regulators.

    Parent
    Check out "culture marble." Contractor (none / 0) (#37)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 01:00:09 PM EST
    had me go look at it.  No grout, which is a very good thing.  I like it--but this ain't no high end house.

    Parent
    This one really isn't either (none / 0) (#39)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 01:09:33 PM EST
    I'm more for functional over high end.  Many things in a house are similar to a car in my opinion, it isn't a forever thing.  No reason to bust the bank over shelter.  My shower inserts aren't just aged though, they don't function well either.  There is no place for soap or shampoo to sit during a bath or shower.  Certain ledges look like that is what they are for, but just try using it.  Everything is a slippery slide to your feet or into your bath.  It gets really annoying.  I bought one of those shower curtains with pouches for one shower, but shower curtains need to be frequently replaced down here.  Lots of mold and mildew and hard water stains.  The new tile sealers seem to be taking that on fairly well though.

    Parent
    Oh, but my cultured marble shower stall (none / 0) (#41)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 01:13:37 PM EST
    has a built in recess with two shelves.  And a glass door and one glass wall.  

    Parent
    This girl says YES! (none / 0) (#46)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 01:32:04 PM EST
    To all of that.  The inserts are very dark too.  All my shower curtains are light colored and as transparent as I can tastefully make them.  Because of the Southern sun and what it does to your cooling bills, the soffits are incredibly wide on the houses.  Direct sunlight of any kind is very discourged in construction.  My inserts feel like tombs :)

    Parent
    That's where the insulated windows help (none / 0) (#47)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 01:35:15 PM EST
    a lot.  It has been quite hot here this summer and fall but I haven't seen any fading and the house is relatively cool.

    Parent
    We have insulated windows too (none / 0) (#67)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 07:15:30 PM EST
    The house has good bones, but not everything as we would like it.  In this climate though, a home with good bones is priceless in my book.  Flawed structures can deteriorate quickly here.  Cooling is still a very big expense and the cost has seemed excessive to me in this house.  Our system is passing the twenty five year mark, so we have agreed to replace that too before next spring.  And when we moved in my husband put a system in to remove the heat from our attic, taking into consideration that everything here has to be able to stand up to extreme humidity and rainfall.  Everything is weatherproofed to the nth degree.  You know who I find extremely intriguing right now is Brad Pitt and his housing designs and systems he has implemented in his New Orleans' rebuilds.  He is making amazing claims on the climate control costs.  I want to go see and collect info so bad.  It is only four hours down the road.  Where to squeeze it in though right now?

    Parent
    It is an acquired taste (none / 0) (#29)
    by rdandrea on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 12:16:50 PM EST
    But you don't have to have music degrees to acquire it. Coming from a Neapolitan family, it was all I heard growing up.  When it wasn't the Saturday broadcast from the Met, it was Italian tenors on the record player.

    Parent
    Heard a tenor direct from Naples (none / 0) (#32)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 12:23:43 PM EST
    last weekend.  Only an Italian singer can get away with such glissandos.  Loved it.

    Parent
    Going to the dictionary now (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 12:47:21 PM EST
    I might better have sd. "glissando." (none / 0) (#42)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 01:14:23 PM EST
    I found it (none / 0) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 01:21:16 PM EST
    Realized I had heard it before, but I'm getting old :)  If you don't use it you lose it

    Parent
    P.S. Greenwald is an EXCELLENT (none / 0) (#54)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 02:31:12 PM EST
    read for me today.  I ask the same question, but it seems like only I hear me.

    Parent
    Me too. If a tree falls in a forest, etc. (none / 0) (#57)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 02:44:57 PM EST
    Hoping the long-awaited BTD post will address the financial aspects.

    Parent
    Wanda Sykes' new special (none / 0) (#20)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:54:21 AM EST
    is good and funny.  I watched it last night when I could not sleep.  And she is "out" now, I never suspected she needed to come out :)  She seemed to understand too much about the downfalls of hetrosexuality in the past. She is incredibly funny though joking about her new parenthood.

    Just the facts. (none / 0) (#22)
    by lentinel on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 11:55:53 AM EST
    Don't be put off by the beginning of this clip where the subject is prayer.

    What follows is the most coherent discussion of the healthcare bill I have heard.

    Clarity at last.

    Query: is swine flu a national emergency? (none / 0) (#38)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 01:04:13 PM EST
    President declares:  yes.  

    Full Moon (none / 0) (#40)
    by lentinel on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 01:09:57 PM EST
    I was thinking about the healthcare debate and wondering whether the public option had a chance of I HOPE THE YANKEES WIN THE PENNANT passage. Of course all of this depends on the good will of a major part of the Senate. They might be involved in I HOPE THE YANKEES WIN THE PENNANT major deliberations at this point, but perhaps when they are concluded, we might gather some insight into the nature of the deliberations.

    I like yer train of thought . . . :) (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by nycstray on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 02:32:00 PM EST
    And Jeff Huber forgets (none / 0) (#43)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 01:19:38 PM EST
    who makes military decisions.  One poster at Orange this morning thinks that Obama is encouraging the Pentagon to make his case for more troops.  I think that poster is onto something.  If that poster is correct though even Sy Hersh has been played.  But when it comes to making military deployment or redeployment decisions dear Orange Satan readers.....that one is completely up to the President and nobody else......NOBODY ELSE.  Nobody makes him do anything in this realm of government, but the bots will remain bots.  And Jeff Huber retired far too long ago I guess to remember the actual rules to how this thing really is done.  I like some his writings, and some of his opinions have seemed right on to me, but lately in my opinion he can't be more off in left field of what the heck is going on.  I can tell you what isn't going on though.  There is no conspiracy of acting Generals to accomplish little more than keep America at war.

    The thing that causes me to suspect (none / 0) (#45)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 01:26:41 PM EST
    that Obama is wanting the Pentagon to make his case for him is the familiar wording that has recently crept into the mouths of Gates and Petraeus.  Both of them when questioned keep making reference to the "usefulness of having this debate".  Are they taking cues from the White House on this?  Or are they using Obama's past indecisiveness and wording on other issues against him?

    Parent
    Useful.. uh huh. (none / 0) (#52)
    by lentinel on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 02:08:43 PM EST
    IMO, when people in power claim that debate on a particular subject is "useful" - they mean that they have already made up their minds.
    The "useful" part is to give us the illusion that we have a say in the matter.

    Parent
    I wish I knew what was actually going on (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 02:13:27 PM EST
    Is the President behind closed doors calling for debate?  Or does he need to fire Gates, and Petreaus, and the rest of the upper echelon of the Pentagon?  I've never experienced a President who simply would not do anything to appear responsible for anything.

    Parent
    Obama's way (none / 0) (#56)
    by lentinel on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 02:42:03 PM EST
    My sense is that Obama (or the people who tell him what to do) had already decided to "surge".
    But it seemed as if both Republicans and Democrats began speaking out against further involvement in Afghanistan.

    So Obama has his generals say this or say that so that it appears as if he is weighing alternatives while he figures out a way to manipulate the press and public opinion.

    The disputed election in Afghanistan also added fuel to the argument that asks what the devil are we doing there.
    The new balloon being floated seems to be that either Karzai will be officially elected this time, or there will be a coalition with Abdullah. A "legitimate" government.
    Either way, these puppets will officially invite us to stay.

    I hope I'm wrong.

    All though his Senate career, such as it was, Obama consistently took the easy way out - or he would just hide. People supporting him excused his behavior by saying he was just doing it so that his candidacy would be viable - but once elected he would....  We're seeing that what we saw is what we're getting.

    MT: Would any of your family members be directly affected by this decision?

    Parent

    I think you are probably right on all (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 06:57:45 PM EST
    counts.  Would my spouse be directly affected?  Probably not his job immediately because of who he is working with and what he is currently doing....he is after the big shots of the Taliban and Al Qaeda.  That mission probably won't change much for awhile no matter what goes down politically.  His mission fits in with what the Pentagon, Gates, Petraeus, and McChrystal want as much as it fits into the Biden plan.  It would affect the soldiers on the ground though, and that indirectly affects my husband and all soldiers in the theater no matter what their singular mission is.

    Parent
    "Culture Clash In Americca" (none / 0) (#49)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 01:57:45 PM EST
    Anyone seen this show?  I'm thinking of springing for a ticket.

    Hmmmmm interesting (none / 0) (#50)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 02:01:15 PM EST
    The History of Afghanistan in 3 minutes but you have to turn your microsoft media volume down so that Opera plays in the background.

    Please explain, if poss., in 100 words (none / 0) (#51)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 02:02:06 PM EST
    Michigan scores first. ABC guy says (none / 0) (#58)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 02:46:16 PM EST
    Forcier is prob. the best quarterback in the Big 10.  Go Blue.

    Followed by the world's quickest touchdown. (none / 0) (#59)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 02:55:01 PM EST
    Penn. State has a receiver the size of John Bunyan.

    Parent
    Paul . (none / 0) (#61)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 03:26:27 PM EST
    Dunno about that (none / 0) (#62)
    by Steve M on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 03:35:43 PM EST
    Forcier is a very exciting player, but it's a bad commentary on the Big Ten if he's really the best quarterback right now!

    Parent
    Daryll Clark Schooled Him (none / 0) (#73)
    by rdandrea on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 07:58:52 PM EST
    Who's your momma, Michigan?

    Parent
    WH situation room/jet that overflew (none / 0) (#60)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 03:04:43 PM EST
    Minneapolis.  Any scrambled fighters sent up?  AP

    Our football TV cup runneth over (none / 0) (#63)
    by caseyOR on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 04:04:35 PM EST
    in Oregon today. Both the Oregon vs. Washington game and the Oregon State vs, USC game hit the airwaves today on ABC. Right now, Oregon leads the Huskies 15-6 at the half. Oregon State game follows tonight.

    Apparently, when you're the only team undefeated in Pac-10 play (Ducks) or you are playing the team (USC) everyone outside the Pac-10 thinks should be Number 1, as the Beavers are tonight, you rate with the networks.

    Go Ducks! (none / 0) (#64)
    by Steve M on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 04:15:33 PM EST
    Quack quack.

    Parent
    Ducks game at Husky Stadium (none / 0) (#65)
    by caseyOR on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 04:26:49 PM EST
    today. Oh how delicious it will be if we defeat the reviled Huskies in their very own lair. We already knocked off the Bruins, coached by the hated Rick Neuhisel. Excepting the intense in-state rivalry between the Ducks and the Beavers, there is nobody and nothing we love beating more than the Huskies and Neuhisel.

    Parent
    Minnesota goes down to Ohio State 35-7. (none / 0) (#72)
    by sallywally on Sat Oct 24, 2009 at 07:38:08 PM EST
    Who knows next week, though....

    38-7 Ohio State. n/t. (none / 0) (#79)
    by sallywally on Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 10:36:30 AM EST
    Since I'm not that into college football (none / 0) (#78)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Oct 25, 2009 at 07:23:02 AM EST
    And other parents are down here, my living room is strewn with sleeping little boys this morning.  I came out of my bedroom at around 4:00 a.m. and turned off the blaring game system.  They are pretty cool, thought about taking a photo but didn't want the flash to wake them up.