My favorite wrestler / Week 17

Growing up, my favorite wrestler was 'Hacksaw' Jim Duggan, who I'm pleased to read is the oldest active wrestler in WWE. Wow.

In other news, NFL Week 17 is in the comments. Rich is taking Duggan's trademark 2X4 to my chances to win this year.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all. Hope that you are spending time with your family and friends.

Week 16 (cont.)

CIN @ CLE
PIT @ TEN
SF @ STL
SD @ TB
NO @ DET
MIA @ KC
ARI @ NE
BUF @ DEN
NYJ @ SEA
HOU @ OAK
ATL @ MIN
PHI @ WAS
CAR @ NYG

Mon, Dec 22
GB @ CHI

Week 16

IND @ JAC THU 8:15 pm
BAL @ DAL SAT 8:15 pm

Maybe I was wrong.

The incoming Obama administration has appointed Arne Duncan to be the Secretary of Education. He apparently is a data-driven reformer and a merit pay supporter, but not a complete enemy of the unions. We shall see -- ObamaEducationReformAbandonment Watch rolls on.

Who Throws a Shoe?

Honestly?

A (sad) prediction.

A prediction, for the record: Governor Blagojevich will not go to prison for his alleged crimes. He will either settle or be acquitted.

NFL Week 15 (cont.)

Sun, Dec 14
TEN @ HOU
SEA @ STL
DET @ IND
GB @ JAC
TB @ ATL
BUF @ NYJ
SF @ MIA
SD @ KC
WAS @ CIN
MIN @ ARI
PIT @ BAL
NE @ OAK
DEN @ CAR
NYG @ DAL

Mon, Dec 15
CLE @ PHI

Week 15

NO @ CHI, 8:15 pm.

Conan is a talented dude....

Conan O'Brien - Blue Moon (Live on Conan 01.04.2008)
Uploaded by nono_the_bean

"The Late Shift 2"

If no one gets my obscure HBO movie reference, "The Late Shift" is a movie about the tumultuous time after the retirement of Johnny Carson and who would take over the Tonight Show; Jay Leno or David Letterman? The movie goes on to show how NBC and Leno joined forces to oust Letterman from the Tonight Show post. It would appear that NBC and Leno are at it again with this recent NYT article. Leno was supposed to retire at the end of this year giving he post to Conan O'Brien while Jimmy Fallon would take over Conan's show. But it appears that Leno will still be doing his show on NBC, only one hour earlier. Maybe Conan should start looking at some offers from other networks.

Bad chemistry naming contest!

Enjoy the picture, which (I kid you not) is from an article highlighting Hollywood's newfound accuracy in TV science. Get this, from the pictured TV producer: "In some ways, it's much easier to make shit up. When you have to make it real, you're holding yourself to a much higher standard."

Well, that IS a much higher standard. Hoooooly crap that thing is a disaster. Personally, I like the seeming hypervalent iodine carbene.

So what should you name a structure like this? The term "Texas carbon" or "Nobel-prize winning structure" doesn't exactly cover it. I suggest "WTF structure", but I'm open to suggestions.

Only You Can Prevent Forest Fire (ing of hand guns)...

The Bush administration on Friday struck down federal regulations banning loaded guns in most national forests, a move that was widely seen as a parting shot on behalf of the National Rifle Association. The decision shoots down a 1981 wildlife refuge and a 1983 national park regulation signed by President Ronald Reagan requiring firearms to be unloaded and placed somewhere not easily accessible, such as in a car trunk, when visiting federal parks.

"We are pleased that the Interior Department recognizes the right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families while enjoying America's national parks and wildlife refuges," said Chris Cox, the National Rifle Association's chief lobbyist.

Thank God. I haven't taken Hayden to any National Parks yet because I just haven't felt safe.

Week 14 (cont.)

JAC @ CHI
MIN @ DET
CIN @ IND
PHI @ NYG
CLE @ TEN
ATL @ NO
HOU @ GB
MIA @ BUF
NYJ @ SF
NE @ SEA
KC @ DEN
STL @ ARI
DAL @ PIT
WAS @ BAL

Mon, Dec 08

TB @ CAR

Hopes dashed.

My hopes that the Black Friday Walmart trampling case were untrue were dashed:

"Mulvey said yesterday that Damour's cause of death was "positional asphyxiation" consistent with having pressure applied to his chest.

"He was trampled to death," Mulvey said."

That's just frickin' terrible. Sigh.

Can't resist.

My daughter is an avid consumer of media. I think she likes the taste of C&E News.

NFL Week 13 (cont.)

SF @ BUF
BAL @ CIN
NO @ TB
NYG @ WAS
MIA @ STL
IND @ CLE
CAR @ GB
ATL @ SD
DEN @ NYJ
PIT @ NE
KC @ OAK
CHI @ MIN

Mon, Dec 01
JAC @ HOU

Black Friday

I sincerely hope that this is not true:

"A male worker at a New York Wal-Mart was killed Friday when anxious shoppers trampled him in their rush for Black Friday bargains, witnesses say."

There's a woman saying she miscarried because she was pushed down in the crowd. I'm guessing that this will be tops on the evening news, competing with the Mumbai attacks -- I'll reserve judgment until tonight.

UPDATE: This is why I really, really, really dislike the media. No sooner than I posted this, WABC has a report that the guy died of an apparent heart attack (no trampling, I guess) and the lady's baby is fine. Way to go, NY Daily News!

NFL Week 13

TEN @ DET
SEA @ DAL
ARI @ PHI

Engagement

Ok, so as most of you probably know, my girlfriend and I got engaged this past weekend. And while this is a rather transparent attempt to notify people, it is also a way for me to get a head count of Taylorites that may want to attend the wedding. It is likely going to be in South Bend in Spring of 2010.

Leave congratulations and "RSVP's" in the comments! Thanks!