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New Year's College Bowl Game Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 11:04:37 AM EST
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Happy New Year!

My bowl game picks for today:

Florida State -15 over Northern Illinois (6 units), Stanford -6 over Wisconsin (10 units), Georgia -9 over Nebraska (12 units), Purdue +17 over Oklahoma State, Northwestern -2 over Mississippi State, South Carolina -5 over Michigan.

Open Thread.

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    New Year's College Bowl Game Open Thread | 45 comments (45 topical)

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    Who do the Republicans live (5.00 / 2) (#37)
    by jondee on Wed Jan 02, 2013 at 01:45:44 PM EST
    more nerve-tingling, bone-chilling, bowel-loosening mortal terror of?

    Norquist or the NRA?

    Come to think of it, Democrat pols have trouble saying the word "NRA" aloud in public; almost as much as they have trouble saying the words "Citizens United" and "corporate welfare" in public..

    You got it - the GOP IS the NRA and Norquist (none / 0) (#38)
    by ruffian on Wed Jan 02, 2013 at 02:42:54 PM EST
    it is the Dems that are afraid of them.

    Parent
    America's Shooting Gallery, Part MMCMV. (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jan 02, 2013 at 02:55:13 PM EST
    A handful of yahoos decided to channel Sacramento's Wild West past as the western terminus for the Pony Express, by shooting it out on Old Town during the city's annual New Year's Eve celebration and fireworks show, and thus spoiling the party for everybody:

    Sacramento Bee | January 2, 2013
    Killings raise questions about future Old Sac New Year's Eve events - "Second Saturday. The Thursday night market on K Street. And now, the New Year's Eve fireworks show in Old Sacramento. Once again, officials in Sacramento are scrambling to reassure the public after an outbreak of deadly violence near a celebratory event. This time, two people were killed and three others injured late Monday during a shootout at a bar two blocks from where thousands of families had watched the 9 p.m. annual fireworks display over Old Sacramento. The midnight show was canceled."

    The people who first settled the American West eventually tired of having to tolerate this sort of nonsense in the name of the 2nd Amendment, and took firm and proactive steps back in the day to crack down on such reckless and irresponsible public gunplay. Maybe we should, like, consider doing the same?

    Aloha.

    LOL (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by NYShooter on Wed Jan 02, 2013 at 08:26:33 PM EST
    "...shootout at a bar...."

    Well, at least we're way too smart to EVER allow guns in booze laden bars!

    What?

    Never mind....

    Parent

    Eliminating "gun free" zones (none / 0) (#41)
    by MO Blue on Thu Jan 03, 2013 at 09:11:57 AM EST
    just expands your second amendment rights and lets you go back in time when men were men and resolved their disputes in a timely manner.

    Get with the program. :o(

    Parent

    Except that (5.00 / 2) (#42)
    by Zorba on Thu Jan 03, 2013 at 09:43:01 AM EST
    "back in time when men were men" etc, towns such as Fort Worth, Texas, Tombstone, Arizona, Dodge City, Kansas, barred the open-carry of guns.  Link.
    What you see in the old John Wayne films notwithstanding.  ;-)

    Parent
    You learn something new everyday (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by MO Blue on Thu Jan 03, 2013 at 09:48:55 AM EST
    Thanks for the information.

    Parent
    Some of those (none / 0) (#45)
    by Zorba on Thu Jan 03, 2013 at 01:58:07 PM EST
    "Old West" towns had stricter gun control laws than those towns (or the states they are in) currently do.  In several of those towns, you could not carry a gun in public (although you could have a gun at home, if you lived in town).  Visitors were expected to turn their guns in to the town sheriff until they left.


    Parent
    Well, the answer is simple (none / 0) (#46)
    by NYShooter on Thu Jan 03, 2013 at 09:47:53 PM EST
    John Wayne was a Wussy.

    And, by no means am I making any innuendos here, but did you ever notice how Big John always walked kinda funny, you know, kind of sashaying half-sideways, sort of like a woman riding side saddle?

    Mind you, Pilgrim, I'm not accusing, just observing.

    And, while we're at it, what's with that hankie around his neck all the time?

    Just saying.....

    Parent

    Pennsylvania governor has announced (none / 0) (#1)
    by caseyOR on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 04:13:24 PM EST
    that he is filing a lawsuit against the NCAA over the sanctions imposed on Penn State as a result of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

    Gov. Tom Corbett has scheduled a press conference for tomorrow on the Penn State campus to discuss the suit.

    One part of the sanctions that has riled state and federal Pennsylvania legislators is the $60 million fine that is to be used to sponsor child abuse prevention grants nationally. PA politicians insist that all of that money should be spent in PA. The NCAA has said that 25% of it will be earmarked fro PA, but not the entire amount.

    Don't know if this is the only issue, but we'll find out tomorrow. Given the questions about the sloppy way Corbett handled accusations against Sandusky while Corbett was Attorney General, I would think Corbett would prefer to let things quiet down. Guess I was wrong.

    What a dope (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 04:20:06 PM EST


    Parent
    If only being a dope disqualified one (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by caseyOR on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 04:24:22 PM EST
    from holding any political power. Sadly, it often seems like a requirement for elective office.

    I can't believe Penn State is very happy about stirring everything up again.

    Parent

    I disagree. (none / 0) (#23)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 07:36:15 PM EST
    Stronger language is required. Gov. Corbett has to be a phuquing idiot to want this sorry saga to be reprised publicly in civil court.

    Parent
    Because Penn St only plays football in PA? (none / 0) (#14)
    by ruffian on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 07:00:03 PM EST


    Parent
    I was sarcastically referring to the fact (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by ruffian on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 07:36:23 PM EST
    that the influence of the Penn St football program is nationwide, not just in PA. They have benefited from that national prestige, now the flip,side is that they give something back to the rest of the nation. Seems fair to me.

    Parent
    Well, Penn State is a state supported university. (none / 0) (#15)
    by womanwarrior on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 07:17:53 PM EST
    This is tax dollars, right?  But where was the governor, who is on the board of trustees when the agreement with NCAA was made and then signed off on by the board of trustees?

    Parent
    No, this is not tax dollars. (none / 0) (#20)
    by caseyOR on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 07:26:21 PM EST
    When the NCAA announced the fine Corbett demanded that Penn State provide assurances that no tax dollars would be used to pay the fine. Penn State, like other major colleges, has private money especially for the athletic department, and assured Corbett that no tax dollars would be used.

    As noted in previous comments, Corbett is a dope.

    Parent

    Exactly (none / 0) (#34)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Jan 02, 2013 at 08:58:47 AM EST
    this is straight up Athletic Department funds.

    Parent
    A couple of things here (none / 0) (#35)
    by rdandrea on Wed Jan 02, 2013 at 11:17:41 AM EST
    First, Corbett is an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees.  He didn't vote.  That doesn't mean that he didn't stir up a lot of trouble.

    Second, Corbett's suit argues that the money is fungible; there's no such thing as taking it ONLY out of Athletic Dept funds.  I think this is a weak argument.

    Third, and I just read it today in the Harrisburg paper, there was some last-minute palace intrigue.  Corbett got outgoing AG Linda Kelly to sign off on the suit before her term ended Monday night at midnight.  This paints the incoming AG into a corner--she has to proceed with the suit as it was duly signed off by the AG's office.

    I agree with Donald.  Corbett is an idiot.  Let's hope he's a one-termer.

    Parent

    Misonformation in my post above (none / 0) (#44)
    by rdandrea on Thu Jan 03, 2013 at 09:54:27 AM EST
    AG Kelley didn't sign off on the suit.  Actually, she declined it so Corbett could file it himself.

    Parent
    Go CARDINAL! (none / 0) (#2)
    by womanwarrior on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 04:18:38 PM EST
    Great start!

    Sorry, Towanda, but (none / 0) (#7)
    by Peter G on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 05:02:07 PM EST
    I have to agree with WW here.

    Parent
    Is Wisconsin (none / 0) (#5)
    by CoralGables on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 04:53:22 PM EST
    the worst team to ever play in the Rose Bowl? They were only the 6th best team in the Big Ten in Conference play.

    I hope they are bad enough (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 04:56:08 PM EST
    10 big units at stake.

    Parent
    Me too. (none / 0) (#8)
    by womanwarrior on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 05:20:55 PM EST
    They aren't looking bad enough yet.  That Monte Ball is something. But the Stanford Defense is amazing, and the Offense is a wonderful team that really works together selflessly with a lot of spirit.    

    Parent
    Six points! (none / 0) (#16)
    by womanwarrior on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 07:19:52 PM EST
    How did you do that?  Yeah, happy Nerd Nation today!  Nice game, imho.  

    Parent
    HALF: Stanford 17, Wisconsin 14. (none / 0) (#9)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 06:00:04 PM EST
    Even after 9 years away as AD in the front office, Barry Alvarez can still coach a very good game. After a shaky start, the Badger climbed back into it, and they'll receive the second-half kickoff.

    Word to the Badgers' critics: As ESPN announcer Brent Musberger noted before the half, of Wisconsin's five losses, three were in overtime, and the other two were by only three points. They're a tough team.

    Parent

    BIG teams (none / 0) (#10)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 06:16:29 PM EST
    But they got me sweating right now.

    Parent
    I thought they'd cover easy (none / 0) (#11)
    by Dadler on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 06:23:17 PM EST
    So I still have to.  And if Dadler thinks it it...you're phucked. All I know is there is way to much red and white on the field, it's rejuvinating with my hangover.

    Parent
    As well they should. (none / 0) (#13)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 06:57:25 PM EST
    The game's turned into a defensive struggle for field position, and no turnovers thus far. In fact, the first big mistake this half was that penalty on Wisconsin for interfering with a fair catch, giving Stanford the first decent field position the Cardinal have had since the second quarter.

    Parent
    I'll take the push (none / 0) (#17)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 07:20:18 PM EST
    Thank you very much.

    Parent
    You have to admit, though, that ... (none / 0) (#21)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 07:30:56 PM EST
    ... was a good game. I sure enjoyed watching it. I've seen previous Rose Bowls between teams with much better records that ended up being lousy games, from an aesthetic standpoint. This one was simply great, hard-nosed football from beginning to end.

    Parent
    Wisconsin played a much better game than (none / 0) (#22)
    by caseyOR on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 07:33:39 PM EST
    I expected. They were just not that good during the regular season. Maybe Alvarez is just a much better coach than Bielema.

    Parent
    He is. (none / 0) (#25)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 07:38:14 PM EST
    It was great to see him on the sidelines again.

    Parent
    Or (none / 0) (#12)
    by CoralGables on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 06:27:14 PM EST
    they aren't so tough and they are showing how bad the Pac-12 really is. If Stanford loses, the Pac-12 and the Mountain West will be at the bottom of the standings with the most bowl losses thus far.

    Parent
    Well, they didn't lose! (none / 0) (#19)
    by womanwarrior on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 07:24:52 PM EST
    Yeah, Cardinal.  Hanging tough and coming through!

    Parent
    Or, the Big "10" rules! (none / 0) (#26)
    by oculus on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 08:28:28 PM EST


    Parent
    FINAL: Stanford 20, Wisconsin 14. (none / 0) (#18)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 07:24:33 PM EST
    That was a very well-played game. Congratulations to the Cardinal on a great win over a Badger team that gave it their all.

    Parent
    NYT on the "left" griping about (none / 0) (#27)
    by oculus on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 09:33:02 PM EST
    the fiscal cliff deal:

    "some liberals say"

    oculus... way OT (none / 0) (#28)
    by CoralGables on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 10:09:09 PM EST
    What's your take on Moshi, Tanzania? Have a relative considering a stint there working with the Duke Global Health Initiative.

    Parent
    Moshi is just to the ... (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jan 02, 2013 at 12:14:49 AM EST
    ... south of Kilimanjaro in the northern part of Tanzania, not very far from the border with Kenya. and is a city of about 150,000 people that serves as one of the gateways for touring the region. You certainly have a very nice view of the mountain from there on clear days. The Spouse and I spent a day in Moshi in June 1999, on our way to safari in Kenya's Amboseli National Park.

    That particular part of east Africa is lovely, but unfortunately it's also part of "Ground Zero" for the region's HIV / AIDS epidemic, which affects a not-insignificant portion of the population and perhaps might explain the presence of the Duke Global Health Initiative in Moshi.  

    I love Africa, and envy your relative for what sounds like a fascinating opportunity and chance of a lifetime. I especially enjoyed Kenya and Tanzania. And I'd think you'd have an excuse to visit with a relative working in Moshi. There are two places in Africa which I urge people to put on their bucket list for future travel, Kilimanjaro and Victoria Falls. You won't be disappointed.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I have no "take." But I'll ask my (none / 0) (#29)
    by oculus on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 10:32:10 PM EST
    good friend who may have.  

    Parent
    Thank you :) (none / 0) (#30)
    by CoralGables on Tue Jan 01, 2013 at 10:45:03 PM EST


    Parent
    Here's edited reply from my (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by oculus on Wed Jan 02, 2013 at 12:05:45 PM EST
    friend:

    Moshi is a town east of Arusha--university town.  I've only been a few times, so I don't know it well.  My business partner's uncle(an attorney) lives and teaches there.  The Toyota dealership that does the "stretching" of vehicles is also located there.  We currently have a family traveling with us (parents are from NY), and their son and daughter-in-law are volunteering at an NGO in Moshi.  I'm not sure what they are doing--teaching?  But they are not working with Duke Global.

    They live with the woman who is in charge of the project, and they walk to "work".  I do know that they were robbed while on the street but don't know the circumstances.  The Duke project appears to have a well-established history but I'd want to know what the living conditions would be, the security situation, and how the participants would get from place to place.  Mzungus (whites) tend to be a target everywhere, which is understandable because the population in general thinks we're all "rich".  As a colleague of mine once said, "Poverty breeds creativity".  On the other hand, Tanzanians can be the most giving and generous people, sharing everything they have with their guests.  But, you have to be careful . . .

    We've had other clients with kids participating in volunteer projects, and the organization at times seems a bit scatter-shot (IMHO).   Ask lots of questions!

    Parent

    Site violator. (none / 0) (#33)
    by oculus on Wed Jan 02, 2013 at 07:12:47 AM EST


    New Year's College Bowl Game Open Thread | 45 comments (45 topical)

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