Bedtime Posting

It's pretty much the accepted norm for me now: get to the dorm room late, get online. Blog. Go to bed about an hour later than I intended to. Tonight the regimen of procrastination (which I feel doesn't really count, since it is Friday night) included watching Sweeney Todd (the new one).

I honestly have to say I was surprised. It was decent enough; not spectacular, and of course I have issues with the singing. But as a movie, it was pretty good. Ignoring the fact that Angela Lansbury is amazing and Helena Bonham Carter can't sing, it was enjoyable enough. Plus, Alan Rickman saying "Mister Todd" in the exact same tone of voice he uses when playing Snape and saying "Mister Potter" was hilarious.

Other distractions this evening included the fact that Reds tickets go on sale tomorrow. The only reason I'm interested is because the Red Sox will be in Cincinnati in June, and I've got my fingers crossed for good seats. Worst comes to worst, I'll be there for batting practice. I'm so excited for this...I love seeing the Sox play. So far I haven't been to Fenway (although being in New England for the next four years may change that), but I've seen them in Cleveland and Detroit. Both times I've seen them play in person, they've won. Against the perennially hapless Reds, they should have no problem continuing that streak. But of course I'm getting ahead of myself. I shouldn't be making predictions so early in the season.

One prediction I am willing to make, however (look at me segue!) is that there will be lots and lots of snow tomorrow. The most conservative estimate I've seen has a minimum of six inches forecast; the highest I've seen the forecast get is sixteen inches. Either way, lots of snow.

Listening to Wilco right now; Impossible Germany. Without question my favorite song from Sky Blue Sky, although Walken is up there. I enjoy all the songs on the album, but this one is indisputably my favorite. I'm kind of disappointed that the station library is low on Wilco, and that I forgot to burn A Ghost Is Born before leaving after break. Wait, nevermind. I did burn Ghost Is Born. Silly me. No, checked again. I have some, but not all. Muzzle of Bees, for example, is sadly absent from my library.

It's just barely past midnight, so I think I'll turn in. Read in bed, go to sleep eventually. The heat is on, though just barely, and the room is still cold. Ah well. Lots of stuff to do tomorrow; hockey game to go to, dancing, eating, drinking. By which I of course mean water. Water. Or snow, scooped directly from my window here on the second story. That much snow would be scary...

Kozol on Education

To kick off the weekend of diversity here at Colby (ironic, considering the composition of the student population), Jonathan Kozol spoke tonight. He had a lot to say about the education of poor black students, and how they are at a disadvantage. He had a lot to say about NCLB, and how it is stupid and needs to go away. To that end, he talked about working with Senator Ted Kennedy towards getting rid of it. I thought he was a good speaker, and he certainly knew how to appeal to his audience of young, liberal-minded students. He then had a book signing. I was with a friend, who after the talk decided to go ahead and minor in education like he had been thinking of doing. We waited in line to get our books signed, both of us hoping to be able to talk with him for a bit. The line in front of us, maybe ten people, took forty minutes to go through. It seemed like everybody got to have an actual conversation. Then it came to us. He shook our hands, asked our names, where we were from, signed our books. That was it. Minorly depressing. I can understand not wanting to talk with everybody, but it just felt like we were kind of shunted aside. Sigh...over it now, though, and more worried about the freezing cold room I'm typing in.

It's cold outside, it's cold inside, it's cold everywhere. Oh well. I'll get in bed with a book; warm right up. Plus, girl scout cookies to munch on (thanks mom!) I have to go help a friend with math; after that, bed time. The radio show this morning went great; the guy in the studio after me kind of cut me off at the end though. Next time I'll announce the end of the show at about five of ten. Hope any listeners enjoyed the extremely random choice of music. At some point, we realized we were kind of just screwing with people. Gaelic Storm? Really? Anywhooo...g'night. Dancing and singing and dinner and bonding for BMR Saturday! And women's ice hockey. Yay!

Gee willikers!

Cincinnati makes the news again, this time on the Colbert Report. Why, you innocently ask? Oh, just because Bill Cunningham is a giant ass and McCain had the decency to avoid attacking Barack Hussein Obama. Funny how Cunningham didn't go all the way and just point out that Obama sounds "alarmingly" like Osama...good thing he's got Republican buddies to do that for him.

After watching the debate from last night, though, I have to say that Obama is continuing to turn me off slightly. I definitely like what he wants to do, I just want to hear some details. When placed next to Hillary, who goes into detail about everything, Obama's message of "change for change's sake" seems a little bit weak. Just a little bit...still, my ballot's in the mail with the little oval next to his name blacked in, so a little late for second guessing.

No class tomorrow, but there will be a radio show at 8 in the morning, so if you have time to listen, please do so. I'm toying with the idea of a show next semester based entirely on songs from musicals...the only problem would be getting hold of all the music. Oh, and finding people who would listen to two hours of musical numbers. Sigh...Broadway Musical Revue is progressing nicely, and is tons of fun. It's like show choir, except not sparkly. Apparently sparkly is not a word in my Firefox dictionary...odd.

This is rich

This is absolutely hilarious. Another sad day for the Butler County Republican Party, and apparently so groundshaking that the college Democrats group sent out a Facebook message. The text was this:

Butler County is the keystone to the Republican presidential nominee winning the state of Ohio. Something happened there just today that could rock the local Republican Party, allow the local Democratic Party to win some seats back and, in the process, deliver Ohio to the Democrats.

Nice. That's called funny. Plus, maybe it's true. Or, maybe it's not. Maybe the Butler County Republicans are used to their elected officials screwing around with legality. It's just business as usual. I am actually be a lot more impressed with Ted Strickland becoming governor than I am with yet another Republican official being shown to be dirty.

Surprise!

As pro bono humor: you can't spell Fundamentalist without Fun! Or Mental...

Another day, another dollar

Which translates to about seven bucks a week, which is pretty poor. Good thing I've got a job. Even if that job exposes me to pretty much every illness going around campus at the moment. Friday I was working register, and probably should have taken note of the fact that half the regular staff was out sick. Then I took cash from a large number of coughing and sneezing students. Of course, by Friday I was already feeling under the weather, so perhaps I picked it up Thursday. Again, I blame work. If the people I was working with and around had something...it went to me. Lucky me.

Oh well...I'm nearly over it, and I only lost one weekend. Instead of going hiking at Bigelow I went to a men's hockey game with some friends, and discovered how much more violent (and popular) it is in comparison to women's hockey. And how many drunken idiots showed up...taunting the opposing team's goalie was a favorite reprise for the group behind us. In the evening we watched "A Clockwork Orange," making it twice that I've seen the movie. It's a trippy little thing, but amazing. Check this out...also hilarious.

Today was fun; math in the morning, BMR in the afternoon, Italian and the Oscars in the evening. I love the Coen brothers' mannerisms...and that they won three Oscars and the film won four. And John Stewart is quite a guy, bringing Marketa Irglova back out like that. "That guy is arrogant..." way to go, John.

Also this evening was a battle royale for the ages...soon to be immortalized on Youtube...a truly fantastic rap battle between two friends. As soon as it goes on Youtube, it comes up here as well. It's hilarious...and even more so when you realize it's in dead earnest. No better way to spend Sunday night, in my opinion.

Speaking of spending time well, the dorm has just started a game of Assassins, in which the goal is to hook a clothespin to your designated target without him/her noticing you. The only problem with the game is that it makes people horribly suspicious...ah well. It should be amazing...I only hope I have the opportunity to take some people out of the game.

I'm listening to Carbon Leaf right now, a truly amazing group. They will certainly make an appearance on the radio show, which, by the way, will be from 8-10 AM at WMHB Waterville, 89.7 FM, or online here. I'm sharing the air again with Annie, so the show should be pretty much identical to last month.

Since opening day is less than a month away now (or exactly a month, I'm not really sure which...), some Red Sox news. Tito has been signed for three more years, which in my opinion is a wonderful decision. He's a great guy, a great manager, and he plays cribbage. What more could you want? Also on the agenda was the signing of Bartolo Colon. On one hand, I love that it was to a minor league contract, which is hilarious for a guy just two years post Cy Young. On the other hand (what a stupid idiom that is...), he's truly awful now, post injury and general suckage. I believe he was 6-8 last year for the Angels...but of course, he's just padding in case something goes awfully wrong. Schilling, meanwhile, is being an egotistical ass, talking about "medical egos" and other bull. The man is old, he's injured, and he's an ass. Is there really any more reason to keep him around?

On a slightly related note, I'll be keeping a tradition (three years now!) of having a fantasy baseball team. If any readers would like to join, I'm contemplating a standard rotary on CBS fantasy, which has been good for the past couple years. Last year I tried head to head, which although entertaining I really didn't warm to. So I'm going back to rotary, with a goal of winning my second straight rotary title (I placed second in the H2H league). So if anyone's interested...

That's all for me for now...I do have class in the morning. Hopefully I'll be feeling tip top in the morning, but in the more likely event that I won't be, I'll just have to suck it up. Tomorrow is the day from hell - starting at nine and going through six without a break - lots of fun indeed.

I've now progressed to Queen and We Will Rock You, and now Ride of the Valkyries. Such motivational music! It's actually in a Seeqpod playlist labeled "Debate Music," which also contains Dope, Jet and DJ Doboy. And of course Crazy Frog and Remember the Name. Such great music.

To wrap up: class is long but good, radio show Thursdays 8-10 AM, music is good, Red Sox are looking perfect, being sick sucks, a rap battle between two whiter than white Colby kids is absolutely hilarious, and I'm running around with a clothespin trying to avoid other people with clothespins. Just a normal day/week/month/semester/school year here at Camp Colby. Speaking of which...oh G-d. I'll save that for another time. Sleep awaits!

...

But first...sigh. One more thing. I went to a dinner with an Army recruiter last week. Not to sign up for anything, but because I was interested in what he had to say. He was a medical recruiter and was talking about the Army Health Professions Scholarship Program. Basically, they pay for med/dental/vet school, and ask that you serve active duty for the same number of years as you took the scholarship for. Not a terrible deal...not the most attractive one out there, but it had me thinking. Nevertheless, the decision is years from now. First I have to be accepted to med/dental/vet school...I'll concentrate on that part and worry about the rest later. I did get some cool freebies, though - a daily planner for the year, a pen, some panphlets, and best of all, the 2005 Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy. It's actually really cool, seeing what's recommended to treat just about anything you could think of.

BED! NOW! I've achieved a kind of transient state of mind where I think the words and they appear on the screen - my hands are moving, but all I see are the words appearing, and all I hear is Wagner. BUT...

BED. I'll find a picture to attach to this, and go to bed. Accompanied by the sounds of Richard Burton, Robert Goulet, and Julie Andrews. Name the link!

Great news!

Not really...I feel like I've come down with the flu, which is ironic considering I shelled out for the vaccination so many months ago. Apparently a different strain showed up than they were expecting, so...end result, I feel like crap. Depending on how I feel tomorrow morning, I may go hiking in the Bigelow mountains. If I feel crappy again, I'll have to beg off. Crossed fingers and lots of fluids!

Well well well

So Manny has finally decided that he's happy in Boston! The club will almost certainly take the option for the next two seasons, given how great Manny is. Even with last year not being his best, Manny's still got plenty in him. Glad he's not complaining anymore about how the Sox won't trade him.

Well now...

Okay, so it looks like I will be on the air semester...just at an inopportune time. If anybody feels like tuning in, I will be around from 8-10 in the morning (yes, morning), on Thursdays. Whee!

Huh

This is interesting...apparently Iran has already executed 48 people this year. That's nearly one a day...impressive.

Unrelated side note #1: looking like there won't be a radio show this semester. Sadness...

Unrelated side note #2: eclipse tonight!

Unrelated side note #3: I love Stephen Sondheim!

Quick note

Just before I go to bed at this ungodly hour, a quick little thing. If you've never heard of the Briggs-Rauscher reaction, you should have. It's freakin' awesome to watch, and, I imagine, fun to do too.

Unrelated, but just as important (if not more so), broomball has started up again. I'll try to videotape a game sometime.

More random news: the radio show will hopefully be back on the air as soon as next week. I'll let you know the time and day.

Less random: It's late (or early, depending on how sadistic you're feeling), and I've just polished off three hours of calculus and two of Italian. Bedtime!

Sadness

This is a sad day. I opened the Times to find a front page article on the slaying of five students by a former graduate student at Northern Illinois University, who then turned his gun on himself. The first reaction was a "my g-d," the second a "I hope this never happens here," and the third was "typical."

I don't mean to sound cold with that last reaction - I feel for all the students who lost a friend, for all those who lost a son or daughter, brother or sister. But the reality is that these shootings are becoming all too common. There's no rhyme or reason behind the deed; the shooter was a top student apparently respected by colleagues and faculty alike. I just wish that suicides where you take others with you - who had nothing to do with you - were not as "trendy" as they apparently are.

Strange...

Wednesday has passed, and I didn't really notice...so this post will count as Wednesday's. It's not like Thursday is of any significance anyways...no classes, just work and chorale practice. And with the concert Saturday, and rehearsal every day of the week except for today (now yesterday (confused yet?)), even chorale is lessened in meaning.

This entry will be a quick update on what I'm reading (no links, look them up yourself). First and foremost is Andrew Eames's "The 8:55 to Baghdad," a well-written, interesting account of the author's journey by train along the same route followed by Agatha Christie that inspired "Murder on the Orient Express." Next on my list is "1491," an account of the Americas before Europeans arrived. It's a fascinating read, not least because it counters everything I ever read about the Indians. Sorry, Native Americans. I'll try to be PC where there's a written record...

Next on the agenda is Richard Dawkins's "The G-d Delusion," which I heard parts of as a book on tape, but never actually finished. Likewise to a degree with "Gravity's Rainbow," by Thomas Pynchon. I've started it a couple times, but never passed the fiftieth page. Hopefully I'll make more progress this time...when I finally get around to reading it. And eventually I'll make my way to "The Rising Tide," by Jeff Shaara, my absolutely necessary war book, a fictionalized account of World War II in North Africa. Apparently it's the first in a trilogy, which bodes well for my reading pleasure.

I also picked up another book that turned out to be part of a series, this time the last book in said series. Robin Hobb's "Renegade's Magic," my choice for fantasy reading, turned out to be a rather poor choice. Whether it's because my standards are set rather high (ironic for a fantasy/sci-fi fan, no?) or because I didn't read the first two books, I just can't get into the book. Alas, I shall have to return it to the stack of ARCs at the bookstore, and pick up another. If anyone has an author or book in particular they'd like to see, drop me a line. I may be able to do something about it.

Onward and Upward, Space Cadets

We're back in the swing of things here at Colby College in the frozen North, and we owe it to classes to keep our minds off the mounds of snow outside. Sunday night the wind was howling something fierce, and leaving the dorm Monday morning was not entirely pleasant. Snow was being whipped around, usually horizontally and right at face level, and the wind did not let up. Today there were drifts of snow littered around campus that were in some places three or four feet deep. Those will be covered up tomorrow by more snow and ice, and will probably remain in place into March. It's just part of the charming winter landscape in the winter...on the bright side, unified complaints from the dorm have convinced PPD to turn the heat on, so the room is no longer in the forties all the time, and is a comfortable seventy-something.

Classes and weather aside, there's a lot happening otherwise. The radio show will likely be back through the spring semester, and for at least tomorrow we'll be on at the regular time. Last week we didn't have a show, mostly because Annie was busy and I kind of forgot to head over to the studio. Whoops... Also, Colby Chorale has a concert this Saturday, and I'm extending an open invitation to any and all who want to come. Lorimer Chapel at 7:30, get there a little early, as good seating is limited. Plane and hotel fare not included, but the concert is free. Chorale is not the only singing venture I'll be involved in this semester...I auditioned for and got into BMR, Broadway Musical Revue, which is exactly what the name implies. The show is at the beginning of April...again, an open invitation is extended, although this time it may cost something.

As you may have already read here, the Chorale is going on tour next spring, and we're currently in the process of deciding where exactly to go. In the mix are: Argentina and Uruguay, Costa Rica, Mexico, Spain, Munich, and possibly the UK or Ireland. Any are alright with me, but I'm leaning towards Argentina. It will be spring break, after all.

By the way, the pictures accompanying the next few blog posts (for as long as I remember, that is) will be selected from the results of Google image searching my name in quotation marks. Echt, Damiel Echt.

What a week(end)

I guess I was wrong when I said I'd be posting more lately...then again, it has been kind of time consuming here. Yesterday I went down with a couple friends to see Barack Obama speak in Bangor, which was fun, crowded, and inspiring. More on that later. Friday was busy as well; some of my friends are in a performance of "The One That Gets Slapped." It's a fine work, although a bit lengthy, and I saw it Saturday as well. Also Friday was a concert/dance, a rather loud bit of fun featuring a mash-up DJ called Girltalk. The quality was debatable, but it was enjoyable. More enjoyable was last night's event, a casino night featuring blackjack, craps and poker, and free alcohol for those over 21. It's actually entertaining watching and playing poker with obviously intoxicated people...until you realize that somehow, despite the alcohol, they're still winning.

Alas, the weekend is ending all too soon, and I will be plunged back into the darkness of work and classes. Tomorrow promises to be dreary, with classes starting at nine and not relenting until four, at which point I take myself to the chapel for a chorale rehearsal. We have a concert at the end of the week, which should be magnificent.

To speak for a moment on Obama: he is inspiring, that much is sure. However, he enjoys rhetoric quite a bit, and although I'm all for hearing about hope and change, I also want to know what exactly his plan is. So we're going to introduce federal grants of $4000 a year for college students, and all they have to do is community service? Great! Where do I sign up, and oh, how are you planning on doing that? Funding that? Oh, that's right, you're ending the War in Iraq, saving us untold sums of money. Again, how do you plan on doing that? Do we hand over a volatile region to an underprepared and corrupt government and let them last as long as they can (not long at all is my bet)? Sounds great. When is the next terrorist attack scheduled?

Don't get me wrong, I oppose the war and always have. Sadly, there's no voting record to prove it...but really? Do you think that your plan is realistic, Mr. Obama? Is hoping going to make all the Iraqis forget that they hate each other and us and live happily ever after? Seems alarmingly like this little scheme.

I have homework to do...that's all for me for now. No picture with this post...I don't have the energy. One more thing, though: working in the bookstore is finally paying off; I discovered the uncorrected proofs, and I'm working my way through the pile. All I have to do to read them is write a recommendation? Sounds like a plan. Beam me up, Scotty, we're going home.

Schill Kill

Rhyming aside, this is serious. Surgery that could keep Schilling out of the 2008 season entirely? And even without surgery, he'll be out until at least the All Star break? Gee, I'm almost shocked.

Let's face it: the man is OLD. Not necessarily through counting years, but certainly old to be playing baseball. Is it really any surprise that he's injured? The great thing is, though, is that the Sox still have an amazing five man rotation even with the injury. If somebody else has a problem...then we may have a bit of an issue. But still, way back when when the Sox were deciding whether or not to sign Schilling, I kind of saw this coming.

For other Sox news, check this out, and see how Manny is finally getting serious here. And finally, another reason to be glad the Giants won the Superbowl.

First day of classes

And once more, I actually follow up a title with a related blog post. See, much as I hate to acknowledge it, today was really the first day of regular classes since the beginning of December. My schedule is horrendous on certain days of the week: Mondays are a solid block, nine to six. Tuesdays have two classes, at nine and then again at noon, and work at the bookstore in the afternoon. Wednesdays are solid nine to four. Thursdays are completely free, but I'll be working in the bookstore pretty much all afternoon until chorale at four. Fridays are nine to one, and then bookstore after lunch. Today was slightly improved, as there was no lab to tie up my lunch hour.

What are these classes, you ask? Well, even if you weren't asking, I'll tell you anyway. They're remarkably similar to those I took last semester: biology, chemistry, Italian, and multi-variable calculus. Buckets and buckets of fun, indeed. Tomorrow's looking up, though, something like four packages should be arriving in the mail. One of those should bear a Giants logo, but that's not headed for my mailbox. No, that's headed straight to the one who foolishly bet against the Giants and is now going to wear a hat commemorating the Superbowl victory for the next month or so.

Although classes partially blocked my enjoyment of this, today was just about the first real packing snow that's fallen this winter. A snowball fight is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon...yes, it is scheduled...otherwise people can't be there. I personally vote for spontaneous, mostly because I can't resist pegging people in the back on the way to the dining hall. It's things like that that enamor me to people...anyway, to bed. I have to be up and ready to work at the bookstore at eight, and that translates to bed now. Although I really don't think I'll get to sleep until at least midnight...nevertheless, even lying in bed reading is better than staring at the computer screen.

A quick note: Firefox has a wonderful (though questionable) add-on that lets you download streamed content. So if you're listening to, say, Seeqpod, and you want to get a track that you could burn to CD, or listen to without internet access at places like the airport, the add-on lets you do that. Beautiful...

And the votes are in...

Or not. Or some infinitesimally small percentage of votes are in, and CNN is projecting winners anyway. Do they honestly believe over there that calling the winner with thirty percent of the ballots counted is actually going to turn out accurately? Number crunching be damned...I'll count my eggs when they hatch, thanks very much.

Going with the projections temporarily...Huckabee is making a surprisingly strong showing, although he almost certainly won't win another state after tonight. Romney is performing well in places with religious nutjobs (Utah, anyone?), and McCain is kicking some conservative butt. On the other side of the playing field, Hillary is making it quite clear that Obama isn't in the clear quite yet. Another complaint: how come it's always a projected winner, and never an actual count of the number of delegates won? Anyways...here's my plan for good tickets on both sides, president coming first...

Obama/Edwards

McCain/Huckabee.

Both of those are dangerous tickets. The democratic ticket I feel speaks for itself, and Huckabee appeals to those of us living below the Bible Belt.

And now to bed...class starts up at nine tomorrow morning, and I want to be showered and at breakfast by eight twenty. I made one bet on the Superbowl, by the way, and it turns out I lose even though I did bet on the Giants. It had nothing to do with a points spread...rather, I bet a friend that if the Pats won, I would hang a picture of a shirtless Tom Brady on my door. If the Giants won, as they did in style, she would wear a Giants hat around campus for a few weeks. The catch: I have to buy the hat. I'm pretty sure I got cheated somehow...

Whaddya Know?

Not much, that's for sure. Ironically, as my free time decreases, my posting is likely to increase. This could be for a couple different reasons: one, more stuff is happening to talk about, and two, I have less actual free time and more time to ignore work (hence blogging).

Right now, right before classes resume, it's more likely reason number one. I went out hiking today, near Sugarloaf. It's only about an hour and a half drive from campus (although we managed to make it about two), and totally worth it. No pictures (no camera), but I'll see if I can steal other peoples'. All sorts of stuff to look at; coyote prints, snow everywhere, funny roadway signs on the way up. My favorite: a tiny (tiny!) sign that said "BUMP." I hardly had time to register the sign before the whole car lurched over what is possibly the single largest speedbump in the world. That's how it felt, at least.

Notes from last night: Yes, I'm still amazingly excited about winning the freaking Superbowl. However, I decided against the Giants hat when I went to Farmington to eat. Lots of irate Pats fans out there...and punk kids like me with Giants hats are probably not going to be well received. I was told to burn the hat a week before the game...imagine what would happen now. Still, Plaxico Burress is my man, as is Eli Manning (Peyton can go suck an egg), and pitchers and catchers report to camp in a little more than a week. Exciting times!

Fuck Yeah!

And the Giants won the Superbowl! The Giants won the Superbowl! What an amazing game...what an amazing experience. I am so insanely happy right now...also, my blog got nearly 250 hits yesterday. Thank you again to the Giants, this time for traffic. YES! For all of you who wanted/expected a perfect season for the Patriots: IN YOUR FACE!

Going hiking tomorrow near the AT...if I can get up in time. It's been an interesting night...GO GIANTS! Now for the Red Sox to win another World Series, and the year will be complete. Countdown to opening day on the right, folks.

Here We Go Again

Spring semester is just around the corner here at Colby, after the break we're in now ends. Yes, we have a week long break right now. After the month of one class a day. It's just crazy, isn't it? But soon all that will be at an end, and regular classes will start up again. For me it'll be more of the same: chemistry, biology, calculus and Italian. Two lab sciences isn't necessarily fun, but it can certainly be done. I'll be in class for most of the day Mondays and Wednesdays, but Tuesdays and Thursdays will be light.

Applications to continue the radio show through spring semester are in, and although the time slot may change from the most excellent one we had in January, the only thing that matters to me is keeping the show. Broomball starts up again in a week, and hopefully I'll be able to get someone with a camera to film one of the games. Fun fun...just in time for my bruises to heal, it's time to get some more.

The temperature just climbed about freezing here in Waterville, which will hopefully take care of some of the ice that is practically everywhere - the ground, the trees, the lake...freezing rain Friday night pretty much killed the weekend, because trying to go out is almost not worth it for fear of falling.

The Superbowl is later today, as you almost certainly already know, and for those of you who know where my allegiance lies (if you've been reading, you know), please refrain from nasty comments about the actual likelihood of winning. Anything is possible, as the dream team Pats have shown us, and the Giants have been playing amazingly well the past few weeks. Mission: get to Brady, twist his other ankle, and knock him out of the game. Nothing is sweeter than the Red Sox winning the World Series...unless the Giants were to win the Superbowl and make it a double victory. Go Giants!