Week 8 Will Be My Redemption!

It's the 8th week of this charade, and as a practicing numeroligist, I predict that I will lose one more than I win this week. That will take me from 7 under .500 after 7 weeks to 8 under after 8 weeks. Flawless numerology based logic, except that prediction is coming from a man who is 7 under .500.
In order to assure that I break the bad mojo, I have this week prognosticated eight results, thereby making the -8 impossible.

Unless there's a tie.


HAWAII +26½ @ BOISE STATE
Hawaii is 3-3, 1-2 on the road. Boise State is 5-0, 3-0 on the Smurf blue field on the western edge of Idaho. Popular opinion is that Hawaii is a fallen too far defending conference champion. Boise likes to run up the score at home. It's supposed to be pleasant weather on Saturday in Boise, so the Rainbows won't be worried about freezing to death. My guess is that Hawaii can stay within the spread.
CONNECTICUT +0 @ RUTGERS
This game is a pick-em. No points. Just pick a winner, like on the confidence pools. CT comes in with a 5-1 record. Rutgers, the state university of New Jersey, is 1-5. I pick Connecticut. They are the Huskies, by the way.
WISCONSIN +3½ @ IOWA
This is going to be a fun game to see. Wisconsin was included in reviews of the nation's power teams in the preseason. Iowa wasn't picked to do anything, and they haven't , though their fans have whined more than the transmission on my dad's old '63 BelAire. Iowa is 3-4; they beat the snot out of Indiana last week. Wisconsin is 3-3, they've lost 3 in a row (to Michigan, Ohio State and a pounding last week at home from Penn State). My choice is the Hawks at home, as the Badgers season flirts with train wreck stature.
USC -46@ WASHINGTON STATE
Yeah, yeah, here we go again with the giant point spreads. OK, so I'm an addict, of sorts. USC can score on anyone, anytime. On the other hand, the Cougars of Washington State have given up 66 points--TWICE!-- and 63 points another time. I think that the Trojans will work out on the Cougars, whom I have just heard described by a coaches panel as "inept". GO TROJANS!!!
PITTSBURGH –3 @ NAVY
Waaaanie, how I love ya, how I love ya, my dear old Waaanie...hell, I never get this guy right, but I'm coming back at him again. Stuttering Dave and the Panthers (my high school garage band's name, too) to prevail over the Middies. I think Pitt's played a tougher schedule, and Wannie will get his D ready to work on the Navy veer.
OHIO STATE –3½ @ MICHIGAN STATE
Both teams are 6-1 right now. This could be a breakout game for the MSU program. If it is, THE Ohio State University will be relegated to also ran status for the remainder of this season. Terrel and Beanie will carry the Bucks. Ohio State will win this game and cover.


TOLEDO @ NORTHERN ILLINOIS –7½
Toledo is coming off a historic win against Michigan in Ann Arbor last week. Northern is a good team. Toledo is 2-4, the Huskies are 3-3, 2-0 at home. I think the Rockets spent everything they had last week at Michigan, and a letdown is unavoidable. Take the Huskies.
MICHIGAN +24 @ PENN STATE
This is the other side of the coin, with Michigan coming off the worst loss imaginable, the first time a Michigan team has lost to a MAC team. Penn State beat the hell out of Wisconsin in Cheeseland last week. Michigan needs redemption. I don't think they'll win, but I think they'll stay within the spread here.
INDIANA @ ILLINOIS -16 1/2
Another MOWL pick (Mighty One Week Late). Indiana is going to visit Champaign and Coach Zook will have the Illini ready to rumble. Illinois in a rout.

A Special Gift for You

http://www.palinaspresident.us/

Click on different items. Some items can be used two or three times.

Courtesy of my daughter. Enjoy!

Clay Aiken and Other Revelations

People Magazine had the hottest issue of the millenium (we don't use "millenium" much anymore, so I thought I'd give it a little exercise) with it's Clay Aiken - "Yes, I'm Gay" issue. This is an expose of one of the worst kept secrets ever. Ever since Clay swished into our collective consciousness, gaydars across the universe have been sounding off with abandon. It doesn't change the fact that he's talented and has a lot of fans, but folks are paying a lot to hear Clay tell them the obvious.

It gave me the idea that we can emulate People's huge success by publishing confessions of a lot of other celebrities, having sensational tell-all's like Clay Aiken. Here are a few that come to mind.

Paris Hilton speaks out: I HAVE NO ACTUAL TALENT!!!

John Goodman speaks out: I FEEL FAT SOMETIMES!

Homer Simpson speaks out: I AM NOT A REAL PERSON!!!

1985 Bears speak out: WE HAVEN'T WON ANYTHING IN 20 YEARS!

George W. Bush speaks out: I DON'T HAVE A CLUE...WHAT WAS THE QUESTION?

LaToya Jackson speaks out: BOOB FLOP WAS NO ACCIDENT!!

Notre Dame fans admit: WE LIVE IN THE PAST!!

Tom Selleck exclusive: I'M TOO OLD TO GET HOTTIES ANYMORE!!

Rod Blagojevich interview: I HAVE PLASTIC HAIR!!

Wrigley field exposed: THERE ARE BASEBALL GAMES AT THIS TAVERN!!!

Burger King's King speaks: I'M CREEPY AND PROUD!!

Drop me a line, what revelations would you add?

Eat Good Stuff

This is not another horror story about killing yourself with breakfast! Today, a list of foods that are supposed to make you live longer. The happy seven, from Eating Well Magazine:

Chocolate --

Blueberries--

Fish--

Nuts--

Wine--

Olive Oil--

Yogurt

Why are these good for us?

Chocolate provides flavanols. Actually, it’s cocoa that we’re looking for here, in order to get the flavanols without the fat. Flavanols help preserve the healthy function of blood vessels, thereby lowering the risk of blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and dementia. So, this is not meant to encourage us to shove a ton of Fannie May down our respective pie holes and become morbidly obese in the interest of improved health. Have a bracing cup of cocoa instead.

Blueberries and other berries have compounds that mitigate inflammation and oxidative damage, Translation: good against age related deficits in memory and motor function. Berries are berry good for you.

Fish provides omega-3 fats, and that’s good to protect against cholesterol buildup. I believe that you don’t get the whole healthy kick if you order a deep fried fish sammich and a giant fries chaser. That deep fried thing, along with the white bread and special fishy sauce, tends to work against you.

Nuts provide unsaturated fats, lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Put away the Ruffles and substitute Planters.

Wine, particularly red wine, works against heart disease, diabetes and age related memory loss. By the way, as soon as they said "wine", they said "moderation".

Olive oil does the good stuff that nuts do. Bell peppers, sautéed in olive oil. Oooooo…so good. Healthy, too.

Yogurt is kinda iffy here. A bunch of old Russians claimed in the '70's that yogurt was the secret to their longevity. Science has only proved up on the calcium being helpful and the good bacteria helps you have happy intestines. Happy intestines make for happy...I don't know, but I'm sure it's a good thing. Eat blueberry yogurt and do a double dipper here.

Bon appetit!

007 x 6

Who is your favorite 007?

There have been six actors thus far who have portrayed James Bond in feature films. The original was Sean Connery, who began the Bond brand, starring in the first five films and then again in #7. The first five Sean Connery Bond films were:

Dr. No (1962)
From Russia with Love (1963)
Goldfinger (1964)
Thunderball (1965)
You Only Live Twice (1967)

George Lazenby became 007 in 1969, starring in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. George wasn't well received (his Bond was pretty sucky compared to what everyone was accustomed to), so he was one and done as a super spy. He looks more like a postman than a superspy.

Sean Connery Returned in 1971 in Diamonds are Forever. Diamonds, yes, not Connery; no more Bond for him after this one.

In 1973, the Roger Moore era of seven 007’s began. Moore was already well known from TV as The Saint, a spy guy himself. Moore's Bond was more refined than Connery's, and it worked well. The Roger Moore 007 films were:
Live and Let Die (1973)
The Man With the Golden Gun (1974)
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Moonraker (1979)
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Octopussy (1983)
A View to the Kill (1985)

Next up, Timothy Dalton, two movies, The Living Daylights (1987) and License to Kill (1989). Dalton, a very talented and successful actor elsewhere, was kind of creepy as Bond. I have no recollection of The Living Daylights, and License to Kill was blechhhh. Twenty years earlier, Dalton had been offered the Bond for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (that Lazenby got) and declined.

Pierce Brosnan (remember Remington Steele?) became Bond #6 and stayed there for four films:
Golden Eye (1995)
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
The World is Not Enough (1999)
Die Another Day (2002)

Finally, we were introduced to the current Bond, Daniel Craig, in 2002. He’s done two films so far.
Casino Royale (2006)

Quantum of Solace (Newly Released)

Now, I thought there would be no better Bond than Sean Connery. The original and the best, as they say. Fighting Odd Job, the giant Asian guy, what could be cooler?

Roger Moore was very good, very convincing, very likable (and he bagged Ann-Margret, one of the hottest hotties of her day).

Pierce Brosnan was better than I expected him to be. He's one of the most likable actors I can think of, also one of the bravest actors (have you seen the movie version of Mama Mia where he sings? he's surely courageous... a horrible singer), and his 007 films were really good.

The new guy, Daniel Craig, after one movie, is now my favorite. Part of the reason is that his Bond revealed character flaws and weaknesses, his Bond is darker, brooding, much different than any Bond before. The new movie is about to pop, I'm ready.

Who's yours?