Thursday Thirteen #61-The Car One

Thirteen Things about My Old Car As I mentioned a while back, my last car was kind of totaled in a bit of an accident. I never really went into the story of what happened and now that everything is resolved, I figure I will soon enough. But here are 13 ways my car was not in an accident, maybe. 1.I got way way too close to a volcano 2.I told Mrs Duck that the show Lost was overrated and she took revenge. 3.One word:Flamethrower 4.I yelled Go Cowboys at an Eagles tailgate party. 5.I tried to channel my inner Evil Kneival 6.I thought a Corolla would make a great Zamboni. 7.Indigestion after some really spicy Mexican food, the interior never recovered. 8.I decided to take a scenic tour of Camden 9.What? Who knew cars don't float? 10.I thought the fact that I only had a few payments left was a bad thing. 11.The urban legend about the hook in the roof really happened. 12.I am a big fan of the Calgary Flames 13.I am just a freaking idiot

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Edwards 08-Well that sucks

At work, I live in a bit of a bubble. I have internet access and email and all that fun stuff, I just do not really have time to go surfing around the web. And for some reason today, I did not check out the news on my cell phone at lunch. Perhaps I felt it would be disheartening news, without knowing what the news was. I did not even get to give John Edwards the Thursday Thirteen kiss of death.

So, the Edwards Presidential Campaign is over well before it ever got itself started. After all the up momentum there was from a second place finish in Iowa, it all faded after that, partly because the candidate could not get himself any footing in the media, and also partly because Obama and Clinton both maybe special.

But, Edwards went out on a high note today, with an excellent speech in New Orleans to "suspend" his campaign without giving anyone any endorsements. At least with this speech, I do not mind the small bits of money that I donated.



And now the race becomes 2 and some doddering old guy who may win a delegate or two in Alaska.

Turkey Cutlets with Pumpkin Muffin Stuffing, yes its Rachael Ray

I loved this meal last week, because it was just so darned easy to make and it tasted like I actually spent some time on it. Plus, its Rachael Ray, is her food ever bad?? So before I put this recipe on Recipezaar, I give it to my readers.

Turkey Cutlets with Pumpkin Pistachio Muffin Stuffin & Chipolte Gravy
c/o Rachael Ray Express Lane Meals

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
4 Tablespoons Butter
1 Medium Onion, chopped
2 celery ribs chopped
1 Golden Delicious Apple, finely chopped but not peeled
1 small yellow squash chopped
Salt and Pepper
1 Teaspoon Poultry Seasoning
1 cup shelled natural pistachios Chopped
4 purchased pumpkin muffins or 12 oz pumpkin creme cake
2 cups chicken stock/broth
1 package turkey cutlets
2 Tablespoons flour
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 or 2 chopped chipoltes in adobo sauce, finely chopped
2 scallions finely chopped

Heat large skillet at medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and then 2 tablespoons butter. When the butter melts into the oil add the onions, celery, apples and squash. Season with salt, pepper and poultry seasoning and saute for 5 minutes. Add pistachios and crumble in pumpkin muffins. Moisten with 1 cup of chicken stock and then set aside. It should look sort of like a loose stuffing.

Heat a second skillet (naturally a second skillet) over medium high heat and season cutlets with salt, pepper and poultry seasoning. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to pan and cook cutlets for 6 minutes per side (give or take). Transfer meat to platter and add 2 remaining tablespoons of butter to skillet and reduce to medium low. Add flour to butter and whisk and cook 2 minutes. Whisk in wine and cook for 30 seconds and then add remaining cup of stock, cook until bubbly. Stir in chipolte and green onions and serve, covering stuffing and turkey with gravy.

S.B. Hotties Day 3

I will keep the SB Hotties Day 2 post linked here, just in case anyone missed Bond's witty comments. I know he will appreciate me for that one.

But, anyway, no fuss no muss, its day 3 of cheerleader madness, as its a New England Patriot Girl vs A Washington Redskin babe, and no its not one of "The Hogs".

Jessica!




Katie!




If you ask me, I think Jessica has some unfair pictures.

Palmetto Blues

It is not exactly a sad thing when I say blues, its more of the dominating color for the Democratic Party. Barack Obama won last night as expected in South Carolina, but really the other big story is the fact that Hillary Clinton not only lost the black vote in the state, but also lost the white vote by a percentage or 2 to John Edwards. If she is going to continue to be the strong front running candidate that her machine has in place, she will have to find a way to not have the historionics of her husband drive away voters.

Obama's speech last night was fantastic, he is able to saddle the electricity of a win and let it come out in his words to supporters when he wins. Of course, when looking at his policies, it will take time to dig deeper. Mrs Duck does not feel comfortable with his health plan in comparison to Hillary Clinton's plan. I actually have to do more research, since I maybe a tad jaded as a political watcher. It seems all candidates, even the ones I support, will just say what we do want them to say.

Super Duper Tuesday, as the media has decided to tab it, could be a major tipping point, or it could just send the Democrats into more of a mess. If Clinton and Obama take most of the big states, lets say splitting up California & New York, and Edwards steals a small state or two, or at least has a good enough showing to take enough delegates away to keep either one of the top 2 from getting a good stranglehold on the nomination, the race will spiral into more of a mess. Plus, the one true thing that does make me more nervous is the fact that there are about 10 days until the Super Tuesday. Plenty of time to have the candidates make some sort of slip up that will just make things worse when it comes to November.

The Republicans are slopping around Florida, where it will be McCain, Romney or even possibly Rudy, though that ship is sinking fast. Not that I see anyone sending Captain 9/11 a life raft anytime soon.

S.B. Hotties Day 2

Quickly, the results from day 1. It seems that the Mysterious Tampa Girl won easily over Briana of New England. Though I tend to agree, the Buccaneer Cheerleader had one rocking body.

Now, on to day two, again it is a New England girl, against a cheerleader from the NFC, this time its one of the team captains from the San Francisco Gold Rush. Where do they get these names anyways?

Any who, onto the hotness...

Lindsay!




Amber!

Thursday Thirteen #60-The Kucinich One

Thirteen Things about Dennis Kucinich I had to scrap the 13 things about Fred Thompson, because well, he is now trying to see if he can get back into his chair at Law & Order, since the running for President thing did not work out so well. So, our my next choice was Dennis Kucinich. 1. The official theme for the Kucinich run this time is Strength Through Peace. 2. Kucinich is a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 10th District in Ohio. 3. Kucinich was the Mayor of Cleveland in the late 70s, where at the age of 31, he was one of the youngest Mayors in the country 4.He won election for his seat in the House in 1996 and has been reelected 5 times since. 5.Kucinich calls himself a Wellstone Democrat, following in the footsteps of the late Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, meaning he skews towards the liberal side. 6.Kucinich voted against the Patriot Act and he also voted to investigate whether there were sufficient grounds to impeach Bill Clinton. 7.He also voted to not count the 31 delegates from Ohio that were going to G.W. Bush in 2004 because of the involvement of Diebold Voting Machines and there lack of a paper trail. 8.He also voted against the war in Iraq 9.His best showing in the 2004 Democratic Primary was 31% in Hawaii. 10.for his 2008 run, Kucinich has had a fundraiser thrown for him by Larry Flynt and also has been endorsed by Viggo Morgensen 11.He has also confirmed the story in a Shirley McClaine autobiography, Shirley is a relative by the way, in which Kucinich claimed to have seen a UFO. 12.His wife is Hot, especially for a candidates wife. 13.He has again not found too much traction in the few early primaries this year, though many people find him to be a nice draw in debates, due to his desire to tell the truth.

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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S.B. Hotties Day 1

See, I am being smart now, I am avoiding mentioning the Super Bowl, oh crap nevermind. Anyway, since we will be beaten to a pulp by the hype and setup for next weeks game, I figured I would jump on the bandwagon in a fun way. Cheerleaders of course.

But, I am at a slight disadvantage, since the New York Giants do not actually have cheerleaders. So, our competition coming up will be the New England Cheerleaders vs the rest of the NFC. Which is sort of like the NFL season that is just passing, since it seemed like it was the Patriots vs the rest of the NFL. Today its Briana of New England against an anonymous Tampa Bay Buccaneer Girl. Please enjoy and if you want, do vote.

Briana!




Mysterious Tampa Girl

Its the Patsies & the Gints

Things did not exactly go as I hoped and planned, at least when it comes to football, as the Giants eeked out an overtime win over the Packers this past weekend. I had been pulling for Brett Favre to get back to one last Super Bowl, but the Giants really outplayed the Packers in every facet of the game. It was exciting, though it would have been more exciting with a Green Bay win, or at least if Green Bay had actually decided to run the ball a bit more, just to loosen up the Giants defense. Plus, the hour long power outage here right in the middle of the game kind of threw off the rooting/cooking mojo. But, thats the breaks of living in the suburbs, trees can be our enemies.

In the first game, the Patriots went to 18-0 and one game away from joining the 1972 Dolphins as the only teams in NFL history to go undefeated through the entire year. San Diego was a tad handicapped through the entire game, with a knee injury to both there top running back and quarterback, though QB Philip Rivers did press through the injury. It was another one of those unexciting Patriots victories. They really are just a better team all around then any other team out there.

So, I think I am going to have to root for New England in the upcoming Super Bowl (gee I hope using the word Super Bowl is not copyright infringement). A few reasons that I can fathom for myself is the fact that the NE coach, Bill Bellichek, is more of a Bill Parcells disciple then Tom Coughlin of the Giants is, even though both of them did coach under the Tuna. Also, if I am going to call myself an Eagle fan, you really can not bring yourself to root for a conference foe when it comes to winning it all. Plus, there is the chance of seeing history factor.

Tune in over the next 2 weeks, because I will be doing a little cheerleading hotness here as prep for the Super Bowl. Cmon, that has got to be better then hearing all about Tom Brady and Eli Manning for the next 2 weeks, isnt it?

Debate in the Palmetto State

You remember how bored I was during the Nevada debate. How it was slow and dull and kind of just hit or miss with the messages that the candidates wanted to say? Please be sure to tune into CNN in Myrtle Beach South Carolina tonight. Its about 8:30, and there have been two or three "oh no he or she didnt moments"

Poetry Train heads to the Mountaintop

I traditionally do a variation of this speech on Martin Luther King's birthday celebration day, since his birthday was last week and I am off today. While everyone knows the I Have a Dream Speech, personally, this one is more a favorite of mine.

Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation. And I want to thank God, once more, for allowing me to be here with you.
You know, several years ago, I was in New York City autographing the first book that I had written. And while sitting there autographing books, a demented black woman came up. The only question I heard from her was, "Are you Martin Luther King?" And I was looking down writing, and I said, "Yes." And the next minute I felt something beating on my chest. Before I knew it I had been stabbed by this demented woman. I was rushed to Harlem Hospital. It was a dark Saturday afternoon. And that blade had gone through, and the X-rays revealed that the tip of the blade was on the edge of my aorta, the main artery. And once that's punctured, your drowned in your own blood -- that's the end of you.

It came out in the New York Times the next morning, that if I had merely sneezed, I would have died. Well, about four days later, they allowed me, after the operation, after my chest had been opened, and the blade had been taken out, to move around in the wheel chair in the hospital. They allowed me to read some of the mail that came in, and from all over the states and the world, kind letters came in. I read a few, but one of them I will never forget. I had received one from the President and the Vice-President. I've forgotten what those telegrams said. I'd received a visit and a letter from the Governor of New York, but I've forgotten what that letter said. But there was another letter that came from a little girl, a young girl who was a student at the White Plains High School. And I looked at that letter, and I'll never forget it. It said simply,

Dear Dr. King,
I am a ninth-grade student at the White Plains High School."

And she said,

While it should not matter, I would like to mention that I'm a white girl. I read in the paper of your misfortune, and of your suffering. And I read that if you had sneezed, you would have died. And I'm simply writing you to say that I'm so happy that you didn't sneeze.

And I want to say tonight -- I want to say tonight that I too am happy that I didn't sneeze. Because if I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1960, when students all over the South started sitting-in at lunch counters. And I knew that as they were sitting in, they were really standing up for the best in the American dream, and taking the whole nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the Founding Fathers in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1961, when we decided to take a ride for freedom and ended segregation in inter-state travel.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been around here in 1962, when Negroes in Albany, Georgia, decided to straighten their backs up. And whenever men and women straighten their backs up, they are going somewhere, because a man can't ride your back unless it is bent.
If I had sneezed -- If I had sneezed I wouldn't have been here in 1963, when the black people of Birmingham, Alabama, aroused the conscience of this nation, and brought into being the Civil Rights Bill.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have had a chance later that year, in August, to try to tell America about a dream that I had had.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been down in Selma, Alabama, to see the great Movement there.
If I had sneezed, I wouldn't have been in Memphis to see a community rally around those brothers and sisters who are suffering.
I'm so happy that I didn't sneeze.
And they were telling me --. Now, it doesn't matter, now. It really doesn't matter what happens now. I left Atlanta this morning, and as we got started on the plane, there were six of us. The pilot said over the public address system, "We are sorry for the delay, but we have Dr. Martin Luther King on the plane. And to be sure that all of the bags were checked, and to be sure that nothing would be wrong with on the plane, we had to check out everything carefully. And we've had the plane protected and guarded all night."

And then I got into Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers?

Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop.
And I don't mind.
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land

Jump aboard the Poetry Train over here...

My Pseudonym is cool

What Sparky Means

You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You are influential and persuasive. You tend to have a lot of power over people. Generally, you use your powers for good. You excel at solving other people's problems. Occasionally, you do get a little selfish and persuade people to do things that are only in your interest. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Thanks to Christine D'Abo for this one. Even though its way way off.


This one is closer, though real name is redacted.

What Blank Means

You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out. Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia. Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

I am not wild and crazy!

Mrs Duck is no Paula Deen

Scene:Thursday night,My wife on the couch, me fiddling around at the desktop computer in the mini office off the living room, stove and oven on in the kitchen.

Mrs Duck:Whatcha doing?

Sparky: Me? Oh just checking some blogs until dinner is ready.

MD:Hmmph, I guess I am the one that is cooking tonight, since you are checking blogs.

S:Huh? Cooking? You are just boiling water, I would not exactly call that cooking.

MD:Oh no, not just the water, but the tater tots are in the oven too!

Note:Dinner that night was Stouffers Creamed Chipped Beef over Tater Tots or Toast, depending on who was eating it.

Thursday Thirteen #59-The Duncan Hunter One

Thirteen Things about Duncan Hunter As a way to help the political electorate out there, I figure I would do some Thursday Thirteens here and there about the folks running for the highest office in the land. Of course, it was too late for some people (Sorry Tommy Thompson, Joe Biden & Chris Dodd) but the show must go on. Before I run out of time and he quits the race, lets get 13 things about Duncan Hunter. 1.Duncan Hunter is a Republican member of the US House of Representatives, representing Eastern & Northern parts of San Diego. 2.He was born May 31, 1948 in Riverside, California 3.He served in the US Army in Vietnam and made it to the highest rank of 1st Lieutenant and was awarded a bronze star 4.One of Hunter's sons also served in the Army, making it to 1st Lieutenant as well after serving in Iraq in 2003 & 2004 5.Hunter served in the House of Reps from 1980 up until this year, when he will not seek re-election to run for President instead. His son, Duncan D, the war hero, will try and replace him in 2008. 6.As of summer 2007, Hunter has missed 31% of the votes in this session of Congress. 7.Hunter is the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, which is currently chaired by Ike Skelton, Democrat of Missouri. 8.Hunter sponsored HR 552, the Right to Life act, which would have protected born and pre born persons. Personhood would have been defined at beginning at conception. Now someone tell me what personhood is exactly. HR 552 never made it to the floor for debate. 9.He also sponsored legislation for a Security fence in Southern California and also tried to make distribution of materials deemed pornographic by parents illegal. 10.Shockingly, Hunter considers himself a True Conservative. 11.Hunter has consistenly gotten less than 3% in National Republican polls, though he has won the Maricopa County Straw Poll and the Spartanburg, South Carolina Straw poll. 12.This seals the deal for me in the other direction, Ann Coulter has endorsed Hunter for President 13.Hunter has finished in 7th place in both the Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire Primaries. But he will always have Maricopa County, Arizona.

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Nevada Debate=Snoozefest

The Democrats were running around Sin City tonight, with another debate. I am not sure whether it was the fact that it is MLKs birthday, or the fact that its Nevada, and there are not many people voting or watching, but this one was a total bore. Everyone got along to darn well. It is not even worth live blogging on.

So Good they need a better name

Mrs Duck had her girlfriends brunch this past weekend at Chez Duck. You can tell that these girls are losing some of there steam, I remember when I first dated my future wife, these girls outings were girl's nights in Center City. Then they shifted to dinners out at your TGI Fridays and Ruby Tuesdays and now they are brunches at different houses.

Mrs Duck did most of the cooking, I did pitch in here and there. But I did just want to watch football and avoid all the husband bashing. But, one of the things I did whip up was a crowd favorite. It just needs a better name then the one I found it with on the internet. Thanks to Recipezaar.

Amazing White Trash Puff Balls

1 package hormel sliced pepperoni (or any brand)
1 package cream cheese
2 packages Pillsbury Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls

1. Take out the crescent rolls, and seperate into the individual triangles.
2. Flatten each triangle and slice it so that it becomes three small triangles.
3. Dice or chop your pepperoni into tiny, tiny pieces.
4. Mix the pepperoni into the cream cheese, stir very well so all of the pepperoni pieces are mixed into the cream cheese.
5. Take a little spoonful of your cream cheese/pepperoni mixture and put it in the middle of one of your crescent rolls triangles.
6. Pinch up all of the sides around the filling.
7. Repeat and place them all on a cookie sheet.
8. Bake for the amount of time stated on the crescent rolls (usually 11 minutes at 350) Let cool for a few minutes before serving!

Yes Jim, Playoffs

No mention of the NFL playoffs last week, mostly because the games were gaia awful boring. Well, and we were out running around during the Seahawks/Redskins tilt. But this week is one of the best weekends of professional football, the games are always exciting. At least its great, unless you are a Colts or Cowboys fan.

Yesterday, the Packers swept away the Seahawks on the literally frozen tundra of Lambeau field. Ryan Grant made up for 2 fumbles in the first half and rushed for the most yards by a Packer running back ever in the playoffs. The legendary Brett Favre is one win away from another Super Bowl appearance.

Also, New England took care of business and took out the Jacksonville Jaguars. I missed most of this game, so I can not tell you where it all went wrong, though it probably has to do with the fact that the Patriot offense is scary and the Jags usually can not score more then 20 points a game.

Today, now there were some excellent games today. The Colts continued to be tormented by the San Diego Chargers, as Billy Volek and Darren Sproles offensively rallied SD to an unlikely win. No not Phillip Rivers and LaDanian Tomlinson, but Sproles and Volek, or who and who junior. The Charger defense really stepped up and the injuries piled up for the Colts, meaning we will have a new champion this year.

And on the Texas front, its another sad playoff loss for Tony "Ms Simpson" Romo and Wade "If my dad was Bum, what am I" Phillips. The offensive line for the Cowboys broke down in the second half, and for a reason I still can not truly fathom, the Cowboys stopped giving Marion Barber the ball. And Patrick Crayton may have the worst hands in the NFL.

Personally, this is working out quite nicely, as I will have a team to root for in the Super Bowl. The Giants are my family's team, so while I am now an Eagle fan, I could pull for the Big Blue if I have to. And I adore Brett Favre, truly one of my football heroes, so I would love to see him get back to the big game on more time. Bully for me, not so much for Songbird though.

Oh and the title is in reference to this Jim Mora Sr classic moment.

Nutter & Rappers Delight

Philadelphia just had a new mayor elected this year, and his inauguration was the other day. If anyone knows Mayor Sleezy, er I mean former Mayor Street, anyone is probably an improvement. Michael Nutter won in an easy landslide and is ready to start his "Its A New Day" administration in Philadelphia.

Nutter also apparently has a loose wild side, as noted by this video from his Inauguration Ball/Party. Thanks to Philly Word Live for giving us a little Rapper's Delight.

Quote from the Republican NH Debate via Mrs Duck

scene:Mitt Romney on the TV screen, commenting on Barak Obama and how they are both the candidates of change.

Mrs Duck:Where did he finish in Iowa?

Sparky:Who?

MD:Romney

S:Second, a distant second

MD:I hate him, I fucking hate him

S:Brilliant

Best of 2 Worlds

I freely admit that I am not only a political junkie, but also a sports geek. Heck, look at my blog postings, its football, politics and babes. Well sorry folks, no babes in this post today.
Tonight two of my favorite things to watch on TV collide in a sensory overload of information and TV clicker flipping. The NFL Playoffs begin and there is a Nationally televised debate on ABC from New Hampshire. I have managed to contain my goosebumps, but it is difficult.
I enjoy the debates with both parties because you are always looking for the flubs/half truths and more times than not they occur, especially since caucus primary season has begun. I even enjoy watching the Republicans debate, just to see how outlandish some of there statements will be. There is a touch of juice lost to the Democratic side for me, because Biden, Dodd and Gravel have all dropped out already. Biden and Dodd would say whatever was on there mind, which had to make the front runners squeamish and Gravel was just a Grandpa Simpson moment waiting to happen. So 7pm eastern time, you know Sparky will be tuned into ABC.
Unless of course, the Seahawks/Redskins game has gone into overtime, then forget it, we are on football. The playoffs are do or die time in the NFL, one mistake and you go home, just as Tony Romo last year. I notice he is not holding for field goals this year. So my sports geek gets fed tonight through Washington playing at Seattle and Jacksonville traveling to Pittsburgh. Though I can not rightfully spend an entire Saturday in front of a TV set, so I will humbly give up the first half of the Seattle game to do other things. I do know how to sacrifice don't I?

Ok, maybe one cheesecake Cheerleader picture.

Nintendo DS brings out the odd in people

Scene:Dinner time, Sparky in the kitchen and Mrs Duck on the couch, plinking along on her new pink Nintendo DS lite, a Christmas gift from her husband. Christmas lights on, MSNBC in the background.

Sparky:I am going to get a cigarette, we should be eating in about...

Mrs Duck:Shhhh

S:Huh? Shhh??

MD:Yes, shhhh I am trying to speak out loud and you are distracting me.

S:Distracting, how am I distracting, I am just giving you an...

MD:God you are such a putz, go outside already, I need to do my Brain Age training and I can't talk out loud with you hovering.

S: (blink) Did you just call me a putz??

MD:yes, get out

Hopes for Iowa

Well, at Chez Duck, we are slowly getting back to normal. Slowly because there will be no Thursday Thirteen today, since I totally forgot it was Thursday until about 2 minutes ago. But, if Sparky is not talking football, he is talking politics, so get ready.

In an obvious attempt to try and forget about the current administration as quickly as possible, both political parties have quickened up the primary process by starting the Primaries and Caucuses right about now. Our first stop is Iowa. Iowa has a caucus, where it not only counts when you pick who you are voting for, but it also matters who your second and third choices are. Iowa is not exactly a place where you can win a nomination, but it is surely where you can lose it.

My hopes on the Democratic side are that the polls are right. I think that it will be terrific if all 3 of the front runners stay right about where they are. Hillary and Obama have to go through some trials and tribulations before one of them is crowned the front runner and John Edwards (yes the Breck girl) has the best message for the country, at least in my eyes, that corporate greed is souring us. So I am hoping that all 3 of them get through tonight within 3 to 5 points of each other, keeping them all in the running going forward. This blog has not declared it self for anyone besides a Democrat yet, so we also hope that Biden at least has a decent showing. I do think he is a bit off his rocker sometimes, but I also think he has some of the McCain straight talk express in him and that is something all political races need.

On the Republican side, its really hard to tell who I would want, since I really don't want any of them. They have also made it a bit easier to handicap the race since, Giuliani and McCain have really not put there best foot forward in the midwest, making the race more about Huckabee or Romney. Again, I hope neither of them wins by a sufficient margin to knock the other one out, though its a selfish thought because Romney has the money and Huckabee is a good enough campaigner that the both of them will be able to bloody each other and the other front line candidates up enough that it will be harder for any of them to win in November. Hey, Im selfish, plus when it comes to politics, even in the party I am not voting for, the drama of who will win is most of the fun.

And hey, did anyone know that Alan Keyes was even running for President again??

Get Your New Years On

I don't know about you, but usually my New Years Eve is not spent amongst a rash of people drunken and making out with the idle stranger. I used to wish it was, but that is not here or there.

Earth Cam has a special showing this year of New Years Eve around the world, and you can see it from the comfort of your own living room. As a public service, I present to you the link.


Earth Cam New Years 2008

Duck Soup Bowl 07 #2-Vehicle Day

I realized the other reason that I do not get to talk about all 32 bowl games every year, even though in my heart of hearts I mean too. These Holidays just wear the hell out of me! Oh well, on to the football.

Three more games on tap for today, with the Meineke Car Care Bowl, the Liberty Bowl and the Alamo Bowl.
Down in Charlotte, it will be Connecticut vs Wake Forest in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. One of the worst names for a bowl game by the way. Its an interesting meeting between 2 schools that have a much better tradition in basketball than football. Wake Forest still has an excellent defense and an offense that just enough to win a game, while Connecticut is a surprise of the Big East. Connecticut also features Tvyon Branch, who had two 95 yard kickoff returns for touchdowns this season, though they also had a very controversial win over Temple, that probably kept the Owls from being bowl eligible this year.

Off to Memphis next as the Knights of UCF face the Bulldogs of Mississippi State. Mississippi State is another team with an excellent defense and an offense that makes you wonder how they score any actual points all year. Miss State has another small part of history, as coach Sylvester Croom is the first African American head coach at an Southeastern Conference school. On the flip side, Central Florida has one of the best players in the country that you have never heard of in Kevin Smith. Smith is the leading rusher this season in all of NCAA, as well as the leading Scorer in the country. He is also an amazing game away (about 190 yards) of breaking Barry Sanders single season rushing record, though honestly I do not think it will happen against the Bulldogs strong front line. Ok, Ok, Michael has heard of him, I am not sure about the rest of you.

In an interesting twist, both of the first two games today are sponsored by car care/repair shop establishments, in Meineke and AutoZone. If I was a freak, I would say that was a sign directed at me and my crispy car.

Finally, its tha Alamo Bowl, usually one of the best matchups of the entire bowl season, down in San Antonio. Tex and the Cat Wrangler are off to this game today, and while they certainly will be pulling for Penn State as they play Texas A&M, they would have gone to this game is it was Indiana vs Baylor, just because there are not too many big time sporting events that wander there way to San Antonio, unless you like the NBA (yick). Penn State is Penn State, which means there offense is explosive or sputtering, based on the week. Anthony Morelli, the Penn State QB, kinda of really sucks, but his best wide receiver, Derrick Williams, is a pleasure to watch every time he touches the ball. On the Aggie side of the ball, Texas A&M got there coach fired this season, so I would say for sure it was a down year in College Station. Though former Coach Francione did not help himself in the keeping your job department, by sending out private newsletters to boosters, that allegedly contained inside information that would help out the newsletter reader if they were the betting kind of guy.

Oh and to finish up the driving theme of today, this years Alamo Bowl is sponsored in part by Valero.

I did so poorly on my last predictions, I am not going to bother this time, so lets bring on the cheerleaders!

Christmas Express-Retroville

When I used to watch this commercial as a kid, it was always one of those spots that made me stop and watch it, as opposed to flip to find some more cartoons. I don't know if it was the snow, or the schmaltzy music, or the odd happy smiles people got from smelling coffee, but I was hooked.

As I got older, I realized how fantastic and out of reality this commericial was.

a-how the hell is old are these parents with a kid in college and a little tyke running around.
b-College gets out way before Christmas. Hell, At Delaware, we were some of the last students to get off campus for winter break at it was usually still 2 weeks before Christmas.
c-Ok, I get the coffee thing, just its an addiction that give all these people goofy looks.

So enjoy the Folgers 80s ad.

Duck Soup Bowl 07 #1

So, your faithful football fan Sparky Duck is back again this year with another preview of the upcoming bowl games for 2007. Now, I hate the entire BCS system, its imperfect and its all about a money grab for some of the big conferences, but that does not mean I am going to take it out on the football games. But, there is no way I am going to be able to cover all of the damn games, too many games, too little time.

The bowl season kicked off with the San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl in well San Diego, with Utah defeating Navy. I totally blinked out and missed it. Last Night was the New Orleans Bowl, with an amazing win for Florida Atlantic University, there first win ever in a Bowl game. Football is obviously king in Florida, unless of course you are a Miami Dolphin fan.

There were/are three games today, the Papa Johns Bowl, The New Mexico Bowl and the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl. I do not mind that I missed the Papa Johns game, though it was Jeff Bower, the coach of So. Mississippi, which makes it a tad interesting. The New Mexico bowl pit, surprise New Mexico, against Nevada. High scoring game that only the Mountain Time zone would care about. And finally, its the Las Vegas Bowl, sponsored by Pioneer, with UCLA facing BYU. Another interim coach here for UCLA after Karl Dorrell was fired at the end of the year. And again, another game that you really need to be a football fan to watch. I may check it out, maybe.

Of course, who doesn't want another glimpse of some UCLA Cheerleaders?




Predictions

Nevada over New Mexico 44-28
BYU thumps UCLA 35-10

Christmas Express: "I feel the need, the need for Treed"

To fulfill that holiday addiction that is Christmas Lights, lets get a look at some lovely Ole Tannenbaums




I have no idea where this one was taken, so I will just give credit to the Photographer, Jaded1.


Off to Amsterdam with our next pic.



and Finally, PPG Rink in Pittsburgh...




ahhhhh, all the beauty, none of the smell

Christmas Express Says Hello to an Armadillo

A Holiday Armadillo in fact. Out of all the Friends Christmas episodes that have ran over the years, Holiday Armadillo is one of my favorites.





Though I did not find any of the clips with Joey as Superman in them, which is a shame.

Christmas Express cooks, work party style

I am crazy, really I must have been dipping in the eggnog or something when I said I would bring Christmas cookies to our work party tomorrow. Well, maybe I was thinking about spiked eggnog, since the cookie decision was made at 8 in the morning and not 8 at night.

Anyway, here it is about 5 minutes to 11 and I am still baking away. I usually thrive on getting things done at the last minute, so this should have been a piece of cake, or cookie actually. But, working until 7, being down one car and not starting until 8 or so was not the best plan. So we wait and wait and wait.

What did I make?? Well of course, Sparky can share one of the recipes, maybe it will come out better for you.

M & M Dream Bars


24 servings

2 cups oatmeal
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup coconut
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup melted butter
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup M&M's
1 cup chocolate chips

1. Combine oatmeal, brown sugar, flour, coconut, baking soda, and salt; add melted butter and stir until moist (the mixture will be crumbly). Reserve 1 1/2 cups and press remaining crumbs into a greased 13X9-inch baking pan (I line the pan with non-stick foil.).
2. Bake 12 minutes at 375°F.
3. Combine milk and peanut butter; carefully spread over baked crust. Sprinkle on M&M's and chocolate chips. Sprinkle reserved crumbs over chocolate pieces and lightly press crumbs down.
4. Bake 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool completely before cutting.

Credit to GaylaJ

Oh yea and here is your dose of Lights, this time presented by MEHughes, from Mystic, CT.

Christmas Express Gets Schmaltzy

So, this is sort of a preview for my upcoming Thursday Thirteen, or at least a semi preview since it involves tear jerkers aka schmaltz.

On a basic level the TV Show Roswell was Dawson's Creek with Aliens. Yet I loved it, or at least the episodes I saw before they got all gothic. For my money, one of the best, yet totally kitzchy Christmas Episodes was the Roswell one from either season 1 or 2. The main plot is that our hero has the power to heal. I could not find a good version of it on You Tube, but I did find a video that hit the emotional theme of the show, which of course I got a bit choked up at the first time I saw it.

Please, Enjoy!!

Christmas Express visits Budapest

Which is Hungary, I think. Yes, Hungary, though briefly I though Budapest, India. Obviously work is frying my brain.



Thanks to Yanosso for this one

Alycia Lane Ends

or at least she ends her 2007 on the air, as she is on "vacation" until next year. I would not be a Philadelphia Blogger if I did not at least take some time to mention this story.

A little quick background, Alycia has been mentioned in the tabloids and blogosphere before. Back last year, she was caught in an email love triangle, in which she allegedly sent pictures of herself in a bikini to Rich Eisen, formerly of ESPN and now of the NFL Network (you people with cable, its a football network). Unfortunately for Lane, the pictures were intercepted by Rich's wife. Fun ensued.

She has recently been romantically linked to Chris Booker, a former MTV VJ, and we all know how former that has to be since I did not even know MTV still had VJs and now corny morning show host for radio station Q102. So I guess thats a step up, though looking at there schedules, I have no idea how the two of them would actually see each other.

Well, the blog, Philadelphia Will Do, uncovered a tasty little tidbit that was also picked up by the media rags in New York, since this where all the fun started. Allegedly once again, Miss Lane got into some sort of altercation with a NYC Police officer, after...... wait for it...... calling the officer a "Fucking Dyke".

So yes, Ms Lane is now on "vacation" until 2008, and is already apparently getting edited out of some pretaped footage for the holidays. So, I am sure its not the way her, or her station wanted to get some publicity for there news, which has been growing in the ratings recently. And the choice of eptitaths may not have been the best, since I think Philly is one of the more liberal towns in the country.

But, you still gotta chuckle some...

Poetry Train gets even more festive

One of those classic Christmas songs that I look forward to hearing every year has always been the Little Drummer Boy. No, I am not into the religious angle, but I am into the message of peace and finding something that makes someone else happy.

If you want to hear a perfect version, of course it would be the David Bowie/Bing Crosby version, especially with the little conversation in the beginning. What an odd combination that quickly puts out a great song.

David: Hello...... you're the new butler?
Bing: Hahaha! Well, it's been a long time since I've been the new anything!
David: What's happened to Hudson?
Bing: I guess he's changing.
David: Yeah, he does that a lot, doesn't he? Uhm... Oh, I'm David Bowie, I live
down the road.
Bing: Oh!
David: Sir Percival let's me use his piano if he not around. He's not around, is
he?
Bing: I can honestly say I haven't seen him, but come on in! Come in!
David: But uh...
Bing: Come on in!
David: Are you related to sir Percival?
Bing: Well, distantly...
David: Oh, you're not the poor relation from America, right?
Bing: Ha! Gee... news sure travels fast, doesn't it? I'm Bing.
David: Oh, I'm pleased to meet you. You're the one that sings, right?
Bing: Well, right or wrong, I sing either way.
David: Oh well, I sing too.
Bing: Oh good! What kind of singing?
David: Mostly the contemporary stuff. Do you eh... do you like modern music?
Bing: Oh, I think it's marvellous! Some of it's really fine. But tell me, have you ever listened to any of the older fellows?
David: Oh yeah, sure. I like ah... John Lennon and the other one with eh...Harry
Nilsson.
Bing: Mmm... you go back that far, uh?
David: Yeah, I'm not as young as I look.
Bing: Haha, none of us is these days!
David: In fact I've got a six year old son. And he really gets excited around the Christmas holiday-thing.
Bing: Do you go in for anything of the traditional things in the... boy, household, Christmas time?
David: Oh yeah, most of them really. Presents, tree, decorations, agents sliding down the chimney...
Bing: What??
David: Oh, I was just seeing if you were paying attention.
Bing: Haha!
David: Actually, our family do most of the things that other families do. We
sing the same songs.
Bing: Do you?
David: Oh, I even have a go at 'White Christmas'.
Bing: You do, eh!
David: And this one. This is my son's favourite. Do you know this one?
Bing: Oh, I do indeed, it's a lovely theme.

And they told me pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
A new-born king to see pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
Our finest gifts we bring pa-ram-pam-pam-pam
Ra-pam-pam-pam, ra-pam-pam-pam

Peace on Earth, can it be
Years from now, perhaps we'll see
See the day of glory
See the day, when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be
Every child must be made aware
Every child must be made to care
Care enough for his fellow man
To give all the love that he can

I pray my wish will come true
For my child and your child too
He'll see the day of glory
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be
Can it be

Bing: It's a pretty theme, isn't it?



Get aboard the Poetry Train here and today is your last day to get on the Christmas Express Card list.

Christmas Express-Picture Find #2-Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts

Flickr is a great place to find some festive Christmas pictures. How do I know? Well, this is picture find #2 on the Christmas Express.



Credit goes to Hal Morgan on Flickr.

And next year, I really gotta get a graphic for the Christmas Express...

49-21

Man I am glad I did not even bother watching Delaware tonight. I kind of knew it would be bad.
Though I must say, security in Chattanooga, not doing a bang up job tonight. The whole town of Boone is on both sidelines. Not the best plan...

Thursday Thirteen #58-The Chestnut One/Express 13

Thirteen Things about Chestnuts Yes, we continue on our holiday adventure, even on the Thursday Thirteen. If the stores can overload us on Christmas, why can't a simple blog?? 1.A Chestnut tree can grow to be twenty to forty feet tall, but the nuts can also fall from a shrub or low lying bush. (Man that sounds kinky) 2.A true Chestnut should not be confused with a horse chestnut (a buckeye) or a water chestnut, since they really are not related, even though the nuts are similiar. 3.Chestnuts are important to the survival of Blue Jays, Squirrels and Pigeons. 4.The nuts can be eaten candied, boiled or roasted; the former are often sold under the French name marrons glacés. Another important use of chestnuts is to be ground into flour, which can then be used to prepare bread, cakes and pasta. 5.The wood of the Sweet Chestnut is most used in small items where durability is important, such as fencing and wooden outdoor cladding ('shingles') for buildings. In Italy, it is also used to make barrels used for aging balsamic. 6.In Jane Eyre, written by Charlotte Bronte, A chestnut tree outside of Thornfield Hall is broken in two by lightning. This foreshadows the impending break-up of Rochester and Jane's marriage. (oops, spoiler alert) 7.Legend has it that the Greek army survived on their stores of chestnuts during their retreat from Asia Minor in 401-399 B.C. 8.The jazz standard April in Paris by Vernon Duke and E.Y. Harburg begins, "April in Paris / Chestnuts in blossom". 9. 10.If you are tempted to eat chestnuts raw, think again. These nuts must be boiled or roasted before eating due to the high levels of tannic acid. The nuts are cured for about a week to permit their starch to develop into sugar, thus sweetening the meat. They must be cooked completely in order to avoid digestive discomfort. 11.Of course, chestnuts are best known at Holiday time for its prominence in The Christmas Song, which was made famous by Nat King Cole, but was actually written by Mel Torme. 12. 13.Okay, hard to come up with 13 things about Chestnuts, so I will just take this chance to mention again the Christmas Card list post from a few days back. Yes I have mentioned it often haven't I?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Christmas Express-Quiz Station

Boy Oh Boy, I must really suck at Christmas

You Are a Losing Lottery Ticket!

Full of hope and promise. But in the end, a cheap letdown.

What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?

Thanks, I think, to the Monkey Barn.

Express-Picture Find #1 Dyker Heights, Brooklyn

First off, I had to do a little bit of a double take on the name of the neighborhood in Brooklyn, but the beauty of the picture made me do a triple take.



I wish I could take credit for the picture, but alas I just found it. All props go to Richard Carey on Flickr.

Oh yea, and don't forget about the Christmas Cards

Poetry Train Meets Christmas Express

Don't forget, the Christmas Card list is being built on the post below this one, so go ahead and sign up.

One of my favorite Christmas Songs is Baby Please Come Home. I first heard it performed by the imcomparable U2, but then I heard Darlene Love perform it annually on the Late Show with David Letterman, in fact the last 10 years and I hope they figure out a way to do it this year.

But the song is so sad yet happy all at the same time, kind of like how the Holidays can be in general.

It's Christmas
Baby, please come home

(Yeah!)

The snow's coming down
I'm watching it fall
Watching the people around
Baby please come home

The churchbells in town
They're rining a song
What a happy sound
Baby please come home

Theyr'e singing deck the halls
But it's not like Christmas at all
I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year

Pretty lights on the tree
I'm watching 'em shine
You should be here with me
Baby please come home

Baby please come home
Baby please come home

They're singing deck the halls
But it's not like Christmas at all
I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year

If there was a way
I'd hold back these tears
But it's Christmas day
Baby please come home
Ohh...

Baby please come home
Baby please come home
Baby please come home
Ohh...
Baby please come home
Baby please come home







Jump aboard the Poetry Train here, cmon its culture!

Christmas Express-The Card Edition

Last Years display


Introducing the Christmas Express here on Philly Transplant. I love Christmas and so for the next few weeks, look for quite a few Christmas related posts, recipes, pictures and other stuff, hopefully, since we all know about how best laid plans go.

We are doing those photo Christmas Cards this year, or at least we sure hope we are, since we have to take care of it this weekend or we will be sending the damned things out on Christmas Eve. Luckily, we picked up a few regular ones from Target last week, so we can get started some.

Along those lines, while this will not be a Christmas card exchange, since that gets to messy figuring out who gets what and who, etc, etc, etc, I will be asking my blogger buddies if they want a "Holiday" card from the Duck Family. If so, anytime this week, drop me an email at blujackit AT gmail DOT com, with your address and you will be on the list. Festive, isnt it?

Now I am a cute little liberal gnome

Hype Baby, this ones for you.

Me Blog Be Brilliant

Or might readrs culd bees

Get a Cash Advance

Credit goes to Jenny McB BTW

Friday Feast #7/171

Man lotta sevens in this one. But, anyway, I am back to the Friday Feast.

Appetizer
What was the last game you purchased?
I purchase alot of computer games and Sid Maier's Pirates is the last one of those I bought, though I have not cranked it up yet. As for board games, its Canasta.

Soup
Name something in which you don’t believe.
The Easter Bunny, probably because its a scary thought

Salad
If you could choose a celebrity to be your boss, who would you pick?
George Clooney. He would get alot of hot chicks coming into the office and its always healthy to look. Plus I am sure he would cover Happy Hour.

Main Course
What was a lesson you had to learn the hard way?
That one decision or another could affect your whole life, good and bad.

Dessert
Describe your idea of the perfect relaxation room.
A nice recliner, a big screen plasma TV, a fireplace and a hot tub all in the same room. Plus, a recliner right next to mine for Mrs Duck.

Don't Forget to join the Friday Feast

A Twisted Question

What if you are really not that good at the one thing that anyone seems to want to hire you for in the first place. Kind of makes for quite a daunting task or a quandry, isn't it?

Just Can't TiVo That

Now that I am back to work, there are a few things that I miss. My soap opera, sleeping past 8 am, and a George Bush press conference. Today, the last go around of one of those things for the year is on TV. And while there is talk of the soaps having problems because of the writers strike, I mean a good Shrub press conference.

Now, I know I can not bring myself to TiVo it, since usually about a half hour into one of these things, I am usually screaming at the TV, but today this is going to be a tough one for Bush. Usually, he gives the press corp about a half hour notice before its time for one of these fun question and answer sessions. Today, the press has a good day and a half notice, so you know that they will be chomping at the bit. The over/under for a smug look from the President today should be about 10 minutes.

Though, Mrs Duck did bring up a good point. The report yesterday that Iran does not actually have nuclear weapons came out at an awful time for the administration, so it could mean one other thing. That the President has some sort of last minute good news, well good news for him, that will take the focus away from the lack of nukes in Iran. Or, he is already pushing the big red button and will be just letting us know after the fact. For once, I am hoping she is wrong.

Starrlight Inspired

Today was World Aids day, or World Aids Awareness Day, depending on whether you were in a Blue State or a Red State or a still affected country. Starr put up a post that I would love to steal, but won't.

Anyway, we in this country still forget that Aids affects people around the world, not just us little folks in Oklahoma. So a couple of videos showing the still heinous way this disease exists.



This one still has the impact that it makes me cry

On Campus Preview 12/1

Ok, I again missed last week's edition, but there really was not alot to talk about last week, except for the fact that the last undefeated team in Division 1-A football (I refuse to call it the bowl subdivision) is Hawaii courtesy of there win over Boise State. And the reason there are the only ones left is because Kansas lost to Missouri last Saturday. The Jayhawks could not really stop Tony Temple or Chase Daniel and probably also felt a bit of the pressure. And now the BCS could be a complete mess.

This weekend is Conference championship weekend, with title games in the MAC, Conference USA, SEC, Big 12 and ACC conferences respectively. Plus the game between Florida Atlantic and Troy is also a championship game, even though it was already on the schedule for this weekend, because the winner will get the Sun Belt title and probably a trip to the New Orleans Bowl.

Looking ahead, Tennessee will almost certainly lose to LSU, no matter how many rumors that are swirling about the Tigers coach Les Miles. Erik Ainge is just not a big time QB and that will show later on this afternoon. The ACC championship pits BC vs Virginia Tech, an excellent game that really does not mean too much to anyone outside of the Boston and Virginia areas. I guess BC will win, though the it will be close. Whoever wins will mean millions to the school, but little else in the grand scheme of the BCS. Central Florida and Tulsa probably have already kicked off by now, with the winner getting to go to the AXA Liberty Bowl in Memphis. Again, not a game too many people care about, beyond Michael at Valstool Box. I will pick UCF for his sake. Goddess knows who is playing in the MAC championship game, but sheesh, it started 11am in Detroit, now there is a great place to be in the morning isnt it?

There are 3 inportant games this weekend and 1 with great tradition. Missouri plays Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game, Tex and the Cat Wrangler will actually be there since the game is being played in San Antonio. I am hoping the are pulling for Missouri, but since Buckeye is a Ohio State grad and this game would help The Ohio State University get into the BCS championship game with out playing a snap, I am not so sure. Its the big game of the day, and I am hoping for an exciting game, that will be as painful a loss for Oklahoma as possible, because there coach, Bob Stoops, can not suffer and fail enough for my taste. Plus, I have always liked Missouri, its the whole sad sack makes good story.

Also, West Virgina takes on Pittsburgh tonight in the back yard brawl. Again, alot of Ohio fans will be pulling for the Panthers, since this BCS system is so screwed up that they need a WVU or Missouri loss to advance. Ask an Ohioan the last time they hoped anything in Pittsburgh did well and you can see why this year is football chaos.

For big bucks, and to still remain the last undefeated team in the country, Hawaii takes on Washington in Oahu. A Warrior win will almost certainly mean they will get a trip to the Fiesta bowl and will send another WAC team back to the BCS set of bowl games. Plus, it is a huge game for Colt Brennan, who most certainly will not win the Heisman Trophy, but could surely get himself a trip to NYC in a few weeks as a Heisman finalist.

Finally, for the tradition, there is the Army/Navy game. This is one of the fiercest rivalries and even though Army can never really compete with Navy week after week, this game is always up in the air when it comes to a one time yearly battle. Its also a tradition in the Duck household, since Mrs Duck comes from an Army family, and I myself have always been a Navy fan. I have had alot to Quack about the last few years and I fully expect a Navy win, wrapping up another bowl bid someplace.

Yea yea, Oregon plays Oregon State, Arizona takes on Arizona State and USC tangles with UCLA this weekend as well, but most people east of the rockies could care less.

In the smart division, Division 1-AA, the playoffs continue with the QUARTERFINALS of the championship race. They do it right in 1-AA.