papsrus

Yep: The Vikings dominated in time of possession and total yardage. Peterson broke 100 yards -- rare this year. Minnesota gained 475 yards overall. But they had five turnovers. Still, they were in position to overcome all that and win the game. Should have won the game. A coaching blunder at the end of regulation where they came out of that time out and got penalized for too many men in the huddle pushed them out of FG range and led to Favre's wayward pass on the next play. Great game though, despite a few questionable calls. Speaking of which, the Saints went after Favre low on the play right after one of their D-linemen planted his helmet in Favre's solar plexus. He was helped off the field after they hit him low. I thought going low at a QB's knees was illegal this year? (The Brady rule?) Early line has Colts favored by 4. Through these last two weeks, only one dog has covered (Jets vs. Chargers).

Why spelling doesn't matter: The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the fsrit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?

I wake up in the mornings cramped over on the edge of my bed with my 4-pound dog pressed up against me hogging the rest of the bed. ... It's embarrassing, but there it is.

So....does Leno have to be just like Conan or can we allow for a variety of comedic styles? Maybe you don't like Leno. Now how about that? I dunno. Maybe you lack a sense of humor. Seems to me that we are comparing apples to oranges in order to justify Conan's comedy against Leno. Nah. I'm sure Conan's selling something, too.

I'm watching Leno now. Looks like the Home Shopping Network to me. He's selling stuff (the movie Avatar, with an interview the director).

I like that. Listening to The Leaders -- "Slipping and Sliding" now and Freeman seems to fit nicely. It is overall a fairly gentle music, and so maybe this suits his playing? ... In any case, quite enjoyable.

I didn't see anything 'aggressive' in here. Not directing this at you, sonnymax, cause I think you're giving an honest view, but would people rather have Allen -- or anyone -- whitewash his views, or not comment at all, so as not to offend? I wouldn't. As to Freeman's playing, I will have to listen again more closely to The Leaders, but I thought the playing there was uniformly great.

If you put money on the Jets last week you have more money now... I think the Jets can at least cover the spread, and they are playing greaaaaat defense. A friend/acquaintance of my boss put 100 dimes (dime = $1,000, apparently) on the Cowboys and 25 dimes (heh-hem, professional gambler talk) each on the Cards, Ravens and Jets. Took the dogs to cover in each game. I get the sense that people who do regularly gamble on games kind of spread things out like this, rather than pick just one game. I think the favorite covers more often than the dog, so it's a risky bet to begin with. But I wouldn't bet against Manning. I'll take the Colts to cover, but only an actual dime, not the other kind.

The New York-centric sports media seems to be going bonkers for the Jets-Colts game. I'm seeing images of Namath waging his finger as he leaves the field after SB III, images of Unitas, footage of Mayflower moving vans pulling out of Baltimore in the middle of the night, top ten reasons the Jets will win lists, and on and on ... The Jets are a nice story, and aside from the endless NY hype that would no doubt follow, I wouldn't mind seeing them win, but is anybody willing to put real money on them? (hypothetically speaking, of course) ... New York is getting 7.

For the love of God man! Put on some gloves!

tickets went on sale here last week for O's spring training games. Nice, fat lines, apparently. Won't be long now boys!

I'm glad I work nights.

For that price, they shoulda come up with a better cover.

Mike Reed's People Places & Things -- "Proliferation" William Parker -- "Painter's Spring"

That is good news!

Durium, who hasn't weighed in here, has a post up on his Keep Swinging blog about the passing of Tuba Fats, with a hardy rec for this one. Just a tuba player from New Orleans. Sounds great.

Sweet!

Weren't they in the booth pre-game talking about how Favre historically hadn't done well against the Cowboys in post-season play and that it would be on his mind? Sure. Really impressive, too, how the Vikings defense has completely blown up the Cowboys offense. Vikings, Saints and Colts -- the three "rested" squads -- all looked much sharper than their opponents, the teams that had to keep playing.

Seems to me there is palpable disappointment in the tone of Joe Buck and Aikman.

I think you know this story Bev, but I come at jazz or improvised music in particular, and music overall more generally, from the opposite direction, I think. While I had a brief flirtation with jazz in the late 70s, I quickly turned to more rock-based or country blues music, and just as quickly lost interest in music altogether for most of my adult life, up until recently. (sad but true) My taste for jazz / improvised music was re-ignited after listening almost by chance to Coltrane's "One Down, One Up, Live at the Half Note," and I was off like a bird. So I don't think I draw any early associations with much of the music that I listen to today. It's all fresh, in that sense. Any associations I do draw are post 2005. Now if I listen to some old albums by Ry Cooder or Dylan or the Dead -- music in that vein, I think it does spark memories or revive generally warm or nostalgic feelings. But not so with jazz.

Hard boppin' birthday bash bonanza!

Now you tell me.

That's beautiful.

Sorry to hear this. Sounds like you're dealing with it all as best you can, and that's good. The kids, right? Difficult, I can only imagine. But if you continue to let them know you'll always be their dad, that they'll always be loved, you'll be OK. And so will they. I've been down the road you're on (but not with kids) so I know a little bit about the emptiness. Time heals. Things will get better. Hang in there. PS: I've actually done a little bit of reading on how to deal with kids in a divorce and the main thing seems to be letting them express their feelings, letting them know it's OK to feel sad, angry, whatever (depending on age). Help them work through their feelings -- that's what seems to be the important thing. But, I'm sure when you're in the middle of it, it's a little more complicated than what a book can tell you.

The science doesn't support your conclusion. Steroids build muscle mass. Anti-inflammatories and pain killers don't. Nor do bennies, bourbon, caffeine, weed, LSD or whatever else they took in dugouts in years past. All these substances may alter an athlete's performance for better or worse, but they do not build muscle mass. Increased muscle mass = ball goes farther = player on roids has advantage over player who doesn't use steroids. There are some legitimate medical uses for anabolic steroids, particularly after some specific types of surgery. But that's not generally how they are/were used by athletes.