Wow. Happy Halloween...

 So it is Halloween 2011 and I didn't really think ahead on a costume.  I came to work in the normal togs, and it is a good thing that I did.  One of my students, Zoe, decided to dress up as me for the day.

Zoe nailed the costume.  Khakis, earring, "read" tattoo, striped shirt, and name tag - she had it all.  Great fun.
It doesn't get much better than that...

Thanks Zoe, I owe ya...

First Gophers Win...

Kim Royston -  recovers an onside kick against Iowa.  Gophers 22, Hawkeyes 21

Floyd of Rosedale stays in Minnesota

Our beloved Golden Gophers took their first step towards respectability by defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes at TCF Stadium in Minneapolis.  The Gophers gave up 179 yards in rushing to Marcus Coker and a stout Iowa running game.  The first quarter was scoreless, despite Mr. Coker running here, there, and everywhere.  The half-time score was 7-7, with the Gophers answering a Hawkeye touchdown in impressive fashion.

By the start of the fourth quarter, the Gophers had fallen behind by 21-10, and it looked like another week of disappointment, despite a much crisper performance by our home team.  The Gophers held the ball for all of the quarter by 95 seconds and pulled off an onside kick after scoring a touchdown with five minutes to go.  The Gophers drove 55 yards and punched the ball in for the go-ahead touchdown.

Tip if the hat to back-up kicker Jordan Wettstein for his first PAT, field goal, and onside kick.  Well done.  Hat tips to the defense and quarterback MarQueis Gray for doing an outstanding job.

Choices

I am enjoying watching the World Series.  The games could not have been closer,  with more lead changes than I can ever remember seeing.  After watching bits of all the games I get the feeling that the Fox Network would like to see the Cardinals win this Series.  There seems to be lots of pro-Cardinal stories.

I am also curious why Fox has shown so many baseball players spitting tobacco here and there.  One has to wonder if some money isn't changing hands there to boost cut-tobacco sales.  Since there is a seven second delay, I assume that every image we are shown is some director's choice.  Why do you show players when all they are doing is sitting the spitting snuff out?  I don't get it.

The Orchestra is Tuning Up....

Michelle Bachmann - Lost Planet Airman First Class

It may not be over 'til the fat lady sings, but I can sure hear the music starting to build in the background.  I will miss Michelle Bachmann and her campaign.  They are such an enjoyable (although scary at times) source of amusement in these serious times. 

Yesterday there were reports that her New Hampshire staff had quit.  The official response was, "That is a shocking story to me.  I have no idea where this came from, but we've made calls and it is certainly not true."  There were also accusations from the Bachmann campaign that this was misinformation spread by political opponents.

"I have no idea..." So, what are the possible theories here.  The Bachmann campaign doesn't have cell phone service to their offices in New Hampshire so they can't call to find out who is still on the sinking ship?  Doubtful.  It sounds to me like Ms. Bachmann likes to call all the shots and other professionals are leaving the campaign because it is poorly focused and poorly managed.  Not exactly the traits you want in a presidential candidate.

It would have been refreshing (but not nearly as entertaining) if Bachmann had been a bit more reality based.  "Well, I don't have a rat's ass of a chance in New Hampshire, and I have been neglecting my staff up there.  I am sorry it has come to this, but I can understand why they wanted to move on to other opportunities.  I appreciate their hard work and I thank them for helping us get to this point."

The best part is "it is certainly not true".  You betcha.  Not true, indeed.  Get that woman some oxygen, and quick...

What Am I Doing in a Tunnel?

Picture from NYTimes.  The tunnels where Qaddafi was found.

So at what point in the tunnel does it occur to me that maybe, just maybe, the other people in Libya aren't thrilled with the job I have been doing for the last 40 years.  How did it get to this point?

I would think there is a point in the proceedings where you would decide that it is better to convert a little of the billions of dollars you have siphoned off from the national economy and disappear to some tropical island with your fake i.d.  It seems to me a much better option than to be hunted down like a rat in a tunnel and shot.

This is what I hope is the start of good news for Libya.  This all started last February and now Qaddafi ends up dead in a tunnel.  Its too bad he didn't take the desert island option earlier and save thousands of lives in Libya.

May the people of Libya get the peace and prosperity that they so richly deserve.

And oh, Bashar al-Assad, are you the next man up?  They found Saddam Hussein in a foxhole, Muammar Qaddafi was found in a tunnel, where will history find you?

I Don't Get It...

This year the University of Minnesota has a real football coach, Jerry Kill.  He has done a great job of creating a more disciplined football team, yet we lost today to Michigan 58-0.   I don't remember the former coach, who was all talk, getting pasted this bad.  This isn't supposed to happen this way.  It is way too early to jump ship, but I am just surprised.  I didn't expect to get blown out that badly with a team that I expected to do a better job of competing.

Saturday Afternoon with Bob

If there is something better than sitting on the back porch and listening to playoff baseball, then I want to know what it is.  It may be 70°, and it is beautiful.  My team, the Twins, is done for the year so now I have to suffer and listen to Hall of Fame Announcer, Bob Uecker call the game for the Milwaukee Brewers.  Life is good.

The baseball playoffs are here, and there are good games going on everywhere.  Last night, Matt Moore  of Tampa Bay, started his third major league game and threw a two-hitter.  I had the pleasure of listening to the game as I rode home from work.  It was shocking to listen as the Rays took a lead with a Johnny Damon two-run homer.  Next Kelly Shopach, the catcher, hits another homerun and it looks like the magic that has followed Tampa for the last month was still going strong.

Last Wednesday night I stayed up later than I should trying to find whether the Red Sox were going to the playoffs or whether Tampa Bay would pull out yet another win - this last win would have to be over the Yankees.  The Yankees grab a 7-0 lead and the Red Sox have a 3-2 lead - all looks good in Bean Town.  Next thing we know the score is 7-6, and Minnesota native, Dan Johnson, sporting a .108 batting average, is pinch hitting with two outs in the ninth inning.  With two strikes, and the season looking over, Johnson pulls a pitch just over the fence in right field and the game is tied.  Three innings later Evan Longoria crushes a pitch and the game is over - Tampa wins, and Boston is out.

Next day, Terry Francona is gone from managing the Red Sox (World Series wins in 2004 and 2007).  As the story unfolds, Francona, being gracious says that Red Sox quit listening to him and it was time for a change.  Apparently, the Red Sox clubhouse chemistry was non-existent this year.  No team spirit.  And Ozzie Guillen gets traded to Florida for some minor leaguers.  All sorts of rich news to bask in this fine afternoon.