Pre-game ramblings

So, the college football season "officially" kicks off tomorrow. I hear some teams are going at it in the early evening, but the real action will take place when MSU faces USC. The past few seasons have been challenging for MSU fans, but fear not, MSU is actually in Kirk Herbstreit's preseason poll!!!!! (scroll down...all the way, under meals. and airports. it's a start.) Plus a well-respected football blogger (and USM fan!) has the stats to back up State's undeniable home field advantage. As in playing there is the only chance they have to chalk up a "W". So, tomorrow night I'll be celebrating SEC style, featuring barbecue,

(I could have gone with burritos and kept the aliteration, but they're too much of a security risk.)
bourbon,
and belligerence

More dumb links for my one visitor per day

In Washington, it seems that raccoons have banded together and attacked. This is disconcerting. They already have opposable thumbs, if they learn the secrets of the prehensile tail from possums, there'll be no stopping them!
Looks like Survivor (disclaimer: I've never watched the first minute of any of these shows) is going all "separate but equal" on everybody and dividing teams by race. I suppose it's hard to judge people based on the content of their character when they're all total douchebags to begin with. I'm just sayin'. If they would use the casting people from "The Real World" and turn it into Stereotype-fest2006, I predict a ratings bonanza. And more incentive to drink. Look, it's a contextual lead in to...
Forbes has released a list of the drunkest cities in America. The rust belt is represented well. Seems like a swath from Minneapolis to Pittsburgh is awash in hooch. The lack of New Orleans is odd (well, not so much the past year). Seriously, one of my friends used to live next to a bar that was from open from 10AM to 7AM. I wonder if Southerners aren't...under-reporting...themselves and level of crunkitude in the stats. It seems like they could use some good old "Bluegrass apathy juice" in their lives, since a lot are apparently quite irate. If you live in Florida, there's a good chance you're seething with pure, unadultarated rage now.
Some good news from back home: Mississippi is the best football state in the country! The criteria for the award also has Kansas ahead of Florida, for what that's worth. This ranking will be completely meaningless to me this year if State (and Ole Miss & USM) continues to stink out loud on the field.
And finally, check out this fine example of Bama-geneering
.

NFL Preseason musings

I've never really had much interest in the NFL preseason/training camp stuff (even when it involves former Dogs). Heck, when I was back home I couldn't work up enough energy to make it to a Saints practice (partly because I'm too cheap to pay for parking). I do have the Broncos "Inside Training Camp" Tivo'd right now, though. But that's different. I was a bit surprised this morning to find the sports-centered internet seemingly buzzing with MNF talk. Most of it seemed to give little regard to the "game" between the Vikings and soon-to-be irrelevant Raiders (although I am eagerly awaiting the Aaron Brooks vs. Randy Moss drama set to play out this fall). Most of the talk seemed to center around new booth talent Tony Kornheiser. I've been a fan of PTI from day 1, and his radio show made my long mid-morning drive to work tolerable a few years ago. Depending on who you believe, he either did a good job, or bombed completely. Dennis Miller comparisons? Already? Really? Finally, when I moved to this neck of the woods, I was sort of forced to keep up with the Titans to a certain extent (but the Bengals now seem to be making inroads with the local bandwagon), anyway, they are on thin ice with me now. First, there was all the Pacman Jones shenanigans, then they cut Steve McNair, and now their mascot hits the Saints (my childhood team of local interest) backup QB with a golf cart!

Friday News/Chemistry Blogging

With all of the recent headlines about the threats, here are some link-worthy stories from around the web. If the liquid could be explosive, why are you dumping it in a crowd? Or more specifically: If mixing it will cause the reaction, why are you combining the liquids into a common receptacle? They had a lot more on this yesterday, apparently (you know, when it was happening). The Consumerist has some interesting suggestions for the airlines. Plus this picture of an intrepid traveller making the best of his situation.

The folks at Sierra Mist saw this coming from a mile away.
As for the science-y stuff, Scientific American has more links for you, as well as at Scienceblogs. And there's also this.

Broncos! Offseason! News!

Since this blog was started in the football offseason, I haven't had much to write about my NFL team of choice, but with the season upcoming, maybe that will change. Here goes. It's a good thing they didn't go and do anything crazy in training camp like name an undrafted free agent as starting running back or anything...wait, what? Hopefully they'll continue the trend of anyone with legs being able to gain yards in the system. And besides, if Jason Elam (the kicker, people!!!) is any indication, tough is their middle name.