Michigan Pride

What a difference a day makes. I remember finding out when Michigan's final spot was filled by Appalachian State. Another cupcake, but a win is a win, or apparently not.

While I am tempted to point out the Comcast curse (last time a game wasn't televised on Comcast was Ball State) I'm going to take a different route-acceptance.

You can't change history, good or bad, while this game was bad, Michigan fans can't forget the good either. While my open allegiance as a wolverine fan will undoubtedly "haunt" me over the next week and to a lesser extent the next several years, thats ok, I'm ready. I don't think anything was taken away from all the good in Michigan's history, just another chapter added with an unfortunate result.

It happened; Michigan lost to Appalachain State. It happened; Michigan lost on a last second hail mary from Kordell Stewart. It happened; Michigan hasn't beat Ohio State since the "100th game". It's ok. Life will go on and the Michigan-Oregon contest will happen.

Boy its easy to want to throw in the towel as a fan but I am not taking that route. I'm taking the, "can still win the big ten", route. It's only one game and as disappointing as it is, it'll be ok.

So, just as I wrote last week, I'm still excited about the season and looking forward to the next game, not next year, not yet.

More thoughts to come,

Go Blue!

Craigergate

Poor Larry Craig.

The Senator from Idaho will announce his resignation on Saturday amid the "sex scandle" he tried to hide by pleading guilty rather than make a big story out of it.

Regardless of whether or not he is or is not gay is to me irrelavent. Before this stody broke a few days ago I had never heard of the way gay guys pick each other up in the bathroom. Frankly it scared me a little bit because I can imagine tapping my foot to the song in my head or to make it clear to someone that the stall was occupied. Apparently with Craig it involved slipping his foot into the adjacent stall and putting his hand palm up under the stall divider. That being sad if he didn't realize what he was doing its scary to think how quickly thigns unfolded for him then and are unraveling for him now.

What really concerns me is how this "sting" operation was carried out. It sure seems like entrapement to me. Setting people up out of nowhere is one thing but from what I have heard Craig was arrested without ever commiting a crime. It could have become a crime but what was going on between what could have been to concenting adults was not illegal.

Throw in his family values and the Democrats have a field day with it, which is unfortunate because nobody really wins in this case.

Now THAT being said, if Craig isn't gay and didn't do anythign wrong why would he plead guilty? I'd love to believe him but If you are accused of something like that especially if you are in a political position like him why plead out if you are innocent. The press will find out sooner or later. When you hear that a Senator made a plea deal without a lawyer, something just doesn't add up.

Another intersting thing to watch is how quickly the republican party is running from anything gay. This guy went from being a good ol boy to everybody's worst enemy in "one number two".

Keep your briefcase to yourself and your feet in your own stall.

Meeeechigan Football is here!

The countdown to kickoff ends in two days. As a life long Michigan fan, this, like any other year provides a lot of things to be excited about. The offense appears as though it will be able to put up big numbers anywhere and despite losing a lot on defense, the stage has been set for Morgan Trent, Tim Jamison and Terrance Taylor to really step it up.

Last year we were all introduced to the plans the U of M Regents approved for the stadium expansion and renovation. While there are plenty of "under the radar" improvements like more bathrooms, and slightly wider seats (nobody can fit in a seat now) the big excitement for me at least is the new exterior.

The stadiums highest extents will be significantly above the current stadium while maintaining the stadium's low profile feel. Begin constructed in essentially a ditch has made it possible for many of the 100,000 fans to be below ground level and has kept the stadiums appearance in concert with the surrounding land uses. If you put Autzen stadium or Neyland where Michigan Stadium lies, it would be more of an eyesore than a source of pride.

One of the things I am hoping will happen as part of the stadium renovation is that the acoustics will be improved. Michigan Stadium can't hold any sound in. The loudest part of the game is the PA announcer with the rather dry "Don't trash the big house". The video boards are nice but the stadium needs to be louder.

The quietest 100,000 people in the world, or some variation of the phrase is something we have all heard. I found a really interesting article regarding the issue and what we can all do to help the sound situation now. While the acoustic design of the stadium can help, if nobody is yelling, there is nothing to magnify.

Put the keys away

For those that for one reason or another haven't seen the new Michigan Stadium sketch ups check them out here

Life in the 12 items or less lane

I remember a few short years ago when the first U-scan check out lanes became popular at grocery stores. It was great; non-technically savvy people were scared of them for a while and it provided a fantastic way for the young and savvy to circumvent the old and meek.

What a difference a few years make.

Every year a larger percentage of checkout lanes are converted to U-scan. Someone however spread the word with the elderly that they too can use the U-scan lanes. Now, whenever I want to use a U-scan lane I inevitably end up behind a person who is one, most, or all of the following.

1. Old
2. buying fruit with no barcode
3. buying vegetables with no barcode
4. Cannot find the numbers on 2 or 3
5. Is paying with change
6. Doesn't speak english
7. Sets something on the scale with their bags
8. Doesn't take their receipt
9. Has 25 items
10. Has to look at 24 sides to find the barcode on a box with 6 sides.

And I know you have seen each and every one of the people described above.

I really hope that technology will advance enough to confuse the people that can't use the u-scan's quickly enough. Until then I might have to go back to the regular check out. Of course the regular checkout lanes are where you get the people who swear that the tag said that the comforter was $29.99 not $30.75. PRICE check!

Maybe I should give up on grocery shopping all together!

Brain vs. Beauty

It's hard to resist poking fun at poor Ms. Teen South Carolina for her answer to a socio-geographical question in front of a huge TV audience and a packed house in Pasadena.

Even when given a chance to answer the question and speak again in a courtesy interview with Matt Lauer, it became apparent that she is not the smartest South Carolinian out there- which is perfectly fine.

What I find so funny is that these pageants pretend as though brains really matter in their competitions. Perhaps this is because the organizers want to ensure that the title and its duties will be carried out to better the country and its youth.

That didn't seem to matter with Tara Conner.

When Miss Teen South Carolina was asked, "Recent polls have shown that 20% of Americans can't locate the U.S. on a world map. Why do you think this is?", the unfortunately comical response below was given.

Ms. South Carolina: I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because some people out there in our nation don't have maps and I believe that our education, like such as in South Africa and the Iraq -- everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should... our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S. -- or should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future.

Go ahead, read it again, you know you want to, but it won't make any more sense the next time through.

What is so amazing is that being in the top five, after this answer she was awarded 3rd runner up which means someone was ranked below her after the answer. So again, if it doesn't even matter what the answer is...which it clearly does not, why ask?

If you are going to have a beauty pageant, have one, if you are going to play Jeopardy, get Ken Jennings. I don't want to see Ken Jennings in a nightgown and I don't want to see poor teenagers forced to answer questions they aren't prepared to answer.