Another one takes the plunge!

The Blogoshere has another new member, My sister, Megan (aka Mugsy) has joined the blogging world. She still needs to devlop her blog legs (sort of like sea legs, nothing like frog legs), and learn a little about raw html, but with the amount of time this girl spends on the web, her blog will be showing us all up in no time!

Welcome Mugs! Happy blogging!

I guess it pays to be a "Grandma" Driver

Ok. I am 26 years old; I have had a driver’s license for 10 years and 1 month. In that period of time I have received one speeding ticket and been in two accidents that were not my fault. I don't drive extremely slow or carefully for that matter, although in my old age I have reduced my average driving speed just a touch from where it was in my early college years. I presumed that all of this was because I am fairly conservative and I just don't get a thrill out of being reckless. I was wrong. I just discovered that the real reason I drive slower these days is because it's cheaper!

Yesterday I received my car insurance renewal statement from State Farm in the mail. I was very concerned when I looked the statement over (again something I wouldn't have done in years past) because there was no 3-Star discount indicated on the bill. State Farm gives a series of star discounts to drivers who have not had any traffic violations in a said period of time. 3-Star is the highest level of discount that you can receive. So, this morning, I called my agent to see what the deal was. Turns out that the bill is correct, I don't receive a 3-Star discount anymore. I don't receive it because I have been moved into a Mutual Plan. She said they upgrade people to this status as a reward for a blemish-free driving record and explained to me that a Mutual Plan is better because it is less expensive AND because they will no longer be checking my driving record yearly, so any speeding tickets I may get will not count against me. THIS ROCKS!!

A PSA to my fellow citizens..watch out....my gas pedal just became my new best friend!!!

A comforting sound and Oklahoma's BAD week...

Whether or not you're a fan of Dickie V or not you would be hard pressed not to appreciate the sound of him calling the first NCAA basketball game of the season. The sound truly warms my heart. Don't get me wrong, I will be annoyed with him by the time January rolls around, but last night it was like hearing the voice of a long lost friend as he called the Coaches v. Cancer games on ESPN2. There were two good games last night between four quality programs. The Oklahoma Sooners bad luck followed them to the hardwood last night as they were upset by Alabama 68-62. Memphis held the upper hand for almost the entire game, despite a late game rally, against the Orangemen of Syracuse as they beat them 70-63.

Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse's fab freshman, was impressive in his college debut. He scored 21 points in the first half and 6 in the second. But...I have a little message for Mr. Anthony...LEARN TO SHOOT YOUR FREE THROWS! There is no excuse for missing free throws in the NCAA. You are on a full ride scholarship to shoot the basketball, when you are put on the line you have a chance to score 2 FREE points (thus the term free throw...) you should shoot at least 75-80% from the line. Games are won and lost at the line. If you can improve your percentage at the line and score the way you did last night...you have a wonderful career ahead of you! (Just a side note, at least Anthony knows he is weak at the line...this is his quote "I'm very pleased with my performance," he said. "Except for my free throws. Gotta work on those.")

2 games down...378 to go!!!

New Orleans or BUST!
Ok...I'm trying to avoid posting about sports because I really do have other things to talk about but...I can't avoid making this post because today is such an important day in the sports world...

The annual regular season basketball kickoff tournament, The Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, tips off tonight with #8 Alabama v. #3 Oklahoma (that's good news for our favorite OU fan Aaron) and Memphis (thankfully they are Dajuan Wagner free this year) v. Syracuse. Tomorrow, Villanova squares off against #19 Marquette and to complete the classic field #5 Texas faces #16 Georgia. (It is important to note that there has been a format change. Coaches v. Cancer is not a tournament this year, rather it's a classic, one game for each team and no championship round.)

These early season tournaments/classics are usually full of upsets (take for instance Ball State's run last year in Hawaii) and aren't necessarily indicative of who will be dancing in March, but as Memphis coach John Claipari said on ESPN...it gives the teams a chance to see where they're weak. I think the field at Madison Square Garden tonight has at least 4 teams who will be in contention for the round of 16 in March. One of the most exciting thing about these 8 teams is their youth...together they have a considerable number of freshman who will hit the hardwood for the first time tonight and tomorrow night. It's always exciting (to me at least) to get the first glimpse of the next College Hoops superstars...MAN DO I LOVE THIS GAME!

Martha cancels Christmas! Children everywhere mourn!

There won't be any pretty glass ornaments, strings of cranberries, or delicate cookies. No sugar cube houses. No themed wreaths or do-it-yourself tree chopping segments. Due to the insider trading scandal/media frenzy that Martha Stewart is drowning in, she has canceled Christmas. No, she hasn't canceled the entire holiday, just her highly rated prime-time CBS Christmas special (which for some of us is a highly regarded Christmas ritual).

I suppose she canceled because she was having a hard time developing creative uses for the coal that Santa is leaving her, and the idea of valueless Stock Certificates or recycled "from the desk of M. Stewart, board member NYSE" letterhead being turned into paper wreaths does just suck the spirit out of the season.

Two more useless sites to visit...
Because I am not at all interested in being a productive employee today, I have been sucked in by random web sites...
Here are two more to check out that involve two of my favorite foods...beer and pasta...

For those of you who appreciate the many roles that a tall glass of beer can play in your life check out Joseph C. Topping's site My life is Beer. He offers a forum for users to rank their favorite brew as well as insights into brewpubs, breweries and bars across the country. My two favorite beers are reviewed on the site, Fat Tire(from New Blegium Brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado) rates an 8.45 out of 10 and Anchor Liberty Ale (from Anchor Brewing Co. in San Francisco, CA) rates an 8.67 out of 10.

If you've ever been to an upscale or ethnic restaurant and been perplexed by the type of pasta being offered in a certain dish, I have a solution for you. Whip out your internet phone or lap-top and pull up this site...The World Directory of Pasta Shapes and Names. You will be able to find the name of your pasta, and possibly a picture...for example...Cicorietta is really just Orzo...it just sounds fancier I suppose!
(Can you believe there even is such a site??? This just goes to prove...no matter what the subject matter, someone in the world is a fanatic about it.)

Plastic Surgery in Springfield
I'm not a faithful Simpsons watcher by any means. I enjoy the show when I catch it, but that is not very often. Anyways...I just heard this on the radio...
...in an upcoming episode of the Simpson's Marge gets bigger boobs. She's apparently going to have plastic surgery to remove "fat" and augment her bust line, as well as please dear old Homey. Marge Simpson will be the first cartoon character to go under the knife for a boob job.....I suppose that's something to go down in history for!

Thomas Jefferson
Ok...this should keep you guys busy for a little while, while I unbury my desk and find time to blog something of my own.

Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States (and the father of the libertarian ideal) is a fascinating individual and if you don't know about him...you should. Yahoo's site of the day today is Monticello...here is their blurb about the site...
"Thomas Jefferson's mansion, its grounds, and its adjacent plantation are as much a part of his life's work as writing the Declaration of Independence or founding the University of Virginia. The third U.S. president designed many aspects of his home, from the overall plan to the wine dumbwaiter to the parlor's automatic double doors. Explore the estate by following a day in the life of Jefferson or by viewing virtual-reality panoramas, starting at the entrance hall. The site doesn't stop at examining the house -- the Jefferson section features a biography, timeline, and articles about this founding father. Was he a vegetarian? What was his taste in music? How did he dress? Even the issue of whether or not Jefferson fathered children by his slave Sally Hemmings is addressed thoughtfully and with comprehensive research. A life as full and complicated as Thomas Jefferson's deserves nothing less than a site as detailed as this one. "

Hello everyone....
I sincerely apologize for the neglect of my blog this week. My lack of posts has very little to do with me not having anything to say, and much more to do with the fact that I am SLAMMED at work...I know...I should be ashamed of myself choosing to work rather than blog. I promise I will get my priorities straight and I will spend more time with my blog in the near future I appreciate your understanding and forgiveness!

A full second team
With the official start of the 2002-2003 College Basketball season only days away, it's good to see that the Iowa team has added two players to their roster so they have at least a 5 man bench going into the season. Rather than accepting out right walk-ons onto his team, coach Steve Alford, opted instead to pick up two ju-co transfers. Kurt Spurgeon comes to the Hawks from a ju-co in Texas. Spurgeon was originally recruited out of HS by Alford to play at SMSU, however prior to Spurgeon's freshman year Alford announced he was taking to Iowa job, thus Spurgeon opted not to go to SMSU. He transfers to Iowa as a junior. The second late addition to the struggling Hawks is Jack Brownlee. Brownlee is a native of Fort Dodge, Iowa and transfers to Iowa from Kirkwood Community College. From what I've read about Brownlee during HS and his Ju-Co years he was a solid scorer, averaging 12 pts per game last year, with 5 assists and 3 boards. Obviously you can't transfer those stats straight to NCAA basketball, but hopefully he'll be a good back up for our other scoring guards.

Warm up your televisions folks...the Hawks take to the hardwood tomorrow night in their first exhibition game, but the real deal is Thursday night on ESPN...the Coaches Vs. Cancer Tournament kicks off another exciting year of college basketball.

The next few weeks are heaven...college football and college basketball at the same time...it just doesn't get better than that!

Attention College Football Fans...

Are you befuddled by the BCS?

Feeling weak in the knees everytime you see roses?

Looking for answers to your New Years plans?

Here is a great answer key to your questions, (courtesy of ESPN) complete with ALL the BCS rules, Notre Dame exceptions and possible scenarios of what the college football postseason might shape up like this year... Check it out....On Iowa! Go Hawks!