We had a fire at work today. OK, it wasn't in my building, and as it turns out it wasn't even in a building owned by the school. It was in a private apartment building that's between two of our apartment buildings, and is about 50 yards from my office. I got to spend part of my lunch hour watching the proceedings, which involved a lot of smoke and many, many public safety vehicles.

There don't appear to have been any injuries, which is pretty surprising. In a building full of college students, you have to assume that at least a couple will be home and asleep at any given time. No word on the extent of the damage, but our students who live in there are being moved to on-campus spaces for the time being. I have a feeling they'll be there for a while.

Adding to the afternoon of craziness, an outbound Green Line trolley was stopped in the middle of the intersection about a half-hour ago, with a couple of police cars to keep it company. No idea if it broke down, hit someone, or contained a passenger of interest to John Q. Law, but it eventually got moving again.

I don't know if I really believe in the Rule of Three, but I may walk over to the Orange Line to go home. It's not the afternoon to tempt fate, apparently.

THE BLOGALICIOUS COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP TEN-PLUS

1. Florida (def. Mississippi 30-24) - if there were ever a game to make me want to change the rule about sitting national champs keeping the top spot, this would be it. Tebow looked impressive, but if he has to have an unreal game every week he's going to implode. Probably during the streak where they have to play at LSU, at Kentucky, or at Georgia. Probably not this week, given how the Tigers have been playing.

Next opponent: Auburn

2. LSU (def. South Carolina 28-16) - offense? Check. Defense? Check. Special teams? You can check that box now. As if opponents needed more to be concerned about when playing LSU.

Next opponent: at Tulane

3. Oklahoma (def. Tulsa 62-21) - the win over Tulsa marked the Sooners smallest margin of victory to date. I imagine they'll win by less than six touchdowns this weekend. Though a five TD and a field goal margin wouldn't be surprising.

Next opponent: at Colorado

4. USC (def. Washington State 47-14) - I should probably have the Trojans higher, but I figure it'll sort itself out over time. A win this weekend like last weekend's will help.

Next opponent: at Washington

5. West Virginia (def. East Carolina 48-7) - the Mountaineers are finally putting it all together. Unfortunately for them, it looks like the Bulls have done the same.

Next opponent: at South Florida (9/28)

6. California (def. Arizona 45-27) - a rather comfortable homestand comes to a sudden halt with a trip up the road to Eugene. This could look like that Bengals-Browns game from a couple of weeks ago, especially if the likes of Louisiana Tech haven't prepared the Golden Bears for Dennis Dixon.

Next opponent: at Oregon

7. Ohio State (def. Northwestern 58-7) - another toughie on the road before the season's first big test. In case you didn't catch it, I was being sarcastic about this week being tough. The Gophers defense is easier to score on than (insert name of starlet/celebutante here).

Next opponent: at Minnesota

8. Texas (def. Rice 58-14) - considering the number of high school teams in Texas that could likely hang a similar score on the Owls, I can't say this makes up for the close call against Central Florida. They do have a classic trap game this week, what with the annual tilt with Oklahoma on tap next week. Throw in the revenge motive for last year's loss, and you've got a very interesting ball game on tap. But one that the Longhorns should really still win.

Next opponent: Kansas State

9. Wofford (def. Appalachian State 42-31) - the Big House is apparently no preparation for the gridiron bedlam that is Gibbs Stadium. 13,000 seats of sheer mayhem, it is. All kidding aside, I have to give props to the only football team at the division I level (FBS or FCS) to bear the Terrier name.

Next opponent: at Furman

10. Oregon (def. Stanford 55-31) - OK, I have no idea how they let Stanford score 31, but the continued offensive onslaught is impressive. That and I'm pretty much bobbing for teams at this point. Thank God for the conference schedules starting up so we can get some separation.

Next opponent: Cal

109. Louisville (lost to Syracuse 35-38) - the loss to Kentucky is understandable. It's a rivalry game, and most of the state roots for the Wildcats. And really, it was a matter of time before they finally took one. But losing - at home, no less - to Syracuse? A team that hadn't lost a game by less than three touchdowns all season? That's inexcusable.

Next opponent: at North Carolina State

Book Log 2007 #38: The Archivist's Story by Travis Holland

One of the problems with how I do the Book Log is that I tend not to write the book up until I'm going to post. Which, a couple months after the fact, makes it hard to remember specifics about why I did or didn't like a book. Or, in this case, what the book was even about.

Turns out this is about a low-level KGB clerk who decides, after meeting Isaac Babel during the latter's imprisonment, to save one of his stories that is in the KGB archive awaiting destruction. This just adds to the tension that comes with working for the KGB, having politically questionable friends, being a widower whose wife died under still-unsolved circumstances, and a mother who is beginning to suffer the mental ravages of old age. Put all of this in 1939, at the eve of World War II, and you have a book that sounds like it should be pretty gloomy.

And while there is gloom, my impression of the book is that it was hopeful in its own way, nicely paced and, unusually, perhaps too short. I think I would have liked more time with some of the characters, or at least more about the time that's covered in the book. So I liked it, even if I had to jog my memory a bit.

Back to trivia last night, resulting in what might be the oddest win I've been involved with, which I'll detail in answering the questions:

What was the name of the enemy dojo in The Karate Kid? Cobra Kai - generationally, I'm the person on the team that should have gotten this. I wasn't. Then again, I don't think I've seen the original all the way through. The one where they go to Japan? Several times. I have no explanation.

Who is the oldest player to hit a home run in the MLB All Star Game? Cal Ripken, Jr. (Paul) - I was pushing for Carlton Fisk, but he has the record for oldest player with a hit. The guy I worked with came up with Ripken, thankfully.

What basketball player once challenged NBA commissioner David Stern to a naked wrestling match? Dennis Rodman - really, who else would it be? Some thought was given to Ron Artest, but this made too much sense.

What is the name of Jack Nicholson's character in A Few Good Men? Colonel Nathan R. Jessup (Hyph) - nothing special here, just one of the tougher questions of the night.

Who competes in the Olympics using the following codes: ISL, PUR, TPE? ISL - Iceland (Mike B.), PUR - Puerto Rico (Paul), TPE - Taiwan (Mike B.) - the bonus round was to name ten countries based on their Olympic country code. We were the only team to get Iceland, as everyone else went with Israel. Taiwan wasn't one of the ten, but after Iceland and Puerto Rico the rest were pretty straightforward, so I thought I'd add another harder one.

How many horses have won the Triple Crown - 5, 8, or 11? Eleven - this was the final question, which irritated the hell out of me because (a) we didn't know it, and (b) by being multiple choice, it increased the odds that someone would win on a guess. Didn't work out that way, as everyone guessed incorrectly and everyone bet all their points (we were gunning for the perfect game, otherwise we'd have done the math).

To the nearest hundred, how many Applebees restaurants are there in the US? 1700 - I think the host got this from the restaurant manager, who told us the exact number but I can't remember it. We guessed 511, which seems comically low until you consider the other guesses, none of which went north of 400. The comparative lack of Applebees in New England worked to our advantage, and we took the win.

Book Log 2007 #37: Eagle Blue by Michael D'Orso

There's a lot to like about this book, which follows a season of the boy's high school basketball team from Fort Yukon, Alaska, a town predominantly populated by natives. On the one hand it follows the Friday Night Lights blueprint pretty well, giving us an insight into the wider community by examining the ups and downs of the season.

I think where the book might falter is in the increased focus on the coach rather than the boys who make up the team. Part of that may be simple utility; it's probably easier to access the coach than the players. That being said, I didn't feel like the book followed through from the more even focus between players and adults that opened things.

All in all, it's still a well-written and entertaining book about a team and a community at the fringe of America.

Thanks to all who donated for the PKD walk, which went pretty well, good weather (bright sun, cool to warm as the morning progressed) and good friends to walk with, but the pre-walk speechifying wasn't so hot.

You can see the route here, as we walked the stretches of Soliders Field Road and Greenough Boulevard bounded by the two bridges at the northeast and southwest cornerns of the map. It may not be the best route for a charity walk, given that we were stuck to the sidewalk on the bridges and for a decent length of Greenough we were walking on the shoulder of the road. Perhaps as it gets more established it'll get a better spot.

Not that they could have had the Esplanade, as it was booked for the weekend for some blues festival. I note this because, as is becoming standard practice for Hatch Shell shows they're closing down a lane of traffic by the Shell for parking. Because why would you need all the lanes of the city's most important east-west arterial road on a weekend?

We got stuck in that traffic on Saturday, as we were meeting friends for dinner, after which the wives took in the So You Think You Can Dance tour, leaving the husbands to hang out and watch sports. A fair trade for all involved. This also allowed me to see the continuing gentrification of BU's West Campus, between the now closed Store 24 and the Coldstone Creamery that's where the Korean place (former Mrs. Wilson's for those of you who go back as far as I do) used to be. The McDonald's has been closed for a while, but I can't say I lament that. At least not until it becomes a Starbucks or something.

Not much else to note from the weekend. Watched lots of football, but I bore you enough with that during the week.

With the PKD walk coming up on Sunday, I figured I'd take one more go at getting donations.

Feast your peepers on this page to donate. There's even a scrolling thank you gizmo that will display your generosity for all to see. How can you beat that? Well, OK, several ways, but it's supposed to be about the giving and whatnot now, isn't it?

BLOGALICIOUS COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP TEN-PLUS

1. Florida (def. Tennessee 59-20) - clearly, offense isn't going to be a problem for the Gators. Defense, well, they have until October 6 to sort things out.

Next opponent: at Mississippi

2. LSU (def. Middle Tennessee 44-0) - no problems with offense or defense here, though this wasn't exactly a test of either. Certainly more of a test this week for both sides of the ball; maybe an opponent will actually crack double digits. Not that I'd bet on it.

Next opponent: South Carolina

3. USC (def. Nebraska 49-31) - that takes care of some of the concerns coming out of the Idaho game, but the first half was still a little sluggish, probably understandable given the week off. I think they'll work through things this week, too.

Next opponent: Washington State

4. West Virginia (def. Maryland 31-14) - speaking of sluggish, at some point a team is going to jump out to enough of a lead on the Mountaineers that they can't use the second half to grab the win. There are those back-to-back games against Rutgers and Louisville they may want to think about. Not to mention this week, which appears to be a game they should win easily, but the Pirates have been playing everyone close.

Next opponent: East Carolina

5. Oklahoma (def. Utah State 54-3) - I'd have put the Sooners ahead of West Virginia if they'd gotten to 70 points like I predicted. Thanks for nothing! I am fully expecting 50 points this week against a Golden Hurricane team that BYU lit up like a Christmas tree.

Next opponent: Tulsa (9/21)

6. Appalachian State (def. Northern Arizona 34-21) - what sort of weak-ass performance is this? Normally a 13 point win is fine, but this year? You'd better get north of 20, especially if you want to retain your plush ranking here.

Next opponent: Wofford

7. California (def. Louisiana Tech 42-12) - I didn't think that schedules were supposed to get easier as the season progressed, but that's clearly the case here considering that this week's opponent, Arizona, has only beaten Northern Arizona and lost a squeaker last week to New Mexico. Expect to see Pop Warner teams on the schedule by week 8.

Next opponent: Arizona

8. Ohio State (def. Washington 33-14) - I don't buy that Washington is all that good - yet - but it's still a good road win for the Buckeyes, especially in the wake of a sloppy game against Akron. More purple this week, though after losing to Duke the Wildcats may want to adopt a hue closer to blush.

Next opponent: Northwestern

9. Rutgers (def. Norfolk State 59-0) - with Texas, Wisconsin, and Penn State not playing up to par, the toss-up goes to the team that crushed someone, even if they are a 1-AA team. And as they have the week off, I expect someone will do something to bump the Scarlet Knights out next week.

Next opponent: Maryland (9/29)

10. New Hampshire (def. Marshall 48-35) and Portland State (def. Sacramento State 35-24) - I didn't know who to highlight here - the Wildcats for beating their third divison I opponent in four seasons, or the Vikings for getting their first win under head coach Jerry Glanville. Why not both?

Next opponents: Dartmouth (UNH), at San Diego State (Portland State)

109. Duke (def. Northwestern 20-14) - and here I thought we were going to get set up for Duke to snap its losing streak against Notre Dame. Now the Blue Devils go for two in a row, something they haven't done since the heady days of 2003, when they knocked off Western Carolina and Rice back-to-back en route to a 4-8 season.

Next opponent: at Navy

Book Log 2007 #36: Morning Spy, Evening Spy by Colin McKinnon

Set in the months prior to 9/11, Morning Spy, Evening Spy is set in the framework of that event but follows a much more personal story, as an intelligence agent trying to unravel the killing of an American with murky CIA ties in Pakistan. The investigation uncovers layers of deception and paranoia within the CIA, which wind up translating into the agent's own relationship with a Washington journalist.

The action in the book is juxtaposed with the actual movements of the 9/11 terrorists, but the action rarely intersects. Rather, the story told by the book helps to demonstrate, if not explain, the ways in which something like 9/11 can be missed by the very people paid to look for it.

I do think that the ending was a little cute, but it's about the only issue I had with framing the story around 9/11. There are probably a few too many characters - I found myself backtracking well into the book - but it's a solid intelligence thriller/procedural, a nice change from other entries that make the CIA either too demonic or too omniscent.

Book Log 2007 #35: Death of an Expert Witness by P. D. James

The last of the vacation books, it's easily the best of the older Dalgliesh books I've read. A killing at a forensic lab throws suspicion on just about everyone, with the added complications of how the killer managed to get at the victim in the first place.

Good balance between the personal lives of the lab workers and other characters with the procedural aspects of the case. The solution did seem to appear out of thin air a bit, I think. Still, a solid member of the series.

BLOGALICIOUS COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP TEN-PLUS

1. Florida (def. Troy 59-31) - I defy anyone to come to any conclusions about this year's Florida team based on its first two games. Other than that Troy can move the ball on their reserves.

Next opponent: Tennessee

2. LSU (def. Virginia Tech 48-7) - the average Thanksgiving turkey isn't decimated as fully as the Hokies were last weekend. So much for the year's top defensive struggle. It doesn't seem fair that all of LSU's future opponents who are currently ranked have to play in Baton Rouge.

Next opponent: Middle Tennessee State

3. Oklahoma (def. Miami 51-13) - you'd be excused if you thought the Sooners played Miami of Ohio. They didn't. This game could be a case of Oklahoma being that good and Miami being that bad. I'll be surprised if OU can't break 70 this week.

Next opponent: Utah State

4. USC (idle) - it's always a good idea to have a week off when other top contenders don't look so hot. Had USC played this week and won by anything less than 40, LSU would probably be the top team in the land. Heck, they may be this time next week.

Next opponent: at Nebraska

5. Appalachian State (def. Lenoir-Rhyne 48-7) - I'd have kept the Mountaineers at number two if they'd shut out L-R. Way to mess things up, third string!

Consider this: App State had more points this week in the AP poll than Florida State, Miami, Michigan, and Notre Dame combined. Then again, those teams are a combined 1-7.

Next opponent: Northern Arizona

6. Texas (def. TCU 34-13) - I think Texas-Arkansas State was a trap game - for TCU. Texas gets the nod here given how lackluster most of the top 10 teams played last week. They at least had the courtesy to play like crap in their opening week, which such things might be expected.

Next opponent: Central Florida

7. West Virginia (def. Marshall 48-23) - between this and the Louisville game, you'd think that the WAC had moved east. They might as well just make it official and become Arena Legaue teams.

This game was billed as the Friends of Coal Bowl. It will be followed up in three weeks when Acadaia takes on the University of New Brunswick in the Friends of Acid Rain Bowl.

Next opponent: at Maryland (9/13)

8. California (def. Colorado State 34-28) - one of the many lackluster wins of the week, but at least they have a reason for a week 2 letdown. Thankfully, they have some cushion if things last into week 3.

Next opponent: Louisiana Tech

9. UCLA (def. BYU 27-17) - there are about a dozen teams I could put here. Really, it's a crap shoot here. I'm going with the Bruins for now. It'll probably change next week.

Next opponent: at Utah

10. Western Kentucky (def. West Virginia Tech 87-0) - the Hilltoppers celebrate their first year as a division 1 team by setting a new NCAA divisional mark for points in a quarter with 49 in the first frame. Of course, they had to play a division II team to do it, so expect the asterisk brigade to be along soon.

Next opponent: Eastern Kentucky

109. Temple (lost to Buffalo 42-7) - the Owls were favored for the first time in three seasons. They lost by 35. Sadly, neither Duke nor FIU are on the schedule for this season. Expect the MAC to boot Temple for Western Kentucky by 2009.

Next opponent: at Connecticut

Went back to trivia last night, where we had the Whose Line is it Anyway? game, wherein we missed two questions going into the final question and finished last. Had I only gotten the million points for Party Quirks...

I don't remember most of the questions, but I do have a few:

George Alan O'Dowd was the lead singer of what band? Culture Club (JQ) - we got this one wrong because the guy who was writing answers down put "The Country Club" rather than Culture Club. Someone did see this, but as she was only partially paying attention her objections were not particularly strong. This is what we get for sitting right next to the speaker.

How many years had the genie been stuck in the lamp in the animated Disney film Aladdin? 10,000 years - I was able to justify an answer for an earlier question on the film by noting I'd seen it the previous week. I then had to recant a bit and note that I'd only seen the opening. Thankfully, we did get the question from the part of the movie I saw. I just needed to keep watching.

What 1996 film co-starred David Schwimmer and Gwyneth Paltrow? The Pallbearer (G. Reaper) - after the Culture Club debacle, I was allowed to write this one down. That's about the only interesting thing with this question, which just seemed random. I assume the guy running the game saw it on cable over the weekend.

What MLB pitcher, in his career, faced Roger Maris, Sammy Sosa, and Mark McGwire? Nolan Ryan (G. Reaper) - this was the final question, and the guy who writes the answers down immediately came up with Tom Seaver. He was sure of it, which I now learned is only a true indication of being correct about 85 percent of the time. He picked a bad time to land in that other 15 percent. Turns out Seaver retired after 1986, while Sammy brought his cork and nandralone show to the bigs in 1989.

The more interesting part of the night was watching the Sox game. I predicted a 15-11 finish, we got 16-10. I say my prediction is still good, it's just the accounting that's off.

While I was told I didn't have to raise money, I am participating in a walk in a couple of weeks to support research into Polycystic Kidney Disease, and feel like I should at least try. So I'm going the low-key approach.

This link should get you to my page about the walk and donating. At least I hope it does; the site is a little murky as to the specific URL I should use.

Book Log 2007 #34: Just Kick It by Mark St. Amant

I'd read this a while ago, and am not sure how it didn't come up in turn, but I suppose it's a more fitting mention this time of year. St. Amant, a writer with less than pleasant memories of his scholastic soccer career, finds himself drawn back into competitive sports when he becomes the kicker for the Boston Panthers, a semi-pro team made up primarily of players from Roxbury and surrounding neighborhoods. This not only makes St. Amant a fish out of water physically - being smallish and more years removed from sports than his teammates - but in social and emotional ways as well, as being white and college-educated puts him in the minority for once.

There's a danger that this sort of story could veer into sociological territory that tries to draw conclusions from too small a sample size, but that doesn't happen here. The story that is told is funny, inspiring, at times sad and frustrating, but it's always told well. It also helps to demonstrate how sports can, with its focus on teamwork, help people come together when normally they wouldn't.

Very highly recommended, one of the best books I've read this year.

I was on the fence about bringing this back, but figured if nothing else, it'll irritate Greg.

THE BLOCALICIOUS COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP 10-PLUS!

1. Florida (def. Western Kentucky 49-3) - same rule as last year, the defending national champ gets to be number 1 until they lose. Which I don't think will be this week.

Next opponent: Troy

2. Appalachian State (def. Michigan 34-32) - they are also a defending national champ, just at the next level down from Florida. Which makes me think I might keep them at number 2 until they lose.

Does anyone else think that App State could win the Sun Belt outright, and give most of the ACC and Big East a run for their money? Can we give them a battlefield promotion and make Duke play in the Southern Conference? Please?

Related kudos to Nicholls State for beating Rice, though that's not quite an upset.

Next opponent: Lenoir Rhyne - whoever he is

3. LSU (def. Mississippi State 45-0) - at least LSU started with a conference opponent and on the road. That's more than most top-level teams did in the first week. And while I think they'll win this week, playing a game of this magnitude early in the season can be asking for trouble. Ask Tennessee.

Next opponent: Virginia Tech

4. West Virginia (def. Western Michigan 62-24) - good solid opening thumping, though given the opening schedule I'd swear that the Mountaineers joined the MAC. And when was the last time two teams with the nickname Mountaineers were in a football poll together?

Next opponent: at Marshall

5. California (def. Tennessee 45-31) - they played a highly-ranked opponent and won, so they get extra points. Which, if they play defense the same way all season, they'll need desperately.

Next opponent: at Colorado State

6. USC (def. Idaho 38-10) - not that impressive an opening, even with the healthy point differential. They really need to find a way to play all nine of their top-flight tailbacks at once. Maybe they can sort this out on the off week.

Next opponent: at Nebraska (9/15)

7. Wisconsin (def. Washington State 42-21) - I have nothing to say about this game, though it's the best opponent the Badgers will face this month.

Next opponent: at UNLV

8. Louisville (def. Murray State 73-10). Insert ironic joke about a team nicknamed the Racers losing by 63.

Next opponent: Middle Tennessee State (9/6)

9. Virginia Tech (def. East Carolina 17-7) - I believe I am required by law to rank the Hokies this week.

Next opponent: at LSU

10. Mount Union (def. Averett 75-7) - the 24th consecutive win by the defending Divison III champs, they get ranked by setting a new NCAA record for points in a quarter, with 52. They were up 72-0 at halftime, so at least Averett can take solace in winning the second half.

Next opponent: Otterbein (9/15)

109. Notre Dame (lost to Georgia Tech 33-3) - it was not as close as the score indicated. Appalachian State would have won by 50. Charlie Weis would have been better off naming his starter in July. Start the Jimmy Claussen transfer rumors now, if you haven't already. They'll be luck to cross midfield this week.

Next opponent: at Penn State

Book Log 2007 #33: Citizen Washington by William Martin

This seemed like an appropriate title to start on the 4th of July, especially as I was in England at the time. Not a lot of parades or fireworks, as you can imagine.

The book is set after the death of Washington, and takes the form of a memoir by a man who was set out by his uncle to write Washington's story. The uncle has nefarious intent, as he's keen to get dirt on Washington for both personal and political reasons. This gives the book the usual Martin set-up of a main character trying to find something that may or may not exist.

The narrator here runs into fewer life-threatening problems than usual in Martin's books (he does get the cold shoulder a few times, and does encounter the occasional pistol), forcing the stories of the people he interviews to drive things. Which works pretty well, as we get a decent accounting of a pre-Presidential Washington from sources ranging from household slaves to Washington's one (apparently) true love, Sally Fairfax.

The vast majority of the story takes place up to Washington becoming President. I'd have liked more of the story of his Presidency and retirement, though it probably makes sense that the focus is on the parts of Washington's life that weren't quite so public.

Recommended.

Things that struck me while perusing this list of anniversary presents:

* I was alternately surprised and saddened by the multiple entries for diamond under the modern gift column. Those clowns at DeBeers are everywhere.

* Would it be possible to have all the lists sync up a little more, especially in the early years? Look at wood, for example: it's the fifth anniversary gift on the US and UK lists, but for the sixth on the modern list. Similar problems with things like leather and linen, too. Who can make these changes? The UN? Hallmark?

* I'm also disturbed at the early anniversary modern gifts that, in many cases, would have been cleared up with wedding presents. China for a second anniversary seems redundant, unless you're one of those people for whom love is said with a gravy boat or whatever other random piece is missing from your set.

(Kudos to De Stijl for noting a good alternative take on china. Wish I'd thought of it.)

Anyway, it'd be better if these came in the five to ten year range, so you can replace broken stuff.

* Clearly, the folks running the metalworking and textile guilds have fallen asleep at the switch, or their checks haven't cleared. The modern list makes no mention of copper, tin, aluminum, steel, wool, iron, silk, or tungsten (tungsten? only the Brits). On the other hand, ivory is off the modern list, for which Babar thanks you.

* I also can't quite get my head around paper being replaced on the modern list by clocks. Paper has so many great options, while clocks... don't. Unless you're counting all the different styles of clocks... but even then there are at least as many styles of paper.

Clocks. Feh.

* There is something either wonderfully perverse or completely morbid about a 90th anniversary being celebrated with granite. Be wary if your spouse throws in free lettering.

This is the sort of crap that I think about when called into work on a holiday. Aren't you lucky? Not that you're reading it today; you're probably at the beach or poolside or something.