As I'm wont to do when I have nothing to write about, I went back and looked at past entries from this time of year. Turns out I have a tendency to write about unseasonable warmth (which we had last week in spades; roughly a week ago from right now the car's outside thermometer read 70 degrees) and Thanksgiving food. Then I ran across a piece in the Globe about how no one's stuffing is as good as your mom's, but when you marry you get not only in-laws but their (inferior) stuffing.

This leads me to admit that I like my mother in law's stuffing quite a bit. It not really that comparable with my mom's, which was a much more traditional cooked inside the bird sort of affair. So, in this case, I feel completely justified at liking both versions.

I can't say the same for that staple of middlebrow American Thanksgivings, the green bean casserole topped with French's French Fried Onions. My mother in law doesn't make this (being English and all), and no one in my family makes anything close.

Getting back to the Globe article, the author also mentions that there are two types of families: football families and parade and dog show families. I grew up in the former, and while I don't care for the parade, I am very happy to flip between football and the dog show. This is especially true this year, given that the early game is Miami versus Detroit. If the turkey doesn't knock you out, this match-up will. Later offerings - Dallas versus Tampa Bay and BC versus the U of Miami - aren't much better. The best game of the day - Denver against KC - is on the NFL Network, which I don't believe my in-laws get anymore.

Maybe NBC can repeat the dog show?

Blogalicious College Football Top 10

1. Ohio State (def. Michigan 42-39) - well, that settles that. Or at least half of that. Next opponent: TDB (1/8/07).

2. Michigan (lost to Ohio State, 39-42) - OK, I was in that camp that didn't want a rematch in the national title game. But now I think that there'd be worse things. So for now, the Wolverines hang tight. Next opponent: TBD.

3. Florida (def. Western Carolina 62-0) - I suppose having a game like this late in the schedule is a nice breather, but it seems a little odd to be playing a patsy when everyone else is fighting for their lives. It doesn't help that the Gators next game is shaping up to be a breather, too. Next opponent: at Florida State.

4. USC (def. California 23-9) - if USC does run the table, it's going to be hard to deny them a trip to Glendale. Next opponent: Notre Dame.

5. Notre Dame (def. Army 41-9) - kind of a breather here, too, but at least Army is in the same division as Notre Dame (nominally). An interesting match-up this week, at least in terms of who you root for: the team everyone is sick of because they've been in the title game so much of late, or the one everyone is sick of because they're Notre Dame? Next opponent: at USC.

6. Arkansas (def. Mississippi State 28-14) - an ugly conference win on the road, perhaps looking ahead a bit to the regular season finale. Next opponent: LSU (11/24).

7. Wisconsin (def. Buffalo 35-3) - this really should only count as half a win. I suppose it's a nice way to guarantee a win to close out the regular season. Next opponent: TBD.

8. Boise State (def. Utah State 49-10) - you know, Western Carolina may not have been that bad an opponent. I bet they'd be competitive in a game against Utah State. Next game: at Nevada.

9. West Virginia (def. Pittsburgh 45-27) and Lousiville (def. South Florida 41-8) - I like the idea of keeping these guys together, the Chang and Eng Bunker of the Big East. Getting to be too few one-loss teams to do this, though. Next opponents: WVU v. South Florida; UL at Pittsburgh.

10. Appalchian State (idle) - the Mountaineers took the top seed in the NCAA Division I Football Championship (the NCAA is apparently hoping to confuse us by not using the 1-AA label). Next opponent: Coastal Carolina.

Out of top 10:

Rutgers - for a week it was great fun, thinking that lightning would strike and we'd get a most unexpected team in Glendale. But then they had to go and get slapped around by a Cincinnati team that needed the win just to become bowl-eligible. Sad times along the banks of the Raritan.

I will admit to being somewhat concerned about US Air's hostile takeover bid of Delta, not because of the anti-trust concerns (the combined airline would be the US's largest carrier and would basically own the Boston-NYC-DC shuttle routes), but because US Air sucks. If forced to fly a legacy carrier I opt for Delta (with American a close second), for no reason other than having good luck with them. On the other end of things, I think the only airline I avoid more than US Air is Continental.

Looking at the data, they're all about the same on on-time performance (Continental beats the other two nationally and at Logan, while Delta is better than US Air at Logan but not nationally). Quick comparisons suggest that I should really avoid Northwest and United. Interestingly, two of the best airline for being on-time - Southwest and Frontier - don't fly into Logan. I suppose that says something.

Following up on Rutgers, Chris Rosenberg sent along an article from a local paper detailing how the Scarlet Knights can wind up in Glendale playing for the national title. They are:

Step one: win out

The biggest step, as without this nothing else matters. This may also be the toughest step, as Rutgers has to go to Morgantown to take on West Virginia to close the season. They've never beaten West Virginia at home. West Virginia is also on an 11 game winning streak against Rutgers.

Step two: have the loser of Ohio State-Michigan take a tumble in the polls

Probably the next most important step, but also the least predictable given that it's about off the field stuff. The article thinks that the best bet here is to have Michigan win, as the combination of a loss at home and lack of wins over currently-ranked opponents (just Texas; Iowa and Penn State were ranked when they played Ohio State but aren't now) would lower Ohio State in the eyes of the polls.

There's also some talk about not having a re-match in the title game (not sure if it's a lot of talk, saw an article on it on ESPN or Yahoo), so voters may try to do the math to keep it from happening either way.

Step three: USC loses to Cal or UCLA

Certainly possible, but USC gets Cal at home and then has to "travel" to UCLA.

Step four: Notre Dame loses to USC

Also possible, as the game is in L.A. and Notre Dame hasn't won this game since 2001. Alternately, ND could lose to Army this weekend and then beat USC to take both out of the picture. That'd be something.

Step five: Arkansas loses to LSU

Difficult given the way the Razorbacks are playing, but they have to go into Baton Rouge and may be looking ahead a bit to the SEC title game (assuming they don't lose to Mississippi State this weekend and go into the LSU game needing the win to make the title game).

Step six: Arkansas beats Florida in the SEC title game

Thus giving Florida its second loss.

Theoretically, all the other teams that could be undefeated (Boise State) or have one loss (Wisconsin, Louisville, and Wake Forest) would be too far back to catch up. Though I'd have to think a little bit more about Wake - they end the season with two ranked teams (Virginia Tech and Maryland), and (assuming wins over those two) an ACC title game tilt with nationally-ranked Georgia Tech. While none are highly-ranked, that'd be a lot of wins over ranked teams for the computers and voters to consider.

So there it is. It's just that easy, Rutgers.

Had a follow-up visit with the doctor yesterday (nothing serious), and was given a vaccine for pneumonia. I didn't know such a thing existed. Doing a little reading on it, I'm not sure why I got one - it seems like they're mostly given to the elderly, little kids, and the immunocompromised. I don't fall into any of those groups. I suppose it's related to the breathing thing, which I guess puts me more at risk to getting pneumonia. In any case, it's good for several years, so I won't have to deal with it again for a while.

My arm is hurting a bit where I got the shot, which I find odd (it didn't hurt yesterday) but is apparently not unusual.

Anyway, more fun to come with the flu shot. I've only gotten one of these before, thankfully without the common complaint of the shot making me sick.

The other odd thing is that I've apparently sprained my right middle finger. Not sure how that happened - unlike what Dave Barry says, I don't use it when driving - but my best guess from when it started hurting is that I did it in my sleep. Which comes as a surprise to none of you.

Blogalicious College Football Top 10

1. Ohio State (def. Northwestern 54-10) - the countdown has begun. Next opponent: MIchigan.

2. Michigan (def. Indiana 34-3) - Manningham's back, and just in time. The Wolverines look for their first win at the Horseshoe this century (OK, it's only their third oppotunity, but it just sounds so dramatic. Next opponent: at Ohio State.

3. Rutgers (def. Louisville 28-25) - they're undefeated and in a BCS conference, so there! You reap what you sow. Next opponent: at Cincinnati

4. Florida (def. South Carolina 17-16) - the Ol' Ball Coach nearly pulled it off. The importance of special teams has never been clearer. Kind of sad to think that the Gamecocks are on the bubble for a bowl, they play the big teams so close. Florida, meanwhile, should coast to the SEC title game. Next opponent: Western Carolina.

5. USC (def. Oregon 35-10) - solid home win over a ranked opponent. Now they just have to do it two more times in a row. Good luck with that. Next opponent: California.

6. Arkansas (def. Tennessee 31-14) - it only took 10 weeks, but the Razorbacks are getting BCS notice. Now you just need to win next week to get into the SEC title game. Next opponent: at Mississippi State.

7. Notre Dame (def. Air Force 39-17) - if they win next week, do they get the Commander in Chief's Trophy? Next opponent: Army.

8. Wisconsin (def. Iowa 24-21) - they never win pretty, but the Badgers have fought their way to 10-1. They'd be toast of the conference... if they didn't play in the Big 10. Enjoy the Outback Bowl. Next opponent: Buffalo.

9. Boise State (def. San Jose State 23-21) - undefeated and unloved by the BCS. Sorry, Broncs. Next game: Utah State.

10. West Virginia (def. Cincinnati 42-24) and Lousiville (lost to Rutgers 25-28) - they know how the other feels. Misery loves company. Next opponents: WVU at Pittsburgh (11/16); UL v. South Florida.

Out of top 10:

Texas, Auburn, California - two losses and out you go.

Hawaii - they blew out Louisiana Tech, but already had two losses.

Legal scholars and foodies, take note. The burrito is not a sandwich.

At least that's the ruling of a court here in Massachusetts. For those not wanting to hit the link (or if the Globe has hidden the article in the part they want you to pay for), a Panera in Shrewsbury sued their landlord contending that by renting another space in the same plaza to Qdoba, they violated a condition of the lease allowing Panera to be the plaza's exclusive sandwich-maker.

Now, cases like this makes me wish I had gone into practice. I'd just need to make sure I had enough Oust for the conference room.

Book Log 2006 #53: Heretic by Bernard Cornwell

The final book in the Grail trilogy, and I have to say it was disappointing. I didn't buy into the new female character that was introduced (too forced), and I was able to sort out how the quest was going to end pretty early into things (though the ultimate resolution fit the overall story).

I'm a little concerned about the final book in the Alfred the Great trilogy going the same route. I'll apparently be able to find out in January 2007.

Book Log 2006 #52: Knights of the Black and White by Jack Whyte

The first book in a promised trilogy about the Knights Templar, this hefty novel covers their founding and the search for a treasure based on a previous legend. There are various side stories involving a princess of Jersualem and an assassin in her employ, which just adds to the bulk.

For all of what happens in the book it never feels like its moving all that much. There's also a shift in the middle of the book with the addition of a new knight, and the shift pretty much pushes the main characters out of the picture for a decent number of pages.

So while it filled the time while commuting, I don't think I'd search out the next installment.

Not sure why, but election nights have maintained a Christmas Eve-like level of wonder and excitement for me. I don't leave milk and cookies out for Wolf Blitzer or anything, but there's something about watching the process unfold over the night that I find fascinating, inasmuch as it verifies that our system, flawed as it is, still works.

I turned on the TV last night at about 8:01, just in time to see Deval Patrick get named the winner of the governor's race here. No big surprise there. Spent the rest of the night (minus an interlude for House forced by our recording two shows at once) flipping between CNN, Fox, and New England Cable News to catch results. This was the first election where I spent almost no time with the on-air networks, focused mostly on the last few minutes of Nightline's coverage on the bedroom TV (no cable). I suppose this comes, at least in part, from the networks not going to election coverage until later in the night, by which time I'd gotten used to flipping between the cable outlets.

Between CNN and Fox, I am surprised to say that I favored Fox's coverage a bit more. CNN had way too many talking heads, from Blitzer and Jeff Greenfield walking back and forth looking at various large monitors (it felt like they were window shopping at the mall), to Anderson Cooper moderating two different groups - one group of four with Carville, Begala, JC Watts, and Bill Bennett, the other of three people I didn't recognize. Fox kept it to a few of the expected people - Hume, Barnes, Kondracke, and one other guy whose name I think I'm misremembering (Juan Williams?) - and had better graphics, I thought (though CNN's "see-saw" depiction of the balance in the House, Senate, and governorships was neat).

Not surprisingly, the Fox coverage was a little more subdued. I had expected funerial music and a black border around the screen, really.

Not much to say about the crop of people we elected up here. No real surprises, and while I'm still wary about Patrick's ability to pay for everything he'd like to do without soaking us further, I'd rather have him giving it a go than continuing on with the current leadership. Besides, this frees Healey up to stump for Mitt.

The ballot question on wine sales in food stores lost pretty handily, which was our one surprise. The folks opposing this question seemed to get more ads on air in the last week or so, not sure if that made the difference or not. That makes it a pretty bad election year all around for the Stop & Shop supermarket chain - Deb Goldberg (whose family founded the chain) lost the Democratic lieutenant governor primary, and it's estimated that they put up about 70 percent of the money in support of the question.

Blogalicious College Football Top 10

1. Ohio State (def. Illinois 17-10) - it's apparently possible to be looking ahead more than one week in advance. That or purple scares the Buckeyes more than I thought. Next opponent: at Northwestern.

2. Michigan (def. Ball State 34-26) - do they know they were playing Ball State and not Louisville? I know it's the same mascot, but the similarities end there. Next opponent: at Indiana.

3. Texas (def. Oklahoma State 36-10) - do you get the sense that there are a whole lot of new Rutgers fans in Austin nowadays? Next opponent: at Kansas State.

4. Louisville (def. West Virginia 44-34) - well, they kept West Virinia below their usual scoring average. That has to count for something. Still, I didn't know these guys played in the WAC. Next opponent: at Rutgers (11/9).

5. Florida (def. Vanderbilt 25-19) - the Gators gave up 391 yards to Vandy, and played a little more closely than they'd like going into this week, given how the Gamecocks are playing most teams close. Throw in Spurrier, and it should be an uncomfortable week of practice in Gainesville. Next opponent: South Carolina.

6. USC (def. Stanford 42-0) - hope the Trojans enjoyed themselves this week, as they've got actual opponents for the rest of the season. Next opponent: Oregon.

7. Auburn (def. Arkansas State 27-0) - it's kind of funny to think of Georgia and Alabama as a favorable schedule, but with Arkansas playing Tennessee and LSU to close the season, Auburn has room to be optimistic about the SEC title game. Next opponent: Georgia.

8. California (def. UCLA 38-24) - they've come back nicely from their season-opening blowout at the hands of Tennessee, and should continue the trend this week before taking on the Trojans. Next opponent: at Arizona.

9. West Virginia (lost to Louisville 34-44) - defense wins championships, even in college. Next opponent: Cincinnati.

10. Hawaii (def. Utah State 63-10) - the (Rainbow) Warriors became the first team to accept a bowl bid, taking a berth in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl to be played on Christmas Eve. This guarantees that the stadium will be at least one-third full. They'll play a Pac-10 team (my guess is either Arizona or Washington State, depending on how they finish up). Next opponent: Louisiana Tech.

Out of the Top 10:

Tennessee - No two loss teams allowed. Sorry, Tennessee!

Cal Poly - lost to Montana, who should get promoted to the WAC or something.

Temple - planted the seed of a new losing streak in the fertile ground of Lincoln Financial Field, getting thumped by Central Michigan.

Book Log 2006 #51: The Mission Song by John LeCarre

I'm not sure if this is LeCarre's best post-Cold War book, but it's pretty close. Bruno Salvador, the son of a missionary priest and a Congolese woman, is an interpreter specializing in local languages of East Africa. Now living in London, he is chosen to interpret a secret meeting between some locally powerful players in a section of the DR Congo (formerly Zaire) and a British group that may or may not be an official government delegation. From there, his background and involvement with a nurse originally from the area being discussed leads him in some very unexpected directions (I know that's a little vague and blurbish, but I'm not going to get into specifics).

LeCarre has done very well making the transition from the Cold War to a much grayer world (with some less savory forays), and his focus on Africa (between this book and The Constant Gardner) throws some welcome light on to what are generally unknown issues and conflicts. Recommended.

I just got this announcment:

"On Saturday Nov 4 and Sunday Nov 5, work on COFAN is being scheduled during the 5:00am - 7:00am maintenance windows. The work's primary purpose is to further increase the level of resiliency of COFAN's core to fiber failure by re-balancing traffic within COFAN's internal mesh. This is achieved through adjustments in OSPF routing on selected core links. These adjustments do not affect data delivery to the Schools, except for guaranteeing the extra resiliency."

While most of the words look familiar, is this English?

We've just started our spring registration period at work. Generally, I like registration because we're busy and there's more interaction with students (which is not always positive, and sometimes more one-sided than I'd like, but generally positive).

What takes away from it is when we have to shut the whole thing down because of a server error which wasn't corrected until after noon. We wound up just moving everything back a day, which was a pretty easy solution based on events. Still, it a definite hip deep in pie sort of day.

Luckily, I got to unwind after work at the Barenaked Ladies show. It was the usual good time, I liked the songs from the new album, and they played "Grade 9," which is always a treat thanks to the riff from "Tom Sawyer." It's like the Canadian rock equivalent of lobster stuffed with tacos. They closed with "Brian Wilson," encored with a couple of newer songs, and - bam! second encore! - with "If I Had $1000000."

Opening act was Mike Doughty's Band. Don't know how it measured against his stuff with Soul Coughing, but he was a solid opening act. Certainly better than the woman who opened for David Grey.

We're now less than a week from Election Day (thankfully), so it's time for the vaunted Blogalicious endorsements!

Governor: OK, it's pretty easy to start with who I'm not endorsing: Kerry Healey and Christy Mihos. Healey gets the gate for a myriad of reasons, from her ugly campaign to her sparse record. I wouldn't have endorsed her if she were running unopposed.

Mihos, meanwhile, has run more of a personal vendetta than a campaign, a tantrum disguised as a run for office. He had a chance to use his fiscal conservatism and socially moderate stance to attract the large group of moderate, unenrolled voters that helped Romney win in '02, but didn't make the connection.

That leaves us with Grace Ross and Deval Patrick. Ross, like Jill Stein in '02, is a thoughtful presence in the campaign. But she's a little too far to the left for my taste. This leaves Deval Patrick.

But I can't quite endorse him. He's also thoughtful, and inspiring in a way that we've not seen in the governor's race in some time. But he's a little too glib for me; Mihos's comment that Patrick favors uttering "sweet nothings" is probably the most insightful thing he said in the entire campaign. Patrick is in favor of a lot of things, but doesn't seem to have a cohesive plan to pay for his ideas. Or even pay for some of the ideas he'll inherit, though all the candidates are hazy there.

There's also the issue of Patrick's forgetfulness, which between his advocacy for Benjamin LaGuer and how he voted on the tax rollback, is clearly his favorite defense mechanism for answering questions he's not prepped for. I'm not saying that he needs to remember everything in detail - I have no idea how I voted for the rollback - but saying "I don't remember" is as much of a dodge as using the question to give a different answer.

I like Patrick, and think he's probably the closest candidate to what I believe, but I can't quite pull the trigger. Thus, I am endorsing no one. I may still vote for Patrick if I feel like adding to the assumed landslide, or may vote for Ross to give some votes for the Greens. Or I may go the wife's route and write in Shawn DeVeau. We'll see how I feel when I'm in the booth.

Attorney General: Middlesex County DA Martha Coakley is facing off against Larry Frisoli, and is expected to win handily. I knew nothing about Frisoli until this morning, when I got a flier from someone at North Station. Main points to take away from it:

* Does pro bono work on cases against NAMBLA
* Is an avid outdoorsman and is a high mucky-muck in state soccer
* Is in favor of changing auto insurance rates to reflect individual driver history, rather than set rates by age or class
* Would have convicted drug dealers register their addresses, similar to what's done for sex offenders
* Wants to force private universities and colleges to take a certain percentage of state residents, and force them to give an in-state rate.

There's nothing about the Big Dig on the flier, which concerns me given that prosecuting cases related to it will be high on the AG's agenda. And as someone who works at a private college, I can't say I'm thrilled with the idea that the state's going to muck about in our business.

Martha Coakley it is. Maybe I'll write her in for governor, too.

Secretary of State: Incumbent Bill Galvin is taking on former Green Party gubernatorial candidate Jill Stein. I didn't get to vote for Stein in '02 given the close race that year, and wish I could vote twice for her now. Jill Stein gets the nod.

Treasurer: Tim Cahill is running against Green Party candidate James O'Keefe, and based on how it's gone so far Tim Cahill can stay.

Auditor: For some reason, the antipathy I feel for Bill Galvin doesn't extend to Joe DiNucci, who has been auditor for decades. Rand Wilson of the Working Families Party is opposing him, which is about as thankless a task as can be. Joe DiNucci gets my vote, for what it's worth.

US Senator: Speaking of long-time party hacks, Teddy Kennedy is vying to get into his fifth decade of representing Massachusetts in the Senate. And in asmuch as I dislike the hackishness, I (like many here) have a hard time not voting for him. But I'm going to resist the urge, though not to cast a ballot for Ken Chase, his opponent. Instead, I am going to endorse me. It'd be a nice change of pace, and the raise would be welcome. Remember, that's C-O-E-N.

Question 1: Only slightly less distasteful than Healey's ads is the entire campaign over this question, which would OK wine sales in supermarkets and similar locations. The campaign, styled as a battle between consumer choice and public safety, has been a proxy war between the retailers who will benefit from the question's passage and the liquor store owners who stand to lose business. If there was a voting option that would punish both sides, I'd recommend it in a heartbeat.

Without that, though, I'm going to vote yes on Question 1. While it does increase the number of liquor licences, cities and towns are under no obligation to issue them. So if this passes and you're really concerned about the impact, get to know your licencing board members.

Question 2: This quesion would effect a number of changes in voting laws, most notably by introducing "fusion voting," where a candidate would be listed on the ballot under each party's endorsement. Voters could then vote by party, giving votes to smaller parties while voting for better known candidates.

I like the idea in theory, but in practice this sounds like a disaster. So I'm voting no here. Come back when we get touch screen voting that could handle this better.

Question 3: There's something very unthreatening about letting day care workers unionize, to the point where there doesn't seem to be any unified opposition to the question. The Globe endorsed a no vote, saying that the issue should go back to the legislature based on its complexity. And for the Globe to not endorse a union position (the SEIU is heavily involved in this) makes me think that their arguement has some merit. No it is, then.

My enthusiasm for the new college hockey season - or perhaps I should say BU's role in it - appears to have been a little misplaced, as the Icedogs have limped out of the gate. (It didn't help that I thought we only lost 3 seniors last season - that was the season before - when we actually lost twice as many, including our entire first line).

2-1-1 doesn't look like too much of a limp, but consider that comes against RPI, Northeastern, Merrimack, and Lowell, who are a combined 7-10-6. Granted, NU managed to beat Michigan this past weekend (thanks to a goalie who made 45 saves), but this isn't exactly Murderer's Row.

(On the other hand, consider the sad case of UNH, who beat North Dakota out there twice, only to return home to lose to UMass and Yale. I saw the OT for the latter, where UNH had an overtime goal disallowed due to a quick whistle - some things never change in Hockey East - and then gave up the game-winner on the next shift down ice. Beautiful.)

I suppose I shouldn't complain - this start is pretty much on track with the last three editions of the Icedogs - but the way they're playing, and with an upcoming run of Maine, at UNH, and at Vermont, I'm nervous.

Blogalicious College Football Top 10

1. Ohio State (def. Minnestoa 44-0) - Now it's just avoiding injuries until Michigan. Next opponent: at Illinois.

2. Michigan (def. Northwestern 17-3) - see above regarding injury avoidance. Next opponent: Ball State.

3. West Virginia (idle) - continuing a thought from last week: both West Virginia and Louisville still have to play Rutgers. Are we concerned about the wrong Big East team making the BCS? Next opponent: at Louisville (11/2).

4. Texas (def. Texas Tech 35-31) - they did what USC couldn't do, and are thusly rewarded. Still, down 21-0 after the first quarter? Next opponent: Oklahoma State.

5. Florida (def. Georgia 21-14) - a little sluggish in the World's Largest Outdoor Non-Alcoholic Football Gathering, but they've got a week to tune up for their last big conference test. Next opponent: at Vanderbilt.

6. USC (lost to Oregon State 33-31) - almost another comeback, but for nought. I wish I hadn't changed channels, thinking that the Beavers had salted this one away. Still in good position if they can win out, given the run of ranked teams they get to play at home. This week is not one of those. Next opponent: at Stanford.

7. Tennessee (def. South Carolina 31-24) - Spurrier didn't have the weapons for his usual knife to the heart that Tennessee fans know so well. But he may have given them more than they wanted going into another big game. Next opponent: LSU.

8. Auburn (def. Mississippi 23-17) - If you're going to squeak out a conference win on the road, can you at least do it against a team that's going to go to a bowl game? Next opponent: Arkansas State.

9. Louisville (idle) - Louisville plays in a stadium named for pizza chain Papa John's. Hate to see their training table. Next opponent: West Virginia (11/2).

10. Cal Poly (def. San Diego State 16-14) - so much for back-to-back wins. The Chuck Long era slouches along. Next opponent: at Montana.

10. Temple (def. Bowling Green 28-14) - Sweet Fanny Adams, Temple won a game! Sure, it's a team that should be 1-AA beating a team that used to be 1-AA, but a win's a win, and snapping a 20-game losing streak merits notice. Duke is now your paragon of futility, riding a 16-game losing streak. Next opponent: Central Michigan

Out of the Top 10:

San Diego State - this is not going to help the Mountain West gain credibility. Not that it's an issue this year.

Book Log 2006 #50: The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain

This new book is actually a compendium of stories, some (perhaps most) previously published. But as I don't often pick up Gourmet or the like, they were all new to me!

I still like Bourdain more as a writer than on TV, and if the writing is anything to go by, he seems to think of himself in the same way. The only thing I didn't care for in the collection was how comments about each story were put together at the end. It'd have been more useful to put them after each story. Not all of the stories are jewels, but in the balance there's no bit that's too nasty.

Book Log 2006 #49: The Rommel Plot by John Tarrant

OK World War II novel about a British agent who is going forward with a plot to assassinate Rommel, even though he's been warned off of it by his superiors in the hopes of Rommel leading Germany in the wake of Hitler's demise in the von Stauffenberg bomb plot. As you might be able to tell from the link it's out of print, so good luck finding it. I came across it during the same browsing session that landed me Dallas Down, so it wasn't hard to think positively about it in comparison.

I've been meaning to post about the governor's race, but it's gotten pretty dismal, and I'd prefer not to think about it. The dismality (dismalness?) comes from Kerry Healey's race to the bottom, as she seized on Deval Patrick's intercession on behalf of a convicted rapist to play the "soft on crime" card, devolving into a fairly controversial ad that is reminiscent of the Willie Horton ad that helped torpedo Mike Dukakis. Making things worse is that Healey's been spending pretty freely on ad time, so her spots are hard to miss.

Patrick didn't help himself in this by his lack of clarity as to his involvement in the case, saying he didn't know how often he'd written in the guy's behalf, when he did, or if he'd given money to help fund a DNA test. While some (Healey especially) have latched on to this as a sign that Patrick will open up the cell doors, to me it's another instance where Patrick is missing the ball when it comes to substance.

Patrick has had one ad air about his stance on crime, but it doesn't feature him. It features the Attorney General-presumptive, Martha Coakley. It does a decent job of pointing out Patrick's past and the deficiencies in the current administration's approach to crime, but it has one problem. It makes me want Martha Coakley to be governor.

In any case, Healey may have let the negative ads run a little too long. Polls had Patrick's lead down to the teens, but new numbers released yesterday put his lead back out in the mid-20s. Healey and Patrick have already sparred over the ads in the last debate. It'll be interesting to see what comes out in the next one.

Book Log 2006 #48: Baseball Before We Knew It by David Block

You've heard of baseball history books that are "scholarly," but this book takes a literal approach to the term. Growing out of a bibiliography of old texts that mention baseball or baseball-type games, Block went from cataloging sources to actually using them to show that the American Pastime is as much a European transplant as anyone who came over on the Mayflower.

I like that Block doesn't take a simple chronological approach to the task, but rather starts by showing how the widely-accepted myths about baseball's "invention" - be it Abner Doubleday or rounders - are false. This sets up his later examination of texts from Britain and Germany (!), showing how baseball came to the fore among the variety of bat and ball games that were out there.

This latter part of the book tends to drag a bit, though, and waiting until this part to define terms does lead to a little difficulty in reading the first part. For example, if you didn't know what the "old cat" games were before reading this, mention of them in the book early on may leave you a little lost. It's clear that it's a bat and ball game, but there are no details given until some time into the book.

In any case, though, it's a very readable and unique baseball history that comes recommended. The University of Nebraska Press has an interesting selection of baseball books, which is pleasantly surprising given the school's football focus. They also put out Fleet Walker's Divided Heart, one of the more interesting selections during my Baseball Book of the Week reading list.

Blogalicious College Football Top 10

1. Ohio State (def. Indiana 44-3) - Indiana opened the game with a field goal and then gave up 44 unanswered points. Is anyone surprised? Next opponent: Minnesota.

2. Michigan (def. Iowa 20-6) - solid win to segue into filler. Next opponent: Northwestern.

3. West Virginia (def. Connecticut 37-11) - what can I say, I'm feeling cranky. I do look forward to seeing this offense butting heads with a ranked team. Finally. Next opponent: Louisville (11/2).

4. USC (idle) - from watching things this weekend it sounds like a loss here is more a matter of when than of if. Which means that they'll run the table just to confound us all. Next opponent: at Oregon State.

5. Texas (def. Nebraska 22-20) - a good reminder that they can beat good teams, too. Now they just have to hope that there's plenty of BCS opportunity for a one loss team. Next opponent: at Texas Tech.

6. Auburn (def. Tulane 38-13) - see above re: BCS opportunities for a one loss team. It just may be that they won't be the SEC team that manages to only take one loss. Next opponent: at Mississippi.

7. Florida (idle) - OK, so not so much the party anymore, at least officially. I'd have to think that Bulldog fans may want to keep some spirits handy for this one, though. Next opponent: Georgia.

8. Tennessee (def. Alabama 16-13) - not the way you want to go into a testing three game stretch. Will Spurrier kill the Vols again? Next opponent: at South Carolina.

9. Louisville (def. Syracuse 28-13) - I was really looking for a 40 point win here. I feel cheated. With the big game coming up, wouldn't it be interesting if the Cardinals knocked off West Virginia and then turn around and lose to Rutgers? Next opponent: West Virginia (11/2).

10. San Diego State (def. Air Force 19-12) - The Aztecs not only avoided the worst start in school history, but they gave Chuck Long his first win as head coach. They may even win next week. No promises, though. Next opponent: Cal Poly.

Out of the Top 10:

Vanderbilt - They lost to South Carolina, allowing Steve Spurrier to keep his perfect record against the Commodores. That includes his time as head coach at Duke, so he pretty much has Vandy's number. He could probably beat them with a Pop Warner squad.

Book Log 2006 #47: Dallas Down by Richard Moran

An epic drought leads to the severe depletion of aquifers, with the result that Dallas in in danger of collapsing into a giant sinkhole. A Texas billionaire has a devious plan to prevent this (don't click the link if you don't want to know what it is), but a world-famous spelunker (on a mission to find a boy lost in underground caverns) may thwart his plans.

The plot is equal parts audacious and ludicrous, and in both plot and writing it seems to be trying for Clive Cussler, and falling short. Probably only worthwhile if you find the concept too interesting to pass up.

So tonight is the first home game of the new college hockey season (the Icedogs went up to Troy last week and salvaged a 4-4 tie with RPI). I have to say I'm pretty excited, more so than in past years. I've been walking around the office all morning supressing the urge to check co-workers into the walls.

I think I'm more excited because I have more optimism going into this season than in the recent past. The team is coming off of a great season (NCAA tournament result notwithstanding), and while they'll be pressed to repeat their run of Beanpot title and Hockey East regular season and tournament titles, they've got the players to do it.

There was some temptation to run a college hockey top 10 here to compliment the football top 10, but I think I'm a little too close to things. I'd probably keep BU too high, and would have significant problems the other way with the team up the street. I'd rather break my keyboard than use it to put them at the top spot.

Blogalicious College Football Top 10

1. Ohio State (def. Michigan State 38-7) - I assume the biggest hits of the day for the Spartans would have been John L. Smith slapping himself again. The best press conference schtick since the many personalities of Clinton Portis. Next opponent: Indiana.

2. Michigan (def. Penn State 17-10) - yes, I'm doing this to crank up the Ann Arborites. Enjoy! Next opponent: Iowa.

3. USC (def. Arizona State 28-21) - given how close run its been for them to get through Washington State, Washington, and Arizona State, I can't imagine how they're going to get through Oregon, Cal, and Notre Dame unscathed. Next opponent: at Oregon State (10/28).

4. West Virginia (def. Syracuse 41-17) - I know it's Syracuse and all, but I have to love a team whose QB runs for over 200 yards and 4 scores. So for this week at least, a bump. Next opponent: at Connecticut (10/20).

5. Texas (def. Baylor 63-31) - I think I may have been too high on the Longhorns given the amount of fluff in their schedule (Oklahoma win notwithstanding). No fluff this weekend, though. Next opponent: at Nebraska.

6. Auburn (def. Florida 27-17) - 27 points, no offensive TDs. I should really just rank the Auburn defense and special teams here. I have a feeling the offense will get back on track this week. Next opponent: Tulane.

7. Florida (lost to Auburn, 17-27) - they're still very good, the class of the SEC East thanks to their win over Tennessee. Now they just have to avoid getting too drunk to win the World's Largest Cocktail Party. Next opponent: Georgia.

8. Tennessee (idle) - speaking of the SEC East, what are the odds that the Vols will win the divison with remaining games against LSU and Arkansas? Thinking about that makes this week's game seem tame by comparison. Next opponent: Alabama.

9. Louisville (def. Cincinnati 24-17) - I know Brian Brohm is coming back from injury, but even the second string should be able to beat the Bearcats by more than six points. At least Brohm's got another week to get back into shape. Next opponent: at Syracuse.

10. Vanderbilt (def. Georgia 24-22) - winning between the hedges on the game's final play, Vandy registered its first defeat of Georgia since 1992. It's only their fourth win in the last 43 clashes with the Bulldogs. It was also Georgia's homecoming. Way to spoil a party, Vandy. Next opponent: South Carolina.

Out of the Top 10:

Detroit Tigers - beating the A's isn't nearly as gratifying (to me at least) as taking out the Yankees. Still, nice job on making the World Series.

Book Log 2006 #46: The Archer's Tale by Bernard Cornwell

So it turns out that I never actually wrote anything up on this book, the first in the Grail Quest series whose second book I mentioned a couple of days ago. Whoops.

In any case, the series is set during the Hundred Years War, and follows Thomas of Hookton, the illegitimate son of a priest who chooses being an archer over following in his father's footsteps into the church. A mysterious raid leads to the destruction of the town, the death of Thomas' father, and the theft of an artifact that is believed to be the lance St. George used to slay the dragon. Thomas enters military service to reclaim the spear and avenge the death of his father. Along the way he gets drawn into a much more complex quest - can you guess for what? - and learns about his family's equally complext past.

Cornwell started this trilogy before the one about King Alfred, and there are some clear paralells between the two main characters - both are dispossessed sons of nobles with a faculty for languages, a twisted family history, and a disdain for organized religion. History keeps them from being too much like each other, but there's similarity enough.

Given my comment on the second book, you've probably guessed that I liked this one. It's solid history fiction, focused more on the war than the Grail, series title notwithstanding.

So for all the talk about the governor's race here, I should mention that we do have three ballot questions to vote on.

The first is a measure that would allow grocery stores and related outlets to sell wine. Proponents of the question say it will give consumers more choice and lower prices through competition. Opponents argue that this measure would lead to an increase in drunk driving and the attendant accidents/injury/fatalities that come with it.

Standing lightly off to the side are the large supermarket chains and the liquor distributors, both of whom are looking to their bottom lines. Most of the money for ads are coming from these folks.

Question 2 would allow candidates for office to be listed on ballots multiple times, once for each party that puts the candidate forward. For example, if the Democrats and the Green party were to have the same candidate for governor, the candidate would be listed twice. Votes would be tallied by party, with all of the votes counting for the candidate. There are also some other changes to election laws, related to candidate party enrollment history and what level of voter support a party needs to be officially recognized by the state.

Proponents say that this will allow voters to support smaller parties while voting for a more viable candidate. Opponents point to the likelihood of voter confusion.

Question 3 would allow child care workers who participate in state-subsidized child care to bargain collectively with the state. Where both previous questions had someone writing pro and con blurbs, apparently no one felt strongly enough against this measure to write something on why we should vote against it. You think there'd be some anti-union group who'd bite the bullet.

In some towns, there's also a non-binding question asking if the local state rep should be instructed to vote for a resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq. We won't get to vote on this one.

Book Log 2006 #45: The Great Stink by Clare Clark

It's a story of murder and madness in the sewer system of Victorian London, as a respectable yet troubled Crimean War vet and a member of the city's lower classes have their lives intersect just enough to send both into surprising directions.

While I liked the book, I think it could have benefitted from being a little leaner. I found it hard to get engaged, and when I did it was never a full engagement. It may not be the best book to try to read during the commute.

Book Log 2006 #44: Vagabond by Bernard Cornwell

This is the second in Cornwell's Holy Grail trilogy. Pretty simple, if you liked the first book you'll like the second. And if you didn't like the first book, why are you reading this one?

I was just over at Boston.com, and they have a feature where readers can send in photos of their pets - in Halloween costumes.

Folks, no matter how much you think your pet loves being dressed up, please don't do this. There is no dignity in a dog wearing a ladybug outfit. And for those of you who had to use treats to get your pet to stay in costume long enough to snap a photo, be ashamed of yourself. And don't blame Fido or Fluffy if they leave you a "treat" of their own. You had it coming.

(Full disclosure: the second generation of Coen dogs all suffered dress-up at some point. Both of the daschunds got sweaters one Christmas, and it did not go well. We were risking back injury from the contortions they made trying to get out of them. Our yellow Lab was also made to wear antlers on occasion, with a resulting look that said "OK, I'm not enjoying this, and it's beneath both of us. Can we just take these off now? Thanks.")

It was clear from a young age that should any of the Coen children have a future in a line of work where the use of hands and some sort of creative capacity is required, it would be highly unlikely that I would be that child. I was always the kid who was coloring outside the lines and whose attempts at cursive writing looked less like English and more likesome undiscovered (or discovered and recovered due to its ugliness) language.

As I got older, this lack of skill shifted into the industrial arts, as I proved myself incapable of even the simplest wood shop tasks. The simple box that was one of our earliest projects turned out, in my hand, to be less of a box and more of a collection of wood that was nailed, glued, and otherwise fastened in relative proximity. I was able to do some things, but they were the most basic things. I could turn pieces of the lathe and use some of the less complicated machines to do simple, repetitive tasks, but it was clear that when I was called upon to find my life's work, it would not be anything requiring me to be handy.

Jump forward a couple of decades, to my entry into the world of home ownership with a domicile that, kindly, can use some updating. It is now where those failings in shop class have come home to roost. This was put in clearest relief this past weekend, when my father in law was down to help with some of that updating. Between the discussion of our beams, the problems with our basement stairs, and an earnest discussion of what tools I will not be able to live without, I was left wondering why we didn't do the smart thing and get one of the new, ready to move in condos that are sprouting up all over town.

Not that progress wasn't made. My father in law, while using me in my best capacity (carrying and holding things), was patient and gave me some pointers that will, hopefully, be the start of learning how to do some of the things that need doing around here. I'll still mostly be the guy in the Home Depot ads who goes to classes to learn about angle stock and such (as our hose attachment is actually broken), but when my father in law explained how I should use the pieces he cut to build a new staircase for our cellar entrance, it actually made a little sense.

Not that I'll tackle it myself. I'll rope my brother into helping. He's the one who got the handy gene.

Blogalicious College Football Top 10

1. Ohio State (def. Bowling Green 35-7) - wake me up in November. Next opponent: at Michigan State.

2. Florida (def. LSU 23-10) - a good win that made them the only undefeated team in the SEC. We'll see how long that lasts; once again, the SEC may be too competitive for its own good, BCS-wise. Next opponent: at Auburn.

3. Michigan (def. Michigan State 31-13) - who did Sparty piss off to get Michigan and Ohio State in back to back weeks? Anyway, the Wolverines are playing well, though the next couple of weeks should be more challenging than the last couple. Next opponent: at Penn State.

4. Texas (def. Oklahoma 28-10) - nice to know that Texas can beat a team that's better than Rice or Sam Houston. But it's back to the weaklings to tune up for Nebraska. Next opponent: Baylor.

5. West Virginia (def. Mississippi State 42-14) - back to their perch, with another laugher next week. Next opponent: Syracuse.

6. USC (def. Washington 26-20) - East Coast Bias, or concern over the Trojans difficulty with the representatives of the Evergreen State? You decide. Next opponent: Arizona State.

7. Louisville (def. Middle Tennessee State 44-17) - probably too high based on their schedule. East Coast Bias, or reflection of their talent? You decide. Next opponent: Cincinnati.

8. Tennessee (def. Georgia 51-33) - good win between the hedges, what will have to be the first of several big wins given their upcoming schedule. Next opponent: Alabama (10/21).

9. Auburn (lost to Arkansas 27-10) - so much for a BCS controversy involving the Tigers. Now they get to try to knock off the league's last undefeated team. Next opponent: Florida.

10. Detroit Tigers (def. New York 3 games to 1) - OK, they're not so much a college football team, but anyone who takes out the Yankees is OK in my book. Next opponent: Oakland.

Out of top 10:

LSU - even if they're to top teams, they've got two losses. Sorry, Tigers.

Rutgers - Took the week off, so they pay the price.

While I've not been able to watch either of the gubenatorial debates, I have come to the conclusion that Christy Mihos is crazy crazy rather than good crazy. Which is too bad, as he had some promise. For evidence of the crazy crazy, please watch the following TV ad:



It should be noted that the woman among the state politicians fairly resembles the current lieutenant governor (and Republican nominee for governor), Kerry Healey. Mihos has also spent most of the two debates attacking her rather than Deval Patrick, an odd strategy given that (using the latest poll numbers) even if he got all of Healey's support, Mihos would still be about 20 points behind Patrick.

Book Log 2006 #43: Denison, Iowa by Dale Maharidge and Michael Z. Williamson

Denison is the home town of Donna Reed, and they've taken "It's a wonderful life" as the town motto. Not all is wonderful in Denison, though, as the town struggles with both economic problems and a growing Latino population. Maharidge and Williamson spent a year in Denison, interacting with locals and documenting these problems.

It's a pretty interesting book, as the local views of economic, security, and immigration issues add depth to the usual arguments trotted out by politicians and the like. There's also a very interesting comparison of the new Latino population to the influx of German immigrants to Denison in the early 20th century.

Outside of these major themes, there's also a number of smaller insights on small town life and the occasional venality of local government officials.

Maharidge and Williamson have written on this sort of topic before, and their interest and experience is obvious. So is their left-of-center political orientation, which may prove irritating at times. But if you're interested in this sort of thing, I'd recommend it.

Blogalicious College Football Top 10

1. Ohio State (def. Iowa 38-17) - the only thing standing between the Buckeyes and being undefeated when they end the season against Michigan is several weeks of drudgery against mediocre (at best) teams. At what point will they dress the band to take a few snaps? Next opponent: Bowling Green.

2. Auburn (def. South Carolina 24-17) - I was thinking about dropping them a spot, but they held the ball for the entire third quarter in this game. I have to give them some props for that. Next opponent: Arkansas.

3. USC (def. Washington State 28-22) - so much for it being an easy week to get things back in order. Perhaps some home cooking will help. Next opponent: Washington.

4. Texas (def. Sam Houston State 56-3) - as expected, and probably a good week to take it easy heading into the annual border war. Next opponent: at Oklahoma.

5. Florida (def. Alabama 28-13) - good win at home, and I like the throwback unis. Something to build on given a looming nightmare stretch of games. Next opponent: LSU.

6. Michigan (def. Minnesota 28-14) - be sure to wash the Little Brown Jug thoroughly before using. Who knows who's been drinking out of it. Next opponent: Michigan State.

7. West Virginia (idle) - tempted as I was to maintain the three-way tie (or expand it into a four-way tie), it didn't seem fair to dock Florida and Michigan while you guys were on your duffs. Not that you'll really need to get off them this week. Next opponent: Mississippi State.

8. LSU (def. Mississippi State 48-17) - see above. Next opponent: at Florida.

9. Louisville (idle) - even with the week off, Louisville looked more impressive than Georgia. Throw in Virginia Tech's loss and ND still tainted by the big loss at home, and there you have two Big East teams in the top 10. Next opponent: Middle Tennessee State (10/6).

10. Rutgers (def. South Florida 22-20) - OK, make it three teams. With no division 1 teams knocked off by their 1-AA cousins (closest we could come this week was Northern Iowa falling one point short againt Iowa State), might as well honor a team who, in my lifetime, has mostly played like a 1-AA team. Nevertheless, Rutgers is in the top 25 for the first time since Gerry Ford was tripping over coffee tables in the Oval Office. Mr. Magoo would be proud (of Rutgers, not Ford, though perhaps both). Congrats, Scarlet Knights, even if your kingdom is built on wins over Illinois, Ohio, and Howard. Next opponent: at Navy (10/14).

Out of the top 10:

North Dakota State - Stephen F. Austin has been dead for 159 years. How can you only beat him 17-9?

OK, so after complaining about the time Verizon was going to take to set up our DSL, I got an email from them today saying it was ready. Not that we've set up enough to have a computer ready. Heck, we're still moving the last bits out of the apartment.

We are moving forward - also slowly - with getting some of the necessary work done to the house. We have quotes for window replacement and work for our chimney, and while they're a little higher than expected, they aren't too far off of what we thought. We've still got a couple quotes to go, though. Even so, I can already see what work is going to have to wait. The joys of home ownership, from what I'm told.

Otherwise, it's been a week. I've been in training most of this week, and unlike previous trainings (we're changing the information system we use here), it's been very productive. Wonders never cease.

Going into tonight's first post-primary gubenatorial debate, answers to a couple of questions posed in the comments.

I'm OK with Deval Patrick winning the Democratic primary, even though I voted for Gabrieli. While I think he's a little too much style over substance, Patrick has managed to energize a fair segment of voters, including many who are new or newly-returned to the process. He's pretty solidly to the left, in favor of a variety of programs current and new, which when coupled with the vagueness makes it easier to hang the tired "tax and spend" label on him. I do think he's good enough on the stump - and backed by enough prominent Democrats - to get over this to some extent. Were the election held today, I'd likely vote for him.

Though looming in the background is Christy Mihos, a former Republican who is best known in these parts as the owner of the Christy's chain of convenience stores (most of which he's sold off to 7-11, though he kept about a dozen on the Cape). He was also a member of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, and managed to annoy Jane Swift enough so that she fired him. He sued, saying the governor didn't have that authority, and won. He later settled a lawsuit saying his First Amendment rights had been violated.

Expect this experience to come up a lot, especially on matters related to the Big Dig and a recent report on the Authority's insolvency. Mihos is also pushing something called Proposition 1, where 40 percent of income tax revenue would be returned to cities and towns in local aid. He's run some ads on this of late, pointing out how much selected cities and towns will get back under his plan.
It will be interesting to hear how he plans to do this while also trying to fund a major health insurance initiative.

Mihos will appeal to the big group of people in the middle who've been turning out for the Republicans of late, or at least that's the conventional wisdom. I've seen poll numbers from late last week that put Mihos at the 5 to 9 percent range. We'll see if tonight's performance, and his recent ad buy, will push that up.

A little late, thanks to a move and a Verizon DSL transfer that takes 2 to 3 weeks for some reason:

Blogalicious College Football Top 10

1. Ohio State (def. Penn State 28-6) - part one of a tough conference back-to-back match-up in the books, with the harder part on the road and against a QB less likely to give so many fourth quarter gifts to the OSU defense. Next opponent: at Iowa

2. Auburn (def. Buffalo 38-7) - I was going to drop Auburn down for not beating Buffalo by 70, but it looks like they gave the second string ample work. Can't knock them for that, both for the experience and for the chance to rest starters before a conference game on the road. Next opponent: at South Carolina (9/28).

3. USC (def. Arizona 20-3) - the Trojans were lucky they were playing Arizona this week. Thankfully, they've got another week to sort things out against a WSU team that's feasted on bad opponents. Next opponent: at Washington State.

4. Texas (def. Iowa State 37-14) - I'm tempted to drop them a bit, and while I'm not one to preach running up the score, the Longhorns better win big next week. Next opponent: Sam Houston State.

5. West Virginia (def. East Carolina 27-10), Florida (def. Kentucky 26-7), Michigan (def. Wisconsin 27-13) - I'm displeased with all of these guys, as they all got bogged down against less than stellar opponents. I should cut Florida and Michigan some slack as they were both coming off of big wins, but they should have done better at home. At least West Virginia has the excuse of playing on the road. Someone had better step up next week, or I'm going to work out a way to have a four-way tie, even with the Mountaineers having the week off. That'll learn 'em. Next opponents: West Virginia at Mississippi State (10/9); Florida v. Alabama; Michigan at Minnesota.

8. LSU (def. Tulane 49-7) - on the one hand, I figured LSU would take last week's frustrations out on the Green Wave. On the other hand, they at least performed to expectations. Expect more of the same next week. Next opponent: Mississippi State.

9. Louisville (def. Kansas State 24-6) - they've got wins over teams in the ACC, Big XII, and SEC. OK, they're not always the top programs in the conference, but they're wins that help recapture some football cred for the Big East. All of which they could give back in a couple of weeks, even if they still have to start some back-ups. Next opponent: at Middle Tennessee State (10/6).

10. North Dakota State (def. Ball State 29-24) - The Bison are in the third year of a five year transition from divsion 2, and even a win over lowly Ball State is something to crow about. It must have been a tough afternoon at David Letterman Stadium. Next opponent: Stephen F. Austin.

Out of the top ten:

Georgia - a one point win at home over Colorado? You know they're the only team Montana State has beaten this year, right?

Southern Illinois - yes, they beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff solidly, but a win over a lowly member of the SWAC doesn't trump a win over a D1 school.

So I'm checking the weather, and note that there's a severe weather alert link. It comes up in bold red letters, so it's pretty easy to see. I click on it, wondering what sort of dire weather is in the offing.

Turns out it's frost:

"...FROST CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND EARLY FRIDAY MORNING...

CLEAR SKIES...DRY AIR AND LIGHT WIND EARLY FRIDAY MORNING WILL ALLOW FROST TO FORM IN MANY PARTS OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. LOCATIONS MOST AT RISK WILL BE THOSE AWAY FROM THE IMMEDIATE COAST AS WELL AS THOSE THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF URBAN CENTERS. THE FROST WILL BE MOST LIKELY BETWEEN 2 AM AND 8 AM ON FRIDAY MORNING.

GROUND LEVEL TEMPERATURES IN THE FROST AREAS WILL FALL TO THE LOW TO MID 30S.

IF YOU STILL HAVE SENSITIVE PLANTS OUTDOORS...IT WOULD BE WISE TO BRING THEM INDOORS DURING THE DAY ON THURSDAY."

The National Weather Service knows we're in New England, right? I especially enjoy the warning about bringing in sensitive plants. It sounds like Emily Post turned to writing a gardening column.

The Globe reported something today that may change the way you look at the Republican primary for the US Senate. Turns out that Kenneth Chase has an election day ritual where he listens to the album Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs. Do with that what you will.

With the primaries looming tomorrow, it's time for the coveted Blogalicious endorsements! We'll start with the Democrats, given that they have more state-wide races:

Secretary of State - I can't say I agree with all of his politics, but I'm giving the nod here to John Bonifaz, an attorney and voting right activist who, perhaps most notably, filed a lawsuit to try to prevent a first-strike attack on Iraq by arguing that the plan would violate the War Powers Clause. He didn't win.

My main criterion here is that I'd like to see Bill Galvin go away to wherever party hacks go once they leave office. Given that the only non-Dem running for secretary of state is 2002 Green Party gubenatorial candidate Jill Stein, I may have to wait until 2010.

Lieutenant Governor - given the odds that the candidate for governor will be someone without experience in elected office, it would make sense to vote in a lieutentant governor candidate that has some. Given the choice between a past chair of the Brookline Board of Selectmen and the mayor of the state's second-largest city, I'm going with the latter. Nod to Tim Murray, the mayor of Worcester, over Deb Goldberg, who didn't even get the endorsement from her hometown newspaper.

Governor - based on the breakdowns in the latest poll, it should be no surprise that I'd be endorsing Chris Gabrieli. His highest numbers in the poll came from voters who were unenrolled in a party, and in my cohort for age, education, and financial status. Not sure what it is about dorky policy wonks that appeal, but I do prefer his approach, which gives you actual policy ideas, to that of Deval Patrick, who is very personable and inspiring, even if he's not giving you too many specifics to run with.

That latest poll has Patrick up big, though Gabrieli's camp says internal polling suggests a tighter race. We'll see if enough people like me brave tomorrow's middling forecast to vote.

And for the Republicans:

US Senate - really, you should just flip a coin and vote for the first name on the ballot if it's heads, and the second name if it's tails. Outside of knowing there are two candidates, and that both are male, I can tell you pretty much nothing about the pair who are vying to be the latest footnote in Teddy Kennedy's Senator for Life gig.

Blogalicious College Football Top Ten

1. Ohio State (def. Cincinnati 37-7) - kind of a breather for the Buckeyes after last week's trip to Austin and before next week. Next opponent: Penn State.

2. Auburn (def. LSU 7-3) - a big win over a conference opponent, with plenty of tune-up time to get ready for Florida. Heck, the third stringers could start next week. Next opponent: Buffalo.

3. USC (def. Nebraska 28-10) - there was a time this would have meant more. Still, a good win over a ranked opponent. Bill Callahan would probably just like to stay out of California at this point, though. Next opponent: at Arizona.

4. Texas (def. Rice 52-7) - the Longhorns held Rice to minus-12 yards rushing, which I guess shouldn't be surprising for a team called the Owls. Next opponent: Iowa State.

5. West Virginia (def. Maryland 45-24) - Steve Slaton rushed for 195 yards and 2 TDs, and you have to imagine just a little of that was motivated by having been passed over by the Terps as a running back. Next opponent: at East Carolina.

6. Florida (def. Tennesse 21-20) - a good win in Knoxville, putting Phil Fulmer back on the hot seat. Assuming he was ever off it. Next opponent: Kentucky.

7. Michigan (def. Notre Dame 47-21) - a huge win, and you didn't hear about anyone rioting in Ann Arbor afterwards, did you? Take that, Columbus! Next opponent: Wisconsin.

8. Georgia (def. UAB 34-0) - this may be a little high at this point, but the Dawgs are 3-0 and have pitched back-to-back shutouts. So they get some slack for now, though if next week is too close it may tighten right back up. Next opponent: Colorado.

9. LSU (lost to Auburn, 3-7) - it was a close loss on the road, so I can't drop them completely out. I assume they'll be able to work the offensive kinks out next week. Next opponent: Tulane.

10. Southern Illinois (def. Indiana 35-28) - the ESPN headline said the Salukis "shocked" Indiana, but the shock to me was that the Hoosiers went into the game 2-0. I guess that 1 point win over Ball State last week tuckered them out. The second week in a row that a Big Ten team loses to a 1-AA school. They must love that. Next opponent: Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Out of top ten:

Notre Dame (lost to Michigan 21-47) - I really figured the Irish would win this week and then lose to Michigan State. That the way they seem to like to do things, but I guess proving their overrated status came first).

New Hampshire (def. Stony Brook 62-7) - OK, they won, but they were playing Stony Brook. How'd UNH even let them find the end zone?

And to complete a story from last week, Fort Lewis ended the Gary Barnett curse, as they topped Nebraska-Kearney 21-16. That or the curse is in Boulder to roost, as the Buffs lost to Arizona State.

Well, the deed is done, so to speak. After spending the better part of an hour signing forms that a lawyer basically paraphrased for us (though we'd seen a few of them before anyway), the wife and I are now homeowners.

I'd intended to put together a bit of a virtual tour from photos we took at the start of the buying process, but can't as I'm currently unable to locate the USB drive that has the pictures. Part of me thinks it's still in the back of the in-laws computer in Maine, but I could have sworn I grabbed it before we left from our last visit.

That might not be a bad thing. The pictures show the house with the previous owner's stuff in it, and the decorating style is something I've dubbed Old Lady Classique. Lots of fake wood paneling and such.

We spent a little time at the house this afternoon, where we cleaned the front porch, and in doing so determined that we need a new vacuum. Which we bought and then spent a fair amount of time putting together, delayed by having a screwdriver that was too fat to fit in a couple of the holes. When we finally did get it to the point where we could use it, we made the further discovery that most of the rooms don't have overhead lights, so we'd be vacuuming in the dark. OK, we knew that the rooms didn't have lights, so I suppose it was more a timing thing.

I made my first run to the hardware store, and couldn't find what I needed. I have a feeling that's not going to be the last time, either.

The neighborhood is OK; the houses are pretty close, but most of the folks who live there are long-term residents, unlike our current location. So there'll be some scrutiny in the short term (such as from a guy across the street who seemed to spend most of the afternoon by his house just looking around; I've dubbed him Boo Radley, which I know isn't really accurate to the character, but it seems to fit), which is understandable given that the previous owner has been in the house since 1968.

A bigger problem is that we live about 5 houses down from a bakery. Thankfully, it's a commercial bakery, so we won't be stopping in every other hour, but we are going to be jonesing for rolls more often, I think.

More updates to come as we figure out what the hell we're doing. If ever.

Interesting times in the race for governor here, as the two latest polls for the Democrats have Deval Patrick with a high single-digit lead. Given that one of the polls had a margin of error of 6.8 percent - I think the Pepsi Challenge has a lower margin of error - I'd not put too much stock in the numbers. Though I'm a little surprised there hasn't been any solid polling of late, especially after the first debate.

Not surprisingly, the Globe endorsed Patrick, while the Herald endorsed Tom Reilly, which someone at the Globe surmised was done to draw votes away from Chris Gabrieli and leave the door open for Patrick, the farthest left of the three. I suppose it's no difference to the Herald whether or not they run two months' worth of liberal-bashing against Patrick or blaming Reilly for the Big Dig mess.

My other favorite endorsement news: the Brookline Tab tapped Andrea Silbert for lieutenant governor, even though the ubiquitous Deb Goldberg chaired Brookline's Board of Selectmen. Apparently, the paper didn't find her ads all that truthful. In turn, Goldberg took out a full-page ad in the paper in rebuttal. Finally, some life in a different race!

In the pot calling the kettle black department, Kerry Healey used the term "tycoon" in reference to Chris Gabrieli. She and her husband own four houses, so I suppose she'd know.

Book Log 2006 #42: You Gotta Have Wa by Robert Whiting

Probably the best English-language book about Japanese baseball, written at a time when Americans were just beginning to learn more about the Japanese game than team names. The book's main focus is the clash between American players and Japanese baseball culture, but there's also quite a bit about the Japanese approach to the game, the history of baseball in Japan, and the "new breed" of players who may not be all that new of a breed.

It's a bit of a time capsule at this point, what with the influx of Japanese players into the majors and the (somewhat forced) growth of international competition. But it's still a good read and a great introduction to baseball in Japan. Which you could then follow with The Meaning of Ichiro, Whiting's book about the influx of Japanese players to the US.

(Whiting also wrote a book called The Chrysanthemum and the Bat which preceds You Gotta Have Wa, which I've not read, but is apparently also a historical look at baseball in Japan.)

So you've likely heard by now that the alma mater is "banning swearing" at hockey games. I put that in quotes because, for the most part, an individual who drops the f-bomb probably isn't going to be shown the door. It's not Singapore.

Really, this is intended to curtail the more ritualistic use of curses by the student section, who've been using them with increasing frequency in various cheers. I won't say fans didn't swear back in the day - a familiar cheer when I first started to go to BU suggested that BC inhales excrement. The cheer gained popularity before my time, but it wasn't too long after I started going there that the word came down that that cheer was off-limits. The band didn't play the music associated with the cheer, and the cheer faded into history, for the most part.

I can't say I've been offended at the increase in swearing, but I do think it's a bit out of hand. And from the university's perspective, I can't imagine the cursing helps to bring people into the arena. Not to mention how it sounds during the increasing number of games that are shown on TV.

All that said, it's going to be hard to enforce. I think it's more likely that bench minors and NCAA fines will do the trick, but keep an eye on the news the night that BU opens at home.

So I went back to last year's blog to see how I'd marked this day, and it turns out I did so by not posting at all. I was on vacation, and didn't post until September 16. Odd thing is, several of the items I posted on that day would work for today as well (and, with apologies, they're all football related):

* Happy that Pats won opener, albeit in sluggish fashion. Hope for more running by Corey Dillon now increased as he's on my fantasy team.

* Won my first FFL game of the season again (OK, it's not official, but I'd need Antonio Gates and Chris Cooley to score a combined -13 points to lose, which is possible but highly unlikely). Unlike 2005, where an opening day win equaled one-quarter of the previous year's wins, taking the first game this year equals one-third of last year's total.

I don't like the direction that's headed in.

I was going to note how both opening wins were against the same team, but it appears that the 2005 and 2006 schedules are identical. Note to self for next year to mix it up... but keep the same opening game (sorry, Salome).

* Notre Dame opens 2-0, is in the top 10, and I think they're a bit overrated. That team in Chestnut Hill also gets ranked after opening 2-0, though this time around it's a little more warranted, as they beat a ranked team.

* Temple still needs to drop to 1-AA.

Differences: Ohio State beats Texas, and I manage to pick all winning teams in the cut-throat/eliminator games I participate in.

Not sure if this level of similarity is sad or pathetic. Or why limit myself when it could be both?

Blogalicious College Football Top Ten

1. Ohio State (def. Texas 24-7). Well, I guess that settles that. Expect the Buckeyes to roll into their annual tilt against Michigan undefeated. Next opponent: Cincinnati.

2. Notre Dame (def. Penn State 41-17). You expect Notre Dame to win at home, but this was a little beyond expectations. Even so, they looked a litle sluggish in the first half. Still not fully sold on them, but they're one of the few teams that didn't open up against at least one cream puff. Next opponent: Michigan.

3. Texas (lost to Ohio State, 7-24). I think the Longhorns did a second half gut check and got a little freaked out when they found butterflies. They'll mature. I still figure they're a good shot to win the Big XII, and who knows? We may see them get another shot at Ohio State in January. Next opponent: at Rice.

4. Auburn (def. Mississippi State 34-0). I suppose it was a good tune-up for next week, though the defense might have enjoyed more of a challenge. The Bulldogs haven't scored a point this season. Auburn won't have that luxury next week. Next opponent: LSU.

5. West Virginia (def. Eastern Washington 52-3). You know, I think I'm just going to keep the Mountaineers here until they either lose or beat Louisville. No one they play until then would merit a promotion. Interesting note: in beating Marshall last week, West Virginia apparently won the Friends of Coal Bowl. I believe that Maine and UMass get to play in the Acid Rain Bowl thanks to them. Next opponent: Maryland (September 14).

6. USC (idle). You snooze, you lose. That's my philosophy. Next opponent: Nebraska.

7. LSU (def. Arizona 45-3). Last week I noted that I hadn't seen LSU or Florida play, and were giving them both rankings based on rep. This week, both posted 42 points wins at home. I give LSU the nod for no particularly good reason. Next opponent: at Auburn.

7. Florida (def. Central Florida 42-0). But I could also give Florida the nod for pitching the shutout, and for Urban Meyer preserving his perfect record against teams from Florida. So what the hey, the first tie ranking in poll history! Can I vote in the BCS now? Next opponent: at Tennessee.

9. Michigan (def. Central Michigan 41-17). Both the Wolverines and Tennessee were home against teams where you'd expect a big win. Michigan delivered, Tennessee did not. Advantage, maize and blue. Next opponent: at Notre Dame.

10. New Hampshire (def. Northwestern 34-17). It was not a good off-season for Northwestern, as their coach, Randy Walker, died of a heart attack, and was replaced by the inexperienced Pat Fitzgerald. Then, after what had to be an emotional tribute to Walker, the Wildcats get schooled by the Wildcats (when did The Simpsons start scheduling football games?). Said Northwestern defensive end Kevin Mims, "I don't think we overlooked them. I feel they outplayed us." Ouch. To be fair, New Hampshire is ranked second in the 1-AA poll. Next opponent: Stony Brook.

This is the second week in a row where a team that had Gary Barnett as its head coach was upset. And as they're going in reverse chronological order, I'd suggest that Fort Lewis College better watch their backs. Thought I don't know if losing to Nebraska-Kearney would be an upset (probably not, given that they went 9-3 last year, but their nickname is the Lopers, which doesn't exactly strike fear in one's heart).

Out of poll:

Florida State. I think that when they saw Troy on the schedule, the Seminoles thought it meant the Men of Troy and prepared for USC. You think they'd still beat the actual Troy by more than a touchdown in Tallahassee. Troy turned the ball over twice in the last five minutes, and thus missed out on the biggest win in school history.

Montana State. Losing to a lower division team, for shame. Don Beebe must be proud, though. If this were club soccer, I think this would mean that Chadron State would be in the Big XII next year, while Colorado would toil in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. They'd then get to play Fort Lewis College and close the cirle on Gary Barnett.

Sadly, Chadron doesn't play a division III school next week. I was really hoping for a transitive chain that would have had an eight-man team from Wyoming beating Colorado.

As you can probably tell by the way I'm playing catch-up with the Book Log, I've got some time on my hands. I'm at work, as we're open for the first Saturday classes of the semester. It has not been busy.

And in unfortunate news, I had to pay for parking. I had a streak going, as the last four times I've had to drive in I got to park for free. Of course, I mentioned it to someone this week, so the streak was doomed. All good things...

Book Log 2006 #41: Two for the Road by Jane and Michael Stern

Writers of a regular column in Gourmet magazine and founders of Roadfood.com, the Sterns have made a career out of eating at roadside diners, small-town breakfast places, and sleepy cafes. This book chronicles how they got started, some of their favorite places, and all of the things they've loved about their career in food. Not that it's all fun and games; their car often doubled as their bedroom (at least in the early days), and eating 12 meals a day can get difficult. I'm just amazed that they're apparently still in good health.

This is their 31st book, and I now want to read the other 30. They write with a clear joy for the subject, and are as entertainingly observant about people and places as they are about their favorite (or least favorite) dishes.

If you like good regional food, and you've got some free time now that you've seen all of Feasting on Asphalt, check this book out.

Book Log 2006 #40: The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford

As someone who has never quite understood economics (outside of the basics), the idea of this book appealed to me. It would explain everyday events in economic terms, bolstering my comprehension of the theory while giving me a new way to look at things like traffic jams and the price of coffee.

Well, it didn't work. As much as it was taking a layman's approach, it's still a book about economics. I didn't finish it.

Book Log 2006 #39: Game of Shadows by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams.

While all the attention on Game of Shadows is focused on what Barry Bonds allegedly put into his body, there's a lot more to this book. It gives a very comprehensive look into the rise of Victor Conte and BALCO and how the company got into steroids and into providing them to top-level athletes. We spend plenty of time with Marion Jones and her crowd, and with the other baseballer caught up in the BALCO brouhaha.

But Bonds is the biggest name in the book, and he gets as comprehensive a treatment as Conte. It is, charitably, unflattering. The authors do this, I think, to give some background as to why Bonds would use steroids - his vanity and insecurities trumping his obvious talent. Regardless of the steroids, I can't escape the idea that Bonds will become this generation's Joe DiMaggio, living on his legend while he grows increasingly embittered in later years.

Denials aside, the book is well-written and well-documented. Where suppositions are made, they are done so clearly (though I don't think there are very many of them). I'd recommend this book highly; if you can stomach it, I'd also suggest reading it in tandem with Howard Bryant's Juicing the Game. I did not do this, but would have appreciated the baseball focus of the latter in follow-up.

Book Log 2006 #38: Desperate Networks by Bill Carter

The TV critic for The New York Times, Carter's book The Late Shift is the definitive story of the battle to succeed Johnny Carson. I don't know if Desperate Networks will turn out to be the definitive history of the changing TV landscape of the early 21st century - especially as it doesn't really address the way networks are reacting and interacting with new media to distribute content - but it does capture the way the network TV landscape has changed over the last 5 years.

The books is blend of show development stories and network politics. Both are interesting, and seeing the interplay is instructive for those of us who enjoy TV but don't really delve too deeply into the business end of it (outside of making mocking comments on fourth-rate TV blogs). I now have a begrudging admiration for Les Moonves, awe at Jeff Zucker's rise at NBC even as the network went into the toilet, and confusion over ABC canning Lloyd Braun even though he pretty much gave them Lost, not to mention sadness over the end of useful network news as we know it.

On top of being informative, the book was pretty well written, outside of some clunky transitions between chapters (which would be hard to avoid, trying to cover four networks). Highly recommended if you're interested in how TV is made.

Book Log 2006 # 37: The Pale Horesman by Bernard Cornwell

The second book in the trilogy about Alfred the Great. While still focusing on Uhtred, the Englishman raised by Danes who can't choose one side over the other, we do get to see much more of Alfred in this book, as he is sent into hiding by the Danes and plans a way to start winning England back.

It's a pretty good middle book, avoiding getting too bogged down in either carrying the story forward or setting up the ending. Looking forward to the conclusion.

Last night's debate did settle one thing for me: I'm not voting for Tom Reilly.

I have no problem with his being aggressive, given that he's in danger of going from first to worst. The problem I had was that his aggression was so often misplaced. Using a question on tax rollbacks to accuse Chris Gabrieli's campaign of leaking a memo about Jean St. Fleur's money problems? It was like the early days of keyword ads, when using a term like "bait and switch" would get you ads for fishing equpiment or electrical supplies.

It was clear that Reilly had some shots to take, but he was too quick on the trigger. The first question put directly to him was about some of his campaign's indecisiveness, a much better platform from which to make an accusation.

(For what it's worth, Gabrieli denies the leak, and the person who supposedly had access to the report denies ever seeing it. She's also not Gabrieli's campaign chair, as Reilly claimed.)

Reilly's tenacity would have worked for him if he had solid ideas to back them up. Instead, he said that voters knew what they were getting in him, which after last night may not be the most comforting thing.

For his part, Gabrieli stayed mostly above the fray. He had the most concrete connection between the big picture and specific ideas and policies. He used humor effectively in a tight spot - deflecting a question about his self-financed campaign by noting that his wife and kids were also curious about the spending - and came off as a bit wonky and endearingly dorky.

Deval Patrick was, not surprisingly, the best in terms of delivery. He was also quick with the jab, as he had some effective responses to Reilly's attacks on his finances. I thought Patrick gave a good summary of his tax position, and came the closest to successfully arguing why we should increase funding to state universities as a way to encourage growth, but was pretty vague about how he planned to pay for everything.

Everyone was vague about the way they'd fund the recently-passed health care plan, which is somewhat understandable. It's a law that, whoever becomes governor, will only bring criticism when it's either underfunded or funded at the expense of other programs. I don't think anyone wants to handle this one until they have to, but it'd have been nice to at least get an idea what the candidates were thinking outside of increasing efficiency and cutting overhead.

In any case, this was probably one of the more successful televised political debates in recent memory, in that it helped make distinctions between candidates. Perhaps too many, if you're Tom Reilly.

Desperation is beginning to rear its head in the Democratic gubenatorial primary, as Tom Reilly is running an ad asking what his opponents have to hide, given that neither are releasing their tax returns for public scrutiny. The ad tries to weave in a hint of fraud and milk the legacy of Ken Lay and his ilk.

And while I'm curious why neither Gabrieli nor Patrick have done this, neither has the attendant hint of scandal to make me think they are hiding something. More likely they're trying to downplay net worth in order to allow voters to keep thinking of the lieutenant governor as the wealthy candidate. Which is kind of a pipe dream, when you're either a venture capitalist setting records for campaign spending or a former general counsel for Texaco and Coke.

We'll probably see more on this tonight when the candidates debate. I also expect we'll hear more on a couple of the major themes brought out at a candidate round-table last night: Reilly's role in the Big Dig fiasco and Patrick's new interest in rolling back the income tax.

Finally got around to making a group for ESPN.com's Eliminator Challenge:

Name: Eliminator Challenged
Password: Eliminator

Time for a new regular feature which will have three benefits: it gives me something else to post about, will help get me back into college football a bit, and will annoy Greg. Announcing:

The Blogalicious College Football Top Ten

1. Texas (def. North Texas 56-7). As defending champs, they get to be number 1 until someone knocks them off, which may not take too long given their Next opponent:

2. Ohio State (def. Northern Illinois 35-12). I think they'll find going into Austin a bit more of a challenge than this home opener. But they've got the tools to pull out a victory and return the favor for last year. Next opponent: Texas.

3. Notre Dame (def. Georgia Tech 14-10). I tend to think that ND is a little over-rated (I know, you're stunned), but they gutted out a good win on the road, so I'll cut them some slack. Besides, they've got back to back top 20 games to prove that they belong this high. Next opponent: Penn State.

4. USC (def. Arkansas 50-14). They aren't as glamorous as the last couple of teams, but they can clearly score points. Arkansas is down a bit, but putting 50 on the Razorbacks at home isn't too shabby. Next opponent: Nebraska (Sept. 20).

5. West Virginia (def. Marshall 42-10). I know, slag the Big East all you want, but if the Mountaineers get by Louisville on November 2, they could wind up playing for the national title. Next opponent: Eastern Washington.

6. Auburn (def. Washington State 40-14). This might stand up as the most sluggish 26 point win of the season. Hope they find some urgency before they play LSU in a couple of weeks. Next opponent: at Mississippi State.

7. Florida (def. Southern Mississippi 34-7). OK, I didn't see a single play of this game, so I'm going off rep for now. That may be all they need next week. Next opponent: Central Florida.

8. LSU (def. Louisiana-Lafayette 45-3). See my entry for Florida. Next opponent: Arizona.

9. Florida State (def. Miami 13-10). It wasn't pretty, but it was effective. They've certainly got the defense to keep the score low. Now they just need the offense to make sure that their score isn't kept lower. Next week should be a good opportunity for a tune-up. Next opponent: Troy.

10. Montana State (def. Colorado 19-10). Remember when Colorado was good? If you don't, this season doesn't look primed to serve as a reminder. The Bobcats defend the honor of Big Sky country, as Montana took it on the chin at Iowa. Just hope they don't get caught by a lower-divison opponent in a twist of fate. Next opponent: Chadron State.

As we turn the calendar to September, there are only 18 days until the Democratic primary here in Massachusetts, and I have no idea who I am going to vote for at the top of the ticket. The choices are:

Tom Reilly, current state attorney general. He was the leader out of the gate, and it was his race to lose, a position he's lived up to in screwing up his choice for a running mate, losing the party endorsement, and admitting that he's not particularly political (although I admit that I find that kind of endearing).

Reilly's campaign has been the most traditional, with ads comparing his record to that of the Romney/Healey administration. He's also started the in-fighting, calling for an immediate rollback of the state income tax, which neither opponent favors.

Deval Patrick is running a more grassroots campaign, which is interesting given that he's got some national notice from his time as an assistant AG during Clinton's term in office. He clearly has some party cachet, as he won the state party endorsement at their convention.

Based on his ads, all I can tell about Patrick is that he grew up poor, got himself into Harvard, wants to improve education and create jobs, and has the tacit support of Barack Obama (he appears in one ad where Patrick is making a speech). A Reilly ad notes that Patrick wants to keep the state income tax at its current level, a stand Patrick defends by arguing that a lower income tax would lead to cuts in local aid, which would require increases in local (mostly property) taxes. Patrick had also put forward the idea that localities could increase the meal tax to raise funds.

Chris Gabrieli is the most visible candidate, given that he's bankrolled an ad push that's lasted most of the summer. The ads tout his experience in creating jobs in the private sector, and his role in improving education through after school programs. He's recently taken on all the major candidates over taxes, calling for a reduction plan that uses a percentage of surplus tax revenue to fund the next year's cut. He's also backing the Cape Wind project, but is for any idea that gets results. In fact, "getting results" is pretty much the theme of his campaign.

I'd also like to note that he has one entertaining ad where he's having a mock press conference on education where he's fielding questions from his five kids. Let's just say the idea of longer school days doesn't appeal. His wife then interrupts and says she wants to get results in Gabrieli taking out the garbage.

I suppose the biggest problem with any of these guys is that they've not taken too much time to differentiate themselves from each other. Only the tax issue has done that, and even then that's only flared up this week. I'd expect more differences to come out as election day nears, but this may be muted by a desire not to give Kerry Healey, the current lieutenant governor and putative Republican nominee (she's running unopposed), too much ammo for later.

Anyway, I'm pretty firmly undecided. And this hasn't helped at all. Great.