Autumnal Equinox

Charlie Weis gets to keep his job another week as Notre Dame barely escaped consecutive last-minute meltdowns from an inferior BigTen Michigan team. The Irish head to Purdue this Saturday after the (1-2) Boilers recently lost to Northern Illinois of the MAC.

The football Hoosiers are still undefeated after rolling over Akron in the 2nd half, 38-21. This is the 3rd time in 5 years IU has started 3-0. Should they beat Michigan Saturday, it would mark the first 4-0 start since 1990. But IU hasn't won at the Big House since 1967 (our last Rose Bowl) and has just a lone victory in the past 31 meetings with the Wolverines.

The Colts return to Miami's LandShark Stadium for the first time since winning SB XLi. Peyton Manning and the Colts will hopefully be back in February for SB XLiV, possibly en route to winning a 4th MVP and solidifying himself as the greatest ever. Since 1999, the Colts have the most regular-season wins (115, the Patriots have 111) and they also have the best win percentage on Monday Nights (.750 in 12 games). After tonight's game, they have another primetime matchup on Sunday on NBC vs the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals. Kurt Warner just set an NFL record with the best completion percentage (92.3%) in a single game. Rookie CBs Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey will likely have their hands full with Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston.

Colts claim rookie LB Cody Glenn off waivers

Colts claimed rookie LB Cody Gleen off waivers (via Redskins) and released 4-yr veteran S Matt Giordano. This could be good news regarding the injury status of Bob Sanders, who was recently taken off the PUP list. Either the Colts are confident that #21 will be healthy enough to play, or they really like Cody Glenn. They apparently didn't covet him enough to draft him with either of their two 4th round picks, one of which was used on defensive tackle Terrance Taylor, whom did not make the final 53-man roster.

Cody Glenn actually entered college as RB, but eventually won the starting weak-side linebacker position for Nebraska last year. Although he has very little experience on defense, he has played both OLB and ILB spots. Glenn has prototypical size for a Colts linebacker (basically a slightly bulky safety) at 6' 0", 244 lbs, and he ran a respectable 4.67 40-yard dash at his pro day workout.

Once Ed Johnson's one-week suspension has been served, the Colts will have to release another player. My guess is they'll release backup K Shane Andrus or one of the two backup QBs, Jim Sorgi or Curtis Painter.

Speaking of suspension, Cody was held out of 2 games last year for "violating team rules" which was rumored to be him selling his game-issued tix, but ESPN has reported that was false.

Update #1: Colts just claimed S Aaron Francisco from the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals

Update #2: Colts just waived Cody Glenn. Awesome.

Update #3: Cody Glenn placed on practice squad. Riveting, I know!

Top10 Health Care Reform notes

1. The constitution-loving US citizens are worried Obama's health care proposals will lead to a government takeover of health care, so worried that they're not only exercising their First Amendment rights at Town Hall meetings, but also their Second Amendment rights. Here's what being proposed:

2. Single-payer: Under a single-payer system, the financing system relies on one "payer" -- which could be a government-run agency -- to fund all health care costs billed by doctors, hospitals and other health professionals.

3. Public option: A public option is a government-funded, government-run health care option, similar to Medicare. Under the plan, people would pay premiums 10 to 20 percent less than private insurance.

4. Private insurance: Private insurance is coverage offered by a company other than the government.

5. Co-op: Nonprofit health cooperatives are being proposed as an option to compete with the private sector and as an alternative to a government-sponsored public health insurance option. Co-ops are owned and governed by the same people they insure.

6. Mandated coverage: Some lawmakers have proposed mandated coverage, which would require all Americans to get a minimum amount of insurance. The mandate could be enforced with a tax penalty.

7. Blue Dog coalition: The Blue Dog coalition is a group of 52 fiscally conservative Democrats in the House. The Blue Dogs insist that health care reform should preserve patient choice and maintain competition in the marketplace without adding to the national deficit. They'll play a critical role in getting a bill through the House.

8. eRecords: President Obama wants to computerize all records within 5 years as a way to increase quality of health care and decrease costs. Under his plan to modernize health care, all health records would be standardized and electronic.

9. rescission: Health care rescission is the process by which insurers cancel coverage, often after finding that a person omitted pertinent information on his or her application. Some companies have been accused of improperly rescinding policies as a way to avoid paying for expensive treatments.

10. end-of-life counseling: The current version of the House bill contains a provision for end-of-life counseling for Medicare beneficiaries who want it, as long as that individual has not had an end-of-life care or "advance care planning" consultation within the last 5 years.

Bonus: Medicare and Medicaid are public health options. Medicare is a government-sponsored program for people 65 years or older. Medicaid is a health care program for low income individuals and families.

Top10 NFL fanbases

1. Washington Redskins - the most loyal and patient fans of any NFL franchise (327 consecutive sellouts) still sport the traditional (and now un-PC) feathers & facepaint, dresses, and pigmasks... even at opposing stadiums

2. Pittsburgh Steelers - They've got the 2nd longest streak of sellouts (308), plus generations of champions with just 3 head coaches in 40 years = six-year waiting list for season tickets

3. Dallas Cowboys - America's Team has (just) 154 consecutive sellouts but their fans are located worldwide. You'd have a hard time finding one that hated you, even in their new billion dollar home.

4. Indianapolis Colts - Within the Dome, the fans were so loud they were accused of piping in sound to disrupt the opponents. While the new Stadium can't offer that anymore, Indy still provides jealousy from others, at least until they aren't winning 12+ games every year

5. Green Bay Packers - They oughta be ranked higher, however they handled that Brett Favre situation poorly, and then took frustration out on Aaron Rodgers.

6. Kansas City Chiefs - The Green Bay of the AFC, their fans are the loudest and they play outdoors

7. Cleveland Browns - Losing the team in '95 hurt the Browns Backers substantially, but they still can be seen at some remote bar in just about every American city on a Sunday afternoon

8. New England Patriots - ranked this low due to lack of loyalty, creativity and national presence

9. Philadelphia Eagles - Nobody gets on their own players as much as these guys do, often to a fault. Maybe the biggest base among non-transplant cities (sorry Miami, Denver, San Diego, Phoenix, etc)

10. Chicago Bears - These faux-blue-collarians are fair weather and delusional

Honorable mention: Oakland Raiders - more of a Sunday morning Halloween party than anything, but they still HATE like none other

Top10 TV channels

Yes, I'm ranking my favorite television channels... don't judge me.

Comedy (30 Rock, Conan, The Office, SNL, Notre Dame football) and Drama (Friday Night Lights, Southland, Heroes, Olympics) plus TV's #1 slot: Sunday Night Football

True Blood, Hung, Entourage, Bill Maher, 6' Under, The Wire, Curb, Flight of the Conchords, Eastbound & Down... stellar lineup and the commercials are absent.

Daily Show, Colbert Report, South Park, and Tosh.0 put this channel tops among basic cable. The late-night (often uncensored) stand-ups are DVR gold

Cops, Speeders, awesome car chases and a slew of titles that begin with "Most Shocking/Extreme/Horrifying" have me a fan of reality TV. (Not reality, actuality!)

NOVA and Nature alone put PBS in the top five (although American Experience and random nudity are bonuses) and oh, guess what, NO COMMERCIAL BREAKS

Not only does it stream live stats, it's mildly entertaining, uber-political, tech savvy, scientific, and often internationally newsworthy

Simpsons, 24, Family Guy, Cops, American Idol (I only watch the auditions), NFC Football, Nascar, MLB

Lost, AFV, Scrubs, Jimmy Kimmel, College Football, Bowl games, NBA and golf. (and I hear Dancing With The Stars and Greys Anatomy are pretty entertaining too)

Colts, How I Met Your Mother, 2½ Men, CSI, Price is Right, golf, and March Madness

NBA Playoffs, Law & Order, CSI, and Braveheart re-runs, because thats more believable drama than whatever ESPN, MTV or E! puts out. (Exceptions: live sports, Run's House and The Soup)

Joey Chestnut, American Hero

Joey Chestnut captured his 3rd consecutive title by chomping down 68 hot dogs to beat Kobayashi's 64. Jaws has come a long way since his defeat in 2005, where he was outpaced 49-37. Kobayashi had been the prior reigning champ since 2001, when just 25 dogs secured victory.

USA plans to build a lunar outpost

LC's Mike Holman is National Coach of the Year

Coach Holman led the Lawrence Central track & field boys to state championships in '98 and '05, and the cross country boys to runner-up in '06 and sixth this past year after assisting the Americans as video analyst in the 2008 Olympics. The State Hall of Famer is the only man in Indiana history to coach 2 XC individual champions: Matt Grady in '82 (Muncie North), and LC’s Nick Middleton in '91.

Pacers 2009 draft preview

OK, here's how I see the '09/'10 roster: (no Marquis, no Rasho, no Tinsley)

PG - Jack, Ford (good pair here, no real need to draft another if Jarrett is re-signed)
SG - Rush, S.Graham (both young and inexperienced, but I do like Rush's future)
SF - Granger, Dunleavy (both excellent wingmen, no reason to add more)
PF - Murphy, McRoberts (I like the Irish a lot, but we really need another big man)
C - Hibbert, Foster (Jeff is old and we'll need a replacement for him soon)

My hope is we'll go with a PG like Jonny Flynn, Jrue Holiday, or Ty Lawson or possibly a PF like DeJuan Blair or Tyler Hansbrough. The 2nd-round pick could be someone like AJ Price, Garret Siler or Robert Dozier.

I'd really like to see Indiana select Pike HS grad Jeff Teague but I don't

think he'll be available. VCC's Eric Maynor could be a nice addition but I think he'll fall to the bottom of the 1st round. Another hot prospect is Brandon Jennings, who played in Italy last year because he was too dumb for college (ie. Memphis must've been outta scholorships).

Rodney Harrison: Hall of Famer?

The former Patriots and Chargers safety has announced his retirement after 15 seasons in the NFL, and now plans to join Tony Dungy in the booth at NBC.The 36-yr-old holds an NFL record 30½ sacks for DBs; and has 34 ints, making him the only player with 30+ of both. While he has been voted to the Pro Bowl twice, he's also been widely regarded as the league's dirtiest player. He's been fined over $200K for what he calls "passionate play", including the helmet-to-helmet hit on Jerry Rice. In 2007, he was suspended four games for using illegal steroids. Hall of Famer? I hope not

Ron Paul punk'd by Brüno

Presidential hopeful Ron Paul unwittingly gets hit-on by Sacha Baron Cohen's character

28 Years Later

What's with the number 28?? This week I turn 28 years old - from conception, not birth. The Sun returns to it's original position in the sky every 28 years. Saturn circles the Sun in 28 years. There are 28 days in a moon's cycle - and also a females' cycle. Humans have exactly 28 teeth. There are 28 grams in an ounce. Greek mathmeticians proclaim 28 to be perfect.

I'm sure all these coincidences are nothing more than that, but in my quest to discover why February has 28 days, I studied up on the Gregorian Calendar... which was known as the Julian Calendar... which was known as the Roman Calendar before it was revised by Caesar in 44 BC. Before Pope Gregory XIII revised Julius' version we had a leap year every 4 years; now we have 97 leap years every B'ak'tun. This created an error of the previous 13 centuries' time-keeping by ~10 days, so the last day of the Julian Calendar was Oct 4, 1582 followed by the first day of the Gregorian Calendar on Oct 15, 1582. Makes ya feel empty inside, doesn't it?

1 B'ak'tun later the Sun and Stars gave us §, Thriller and ET. Just another coincidence?

* B'ak'tun = 400 years