Yes!...Vikes Take Erasmus James

I'm very happy about this pick, even though the Vikings fans at Winter Park booed when it was made.(What the hell do they know) Everyone seemed worried about his size(too big for DE) and his durability(injury prone at Wisky). Just think, they could have had Mike Williams & Erasmus James in the first round...do'h. Oh well, 1 out of 2 ain't bad.

Ugh...Vikings Select Troy Williamson

Well, I don't know that much about Williamson, but I think it's a huge mistake to pass on Mike Williams for this guy. We'll see what they do with #18. I think Erasmus James will be there, but I also think the Vikes will pass on him. Oh well, another botched draft day to start a new Vikings season.

Draft Day Preview

Well, it's 2 1/2 hrs before the draft starts, so its probably a little late for this preview, as no one will have time to read it....however...I'm going to indulge myself anyhow. I'm not going to take the time to go through every pick because it would take too long. I will, however, talk about the Vikings picks.

The #1 pick belongs to the now embarrassing San Francisco 49ers. I'm sure they'd like to pull a Vikings and not make a pick at all to save money. But that probably won't fly, so they're just going to take Alex Smith, QB - Utah. I don't think he's going to be a great NFL quarterback...see Rex Grossman.

#7 - Minnesota Vikings...I think the Vikings would do themselves well taking Mike Williams of Cedric Benson here(this is assuming of course that we all agree Braylon Edwards is going very high). The problem is they(Benson & Williams) may be gone by the 7th pick. My guess...Benson goes #4 to the Bears and Williams goes at #6 to Tennessee, leaving the Vikings stranded. They'll then look to trade...maybe succeed...but I think they'll settle for Antrel Rolle, CB-Miami. blah! ...UPDATE(Please don't take Troy Williamson here...bad pick!)

The Vikings come up again at #18. I'm hoping against hope that Erasmus James falls to them. I think that's the perfect pick for the Vikes. However, I don't think he'll be there. That leaves the Vikings in pickle again. I think they look for a receiver here if they don't get Williams at #7. (Troy Williamson, WR - South Carolina ot Mark Clayton, WR - Oklahoma) Also, if David Pollack, DE - Georgia is available, that would be a good pick. My guess- I think Williamson is gone so they go with Mark Clayton, WR - Oklahoma.

Moving to the second round....#17(49th overall) The Vikings should definately take Mike Nugent here if he's available. They desperatly need a kicker and I don't think using a second round pick on Nugent is a bad idea at all. They probably won't do that though...actually I have no idea what they'll decide to do here. So, keeping that in mind, my (sentimental) pick is Marion Barber, RB - Minnesota.

So, to sum up:

My fantasy draft for the Vikes-
1st Round:#7- Mike Williams, WR - USC
1st Round:#18-Erasmus James, DE - Wisconsin
2nd Round:#49-Mike Nugent, K - Ohio State
3rd round:#80-Marion Barber, RB - Minnesota

My (fatalistic) Vikings draft prediction-
1st Round:#7- Troy Williamson, WR - South Carolina
1st Round:#18-David Pollack, DE - Georgia
2nd Round:#49-No idea...some loser
3rd round:#80-Who cares!

Climate Change

Hundreds of Antarctic Glaciers In Retreat

"Scientists have issued a fresh warning about the effect of climate change on Antarctica, saying that more than 200 coastal glaciers are in retreat because of higher temperatures. Of the 244 marine glaciers that drain inland ice on the Antarctic peninsula, a region previously identified as vulnerable to global warming, 87 percent have fallen back over the last half century, according to research by British experts."

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Player Profile #9

John 'Combinatorics' Hall

Position: Guard (2)
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Favorite Team: Cincinnati 'He' Bearcats
Most Embarrassing Hometown Team: The Bengals...yuck
Favorite Sport: Pickup Basketball
Favorite Cat: Misha...wait, or is it Maggie?
Favorite Activity: Taking pictures of 'forbidden' buidings on vacation, only to be thwarted on many occasions by the friendly Homeland Security officer.
Most Annoying Attribute: Always waving directions to players on the court..."No no, go through." (accompanied by a wave of the arm)
Comparable TV Character: Professor Frink...come on, he's a 'Math' grad student, who else could I compare him to. (OK, really this category should be comparible Simpsons characters, because thats the only show I'm going to reference) "After evaluating millions of pieces of data in the blink of an eye, the Gamble-Tron 2000 says the winner is... Cincinnati by 200 points!? Why, you worthless hunk of junk."...."Well sure, the Frinkiac-7 looks impressive, don't touch it, but I predict that within 100 years, computers will be twice as powerful, 10,000 times larger, and so expensive that only the five richest kings of Europe will own them." -Frink
Interesting Fact: Spent an entire evening after basketball(the night of the big snow storm this winter) pushing stuck cars out of snow drifts just for FUN! An odd way to get your kicks, but hey, to each his own.
League Background: As I recall John was a Fieldhouse pickup the first year of basketball. He started playing with us there a few weeks in a row(when we had no idea who the geek with the glasses was), was added to the email list, and the rest is history...or so the story goes...
Strength: The left-handed baseline drive to the bucket...I can never stop it, and from what I see everyone else has a lot of trouble with it. (I especially like the one where Combinatorics throws it up from behind the backboard!)
Weakness: Passing off to less competent players when he could clearly just take the ball and score himself...well, I know thats not much of a weakness but its hard to find that many with John...well maybe losing or nearly breaking or breaking his glasses at least once a week.

Grades-
Offense: A
Defense: B+
Rebounding: B+
Passing: A-
Hustle: A-
Attitude: A
Basic Math Abilities: A

Overall Grade: A-

Combinatorics

Kerry Considering Another Run in 2008

Mark Dayton said he has little doubt that Kerry is planning to run for president again in 2008. When New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton attended the DFL Humphrey Day Dinner in Minneapolis less than two weeks ago, Dayton, D-Minn., told the crowd he hoped he was introducing 'the next great president of the United States of America.' Two days later on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Dayton said Kerry approached him 'with daggers in his eyes' and said, 'What are you doing endorsing my 2008 presidential opponent?'... He was very serious.' Kerry's office disputes Dayton's account. David Wade, his spokesman, said 'there was nothing but joshing on the Senate floor.'

Kerry's Minnesota Visit May Have Wider Purpose (Star Tribune)

What an idiot. Why is he doing this to me/us? I really hope he reconsiders. "Worst candidate ever." I wouldn't want to see a Kerry-Clinton matchup in the primary. Someone please reassure me that its not gonna happen...It seems like Edwards and Warner are also going to run, and seem like the best candidates. At this point(very very early) I think I'm behind Edwards. I would enjoy a Hillary run, just for the excitement of the first woman candidate, but I fear she would be crushed in the general election.

PA Senate Race: Poll Shows Santorum Trailing by 14 pts

Conservative Republican Rick Santorum is trailing Democrat Robert Casey Jr. by 14 pts in his bid for re-election according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released yesterday. Casey was at 49%, Santorum 35%, with 13% undecided. This is an increase for Casey, who led by 5 pts in a February poll.

Poll: Casey Leads Santorum by 14 pts (AP)

This is good news...this will be a pick up for the Democrats in 2006. If they can hold on to Minnesota, Vermont, and Maryland(I know, big IF) they'll be in good shape to pick up a couple Senate seats in '06.

Sen. Jim Jeffords I-VT Will Not Seek Re-election

This leaves a second open Senate seat for 2006, but one that the Democrats should probably win. Vermont is a state that Democrats shouldn't have to worry about....I said "shouldn't," that doesn't mean they won't. Oh, why did Dean have to run for DNC chair!?

This one's for French Pastry...

Ratzinger Elected Pope

The arch-conservative, former member of the Hitler Youth will almost certainly lead the Catholic Church into obscurity. Another conservative European Pope...yawn. I guess I don't really care that much what a bunch of religious nuts do, but it does seem to be in the news a lot lately, so I thought I'd comment.

Benedict XVI (Slate)

Save General College

This is from an email sent out by AFSCME 3800:

Why close down General College?
Racism - Although GC only admits 15% of the entire first year class, they admitted over
65% of African American 1st year students
43% of Native American 1st year students
27% of Asian American 1st year students
39% of Hispanic 1st year students
Classism -- 26% of GC students are from households that make less than $30,000 a year. In all other colleges combined there are only 9.5%.
Elitism -- Enrolling only "top students" and working to attract more out-of-state students will make the University unattainable for the majority of Minnesotans.

Why Support General College?
GC is essential to enhancing diversity at the University of Minnesota
GC provides equal access to a high quality education
GC has had 38 prestigious award-winning staff and faculty members since 1967

In Solidarity with the General College Student Board, Make your voice heard!

Defend Public Education! Nationally recognized research indicates that General College is a hugely successful model of recruitment and retention for students from underserved communities. Rather than eliminating it, General College should be asked to teach its model programs to the rest of the University. To do so it must be protected and allowed to flourish as a separate entity. (From AFSCMEs Statement on Strategic Positioning)

Show AFSCME support! Local 3800 President Phyllis Walker will be speaking.

JOIN US at the KEEP General College Open Rally

Wednesday, April 20
11am - 1pm
Northrop Plaza

For more information and action steps see: http://www.gen.umn.edu

Player Profile #8

Jay 'French Pastry' Wendelberger

Position: Guard (1, the only true point guard)
Nickname I wanted to use but couldn't, because its been so long since he's worn them: 'Shades'
Favorite Team: Green Bay 'She' Packers
Favorite Activity: Hugging the TV.
Most Annoying Attribute: Blind optimism.
2nd Most Annoying Attribute: Big Ten Fantasy Football Dominance.
Comparable TV Character: Comic Book Guy....'worst profile ever.' (for his game-playing Simpsons-watching nerdiness, not his size) Jays bright yellow skin also makes any other comparison completely unworkable. Though a strange combination of Homer and Lisa does make some sense.
Interesting Fact: Spends more money on board games than food. Have you seen how much those damn games we play cost?! Well...maybe not more than food. Have you seen Jay eat?
League Background: Another league founder...though he hasn't been a regular this past semeseter. And we're all very, very dissapointed with him. :( (Actually he has been a regular again lately, so I retract my previous statement)
Strength: Passing...there is no better passer at Friday night basketball than Jay. Tough he sometimes likes to get a little too fancy, hence the nickname. If you're ever asked "who is the most unselfish basketball player you know?" be sure to answer 'Jay.' I think he'd like that. Wait...he's not dead! Oh, this is awkward.
Weakness: Stamina...has a tendency not to get back on defense late in games. Though he always seems to find the energy for a good fast break.

Grades-
Offense: B+
Defense: B-
Rebounding: B-
Passing: A
Hustle: B-
Attitude: A
Court Creativivty: A
Nickname Creativity: D-

Overall Grade: B+

FLASH: GradTRAC Soundly Defeated 58%-42%

The Vote was 1,779 against to 1,296 in favor. It wasn't even close...

Player Profile #7

Jason 'Surly' Johnson

Position: Forward (3)
Other Nicknames: 'JJ,' 'J-Bone,' 'Maglite' (after the instrument used on someone's head in a movie theater brawl...and yep, it really happened!)
Hometown: St. Paul (lets put everyone from East of the Mississippi on the 'Bad' team next time)
Favorite Place on the Court: Why the lane of course. He spends most of his time 'camped' there.
Interesting Fact: Really hates Scott Kenyon.
Defining Character Trait: Surlyness(like a Teamster)
League Background: Originally invited to Friday basketball by Jay and Matt back in his census days. I ended up arguing blocking/charging calls w/Burt that first time they played, and JJ and Burt left with a middle finger salute from me. We didn't see them again for over a year...then JJ became a regular and we all made nice nice.
Strength: hmm....Strength...His overall body strength allows him to often establish good position in the post; an overall intense player on both ends of the court who plays great post defense, even on players taller than him; long strides allow him to get to the rim often (and give him an excuse when he pulls out an nba no-call type travel).
Weakness: Inconsistancy...has a tendency to get into a deep rut at times leaving him as no offensive threat whatsoever; he is the definition of an inconsistant player.

Grades-
Offense: B
Defense: B+
Rebounding: B+
Passing: B
Hustle: B+
Attitude: B-

Overall Grade: B

Study Finds Climate Change Having Effect on Seasons in England

Climate Change Wreaking Havoc with Seasons (The Independent)

Evidence of Change:
CRICKETS
The long-winged conehead, formerly restricted to the south coast, has moved 60 miles north.
RED ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY
A migrating species that is now spending the winter in the UK.
FROGS
Spawning has occurred before Christmas for several years in milder parts of Cornwall. Researchers have discovered dozens of cases in October and as far north as Northern Ireland.
BUMBLEBEES
Activity in winter is aided by exotic flowers but scientists have logged 4,000 reports of bees in January in what is called a "significant change" in behaviour.
DAFFODILS
Flowering is no longer restricted to spring with it being spotted on Christmas Day. There are similar changes with the white dead-nettle.
OAK TREES
In the past 50 years the oak has come into leaf three weeks earlier. In southern England leaves now emerge in late March.
GRASS
Now grows all year with 7 per cent of respondents to the survey in Scotland cutting their grass in winter.

DeLay Speeks to NRA

"When a man is in trouble or in a good fight, you want to have your friends around, preferably armed. So I feel really good," DeLay said.

DeLay Avoids Ethics Flap in Speech to NRA(AP)