Here are my picks:

I've ridden Stanford all year. But I am taking Oregon +3½ today, BEST BET (9 units). In other important BCS games - Oklahoma State -17 over Texas Tech (4 unite) and Boise State -15 over TCU (5 units).

They will play a game today in Happy Valley. Without commenting on whether they should, I believe Penn State will play extremely well and Nebraska will be unnerved. I like Penn St(+4).

Other games-Notre Dame -21 over Maryland, Arizona State -11 over Washington State, Nevada -16 over Hawaii, Alabama -18 over Mississippi State, UCLA +7 over Utah (3 units), Idaho +21 over BYU, Cincinnati -3½ over West Virginia, Louisville -3 over Pittsburgh (3 units),Army +7½ over Rutgers, Missouri +1 over Texas (5 units), Clemson -17 over Wake Forest, USC -12 over Washington, Illinois +1 over Michigan, Colorado +11 over Arizona, Michigan State -3 over Iowa (4 units), Miami (Florida) +9 over Florida State (5 units), Auburn +13 over Georgia, Kansas State +5 over Texas A&M, Baylor -20 over Kansas (3 units.)

Go Gators!

President Obama today at Arlington National Cemetary:

"My fellow Americans, our troops are coming home..."After a decade of war, the nation we now need to build is our own."

..."the 9/11 Generation will play a pivotal role in rebuilding America...On this Veterans Day, I ask every American: recruit our veterans."

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Billy Crystal is going to host the Academy Awards. He was my favorite host ever.

Who's going home on the X-Factor? I didn't think Stacy Francis was good last night, poor choice of song but I hope she makes it through. Rachel Crow was terrific as was Astro. I really like Josh Krajek. I also hope Chris Rene stays. And Marcus. I think it's time for Stereo Hogz or Lakoda Rayne to go home. Like last week, the bottom two will do a sing-off and the judges will make the final call.

Does anyone have a Vita-Mix? What do you make in it? I got one yesterday and just set it up and now have no idea what to make with it. It's so much bigger and heavier than I thought it would be.

I'm sure there's other news, so here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

I've been busy. Be back next week with regular posting.

Open Thread.

Another Republican debate? I'm not watching. Better Fare: Survivor, The X-Factor, Harry's Law, Restaurant Impossible or even America's Next Top Model.

Human Rights Watch has a new report on abuses by Mexican police and military in the war on drugs. Shorter version: Mexico's war on drugs is a failure that only serves to increase the violence and fear:

Mexico’s military and police have committed widespread human rights violations in efforts to combat organized crime, virtually none of which are being adequately investigated, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

[More...]

Tonight has to be the exit for Nancy Grace, on DWTS. If not, the show will have some serious credibility issues. She should have been sent packing weeks ago, but her TV fans kept her alive. There's no one left who even remotely is as poor a dancer. Last night Judge Len said:

"For me, you've had kind of a Cinderella story here," he told Ms. Grace. "But it's midnight and it's time to go home."

The only good thing about Ms. UnGrace being on DWTS is it's kept her from spouting her misguided and poisonous opinions on her talk show.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has stayed the execution of Hank Skinner. Skinner has requested DNA testing to prove his innocence and the court said it needed more time to consider a newly revised state law on DNA testing.

"Because the DNA statute has changed, and because some of those changes were because of this case, we find that it would be prudent for this Court to take time to fully review the changes in the statute as they pertain to this case," the Texas criminal appeals court wrote in a two-page stay order.

I've got lots of work before another snow storm hits later today. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

Carlos the Jackal goes on trial tomorrow in France on decades-old terror charges.

Once among the world's most feared masterminds of terror, the man known as Carlos the Jackal is now a graying convict who has been behind bars for 17 years. On Monday, he goes on trial for four deadly attacks that occurred nearly three decades ago, and the verdict could determine his chances of ever being freed.

Lots of TV on tonight: Homeland, The Good Wife, Pan Am and The Next Iron Chef are what I'll be watching. Is anyone going to check out AMC's new Hell on Wheels?

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

It's the one night of the year we get to turn back time. Hope you make the most of your extra hour.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

I have a little time before I have to start working again so I thought I would share my thoughts on today's college football slate.

Miami (Florida) -15½ over Duke (2 units); Oklahoma State -21 over Kansas State (4 units); Oklahoma -14 over Texas A&M (5 units); Mississippi -2 Kentucky (3 units); Cincinnati -3½ over Pittsburgh (2 units); Notre Dame -14 over Wake Forest (3 units); Iowa +4 over Michigan (2 units); Army +17 over Air Force (2 units); Texas Tech +14 over Texas (2 units); Nebraska -17½ over Northwestern (4 units); Connecticut -2 over Syracuse (2 units).

In this year's Game of the Century, I like LSU +5 over Alabama (3 units.) I also expect a fair amount of points to be scored and am taking Over 42 (3 units.)

Go Gators!

Open Thread.

Who knew Anonymous' Barrett Brown had a sense of humor? His latest tweet:

Now my weed dealer won't come by because he's afraid of the damned Zetas. #OpCartel

Maybe he read my post calling him the latest drug war recruit and wants to assure people it's not true.

Congrats to Glenn Greenwald, whose new book, Liberty and Justice for Some, is now at #25 of the NY Times Bestseller List for Hardocover NonFiction.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.