In one of the more remarkable moments of the Absurdist play that is our annual Bowl Championship Series, the President of THE Ohio State University (which has largely distinguished itself by being pummelled by the SEC champion in BCS national championhip games) recently stated that non-BCS automatic qualifier schools are not worthy of playing in the BCS national championship game. Oookaay. Whatever, Buckeyes.

Opinion driven, as opposed to performance driven, assessments of college footbsll teams is the modus operandi of the BCS. That and protecting the big bowls. In an attempt to blunt the charge of a fixed system, the BCS added computer rankings to its formula. But that was deemed flawed because, we were told, it encouraged running up the score. As opposed to a poll voter system. Yeah whatever. This year, the REAL computer rankings, as opposed to the gerrymandered version that the BCS has installed, provide the following rankings going into today's games:

Mick Jagger and Fergie are on fire on this version of Gimme Shelter -- Bono and Will-i-Am are good too. What a great concert -- the 2009 25th Anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Same concert: Patti Smyth, Bruce Springsteen and Bono and U2 in Because the Night:

[More..]

KBCO in Boulder is playing Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant at noon and 6pm, MT. You can listen live here. It was November 28, 1965 that Arlo was convicted of littering in Stockbridge, MA. You can read the backstory here.

Why is Alice's Restaurant such a ritual, especially for those of us who remember the '60's? Ira Chernus, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder, explains: [More...]

Just a little something to tide you over till tomorrow when radio stations around the country will play the full 18:37 second version of Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant.

Alice, by the way, is now an artist. I still have my hardcover edition of her 1969 cookbook -- easiest recipes ever, and really, really good (Especially the red chile and her mother-in-law's corn pudding.) [More...]

I'm going to brave a trip to the supermarket and Office Depot. If I haven't posted again by dinnertime, you can assume it's as bad out there as I think it's going to be. In addition to the anticipated checkout lines at the market, we're getting an artic front and the mountains are getting a blizzard.

Air traffic seems to be proceeding normally. Not surprisingly, people care more about getting to their destination than they do their privacy.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome. And please let us know what you are cooking tomorrow, or most looking forward to eating.

Busiest travel day of the year. A NYTimes reporter is live blogging her travel day. And I thought I was in a blogging rut.

Open Thread.

Why do a million things that require immediate attention always happen right before a big holiday?

In case I only have time DWTS tonight (which I will put on other threads) here's an open thread for all other topics.

I'm quickly losing interest in political discussion. Maybe it will snap back soon.

Friday, which will be a big day in deciding who plays for the BCS championship, I will post a rant about the BCS and the need for a college football playoff system.

Other than that, I got nuthin.

Open Thread.

I'll be in court the rest of the day. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

The American Music Awards are on tonight. Some red carpet photos are here and here. Are there any performances you want to see or thought were good? Kid Rock is on now and Bon Jovi will be on in about 40 minutes.

There's also the finale of the Next Iron Chef and a new Boardwalk Empire.

Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

National Opt-Out day: If you're flying Wednesday, will you refuse the scan? Here's the latest: A bladder cancer survivor is left soaking in his own urine after a humiliating pat-down.

Anyone online tonight? If so, here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

This week's picks:

Penn St (-10) over Ind., Wisconsin (-3) over Michigan, South Florida (+4) over Pitt, Okla St(-24) over Kansas, Louisville (+4) over W. Va., K. State (-2) over Colorado, Utah St. (-2) over Idaho, Iowa (+4) over Ohio State, Illini (+9) over Northwestern, Stanford (-7) over Cal., Miami (+3) over Va Tech, Ole Miss (+17) over LSU, Arkansas (-2) over Miss State (5 units), Maryland (+5) over FSU, Ore. State (+4) over USC, Notre Dame (-8) over Army (3 units.).

Open Thread.