It's a perfect fall day here, I'm headed out to enjoy it. And then back to cook a long, slow chili using the recipe in my 1969 edition of Alice's Restaurant Cookbook.
There are fancier ways to make red chili, but this one is the favorite in my house.

For those of you not following football, here's an open thread for all other topics.

The most important games of the weekend include USC at Cal, Oklahoma at Miami and LSU at Georgia. Florida is off this week as we await the call on whether Tim Tebow can play next week. Here are my picks for today's games:

USC is a 5 point favorite over a Cal team reeling from a 39 point beatdown in Autzen. USC has better players, has already suffered its yearly Pac 10 letdown and Barkley is back. I like the Trojans (-5) in Berkeley. And we'll be hearing a lot of this today.

The Wolverines travel to East Lansing to face the hapless Spartans. While Michigan is not anything special in my mind, and this should be a perfect spot for Sparty, I think the Forciers (+3) beat their little Cousinses. In other words, Hail to the Victors. More . . .

Good for Taylor Branch (and Somerby and Digby), but it does not matter anymore. The Media has no credibility. Not any part of it.

And the progressive blogs can not now pretend they did not play along in the 2008 primaries. To this day, they lionize Olbermann, who is as big a hack as there is (even when he hacks for things I like, like the public option.)

It's too late for the Media, and in some ways, too late for the blogs too. (Speaking for me only of course.)

This is an Open Thread.

What I'm reading:

• Federal Judge orders release of most of Dick Cheney's Valerie Plame interview

• David Letterman reveals extortion plot over his intimate relationships with employees -- plotter who worked for CBS' 48 Hours is arrested and suspended. The Manhattan DA's office used a sting to get the suspect, identified as producer Robert "Joe" Halderman.

• McCain Aide says Palin would be disasterous for GOP in 2012; There are few takers for her talks on the lecture circuit.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

BTD is watching Fringe. For me, it's Survivor and Grey's Anatomy.

I'm signing off for the night, here's an open thread for you, all topics welcome.

I'm watching Fringe tonight. What are you doing?

This is an Open Thread.

Also, Jon has nixed any more "Plus 8" shows. Thanks to the Gawds.

Lambert needs some help. Even though he rips me all the time, he's got a great blog. If you agree with me, give him a hand. (Speaking for me only)

This is an Open Thread.

KDog is going to see Bruce on Friday. They are doing the Darkness album, one of the great albums of all time. So, in the hopes that I get to go too, here is a performance of "Streets of Fire," circa 1978:

Does anyone have more to say? If so, here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

Why don't I discuss the Polanski case? Mostly because I do not know enough about it. Second, because even if I did, I doubt I would have much worth saying. Third, it does not strike me as an important public issue. It's not like however Polanski is treated here is going to affect public policy. He is sui generis. Fourth, I love Polanski's films and I would rather not think about how I feel about how his art may affect my views on this issue. Lastly, celebrity justice stories have never interested me.

Now if you want to discuss an actual important issue, like whether Tim Tebow should play against LSU on October 10 (he suffered a serious concussion last Saturday), I am game. Let me surprise you all and say I think he should probably sit out that game at least, if not more games. Better safe than sorry.

This is an Open Thread, and of course, the views expressed above are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the NFL, the NCAA or TalkLeft.

We didn't have any of these today. In case you folks are wondering, I am 3-0 in my fantasy football league (my "look over there" moment after the thrashing (1-4) I took on the NFL games Sunday. My usual 3-2 with the colleges (now 12-8 for the season.)

Oh, and ROMAN POLANSKI!

Hold it there kitty cat! This is an Open Thread.

Najibullah Zazi has his first court appearance in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, NY tomorrow.

Free Roman.

I'll be out tonight, it's my birthday and the TL kid and I have a great dinner planned. Here's a picture of the flowers he just brought me.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Roman Polanski is one of my favorite directors. And that's all I am going to say about that.

This is an Open Thread.