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I have to post this image somewhere, to use in Fantasy Football. So here it is.

Dennis Dixon LiveBlog

Join us tonight as we discuss all things Dennis Dixon, including perhaps how he is doing against the Ravens.

Steelers-Broncos Fest

Neither Gobo nor DanNation will be watching tonight's game in the lap of luxury that was the MGM Grand sportsbook's high-roller skybox, as they were for Week 4 of the NFL season. Which is a good thing, because there was just too much football to watch all at once that day, and I dare say it became slightly boring.

Anyway, we can all concentrate on the lone football contest this evening. Let us discuss Steeler injuries, sickle-cell traits, Merril Hoge, and all other things Steelers-Broncos related, such as the game.

Vegas (without) Babies!

Gobo, DanNation, and I are heading into Day 3 of our Vegas trip, having left our spouses to care for our combined 6 children and 17 animals on their own. Friday was spent at the Mirage pool and then at The Price Is Right Live. TPIR is okay, but when you don't get called to come on down, it's a bit lame. But we did get to see Cliffhangers and Plinko played live. And one of the Barker Beauties was fairly hot (while the other one was strangely most assuredly not). So that was alright. Still, I think we Wonks would officially recommend that you could skip it.
ZEUS. Before TPIR, we were killing time. I put about $20 in a video penny slot called Zeus. I bet 30 lines at a penny per line. On my second spin, I got a bonus round of 20 free spins. It took like 10 minutes to get through, and was quite profitable, considering that I had up to that point risked only 30 cents. Then, in an attempt to get rid of the change I would receive if I cashed out, I played a liitle bit more. Again on the second spin, everything went crazy and another lengthy bonus round ensued. DanNation was incredulous that such a result could occur whilst putting up only $1.20 in total bets. As an afficianado of video slots, he protested that such things just do not happen: not only had I reached 2 bonus rounds immediately, but each round yielded about $30 with only 30 cents bet on the pull. I cashed out with a tidy $60 profit. DanNation, on Saturday, came across a Zeus machine during our fieldtrip downtown. He put $15 in and proceeded to lose it all immediately. Then, while playing craps at Binion's (which the owners seem to have put a bit of money into so it 's not AS skeezy as it once was), Dan curses Zeus during the middle of a semi-hot roll where everyone has like $80 invested on the table, and a 7 appears immediately. Way to piss off Zeus, Dan. Fucker.
SPA. We tried something new this year and went to the spa for massages. Definitely worth it. Relaxing massage, architecturally stunning soaking tub where you can sit and watch college football on TV, and free trail mix. You get a pass to the spa for the full day, so we actually went back later in the afternoon. But good God, the steam room almost killed us with drippings of boiling water randomly falling on us from the ceiling.
SPORTSBOOK. My brother-in-law called in a favor, and got us a skybox at the MGM Grand's sportsbook to watch today's set of football games. The skyboxes, as far as we understand, are usually reserved for their highest of rollers. Should be amazing. Then we head to the newly-opened emeril's Stadium in the Palazzo to watch the Steelers Sunday night game. Now, on to bet ridiculous 10-team parlays.

Great Sevens! Can They Repeat?

Happy start of football season, everyone! Join us this evening as we liveblog the Steelers game, kibbitz about last night's Glee episode, and perhaps continue the health care discussion, at least in terms of whether Bo Scaife and LenDale White deserve health care if they desecrate the Terrible Towel again. BTW, this picture appears to be of neither Scaife nor White -- how many Titans stomped on the damned towel last year?

You Lie! People WILL Die!

Okay, so Joe Wilson seems to have stolen the show last night for calling the President a liar on something rather plainly not a lie, because the media needs something to focus on rather than the actual message of whether and how to get universal health care (on the other hand, this site amused me for a good 3 minutes of refreshing). Wilson seems to have saved the non-policy chatter from focusing on Hillary's dress, which I think you could see from space.







Actually, what are we trying to get here? Universal health care? Government-run health care? Health care reform (whatever that means)? Cheaper health care? Fairer health care? More readily available health care? With Obama's flip-flop on a health insurance mandate, it seems to be more along the lines of "universal health care." And with the public option slated to cover only 5% of Americans who can't get insurance anywhere else, this goal should prove popular to the insurance companies. But it still seems like health care will be tied to one's workplace (businesses will either have to provide insurance or pay a penalty). Things will be fairer in the sense that you cannot be denied based on pre-existing condition, and no annual or lifetime caps on coverage. So, essentially, everyone who wants health insurance can get it, and you have to get it, and you don't have to worry about leaving your job. I think this is all very important. I'm still unclear, though, how we're going to reduce costs and reduce premiums. That's the other killer out there. I guess that's more along the lines of the details that are to come.

Anyway, Obama's seemed to counter the whole idea from the below post -- that end-of-life care and ultra-high-cost procedures like transplants would have to be reduced in order to pass health care legislation. When praising Ted Kennedy, Obama said that he "was able to imagine what it must be like for those without insurance; what it would be like to have to say to a wife or a child or an aging parent - there is something that could make you better, but I just can't afford it." Well, if a kidney transplant would make you better, and you can't afford it, then we're picking up the tab? I just don't see that working effectively.

Facebook Challenge -- No One Dies, Really?

Well, we need something to talk about here after a months-long hiatus, especially since it will be kinda lame if all we do is live-blog Steelers games.

The innundation of status updates on Facebook yesterday about health care, including by fellow Nerdy Wonk DanNation, opened my eyes a little more on the health care debate, namely that I might be disagreeing with one of the left’s basic premises. Here’s the line: “No one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick.”

First, I guess I should say that I agree with the second part, that no one should go broke because they got sick. I think even staunch Republicans agree with that, at least the way it’s phrased. There’s some other things we can argue about its premise, though – does this mean that all health care should be free? That there should be an income-based cap on how much you can be charged? We’ll leave this for another post.

But I think I absolutely disagree with the first part of the argument – that no one should die because they cannot afford health care. In fact, I think that adherence to this argument will actually prevent any kind of government-sponsored health system from being implemented. End-of-life care, like basically every other medical cost, is spiraling out of control. If I was not at a new job, I might actually take some time and provide some statistics. But I think it’s fairly uncontentious statement. And then you get to crazy heart transplants and the like.
I think everyone is entitled to basic health care. And basic can include a lot of things. You get check-ups and preventive care (that only makes economic sense, after all). You get a broken bone fixed. You get catastrophic care after a car accident. You get treatment for your diseases and illnesses to either help you get better or to maintain a reasonable standard of health and life: dialysis, heart pills, chemotherapy, etc. But I think we bankrupt the system before it even starts if we say that you are entitled to every last procedure that someone with a billion dollars could pay for. Do we pay for multiple kidney transplants when dialysis isn’t working? Do we pay for hip replacement surgery for the 95-year old in poor health (or even, at all)? Do we pay for a liver transplant for an alcoholic? Do we pay for a heart transplant for someone over, say 60? I think the answer is no. If you have the money (or the private insurance), then fine. But I do not think that these advanced procedures are an entitlement. If you don’t have the money (or the private insurance) in these situations, well, then, you’re going to die. I think we have to be very up front about this. Long-shot surgeries, or procedures that merely delay death for a few weeks should not be a part of mandatory health care. We’ve got to face it that, even with a public option, some (or even a lot of) people are going to die because they cannot afford (better) health care.

Bill Cowher is a Whore for Comcast

I'm only posting this photo so that I can link to it on our FF website. Sorry if this disrupts the flow of the blog.

This sums it all up

So, Are We Done Here?

Okay Now I'm Hooked

American Idol: Tatiana Del Toro Makes It Into Top 36
by TheDlisted

They're obviously using directors from the Apprentice.

Lloyd is Gonna Hit a Homer...

I heard this on the radio today. Almost drove up onto the sidewalk.

Stolen from PittGirl

(Have a Good Sandwich)

The Only Possible Fly in the Ointment

(Reference to justify the post: WTTG Fox 5; Post-Gazette)

They're not booing, They're saying "Duuuuuuce!"

So, just for fun, I decided to take a look and see what Steelers jerseys were available on ebay.

You've got the usual crop of current Steelers - Roethlisberger, Ward, Polamalu, Holmes, Harrison, Casey Hampton, even some less popular players like Mewelde Moore. You've got some of the popular old-timers such as Bradshaw, Lambert, Greene (Joe and Kevin), Woodson. I guess you could even put Levon Kirkland in that category.

Then you've got some oddities. Duce Staley, who was a bust as a free agent. Yancey Thigpen, who was actually good for a couple of years, but I will always remember him for dropping a wide-open TD pass at the end of a meaningless game in Green Bay in 1995 (in a game we watched at Messiah's house, I have no clue why I remember this so vividly). Mark Bruener, nondescript tight end. Kordell Stewart. Oy. I think I would buy this, just to cross out the "Stewart" and write in "Holmes". My personal favorite, though is the Plaxico Burress jersey, which has the wrong number on it.

Twas the Night Before the Super Bowl

'Twas the night before the Super Bowl,
when along the gulf shore,
Steelers fans were praying for "just one more;"
The players were nestled all snug in the sack,
With visions of the first NFL Six-Pack;
Coach Tomlin was young, but wise for his years,
So I drifted off to sleep without any fears;
When at the stadium there arose some strange chatter,
The Cardinals feared, what was the matter;
We heard "Okel Dokel",
we heard "Double Yoi,"
We jumped from our beds, our hearts jumped for joy;
He stood at the fifty with a grin ear to ear,
Steelers fans everywhere started to cheer;
Then in an instant to our surprise,
This little old man had tears in his eyes;
He went to the booth and there took his chair,
While Terrible Towels waved in the air;
Then over the airwaves came his shrill voice,
The Steelers Nation began to rejoice;
He said, "I am back, but you know I can't stay,
I just had to see my Steelers play;
From my home up above, I have a great view,
But I wanted to celebrate here with you;
So bring on the Birds, we'll send them a flyin',
On the way back to Phoenix , they will be cryin';
Ben, Hines, Troy , Jeff and all of the rest,
No matter the outcome, to me you're the best;"
The airwaves went silent, the stadium still,
Was this just a dream, it seemed so real;
In our team we have faith, in our team we have hope,
But the game's not the same without Myron Cope.

What What What?

The video really speaks for itself. All I can add is "Fox sucks."

news from the iss

steeler fans in space.

Hail to the Chia-f

I can't get the image to embed for some reason, but this is an actual product.

I have not yet located the Chia-Tomlin.

Dan adds: I posted the image. When saving, I changed the file type from PNG (which doesn't work -- whatever it is), to Bitmap, which typically does.

Quick Inaugural Liveblog

11:42 AM: Dick Cheney in wheelchair. Old man must've come back, shot him in the knee.

11:45 AM: Barack looks like he may hurl.

11:53 AM: Warren's such a douchebag.

11:57 AM: John Paul Stevens finishes Biden swearing-in, mutters under breath "Praise Jesus, I could safely quit in four minutes!"

11:58 AM: Bush looks like he's counting down nanoseconds until he can get the hell out of that town.

12:01 PM: Constitution violated. It does not call for Yitzhak at high noon.

12:04 PM: Did they remember to invite Good Looking Chief Justice John Roberts?

12:05 PM: Yes.

12:06 PM: History...

12:07 PM: Guns fire. Startled Cheney wheels self toward undisclosed location.

12:20 PM: "We are a nation of Christians, Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers." He just lost the Shinto vote in 2012.

12:23 PM: Wow, he's talking about service to others without using creepy Bush phrases like, "You can go to a shut-in's home and say, 'I love you.'"

12:37 PM: Boring poetry. Hey! They already have a Presidency of Barack Obama entry in Wikipedia. It is very brief.

Willie's Gonna Spin You Arahnd.

Saturday Night Liveblogging

Get it?

A Funny from Jodi in Munich

Warning! Major Time Suck Ahead!

OK, so last week when I was looking for the box score from the Pupunu game, I found Pro Football Reference, which, as you may guess if you've ever spent time on Baseball Reference, is a site full of useless yet valuable football stats. I just spent my entire lunch hour perusing the site, and it will probably suck up a substantial amount of my remaining should-be-working time over the next week or three (depending on Sunday's result).

For example, did you know that Yancey Thigpen holds the Steelers record for single-season receiving yards? Even more shockingly, he accomplished this feat during a season when Kordell Stewart was throwing him the ball! Also, Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress are 3 and 4 on this list - from the same season (a disturbing reminder of how out of whack the offense was during the 2002 "Tommy Gun" season).

Anyway, sorry if this gets anyone fired.

P.S. We may want to (at least temporarily) change the name of this site to "White, Black and Gold Nerdy Wonks."

Steelers-Ravens III: Electric Boogalee

Come on, who among us didn't know in their heart of hearts that it would come to this?

Here is your AFC Championship game discussion thread.

Initial thoughts:

1) Willie Parker's running last week, coupled with Chris Johnson's success against the Ravens (until he got hurt), gives me some hope that we might be able to run just enough to set up playaction.

2) Corollary to #1, if Ben can be just a hair more accurate on deep balls (heh) than he was against the Chargers, it's possible that good things could happen on offense.

3) I'm not holding my breath on 1 and 2, so the defense better maul some folks. I'm hoping Polamalu gets tired enough of hearing about Ed "the greatest safety ever" Reed that he goes completely nuts (in the good, football way).

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Playoff LiveBlog

If anyone's around, we can do a playoff version of the LiveBlog, starting about 45 minutes before the game. Hopefully, the Steelers can buck the trend of visiting teams winning.

Re-Post: November's Steelers-Chargers LiveBlog

To help prepare for the game, we've got the LT/Troy commercial up top and a re-post of the Live Blog from the Week 11 game down below. Relive the glory as Bram, Sean, and I discuss Troy's interceptions, Big Ben's sexual exploits, goal-line strategy, how not to aid choking babies, and the introduction of the Bud Lite (or is it Miller Lite?) drinkability ads..

Steelers-Chargers Thread

Consider this a Steelers-Chargers discussion thread. I have already written to the NFL to find out if, since Polamalu's TD in the last game was not properly credited to the Steelers, we can start off with a 6-0 lead, and begin the game by attempting an extra point.

I'll get the actual discussion started by saying that I am thankful we don't have to play the Colts. They were the only team out there that really scared me (No, really, the Ravens don't scare me).

I think one key to this game is to get some pass rush and hit Rivers a few times early in the game. He's an emotional player, and if we rattle him early it will be a good thing.

The other key to this game is to have a somewhat less-than-atrocious punting game.

Finally, let's all pray for a blizzard.

Larry Sabato's 2008 Political Map

Every four years the Center for Politics produces the "Political Map of America," which restructures the states within the continental boundaries of the United States. On the political map, each state takes up only the volume merited by its Electoral College weight. After all, trees, rocks, and acres do not vote; only people do. Giant geographic Alaska and Montana shrink to pea size while states such as California, Texas, and Florida swell considerably on this political map.