Odds and Ends:

Ah, January 2. The best day for lunch at a fast-food joint. Why? No lines, as everyone started their diet today. Should be back to normal by, say, MLK Day.

It appears the drive-thru booze joint in my neighborhood may have closed. Another landmark gone.

I see Burger King is now offering a Texas Double Whopper, for the person who says when eating a normal Double Whopper, "Boy, there's something missing here."

Terrific "Austin City Limits" this week. The Raconteurs and Cat Power.

Michigan absolutely spit the bit in the second half of the Rose Bowl. Without a doubt, the highlight was this USC Song Girl that has hit the Internets. God bless Tivo:













I can hear Al Pacino from "Heat": "Cause she's got a great ass."

The Plain Dealer is committing the cardinal sin of publishing: "Don't fuck with the puzzle page." But this time, it may be a good thing. The LA Times syndicate is on hiatus for two weeks while the Magilla of puzzles, from the daily NYTimes, gets a tryout.

Meal of Links

The sort of offbeat thing I like. Some really good opening credit sequences. Not sure if they are the best, but they are better than the norm. BTW, "Run, Lola, Run" was on the HD channel tonight. Here's the trailer:





Rock Star Supernova was underwhelming in their New Years Eve debut. I can't say I'm surprised.

TV has run out of ideas. ABC greenlights "Mr. and Mrs. Smith". OK, how can ABC screw this up? You know Pitt and Jolie won't be in it. If you saw Jennifer Garner in her football jersey over the weekend, she needs to be in this show. As for the guy, I have no idea. Probably needs to be out-of-work TV guy who is popular.

Exercise Yard

Of course, I turned off the Boise State game last night when it was 28-10. Reminds me of another Monday night game from Arizona I turned off a couple of months back. Anyhow, if you call the Boise State play the "Hook and Lateral", you are a dork. It'll always be the "Hook and Ladder" to me. I've now seen this play run successfully three times in important games.

First was Browns-Vikings, 1980. The play before the Ahmad Rashad Hail Mary from Tommy Kramer. Joe Senser was involved and got to the 50.

Second, the AFC playoff game between the Chargers and Dolphins. Dolphins getting waxed until Don Strock comes in. Before the half, Strock to Duriel Harris with a flip to Tony Nathan for a TD.

Then last night:



Visitor

43 Across: Rusty Staub or Daryl Strawberry (5 letters) Answer: Ex-Met (Is that New Yorkie enough for the puzzle?)