I woke up with a new hairdo today. Not by intent, but it was sort of a combination of Professor Irwin Corey, Pee-Wee Herman and Mr. Jing-A-Ling. I don't think it's catchin' on anytime soon.

But it was a day for football. Certainly cold enough not to do much else.

Dan Marino, there is an off button on your cellphone. Three times on national TV is oh, I dunno, three times too many. Bud Selig had his phone ring during his news conference the other day. It was his wife and he said he'd punch her out. Yep, he said that. I expect Dan to take different measures and read his manual.

All you needed to know about the Patriots-Chargers game came with over 9 minutes left, San Diego down by 9 on the Patriots 36 and they effin' punted. Are you kidding me? They needed two scores and I said, "Norv, you may not get the ball back." They didn't. I thought that was a horrible call.

How 'bout the G-Men and Manning the Lesser winning in Lambeau? Certainly the Giants did everything they could to keep the Packers in the game. Lawrence Tynes missed 2 field goals. R.W. McQuarters fumbles twice, once after an interception and then again on a punt return, recovered by the Giants but moved well back. But the Giant defense was tough in the second half, while the Packer offense did virtually nothing. Brett Favre threw an OT interception and it ended kinda quickly.

And didn't Terry Bradshaw look cold at the half? He had a problem holding his mike steady. Props to Fox for showing the clips of some of the old Packers and Giants. And I knew everyone of them. And exactly how many movies does Martin Lawrence have coming out?

Look for two weeks of even more hype as the Giants-Patriots revisit their regular season finale in the Super Bowl.

Meal of Links

There was a new energy bill passed in December. Obvious changes are your light bulbs. But appliances will have to meet new standards, as well.

This doesn't seem to be attracting much attention in the States, but the UK is going through a period of examination of their organ donation program The Prime Minister is leaning towards "presumed consent", meaning they will harvest your organs upon death, unless you opt out. Spain and some other countries have this program (or some form of it) in place and it seems to be saving lives.

A hit-and-miss list of Top 10 Discontinued Sodas. There are some oldies remembered here, but where's Jolt and isn't Tab still around? And is it true that in your Hispanic areas, you can get Coke in a bottle with real sugar? I think I'll visit Dave's. My soda theory: Coke tastes better out of a cold bottle or can with no ice...warm or cold Pepsi always requires ice.

Exercise Yard

Bode Miller has now won the most World Cup races in U.S. skiing history. The race was in Kitzbuehel.

Visitor

None, it's a cold NFL playoff-viewing Sunday.