One Little Victory

Yeah, good old “Blago” stopped on campus yesterday. Hey Rod, I’m surprised that you even knew that Illinois went any further south than I-80.

This is from our student newspaper, The Daily Vidette.

Topinka reacts to budget cuts in higher education
by Mary Yurgil (The Daily Vidette)

Visiting ISU for the first time during his term as Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich set out to talk about the importance of higher education and to congratulate ISU for being an outstanding university, applauding in agreement with a statement made by ISU President Al Bowman who cited the university as the first and the best public university in the state.

Speaking on higher education and the importance for students to become involved within their university, Blagojevich held the attention of faculty, staff and students.

While those attending the speech appeared to be receptive to the stories and ideas posed by Blagojevich, questions were raised to the governor about a variety of concerns, the funding for education among them.

While the governor and the Illinois government were quick to supply ISU with $18.7 million to renovate Schroeder Hall and $22 million in upgrades for Stevenson and Turner Halls, Judy Baar Topinka, Illinois State Treasurer and candidate for Governor, is one to not forget Illinois’ increasing deficit and cuts to higher education.

“Our goal is to provide more money to higher education because under this governor it has been cut by $100 million,” John McGovern, spokesman for Topinka, said. “We want to put $350 million into higher education. One of the reasons for tuition increases is that state funding has been cut. Universities operate on a budget and they need to be able to plan ahead by knowing what the state’s financial commitment will be.”

McGovern said that under Topinka’s Four-Year Budget Rescue Plan the $100 million cut can be regained, as well as another $250 million being raised without unnecessary spending or alterations in revenue.

“Governor Blagojevich has created a $3 billion deficit in Illinois, which is the largest of any state in the nation. Clearly there are pressures everywhere in terms of revenue and increased spending but we need to address both issues so we can meet our commitments to education, and other areas,” McGovern said. “It’s important to demonstrate a consistent and steady revenue stream so that people can rely on a secure source of funding.”

“That’s why we hope that if the state can make a long term greater funding commitment to higher education that would allow schools to plan their budgets over time in a way that would hopefully lead to some tuition relief. Because they would have a greater source of income from the state than they currently do.”

McGovern explained that the cut in higher education funding has caused universities within the state to increase their tuition, saying, “universities operate on a budget which is determined on how much they take in and how much they spend. When you cut the state’s commitment to higher education, schools tend to look elsewhere to make up that gap, one of which is tuition increase.”

With Topinka serving Illinois State Treasurer since 1994 “she has earned record profits for taxpayers through smart investments and good money management,” according to McGovern. “Certainly her overall education plan as well as her budget rescue plan both are aimed at solving the state’s fiscal crisis.”

Well, here it is. The moment we’ve all been waiting for (yeah, right!). Here are my predictions for the NFL 2006 season. I don’t know how accurate these will be, but I’ll bet anything that they will be more accurate than those that Sports Illustrated just published! (I will include these shortly.) Accuracy will be determined by how close I am to each team’s individual records during the regular season. Post-season is just a bonus if it is accurate.

Finally, no mouthing off about these picks unless you are prepared to publish your own in the Comments; same rules, regular season records for all teams, as well as post-season prognostications. And it will come as no surprise that I am delighted that all of the “experts” have written off New England for this year. It will be that much sweeter when the dynasty returns come February in Miami.

Please do post your own predictions, and then we’ll take a look back at the end of the season.

A’ight…. whoever the summabitch is that hacked my frackin’ credit card, I hate you!

I know, I know, it’s bound to happen, but there’s nothing like the shock of almost $2,200 that I didn’t spend showing up on my credit card bill. Thankfully, the cc company will now pursue it, and if that SOB left any trace of identity, I hope they screw you to a wall.

Like I don’t have enough crap to manage on a day to day basis.

I’ll stop my grumbling now… carry on!

This is (modified) from Beirut Live; good stuff!

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was sitting in his office wondering how to invade Lebanon when his telephone rang. Beirut’s most famous imaginary character announces to him in a heavily accented voice: “This is Abul Abed and I am calling to tell you that we are officially declaring war on you.” “How big is your army?” replies Olmert. “Right now,” said Abul Abed, “there is myself, my cousin Mustafa, my next-door neighbor Abu Khaled, and the whole team from the tea house. That makes eight!”Olmert paused. “I must tell you Abul Abed, that I have one million men in my army waiting to move on my command.” Abul Abed paused and said, “We will get back to you tomorrow, Mr. Olmert.”

Abul Abed called the next day. “Mr. Olmert, the war is still on,” he said. “We have managed to acquire some infantry equipment!”"And what equipment would that be Abul Abed?”, Olmert asked. “Well sir, we have two Mercedes 180s, and a truck.” Olmert chuckled and said, “I must tell you Abul Abed that I have 10,000 bombers and 20,000 fighter planes. My military complex is surrounded by laser-guided, surface-to-air missile sites. And since we last spoke, I’ve increased my army to two million!”

There was silence on the phone, and then Abul Abed sighed deeply into the phone. “Mr. Olmert, we have to call off this war,” he said.”I’m sorry to hear that,” said Olmert. “Why the sudden change of heart?”

“Well,” said Abul Abed, “we’ve come to realize that there is no way we can feed two million prisoners!”

This is from yesterday’s adoption. It’s official… Sean is our kid!

Here are the first six casualties of the day; more to come.

CB Hank Poteat
ILB Freddie Roach
WR Rich Musinski
WR Keron Henry
OL Brian Barthelmes
OL Nick Steitz

Poteat is the biggest cut in this group, but not unexpected given how healthy the secondary currently is.

This comes from a fellow blogger (Julie) and is just so cool I had to post it here.

copyright 2005 by Julie A. Segraves - used with permission

Uh Oh. This looks serious.

NEW YORK–A public-school teacher was arrested today at John F. Kennedy International Airport as he attempted to board a flight while in possession of a ruler, a protractor, a set square, a slide rule, and a calculator.

At a morning press conference, Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez said he believes the man is a member of the notorious Al-gebra movement. He did not identify the man, who has been charged by the FBI with carrying weapons of math instruction.

“Al-gebra is a problem for us,” Gonzalez said. “They desire solutions by means and extremes, and sometimes go off on tangents in a search of absolute values. They use secret code names like ‘x’ and ‘y’ and refer to themselves as ‘unknowns,’ but we have determined they belong to a common denominator of the axis of medieval with coordinates in every country. As the Greek philanderer Isosceles used to say, ‘There are 3 sides to every triangle.”

When asked to comment on the arrest, President Bush said, “If God had wanted us to have better Weapons of Math Instruction, He would have given us more fingers and toes.” White House aides told reporters they could not recall a more intelligent or profound statement by the president.

I hated this woman enough back in 2000, but she just makes it easier and easier to poke at her. Electing someone who thinks, acts, and speaks in this way is beyond reprehensible. But it is Florida, so maybe they just miscounted the votes.

Rep. Harris: Church-state separation ‘a lie’
POSTED: 10:45 a.m. EDT, August 28, 2006
MIAMI, Florida

(AP) — U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris told a religious journal that separation of church and state is “a lie” and God and the nation’s founding fathers did not intend the country be “a nation of secular laws.”

The Republican candidate for U.S. Senate also said that if Christians are not elected, politicians will “legislate sin,” including abortion and gay marriage.

Harris made the comments — which she clarified Saturday — in the Florida Baptist Witness, the weekly journal of the Florida Baptist State Convention, which interviewed political candidates and asked them about religion and their positions on issues.

Separation of church and state is “a lie we have been told,” Harris said in the interview, published Thursday, saying separating religion and politics is “wrong because God is the one who chooses our rulers.”

Electing non-Christians a ‘legislative sin’

“If you’re not electing Christians, then in essence you are going to legislate sin,” Harris said.

Her comments drew criticism, including some from fellow Republicans who called them offensive and not representative of the party.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida, who is Jewish, told the Orlando Sentinel that she was “disgusted” by the comments.

Harris’ campaign released a statement Saturday saying she had been “speaking to a Christian audience, addressing a common misperception that people of faith should not be actively involved in government.”

The comments reflected “her deep grounding in Judeo-Christian values,” the statement said, adding that Harris had previously supported pro-Israel legislation and legislation recognizing the Holocaust.

Harris’ opponents in the GOP primary also gave interviews to the Florida Baptist Witness but made more general statements on their faith.

Harris, 49, faced widespread criticism for her role overseeing the 2000 presidential recount as Florida’s secretary of state.

State GOP leaders — including Gov. Jeb Bush — don’t think she can win against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in November. Fundraising has lagged, frustrated campaign workers have defected in droves and the issues have been overshadowed by news of her dealings with a corrupt defense contractor who gave her $32,000 in illegal campaign contributions.

Here is my guess at a New England Patriots 53-man roster for the beginning of the season. This obviously does not factor in players that will be placed on IR, as well as those released and then signed to the practice squad. But no matter how you slice it, the cuts this year are going to be brutal, and some very talented players are going to end up being grabbed by other teams. It’s a nice problem to have.

Quarterbacks:

• Tom Brady
• Matt Cassell

Notes: OK, some posters on the NEP bulletin board have convinced me that we will start the year with just two QBs on the roster, and that Corey Bramlet will be cut and then signed to the practice squad. Sounds like a safe bet.

Running Backs:

• Corey Dillon
• Laurence Maroney
• Kevin Faulk
• Heath Evans
• Patrick Cobbs

Notes: Cobbs has to make this squad; he is too good to let another team have. Patrick Pass is either going on the IR, or he will be cut. There are simply too many good running backs this year.

Wide Receivers:

• TBA
• Reche Caldwell
• Chad Jackson
• Troy Brown
• Bam Childress
• Willie Andrews (WR/S/KR)

Notes: This is totally dependent on whether or not Deion Branch remains with the team (which I don’t expect), or whether or not the Patriots trade him for someone or pick up another WR when cuts are made. The Patriots still have a lot of cap room, and I expect to see them use some at this position. If Jackson doesn’t show up on the field soon, look for him to go on the IR, with another guy taking his place or the Pats going with 5 receivers, especially since they are likely to carry 4 TEs. If the Pats add a WR, look for Garrett Mills to be cut, with the hope of getting him onto the Practice Squad.

Tight Ends:

• Ben Watson
• Daniel Graham
• David Thomas
• Garrett Mills (TE/FB)

Notes: Keeping Mills is what makes Patrick Pass expendable.

Offensive Line:

• Matt Light (Starting LT)
• Logan Mankins (Starting LG)
• Dan Koppen (Starting C)
• Stephen Neal (Starting RG)
• Ryan O’Callaghan (Starting RT)
• Nick Kaczur (Reserve)
• Russ Hochstein (Reserve)
• Wesley Britt (Reserve)
• Gene Mruczkowski (Reserve)

Notes: This is going to be one of the best offensive lines in the league this year; even several of the reserves have good playing experience. Nick Steitz may still end up as a part of this group.

Defensive Line:

• Richard Seymour
• Ty Warren
• Jarvis Green
• Marquise Hill
• Vince Wilfork
• Jonathan Sullivan
• Mike Wright

Notes: There will be some painful losses here. LeKevin Smith is a rookie I would love to see make our squad; possible Practice Squad player. I think Dan Klecko is done, even though he has had a goor pre-season. Wright has been impressive, and Sullivan has recovered probably enough to win a spot.

Linebackers:

• Tedy Bruschi
• Mike Vrabel
• Rosevelt Colvin
• Junior Seau
• Tully Banta-Cain
• Monty Beisel
• Eric Alexander
• Pierre Woods

Notes: Here is where some shockers show up. Larry Izzo may lose a job. Chad Brown will be cut, and Don Davis, a highly versatile player, is in jeopardy of losing a job. Corey Mays and Barry Gardner are also two talented players that may end up elsewhere.

Defensive Backs:

• Asante Samuel
• Ellis Hobbs
• Eric Warfield
• Randall Gay
• Hank Poteat
• Rodney Harrison
• Eugene Wilson
• Tebucky Jones
• James Sanders

Notes: Jones is the question mark, as he got injured against Washington. If he is healthy, this may well be the corners and safeties for New England, noting that Willie Andrews is already listed at WR. Guss Scott may still be in the mix if Jones is hurt. Artrell Hawkins may be out of this mix.

Special Teams:

• Stephen Gostkowski (K)
• Josh Miller (P)
• Lonie Paxton (LS)
  

Notes: none

Well, there you have it. No doubt this will be highly inaccurate, but it’s my best guess. We’ve got less than two weeks to see who makes the final roster.