Survey Says: Really Close Call

The same computers that were shouting "The Packers will beat the Bears" suddenly have mouths full of oatmeal. The computers give the Packers a very slight edge.

The Sagarin Ratings on USA Today give the Steelers a 0.15 point edge. But, using PURE POINTS (also known as PREDICTOR, BALLANTINE, RHEINGOLD, WHITE OWL) and which Sagarin says "is the best single PREDICTOR of future games", the Packers get a 1.8 point edge.

Accuscore on ESPN cranked through over 10,000 simulations. The Packers win 50%, the Steelers win 49%, and apparently the roof caves in from snow and ice the rest of the time. 

The Octo that called the World Cup expired in extra time.

The wise guys in Vegas require the giving of 3-points if you want to endorse the Packers with money.

Watch the game, try to enjoy it by remembering that it is, in fact, a game (not, however, just a game - let's not get carried away with perspective), and it's a game that you are not playing in nor will anything you do change the outcome of the game.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ezee123/1025724498/
By Anoop Negi

You could ask this Red Oracle, but she's probably not that up on the NFL.

Is the Oracle of Delphi free? What? Its spiritual fire was extinguished when Apollo worship went the way of the 5 and Dime? That's just swell.

Canadians Trying to Horn in on Super Bowl

So now Canadians, who typically distance themselves from anything having to do with the US, are trying to glom onto the Super Bowl. Just shows how big the Super Bowl is, eh?

Read the list of Canadian connections to this year's Super Bowl. It includes this amazing factoid:

• The Black Eyed Peas will perform at half-time of Sunday’s Super Bowl game in Dallas. The group also performed at halftime of the 2005 Grey Cup in Vancouver

So a band that once played in Canada is playing at the Super Bowl? That's it? They're not even from Canada?

Another highlight:

• The Packers equipment manager Gordon (Red) Batty is from Canada.

An item not on the list: Brett Kiesel's beard qualifies him for Canadian citizenship. The beard will be subject to a thorough search at the border. It is also rumored he hides a 12th player in his beard at key points in the game (a small player, like an extra DB).

What else might he be hiding in there?

Sunny Under Attack!

According to Dave Blaska in the Isthmus, "The Left" has targeted Sunny Schubert's column in the "Monona Herald" for repression.

Who knew? Apparently there is a "campaign" to oust Sunny in Forward Lookout.

The campaign is here: http://www.forwardlookout.com/2011/01/sunny-kept-us-in-the-dark/8757/comment-page-1#comment-3354

A couple of anonymous posters on Forward Lookout led by "Jeff" really don't like Sunny or her columns. The exchange of comments on the post eventually descends into the usual "You're ugly", "You stink" level of most unmoderated anonymous comments.

I did find it interesting, in a ludicrous kind of way, that Blaska conflates anonymous Jeff with the entire Left.

Personally, I usually enjoy at least part of Sunny's columns (that's more than I can say for many writers). If you don't like her column, the remedy is at hand: don't read it.

Packers Newest Fan

The Packers Newest Fan - Chief Walter Ostrenga

Vince Lombardi

From NFL.com's feature on Vince Lombardi.

Monona Drive - Phase III - Public Information Meeting TONIGHT

Strand Associates will be conducting a public involvement meeting for Phase III of the Monona Drive Reconstruction to gather resident and business input into the preliminary design that is currently being considered. Phase III extends from Nichols/Pflaum Road to Winnequah Road). The meeting information is as follows:

Monona Drive Phase 3 Reconstruction Public Involvement Meeting

Thursday February 3, 2011

5:00 to 8:30 p.m. (Summary Presentation at 6:15 p.m.)

Open House Format

Monona Community Center

1011 Nichols Road, Monona, WI

 Exhibits from North to South


Winnequah Road to Cold Springs



Cold Springs to Dean

Dean to Nichols/Pflaum

Old Farts When They Were Younger

I've been going through old photos and scanning them, mostly old family and friend photos. I have come across a few special Monona photos and, while a little voice is whispering that posting these photos is a bad idea, I can't resist.

I appear to have found something disagreeable inside the pumpkin



Memorial Day Parade 1989. (The date tag in the photo is wrong.)
L to R: JoAnn Hinz, Doug Wood, Don Taylor, Steve Sobitek, Kathy Thomas, and Mayor Dick Lichtfeld.
Dick Reinholdt is absent.




Monona Swearing in, 1989. L to R: City Clerk Audrey Pschorr, Doug Wood, Mayor Dick Lichtfeld, JoAnn Hinz.




Here I am swearing (probably because my necktie is strangling clear thinking).



Jeff Wiswell and Doug Wood at the 1999 Pinewood Derby at Maywood School

Longest Kick Return Made By Lineman ( Dan Connolly )

One of the lesser-known dangers of squib kicks is letting the largest fellow on the field run nearly to your end zone - with the ball!

Bob Kicks Off

Monona mayoral candidate Bob Miller kicked off his campaign this past Sunday and it wasn't a squib kick. The invite-only event was held at the home of Tori and Dennis Hull, which is also the former residence of Aaron Bohrod (also known as the Otto Schroeder House). 

An Aaron Bohrod cover for Time Magazine.

To quote Stephen the mad Irishman in the movie Braveheart, this "must be a fashionable fight. It's drawn the finest people." The mix of folks in attendance definitely grabbed one's attention: Mayor Robb Kahl, former Mayor Dick Lichtfeld and wife M.A., Margaret Metcalfe, State Senator Mark Miller and wife Jo Miller, Peter McKeever, Heather Gates, Bruce and Judy McConnell, Linda Hoelzel, Harold Polzer, Tim and Karen Turino, Margaret Jankowski, Susan & Mike Fox, Steve Tinker, Kathy & Bill Thomas, Mike & Van Meulemans, Scott Munson, Diane Thompson, Wally Jankowski, Jennifer Garrett, Don Hebl (representing the Monona Coffee Gang) and me (and these are just people I can recall). Former Mayor Dean Bowles and wife Ann were also sponsors, but were out of town.

Good start.

***

Another Irish quote from Braveheart:



Stephen.



Hamish: Your island? You mean Ireland.


Stephen: Yeah. It's mine. (grinning broadly)

Hamish: You're a madman.

Stephen: I've come to the right place, then.

Where's the Dirt? On the Roads?

In Wisconsin, you will hear debates about relative merits of applying salt or sand to the roads during the winter. In Texas, according to Emmitt Smith anyway, they also use dirt.

"So Dallas is prepared for everything. Matter of fact, we have equipment already on the ground in case we get snow and ice all at the same time. So the equipment is already there and ready to rock and roll. Just to go and put the dirt on the roads, the salt on the roads just to de-ice everything."


-- ESPN's Emmitt Smith, explaining the intricacies of taking ice off the roads in advance of Super Bowl XLV in Dallas.


 

Public Hearing on RTA Draft Phase I Plan

The Dane County Regional Transit Authority has released the Draft Phase 1 Plan for Transit. The RTA now has a website: http://www.danecountyrta.org/

You can read the entire draft plan on their website.

The RTA will hold a public hearing on:

Wednesday, February 9 at 6:00 p.m.,

Fitchburg City Hall

5520 Lacy Road, Fitchburg

Local officials received the following letter from RTA Chair Dick Wagner:

Dear Public Officials in Dane County,


Since its beginnings in early 2010 the Dane County Regional Transit Authority (RTA) has held meetings around the RTA area to meet with local officials and discuss transit planning and options.

We have also worked with officials and transit commissions in multiple communities to listen to demands for transit and possible service options for the region. Additionally, we have consulted with the staff of the MPO which does transportation planning for the same area as the RTA.


The result is the Draft Phase I Plan for Transit which has been approved for circulation and discussion. At the suggestion of town officials, who have attended our sessions, we are sending it to all municipalities in Dane County. We do this to honor the request.


However, it should be noted in accordance with the resolution adopted at our first meeting we will hold a referendum only in the RTA area. As a constituted municipal entity we cannot authorize a referendum outside our boundaries. We recognize that there is some misconception that if the referendum passes and a sales tax is imposed as to where it will be applied. Again, statutes are specific that the sales tax is only imposed within the RTA area.


The plan is presented for comments and discussion. No decision has been made by the RTA on what or when to have a referendum.


Additional information on the RTA can be found at our web site - www.danecountyrta.org - including a list of members and how to contact them. Comments may also be sent to David Trowbridge dtrowbridge@cityofmadison.com.


The RTA has scheduled a public hearing at one of its regularly-scheduled Board of Directors meetings - Wednesday, February 9, 6:00 p.m., Fitchburg City Hall (5520 Lacy Road, Fitchburg) - to also receive comments from citizens who wish to express their views. We hope the product of our work can be improved by public discussion. Thank you for your interest in our work.


Sincerely,




Dick Wagner, Chair
Dane County Regional Transit Authority
 

The RTA will hold a public hearing on:

Wednesday, February 9 at 6:00 p.m.,

Fitchburg City Hall

5520 Lacy Road, Fitchburg