Betting the Pass Line (Last Week: 3-2 Season: 17-12)

Chargers (-1) at Bills
Since their 0-2 commencement, the Chargers have outscored their opponents 106-74. On Sunday, their offensive will continue.

Saints (+3) at Panthers
In 2007, the Saints went 7-9. In 2006, they went 10-6. Why? They won these contests.

Colts (-1 ½) at Packers
Aaron Rodgers tosses three interceptions. Peyton Manning tosses three touchdowns. The Colts cruise.

Browns (+7 ½) at Redskins
One week ago, the Browns defeated the Giants 35-14. The Rams defeated the Redskins 19-17. Clearly, the Browns are improving. The Redskins are overvalued.

Broncos at Patriots (-3)
Last week, the Chargers defeated the Patriots 30-10. On Monday, the Patriots will garner revenge.

Betting the Pass Line (Last Week: 2-3 Season: 21-14)

Vanderbilt at Georgia (-15)
Vanderbilt is offensively inferior. The Bulldogs will walk.

Michigan State at Ohio State (-4)
Javon Ringer versus Chris Wells. Both amass one hundred yards. Both score. However, Terrell Pryor wins the contest.

Kansas (+20) at Oklahoma
Mark Mangino versus Bob Stoops. Via a minimal margin, Stoops defeats his former coordinator.

LSU (-3) at South Carolina
Florida versus LSU: Steve Spurrier was 11-1. Unfortunately, the Gamecocks are sans talent.

Missouri (+6) at Texas
Versus Oklahoma State, Chase Daniel tossed three interceptions. Versus Texas, he tosses four touchdowns.

Housing Humbles Economy

On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 127 points. Why? According to the National Association of Home Builders, construction is nonexistent. America exhale… This will continue.

The Al Smith Dinner: A Presidential Tradition

Senator John McCain Complete Text

Senator Barack Obama Complete Text

Monologue Joke of the Evening

“New York City’s annual cat show starts tomorrow. If I want to see pussies at the Garden, I’ll go to a Knicks game.”

Late Show with David Letterman

Amidst Supreme Court Decision, Campaigns Assail ACORN, Each Other

Obama General Council Bob Bauer: “It appears that political people and the senior officials in law enforcement are working hand-in-glove again. They are collaborating in this anti-fraud circus to create an environment of fear and intimidation.”

McCain Campaign Manager Rick Davis: “We believe that these issues are important in a close election. We believe that many of these states that are under investigation have had historical close elections and could be very close again and that we should do nothing in this campaign or in the press to do anything other than to ensure that there's a total confidence level that on Election Day.”

The First Top

Levi Stubbs
(1936-2008)

Bowden’s Uncomfortable Truth

Terry Bowden: “So, did Tommy Bowden deserve what happened to him Monday? Unfortunately, yes. He deserved it because he, of all people, knew what to expect when he got into this business. We grew up in it. He knew what to expect when he went to Clemson. He knew that no matter where you go, there is an expectation of success that must be met. After nine years at Clemson, he knew exactly what those expectations were and he knew they had not been met.”

“Clemson expects to win the conference championship every once in a while -- and they should. After 10 years of falling short, they deserve the right to try and find a coach they believe can get them there. None of this makes a bit of difference in the Clemson situation, except to show you how close we are as brothers and how difficult it is for me to write about this. I can honestly say that I thought Clemson would beat Wake Forest last week and climb back into the race for the ACC Championship Game.”

“The Tigers still have as much talent as anyone in the conference, and I surmised that as soon as they had a little success on offense, the confidence would come back and they would get on a roll. But they didn't have enough success and the confidence didn't come back. And for the 10th consecutive season, Clemson most likely will not win the conference championship.”

The Fourth Thousand

During our fourth thousand, America’s economy exploded. Georgia and Russia skirmished. Zimbabwe struggled. President Bush reassessed North Korea. He signed the Indo-United States Civilian Nuclear Agreement. In Pakistan and Yemen, terrorists struck.

Senators John McCain and Barack Obama campaigned and debated. For Vice President, Obama selected Senator Joe Biden. McCain selected Governor Sarah Palin. According to an Alaska Legislative panel, Palin abused her authority.

The United States Supreme Court embraced the suspension clause, interpreted the constitution, and rejected child rapist execution. The Connecticut Supreme Court permitted gay marriage. The United States 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals rebuked the Federal Communications Commission.

Colombia’s military rescued American Contractors Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and Keith Stansell. Typhoon Fengshen capsized the Princess of Stars. Former Senator John Edwards admitted an affair. Senator Ted Kennedy returned. I relocated.

Michael Phelps owned the 2008 Olympics. Shelly Ann-Fraser, Alain Bernard, Usain Bolt, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Bryan Clay, Natalie Coughlin, Kirsty Coventry, Dawn Harper, Shawn Johnson, Kosuke Kitajima, Ryan Lochte, LaShawn Merritt, Christine Ohuruogu, Federica Pellegrini, Aaron Peirsol, Stephanie Rice, Rebecca Soni, Britta Steffen, Melaine Walker, Wei Yang, Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, Misty May and Kerri Walsh, Serena and Venus Williams, Brazilian women’s volleyball, Chinese men’s and women’s gymnastics, Japanese softball, South Korean baseball, United States men’s and women’s basketball, United States women’s soccer, and United States men’s volleyball garnered gold.

Phil Gramm, Kwame Kilpatrick, Pervez Musharraf, Ehud Olmert, and Billy Packer resigned. Daunte Culpepper and Jonathan Ogden retired. R. Kelly was acquitted. Neil Entwistle and O.J. Simpson were convicted. Tim Donaghy, Salim Hamdan, and Tim Montgomery were incarcerated. Helio Castroneves and Ted Stevens were indicted.

Seve Ballesteros and Robert Novak disclosed brain tumors. Anheuser-Busch, Merrill Lynch, and Wachovia were purchased. The Federal Communications Commission approved a Sirius-XM merger

Cito Gaston, Barry Melrose, and Terry Murray were hired. Bill Bavasi, Tommy Bowden, John Gibbons, Lane Kiffin, Scott Linehan, John McLaren, Matt Millen, Ted Nolan, Willie Randolph, Denis Savard, and Ned Yost were fired.

Shawn Chacon, Roosevelt Colvin, Terry Glenn, Joe Horn, Casey Mears, Ryan Newman, Chad Pennington, and Richie Sexson were released. Marc-Andre Fleury, Gilbert Arenas, Plaxico Burress, Brian Cashman, Lee Evans, Tommie Harris, Devin Hester, Ken Hitchcock, Antawn Jamison, Tony Kaanan, Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Lidge, Evgeni Malkin, Jerry Manuel, Ryan Miller, Omar Minaya, Chris Paul, Bill Self, and Michel Therrien were retained. Casey Blake, Adam Dunn, Ray Durham, Brett Favre, Eddie Guardado, Ken Griffey, Rich Harden, Mark Kotsay, Greg Maddux, Manny Ramirez, Ivan Rodriguez, C.C. Sabathia, Jeremy Shockey, Matt Stairs, Jason Taylor, Mark Teixeira, and Roy Williams were traded. Derrick Rose was selected first.

Major League Baseball instituted instant replay. In fifteen innings, the American League defeated the National League 4-3. Pacman Jones was reinstated and suspended. Lance Armstrong and Chris Henry returned. Elton Brand, Baron Davis, Marion Hossa, Tony Stewart, and the Seattle Supersonics relocated.

Alexander Ovechkin won the Hart Trophy. Floyd Landis’ suspension was upheld. Big Brown was injured. Dario Franchitti renounced his NASCAR employment. Oak Hill Academy guard Brandon Jennings renounced his NBA eligibility.

The Boston Celtics and Fresno State Bulldogs scored titles. Tiger Woods won the United States Open. Padraig Harrington, Rafael Nadal, and Venus Williams won major championships. The United States garnered the Ryder Cup.

Skip Caray, George Carlin, Alexei Cherepanov, Michael DeBakey, Estelle Getty, Larry Harmon, Isaac Hayes, Charlie Jones, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Scott Kalitta, Don LaFontaine, Bernie Mac, Bill Melendez, Bobby Murcer, Paul Newman, Tim Russert, Tony Snow, Uga VI, and Gene Upshaw died.

During our next thousand…

Survivor: Sugar’s Situation Sours

On Thursday, Kota won their second consecutive immunity challenge. Subsequently, Sugar was exposed. Her hidden immunity idol was discovered. This facilitated a choice. GC or Sugar. Via a 6-1 vote, Fang eliminated GC.

NEW RULE

Magic Johnson is an example.

Langdon Perry: “Like Magic with his faked AIDS. Magic faked AIDS.”

Chris Baker: “You think Magic faked AIDS for sympathy?”

Langdon Perry: “I'm convinced that Magic faked AIDS.”

Chris Baker: “Me too.”

Magic Johnson: “We can't have people out here making false statements and putting out bad information, because this battle is too big when it comes to HIV and AIDS. I poured my life into it and a lot of other people have poured their life into it, into getting out the right information so people can protect themselves and know what HIV and AIDS is all about.”

On November 7, 1991, Johnson disclosed his AIDS. Prior to this disclosure, Johnson’s acts were asinine. Since this disclosure, Johnson has advocated education. He has funded research. He has illustrated the obvious. AIDS is not fatal. One cannot only survive. They can succeed.

Baker and Perry are pathetic, repugnant, and vile. They warrant termination. Why? They entrench stereotypes. They imperil progress. AIDS is not homosexual or scary. AIDS is not a plague or scourge. AIDS is endurable and treatable. Johnson made people realize this. Baker and Perry make people forget.

Worth A Read

Political Pistachio

In the United States, China, and Iran, pistachios are harvested. Nutty politics are also.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Chicago Blackhawks Coach?

According to the Center for Media and Public Affairs, Republican mockery trumps Democratic mockery. Have they met President Bush?

Today’s top five or Saturday’s attractions (1) Missouri at Texas, (2) Michigan State at Ohio State, (3) Kansas at Oklahoma, (4) Vanderbilt at Georgia, (5) LSU at South Carolina

Wall Street’s Maxim

On Thursday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 401.35 points. I could attempt an explanation. However, three words suffice. Volatility. Volatility. Volatility.

PREDICTABLE

Pacman Jones was not a risk. Risks include advantages, calculation, influence, repentance, strategy, and value. Risks may succeed. Jones was a catastrophic prayer.

On Tuesday, Jones was suspended indefinitely. According to the NFL, alcohol incidents were the rationale. “It's terribly disappointing to me that we're dealing with this again and that he's reflecting so poorly on all of the players in this league, which they don't deserve,” said Commissioner Roger Goodell. “It's going to be up to Adam and what he does in the following weeks. Getting an evaluation and whatever treatment may be prescribed to him at that point of time. Part of it is going to be whether he's willing to do some of the things that we are asking him to do.”

On April 27, the Tennessee Titans traded Jones to the Dallas Cowboys. On August 28, Jones was reinstated. “He does need to address the kinds of things that seem to be with him at various times and one of those that he's dealt with for a really long time, he needs to address in a way that most of us might understand -- alcohol issues,” said Owner Jerry Jones. “I am disappointed for him and his opportunity and for the Cowboys and our opportunity and, frankly, for the NFL. I would like to have been standing here talking about his success and the curtain coming up for him and addressing his issues. That certainly would have been more positive.”

During his career, Jones has amassed 116 tackles and 4 interceptions. His criminal record trumps this. In July 2005, he was arrested on assault and vandalism charges. October 2005, Jones received probation for non-reporting to probation and not disclosing his previous arrest. August and October 2006, two incidents with women spawned disorderly conduct, public intoxication, and misdemeanor assault charges. February 2007, Jones was charged with felony coercion and misdemeanor battery and threat to life.

“I'd like to see him intensify his approach to getting better with his social conduct,” said Jerry Jones. “I'd like to see that. If it were successful, I'd like to be a part of it. I'd like to have influenced it. I know the commissioner, considering his conduct policies in the NFL, it was a well-considered decision to let Adam back into the NFL. I don't regret having been a part of helping him do better. I am sorry that we've had the negative publicity and that is the price that we pay for the team as well as the NFL.”

Chris Henry, Tank Johnson, and Jones are rogues. They are unrepentant thugs. They do not merit another opportunity. Given Jones’ recidivism, this is unarguable.

Past Perfection Berates Bowden

Tommy Bowden is an icon’s son. The aforesaid is both advantageous and adverse. Name affords opportunity, prominence, and respect. Unfortunately, name cannot coach. Name cannot recruit. Name cannot win.

On Monday, Clemson fired Coach Tommy Bowden. Assistant Head Coach Dabo Swinney supplanted him. “Terry Don Phillips {Athletic Director] approached me this morning and we agreed that this is the best solution for the direction of the program,” said Bowden.

Quarterback Cullen Harper’s reaction was blunt. “It's what he deserved,” said Harper. “I'd call it karma. I thought it needed to be done. I think anytime a head coach or someone in a leadership position starts to place blame on his coaches and players, it weakens their respect on the team. His past experiences have shown he's done that.”

During his tenure, Bowden logged a 72-45 ledger. Within the Atlantic Coast Conference, he was 43-32. In the postseason, Bowden was 3-5. Versus Florida State and South Carolina, he was 11-7.

“I'm shocked. We are 3-3 because we didn't make enough big offensive plays,” said Running back C.J. Spiller. “I'm shocked by our record, and now I'm shocked that our coach is gone. I enjoyed playing for coach Bowden and I liked him, but in the end he was yelling at us to be leaders and it wasn't working. He did all he could to motivate us, but guys weren't buying into what he was saying. And he said a lot of the same things over and over again.”

In 1981, Clemson garnered the national championship. Their victory was an aberration. Unfortunately, their assertion is validation. Monday’s maneuver illustrates this. Clemson must realize the obvious. They are not elite. They never were.

Do You Realize What You Say?

NFL, Where’s Your Guts?

Troy Polamalu: “I think regarding the evolution of football, it's becoming more and more flag football, two-hand touch. We've really lost the essence of what real American football is about. I think it's probably all about money. They're not really concerned about safety.”

“When you see guys like Dick Butkus, the Ronnie Lotts, the Jack Tatums, these guys really went after people. Now, they couldn't survive in this type of game. They wouldn't have enough money. They'd be paying fines all the time and they'd be suspended for a year after they do it two games in a row. It's kind of ridiculous.”

“I didn't mean being cheap, but [those who] don't take anything from anybody. Know what I mean? Joe Greene wouldn't take anything from anybody. Joey Porter wouldn't. When people came to our field, they knew this was our home field. Nobody was going to mess with us. ... That's the type of attitude I think is really awesome.”

Monologue Joke of the Evening

“We were going to have Joe the Plummer on the program tonight. We had him booked. But, at the last minute, he canceled to do an interview with Katie Couric.”

Late Show with David Letterman

Chicago Buffoons

Following a 1-2-1 commencement, the Chicago Blackhawks fired Coach Denis Savard. Joel Quenneville supplanted him. Since 2002-2003, Chicago has amassed a 147-195-24-27 record. Anyone wonder why?

Joe the Plumber, Enjoy A Shot

Monologue Joke of the Evening

“Barack Obama is going door to door for his campaign. It’s kind of a throwback. And I don’t know if he’s changed anybody’s votes, but today he came back home with a big bag of Halloween candy.”

Late Show with David Letterman

Bill Kurtis: “I’m Faster Than Michael Phelps”

NEW RULE

John Madden is a national treasure.

On Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks will oppose the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Al Michaels and Chris Collinsworth will announce. John Madden will not attend. Announcers enter. Announcers exit. Most merely compliment the visual. Madden owns the conversation. He is a transcendent icon. I hope we realize his absence. I hope we savor his return.

The Daily Smak

On Wednesday, Shaquille O’Neal condemned the “Hack-A-Shaq” strategy. The NBA’s response? Make a free throw!

According to Michigan Athletic Director Bill Martin, he supports Coach Rich Rodriguez. He is the only one…

Yesterday, the Republican National Committee conceded Maine and Wisconsin. Any states they want to win?

McCain’s Conclusion, Obama’s Coronation?

On Thursday, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama debated. Their encounter epitomized their electoral status. Their encounter also exemplified their worst attributes. McCain was aggressive. Unfortunately, he was also churlish and rude. Obama was calm. Unfortunately, he was also smug and superior.

Despite polls and publicity, I have not pronounced this contest. In politics, one afternoon is an epoch. Three weeks an eternity. With that stated, McCain owned this evening. His percentages must soar. Otherwise, Obama’s victory is inevitable.

John McCain vs. Barack Obama Complete Text

Paulson Plans, Wall Street Plummets

On Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 733.08 points. Despite the federal government’s actions, America’s economy remains unresponsive.

Dallas’ Second Star

On Tuesday, the Detroit Lions traded Roy Williams to the Dallas Cowboys. As reciprocation, the Lions received four draft selections. Upon his Dallas arrival, Williams signed a 5-year, $45 million contract. “We felt like right now that was the best thing for us to do as a football team. It gives us something for the future. You're looking at the possibility of having five of the first hundred [2009] picks,” said Lions General Manager Martin Mayhew. “It was a pragmatic business decision.”

During his career, Williams has amassed 262 receptions, 3,884 yards, and 29 touchdowns. This season, he has totaled 17 receptions, 232 yards, and one touchdown. “You know Roy Williams is a great talent,” said Terrell Owens. “You don't hear about him because he was in Detroit, but he has been productive.”

Premiere receivers are prized. They embolden quarterbacks. They enhance offenses. They exacerbate opponents. With that stated, champions require complimentary receivers. Michael Irvin, Jerry Rice, and Lynn Swann were great were incredible. Alvin Harper, John Taylor, and John Stallworth were invaluable.

Scuttle the Scenario Saturday

(5) Texas 45 (1) Oklahoma 35
From 2000-2004, Oklahoma owned Texas. The Sooners won five consecutive contests. They outscored their opponents 189-54. Unfortunately, Rhett Bomar and Vince Young occurred. Since 2005, Texas has won three of four contests. They have outscored their opponents 139-85.

(17) Oklahoma State 28 (3) Missouri 23
Sports possess predictable moments. Certain calamities are inevitable. Certain catastrophes are unavoidable. In five contests, Chase Daniel completed 119 of 156 passes for 1,665 yards with 15 touchdowns and 1 interception. His implosion was overdue. Versus the Cowboys, Daniel tossed three interceptions.

(11) Florida 51 (4) LSU 21
On October 7, 2006, Florida defeated LSU 23-10. The Tigers committed five turnovers. They were uninspired and unprepared. Surely, this performance was unrepeatable. On Saturday, Florida accrued a 17-0 advantage. They amassed 475 yards. The contest was never competitive.

Political Perfection

Monologue Joke of the Evening

“Russia has apparently test-fired some long-range ballistic missiles. At least that’s what Sarah Palin said she saw from her house.”

Late Show with David Letterman

A Spectacle of Black Fratricide

NEW RULE

Predictability is uninvited.

On Tuesday, “Greek” imploded. Ashley pleads peace and unity. Poof. Ashley is sorority president. Rusty and Jen reunite. Unfortunately, Jen’s article reappears. Poof. Rusty exits. I considered vomiting.

Once, Greek was intriguing. Their college portrayal was innovative. Today, they are insipid. Their characters are cardboard. Their storylines are nauseating. Why not utilize imagination? Casey and Frannie were the candidates. Why not settle their score? Rusty is a geek. He would not exit. He would enjoy sex.

Television should not be enchanted. Television should reflect our lives. In America, scores are settled. Geeks do not reject sex.

Worth A Read

College Fashion

Briana addresses stylish coeds. Featuring coupons, tips, trends, and style.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Pacman Jones?

The Dallas Cowboys are struggling. On Sunday, Tony Romo was injured. On Tuesday, Pacman Jones was suspended. How serious is the situation? Jerry Jones hired General Manager Henry Paulson…

In Wisconsin’s textbooks, Barack Obama is included. John McCain is not included. Obama’s reaction? “Education you can believe in.”

Fed Market: Government Buys Banks

On Tuesday, the federal government acted again. In Bank of America, Bank of New York, Chase, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, State Street, and Wells Fargo, the United States Department of Treasury purchased preferred equity. They removed insurance restrictions. Additionally, the Federal Reserve will guarantee debt. They will purchase commercial paper.

Obviously, President Bush, Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Congress, and the international community’s actions are unprecedented. With that stated, they are correct. Capitalism’s theory may suffer. Conservatives may wince. However, America could not survive inaction.

President Bush Complete Text

Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson Complete Text

It’s Their Economic Strategies

John McCain Economic Proposals
John McCain proposes that withdrawals from tax-preferred accounts -- IRAs And 401(k)s -- should be taxed at the lowest rate -- 10 percent -- in 2008 And 2009. This policy will apply to the first $50,000 withdrawn from these accounts each year and will affect the accounts of nearly nine million Americans over the age of 60, permitting them to devote more of their income to retirement needs.

John McCain will not penalize those forced to sell off in today's tough markets. John McCain believes that we should increase the amount of capital losses which can be used in tax years 2008 and 2009 to offset ordinary income from $3,000 to $15,000.

John McCain will strengthen incentives to save, invest, and restore the liquidity of markets. John McCain proposes a reduction in the maximum tax rate on long term capital gains to 7.5 percent in 2009 and 2010.

John McCain will provide a tax cut for Americans who have lost a job by exempting unemployment benefits from taxation. According to the latest statistics, over 3.6 million Americans are currently receiving unemployment benefits. John McCain recognizes that at a time when families are hurting, and the prospects of future job losses increase -- we should stop taxing unemployment insurance benefits for 2008 and 2009.

Barack Obama Economic Proposals
A new American jobs tax credit. Obama is calling for a temporary tax credit for firms that create new jobs in the United States over the next two years.

Penalty-free withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k)s in 2008 and 2009. Obama is calling for new legislation to allow families to withdraw 15 percent of their retirement savings - up to a maximum of $10,000 - without facing a tax-penalty this year (including retroactively) and next year.

90-day foreclosure moratorium for homeowners that are acting in good faith. Financial institutions that participate in the Treasury's financial rescue plan should be required to adhere to a homeowners code of conduct, including a 90-day foreclosure moratorium for any homeowners living in their homes that are making good faith efforts pay their mortgages.

A lending facility to address the credit crisis for states and localities. Obama is calling on the Federal Reserve and the Treasury to work to establish a facility to lend to state and municipal governments, similar to the steps the Fed recently took to provide liquidity to the commercial paper market.

Obama's plan also calls for temporarily eliminating taxes on unemployment insurance benefits; keeping all options on the table to help our automakers weather the financial crisis; having the Fed and Treasury prepare for guaranteeing a broader range of liabilities of the banking system; and instructing Treasury to help unfreeze markets for individual mortgages, student loans, car loans, loans for multi-family dwellings and credit card loans.

Yahoo: The Economically Forgotten

The world's poorest people will be hungrier, sicker and have fewer jobs as a result of the global financial crisis, and cash-strapped aid agencies will be less able to help, aid groups are warning. The charities that provide food, medicine and other relief on the ground say cutbacks have already started, but it will take months or more before the full impact is felt in the poorest countries of Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Aid agencies face more than just the prospect of plummeting donations. The economic conditions themselves — higher food prices and more joblessness — are greatly increasing the number of people who need assistance. Philippe Guiton of World Vision told The Associated Press that his agency plans to cut back hiring, which will have implications for delivering aid to the needy overseas. "What we are going to do now is to issue an order to reduce spending, to delay recruitment, delay purchases of capital assets, etc., until we can see clearer how much our income has dropped," he said.

Robert Glasser, secretary-general of CARE International, said the agency has "a number of major donors who have invested heavily in the markets and have now seen their portfolios take a big hit."

What that will mean on the ground could take months or more to gauge — and perhaps years for a complete recovery, aid groups say. In impoverished Haiti, funding for projects to rebuild from tropical storms that killed nearly 800 people and destroyed more than half the nation's agriculture hangs in the balance. "It's too soon to tell yet because we haven't heard back positively or negatively from our major donors," Greg Elder, deputy head of programming for U.S-based Catholic Relief Services, said by telephone from the battered southern port of Les Cayes.

The group is waiting for word from the U.S. Agency for International Development on whether it will get $2 million for 10 new food-for-work projects, which provide Haitians with rations in exchange for building roads, irrigation systems and environmental projects. An additional $500,000 is needed to repair 12 existing projects whose work was wiped out by the storms. "It's just we can't start these new projects, these rehabilitation projects, until we get the go-ahead," Elder said.

During global recessions in the 1970s and 1990s, aid spending dropped sharply and took years to recover, said Matt Grainger of the British-based charity Oxfam International. That means problems across the board, said CARE's Glasser. Wealthy countries will stop investing in developing countries, and cut back on imports from poorer countries, leaving their governments with less money to pay for health care and schools, he said.

In Zimbabwe, a Red Cross food program for 260,000 orphans and HIV-infected people began last month to make sure AIDS victims have sufficient nourishment in a nation where millions are going hungry because of drought and land-seizures that have devastated agriculture. HIV-infected people are especially vulnerable because without food they cannot tolerate their medicine. "The farmers' food stores are depleted. There is no food available," said Peter Lundberg, country representative of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

"I spoke to a family a few days ago and I said, 'How are you coping?' Basically this was a poor farmer family. And they said, 'We used to have three, maybe four, meals a day and now we're down to one meal.'"

Medecins Sans Frontieres, which runs AIDS clinics in the Cape Town township of Khayelitsha in South Africa, said it's "far too early" to determine the impact the crisis would have on donations. "The money we're spending now was collected some time ago," said Henrik Glette, a South Africa-based spokesman for the group.

But Neil Tobin, an employee of UNAIDS in Sierra Leone, warned: "It is well documented that AIDS is a problem compounded by poverty. Thus the concern is that any sharp economic downturn may present increased challenges, particularly for developing nations in responding to the epidemic."

Top scientists meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, said they feared the financial turmoil would curb research into a new AIDS vaccine. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said "the increases in the budget we had hoped for will not be forthcoming."

Alan Bernstein, head of Global Vaccine Enterprise, said the financial meltdown is "not good news for research in general and vaccine research in particular."

North Korea: Another Faith Based Initiative

On Saturday, the United States and North Korea concocted a swap. The United States reclassified North Korea. North Korea renounced their nuclear ambition. As previously stated, North Korea will never relent. Bilateral negotiations, diplomatic opinions, and economic incentives are pointless. North Korea is deceitful. They cannot be trusted.

Monologue Joke of the Evening

“Former President Jimmy Carter blasted President Bush, blaming the financial crisis on him. Carter called it the worst financial crisis since . . . the Carter administration.”

The Tonight Show

Arthur Blank: Michael Vick Should Resurface, Will Not Return

Arthur Blank: “He's [Michael Vick] written me and I've answered him. I certainly wish Michael well in the future. I believe in second chances. I believe in third chances. That doesn't mean I believe in forever chances. But I do believe he's capable of redemption and learning from his mistakes. I'll say this to you when I answer the question as fully as I can. From my perspective, people use the expression 'we've turned the page,' and we've turned the page, turned the chapter and closed the book. We've moved on and we have a franchise quarterback.”

“We're committed to Matt Ryan. Even before his early success, we were committed to Matt Ryan. We made that decision when we drafted him. When you select someone in the draft at that level and pay him what we're paying him, you expect him to be successful and you expect him to be a team leader.”

“Michael could be great for young people in the community to see a fellow who obviously made a series of very bad mistakes -- not just by who you spend time with, but to learn from those personally if he can get on with his life and be successful. I'd like to see it happen for him and for America and the National Football League. Whether or not that happens, we'll have to wait and see, but I certainly would support that.”

“I certainly would. If I thought that Michael had redeemed himself and if Roger asked me what I felt, based on my knowledge and my own sensitivity about Michael, I certainly would be supportive of him, because I think he would have paid his debt to society. He made a mistake, he made a series of mistakes, but he's been through the legal process and is paying his debt. Once that's done, he's entitled to move on with his life again. If he's successful, I think he could be an important role model in a positive way for young folks who face difficult decisions to make the right decisions.”

GAME BALLS (NFL Edition)

Derek Anderson (QB – Browns): 18/29, 310 yards, 2 td
(Win: 35-14 vs. Giants)

Steve Breaston (WR – Cardinals): 8 receptions, 102 yards, 1 td
(Win: 30-204 vs. Cowboys)

Patrick Cobbs (WR – Dolphins): 3 receptions, 138 yards, 2 td
(Loss: 29-28 at Texans)

Warrick Dunn (RB – Buccaneers): 22 carries, 115 yards
(Win: 27-3 vs. Panthers)

Braylon Edwards (WR – Browns): 5 receptions, 154 yards, 1 td
(Win: 35-14 vs. Giants)

Andre Johnson (WR – Texans): 10 receptions, 178 yards, 1 td
(Win: 29-28 vs. Dolphins)

Maurice Jones-Drew (RB – Jaguars): 22 carries, 125 yards, 2 td
(Win: 24-17 at Broncos)

Phillip Rivers (QB – Chargers): 18/27, 306 yards, 3 td
(Win: 30-10 vs. Patriots)

Matt Ryan (QB – Falcons): 22/30, 301 yards, 1 td
(Win: 22-20 vs. Bears)

Reggie Wayne (WR – Colts): 8 receptions, 118 yards, 1 td
(Win: 31-3 vs. Ravens)

GAME BALLS (College Football Edition)

Jeffrey Demps (WR – Florida): 10 carries, 129 yards, 1 td
(Win: 51-21 vs. LSU)

Anthony Dixon (RB – Mississippi State): 27 carries, 107 yards
(Win: 17-14 vs. Vanderbilt)

Deleon Eskridge (RB – Minnesota): 26 carries, 124 yards, 2 td
(Win: 27-20 at Illinois)

Percy Harvin (RB – Florida): 6 receptions, 112 yards, 2 td
(Win: 51-21 vs. LSU)

Tim Hiller (QB – Western Michigan): 42/63, 345 yards, 4 td
(Win: 34-28 at Buffalo)

Chase Holbrook (QB – New Mexico State): 28/47, 409 yards, 3 td
(Win: 48-45 at Nevada)

Kendall Hunter (RB – Oklahoma State): 24 carries, 154 yards, 1 td
(Win: 28-23 at Missouri)

Collin Mooney (RB – Army): 29 carries, 229 yards
(Win: 17-13 vs. Eastern Michigan)

Nick Moore (WR – Toledo): 20 receptions, 162 yards
(Win: 13-10 at Michigan)

Hakeem Nicks (WR – North Carolina): 9 receptions, 141 yards
(Win: 29-24 vs. Notre Dame)

Cedric Peerman (RB – Virginia): 16 carries, 173 yards, 2 td
(Win: 35-20 vs. East Carolina)

Javon Ringer (RB – Michigan State): 35 carries, 124 yards, 2 td
(Win: 37-20 at Northwestern)

Jordan Shipley (WR – Texas): 11 receptions, 112 yards, 1 td
(Win: 45-35 at Oklahoma)

Michael Smith (RB – Arkansas): 35 carries, 176 yards, 1 td
(Win: 25-22 at Auburn)

Capital Redemption: Redskins Sign Shaun Alexander

On Tuesday, the Washington Redskins signed Shaun Alexander. Alexander inked a one-year contract. Washington’s decision is correct. Despite injuries, Alexander’s talent remains evident. Seattle should have never released him.

Big Bogus

On Monday, Big Brown was injured. According to IAEH Stables Owner Michael Iavarone, Big Brown’s career has concluded.

Big Brown’s triumphs are irrelevant. The horse was simply a synthetic mirage. A spectacular charade, whose accomplishments were counterfeit.

NEW RULE

Hyperbole is inappropriate.

On Monday, Yahoo published this headline: Banking crisis challenges America's financial superpower status.

Yahoo’s assertion was unwarranted. Everyday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is volatile. CNBC, CNN, Fox News, Headline News, and MSNBC analyze and terrify. Americans are worried. Their portfolios are scary enough.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Tommy Bowden?

According to Rick Dutrow, Big Brown’s career has concluded. Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby. He won the Preakness. In the Belmont Stakes, he finished ninth. His retirement involves unlimited sex. I demand reincarnation.

In Florida, a man entered McDonalds. He ordered a meal. He paid with pot. Poor Kevin Federline.

One World Economy

On Sunday, the European Union promised bank protection. The World Bank promised nation protection. On Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 936.42 points. Hallelujah!

The Big Five

For reasons good and bad… they were the news.

The Hot Five

A quintet of sizzling conversation starters.

“A Tremendous Young Man”

Alexei Cherepanov
(1989-2008)

Yahoo: Where the Money?

Trillions in stock market value — gone. Trillions in retirement savings — gone. A huge chunk of the money you paid for your house, the money you're saving for college, the money your boss needs to make payroll — gone, gone, gone. Whether you're a stock broker or Joe Six-pack, if you have a 401(k), a mutual fund or a college savings plan, tumbling stock markets and sagging home prices mean you've lost a whole lot of the money that was right there on your account statements just a few months ago.

But if you no longer have that money, who does? The fat cats on Wall Street? Some oil baron in Saudi Arabia? The government of China? Or is it just — gone? If you're looking to track down your missing money — figure out who has it now, maybe ask to have it back — you might be disappointed to learn that is was never really money in the first place.

Robert Shiller, an economist at Yale, puts it bluntly: The notion that you lose a pile of money whenever the stock market tanks is a "fallacy." He says the price of a stock has never been the same thing as money — it's simply the "best guess" of what the stock is worth. "It's in people's minds," Shiller explains. "We're just recording a measure of what people think the stock market is worth. What the people who are willing to trade today — who are very, very few people — are actually trading at. So we're just extrapolating that and thinking, well, maybe that's what everyone thinks it's worth."

Shiller uses the example of an appraiser who values a house at $350,000, a week after saying it was worth $400,000. "In a sense, $50,000 just disappeared when he said that," he said. "But it's all in the mind."

Though something, of course, is disappearing as markets and real estate values tumble. Even if a share of stock you own isn't a wad of bills in your wallet, even if the value of your home isn't something you can redeem at will, surely you can lose potential money — that is, the money that would be yours to spend if you sold your house or emptied out your mutual funds right now.

And if you're a few months away from retirement, or hoping to sell your house and buy a smaller one to help pay for your kid's college tuition, this "potential money" is something you're counting on to get by. For people who need cash and need it now, this is as real as money gets, whether or not it meets the technical definition of the word.

Still, you run into trouble when you think of that potential money as being the same thing as the cash in your purse or your checking account. "That's a big mistake," says Dale Jorgenson, an economics professor at Harvard.

There's a key distinction here: While the money in your pocket is unlikely to just vanish into thin air, the money you could have had, if only you'd sold your house or drained your stock-heavy mutual funds a year ago, most certainly can. "You can't enjoy the benefits of your 401(k) if it's disappeared," Jorgenson explains. "If you had it all in financial stocks and they've all gone down by 80 percent — sorry! That is a permanent loss because those folks aren't coming back. We're gonna have a huge shrinkage in the financial sector."

There was a time when nobody had to wonder what happened to the money they used to have. Until paper money was developed in China around the ninth century, money was something solid that had actual value — like a gold coin that was worth whatever that amount of gold was worth, according to Douglas Mudd, curator of the American Numismatic Association's Money Museum in Denver.

Back then, if the money you once had was suddenly gone, there was a simple reason — you spent it, someone stole it, you dropped it in a field somewhere, or maybe a tornado or some other disaster struck wherever you last put it down. But these days, a lot of things that have monetary value can't be held in your hand.

If you choose, you can pour most of your money into stocks and track their value in real time on a computer screen, confident that you'll get good money for them when you decide to sell. And you won't be alone — staring at millions of computer screens are other investors who share your confidence that the value of their portfolios will hold up. But that collective confidence, Jorgenson says, is gone. And when confidence is drained out of a financial system, a lot of investors will decide to sell at any price, and a big chunk of that money you thought your investments were worth simply goes away.

If you once thought your investment portfolio was as good as a suitcase full of twenties, you might suddenly suspect that it's not. In the process, of course, you're losing wealth. But does that mean someone else must be gaining it? Does the world have some fixed amount of wealth that shifts between people, nations and institutions with the ebb and flow of the economy?

Jorgenson says no — the amount of wealth in the world "simply decreases in a situation like this." And he cautions against assuming that your investment losses mean a gain for someone else — like wealthy stock speculators who try to make money by betting that the market will drop. "Those folks in general have been losing their shirts at a prodigious rate," he said. "They took a big risk and now they're suffering from the consequences."

"Of course, they had a great life, as long as it lasted."

NEW RULE

Democrats and Republicans crave victory.

According to the New York Post, ACORN repeatedly registered one voter. According to the New York Times, Republicans purged registration roles. Shut up. Republicans scheme. Democrats scheme. George Bush, Al Gore, John Kennedy, and Richard Nixon are irrelevant. Elections are not stolen.

Democrats and Republicans represent our nation. They are our nation. Both respect our process. They treasure our ideals. They simply crave victory… and they should. No one should cheat. No one should swindle. Everyone eligible should vote. With that stated, opportunities exist. Opportunities win elections.

Worth A Read

Burnt Orange Nation

Blogging the Texas Longhorns.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be the top five?

Allegedly, Chrysler and General Motors may unite. Their tentative trademark? The Biggest Loser…

Today’s top five or greatest pirates (1) Black Beard, (2) Red Beard, (3) Long John Silver, (4) Jolly Roger, (5) Johnny Depp

McCain Promises Force, Furious Finish

Senator John McCain: “We're a couple points down, OK, nationally, but we're right in this game. The economy has hurt us a little bit in the last week or two, but in the last few days we've seen it come back up because they want experience, they want knowledge and they want vision. We'll give that to America. We're going to spend a lot of time and after I whip his you-know-what in this debate, we're going to be going out 24/7.”

Fox News: President Bush’s Final 100

So how will it end? President Bush is down to his final 100 days in office as of Sunday. Don't expect a quiet fade into the Texas night. The bleakest economic downturn in decades has changed the dynamic drastically, keeping Bush and his financial team in activist mode to the end.

While the powerful heads of the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve keep making radical moves, no one elected them. Bush is the one charged with reassuring the nation that an abysmal economic period will give way to better days, even if he is long gone from Washington by the time that happens.

The president will keep speaking about the economy, calling world leaders about it, meeting with business owners, perhaps attending an overseas summit. His final act will be overseeing the $700 billion buyout of devalued assets from banks, in hopes that credit will start flowing to an anxious, weary country. "It looks like I'm going to have a lot of work to do between today and when the new president takes office," Bush said this past week.

The scope of the credit crisis is so vast that it will likely overshadow anything else Bush does before he leaves office on Jan. 20. "We will stand together in addressing this threat to our prosperity. We will do what it takes to resolve this crisis. And the world's economy will emerge stronger as a result," the president said Saturday in the Rose Garden after meeting with finance ministers from the world's economic powers.

People are panicked about their retirement accounts and the markets are reeling. Behind the daily drumbeat of bleak economic news, Bush leaves behind a national debt that has soared from less than $6 trillion when he took office to more than $10 trillion now. That staggering bill will fall on future generations to pay. Beyond the financial mess, there is a daunting list of unfinished items for a president who has a history of making bold promises. But hope and time are diminishing.

Before his presidency ended, Bush wanted a Mideast peace deal built around the outlines of Palestinian state. That is unlikely. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert resigned in a corruption scandal, negotiations stalled and the same issues that have divided the parties for decades seem as irreconcilable as ever.

The ambitious priority of pushing an international effort to rid North Korea of its nuclear arms is in jeopardy. The U.S. says North Korea must allow a verification of its nuclear program. The communist nation is balking and wants to be lifted from Washington's terrorism blacklist first. Bush's diplomats are working diligently to salvage the deal.

Perhaps most notably, the United States and Iraq still are without an agreement governing the presence of U.S. forces after Dec. 31, when the U.N. mandate runs out. The two sides are hung up over legal jurisdiction for U.S. troops and contractors, and a timeline for U.S. withdrawal.

On top of that, White House staff members are devoting valuable amounts of time to pave the way for the next president. The transition between administrations, always a complicated endeavor, is the first in the post-Sept. 11 world. And it comes with the U.S. at war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bush has made clear to those who work for him that he wants a smooth transition to the next president. In terms of the sheer time and energy involved, Bush counselor Ed Gillespie said, "I suspect the last 100 days are going to feel more like the first 100 days than any of us would have hoped."

The last days of an administration can be filled with desires to wrap up issues, if not desperation. Michael Green, Bush's former senior adviser on Asia, said he expects no dramatic gestures or concessions from the White House in the pursuit of final deals. He said challenges such as the nuclear threats in North Korea and Iran will be passed on in the best possible position, keeping diplomatic efforts intact.

"My sense is they're not going for a last-minute grab at glory that would put the next administration in a bad position," said Green, an analyst for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.

Meanwhile, just when all his clout was supposed to be gone, Bush has scored some recent victories. He signed a civil nuclear cooperation deal with India and won approval for oil drilling off the U.S. coastlines, both of which have lasting implications. The White House holds dim hopes that Congress could take up trade deals with Colombia and South Korea if it holds a lame-duck session after the election.

In what has already been his busiest year of foreign travel as president, Bush has at least one more trip left. He plans to go to Peru in November for the annual summit of leaders of Pacific Rim nations. There is always the possibility of a trip the White House never announced in advance for security reasons, such as a final visit by Bush to Iraq.

Bush also is expected to do a final review of pardons and commutations. His predecessor, Bill Clinton, pardoned 140 people in the closing hours of his presidency. Don't expect Bush to do that. Gillespie said the president will likely make those decisions "well in advance of leaving office."

It was not so long ago that Bush, after almost eight long years and diminishing public approval, might have seemed on a path for a quiet exit. But then came Russia's war with Georgia, more Gulf Coast hurricanes and the worst financial crisis since the stock market crash of 1929. Now Bush is out in front of the cameras a lot, talking about what it will take to set up the financial rescue program effectively.

"There will be a desire to work every day on this bailout, because they will want to have everything set before the next guy comes in," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. A conservative friend of the administration but a critic of the taxpayer-funded $700 billion plan, Norquist said: "If you chose to give the treasury secretary billions of dollars to play with, why would you want to hand it over to the next guy?"

The election is in 23 days. Said Gillespie of Bush: "People will not have any doubt that just because he's at the end of a second term, he's not letting up at all."

Seve Suffering

On Sunday, Seve Ballesteros disclosed his brain tumor. The Ballesteros family has our thoughts and prayers.

Yahoo: Motivating Stem Cells

Researchers trying to find ways to transform ordinary skin cells into powerful stem cells said on Sunday they found a shortcut by "sprinkling" a chemical onto the cells. Adding the chemical allowed the team at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in Massachusetts to use just two genes to transform ordinary human skin cells into more powerful induced pluripotent stem cells or iPS cells.

"This study demonstrates there's a possibility that instead of using genes and viruses to reprogram cells, one can use chemicals," said Dr. Doug Melton, who directed the study published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.

Melton said Danwei Huangfu, a postdoctoral researcher in his lab, developed the new method. "The exciting thing about Danwei's work is you can see for the first time that you could sprinkle chemicals on cells and make stem cells," Melton, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, said in a statement.

Stem cells are the body's master cells, giving rise to all the tissues, organs and blood. Embryonic stem cells are considered the most powerful kinds of stem cells, as they have the potential to give rise to any type of tissue. Doctors hope to someday use them to transform medicine. Melton, for instance, wants to find a way to regenerate the pancreatic cells destroyed in type 1 diabetes and perhaps cure that disease.

But pluripotent stem cells such as the embryonic cells are difficult to make, requiring the use of an embryo or cloning technology. Many people also object to their use, and several countries, including the United States, limit funding for such experiments. In the past year, several teams of scientists have reported finding a handful of genes that can transform ordinary skin cells into iPS cells, which look and act like embryonic stem cells.

To get these genes into the cells, they have had to use retroviruses, which integrate their own genetic material into the cells they infect. This can be dangerous and can cause tumors and perhaps other effects. Last month U.S. researchers did the same thing using a harmless virus called an adenovirus, but the method was not efficient. And last week, Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University in Japan, who discovered iPS cells in mice, used a loop of genetic material called a plasmid to reformat the cells.

Huangfu tried treating the cells first with valproic acid. After she did this, it only took two of the four usual genes to reprogram the cells into iPS cells, she reported. This is good because the other two genes usually needed can promote cancer. The Melton team used retroviruses to carry the two genes in but suggest they might not be necessary. "These results support the possibility of reprogramming through purely chemical means, which would make therapeutic use of reprogrammed cells safer and more practical," they wrote in their report.

Huangfu said the valproic acid unraveled the chromatin -- the physical structure of the chromosomes -- making it possible to get in and alter the DNA more easily. "We may need two types of chemicals, one to loosen the chromatin structure, and one to reprogram. We are looking for that reprogramming chemical, and it should be possible to find it eventually," she said.

Line of the Morning

Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson

“Although we in the United States are taking many extraordinary measures to ease the crisis, we are not pursuing policies that would limit the flow of goods, services or capital, as such measures would only intensify the risks of a prolonged crisis.”