This may be SoSG's most flexible post to date. As you will soon see, not only are there multiple uses for it, but there are two categories of uses:
Use Category 1: Master Post for College FB Games. There are a number of big games featuring top-10 opponents:
- #3 TCU vs New Mexico - I guess I'll root for TCU just to create more controversy over the BCS system.
- #5 LSU vs Arkansas - Go Razorbacks! I'm actually indifferent towards both teams, but for DB's and P Ditty's sake, I'll root for Arkansas (plus, see next bullet)
- Oregon State vs #6 Stanford - Go Stanford! It would be sweet to have two Pac-10 teams end up in the top 5, especially after last year's conference meltdown (and this year's predicted sad showing in hoops).
- Northwestern vs #7 Wisconsin - Go Northwestern! I like purple and am trying to avoid cheese.
- Michigan vs #8 Ohio St - I guess I'll root for Michigan. It wouldn't mind seeing an upset featuring the Yankees of college football as victim.
- #13 Oklahoma vs #9 Oklahoma St - If every there were two top-15 teams heading into an arch-rivalry game that I truly didn't care about, this is it.
- #10 Michigan St vs Penn St - Go Spartans! Why? Because 10 years ago I won an NCAA hoops pool thanks to Michigan State's victory. Or was it Orel that won? I can't remember. But I hate Penn St. Ok, that's the real reason.
Use Category 2: Postmaster General Discussion. As we all know, on December 3, Patrick R Donahoe will be taking over as Postmaster General after 9 years of John E 
Potter. No doubt the postal service is facing major challenges - it recently reported losses of $8.5 billion over the last fiscal year, despite cost reductions of $9 billion over the past 2 years. And volume of mail delivered dropped to 170.6 billion from 176.7 billion the previous year (no word on how volume of mail sent matched up with these numbers). But Donahoe, educated at Pittsburgh and MIT, and COO of the Postal Service the past 5 years, is ready for the challenges. "The Postal Service is my bitch," I imagine him saying in lieu of any actual quotes I could find. "I hope she's ready, cuz I'm headin' in!"
Good luck Patrick. And C'mon everyone else...do your part and mail stuff!!*
So there are your two use categories. Enjoy the freedom and enjoy the rest of the long weekend.
*"C'mon everyone - mail stuff!!" - that's my proposal for the Postal Service's new slogan. Please support me in this cause. Donahoe, are you listening??
Photo of Kellen Moore from AP/Cathleen Allison
140 comments:
Isn't LSU playing USPS today?
I took Fed Ex and the points in the afternoon matchup.
ps- Thanks for the incredible flexibility in this thread. Because normally I feel so constrained having to stay strictly on point while posting my usual masterful insight.
On the postal service tip, as they move toward no Saturday delivery, why don't they consider spreading out the delivery days better? Skip Wednesday or Thursday instead of Saturday, because then that would mean three days essentially between mail delivery events. I don't know how I could go that long between getting shitloads of useless ads that I immediately recycle.
Yeah we're trying to loosen things up around here. We'll see how it goes.
DB - yeah I totally agree. I imagine it's tied to business mail volume, and there's prob some economies of scale savings by doing the two off-days consecutively, but from my pov I'd prefer Wednesdays no mail vs Saturday.
For all the failures, miscalculations, etc. that the postal service has made over the years, it's funny to hear of them actually looking at trying to achieve cost efficiencies. A better starting point may be not having so many shitty carriers who talk on their cell phones and listen to their iPods while dilly-dallying around instead of delivering my mail before freaking 6:30 at night. They could train a chimp to be a better carrier than the one our neighborhood has.
Glad you guys are trying to loosen things up around here. *loosens ascot*
Postal workers should work as TSA airport agents for a day to see how good they have it.
And potentially for future job training as well, given how each occupation is trending.
*nervous up in dis bish*
a
[[[Torture post]]]
[[[Opens first beer post]]]
I see mlasc is using this thread as smonkstakes practice. Not one of the stated use categories, but ok, I'll allow it.
Ready for the NU-Wisconsin game. With occasional checking into LSU-Arkansas.
[[[support use of brackets post]]]
[[[Thanks EK post]]]
2:30 into the game: Wisconsin 7 Northwestern 0.
I think I'll go watch School of Scoundrels on the Comedy Channel for awhile.
[[Takes off ascot, call the Hogs]]]
Beer status: Sam Adams Winter Lager
Surly factor: suppressed by nervousness
I need to make some Rotel to relax myself.
[[[points out Dusty used only two brackets post]]]
See how nervous I am? Can't even punctuate correctly. I'm falling apart!
Clearly I'm not as nervous as the players on both sides, who can't seem to hold on to the ball today.
{{{Razorback fumble recovery}}}
@Mr C
Thanks for sending me that Paul's Boutique rhyme. Soothing.
::: Razorback FG fail :::
You think you're nervous, Dusty? Les Miles is chewing a piece of of his clipboard right now.
Oh wait, it's Les Miles, so that could mean anything.
Northwestern 0, Wisconsin 14
School for Scoundrels is not working.
I want to beat Les Miles like US in a Granada invasion.
::: LSU FG fail :::
Hell yeah, Mallet. Open dis bish up now that everyone got they jitters out.
Northwestern picked off again.
40 Days and 40 Nights is on the Encore Love channel. I think I'll watch that for awhile. Yeah.
FG fail is the name of the game this weekend. Just ask Boise St.
I think the verb form is "Florida Stated"
[[[Touchdown Arkansas]]]
LSU 0, Razorbacks 7
Seven-nil up in dis bish!
Just received text from my Mom in Little Rock:
"trying not to be hopeful"
Defensive pessimism runs in the family, I guess.
DAMMIT!
Executive Summary:
-On ABC: NU 3, Wisconsin 14.
-On CBS: LSU 0, Arkansas 7.
-On Encore Love: Josh Hartnett is on Day 7 (of 40) of celibacy.
Executive Summary:
Sam Adams #2
Surly factor: normal
Rotel and guacamole consumption commencing
Unsportsmanlike comments: rising exponentially
Punctuation: spotty
DB - do you make your own guac?
@EK
Absolutely.
Although in this case my mother in law made it.
Cliff Lee up in dat bish calling the Hogs!
-Northwestern 3, Wisconsin 21
-LSU 7, Arkansas 7
-TCU 21, New Mexico 0
-Hartnett still a douche
Josh S still a Giants apologist.
[[[Touchdown Hogs post]]]
DAMMIT!
[[[Lets a little bit of pucker out of arse post]]]
Is that a good dammit or a bad dammit?
It was a you beat me to the punch DAMMIT, but I didn't even bother posting the post that would have been beaten. I just skipped that step.
And now:
DAMMIT on the LSU runback.
[[[Touchdown Tigers post]]]
It's weird...my TV feed is ~15 seconds behind.
[[[Touchdown Hogs post]]]
[[[Can't fuckin believe that last play post]]]
[[[Field Goal Tigers post]]]
{{{LSU consolation FG post}}}
GOD DAMMIT!
Ok, I'm back.
Is Northwestern winning yet?
Cal up by a FG with 4:30 left
At least Indiana knows that it's not just them.
I think Mallet ran into his own blocker.
Yikes, Cal loses a bowl bid on the last play.
Just came back from a kinect party. Gotta say, it's pretty cool.
Dusty, your hogs are rocking!
Arkansas recovers the on-side kick. It should be over.
Should.
Yeah, Cal continues their losing ways. A 6-6 team shouldn't be in a bowl anyways. But when you have 800 bowl games to fill...
But, assuming Arkansas hangs on, now Stanford better not blow their chance at #4. And possibly a #3 season-ending ranking if they win their bowl.
Game over. Nice work, Dusty. You played well.
So is there any way the Pac-10 ends up with the #1 and #2 team (with the only loss by #2 coming against #1?)
Let's see...if TCU loses their bowl game, and Stanford wins theirs, and if Oregon beats Auburn by enough to drop Auburn below Stanford, it could happen. And whoever beats TCU can't do so convincingly enough to vault them over Stanford.
I still don't get how bowl bids work though. Is it possible that TCU plays Stanford?
And yeah ok, I guess Stanford has to win tonight too. I musn't get ahead of myself.
I just called my brother, who was at the game. It was so loud that he couldn't talk, but he answered the phone and just held it up so I could hear the crowd noise. I got live Woo Pigging from War Memorial Stadium for about 5 minutes. Was even better than the game itself.
Update: TXT from my brother from the field:
"Mallett just gave me five!"
[[[Gloats]]]
[[[Interception USC post]]]
How is Mustain doing, MLASC?
I've been on phone to Arkansas constantly for last hour.
[[[Field Goal USC post]]]
Let me put it this way, Dusty. On 3rd and 5 in ND territory, Kiffen chose to run the ball.
[[[Understands]]]
Yes...lots of running for USC in this game.
At least the defense hasn't fallen apart at the seems. That's refreshing.
It hasn't helped that there have been seven drops so far.
And now the defense begins to fall apart.
Both of these teams just....aren't that good.
I'd like to see Notre Dame relegated to Mountain West conference or something. Why are they even allowed to keep trying, modernly? The game has passed them by. And I for one am glad. Now if we could just get NBC to stop carrying their crap week in and week out.
Notre Dame can't hold out from a conference forever. Pretty soon, when they do get good again, their poor strength of schedule will do them in. You can't contend for a BCS bid when your wins come against Navy and Tulsa.
But NBC still carries Outsourced and The Event each week.
The next person who convinces NBC to drop something terrible will be the first.
That is such a good point, Sax.
I can't believe how sober I am after such an emotionally draining but ultimately rewarding sports day.
I'm thinking about jump-starting the process with some sake.
@EK - thanks for the Hog love today. Spent game on edge of sofa with New Belgium's 2 Below in hand.
@Dusty - sweet photo. Didn't know you were a Tramain Thomas fan.
Woo pig. Out.
I'm not watching the USC game...can anyone fill me in why Mustain is playing rather than Barkley?
Barkley has a high ankle sprain.
Nice. Miss PAT keeps it at a 10 point game.
I realize this OT post may fall afoul of EK's strict constructionist interpretation of this thread, but I think it is eerily representative of SoSG readership:
http://tinyurl.com/24nmjch
So P Ditty is "on sofa with 2 below in hand." That sounds dirty.
@DB - we'll allow it.
Technically, commentary on the ND-USC came is not allowed either, but we're feeling forgiving today.
re: legality of USC v ND
I feel like I've let you down, EK. I'd take it all back if I could.
I don't know if Kiffin's playing with extremely conservative plays or if Mustain's making bad decisions.
Brian Kelly's thinking "Oh, he wants a conservative ballgame, huh? I'll give him a conservative game! RUN THE BALL ON THIRD AND NINE!"
No problem DB. Just pass me that guac recipe and I'll look the other way.
Rees needs to get more air on his passes. The defensive line is becoming a volleyball frontline all of a sudden.
FUMBLE
[[[USC SCORE!!!]]]
I wonder who the rain would favor. USC obviously is not used to wet weather, but I'm not so certain that the Irish are mentally prepared for it.
Congrats, Dusty!
13-13 here in the fourth. Man, it looks rainy there at the Coliseum.
Int USC!
Those kids dressed for SoCal weather, and they're getting South Bend weather.
Mitch Mustain suuuuuuuuucks
USC has zero passing game
Joe Houston's a perfect 3-for-3. Someone not on the defense showed up to play.
Fuck.
This ain't looking good. SC's only TD came on a 4th-and-1 after starting at ND's four.
Cheers, Orel!
wowwww
I'M GOING TO EGG YOUR DORM, ROJO. FUCK YOU.
oops, was I supposed to catch that?
Mustain just saved Rojo from a lifetime of infamy.
Not if they don't score a TD...
Lifetime of infamy intact
Rojo's place in the hall of shame is almost sealed.
I am conflicted. It's good to know that Mustain is not a great quarterback.
It's sad to know he's better than anyone playing that position at UCLA.
Kiffin better make Rojo do 100 pushups in the rain once everyone leaves.
Mustain's receivers let him down. Then, Mustain let himself down. He forced that last throw - dumb decision.
Sad to see a lot of dropped passes. That changed the game for Mustain exponentially. He was forced to make difficult passes that he wouldn't have had to if his receivers didn't get a collective case of butterfingers.
Yeah my first instinct is to blame the rain, but I dunno.Those guys had WIDE FUCKING OPEN passes and top end receivers gloves. They have to make those plays no matter what.
Case of butterfingers
I suppose I should work on the thread for tomorrow's FF thread. That might cheer me up.
They were dropping easy passes even before the rain set it. That pass to RoJo could have been craddled, he could have fallen on his ass, and he still would have had a clear path to the end zone.
Forgot to thank you for the Postmaster General thread, EK. Did you know that outgoing Postmaster General (PMG) Potter stands to make $5.5M in deferred compensation upon retirement, an appreciation for his stewardship of an organization which lost $8.5 BILLION last year? Way to go, Potter!
@Mr LA SC: I didn't want to nag you, so I have a very skeletal SoSG FF thread set up just in case. Don't stop drinking; you're on holiday, my friend!
Deferred compensation? Who's in charge of payroll, Frank McCourt?
For the record, I will not stop drinking. I will also comment on tomorrow's FF thread. Finally, I, too, have appreciated the USPS banter.
Good day all around.
One of my favorite episodes of House is on, so that's good.
$5.5m deferred compensation? Man, Potter sure can work magic.
POtter needs to move away from that outdated way of sending post via owls.
I actually feel optimistic with the MIT-educated Donahoe taking over for Potter. And I mean that with no disrespect to Hogwarts.
What's with the MIT-crush, EK? I mean, they're nice and all but aren't they the CalTech of the East?
Yeah you and MIT should get a room already, EK.
I saw EK and MIT snogging the other day. It was not appealing.
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