Mud flaps and straight pipes get attention....

When I was a boy, a few thousand years ago, as soon as someone got a car it was equipped with a set of mud flaps, the mufflers removed and replaced with straight pipes, or if the owner was well off, twin "smittys."

It usually resulted in getting the owner a ticket and a high degree of disdain by the adults in the community.

President-elect Barack Obama is looking very presidential these days. When he makes an announcement, he is ringed by American flags and stands behind a lectern that has a very presidential-looking placard announcing "The Office of the President-Elect."

But the props are merely that. Under the Constitution, there is no such thing as the Office of the President-elect. Technically, Obama will not even become the president-elect until the Electoral College convenes after the second Wednesday in December and elects him based on the results of the Nov. 4 general election, as stated in the Constitution.

Link to FNC.

And he is doing it again this morning as he announces his team of Clinton retreads even as the press questions Bubba's deals and relationships in the Middle East.

Outside of making the legs of various so-called journalists tingle, what purpose does it serve?

Despite its lack of formal power, some argue that the "Office of the President-Elect" must maintain an official and authoritative front -- even if just for show. This transition comes at a particularly vulnerable time for the U.S. government in protecting against terrorism -- as evidenced in 1993 when terrorists bombed the World Trade Center as former President Bill Clinton prepared to take office.

Hmmmmm... So the belief is that the terrorists are so stupid they don't know that Obama has no power...

No, the "some argu(ing)" want some pomp and show. Obama would have done well to reject it for some needed show of humility. He has yet to understand that his real problems will be caused by his "friends."

Getting what you want for UT football

Well, we got a new coach. When I first heard his name I said, "Who?"

I suspect I was joined by a 1,000,000 or so other UT fans.

Come to find out he has almost no experience and what he does is bad. He guided the Raiders to a 5 and 15 record in a year and a half.

Now it is rumored he wants to bring in his Daddy and brother.

Huh?

I could never argue against Fulmer leaving. If you look at the last seven years or so you will see a steady drop in players going on to the NFL and that is a sure indication of a drop in recruiting success, and that's the head coach's job.

But there is more to it than tossing a ball out on the field and letting them play. Eighteen year old athletes are not exactly wired to follow orders. Like sales people, managing them is like herding cats. They don't need friends who relate, they need coaches they can believe in. Kiffin doesn't bring that with him. I hope he develops it in a hurry. I will pull for his success, but I have to wonder why he was hired. Surely they could have done better.

In the meantime Fulmer may have had the last laugh.

In his final press conference following the game, Fulmer deftly issued a challenge to his successor.

"To me he ought to win every football game next year. How's that for pressure on the new guy?" he said with a grin.

Let me add that along with Kiffin's head on the block, the Athletic Director who hired him should be there with him. Just because the choice looks so bad and the whole thing was handled so poorly.

I even know a guy who could be the new AD without costing a dime in relocation expenses. Loves UT, has a great reputation, knows football, loyal.........

Go safely, Coach. You gave us a million thrills.


Link to calender.

Glad you asked

You can blame Mike L for these.

1. Ratio of an igloo's circumference to its diameter = Eskimo Pi

2. 2000 pounds of Chinese soup = Won ton

3. 1 millionth of a mouthwash = 1 microscope

4. Time between slipping on a peel and smacking the pavement = 1 bananosecond

5. Weight an evangelist carries with God = 1 billigram

6. Time it takes to sail 220 yards at 1 nautical mile per hour = Knotfurlong

7. 16.5 feet in the Twilight Zone = 1 Rod Sterling

8. Half of a large intestine = 1 semicolon

9. 1,000,000 aches = 1 megahurtz

10. Basic unit of laryngitis = 1 hoarsepower

11. Shortest distance between two jokes = A straight line

12. 453.6 graham crackers = 1 pound cake

13. 1 million-million microphones = 1 megaphone

14. 2 million bicycles = 2 megacycles

15. 365.25 days = 1 unicycle

16. 2000 mockingbirds = 2 kilomockingbirds

17. 52 cards = 1 decacards

18. 1 kilogram of falling figs = 1 FigNewton

19. 1000 milliliters of wet socks = 1 literhosen

20. 1 millionth of a fish = 1 microfiche

21. 1 trillion pins = 1 terrapin

22. 10 rations = 1 decoration

23. 100 rations = 1 C-ration

24. 2 monograms = 1 diagram

25 4 nickels = 2 paradigms

26. 2.4 statute miles of intravenous surgical tubing at Yale University Hospital = 1 IV League

27. 100 Senators = Not 1 decision