January 18, 2015

A bright, warm winter day in Madison.

We got out early, skating on the Lake Wingra lagoon, happy that it was warm — 37°, almost too warm for good ice — and then exultant when sun broke through — because we've had so many grimly gray days lately. It turned into a brilliant day. The blue was much appreciated:

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That's a picture I took around noon as I walked along the shore of Lake Mendota. By then, Meade and I had gone separate ways. He dropped me off downtown and went off with Zeus (the Labrador Retriever) to the dog park. I preferred solitary walking with my audiobook ("The Path to Power/The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Volume 1"). Any dogs in that book? Yes. Once, 4-year-old Lyndon "disappeared for several hours; his father located him only because Lyndon’s dog, 'Bigham Young,' was moving around in the cornfield in which the boy had been hiding and making the tassels wave."

And I did get to see a couple dogs. There was this one, in the café...

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... and there was another dog just outside who inspired a barista to exclaim: "Oh! The puppy has a Packers jersey!"

Meanwhile, in Seattle: "Temperatures are in the low 50s, but rain has been falling... a chance for harder rain or a storm later on in the afternoon, toward the end of the game. Winds are also expected to be in the 15-20 mph range. So, the 'run the ball, stop the run' analysis many have used to describe the Packers’ best chances to win could apply even more significantly if the rain or wind impacts QB Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay’s passing game."

67 comments:

Big Mike said...

"Oh! The puppy has a Packers jersey!"

Thank you for not posting that picture.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

What are some options for Duke regarding muslim prayers on campus? Slate has an essay that Duke made a mistake.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/01/15/duke_university_cancels_planned_chapel_weekly_muslim_call_to_prayer.html

Here is the population (muslims in America), compare it to in France.

http://www.muslimpopulation.com/America/

I wonder what the discourse will be about religion, freedom of speech, etc. in 2020 and 2025.

Finally, I wonder: Will the NYT ever give Romney and his religion a chance. Gail Collins is back with an anti-Romney column yesterday.

rehajm said...

Rain and wind does not have as significant an impact as one might believe.

At least when it comes to elite quarterbacks.

Gahrie said...

Go Seahawks!

Patrick said...

Go Packers!

Phil 314 said...

By then, Meade and I had gone separate ways.

Boy, that sounds like a sad line in a much longer sad story.

rehajm said...

Game update:

Best Arron Rodgers audible:

Sheep for Wood Sheep for Wood

Seattle players:

Good God- what are these dark things following us all around on the ground? There are so many of them! And they're following us!!

traditionalguy said...

The Seahawks are jinxed. But Jordie Nelson is their ace in the hole.

Original Mike said...

You're not going to beat the Seahawks kicking field goals.

Patrick said...

HaHa!

David said...

The interception bowl in Seattle.

rehajm said...

Aaron

Guildofcannonballs said...

The dog in the pic looks like little Barnett.

Red Heeler/Aussie Shepards make the sun shine.


Green Bay earned this title, and I hope they beat the Colt's in th super Bowl like Jeff LebBridges beat Blackie in True Grit.

Anonymous said...

The Pack looks good...

Patrick said...

Didn't anticipate 3 1st half interceptions from Wilson.

Guildofcannonballs said...

The pic is fascinating. The subject has two reflections, opposed to each other in the "scene."

Is he typing?

Two conflicting ideas simultaneously?

paminwi said...

Half-time reading: a very nice article written by a French soldier about the US Army.

http://www.warriorlodge.com/blogs/news/16298760-a-french-soldiers-view-of-us-soldiers-in-afghanistan

David Ermer said...

Caro's first book on LBJ is great. The second is awful.the third is the best. The fourth is ok. Read his Robert Moses bio. It's too bad that Caro who is such a good writer detests his subjects. Your blog is great.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Have you ever considered moving to the North Pole?

Quaestor said...

Oh, joy! The Seahawks (those arrogant bastards) are going down in their own stadium! Cheeseheads unite!

Patrick said...

Not quite over, Q, but it's looking better than I expected.

GO PACK!

Original Mike said...

Go Pack Go!

Phil 314 said...

I'm not normally a Packer fan but I like what I'm seeing

Original Mike said...

Damn.

Quaestor said...

I can't look...

Quaestor said...

There's still time to win it with a FG.

Quaestor said...

nope. go for the OT, Packers!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Seattle takes the lead by 3!

Quaestor said...

Looks like my two least favorite teams in the NFL are going to the SB. Well, that wraps up my interest in sports for the next three months.

Anonymous said...

It's going to overtime.

Anonymous said...

And Seattle wins!

Phil 314 said...

as a Broncos fan I can say how important it is to JUMP UP and either CATCH THE BALL OR KNOCK IT DOWN.

Now Green Bay understands that lesson

Bart said...

the packers deserve to lose that game, how many points did they leave on the field in the first quarter? and the onside kick was an embarrassment.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

God loves the 'Hawks. There can be no other explanation.

Ann Althouse said...

That really hurt.

Michael K said...

There is no joy in mudville. Incredible game !

Phil 314 said...

Dear Russell Wilson:

I appreciate your faith but God is Good whether you win or lose.

SteveR said...

By every possible measure, a choke of the highest order, a team wide fail.

Gahrie said...

I must admit that even I experienced a moment of doubt during that game....


Go Seahawks!

SteveR said...
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David said...

A well deserved loss for the Packers.

I blame the coaches. Conservative coaches. Calling conservative plays when one completed pass could win the game. Boo conservatives.

Bart said...

the Pack should have gone for a TDs at the beginning of the game when they were on the goal line. you have to take a risk to win, and want to win, not just avoid loosing.

Sprezzatura said...

The end may have hurt y'all.

But, at least you know that we suffered for almost all of the game.

Think of the glass as half full!

Anonymous said...

God I hope seattle loses in two weeks.

MadisonMan said...

Nuts.

Humperdink said...

As someone who dislikes the city of Seattle (very liberal, yet overflows with homeless people), who thinks Pete Carroll is a world class jerk, I was not thrilled with this outcome.

I feel real bad for you Packer fans. This loss is going to leave a mark.

And now Belecheat looks like his team is in the driver's seat. Ugh.

Laslo Spatula said...

Laslo lives in Seattle.

That should explain this outcome, to those who pay attention.

I am Laslo.

FullMoon said...

(Cut and paste)On November 17, 1968, the Oakland Raiders score two touchdowns in nine seconds to beat the New York Jets--and no one sees it, because they’re watching the movie Heidi instead. With just 65 seconds left to play, NBC switched off the game in favor of its previously scheduled programming, a made-for-TV version of the children’s story about a young girl and her grandfather in the Alps. Viewers were outraged, and they complained so vociferously that network execs learned a lesson they’ll never forget: "Whatever you do," one said, "you better not leave an NFL football game."

traditionalguy said...

Grievance Counselors from all over the mid-west are needed in Wisconsin. Thank God it was a bright sunny day.

rhhardin said...

That's winter sun. It hits almost all the way to the other side of the room at noon.

In the summer it doesn't even come in the window.

Ctmom4 said...

Can Seattle beat the Patriots? I surely hope so.

rcocean said...

The only thing GB's "prevent defense" prevented was victory.

All credit to Seattle, but what a defensive collapse by GB.

campy said...

"Whatever you do," one said, "you better not leave an NFL football game."

Ah, but that NY-Oakland game was an AFL contest.

FullMoon said...

campy said... [hush]​[hide comment]

"Whatever you do," one(exec) said, "you better not leave an NFL football game."

Ah, but that NY-Oakland game was an AFL contest.

Apparently he was promoted to his level of incompetence

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

"Can Seattle beat the Patriots? I surely hope so."

This game actually makes me hopeful. Some of their best games follow their lackluster ones. And for all the liberal douchery that besets the city of Seattle, it is chockablock with comic madmen like Laslo.

Big Mike said...

Luckily for me I spent the afternoon watching "American Sniper." Not as true to the book as it might have been, but very gripping. I don't think the US of the 21st century deserves to have men like that fighting for us, but they do fight for us and we are the better for their existence.

Even this atheist has to say "God bless them all, and Godspeed Chris Kyle."

tim in vermont said...

Well that sucked. I do really like Russell Wilson though. How can you not?

It will be interesting to see, if the Patriots hold on, them in a Super Bowl when hitting on all cylinders. It will be a good game I think.

One thing about Belichick, he never generals for the last war.

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

I blame Romney.

Guildofcannonballs said...

Laslo Paradise, in Vegas will long not suffice.

Next.

Guildofcannonballs said...

Barry showed what he can do against Aunurn, and now he"s gonna show you what Bo Ryan does year after year etc..,

Chris Farley wants Holyfield. It's the War on the Shore. This summer, Atlantic City....

Original Mike said...

Lonely over at your blog, ARM?

Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...

Original Mike said...
Lonely over at your blog, ARM?


Just trying to fit in with the prevailing mood.

tim in vermont said...

Holy crap, 45 7, what did I miss?

Sherman hurt something in his elbow but he is "%100 gonna play."

I hope he didn't break it. The play he hurt it on, his arm was held against another player, and his elbow was hit by a helmet.

tim in vermont said...

This guy has it about right

RecChief said...

I was listening to the Blackhawks' post game show on the radio. An ad came on, touting a face cream that gets rid of bags under your eyes. The pitchman was talking about "stem cell research break thru"

Now, it was a radio pitch, so I'm inclined to disbelieve it in its entirety. However, if there is even a grain of truth....well, I thought stem cell research was for things like Alzheimers, ALS, MS and so on.