Randomocity

1. So someone deserves to die because they named a teddy bear Mohammed? Peaceful religion, eh? A few years back someone in New York put a crucifix in a jar of urine and it was called art, you didn't see mobs take to the streets demanding the artist die, did you?

2. Hostage crisis at Hillary Headquarters. I truly hope no one was hurt, but I'm also waiting for Hillary to play the "Pity my Campaign" card over this one. If you think that's harsh, too bad.

3. As bad as everything is in the world today, I'm actually happy. I think I know why...

4. I'm going to try and briefly describe the possible outcomes of this college football season's race to the BCS: If Missouri and West Virigina both win today, they play for the national title. If Missouri wins and West Virginia loses, then Mizzou plays Ohio State for the national title, WVU likely goes to the Fiest Bowl against Oklahoma or Kansas, Georgia plays Boston College in the Orange Bowl assuming BC wins the ACC, if VaTech wins the ACC Georgia could land in the Rose Bowl against USC. Bowls notoriously dislike rematches from the previous year. If West Virginia wins and Missouri loses, then WVU and Ohio State play for the national title. If WVU and Mizzou both fall, and if Tennessee drops LSU in the SEC Title Game, then Georgia could play Ohio State for the national title. If LSU wins the SEC and WVU and Mizzou both lose then LSU plays Ohio State for the national Title, Georgia then goes to the Sugar Bowl, likely against Hawai'i. If you aren't thoroughly confused, then props to you. If Tennessee wins the SEC, WVU wins, and Mizzou wins, then Georgia is a lock for either the Rose or Orange Bowls, again depending on who wins the ACC. The vital piece of information here is whether or not the Rose Bowl is willing to part with tradition and go for the best possible match-up. If they go traditional, you'll see USC against either Ohio State or Illinois. If they go for the best match-up, you'll see USC against Georgia (and I'm not saying that because I love the Dawgs, watch ESPN) So here are your end of the regular season BCS projections:
National Title Game: West Virginia vs. Ohio State
Fiesta Bowl: Missouri vs. Arizona State
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Kansas
Rose Bowl: USC vs. Georgia
Sugar Bowl: LSU vs. Hawai'i

5. The Great Water Shortage of 2007

The Year of the Drought. That sums up 2007 for most of the southeast, and especially North Georgia. We’re over 20 inches behind on average rainfall this year, meaning that most area lakes are down anywhere from ten to twenty feet. But the drought has taught us lessons, and not necessarily about water conservation, but more about the operations of the Army Corp of Engineers.

This Cracker Jack group of guys notices the rapid pace at which Lake Lanier is dropping. Note before we go any further that Lake Lanier services a fairly large area with water. So the lake level is dropping fast. The key to saving water here is to limit the number of releases, and the duration of releases, at Buford Dam. Does the Corp of Engineers follow this example? No.

They maintained the regular release schedule for a rapidly disappearing lake. Their reason: fresh water mussels living on the Apalachicola River in Florida. I will repeat that. Their reason: fresh water mussels living on the Apalachicola River in Florida. It sounds even worse the second time.

Apparently, releasing water from Lake Lanier causes the water level on the Apalachicola River to rise. When the river level rises the mussels nest higher on the banks, and then when the water level goes down the mussels suffocate and die.

Now, maybe I’m not in the proper tree-hugging sacrifice my life for a squirrel mindset here, but it seems a tad bit ridiculous to take water away from a place that isn’t getting rain and sending it to a place that, although also in a drought has still received more rain than North Georgia.

But, the fresh water mussel industry must be maintained. Guess it's time for North Georgia to invest heavily in Dasani.