5-4-Fri: Classic Rivalries

Forget the Steelers versus the Cardinals. After all, the Cardinals aren't even really from Arizona so how hyped up could you get? Here are the definitive 5 rivalries:

1. UNC v. Duke - This classic battle fuels more animosity than the theft of Helen of Troy. Total score UNC 129 victories; Duke 97. 'Nuff said.

2. Jedis v. Sith - These monastic warriors feud across space over the proper use of The Force and generally kick ass. The never-so-called Light Side Jedis wail on the Dark Siders, who seem terminally hampered by their affected capes.

3. Jets v. Sharks - What can you say? When you're a Jet you hate Sharks more than Katie does. Watch West Side Story and walk tall, daddio.

4. David v. Goliath - The original rivalry! (Because, when you think about it, Cane v. Abel was really more of the original murder.) This "the bigger they are the harder they fall" cage match also inspired the beloved Lutheran TV show.

5. Less Filling v. Tastes Great - Admit it. Even Socks/Yankees takes a back seat to The. Contest. Of. All. Time.

PS - I was tempted to mention Macs v. PCs, but, woefully, the list makes demands, people. Oh, and "East Coast West Coast Killas" by Dr. Dre et al is rivalicious.

What is Going On? (Style Manual)

I, perhaps somewhat finically, provide a full citation for "Excellent Quote" entries based on MLA style. Looks like this:

Author Last Name, First Name. Title. City (State): Publisher, Date of Publication. Page number(s).

There you go. You're welcome.

PS - Thanks to the English faculty at the University of North Carolina for introducing me to the MLA Style Manual. I have a woefully unreasonable fondness for that guide. Oh, and "Sligo Creek" by former National Geographic staffer Al Petteway is stylish; now playing on iTunes.

5-4-Fri: Reasons to Be Grateful This Week

This has been a banner week. Many reasons to be grateful. Five, in fact! (Surprise) Here they are in no particular order:

1. Forty-Four - A New President! (Okay, this is actually in some particular order.) Waaaay to go, Nation! What a busy Tuesday.

2. Thirty-Six - Not too huge here in the Colonies but, in the UK, this Wednesday's Guy Fawkes Day is a popular celebration of not blowing up the government in 1605 with, you guesssed it, 36 barrels of gunpowder. Naturally, no one would ever be so frustrated with insane national leadership these days that they'd want to do something drastic. Thank you Mr. President-elect for helping Americans find a more rational way to throw the bums out.

3. One Hundred and Sixteen - The estimable man, founder of The New Yorker, Harold Ross, was born, on Thursday, about a ga-jillion years ago, that's 116 to you, in 1892. His fan-tas-tic magazine, recently, had an inflammatory, ironic cover, mocking the mockers of our new President.

4. Twenty-Eight - People, I know Chapel Hill is a one-horse town (and that horse is Men's Basketball). I know that Roy Williams proved his infinite coolness when he let Obama play pick-up with the Boys in Blue and told Tyler that, "The next President of the United States is open." But the Football Team spanked Georgia Tech 28-7 on Saturday. Niiiice.

5. Seventy-Four - Are you grateful that, as of Sunday, there will be only 74 days until the Monkey Boy is gone, gone, gone? Woefully, there will be ten weeks in which the Bushies can pass all sorts of nutty stuff, install all sorts of nutsy agency staff, and deregulate their heads (psych!) off.

PS - Yes, we did! Oh, and "I Do" by Abra Moore from her album Everything Changed is change I can get behind; now playing on iTunes.