There are several different types of swooping competitions, and one of the biggest events involves distance. While there are several ways to determine the length of a swoop, most competitions find it easier to do this event over a lake or pond of some sort. As a result, the swooping distance is measured from the point where the swooper’s feet first hit the lake until the moment when they finally land.

Like any distance sport, more and more swoopers will end up breaking the distance record. This is especially likely in a sport like swooping when the equipment can have such a large effect on whether or not it is possible to swoop for long distances.

The upper limit on distances for swooping now is the record that was set by Shannon Pilcher. He managed to swoop an entire 418 feet, or about 125 meters. When you consider that a football field is 300 ft, that’s a long way!

In order to swoop that far, swoopers have to be going pretty fast before they hit the ground - at least a little bit faster than they would be if they were just sky diving normally. Swoopers usually pick up speed again near the ground by making a few turns near the ground. Going long distances is pretty difficult, since these last turns are the hardest part of sky diving.

It might be possible that there is a limit as to how far people can swoop. However, until that limit is reached, swoopers will continue to swoop farther and farther. As it is, however, the distance you can count on somebody being able to swoop depends a lot on their experience and the type of equipment that they’re using.

Le Poem De La Sweat

I sit here at my keyboard fair,
Sweat beads streaking through my hair,
I just got home from working out at the gym,
In a very vain effort to get fit and trim.

I wonder why it has to be this way,
Joints a-hurtin’ and old legs that sway,
I’m breathing so hard, it’s like a monsoon,
I’m sure I could inflate a hot air balloon.

As I worked out, I looked all around,
Amazed at the different type people I found,
I cussed the skinny people who don’t break a sweat,
The more they eat, the thinner they get.
It doesn’t seem right, yet what can I do,
They’re still real skinny, but my stomach’s all goo.

And there’s a big guy, who’s puffing like me,
His sweatpants are too small, his gut I can see,
When he bends over to pick up some weights,
I think of full moons, the association I hate.

To my right is a lady, she works hard and tries,
No weight in her chest, but lots in her thighs,
She’s standing there eyeing the sit-up bench,
If she lays down on it, we may need a wench.

Right straight ahead is a real foxy mama,
Her tan lines remind me of the Bahamas,
Her work-out outfits couldn’t be more tiny,
If she makes a quick move, I might glimpse her heiny.

As for me, I’m on a Stairmaster,
A pretty good recipe for an impending disaster,
My legs are feeling like concrete poles,
If my brain were x-rayed, it’d be full of holes.

One minute goes by, then two, then three,
The water gods are all calling out to me,
My chest feels tight, my eyes feel glazed,
If I don’t throw up, I’ll be mega amazed.

Finally, I finish, and I can go home,
And sit my butt down, to finish this poem,
Amy, my dear, I enjoyed this plenty,
Now break out your purse and slip me that twenty.

Well, hmmmm. You know, I’ve gotta be honest here, Amy may be right. Poetry does bring out a tender, compassionate side within me that I never knew I had. To be totally truthful, I really struggled hard from an emotional standpoint while writing this poem, in fact, tears almost came to my eyes several times, but, I fought them off in order to do my literary duty. I guess I’ve sort of become a true Renaissance man, scripting out tender verses like these. It makes me feel pretty good inside, to tell you the truth. I would go further, and maybe get into some pretty heavy dialogue about philosophy or religion, but I can’t right now. I happen to be writing this on a Monday night, and RAW is WAR is about to come on. And, as we all know, even a true Renaissance man like me can’t miss out on seeing Triple H in action…

About the Author

Ed’s latest book, “Rough As A Cob,” can be ordered by calling River City Publishing toll-free at: 877-408-7078. He’s also a popular after dinner speaker, and his column runs in a number of Southeastern publications. You can contact him via email at: ed3@ed-williams.com, or through his web site address at: www.ed-williams.com.

Stress seems to have become a constant factor in today’s fast-paced society. If left unchecked, it can wreak havoc upon our health. Learning how to effectively manage stress can mean the difference between being robust and full of life, or becoming susceptible to illness and disease. Stress can weaken the immune system and accelerate the aging process. The ability to relax and rejuvenate promotes wellness, vitality and longevity.
A healthy immune system regulates our body’s healing process and protects it against infections and diseases. When stress compromises our immune function, it can result in colds, flu, fatigue, cardiovascular disorders and premature aging. Stress increases heart rate, blood pressure, glucose levels, adrenaline, cortisol, free radicals and oxidative damage. This initiates the “fight or flight” response, places undue strain upon the heart, and can also increase the feelings of anxiety and depression.

Protecting the immune system is a vital part of living longer, feeling younger and being healthy. Here are ten natural healthy ways to reduce stress, boost your immune system and slow down the hands of time.

1. Walking and Physical Activity (dancing, gardening, cycling, swimming, weight-lifting, etc.). Regular exercise and physical activity strengthens your immune system, cardiovascular system, heart, muscles and bones. It also stimulates the release of endorphins, improves mental functioning, concentration/attention and cognitive performance, and lowers cholesterol, blood pressure, cortisol and other stress hormones. Three 10-minute workout sessions during the day are just as effective as one 30-minute workout, and a lot easier to fit into a busy schedule.

2. Yoga and Stretching. The slow movements and controlled postures of yoga improves muscle strength, flexibility, range of motion, balance, breathing, blood circulation and promotes mental focus, clarity and calmness. Stretching also reduces mental and physical stress, tension and anxiety, promotes good sleep, lowers blood pressure and slows down your heart rate.

3. Hand Hygiene. The most effective measure in preventing the spread of microorganisms that cause infections is good hand hygiene. Washing your hands with soap and water as soon as you come home, and always before you eat, greatly reduces your exposure to bacterial and viral infections. In case you cannot wash with soap and water when you are away from home, carry some alcohol-based hand wipes with you to control microbial exposure and transmission.

4. Laughter and Humor. There is truth to the saying that laughter is the best medicine. Laughing reduces stress hormones like adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol. It also benefits your immune system by increasing the number and activity of Natural Killer T-cells. These cells act as the first line of defense against viral attacks and damaged cells. Find the humor in things and engage in activities that make you laugh to increase your immune function and disease resistance.

5. High Nutrient Diet. Eat foods rich in antioxidants (like vitamins A, C, E and lycopene), omega-3 fatty acids, and folate. Antioxidants fight and neutralize free radicals, which are molecules that damage cells and cause heart disease, cancer and premature aging. Omega-3 fatty acids (a polyunsaturated fat) have anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular-enhancing and immune-regulating properties. It is helpful in preventing and controlling high cholesterol, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, depression, inflammatory and auto-immune disorders. Folate prevents age-related cognitive decline, damage to blood vessels and brain cells by lowering homocysteine levels. It also ensures DNA integrity (important as we age and when pregnant) and promotes healthy red blood cells. Excellent food sources for these nutrients are as follows.

• Antioxidants - pumpkin, sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, grapefruit (red and pink), blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, peppers (red and green), tomatoes, broccoli, sunflower seeds, almonds and olive oil.
  


• Omega-3 Fatty Acids - ground flax seeds, walnuts, salmon, soybeans and pumpkin seeds.
  


• Folate - dark green leafy vegetables (turnip greens, mustard greens, spinach, romaine lettuce, collard greens, etc.), beans, legumes, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, beets and okra.

7. Sleep. Getting enough sound sleep has a profound impact on your stress levels, immune function and disease resistance. A chronic lack of sleep can leave you feeling sluggish, irritable, forgetful, accident-prone, and have difficulty concentrating or coping with life’s daily aggravations. Long-term sleep loss can also result in heart disease, stroke, hypertension, depression, and anxiety. Sleep time is when your body and immune system do most of its repairs and rejuvenation. Strive to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Remember rest and relaxation go hand in hand.

8. Positive Thinking. Optimism can counteract the negative impact stress, tension and anxiety has on your immune system and well-being. Often it is how you perceive things that determine if you get overwhelmed, both mentally and physically. Having a positive attitude, finding the good in what life throws your way and looking at the bright side of things enhances your ability to effectively manage stress.

9. Tea. Regularly drinking tea throughout the day can help strengthen your immune system and your body’s ability to fight off germs and infections. Both green and black teas contain a beneficial amino acid called L-theanine, which can increase the infection fighting capacity of gamma delta T cells. L-theanine also promotes a sense of relaxation, calmness and well-being by influencing the release and concentration of neurotransmitters (like dopamine, serotonin and GABA) in the brain.

10. Hydrotherapy. Relaxing in a hot bath relieves sore muscles and joints, reduces stress and tension, and promotes a good night’s sleep. Add some soothing music, soft lighting and naturally scented bath salts or bubble bath/bath foam to create an inexpensive and convenient spa experience in the privacy of your own home.

To get you started, try Monique N. Gilbert’s delicious and nutritious recipe. It’s high in antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Banana Strawberry Power Smoothie

1 frozen ripe banana
1 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup soymilk
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
1 tablespoon honey

Copyright © Monique N. Gilbert. All rights reserved.

Monique N. Gilbert, B.Sc., is a Health, Nutrition, Weight-Loss & Lifestyle Coach; Certified Personal Trainer/Fitness Counselor; Recipe Developer; Freelance Writer and Author of Virtues of Soy: A Practical Health Guide and Cookbook. She has offered guidance in natural health, nutrition, fitness, weight-loss and stress management since 1989. http://www.MoniqueNGilbert.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Monique N. Gilbert, B.Sc. has received international recognition for helping people get healthy, manage stress, lose weight and keep it off. Through her coaching program and writings, Monique motivates and teaches how to improve your well-being, vitality and longevity with balanced nutrition, physical activity and healthy living. For more information, visit her website - http://www.MoniqueNGilbert.com

All the golfers on the Champions Tour have their own unique swing. They are as distinctive as the individual. You can recognize the player by his signature swing from a great distance. Because they have always had their own swing, they are still playing at the highest level.

Because Concept Golf teaches with principles and not mechanics, our golfers have nothing or little to remember. They understand the principles and then are able to apply those concepts to their swing and shot-making in the way that makes sense for them. Now they are in possession of the tools that make golf a simple game with a simple swing.

It has been a long road to discover the principles that make golf and its swing simple. And that is what the principles do. With an understanding of the principles, ALL the desired swing effects automatically belong to the golfer. Shot quality is at a high level. Scores start to recede, enjoyment increases, frustration and embarrassment diminish near zero.

Today I want to share with you what its like to have a lesson with John Toepel.

A lesson with John

In all the lessons I have taken as an amateur and a Tour Professional, only one teacher, Jimmy Ballard, explained the big picture of the swing before we went to the range. With a complete picture in mind there was a chance to incorporate the individual parts of the swing into the whole and make sense of the changes.

For some time now, I’ve understood that the only way to positively impact a better player’s game is to play golf with the student, in order to identify the golfer’s true problem areas so that they can be corrected. The assumption has been that to fix the swing is to fix the game. Golfers’ problems originate in their thoughts and must be corrected there.

However, our first job is to accurately identify the trouble, and that will only reveal itself on the golf course. The problem may be in the swing, but why? The problem may be in the short game, but why? The problem may be in management, but why? Taking a look at the golfer’s swing on the range will show me his swing in a very low-pressure situation, but will tell me nothing about him as a golfer and how I can help him improve his game.

In my eyes, you and all my students are par golfers. You are not a poor golfer trying to get better, except in your own eyes. If I, as your teacher, see you as an untalented golfer trying to become the model of consistency, I’m not going to be able to help you and you are not going to improve. My job really is to open your eyes to the reality of you being a par golfer at this moment.

Concept Golf teaches people to be better golfers so they can have fun playing the game. We begin with an hour conversation to learn about each other. I need to know a lot about you, both as a golfer and as a person. My questions are designed to learn how you see your golf game, your swing, why are we here, your handicap, your goals, your golf strengths and weaknesses as you see them, your golf history, other lessons, family, other sports, employment, how committed you are, how much time you have for practice and golf and whether you can you use golf in business. At this point I determine our next step. If you are relatively new to golf or if there is a lot of confusion about the swing idea, we will probably go to the range. If you are a more accomplished golfer, we will play golf so I can learn about your golf game and see for myself the problems in your game that cost you strokes.

When we go to the range it’s reasonable that you hit some wedges and seven irons so you can get the butterflies out of your stomach and I can see your “range” swing. Once I see your swing with a couple of different clubs and understand how you think of the golf swing, we can begin to give you the right ideas. Your swing will tell me what you are thinking about the swing, and the interview will tell me how the instruction needs to be structured so that it makes the most sense to you.

I will explain the five swing fundamentals of Concept Golf so you have a complete idea of the swing rather than just the disjointed parts and pieces. In order for you to have an effective swing, you need to have the correct, total understanding of the swing. That is the starting point. The total concept of the golf swing is presented in a logical manner so that the ideas are reasonable and make sense rather than nonsense. When it does make sense to you, you will be willing to accept the principles that will give you a swing that works. You will make great progress during the first lesson, hitting the ball further and more effortlessly than ever before.

Eventually we will play some golf. We will talk at the end of our round and agree on a direction for your improvement. Often golfers do not know where or why they are losing strokes. As an outsider and teacher it’s easier for me to identify and pinpoint the problem area or areas. A case in point is a friend of mine in Pennsylvania.

Rick Troutman called me one day and said he wanted to lower his average score from 73 to 69. He asked if I would come to his home and see what I could do. I’ve known Rick for several years and have played several rounds of casual golf with him. He’s a good golfer and hits fairly long shots. When I arrived, we had a talk on the way to the course. The one thing he was quite blunt about was that I was not to work with his swing. I had no intention of working with his swing, just his game.

We played 18 holes the first day, then 36, 18, 18 and 18, spending no time on the range. He was hitting it to the right some of the time, and he did ask why. I gave him a one-sentence answer; that was the extent of my swing instruction. We worked on his pitching and talked about his putting, but the rest of the instruction was about course management and Rick-management.

He called two weeks later after winning a tournament and was very happy with the improvement and the instruction. He continued to play better and better. About two months later he called to tell me his average score was now 69. Most golfers do not need swing instruction to have lower scores.

Concept Golf has the goal of making you a better golfer with lower scores, not just improving your swing. As you become a better golfer, you probably will have a new, correct and understandable picture of the golf swing, but don’t be limited to that. We will also need to look at your short game, course management and self-management.

John Toepel is a Veteran PGA Tour Player, instructor, author, and professional speaker. He is also the discoverer of Concept Golf, the quickest way to immediate, life-long lasting improvements to anyone’s golf game. To learn more about Concept Golf, including the most comprehensive golf instruction system ever, “The Concept Golf Perfect Shot Making System”, please visit http://www.conceptgolf.com/PSMS.htm and Discover the Par Golfer in You!

Not everyone can just pick up a golf club and swing like a pro, for most of us the golf club is gong to feel awkward at first and swinging it properly is gong to be a long way off. Your hands need to be as one when you are gripping your golf club. Your golf game is going to be at its best when your hands are working together to bring about the smoothest and most accurate swing. There is more than one way to grip a golf club but remember to keep your hands working as one unit and you will have a much better golf game for it.

What kind of grip pressure are you usually working with in your golf game? You don’t want to be gripping your golf club too tight as this will take away much of the power that is, or at least that should be, in your golf game. You need the flexibility that a lighter grip will give you. This does not mean that you should let the club fly out of your hands or anything but you need to be able to use a little wrist in the swing, the wrist hinge is a wonderful source of the swing power and this is what will be best for anyone’s golf game.

With a lighter grip your golf game will be better in other ways as well. For example you will have more clubface rotation, which gives you a better shot at squaring the club. This is essential to a good golf game so keep this in mind the next time y9u are taking a shot.

A mid range grip is the best way to go if you are looking for a way to improve your golf game. This gives you the most versatility and the most flexibility. Changing your grip is a simple and easy way for you to play a better golf game without having to spend more money trying to find a quick fix in new clubs or other golf accessories.

Jason Powers, a devoted golf fan, offers more golf tips
on his personal website ===>http://www.golfsites.info

In other words your Site Visitor’s experience, in terms of the following, is what will make your site sell or smell!

The following 7 guidelines are all equally important and will determine the success of your website.

1. Functionality

a) Functionality is a double-edged sword in that the site must fulfill the users’ requirements only if they are your targetted users.

You cannot be everything to everybody so just make your site easy for the people you want to please - your target market

b) Your site’s design is the interpretation of its functional requirements so unless it’s functional it won’t win many customers and will probably go out of fashion tomorrow.

Therefore your site must function in the way the site visitor expects whilst maintaining a professional look etc.

Functionality also includes automating routine tasks eg producing online docs, taking orders, triggering e-mails etc using forms & scripts

2. Content

Content is King and must be meaningful, interesting & viewable in an acceptable font & color.

Your site’s content must also be kept fresh and updated frequently to maintain interest in the site and repeat visitors.

The use of RSS can help deliver fresh content to your site on a daily basis.

3. Navigation

Site Navigation must give your site visitors an indication of where they can go on your website and how they can get there.

The navigation must be;

clear (must look like navigation),

consistent (the same on each page),

predictable (style & location on the page eg lh side bar or top bar)

and must lead to obvious content (navigation bar descriptions must be accurate)

4. Load Time

If your site does not load in less than 12 seconds, the chances are that your site visitor will have given up waiting and closed the page.

A lot of viewers access the net with dial up connections so you need to ensure that your pages load within the time frame for a 56.6kbs modem.

Therefore a web page has to be designed in the ’slimmest’ way possible so as to minimize load time.

Clean code also better for search engine spidering & bandwidth saving, ie the cleaner the html & css the less the load on your server.

5. Usability

Your site may look great but if it’s difficult for your visitors to figure out how to buy what they are looking for it’s usability is not up to scratch.

Usability refers to the ease with which your site’s user interface can be used by its intended market to achieve its objectives.

Usability incorporates many factors: design, functionality, structure, information architecture, and is a combination of good planning, good content and good design, putting yourself in your visitors’ shoes, anticipating their needs and requirements.

6. Graphic Design

In order to create an aesthetically pleasing look for your website you will need to use graphics, pictures, images & logos as a text heavy page is certainly not easy on the eye.

Web safe colors should also be used to add to the overall effect.

Remember to bear in mind that graphics (jpeg or gif) need to be of an appropriate size and compressed so as not to compromise the page loading speed.

7. Compatibility

It is vitally important to design your site so that it is compatible for all browser and screen resolutions as you don’t know what browser and resolution your site visitor will be using.

This is important because pages that look fine in IE often look totally different in Firefox and pages look great at 1024×768 can be squashed up and overlapped at 800×600

Therefore to maximize your website’s potential ensure that the above guidelines have all been employed.

The following site is a good examples of the above: www.onlinesynergy.za.net

Shick Tube-Veyor Corporation was founded in 1956 by William F. Ungashick, an aeronautical engineer. Today, Shick is an industry leader in providing single source automated ingredient handling systems and equipment. Shick designs, manufactures, installs and services systems for customers primarily in the baking industry. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Shick has approximately 165 employees located in Missouri and Singapore.

Global Vehicle Systems, located in Tilbury, Ontario, provides automotive and non-automotive parts production from single cells to complete line automation. They offer plastics and metal tooling and assembly, interior trim module gauges and fixtures and the finest and most complete fuel tank assembly systems.

Air-x-hemphill (AXH) combines more than 40 years of experience and leadership in the air-cooled heat exchanger industry. This fast-growing company went from zero to 120 employees in less than six months, located at their corporate office in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and their plant in Claremore, Oklahoma. To cope with this explosive growth, AXH needed ERP software to support their engineer-to-order business. After an extensive search, AXH selected Encompix.

Komline-Sanderson, located in Peapack, New Jersey, builds equipment that is used in industrial and municipal plants for process/production filtration, indirect heat transfer, sludge and biosolids processing, wastewater clarification, and dry scrubbing of off-gas. Komline-Sanderson sees the Encompix CRM module as a key component to improve their estimating and sales process. The implementation is scheduled to be completed first quarter 2006.

Pattern Equipment & Prototype (PEP) in Windsor, Ontario, is a division of Tooling & Equipment International (TEI), Livonia, Michigan. TEI is a leader in Design, Engineering and Manufacturing of Tooling, Prototype, Pre-Production and Mass Production Equipment for the Metal Casting Industry.

According to Thomas R. Cutler, spokesperson for the ETO Institute (www.etoinstitute.org), “Encompix has experienced this level of success because few other manufacturing software companies truly understand the specific issues and nuances facing the engineer-to-order segment of the manufacturing market.”

Encompix www.encompix.com Roger Meloy 513-733-0066

# # #

Try to use your judgment when it comes to layout. They will serve as your best guide. Do not just center on your body text. The text and content should be offset, and not overrun by graphics. Sentences should wrap nicely from left to right. Navigation should not take up half of the screen. Body text should not be 60 pixels high. Basically common sense issues that anyone with a clear head can understand and appreciate.

2. No content or outdated content.

No information or content to go along with the site is a terrible mistake many are making. It is not surprising why your visitors leave at first glance. Know that people wait and spend money to view your pages. So it is a courtesy and a necessity to provide something to reward their efforts. By content, it means something people would want to see or read. It is not just a string of clipart, GIF animations or “under construction” signs.

3. Sloppy navigation and orphan pages.

Allow easy access to pages. Always include a link back to the main page. Oftentimes, only a “back” button is all that is provided when a guest has penetrated into an inner page. Many sites, especially those with frames, can be accessed by search engines into a portion of a complete page. These have no links to the main page and leaves visitors stranded and can be considered “Orphan Pages.” Try to put a link back to your main page on every page, so that visitors would not be trapped.

4. The use of technology.

Do not bombard visitors with technology just for the sake of using them. Technology is great fun to use, if used with wisdom and care. You may think it is cool, but 99% of the world does not think so. All Javascripts, Java applets, VRMLs, and other high-tech and possibly error-prone technology should be used only when the page calls for it. Do not use it just because it is there for the taking.

5. Midis and non-stop animations.

Nothing on pages should be continuous and without a way to stop them. MIDIs are nice little add-ons that can add atmosphere to a page. Provide a way to stop it before your readers become irritated. If you doing these things to your site, stop now before it is too late. For those who does not, do not even think about it.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.ucreative.com

Last weekend, it was very, very good. I have two TVs in my living room, side-by-side, and in the span of about 15 minutes, Wisconsin won their ridiculous game over Minnesota thanks primarily to a blocked punt, Michigan topped Penn State’s gutsy drive with one of their own (aided by two phantom seconds added to the Big House clock) and Matt Leinart somehow got the clock stopped when he fumbled out of bounds (it’s not supposed to do that) and made his QB sneak into history, helping Southern Cal overcome a nation’s worth of Irish rooters in the best football game I remember seeing this century.

Wow.

Add to that Alabama’s clutch drive against Ole Miss leading to a game-winning field goal with no time left, West Virginia’s tackling of Louisville QB Brian Brohm just outside the goal line, stopping what would’ve been a tying two-point conversion in that game’s third overtime, and UCLA’s outrageous comeback on Washington State, including a third-and-three from the Wazzou nine with precious little time on the clock, whereupon the Bruins scored the tying TD and sent the game into OT. No, my crummy cable company didn’t let me see all those games (though I did get the Tide and some of the Mountaineers), but all I can tell you is this: whenever your know-it-all brainiac friend with the pocket protector and mounds of statistics about how big-time intercollegiate athletics are leeches on the forehead of American universities, think back to last Saturday, remember play after play of pulse-pounding excitement that only sports can consistently give, and offer your friend a winsome smile.

He just wouldn’t understand.

The White Sox are in their first World Series in 46 years. How does that play in the handicapping world? Are a lot of bettors (including you) on that bandwagon? What were the odds on them winning the AL before the season started? Do you find them to be an appealing team to root for?

Rob Gillespie, BoDog.ws: Not really. I think bettors were shocked to see the Yankees and Red Sox out so fast and were playing wait and see. On the year, the White Sox got no love from bettors. They opened at 35/1 last fall and moved as high as 50/1 in the offseason. Their fast start drew a couple of large bets but bettors never really showed support in any numbers. I don’t find the team itself particularly appealing, but its tough not to like Ozzie Guillen and the way he has his team play.

Assuming the Astros win one of the next three NLCS games, who do you like between them and the White Sox in the World Series? Do you expect the world to care, or will this be one of those Series that no one watches?

RG, BoDog.ws: Pujols hits a clutch monster Home Run Monday night, the Colts come back from 17 down early to destroy the hapless looking Rams and all anyone is talking about at the water cooler today is USC/Notre Dame. I think this will be the World Series time forgot if you live outside of Texas or Illinois. I’ll take the White Sox starters and rested bullpen and say Chicago in 5. Just guessing here of course!

How about that USC/Notre Dame game? Boy, was that an Instant Classic, or what? How did Vegas do on that one, and what were your impressions of the Trojans. Are they going to win the national championship?

RG, BoDog.ws: Action was so balanced on that one that we got to be true fans for a game, and what a game. I stood in front of my TV and applauded at the end. I wonder how the Houston Texans would fare against either team right now? That was an instant classic for sure. I would worry about a letdown next week if wasn’t Washington up next on their sched. USC has not played championship caliber ball in the first half of their last three games and they will give Cal and UCLA shots to beat them if they don’t get that sorted out quickly.

In the NFL, is New England in serious, serious trouble, or do you expect them to get healthy and make another run?

RG, BoDog.ws: I put my back out once. The most surprising thing was how much other muscles hurt from having to compensate. I think the same is true of the Pats right now. The more that bench gets stretched, the more guys are going to get banged up. They have the mental make-up to recover quickly but there may not be enough time left in the season to physically recover given how good the AFC looks this year. Bruschi’s return is likely to give a small emotional lift, but I don’t think he will make enough physical difference to stop the bleeding. The bye week will help as well. Buff/Ind/@Mia the next three games: winning two is a must if they want to get back to the Super Bowl; winning all three would show they are still the team to beat; losing two or more of those and it’s time to build for next year.

Christopher Harris is a man of many talents, including head writer for The Professional Handicappers League at http://www.procappers.com

Meanwhile, as a woman I can honestly say that sometimes shopping for a man is such a pain. Take my husband for example, he is a drummer and the only things he ever wants cost in excess of five hundred dollars. Then there is my dad who has a boat and an RV and all he ever asks for are things for use on either of those things. Well, this year when I asked about birthday gifts for dad I was pleasantly surprised to learn that he wanted some tools. I cannot tell you how glad I am that he wants something that I can actually purchase for him.