GB/Dal Key Review

1. 3rd downs GB 5/12 Dal 4/9. Pretty even but the problem was getting the Cowboys to 3rd down!

2. Turnovers 2 for Packers, 1 for Cowboys. Ahem...should have been 2 to 2 as Ownes was stripped!

3. Ware/Kampman The absence of KGB didn't help but the Cowboys had the better pass rush.

4. Harris/Owens Harris not responsible for all of Owens catches but the defense in general got killed here.

5. Rookie kickers Crosby hit all extra points and FG's including a 52 yarder. Folk was also perfect his long was 51.

Add to this injuries and questionable calls and a rematch win is a reasonable hope.

Barcelona World Race Sailor Info: Jeremy Beyou

There are 9 boats starting the Barcelona World Race. As this is the first non stop double handed circumnavigation race there are 18 sailors. Generally there is a skipper and co-skipper. It is the skippers program and in a years time the skipper, such as Vincent Riou will sail the boat in the Vendee Globe. The co-skipper then was selected just for this race.

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Jeremie Beyou is the 31 year old skipper of Delta Dore. He is the 2nd youngest sailor in the race. In 2005, he won the Grand Slam in the Figaro Solo Championship, including a victory in La Solitaire du Figaro. This is his 1st Open 60 campaign. His co-skipper is Sidney Gavignet.

WX Text

Cold front is passing bringing snow. Snow will end during the day and then begin again Saturday as a storm system moves in from the Plains.

Quote

"People are suggesting I'm a business woman, but I'm really not, I'm a sailor first. Mentally, I've never been away." Ellen Macarthur

Barcelona World Race

On Day 18 the entire fleet is in the Southern Hemisphere and Paprec Virbac 2 is back in the lead. 2nd place by 12 miles is PRB. Paprec's Foxall explain the situation, "We are going well, we are taking the inside of the curve on PRB, generally going a little bit of an inside turn and in the classing taking the lead, although there is a fifty mile difference between us, they are 50 miles to leeward, I don’t think its going to be too much of a problem, they probably have more wind."

3rd place Veolia and 4th place Hugo Boss share the highest current speed at 15.8 knots. Hugo Boss' Alex Thoms is quite happy with his ride, "Finally we have found the conditions in which Hugo Boss revels, 18+ knots of wind from the beam."

Hugo Boss as seen from Delta Dore

As the boats get past 20 degrees south they are changing to east south east courses to skirt the high and head for the Cape of Good Hope.

Educacion Sin Frontears is last, 827 miles back, but crossed the equator in fine spirits, "We have passed the equator and opened a bottle of Gramona in celebration. I dedicated two chocolates to Neptune, so that he will look out for us in the Southern Hemisphere."

This Day in Brett Favre TD History

No TD's on this date

November 30

Packers @ Cowboys Live-ish blog

There aren't moral victories or good losses. There are buts....like but we had injuries and bad calls. A rematch is not a certain loss.
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With Woodson, KGB, Rouse, Jolly out and Favre getting injured and playing Cowboys to the end it's better than it might look.
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Curtains are mostly closed.
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The every game dumb Bigby penalty
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Crosby hits from 52 it's a one score game. Stop is essentuial.
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Colinsworth admits it was a crap call. TD it will be 34-24!
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Rip job interfernce call!
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Ware key 3rd down sack.
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Will 3rd and 19 against Dallas join 4th and 26 against Philly?
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Wow TO bobbles and Harris intercepts.
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End of 3rd down by 3. Big red zone series coming.
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2nd challenge again involving Owens. Upheld as ball being juggled.
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Another Rogers led TD. The announcers are not fond of the Packers.
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Pickett stuffs 4th down run. Favre has swollen elbow looks to be out of game.
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Doesn't look like Favre is coming out. Cowboys open 2nd half with ball. Have adjustments been made?
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Rogers to Jennings for TD within 10. 2 early to go for a 2 pter? 1st career TD for Rogers, he was 4-4 for 66 yds on that drive.
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Rogers is making some plays. Few injuries for Cowboys.
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Favre has elbow injury, Rogers in....getting worse.
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Short reprive, TO TD. 27-10
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Cowboys challenge ruling of incomplete pass which will be a TD if reversed. Play stands
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Ah the obligatory pass interference on the Packers!
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Lots of deep balls not many completions and quite a bit of pressure. If Cowboys go in here it's very dicey.
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Favre hit as throws ball picked, Favre grabbing arm.
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Flea flicker tried, doesn't work. Then Favre into double coverage to Martin almost picked.
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Romo 7-10 for 150, Favre 4-10 for 33.
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John Kuhn gets credit for block on Grant TD. Announcers saying Packers are in a lot of zone not man to man.
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Dallas TD to Fasono a TE. 1:40 drive Cowboys 20-10.
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Damn you TO!
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Onside kick which doesn't work. An aggressive call I don't really like.
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Better field position to 29. Soon it's 3rd and 1....Holy Grant 62 yd TD!!!
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Quick turn around, Favre intercepted by Hamlin, deep ball complete to TO, then TD to Crayton (some good he's on my fantasy team) 13-3 Dal.
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6-3 on 2nd FG by Cowboy rookie kicker.
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3rd 8 Cowboys- TO open drops it. Thanks buddy.
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3rd/3 Packers can't convert, pressure on play. Poor field position for this drive too- 19 yard line.
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Packer D gets red zone 3rd down stop.
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Gashed on scree, DAL in red zone.
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Harris appeared to strip Owens, but play was apparently blown dead. Play challenged ruling stands.
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Packers go 1 of 2 on 3rd downs on opening drive. Rookie kicker Crosby good from 47, 3-0.
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Cowboys in throwback unis.
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Inactives below. Brings my confidence down some.

19 WR Shaun Bodiford
21 CB Charles Woodson
37 S Aaron Rouse
43 S Marviel Underwood
78 G Allen Barbre
88 TE Bubba Franks
94 DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
97 DT Johnny Jolly

Snow Word

cold smoke n. very fine, very dry snow.

Here's the Weather

Here's the weather we've been looking for.
Sweater and cap are needed.
Hard gray skies.
Howling cold wind yesterday.
Leaves down opening up sky viewing.
Occasional cold wind whispers today.
Conditions require conniving layering against chill.
The atmosphere boosts desire to read of the Arctic.
This cooling to take our mind off the warming.
Here's the weather we've been expecting

3 Liner

Arriving at the 'brary in the cold- man on a bike- women's variety.

They're disrespecting me towing my illegally parked in a handicap spot car- racial towing.

Librarian swigs from a giant hand held vat branded Mountain Dew.

Pack @ Cowboy pre game thoughts

Most of the week this game has not filled me with optimism. I think due to a combination of injuries and bad Texas Stadium memories.

We are now at game day and I am feeling better. Injuries look better for one.

Keys wise here's what I am looking at: 3rd downs, turn overs, Ware/Kampman, Harris/Owens and rookie kickers.

Cowboys are 49 percent on 3rd down offense packers are 32% on defense. Here we have strengths matching. Packers O is 43 % while Dallas D is 38%.

Aaron Kampman leads the league with 11 sacks while Cowboys has 9. Kampman plays against Mark Columbo while Ware rushes Chad Clifton. Edge to the Pack I think.

Al Harris will most likely man up on Owens. Harris needs to play calm and solid and see if he can end Owen's 6 game TD streak.

Both teams have rookie kickers Mason Crosby (GB) and Nick Folk (DAL). Folk is more accurate overall 85 to 79 percent and from 40 yards out 7/9 to 6/11. Crosby was better earlier in the season.

Although I feel better I still can't make the Packer victory call....here's hoping I am soooooooo... wrong!

Barcelona World Race Sailor Info: Jean Luc Nelias

There are 9 boats starting the Barcelona World Race. As this is the first non stop double handed circumnavigation race there are 18 sailors. Generally there is a skipper and co-skipper. It is the skippers program and in a years time the skipper, such as Roland Jourdain will sail the boat in the Vendee Globe. The co-skipper then was selected just for this race.

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Nelias, 45, is the co-skipper of Veolia Entertainment. Best known for his time as skipper of the 60 foot trimaran Belgacom Nelias has also worked as an on shore weather router. Past succeses include winning the Tour de France, a 3rd place in the 2 up Jacques Vabre and top rookie in the Figaro.

Barcelona World Race

Leader by 2 miles PRB is sailing SE down Brazil with 2nd place Paprec Vibrac 2 slightly to the east also holding a course east of south. In match racing terms PV 2 is between PRB and the mark in the form of the Cape of Good Hope. PV2 shows a fleet high speed of 17.6 knots while Estrella Damm has the highest 24 hour run of 317 miles.

3rd is still Veolia with Delta Dore and Hugo Boss neck and neck for 4th. Dore's Sidney Gavignet sounds optimisic, "We still have over 20,000 miles to cover and at this point it is even possible to make up 1000 miles."

Looking at the times between the Canary Island and the Fernando de Noronha gate race leader PRB had the best time at 8 days 7 hours. Mutua Madrileña had the 3rd best run of 8 days 10 hours.

The leaders are looking to avoid a depression with heavy upwind possibilities and smoothly continue towards the roaring 40's.

WX Text

A cold front is leaving the area giving us 25 to 30 degree temperatures. Another cold front will come tomorrow with a chance of snow mainly to our north.

Quote

"To swear off making mistakes is very easy. All you have to do is swear off having ideas."

Leo Burnett

This Day in Brett Favre TD History

November 29

2004 Driver, Franks and Walker at home.

1999 Road TD's to Bradford and Davis.

1998 Home scores to Freeman and Henderson

1992 1 to Jackie Harris at County Stadium.

Quote

"Living a simple life lets me focus on the things that really matter- family, health, God, environment."

Andrew Skurka

Playoff Possibilities

• The league announced that the Packers can clinch the NFC North Division title with a victory in Dallas and a loss or tie by Detroit.
• The Packers will clinch a playoff berth with a victory or tie or a loss or tie by New Orleans and a loss or tie by Arizona and a loss or tie by Chicago.

WX Text

Strong winds will continue with arrival of low pressure. This system will also bring a variety of precipitation which will be neither heavy nor lasting.

Barcelona World Race Sailor Info: Albert Bargues

There are 9 boats starting the Barcelona World Race. As this is the first non stop double handed circumnavigation race there are 18 sailors. Generally there is a skipper and co-skipper. It is the skippers program and in a years time the skipper, such as Alex Thomson will sail the boat in the Vendee Globe. The co-skipper then was selected just for this race.

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Albert Bargues age 47 is co-skippering Educacion Sin Fronteras. He has one round the world voyage in the form of the 1986 Whitbread. He has extensive experience on the shore side of Open 60 campaigns.

Barcelona World Race

Eight of nine boats have crossed the equator. The fleet is now on the Brazilian side of the Atlantic after being off the African coast earlier.

PRB's lead is a scant 6 miles at last report. With over 21,000 miles still to sail Paprec Vibrac 2 is sailing at 15.3 knots to close the gap. To PRB's Vincent Riou 1st or 2nd is all the same to him , "The two boats in the lead have an advantage; it is important to be in that leading group but not necessarily to be in first place. It is our priority now not to make any major mistakes."

It's definitely trade wind sailing Sidney Gavignet reports, "The autopilot is doing great, steering straight and creating apparent wind. We haven't steered for more than a day now, we only adjust the main sheet from time to time with a steady wind direction."

Ahead is some more rail like trade wind sailing and then a call as to when to when to turn west and skirt the St. Helena high and then "finally we will be down in to the great south – the cold, the action, the reason we have come here…The worst thing is that in a month’s time when we have our three polar layers of clothing..." say Veolia.

This Day in Brett Favre TD History

November 28

1993 2 yarder to Sharpe against Tampa.

Dopesheet points

• A win would give the team an all time best 8 game road win streak.
• Texas Stadium is one of nine venues Favre has not won at.
• Receivers 1566 yards after catch is league best.
• “It's important because our game is about match-ups,” McCarthy said
  about the formation. “To me that's one of the most important aspects of
  game-planning."
• Wade Phillips is 1-1 v. the Packers, Brett Favre 2-8 vs. the Cowboys.
• Favre has 18 TD's and 9 picks v. Dallas
• Driver now has 6,761 receiving yards passing Antonio Freeman for 5th all time.
• At the Cowboys @ Packers Ice Bowl one fan- an elderly gentleman- died of exposure.
  

Quote

There would be nothing in it if there were not great obstacles to be overcome.

Ernest Shackleton

Barcelona World Race Sailor Info: J.P. Dick

There are 9 boats starting the Barcelona World Race. As this is the first non stop double handed circumnavigation race there are 18 sailors. Generally there is a skipper and co-skipper. It is the skippers program and in a years time the skipper, such as Dominque Wavre will sail the boat in the Vendee Globe. The co-skipper then was selected just for this race.

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J.P. Dick is the 42 year old skipper of Paprec Virbac. Until 6 years ago Dick was a vetrinary surgeon. Since then he as been a full timer on the Open 60 circuit. He's on his 2nd Farr designed '60' having won the 2003 Jacques Vabre and completed the Vendee Globe on his 1st one.

Barcelona World Race: 2 Boat Race?

Leader PRB and 2nd place by 40 miles Paprec Virbac 2 have crossed into the Southern Hemisphere. Veolia is 3rd now 172 miles back. For the now the lead duo are a bit on their own. This pair is showing speeds of over 15 knots tops in the fleet.

From 2nd place J.P. Dick says, "The south Atlantic is my favourite ocean, I like the colour, the fauna, it’s wild and so much better than the doldrums."

4 more boats are within 300 miles followed by Estrella Damm and Educacion sin Fronteras. Estrella Damm has a fleet low speed of 5 knots.

Delta Dore figures "Until Fernando de Noronha , there is no special strategy."

WX Text

Wind is the feature today with gust of up to 50 MPH expected. It will be mainly dry with another low moving in Wednesday bringing a chance of some precipitation.

This Day in Brett Favre TD History

November 27

2006 Hits Driver @ Qwest Field.

2005 David Martin @ Lincoln Financial Field.

2003 Franks and Walker @ Ford Field.

2000 # 250 to Driver @ Ericsson Stadium.

Sherman gets Aggies Job

Mike Sherman is a head coach again having been hired by Texas A&M. Good for him. He was a good coach, if not a good GM. Don't think his work rate could be questioned either. Since he didn't draft well I wonder how he'll recruit. Might have to root for the 'Aggies' a little bit.

Packers @ Cowboys Line

The game opens with the Cowboys a 6.5 favorite with an over/under of 52.

Novel Quote

It's an adventure, but an adventure isn't fun 'til it's over. If then.

Denis Johnson Tree of Smoke

Amazing Race: U Turn

Lorena and Jason were eliminated largely due to a u-turn by this episodes blondies Shanna and Jennifer. Scenes from next indicate that Shanna and Jennifer get paid back right quick.

Although Jenn and Nate were 2nd it seems that animals sense that Jenn is unbalanced. And being on the LA Clippers dance team does not a dancer make Jennifer as was shown by them getting a 10 minute penalty at the shake your bootie detour.

My favorites TK and Rachel had an off leg finishing 7th of 8th.

WX Text

Low pressure coming from the south will bring snow to Michigan today although mainly to the South of Muskegon. Next weather maker is a Wednesday cold front.

Barcelona World Race Sailor Info: Michelle Paret

There are 9 boats starting the Barcelona World Race. As this is the first non stop double handed circumnavigation race there are 18 sailors. Generally there is a skipper and co-skipper. It is the skippers program and in a years time the skipper, such as Vincent Riou, will sail the boat in the Vendee Globe. The co-skipper then was selected just for this race.

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Michele Paret, 52, is the co-skipper of Temenos 2 and one of only 2 females in the BWR. Her background goes beyond sailing inclduing mountain biking and climbing. Sailing-wise she's sailed Volvo 60's, Maxi Cats and Open 60's.

Barcelona World Race: Lead Change

Passing thru the Doldrums we have seen a lead change with PRB now ahead of Paprec Vibrac 2 by 23 miles. PRB took a slightly more Westerly route which put them thru to 1st. Not suprisingly PRB's Vincent Rio says, "It has actually been a lot easier than we thought, and apart from one big shower nothing that bad at all. " From 2nd place J.P. Dick says, "It’s annoying because all our effort to get ahead have evaporated in the space of one night!"

3rd place is Veolia 79 miles back and no longer the most western boat. Jean Luc Nelias has this report, "It is another clear night with the moon and stars in full view. We are sailing with the auto pilot and trimming the sails whilst the other person gets some rest."

8th place Estrella Damm continues to sail farthest to the East. From onboard Johnathan Mckee: "We saw another whale yesterday, this one about 10 meters long. We sailed right by it. That makes 3 so far this trip!"

The leaders will cross the equator and then accelerate in the trade winds. On Tuesday arrivals will begin at the Ferenando de Noronha scoring gate about 220 miles off the coast of Brazil.

This Day in Brett Favre TD History

November 26

1995 Throws 2 to Brooks, 1 to Ingram against Tampa.

Barcelona World Race: Doldrums Affect

The leader board remains unchanged Paprec Vibrac leads followed by PRB and Veolia. What will change is speeds as shown by the leaders pace of 6.6 knots. The boats have lessened the separation as they prepare to cross the Doldrums all are now between 27 and 28 degrees longitude. The Doldrums crossing is expected to by an easy one with 15 knots of wind expected on the other side.

Paprec Virbac is having this experience in the Doldrums, "Here we are this morning, back to the doldrums before the sunrise...It's just grey and raining all around us, with weird wind etc..."

WX Text

Another fair day is expected as the barometer is steady. A system coming from the south will bring precipitation Monday.

This Day in Brett Favre TD History

November 25

No TD's for this date.

10-1 Info Bits

Dallas and Green Bay will be only the second 10-1 teams to square off since 1970.

The last time it happened was in 1990, when the New York Giants went to San Francisco and lost to the 49ers. They met again at Candlestick Park in the NFC championship game and the Bill Parcells-coached Giants won the rematch. They went on to win the Super Bowl.

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Betting Line: When the line comes out Dallas is expected to be a 5 to 6 point favorite.

Poetry Quote

The screams were lava,
hot as sex, and every seat in the house was wet.

Carol Ann Duffy

Barcelona World Race

The entire 9 boat fleet is heading south with all showing double digit speeds. Appropriately leader Paprec Vibrac 2 is fastest at 16 knots as all but one boat (2nd place PRB) is over 100 miles behind. Leading skipper J.P. Dick says, "Three of the boats have separated (Paprec-Virbac 2, PRB and Véolia) It’s a great race and it looks like its going to get exciting."

4th place Delta Dore had a fast and lively nite according to Sindey Gavignet, "Coming out of the islands Delta Dore was sailing for over an hour at constant speeds of 20 knots, never any less. A whole hour of between 20-23 knots! It isn’t something we will probably do again…"



Co-skipper of the leading boat Damian Foxall gives this preview of the race to the equator and Doldrums, "The strategy is going to be important now in that we line ourselves up correctly, without going too far west. The further west we go the further we are away from the direct route but if you go south too quickly you can also fall into the lighter winds on the east side of the doldrums." Currently Delta Dore is at 25 degrees longitude, the VP 2 at 26 and PRB at 27, so the options are in play.

This Day in Brett Favre TD History

November 24

2002 Hits Driver vs. Tampa Bay

1996 Jackson and Levens @ Rams

1994 Hits Sharpe 4 times in a loss @ Dallas

WX Text

Barometric pressures will remain in the 1020's for the weekend. Any precipitation will be small and local with normal temps around 40 for the weekend.

Thanksgiving 2007

I once was alone.

I now am surrounded by love.

On Thanksgiving we go to the beach, the dogs run and swim and my wonderful wife and I watch.

I once was lonely, now have family.

Barcelona World Race Sailor Info: Pachi Rivero

There are 9 boats starting the Barcelona World Race. As this is the first non stop double handed circumnavigation race there are 18 sailors. Generally there is a skipper and co-skipper. It is the skippers program and in a years time the skipper, such as Vincent Riou, will sail the boat in the Vendee Globe. The co-skipper then was selected just for this race.

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Pachi Rivero is one of 2 Spaniards on board Mutua Madrilena. He is 43 years of age and married. Rivero has 8 Transats and 2 America's Cups in his past. Additionally he has Maxi experience and is considered an excellent shore team member. Rivero is certainly one of the least known sailors in the race but an around the world is an excellent reputation building opportunity.

Barcelona World Race: Day 11

Paprec Virbac continues to lead by 79 miles over PRB. 3rd thru 6th place are within 200 miles while the other 3 boats are over up to 500+ miles behind.

The picture shows Veolia and Delta Dore at the Canaries. Veolia is now 39 miles ahead.

Fast conditions have finally arrived with 8 of 9 boats showing double digit speeds. PRB has the best 24 hour run at 360 miles.

A call to Mutua Madrileña which is in 5th place ahead of several newer boats.

Paprec Virbac has chosen to sail thru the Cape Verde Islands while PRB and Veolia have gone to the west. The boys on Veolia seem unstressed despite the situation, "Veolia talk about the side effects of onion soup: After a dinner of onion soup this evening there is a farting competition for the rest of the night. Fortunately there is enough wind and the atmosphere on board
is breathable."

All boats will want to get to about 30 degrees west to cross the Doldrums. How they affect this could cause more leaderboard shake ups.

WX Text

With our first snow in the ground high pressure is on it's way. Although a chance of snow is claimed it looks as if the high will calm the weather the next couple of days.

This Day in Brett Favre TD History

November 23

1997 4 against the Cowboys at home including a pair to Chmura.

2003 Hits Walker and Ferguson at home.

Quote

“Books are a narcotic”

Franz Kafka

Packers Thanksgiving Win

Once the 1st quarter ended and it was 6-0 Lions rather than the 14-0 it could have been I knew the Packers were OK. Many a time the Pack had field goaled rather than TD'd and it usually makes for a close game.

Living in Michigan I can tell you this was a class Lions performance. They were almost good enough and they can tell themselves this all week. They wiffed a chance at a real big start and then came back late, marks of a losing not winning team.

Ryan Grant ended up with a 100 yards! The old you've got to establish the run was set aside wisely by Mike McCarthy. He established the pass, hell they completed 20 straight, and then used the run to finish the game. That was a characteristic of the Holmgrem teams.



Driver had 10 catches and Jennings/Jones has 10 combined. Martin had a TD and Robinson a nice long gain. Can't ask for anymore.



Jon Kitna one of the more imoble QB's you'll see.

The rematch is December 30th-final game of the season- in Green Bay. Will Detroit be in contention? Will the game matter?

On the last drive the o-line has Colledge, Spitz and Moll all 2006 draft picks playing.

Injuries: Colin Cole has a broken forearm, Woodson big toe injury. Due to Cole and Jolly now being out perhaps Harrell will get on the field.

Mason Crosby had a better game, but it was in a Dome!

Tremon Williams running down the Lions KO returner. That's some football speed!

Wonder what the line will be on the Packers @ Cowboys?

This Day in Brett Favre TD History

November 22

2001 Hits Martin and Green at the Silverdome

1998 2 to Tyrone Davis at the Metrodome

1992 Sterling Sharpe at Soldier Field.

Quote

“All knowledge, the totality of all questions and all answers is contained in the dog”

Franz Kafka

Barcelona World Race Sailor Info: Roland Jourdain

There are 9 boats starting the Barcelona World Race. As this is the first non stop double handed circumnavigation race there are 18 sailors. Generally there is a skipper and co-skipper. It is the skippers program and in a years time the skipper, such as J.P. Dick, will sail the boat in the Vendee Globe. The co-skipper then was selected just for this race.

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Roland Jourdain is the 43 year old skipper of Veolia Environment. Known as 'Bilou' Jourdain has a long record of Open 60 success. He was 3rd in the 2000-2001 Vendee Globe on his 1st Open 60 won the 2001 Jacques Vabre double handed transat and won the 2006 Route Du Rhum. He will sail with a French co-skipper in this race but past racing companions have included Brits Ellen Macarthur and Alex Thomson.

Blog that Dopesheet

• At 9-1 best Packer start since 1962 @ 10-0. They've won 11 of last 13 also.
• McCarthy is 7-2 in division games, 4-0 in road division games, has a 6 game road win streak.
• Pack have won 11 of last 13 v. Lions. Mccarthy got his first win last September and the swept the series winning 31-14 in December.
• Playing on Thanksgiving the Packers are 11-18-2 overall. Recently in 2001 they beat the Lions 29-27 and lost to Detroit 22-14 in '03.
• Oh yah, that 10-0 1962 lost it's only game to Detroit on Thanksgiving.
• All time the Packers lead the series 82-64-7. Favre has 21 wins and 7774 passing yards against Detroit.
• Going by team rankings the Packers have the edge in all offensive categories and total and pass defense while the Lions are a spot better in run defense.
• The Lions rank 32nd in ground offense taking over the team that just can't run title.
• Driver, Jennings and Jones are in the top 20 in receiving yards.
• Since 1993 the Packers 148-86 record is a league best.
• The Packers have not given up a singe return TD this year.

Info courtesy of the Packer Dope Sheet

Barcelona World Race

Just as winds have not been steady for this double handed around the world race nor has the order of the fleet been static. The top 2 of Virbac Paprec and PRB remain unchanged but behind them change is the norm. From PRB Vincent Riou says, "when you’re in this high pressure area you have to set up your own objective which is your way out and you do your best with the conditions you have."

Veoila is up to 3rd followed by Delta Dore, Temenos 2 and then Hugo Boss down from 3rd, with Estrella Damm 7th.

Veoila is the farthest to the west and sailed the most miles of any of the top 6 boats. Veoila is 7 degrees of longitude to the west with most of the boats sailing the African coast. About their strategy Roland Jourdain says, ""If we follow them, we won’t be 130 miles behind the others, we’ll be 150 or 200. So, we’ve spotted an opening that’s a bit tentative, but as we’re the ones doing the attacking, we have to try something."

Steady trade winds are expected tomorrow. Until then J.P. Dick describes the racing in less certain conditions, "It reminds me of a pack of dogs trying to find a way through a barbed wire fence. We all go one way and then the next, and in trying to find the way, we get caught, and there should be a solution but in the meanwhile we exhaust ourselves trying to find it."

WX Text

A front to the south of Michigan is driving conditions. Rain will begin today and become snow tonite with accumulation expected.w

This Day in Brett Favre TD History

November 21

1999 1 to Corey Bradford against Detroit @ home.

2004 1 to Donald Driver against Texans @ Reliant Stadium

2005 2 to Driver at home against Vikes

At the Library

Sandstone edifice from temple of books to temple of computers.

Built to research essays and thesis statements to study for tests, to read the Great Books.
Here a man wearing a sweatshirt reverses chair so back is front. Opens a book with palms up for support.Throws it up and backwards. Hands go behind back the books fall is nicely broken.

Slouching slanted sideways- they let you sleep here. At the library waiting for a computer. They've come to gain access. After I use the computer lets head to AA-free coffee- its by the tattoo place.

He lists his felonies- last one for cocaine. In Jackson 3 months. I didn't mind it. County's worse. Take prison over county. I been out for 13 days.

Well, I been busted lots. No jail- they don't want me. Meanwhile the library.

Yah, the Y

Yeah the Y's a place to go. It's only $ 10 a month. Pause- holding a Faygo pop. If I had money it'd be Mexico- cheap- start over. A place to go- can't beat it.

Seekers

The library ever a place to go. Ex prisoners now probies sit. Not eating book pages like a guy I saw in a Jackson bookstore. Library gives them access to computers and newspapers. Coffee isn't free but it is at AA.

This hidden community nexus point far from whiskered lumber barons and quietly cogitating scholars now seekers of a place if not the wisdom of the ages.

Llloyd Carr

Lloyd Carr is retiring and in a few years he will look better than he does now. Yes he was 6-7 v. OSU. However, he was 10-3 against MSU, 7-2 against Wisconsin a solid program, and 9-2 vs. Penn State and Paterno. FYI his best record 10-0 v. Indiana.

Sure he's lost 4 straight bowl games but from 1997 to 200 he won 4 straight. His reputation will be better later.

I don't think Les Miles will leave LSU and the SEC- I know I wouldn't. I suggest Jim Harbaugh or Brian Kelly.

Barcelona World Race: Sailor Ages

Of the 18 sailors (below) Servane Escoffier of Educacion Sin Fronteras is the youngerst at 26 (and the only sailor under 30) while the Temenos 2 duo of Michelle Paret and Dominique Wavre (right) are both 52.

There are 4 sailors who are 45 Andrew Cape, Guillermo Altadill, Johnathan Mckee and Jean-Luc Nelias. 2 are 43 Roland Jourdain and Pachi Rivero, while J.P. Dick is the only 42 year old sailing. There are a trio of 38 year olds: Damian Foxall, Sidney Gavignet and Javier Sanso.

Team wise the youngest is PRB with 35 year old Vincent Riou and 32 year old Sebastien Josse already with 4 circumnavigations among them. 2nd in average age is Delta Dore at 34.5, with Educacion Sin Fronteras 3rd at 36.5.

The 2nd and 3rd youngest sailors are Jeremy Beyou at 31 and Hugo Boss' Alex Thomson at 33.

Educacion Sin Fronteras Albert Bargues is 47 making him 21 years older than his co-skipper.

Barcelona World Race Sailor Info: Damian Foxall

There are 9 boats starting the Barcelona World Race. As this is the first non stop double handed circumnavigation race there are 18 sailors. Generally there is a skipper and co-skipper. It is the skippers program and in a years time the skipper, such as J.P. Dick, will sail the boat in the Vendee Globe. The co-skipper then was selected just for this race.

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Damian Foxall is the 38 year old married co-skipper of Virbac Paprec 2. He hails from Ireland. His 6 circumnavigations make him one of the race's most experienced sailors. Additionally he has 17 Atlantic crossings and a total of 225,00 sea miles. Damian has sailed everything fro Tornado's to Maxi cats and it's likely his experience will be meaningful at just about every point of this race.

Barcelona World Race: Stage win for Delta Dore

Delta Dore in a time of at 4 days, 4 hours and 35 minutes has won stage 2 from Gibraltar to the Canaries by a minute over race leader Vibrac Paprec 2 by 1 minute.

A further look at these shows that most of the leaders had a stage time of 4 days and single digit hours. However, Estrella Damm 4 days 17 hours and Temenos 2 4 days 15 hours were farther back and lie 6th and 7th.

Hugo Boss has made her 1st apprearance on the podium but still trails by 100 miles. They sailed the greatest 24 hour distance 219 miles, 100 more than Delta Dore which lost time delivering video according to Jeremy Beyou, "So here we are, we have delivered out K7 and at the same time lost 50 miles to the first two boats."



PRB's Seb Josse gives this weather outlook: "Weather conditions are not great , we should be in the tradewinds in 30 hours."

This Day in Brett Favre TD History

November 20

1994 3 against the Bills, 2 of them to Sterling Sharpe

WX Text

A cold front that can be traced to Kansas is in effect and the low associated with this is coming. We'll have warm temps today but as the low moves in colder temps, rain and then snow.

Quote Kafka

“All knowledge, the totality of all questions and all answers is contained in the dog”

Franz Kafka

Soul Ax

A book should serve as the ax for the frozen sea within us.

Kafka

Quote

A room without books is like a body without a soul.

Cicero

Quote

To a historian libraries are food, shelter, and even muse.

Barbara Tuchman

Quote

“Without books the development of civilization would have been impossible. They are the engines of change, windows on the world, ''Lighthouses'' as the poet said ''erected in the sea of time'.' They are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind, Books are humanity in print.”

Arthur Schopenhauer

Quote

Rudy Guliani: "One of the proudest days I had of Mayor of New York City was changing the name on the door of the welfare office. We took down the sign that said welfare office and we put up a sign that said New York City Job Center.":

Guliani & God

"There are some people I think nowadays that doubt that America has a special, even a divinely inspired role in the world. Now I don’t understand how you can look at history and not see the wisdom of that and the reality of it."

&

"It’s this country that’s going to save a civilization from Islamic terrorism."

Amazing Race: Burkina Fasso

From Amersterdam it was off to Burkina Fasso and it's capital Ouagadougou. Teams flew Air France over the Mediteranian in about 7 hours.

Then onto the countries rail system, which consists of 386 miles of rails.

After this came the task of camel milking. If you were calm so was your camel. Teams thought it was on the edge of gross but at least they didn't gut and dismember the camel like Bear Gryls did Friday nite. Several were signfigantly delayed but all milked the camels and then drank the milk.

Next was a detour teach it or learn it. You either had to learn 10 More words or teach childer 10 english words. It seemed that just having to memorize 10 More words was the easier task. Hendekea joked, “It doesn’t take a brainiac to memorize ten words.” Aziri and Hendekea aced this and went onto win the leg.

Lorena & Jason came back from a horrible camel milking experience to take 8th and sisters Marianna and Julia were eliminated.

Eliminated Leg 3

Barcelona World Race Sailor Info: Javier Sanso

There are 9 boats starting the Barcelona World Race. As this is the first non stop double handed circumnavigation race there are 18 sailors. Generally there is a skipper and co-skipper. It is the skippers program and in a years time the skipper, such as J.P. Dick, will sail the boat in the Vendee Globe. The co-skipper then was selected just for this race.

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Javier Sanso 38 will be making his first circumnaviagtion attempt on board Muta Madrilena. He has some Trans Atlantic experience on Open 60's and started but did not finish a Vendee Globe. In all he's done 18 Transats and sailed to Antarctica.

Barcelona World Race: Sidney Writes

Delta Dore's Sidney Gavignet reports.

Hello Earthlings!
Here it is nearly 3 in the morning; the moon has just gone down.
There isn’t a lot of wind and a very calm sea, and the boat is moving on its own. My little Lou Reed session has just come to an end.
The gate at Canaries will throw up a few problems, a juggle with some important wind shadows and quite a lot could happen, including the compression of the pack.
After Canaries the situation is still not looking normal. We should be sailing under spinnaker when we get there but we will be actually sailing into the wind. There are some big options opening up. Delta Dore is really sailing well, there are just a few small things but nothing important, but the boat is really nice to sail and you don’t feel like it is a struggle to ride the waves, it really slips through them.
This afternoon I was thinking of Servanne and Albert and I really want to send them good luck in catching up with the rest of the fleet. The black hole that is appearing after Canaries could well be their friend. These two guys on Delta Dore are looking out for you…
Jeremie has taken up his role as navigator; I try to make sure I am there as much as possible for him so he can spend the time necessary looking at the charts and other weather information. It is undoubtedly the ideal experience for a “byzuth round the world trip” and looking ahead at him doing the Vendée globe I have great confidence in his analysis.

And how about you guys? How is your World? Is it still turning?
We are getting mails from the Transat Jacques Vabres, the monohulss are really having a great fight out there and Mich Desj seems to be about to add another win to his titles.
Right Im going up on deck, maybe we have some guests…or maybe not!

Barcelona World Race: At the Canaries

At 7:01 GMT Paprec Virbac 2 was first thru the scoring gate at the Canary Islands. They continue to be followed by PRB. PV's J.P. Dick says, "‘There are some nice smells from the land to let us know we have arrived at the gate at Bahia."

However the 3rd thru 6th place boats are having the better day. Veoila is in 3rd and has done 184 miles in 24 hours, follwed by Delta Dore also 184, Hugo Boss 190 and Estrella Damm 193.

Veoila's Roland Jourdain is optimistic, "After the Canaries, the head of the fleet should slow down..and we could have a chance to catch up."

Fleet best 24 hour distnace was Temenos 2 at 202 miles and 7th place.

Past the Canaries the situation will remain atypical Sidney Gavignet says, "After Canaries the situation is still not looking normal. We should be sailing under spinnaker when we get there but we will be actually sailing into the wind."

WX Text

A complicated picture with a cold front to the west, warm front to the north and a stationary front to the south. Precipitation chances will increase daily until Wednesday due to the combination of fronts.

This Day in Brett Favre TD History

November 19

1995 Playing at old Cleveland Municipal Stadium tosses 3. Receivers Chmura, Levens, Morgan

2000 Hits Davis and Freeman with Colts as opponents.

Knacky

Spotted knacky meaning Having a knack; cunning; crafty; trickish.

It is...

Often heard these days: It is what it is......

Written in Tennyson's Ulysees: " that which we are, we are"

31 Packers 17 Panthers

Prior to the game I came up with these keys and then followed them.

1. Score 1st: Check as a TD put them up 7-3 on the return TD.
2. Have more TD's than FG's. Check. 4 TD's 1 made FG, 1 missed FG, 1 blocked FG.
3. Get a takeaway: Done on Aaron Rouse's 1st possession INT pictured left.
4. Good WR distribution: As ordered, Jennings 7, Driver 5, Jones 3, Martin 1. In the 2nd quarter there was a sequence of: Driver, Jones, Jennings(TD). To open the 2nd half: Jennings, Driver, Driver, Jones.
5. Have a return of 30+ or greater. Who would have guessed 2? Tremon Williams 94 yard punt return TD in the 1st and Koren Robinson's 67 yard kick off return to open the 2nd half.

Williams return 2nd longest in team history

9-1 is best start since 1962. Next up: Thanksgiving day @ Lions.

Favre with 17 seasons to Testerverde's 21 which add up to 38 which is Favre's age.

The Packers Aaron's= Kampman and Rouse

WX Text

Currently under high pressure conditions with a low from the Rockies on the way. This combination will keep temps a bit below normal and otherwise quiet with no precipitation until late Monday.

Barcelona World Race: Day 6

On Sunday Paprec Vribac 2 (J.P. Dick "we are now under gennaker and mainsail, wind force 3.") leads by 23 miles having put up 229 miles in 24 hours.

Hugo Boss posted the fastest speed in the fleet at 11.9 miles.

Temenos 2 has tumbled from near the front down to 8th while Veoila has climbed to 3rd.

In general the west has paid strategically.

According to Seb Josse of 2nd place PRB, "Over 200 miles to go before the Canaries, but we think we will be there early on Monday 19th maybe during the daylight!"

Weather information indicates there is another 10 degrees of latitude before trade winds occur.

Word Spotted

foot-ferry- Ferry boat that carries only passengers and not cars.

This Day in Brett Favre TD History

November 18

2001 Schroeder and Freeman catch scores against the Falcons.

WX Text

A shallow low pressure is coming from Iowa and may bring some lite precipitation. This will be followed by a high from the north which will lead to a clear and cool nite.

Barcelona World Race

Paprec Virbac 2 is still the race leader over PRB by 19 miles. Temenos 2 has moved up to 3rd saying "Temenos II is sailing along the African coast at 01:00 and we can clearly see a spinnaker in front of us, which make us much more attentive but we are a little bit powerless..."




Foto sent back from Hugo Boss of shipwreck they sailed passed



The next 5 boats are within 20 miles of each other with Hugo Boss moving up to 6th. Educacion sin Fronteras is last but did have a 24 hour distance of 239 miles best in fleet. In this pack is Delta Dore which reports, "We have started to take care with our food and gasoil rations (that we use to charge the electronics batteries on board) because this first part of the race is so slow that we certainly wont be finishing in under 80 days."

Looking ahead Estrella Damm's Johnathan Mckee says, "Lots of upwind and no trade winds for at least a few days."

This Day in Brett Favre TD History

November 16

2002 Driver and Franks at the Metrodome.

Barcelona World Race Sailor Info: Johnathan Mckee

There are 9 boats starting the Barcelona World Race. As this is the first non stop double handed circumnavigation race there are 18 sailors. Generally there is a skipper and co-skipper. It is the skippers program and in a years time the skipper, such as Alex Thomson, will sail the boat in the Vendee Globe. The co-skipper then was selected just for this race.

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Johnathan Mckee of Estrealla Damm is a 45 year old Seattle native the only American competing in the Barcelona World Race. As Vincent Riou brings his Vendee Globe title, Mckee brings 2 Olympic medals. He won Gold at the 1984 games and bronze at the 2000 games. He also has several America's Cups as a crew most recntly with Luna Rossa. He had a nearly successful venture into the Mini Transat dashed by a dis masting. A result in the BWR will only add to his successful career.

Sidney Gavignet; thoughtful on Delta Dore:

"The nights come round and are all so different. Last night was gentler, a lot calmer, and the sun beat down through the clouds. With music from India, Eminem or IAM sounding, my eyes move back and forth between the electronic data and the sails, without ever forgetting the stars. The sea is like silver; and maybe inspired by the music, I am led to think just how differently Indian singer Chiva or Marseille rappers live, or even myself…..there is such a contrast! This kind of night really makes you “take a step back”, but then it is all of these differences that make life so beautiful.

The Delta Dore duo

At 2 o’clock I take over from Jérémie. He has just passed Veolia who were completely stuck without any wind, and here you could see a real example of the two Beyous; the difference between yesterday morning and tonight is quite remarkable. We have managed to catch up with Madrileña and Veolia and then Jérémie heard from his two colleagues from Port La Forêt. It is a relief to be out of the Mediterranean, and despite everything we are still in contact with some of our competition, the others aren’t that far off and the leaders aren’t yet out of firing range. For once the weather doesn’t seem to particularly favouring the front of the fleet. So we have some real work on our hands.
Ok my friends, there you have my first words of the day straight after the position report….

Barcelona World Race: Packs Develop

8 of the 9 boats are into the Atlantic with seperations develop tactically and in distances to the leader. Paprec Vibrac 2 is the leader with PRB (fleet best 202 miles in 24 hours) 16 miles back. Paprec is to the north with PRB to the south. Why is VP2 leading? According to J.P. Dick "Our choice to go west yesterday morning and the slightly stronger wind off shore really helped! A definite A+"

Next is Estrella Damm and Temenos 2 77 and 88 miles back with this pair sailing closer to each other. Guillermo Altadill says ED "had about 12 knots last night but the wind dropped a bit this morning."

Starting with Delta Dore 108 miles out,you then have Mutua Madrileña 111, Veoila 114 and Hugo Boss 122 miles in arears. These boats are largely to the Noth with Veoila and Hugo Boss steering north of west. Hugo Boss' 10.3 knots was a fleet best on the latest position report. Muta Madrileña is sailing more of a rhumb line course with little deviation since exiting the Staits of Gibraltar. Educacion Sin Fronteras remains in the 'Med' over 200 miles back.

Without the steady trade winds skippers are left to decide whether to go west, add miles and maybe get some more wind or sail a more direct course. According to Alex Thomson, "Ahead it does not look great and the Atlantic will be a mess for a week probably, so plenty of time to catch up."

WX Text

High pressure is controlling from the south. Temperatures at the 40 degrees mark with clouds fro the next 2 days before a slight warm up starts.

Quotes

"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." Edward Abbey

Barcelona World Race Sailor Info: Vincent Riou

There are 9 boats starting the Barcelona World Race. As this is the first non stop double handed circumnavigation race there are 18 sailors. Generally there is a skipper and co-skipper. It is the skippers program and in a years time the skipper, such as Alex Thomson, will sail the boat in the Vendee Globe. The co-skipper then was selected just for this race.

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Vincent Riou the 35 year old skipper of PRB may not be the most decorated as far as # of round the world voyages but he holds the decoration of most merit as winner of the 2004-2005 Vendee Globe. He has a diverse background including match racing and serving on Vendee Glober winner Michel Desjoyeaux's shore crew. In 2007 Riou has won the Fastnet and Round Britain race making PRB the favorite entering his 2nd planetary lap.

Barcelona World Race: Leaders Reach Gibraltar

Paprec Virbac 2 reached the Gibraltar gate ahead of PRB by 20 minutes sailing fast says J.P. Dick: "Passing the straits of Gibraltar alongside the cargo ships and Paprec-Virbac overtakes them!" This 20 minute edge equates to 60 cases of beer! Unfourtantly about 25,000 miles to sail before the 1st cold one. 2nd to the gate was PRB with Estrella Damm about 5 hours back and then Temenos 2 another 2.5 hours back.

In the overall picture these position don't stand for much. However, BWR does have a points system. At each of 8 scoring gates boats are ranked by elapsed time between the most recent points. This way even if you are off the overall lead you are still racing for points. This is much like the Tour De France and cycling.

The next gate is at the Canary Islands. This is a distance of approximately 500 miles and is expected to take about 3 days.

Co-skipper Foxhall decribes Paprec Virbac' tactics: "Yesterday, upwind in the last stretch of the Alboran sea, we were following PRB and postioned ourselves right behind them for the last tack off Malaga - trying to catch a shift close to shore. That's where we were able to overtake them."

Farther back Veoila has passed Delta Dore and Hugo Boss, certainly the best showing yet for co-skippers Jourdian and Nélias. Delta Dore's Gavignet says, "It is a long way round but we are going to lose out quite a bit now before we can get back into the race."

As the boats pass Gibraltar there next mission is to find the tradewinds. Currently the tradewinds are pretty meagre and south so they are not a given.

WX Text

Cold front has taken affect. With it comes temperatures under 40, snow and wind chills around 25.

This Day in Brett Favre TD History

November 15

2003 Driver and Fisher at Tampa.

1997 3 including a pair to Freeman at the RCA Dome.