NEW : Unexplained phenomenon: Google buzz has a UFO flip side

Buzz Aldrin

Now its own hot click, the mystery Google UFO doodle and the search term 'unexplained phenomenon' are  bouncing around the internet like  pinballs in warp drive. The sudden popularity of the term and the new logo have sparked discussions about driving news via trends and a possible covert action to advertise the new sci-fi movie District 9.

Whether by coincidence or not, LiveScience is running a special feature: Top Ten Unexplained Phenomena.Coming in at #7 on their list: UFOs.

Which leads us to Buzz Aldrin, the Apollo moon landings, and fraudulent claims by UFOlogists that Aldrin reported a UFO during the the mission. Not only did he not see a UFO, he's pointed out that a video that appears to show him saying just that is a badly-edited fraud.

But the urban legend keeps cropping up, as UFO buffs cite the story repeatedly as established fact. In February, I reported how the UFO claim had been totally debunked. NASA Senior Scientist David Morrison debunks the claim, along with the face on Mars as a constructed artifact, in an article for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI).

 Morrison has the real story:

In an interview on the Science Channel..., Aldrin stated that he, Neil Armstrong, and Mike Collins saw unidentified objects that appeared to follow their Apollo spacecraft. To get the story straight, I called Buzz Aldrin, who was happy to explain what happened. He said that his remarks were taken out of context to reverse his meaning. It is true that the Apollo 11 crew spotted an unidentified object moving with the spacecraft as they approached the Moon.

After they verified that this mystery object was not Apollo 11’s large rocket upper stage, which was about 6,000 miles away by then, they concluded that they were seeing one of the small panels that had linked the spacecraft to the upper stage (any part of the spacecraft’s rocket upper stage will continue to move alongside the spacecraft, as both are floating in free-fall). These panels were too small to track from Earth and were relatively close to the Apollo spacecraft.

Aldrin told me that they chose not to discuss this on the open communications channel since they were concerned that their comments might be misinterpreted. His entire explanation about identifying the panels was cut from the broadcast interview, giving the impression that the Apollo 11 crew had seen a UFO.

Aldrin told me that he was angry about the deceptive editing and asked the Science Channel to correct the intentional twisting of his remarks, but they refused. Later, Aldrin explained what happened on CNN’s Larry King Live (left, bottom) but was nearly cut off by the host before he could finish.

So there you have it: no UFO reported by Aldrin on the Apollo 11 flight.

Exploring unexplained phenomena is intriquing, but it's about time that this UFO canard be placed in the "explained" category.

Image/Aldrin PR release

source : http://www.examiner.com/x-504-Space-News-Examiner~y2009m9d5-Unexplained-phenomenon-Google-buzz-has-a-UFO-flip-side

NEW : What to watch for this weekend in college football

More than any weekend, the kickoff of the season brings more questions than any other. It has been eight months since the last game and hundreds of players are gone after using their eligibility while hundreds of others are just starting their college careers.

Here are some of the storylines are worth following in the first week:

CAPTION

By Carolyn Kaster, AP

Bradford under the microscope. Being the reigning Heisman Trophy winner should be enough scrutiny for the Oklahoma quarterback. But with his top two receivers off to the NFL and starting tight end sideline with a knee injury, Bradford will be dealing with one experienced target in Ryan Broyles. He also has four new starters on the offensive line when the Sooners meet BYU. Don't expect another 50-touchdown season, though he could be more impressive by leading the Sooners back to the title game.

Inexperience in Atlanta. Alabama is breaking in new quarterback Greg McElroy. Virginia Tech has two talented freshman running backs Ryan Williams and David Wilson. The best performance by the threesome could be decisive in what should be a low-scoring game between top 10 teams.

First step for Matt Barkley. The true freshman quarterback can get his feet wet as the Southern California starting quarterback against San Jose State. The environment will be much tougher a week later in Columbus.

How does Charlie Weis handle pressure? It is almost a given that Notre Dame needs 10 wins to get Weis back on solid footing in South Bend. The home opener against Nevada is the type of game the last two years that has been dangerous for the Irish. The Wolf Pack have the talent to make it close in the second half. Notre Dame and Weis need an easy win to build confidence and quiet doubters.

How does Rich Rodriguez handle pressure? Western Michigan was always going to be tough opponent for Michigan given the Wolverines' disappointing 3-9 year last year. Add a tumultuous week for coach Rodriguez with allegations of NCAA violations and you wonder whether Michigan is focused completely on the opposition. A loss could send Ann Arbor is complete chaos with Notre Dame visiting next week.

Greg Paulus tries to shake off rust. Four years of playing point guard at Duke probably wasn't the best preparation for Paulus to start his football career with Syracuse. Chris Weinke proved a career in minor league baseball could be the start to success as a college quarterback. But Paulus only has one year to get up to speed. His challenge starts against Minnesota.

Old-guy openers. It will be the 44^th season at Penn State for Joe Paterno. It will be the 33^rd at Florida State for Bobby Bowden. The Seminoles have the tougher task with rival Miami coming to town. Akron should be a good appetizer for the Nittany Lions. Joining those two is 69-year-old Bill Snyder, who returns for his second tenure at Kansas State after "retiring" for three seasons.

New-guy openers. No coach has made more headlines since being hired than Lane Kiffin of Tennessee. Now he has to produce, starting with Western Kentucky. Steve Sarkisian, who was an assistant with Kiffin at Southern California, starts his career at Washington with LSU in Seattle. Both hope to have better starts than Chip Kelly did with Oregon.

Little-guy openers. Opening weekend means lots of cupcakes for FBS teams, but also upsets for teams not prepared to face lower-division opponents. Villanova drew first blood by beating Temple on Thursday. Don't be surprised if defending FCS champion Richmond is the next team to spoil the start of someone's season when the Spiders face Duke. You can be pretty sure that it won't be Charleston Southern, who has the privilege of starting at Florida.

source : http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2009/09/what-to-watch-for-this-weekend/1

NEW : Movie Review: When a Stranger Calls (2006)

I've never seen the original 1979 film, so I don't have that point of reference. However, there are years worth of films that have taken inspiration, at least in part, from it. The trailers did not instill much confidence in me, it looked like Scream, and had one of the worst line deliveries I have heard in some time. That line being the fear inducing "The call is coming from inside the house!"

The opening credits play while the camera cuts around a small town and a neighboring carnival, while we here a cluster of phone calls with no one on the other end. It ends with a murder and then the police removing the remains in a number of plastic bags. The scene cuts to another town, where we are introduced to Jill Johnson (Camilla Belle). In short order, her life is given a little drama and she is dropped off at the big, creepy, antiseptic home at which she is to babysit. Before long, she is getting hang ups and false scares. We scream towards the conclusion in a brisk 83 minutes.

When a Stranger Calls fails to take off. The tension never builds, I mean, we watch her get these calls, we see as she wanders around the house, but I never get any sense of actual danger, except when we get a music cue. The musical score looks to fill the role of tension builder, it is always there, intruding on the action, informing you how you should feel. It is one of the most obtrusive and annoying scores I have heard in some time.

On top of the score, the script does not allow for any development. It is lean and mean, and while in some cases that is admirable (see Red Eye and Good Night, and Good Luck), that is not the case here. Relationships and issues are set up for Jill to get through, yet there is no payoff to them. I don't get the sense of any desire on the part of the filmmakers to flesh out any of these characters. Granted, the centerpiece and focus is, and should be, on the phone calls and ultimate showdown. It is a shame that we are saddled with a pared down vision with lack of scope. This also extends to the direction, there are some nice shots, but most of it is intent on getting closeups of the leads face, and pretty shots of the cold home.

The acting is no better. Camilla Belle, as lovely as she may be, is just not ready to carry a film. She does not have the strength or presence, nor the range to really make me care about her. The supporting cast is even worse, just a few cardboard characters tossed in to try to flesh out the lead while not adding much in the way of substance.

Essentially, When a Stranger Calls is all setup and no payoff. None of the setup that is gone through so tortuously early on is resolved, or even given a hint that there is a continuing story. Bad guy shows up, they fight and run around for a bit, then it's over. There is no connection between these characters other than blind chance. I know that the idea of randomness in violence can be frightening, here it just flounders and sinks.

Bottomline. Don't bother with this stinker of a thriller. I now plan on taking in the original, perhaps I would enjoy that? In any case, director Simon West should go back to the slick action films, he seems to fare better with them. This film is an 83 minute trailer for a better film which never got made. Avoid the boredom set to annoying music.


source : http://www.criticaloutcast.com/2006/02/movie-review-when-stranger-calls-2006.html

HOT : NFL cuts begin; Ravens on the lookout

More bark than bite:  Frank Walker is no lock to make team

Tomorrow marks the deadline to trim NFL rosters to 53 players.  And, while the Baltimore Ravens have yet to make their final cuts, it's likely that they'll be looking for additional help at several positions.

Before getting into players that may interest the Ravens, let's take a look at who is on the bubble to make the final roster in Baltimore.

ON THE BUBBLE

-Frank Walker: He has not done much to solidify his spot on the roster.  Walker, never at a loss for words or boneheaded plays left a lot to be desired during his pre-season appearances.  However, he knows the systems and proved last year that he's a fairly reliable cornerback when his number is called.  If Walker is cut, it means that Derrick Martin most likely slid his way onto the roster in his place.

-Justin Harper:  If he only had some hands.  Harper looks the part of a big-play receiver with great size and speed.  But last night's multiple drops proved that he just doesn't have the hands to play in the NFL.  He'll either by cut or added to the practice squad for another year.

-Yamon Figurs:  He's not going to make the squad as a receiver.  And it's unlikely he'll make it as a return-man either.

-Jason Phillips:  The fifth-round pick has had a good camp, but he hasn't been great.  He did not do anything special last night during the final dress rehearsal in Atlanta.  Because of the depth that the team has at linebacker, he will more than likely end up on the practice squad.

-Jalen Parmele:  He still has a chance to make the final roster.  Matt Lawrence and Cedric Peerman are all but headed to the practice squad. 

ROSTER MOVES ELSEWHERE

As it stands, the team will most likely be looking to add veteran depth at the tight end, offensive tackle, and wide receiver positions.  Cornerback is also an area of concern, but it's unlikely the team will opt to bring in any castoffs.

Here is a short list of players who have been cut either today or in the last several days and may draw interest from the Ravens:

OT-  Damion McIntosh (Chiefs), Oliver Ross (Cardinals)

WR- Glenn Holt (Lions), Amani Toomer (Chiefs), Will Franklin (Raiders),

TE- Leonard Pope (Cardinals)

Stay tuned for more news as more cuts are made.  There is an outside shot that both Reggie Brown and Deion Branch may be let go by the Eagles and Seahawks respectively.  If that's the case, it's hard to imagine that the Ravens would not give both receivers a long look.

source : http://www.examiner.com/x-2962-Baltimore-Ravens-Examiner~y2009m9d4-NFL-cuts-begin-Ravens-on-the-lookout

NEW : Ohio State football: Navy answers Pryor TD pass

* Step up and throw. Terrelle Pryor keeps a play alive, avoids the rush but doesn't run, and finds Dane Sanzenbacher on a crossing route at the 20-yard line, and Sanzenbacher goes the rest of the way for a 38-yard touchdown.

So Ohio State goes ahead after a six-play touchdown drive to open the game.

* The Buckeyes ran a reverse on the opening kickoff, Lamaar Thomas to Brandon Saine. You think Ohio State might have saved that for USC. The return went out to midfield.

* Navy answers on its first drive with a 15-play, 80-yard drive that takes nearly seven minutes, QB Ricky Dobbs running the triple option to perfection. He caps it off with a 16-yard run up the middle on third-and-2.

source : http://www.cleveland.com/buckeyeblog/index.ssf/2009/09/ohio_state_football_navy_answe.html

HOT : Former Vol, Titan Jesse Mahelona killed in auto accident

Jesse Mahelona, a former University of Tennessee defensive tackle who was drafted by the Titans, has died in a car accident in his native Hawaii, his agent said today.

Mahelona was 26.

“I spoke to his dad early this morning. Jesse did pass way in car accident in Hawaii,” said his agent, Chad Speck.

“Jesse was a joy to be around, always. He was a guy who was always in a good mood, always funny and laughing, goofy. His relationship with the Lord was strong. He was a guy who always had a smile on his face. He really enjoyed life. That’s how I’ll remember him.”

Mahelona was selected by the Titans in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL draft. He played in 10 games as a rookie, then bounced from the Titans to the Dolphins and Falcons in 2007. He last played in a 2007 game for Atlanta.

Mahelona is survived by his wife, Brandi, and an infant child.

A native of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Mahelona played two seasons at Tennessee after transferring from Orange Coast Junior College.

In 24 games with the Vols, he had 77 tackles and 7 sacks. As a junior In 2004 he was a Sporting News All-American and All-SEC second team after recording 42 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. 

source : http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090905/SPORTS01/90905021/2072/SPORTS/Former+Vol++Titan+Jesse+Mahelona+killed+in+auto+accident

NEW : College Football TV schedule for next week

New Delhi, Sept 5, 2009: College Football TV schedule for next week. College football season has just begun. College football is American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies.
It was the venue through which American football first gained popularity in the United States. College football remains extremely popular today among students, alumni, and other fans of the sport.

Here is the College Football Television Schedule for the next two days. This should help football enthusiasts plan to view the matches of their favorite teams for the next seven days.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Central Washington at Minnesota-Duluth (CBS College Sports, 8:00 PM ET)

Eastern Kentucky at Indiana (Big Ten Network, 8:00 PM ET)

North Texas at Ball State (ESPNU, 7:30 PM ET)
   Charlie Neal, Jay Walker
14 Oregon at 16 Boise State (ESPN, 10:15 PM ET)
   Mark Jones, Bob Davie, Heather Cox
South Carolina at NC State (ESPN, 7:00 PM ET)
   Sean McDonough, Craig James, Jesse Palmer
Utah State at 18 Utah (The Mtn., 7:00 PM MT)

Western Illinois at Sam Houston State (Southland TV Network, 6:00 PM CT)

Friday, September 4, 2009
Tulsa at Tulane (ESPN, 8:00 PM ET)
   Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore


Saturday, September 5, 2009
13 Georgia at 11 Oklahoma State (ABC, 2:30 PM CT)
   Sean McDonough, Craig James, Jesse Palmer, Erin Andrews
24 BYU at 3 Oklahoma (ESPN, 6:00 PM CT)
   Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, Heather Cox
5 Alabama at 7 Virginia Tech (ABC, 8:00 PM ET)
   Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Lisa Salters
9 LSU at Washington (ESPN, 10:30 PM ET )
   Mark Jones, Bob Davie, Heather Cox
Akron at 8 Penn State (Big Ten Network, 12:00 PM ET)

Baylor at Wake Forest (ABC / ESPN2, 3:30 PM ET)
   Dave Lamont, JC Pearson
Buffalo at UTEP (CBS College Sports, 9:00 PM ET)

Charleston Southern at 1 Florida (FSN, 7:00 PM ET)

Connecticut at Ohio University (ESPN360.com, 7:00 PM ET)
   Michael Reghi, Jerod Cherry
Florida Atlantic at 22 Nebraska (PPV, 6:00 PM CT)

Indiana State at Louisville (Big East Network Local, 7:30 PM ET)

Jackson State at Mississippi State (ESPNU, 3:30 PM ET )
   Todd Harris, Charles Arbuckle
Jacksonville State at 15 Georgia Tech (ESPN360.com, 1:00 PM ET)
   Frank Giardina, Doug Chapman
Kentucky at Miami (OH) (ESPNU, 12:00 PM ET)
   Clay Matvick, Dabid Diaz-Infante
Liberty at West Virginia (Big East Network Local, 12:00 PM ET)

Louisiana Monroe at 2 Texas (PPV, 6:00 PM CT)

Louisiana Tech at Auburn (ESPNU, 7:00 PM ET )
   Eric Collins, Brock Huard, Beth Mowins
Maryland at 12 California (ESPN2, 7:00 PM PT)
   Terry Gannon, David Norrie
Middle Tennessee at Clemson (ESPN360.com, 6:00 PM ET)
   Ryan Rose, Danny Kanell
Minnesota at Syracuse (ESPN2, 12:00 PM ET)
   Pam Ward, Ray Bentley
Missouri at Illinois (ESPN, 2:40 PM CT)
   Ron Franklin, Ed Cunningham
Missouri State at Arkansas (Inst. PPV, 7:00 PM ET )

Montana State at Michigan State (Big Ten Network, 12:00 PM ET)

Navy at 6 Ohio State (ESPN, 12:00 PM ET)
   Dave Pasch, Chris Spielman, Bob Griese
Nevada at Notre Dame (NBC Sports, 3:30 PM ET)

New Mexico at Texas A&M (TBD, 6:00 PM CT)

Northeastern at Boston College (ESPN360.com, 2:00 PM ET)
   Dave Popkin, Jon Ritchie
Northern Illinois at Wisconsin (Big Ten Network, 6:00 PM CT)

Northern Iowa at 21 Iowa (Big Ten Network, 11:00 AM CT)

Prairie View A&M at Texas Southern (ESPNU, 10:30 PM ET)
   Carter Blackburn, Eddie Robinson Jr
Rice at UAB (Comcast / Charter Sports Southeast (CSS), 3:30 PM ET)

San Diego State at UCLA (Fox Sports West, 4:30 PM PT)

San Jose State at 4 USC (FSN, 12:30 PM PT)

The Citadel at North Carolina (ESPN360.com, 6:00 PM ET)
   Bob Picozzi, Paul Maguire
Toledo at Purdue (Big Ten Network, 12:00 PM ET)

Towson at Northwestern (Big Ten Network, 11:00 AM CT)

Washington at 9 LSU (ESPN, 7:30 PM PT)
   Mark Jones, Bob Davie, Heather Cox
Western Carolina at Vanderbilt (CSS, 7:30 PM ET)

Western Kentucky at Tennessee (ERT/SEC Network, 12:21 PM ET )

Western Michigan at Michigan (ABC, 3:30 PM ET)

William & Mary at Virginia (ESPN360.com, 6:00 PM ET)
   Jim Barbar, Sonny Randle
Wofford at USF (BHSN, 7:00 PM ET)



Sunday, September 6, 2009
10 Ole Miss at Memphis (ESPN, 3:30 PM ET )
   Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore
Colorado State at Colorado (FSN, 6:00 PM CT)

Grambling State at South Carolina State (ESPN, 2:00 PM ET)
   Charlie Neal, Jay Walker


Monday, September 7, 2009
Cincinnati at Rutgers (ESPN, 4:00 PM ET)
   Bob Wischusen, Brian Griese
Miami (FL) at 19 Florida State (ESPN, 8:00 PM ET)
   Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, Erin Andrews
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Central Washington at Minnesota-Duluth (CBS College Sports, 8:00 PM ET)

Eastern Kentucky at Indiana (Big Ten Network, 8:00 PM ET)

North Texas at Ball State (ESPNU, 7:30 PM ET)
   Charlie Neal, Jay Walker
14 Oregon at 16 Boise State (ESPN, 10:15 PM ET)
   Mark Jones, Bob Davie, Heather Cox
South Carolina at NC State (ESPN, 7:00 PM ET)
   Sean McDonough, Craig James, Jesse Palmer
Utah State at 18 Utah (The Mtn., 7:00 PM MT)

Western Illinois at Sam Houston State (Southland TV Network, 6:00 PM CT)



Friday, September 4, 2009
Tulsa at Tulane (ESPN, 8:00 PM ET)
   Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore


Saturday, September 5, 2009
13 Georgia at 11 Oklahoma State (ABC, 2:30 PM CT)
   Sean McDonough, Craig James, Jesse Palmer, Erin Andrews
24 BYU at 3 Oklahoma (ESPN, 6:00 PM CT)
   Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, Heather Cox
5 Alabama at 7 Virginia Tech (ABC, 8:00 PM ET)
   Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Lisa Salters
9 LSU at Washington (ESPN, 10:30 PM ET )
   Mark Jones, Bob Davie, Heather Cox
Akron at 8 Penn State (Big Ten Network, 12:00 PM ET)

Baylor at Wake Forest (ABC / ESPN2, 3:30 PM ET)
   Dave Lamont, JC Pearson
Buffalo at UTEP (CBS College Sports, 9:00 PM ET)

Charleston Southern at 1 Florida (FSN, 7:00 PM ET)

Connecticut at Ohio University (ESPN360.com, 7:00 PM ET)
   Michael Reghi, Jerod Cherry
Florida Atlantic at 22 Nebraska (PPV, 6:00 PM CT)

Indiana State at Louisville (Big East Network Local, 7:30 PM ET)

Jackson State at Mississippi State (ESPNU, 3:30 PM ET )
   Todd Harris, Charles Arbuckle
Jacksonville State at 15 Georgia Tech (ESPN360.com, 1:00 PM ET)
   Frank Giardina, Doug Chapman
Kentucky at Miami (OH) (ESPNU, 12:00 PM ET)
   Clay Matvick, Dabid Diaz-Infante
Liberty at West Virginia (Big East Network Local, 12:00 PM ET)

Louisiana Monroe at 2 Texas (PPV, 6:00 PM CT)

Louisiana Tech at Auburn (ESPNU, 7:00 PM ET )
   Eric Collins, Brock Huard, Beth Mowins
Maryland at 12 California (ESPN2, 7:00 PM PT)
   Terry Gannon, David Norrie
Middle Tennessee at Clemson (ESPN360.com, 6:00 PM ET)
   Ryan Rose, Danny Kanell
Minnesota at Syracuse (ESPN2, 12:00 PM ET)
   Pam Ward, Ray Bentley
Missouri at Illinois (ESPN, 2:40 PM CT)
   Ron Franklin, Ed Cunningham
Missouri State at Arkansas (Inst. PPV, 7:00 PM ET )

Montana State at Michigan State (Big Ten Network, 12:00 PM ET)

Navy at 6 Ohio State (ESPN, 12:00 PM ET)
   Dave Pasch, Chris Spielman, Bob Griese
Nevada at Notre Dame (NBC Sports, 3:30 PM ET)

New Mexico at Texas A&M (TBD, 6:00 PM CT)

Northeastern at Boston College (ESPN360.com, 2:00 PM ET)
   Dave Popkin, Jon Ritchie
Northern Illinois at Wisconsin (Big Ten Network, 6:00 PM CT)

Northern Iowa at 21 Iowa (Big Ten Network, 11:00 AM CT)

Prairie View A&M at Texas Southern (ESPNU, 10:30 PM ET)
   Carter Blackburn, Eddie Robinson Jr
Rice at UAB (Comcast / Charter Sports Southeast (CSS), 3:30 PM ET)

San Diego State at UCLA (Fox Sports West, 4:30 PM PT)

San Jose State at 4 USC (FSN, 12:30 PM PT)

The Citadel at North Carolina (ESPN360.com, 6:00 PM ET)
   Bob Picozzi, Paul Maguire
Toledo at Purdue (Big Ten Network, 12:00 PM ET)

Towson at Northwestern (Big Ten Network, 11:00 AM CT)

Washington at 9 LSU (ESPN, 7:30 PM PT)
   Mark Jones, Bob Davie, Heather Cox
Western Carolina at Vanderbilt (CSS, 7:30 PM ET)

Western Kentucky at Tennessee (ERT/SEC Network, 12:21 PM ET )

Western Michigan at Michigan (ABC, 3:30 PM ET)

William & Mary at Virginia (ESPN360.com, 6:00 PM ET)
   Jim Barbar, Sonny Randle
Wofford at USF (BHSN, 7:00 PM ET)



Sunday, September 6, 2009
10 Ole Miss at Memphis (ESPN, 3:30 PM ET )
   Joe Tessitore, Rod Gilmore
Colorado State at Colorado (FSN, 6:00 PM CT)

Grambling State at South Carolina State (ESPN, 2:00 PM ET)
   Charlie Neal, Jay Walker


Monday, September 7, 2009
Cincinnati at Rutgers (ESPN, 4:00 PM ET)
   Bob Wischusen, Brian Griese
Miami (FL) at 19 Florida State (ESPN, 8:00 PM ET)
   Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, Erin Andrews .

source : http://www.khabrein.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25842&Itemid=60

HOT : Steve Mazan: Comedian’s David Letterman dream comes true

Not even cancer can stop comedian Steve Mazan from achieving his goal of appearing on the Late Show With David Letterman.

Where does time go is the one question that even Alex Trebek, sometimes more condescending know-it-all thanJeopardy! answer man, can’t explain. Not surprising, because we tend to forget that time flies…without layovers and, more important, without a flight plan.

Even those lucky humans with jet packs cannot outrace time. Anyway, comedian Steve Mazan teaches us that urgency, way more than rocket fuel, may be the greatest catalyst of all in the race against time, a lifelong competition that people consider more of a marathon than a sprint, until time catches up to them, typically with disbelief and, worse, without warning.

His inspiring lesson about the power of perseverance culminates in New York City on Sept. 4 with the airing of his appearance on the Late Show With David Letterman. After more than four years of essentially auditioning for the show at comedy venues nationwide and overseas (he has performed for U.S. troops seven times in Iraq and Afghanistan) and through performances on the 20 DVDs he has sent to Letterman’s booker, Eddie Brill, over time, Mazan flew about five hours from California to New York on Aug. 30 to record one five-minute joke at the Ed Sullivan Theater on Aug. 31, fulfilling a dream that began in 2005 after his startling cancer diagnosis.

He missed his original deadline (by more than three years), “but obviously dreams you give extensions to, you make exceptions,” Mazan, a native Chicagoan, says from Los Angeles, his home base now.

Until February or March 2005 (unlike many other cancer patients and survivors, he does not recall his exact D-Day), Mazan, 37 and a comedian for 10 years now, had been climbing steadily toward Mt. Letterman, what he and multitudes of other contemporary comedians consider the summit of success. “I always thought it would happen,” he says confidently, not vainly, “but I wasn’t pursuing it. I was doing my sets, and getting noticed and figured at some point that I’d run into the right people. I wasn’t rushing it or anything.”

The process became a contest soon after the unexpected diagnosis. While heading home from performing one evening, he remembers telling fellow comedian Gary Cannon, “You’re going to have to drive.” That night Mazan went to bed in pain and awoke in agony. What he suspected to be appendicitis turned out to be a rare form of intestinal cancer that had spread to his liver.

“The doctors told us [Mazan and his wife, Denise], ‘Look, the tumors are slow-growing. If everything goes OK, you could still live 10 to 15 years with this.’ Worst-case scenario, of course we asked about that, and they said, ‘Five years.’ And I thought, Holy shit, five years! What if I die in five years, what do I want to accomplish?”

Suddenly, he had no time to saunter to the top of the profession, but comedy does not move at a panting pace. It takes years of writing and rewriting jokes and testing and retesting them in clubs and theaters for fun and maybe little profit to clamber even close to the pinnacle.

So after five months of recuperating from surgery and initial treatment, in an Internet instant, Mazan, who speaks hopefully and optimistically and works as if he were 100 percent healthy, created DyingToDoLetterman.com, a Web site that chronicled his circumstances and career and asked fans, friends, friends of fans, friends of friends and visitors to the site to petition Letterman to book him. At the beginning, he explains, he used the site as an accelerant “to get noticed by the Letterman people.”

But almost immediately, without being mean, he says that Brill basically told him that Letterman is not a fairy godfather. He does not grant wishes. “They actually sent me a cease-and-desist letter,” Mazan says, chuckling. “I was told I would have to earn my appearance.”

It took more than three years and hundreds of types of jokes to impress Brill. Mazan, who’s turning the quest into a documentary with the apt help of husband-and-wife filmmakers Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina of Joke Productions, finally did with a long gag about hotel access keys, the result of talent, commitment and that mandatory comic attribute: perfect timing.

source : http://punchlinemagazine.com/blog/2009/09/steve-mazan-comedians-david-letterman-dream-comes-true

NEW : Navy vs Ohio St. College Football Predictions & Odds

Navy vs Ohio St. College Football Predictions & Odds - Another  year , another high national ranking for #6 Ohio St., and by season’s end , they will probably be an also ran , again, especially this year, as they lost all of their skill players except Terrelle Pryor. Yes, head coach Jim Tressel is one of the top recruiters, so reloading is assumed, but with the College Football Odds bestowing them as 21 ½ point favorites over Navy, the bettors are scrambling to do something positive with that line.

The Sports Betting Odds of -21 ½, and a line of -110, actually looks tempting if you are a Navy fan, because a close game will feel just like a win. The Midshipmen are not a bad team, certainly not as good as Navy teams of decades past, when Roger Staubach et all., vaulted them into the national title picture, but with 21 ½ points from the NCAA Football Odds, a case can be made to go with Navy. Bet College Football Picks and Odds  with justbet Deposit $100 and receive $100 to start the CFB betting season off.      

However, it is the season opener, and Ohio St. is at home, so Tressel’s boys would love nothing better than  a resounding thumping of their opponent. That being said, history has shown the buckeyes to be slow starters at the start of the season, so Navy should augment their battle plan to take full advantage of that.

Last year the Buckeyes were life and death to get by NCAA Football Picks underdog Ohio, and the year before that, they barely beat little known Troy. They could be ripe for an ambush and could possibly lose to Navy, but realistically, no way. However, the 21 ½ points of the College Football Odds, look very tempting to a bettor, because even if Navy is blanked, the Buckeys would need 4 scores to cover the Sports Betting Odds. 

Sports Betting Promotions provides live  NCAA football odds Free College Football Picks, College Football predictions, College Football scores and much more this NCAA football Odds season. Check out the handicappers at the site for College Football Picks and College Football Predictions. Don't miss this 2009 College Football season and start winning with our handicappers College Football Picks and College Football predictions. Don't forget to join us this fall for top handicappers College Football Picks and College Football predictions. Check the site daily for updated NCAA Football Odds and College Football Betting Odds. Navy vs Ohio St. College Football Predictions & Odds

source : http://www.sportsbookbettingpromotions.com/090509-navy-vs-ohio-st.-college-football-predictions-odds.html

HOT : Chris Spielman and Stefanie Spielman are a couple truly in love

New Delhi, Sept 5, 2009: Chris Spielman and Stefanie Spielman are a couple truly in love with each other and with the world. The only difference between this beautiful couple and other couples is that Stefanie is afflicted with breast cancer.

The two have committed their lives to finding a cure for this horrible disease and also to the staff and coaches of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes who are working with our youth on the front line in our schools.

Born October 11, 1965 in Canton, Ohio, Chris Spielman gained a lot of attention as an All-American at Washington High School (note the Wheaties box below).

Heavily recruited by major colleges, he came to play for coach Earle Bruce at Ohio State in 1984. He went on to become a two-time All-American with the Buckeyes and a three-time All-Big Ten selection. One of the most intense and motivated players in Scarlet and Gray history, Chris is OSU's all-time leader in solo tackles and is among the the school's all-time leading tacklers overall with 546.

The Detroit Lions selected Chris with the 29th pick in the 1988 NFL draft. During the following eight seasons, he earned Pro Bowl honors four times. He also was the first player to lead the Lions in tackles seven straight seasons. Chris played two years with the Buffalo Bills before joining the Cleveland Browns after the 1998 season.

When his wife, Stefanie, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999, Chris took a year off to be at home with her and the kids. Many people were struck by his dedication. He even shaved his head (to match his wife's hair loss during chemo) to help his kids understand. He returned to football the following year, only to suffer a career-ending neck injury.

Chris was also interviewed for the Ohio State head football coach's job in 2001 after John Cooper was let go.

In addition to co-hosting a local radio show 5 days a week, Chris also covers college football for ESPN. He and his wife are involved in fundraising through the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research.

Spielman's broadcasting career started in 1999, as an NFL studio-show analyst for Fox Sports Net. After two years with FSN, Spielman joined ESPN in 2001. He serves as a color analyst for college football broadcasts, as well as studio analysts for college football. Spielman has won praise from some broadcasting peers, including Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z, who wrote that "...Chris Spielman will come up with some startlingly accurate observations too."

source : http://www.khabrein.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25845&Itemid=70&limit=1&limitstart=1