Reporters Notebook (Gettysburg Times - 122207): "Power Outage"

What did ya’ll do during last Sunday’s power outage?
We had a classic “moment” compliments of Mom - at the Pitzer household.
The electric had been out since 9 a.m., so around 10:30 that same morning, Dad decided to brave the dicey weather conditions and trek three miles into Arendtsville, where Salim’s Mini-Mart was sure to have freshly-brewed coffee.
Father returned around noon, and delivered hot coffees to my sister and me.
The three of us then convened in the Dining Room, where Mom had decided to get a jump-start on her fifth-grade lesson plans at the dinner table.
With Mom’s head buried in a pile of note pads and books, the three of us positioned ourselves around the table, sipped our coffees, and caught up on the news of the weekend, hoping in the meantime that the electric in the upper portion of Adams County would miraculously activate.
My occupied mother immediately realized what was transpiring.
“Are you guys going to sit here all day?” she deadpanned.
The chatter immediately lulled as our collective heads veered toward Mom’s chair.
“What?” said my soon to be 20-year-old sister. “Don’t you like us?”
Before she even had a chance to reply, the house lights flickered on. And within seconds, the table congregation scattered.
Regardless, I think she really does like us.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
~ Scot Andrew Pitzer

Bowl Winners

Here is my prediction of the Bowl games based on the Mentzer Rankings

Poinsetta - Utah vs. Navy - Winner - Utah
Las Vegas - Brigham Young vs. UCLA - Winner - Brigham Young
New Orleans - Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis - Winner - Florida Atlantic
Papa John's.com - Southern Mississippi vs. Cincinnati - Winner - Cincinnati
New Mexico - Nevada vs. New Mexico - Winner - New Mexico
Armed Forces - California vs. Air Force - Winner - Air Force
Hawaii - Boise State vs. East Carolina - Winner - Boise State
Motor City - Purdue vs. Central Michigan - Winner - Central Michigan
Emerald - Maryland vs. Oregon State - Winner - Oregon State
Independence - Alabama vs. Colorado - Winner - Colorado
Texas - TCU vs. Houston - Winner - TCU
Holiday - Arizona State vs. Texas - Winner - Arizona State
Humanitarian - Georgia Tech vs. Fresno State - Winner - Fresno State
Music City - Kentucky vs. Florida State - Winner - Florida State
Sun - South Florida vs. Oregon - Winner - South Florida
Liberty - Central Florida vs. Mississippi State - Winner - Central Florida
Insight - Indiana vs. Oklahoma State - Winner - Oklahoma State
Champs Sports - Boston College vs. Michigan State - Winner - Boston College
Meineke - Connecticut vs. Wake Forest - Winner - Connecticut
Alamo - Penn State vs. Texas A&M - Winner - Penn State
Chick-fil-A - Clemson vs. Auburn - Winner - Clemson
Outback - Tennessee vs. Wisconsin - Winner - Wisconsin
Cotton - Missouri vs. Arkansas - Winner - Missouri
Capital One - Michigan vs. Florida - Winner - Florida
Gator - Texas Tech vs. Virginia - Winner - Virginia
Rose - Illinois vs. USC - Winner - Illinois
Fiesta - West Virginia vs. Oklahoma - Winner - Oklahoma
Orange - Kansas vs. Virginia Tech - Winner - Kansas
Sugar - Hawaii vs. Georgia - Winner - Hawaii
International - Ball State vs. Rutgers - Winner - Rutgers
GMAC - Tulsa vs. Bowling Green - Winner - Tulsa
BCS Championship - LSU vs. Ohio State - Winner - Ohio State

I actually have 3 variations to the main formula and based on those variations there are 3 games that could have a different outcome based on the averages of all 4 formulas. Those games are

Motor City Bowl - Purdue vs. Central Michigan
Meineke - Connecticut vs. Wake Forest
Chick-fil-A - Clemson vs. Auburn

Also the Music City Bowl is now skewed based on Florida States alternate learning style. My formulas do not take any of these activities into account.

This information is for entertainment purposes only.

today's Hillary Clinton quote of the day

Sept. 29, 2007: "Sometimes reporters write what I say and not what I mean."

On Good Deeds

There was a man who worked for the Post Office whose job it was to process all the mail that had illegible addresses. One day a letter came addressed in a shaky handwriting to God with no actual address. He opened it to see what it was about.

The letter read:

"Dear God,

I am an 83 year old widow, living on a very small pension. Yesterday someone stole my purse. It had $100 in it, which was all the money I had until my next pension check.

Next Sunday is Christmas, and I had invited two of my friends over for dinner. Without that money, I have nothing to buy food with. I have no family to turn to, and you are my only hope. Can you please help me?

Sincerely,
Edna "

The postal worker was touched. He showed the letter to all the other workers. Each one dug into his or her wallet and came up with a few dollars. By the time he made the rounds, he had collected $96, which they put into an envelope and sent to the woman. The rest of the day, all the workers felt a warm glow thinking of Edna and the dinner she would be able to share with her friends.

Christmas came and went.

A few days later, another letter came from the same old lady to God. All the workers gathered around while the letter was opened.

It read,

"Dear God,

How can I ever thank you enough for what you did for me? Because of your gift of love, I was able to fix a glorious dinner for my friends. We had a very nice day and I told my friends of your wonderful gift.

...By the way, there was $4 missing.

I think it must have been those bastards at the Post Office."

Gettysburg Times: "Canners pound on Knights, win 57-15"

BY SCOT ANDREW PITZER
Times Staff Writer

WRIGHTSVILLE – Out to prove that last year’s school-record 23 wins was no fluke, the Biglerville Canner wrestling team launched its 2007-08 campaign on a positive note Thursday night, with a convincing 57-15 win over the Eastern York Golden Knights.
Biglerville head coach Bob Gano was pleased with his team’s aggressiveness over the undermanned Eastern York (0-1) squad.
“It was a typical first match of the season,” Gano said after watching his Canners win seven of the nine contested bouts. “We were a little sloppy, but it’s nice to finally get back out there on the mat and start our season.”
Biglerville (1-0) built a quick 13-0 lead thanks to a decision by senior Seth Shive at 160 pounds, ensued by a second period fall at 171 by Green Castle-Antrim transfer Dale Nichols, and then a Danny Thomas 16-8 major decision at 189 pounds.
“I thought that our kids that have experience went out there and had some fire,” Gano said.
One of those experienced grapplers, Gano continued, was junior heavyweight Brett Smyers. Pitted against a boatload in the form of Ryan Lehr at 285-pounds, Smyers was methodical in scoring a first period takedown and two near-fall points. He then added a third-period takedown to pad his lead, and notch a 6-0 victory that was never truly in question.
“I thought Brett Smyers did a great job,” Gano said, lauding his heavyweight. “He was never in any damage. He rode (Lehr) for almost an entire period, and put him on his back in the first period. Brett did everything that is supposed to do, and he did everything that he is taught to do. We’re going to need him this year.”
The Canners accrued four forfeits from 103-130, with only one bout – albeit an exciting one – contested in that stretch. Biglerville freshman Nick Leiphart used four takedowns, and several near-falls to assemble a 12-3 third period lead over Golden Knight Barry Lewis. But late in the final stanza, an over-aggressive Leiphart was reversed to his back, and pinned with four seconds remaining in the match.
“We made a mistake at 119, but it was an aggressive mistake, so it’s OK,” Gano said. “Nick will be a good kid for us.”
Juniors Nick Asper (135) and Nic Lieberum (140) added a pin and technical fall, respectively, followed by Shay Shive’s first period pin at 145-pounds to round out the scoring for Biglerville.
“Overall, it’s very early,” said Gano. “We need to get in better shape, because some of the mistakes we made were expected, but as the season continues, they’re not accepted.”
Biglerville is in action this weekend at the Solanco Wrestling Tournament.
Scot Pitzer is a Times staff reporter.
160 – Seth Shive (Big) dec. Phillip Landis (EY), 8-2
171 – Dale Nichols (Big) win by fall over Robert Mackley (EY), 2:50
189 – Dan Thomas (Big) major decision Dylan Stoops (EY), 16-8
215 – Donald Smuck (EY) win by FFT.
285 – Brett Smyers (Big) dec. Ryan Lehr, 6-0
103 – Briar Garber (Big) win by FFT.
112 – Jesse Gardner (Big) win by FFT.
119 – Barry Lewis (EY) win by fall over Nick Leiphart (Big), 5:56
125 – Dustin Bower (Big) win by FFT.
130 – Tim Kint (Big) win by FFT.
135 – Nick Asper (Big) win by fall over Aaron Trinh (EY), 3:44
140 – Nic Lieberum (Big) win by tech. fall (15-0) over Barrett Otterbein (EY), 5:54
145 – Shay Shive (Big) win by fall over Mark Holloway (EY), 1:34
152 – Dylan Grandalia (EY) dec. Logan Bobo, 1OT, 2-0

Reporters Notebook (Gburg Times - 12/08/07): "Never trust a Confederate woman"

I was standing along the back-end of Steinwehr Avenue several weekends ago, along with thousands of other individuals, at the annual Civil War Remembrance Day parade in Gettysburg, when it dawned on me: I was thirsty, hungry and cold.
Naturally, I asked photographer Bill Schwartz if he was interested in some food, and perhaps a hot drink, and he seemed to think that it was a great idea.
“Why don’t you just go into McDonald’s,” Bill suggested, as the fast-food joint was only a stone’s throw away, “and grab a coffee or two and a couple of double cheeseburgers.”
Sounds like a great plan.
But then, the plan was foiled — by women.
“I could use a cup of hot tea,” a lady dressed in Confederate garb told me.
One of her friends concurred that hot drinks were a great idea.
So, I went into McDonald’s, stood in line for what seemed like 45 minutes, and finally was able to speak to a cashier. They didn’t have hot tea, so I ordered four coffees instead: one for me, one for Bill, and two for the friendly Confederate lasses who were positioned along Steinwehr.
“What a load of crap,” I thought. “I can’t believe I just waited in a fast-food line for 45 minutes. Doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose?”
I found the group outside, and handed the girls their hot drinks. What I didn’t realize was that those women had friends.
As I disbursed the coffees, two more Confederate women gathered in the immediate area, and displayed puppy-dog faces.
I glanced at Bill, who convincingly gave me the “You know what to do” look.
“Aaaaaand, these coffees are for you,” I told the girls who had joined the party.
I gave all of the drinks away. My double-cheeseburger tasted like plastic. And it was very, very cold.
At least the North won again.
~ Scot Andrew Pitzer

On Current Events

The war in Iraq is "twice as popular" as the US Congress so let's stop worrying about ending the war and start worrying about....

On Politics

2007 Week 14 Mentzer College Football Rankings - Top 25 +

1 Hawaii 1.0000
2 Kansas 0.9674
3 Ohio State 0.9524
4 Missouri 0.9231
5 Virginia Tech 0.9210
6 LSU 0.8916
7 Arizona State 0.8795
8 Oklahoma 0.8787
9 Florida 0.8780
10 West Virginia 0.8672
11 Georgia 0.8616
12 Michigan 0.8430
13 South Florida 0.8398
14 Wisconsin 0.8333
15 Clemson 0.8311
16 Illinois 0.8274
17 Boston College 0.8197
18 Brigham Young 0.8133
19 Connecticut 0.8125
20 Boise State 0.8106
21 USC 0.8047
22 Central Florida 0.7911
23 Penn State 0.7756
24 Tennessee 0.7752
25 Texas 0.7746

86 Notre Dame 0.3169

120 Idaho 0.0066