Sunday

I don't think that we're in for a big storm, but the snow came in early this AM and we now have a couple of inches with the wind whipping it around pretty good.  That sunny and 75 last Sunday in Arizona seems like a distant memory.

The press can't seem to get enough of Deflategate.  So many people thumping their chests over the scandal of it all.  If they added the time devoted to this topic by the broadcast news shows this week, it would dwarf the time given to the Left's disdain for anything the GOP might favor.  (And we know that there's no short supply of GOP disingenuous positions.)  To my knowledge, no serious sports critic has suggested that the air pressure in the game balls impacted the outcome of the contest.  People have their underwear in knots because of the suggestion that the Pats bent the rules.

For what its worth, that noted philosopher on the NASCAR track, Richard Petty (and others in the sport too), is fond of saying, "If ya ain't cheatin', ya ain't tryin' hard enough." 

Moving on...

I've made the command decision to take my February trip South to Texas rather than back to Scottsdale.  I've got a new vendor that we want to use for some data processing services here at the office.  They are located in Waco.  Given the significant commitment I intend to make to this new company, I want to visit their facilities and meet the people face-to-face.  So I've bought a ticket to DFW and will meet with them on the 20th...and then spend the weekend in the Dallas area before returning on Monday the 23rd. 

I opted to drive to Waco rather than fly as American has direct flights from MLI to DFW, and since I'll want a car for the weekend, why chance connections?  Plus, you get into those time/convenience choices of short flights that must consider travel time to/from the airports and the extra time to rent a car at the second town.  Whatever.  It'll be an adventure.  And tax deductible.

I've never been to Waco, and don't intend to spend more than the morning there, but I might do a drive through the Baylor campus.  (The town's name is a somewhat regular solution in the crossword puzzle business.  Central Texas town.  Or maybe, Site of Branch Davidian siege.)

According to the basement calendars, two years ago this time, I was entering into that dark time of my pneumonia problems.  Knock.  On.  Wood.

The story in the paper this AM had the disclosure that RAGBRAI will end in Davenport this year. The local media flacks are making a big deal about Davenport's "selection" as the terminal point for this year's ride.  Whatever.  I know that I've said this here before, but getting the designation as the ending town is an over-blown distinction.  Riders have been on their bikes for a week and what they're looking for at that point is their transport home.  The much better gig...and party...this year will be Coralville on Friday night.  2 and I may need to consider doing the Friday segment from Hiawatha to Coralville.

Relatedly, the 2015 pro cycling season has had its first major races this past week, one in Australia and one in Argentina.  Not so many doping stories over the Winter.  Not sure if any of the Americans will be competitive this year.  In the peloton, the teams are much like NASCAR...always looking for sponsors.  Due to the huge interest in the sport in Europe particularly, there is a definite advertising benefit for companies that have those expenditures in their budgets.  But just like here in the USA, bean counters can do the analysis, and the definitive returns are often suspect.  Thus, the constant search for new sponsors.  And new names for the teams.

All for today.  Hope it is a good week in your neighborhood.

BCOT