"Daaaaa! Da-da! Da-daaaaa! Da-da, da-da, da-da, da-d-d-d-d-d-d daaaa!"

"MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD!!!!!! THAT SET 'EM IN THE AISLES!!!!!"

Well, it is all the news this week on the various sport websites that I frequent, and on ESPN. They are already calling it The Game of the New Century.

I am referring to, of course, the next chapter (Chapter 80, but who's counting?) of the epic poem that is Oklahoma vs. Nebraska. Ranked #1 and #2 respectively in the Bowl Championship polls, exactly opposite of last years' positions, this is shaping up to be one HECK of a good football game.

How excited am I?

My alarm is set for 6:15 AM ADT so that I can get up, make the coffee, and watch ESPN Game Day, which will originate from Memorial Stadium in dear old Lincoln, Nebraska. The game starts at 8:12 AM up here, so scrambled eggs, toast, and Sooners are on the menu.

My prediction: Nebraska 31, Oklahoma 27...I had been saying Nebraska by 17, but recent injuries have forced me to pare back the lead. And, just in case you were listening to Sports Nightly on the radio a couple of hours ago, yes, I was the "Brian from Fairbanks, AK" who called in the 31-27 prediction. Did you hear me this time, Bob?

Go Big Red!!!!!!

PLAYING BY WINTER RULES

The mercury drops, the river freezes, the car battery efficiency decreases. Ah, beautiful Alaska.

That is right, while you are all basking in a nice autumn, complaining about lows that venture into the
*GASP* lower 40s, we have been below freezing since October 10th. Yesterday, I finally committed myself psychologically to the winter...I plugged in my car. I will have a picture on my website next week.

For those of you who have never lived in a northern clime, it is called a headbolt, and it is essentially a virtual electric blanket for your engine.

The winter is taking hold, too, as the snow falls. We have 5 inches on the ground now, and I have been watching the cross country skiers from my office all week. The UAF Outdoor Adventures Office is having a free day of lessons and rentals to introduce uncoordinated and unskilled newbies like me to the joys and pains of cross country skiing. I will have to try my hand at that, for sure.

Winter also means the beginning of the hockey season, and the UAF Nanooks are doing well so far. I haven't been to a game yet, but I have tickets to see them in action next Friday and Saturday when the Michigan Wolverines come to town. Yeah!! UN-Omaha visits in late February, so I have plenty of time until my Mavs come for a visit.

I have picked up a few "tricks of the trade", or as Bob calls it, "I am becoming cultured."

Tip No. 1-"Put your car in neutral while you warm it up." I guess this helps to warm the transmission since the tranny is disengaged in "Park".

Tip No. 2.-"Flip the windshield wipers up when you are parked." I saw a couple of people do this, and it took me a couple of minutes to figure out why...or at least until I tried to loosed my wipers from the glass.

And finally, the daylight predicament. We are now down to 8:29 of daylight, and with the end of daylight savings this weekend (don't forget!), the sun will be setting at 4:30 PM. It is actually really interesting to see the drastic changes in light from day to day.

If you want to see what I am contending with, you can always point your internet to
http://climate.gi.alaska.edu and see our webcam.

GOINGS ON

My good pal, and freshman roommate, Robert "Bob spelled backwards is Bob, aka Where is Bob when you need ham?, aka The REAL Tiger" Needham got some great news a couple of weeks ago, news that will place him about as far as could be when compared to that small dorm room in 95-96.

Bob was offered, and has accepted, a position with the United States Department of Agriculture in Orlando, Florida. More details to follow.

Remember: Preliminary voting for the car names closes at Midnight Alaska time next Tuesday.

Well, I am going to sign off for now. Have a great weekend, and GO HUSKERS!!!!

Brian "Scarlet and Cream" Hartmann