Now, with the Superbowl in the record books, March Madness looms, and WPS and baseball are just around the corner.  (And I do believe I am turning into my father … measuring the turning year by sports seasons.)

Here’s an article about the Breakers’ newest defender, Stephanie Cox.  She’ll be stepping in where Heather Mitts left off … as the B’s prepare to storm the WPS in season 2!

In the “real world,” Elizabeth Warren continues to impress, while John McCain tries to find his footing against a primary opponent who seems to be pulling him more toward the right (that’s the sureness of McCain’s rudder for ya -- or the measure of his ambition).  Anyway -- John goes right while Cindy goes left.  Do you think they are having fun at home?

Speaking of having fun at home … Vandy didn’t last night!  Nor did West Virginia, on the men’s side!

And last -- but by no means least -- here’s a rock ‘em, sock ‘em video of Barney Frank … on the lies that the Right-wing tells us … thanks MLH!

The one commercial that didn’t make it was probably the funniest of the lot …

Keeping Peyton off the field worked marvelously … and that on-sides kick to start the 2nd half?  Guts and genius!

And I love it that the GOP favored the Colts.  Sorry, guys.  You still have Scintellating Sarah, though -- who is apparently actually considering a run in 2012.  And then you always also have Dick and Dubya and other dull-witted, despicable detritus.  I’m hoping that both smirky and snarly were sorely disappointed and went to bed with indigestion.

I’ll take this guy Brees … a breath of fresh air!

The City of New Orleans is back on track and partying down!

You’re back!  No more fly-overs by a distant, disingenuous and disconnected Dufus.

Congratulations, Saints, you did it … the bad taste is gone -- even though lots of work remains!

Good night, America, how are you?
Don’t you know me I’m your native son,
I’m the train they call The City of New Orleans,
I’ll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done.

Party on … party on!

Good night, America, how are you?
Don't you know me I'm your native son,
I'm the train they call The City of New Orleans,
I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done.

HollyCornblog sent me a report on the snowfall down Philly way.

Meanwhile our wovel languishes in our shed … and if we light the chinimea this afternoon we’ll be looking over a brownish expanse of winter-barren hillside.  A few patches of snow, still – where the shadows outstrip the sun.  But otherwise, we’ve got the Philly weather here, and they’ve got ours.

Dang!  I’d like to see more snow before letting winter go.

And I just added two new links under “Blogs We Like” – suddenly wondering why I said “We” – like there’s a group decision being made.  Let’s make that an “I.”

First, there’s Howling Hill – from a local blogger who writes about living life, striving to be more green … the vagaries of politics and weather and getting through school.  I look forward to touching base at Howling Hill as the weeks and months unfold.

Then there’s There from Here, Jennifer Finney Boylan’s blog.  I first heard of her via RPE, who heard her speak in a class a week or so ago.

Lo and behold, Professor Finney Boylan is HollyCornblog’s age and grew up near our old stomping grounds down in Pennsylvania.  Not only that … she is heading this year to teach as a visiting prof at Ursinus College – where ChristopherCornblog went, briefly.  Ursinus was a great rival of all of us field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse players throughout college.  (Ursinus pretty much always won – but unlike when we played West Chester, we sometimes thought that we had a chance against the Bears.)

Anyway, Jennifer Finney Boylan sounds like a fascinating person – and I am looking forward to reading her two memoirs (She’s Not There and I’m Looking Through You) — maybe a Bookeaters pick for down the road!

Here are some factoids from the “About” page on her blog:

Born in 1958 in Valley Forge, Boylan grew up in Newtown Square and Devon, Pennsylvania.

She graduated from Wesleyan University (Middletown, Connecticut) in 1980. From there she moved to New York, where she was the managing editor of American Bystander magazine, the short-lived “American Punch” founded by the first cast of “Saturday Night Live” and an ad- hoc group of New Yorker cartoonists and SCTV actors and writers. Upon the demise of American Bystander in 1982, Boylan became an editorial assistant at Viking/Penguin, working for the managing editor of the Viking Press. Boylan followed with a stint as the production editor of the fiction line at E.P. Dutton until 1985.

In late 1986, Boylan began a master’s program at the Writing Seminars of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where she worked with John Barth, Edward Albee, Doris Grumbach and John Irwin. She taught at Johns Hopkins for several years after getting her degree, and then joined the faculty at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where she has been ever since.

Since 1988, Jenny Boylan has been a professor of creative writng and American literature at Colby College, in Waterville, Maine. Boylan was a visiting professor at University College Cork, Ireland, in 1998-99. She was promoted to the rank of full Professor in May of 2001, and was chosen by students as the Charles Walker Bassett “Professor of the Year” in 2000. At Colby she has served as Co-chair of English (2002-4), Director of Creative Writing (2005-07) and Associate Chair of English (1996-98).

In 2010, Jenny is scheduled to begin an appointment at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, as the Hoyer-Updike Distinguished Visiting Creative Writer, named to honor the writers John Updike and his mother, Elizabeth Hoyer, for the contributions they made to American letters.  She will teach at Ursinus that fall and return to Colby for the spring 2011 semester.

She lives in rural Maine with her family.  Jenny has been married to Deirdre “Grace” Finney since 1988; their sons Zach and Sean turned 15 and 13 in 2009.  (The boys were instrumental in the creation of the Falcon Quinn series.)  The Boylans’ lives revolve around soccer, fiddle, the French horn,  big meals, two black labs named Indigo and Ranger, and, of course, each other.

So … while we wait for the Saints to pummel the Colts … check out Jenny Boylan … see … there’s lots to explore and think about.

I also found, noodling around on Damallsvenskan Soapbox, another nifty site – Women’s Soccer Weekly – great to scan for soccer news (and will add it to the sidebar here)!  WSW is where I found this story about Jill Oakes, whose pregnancy is taking her off the Red Stars’ 2010 roster (where she was a defender).  Maybe that’s why they went for Whitney Engen in the college draft.  I know I’m hoping to see Emma Hayes make some things happen for the Red Stars this year … and yeah, hoping to see the same from Tony!

On the political front, there is, of course, the whole Tea Bagger Convention brouhahahahahaha and the Divine Ms. P’s increasing visibility.

At the same time, MSNBC has posted the searchable collection of Todd Palin e-mails – at least to the extent they have been released.  Wonder what this one is about … sounds fishy, doesn’t it?  It’s pretty cool … search away!  And here are some gems from MSNBC:

The e-mails that were released open a curtain on the behind-the-scenes preoccupations of the Palins, particularly the flash points of family and the media, personal finances and state finances.

• The governor coached her staff on how to disguise the $3,252.35 cost of electrical work at the mansion to hook up her new tanning bed.
• Palin and her staff stewed over the refusal of the state Public Safety Department to provide a plane so their children could fly to Todd’s family’s home in Dillingham; after all, they were going to attend a bill signing, so the travel requests could be justified. Sarah Palin called the decision “outrageous,” and an aide said it provides “a great excuse to privatize” the governor’s jet service.
• The manager of the Palins’ travel schedule searched for a public event to use as justification (“I just need one“) to charge the state for an airplane flight for Palin’s daughter, Willow, who had already made the trip but missed the event given as its justification.
• When Sarah Palin complained that the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner wrote a critical editorial after she did them the favor of meeting with the editorial board, Todd Palin advised the press chief to “take the news miner off the press release address list for a few days, see how long it takes them to realize their not on the list.”
• “Man, that gossip crap bugs me,” Sarah Palin wrote after the Anchorage Daily News wrote about mansion repairs in its Alaska Ear political column. “Any time it has anything to do with home or family, it’s irritating.” A press aide apologized, saying the columnist did not to call check out stories before publishing. The residence director added, “Reminds me of junior high school, where hormonal teenagers are always looking for the drama. … I’ll do my best to avoid giving them any news nuggets.”

And since Sarah is in the news, I want to share this brief snippet from Arianna Huffington … in case you needed further illustration of Sarah’s shallow hypocrisy.

On a MUCH more positive note, we celebrate JPE’s birthday today at the Canterbury Shaker Village (yummy brunch).  Happy B-day!

And here’s the Women’s B-ball schedule (Alice) for the next couple of days …

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7
Connecticut at Louisville……….11:00am……….ESPNU
Northeastern at Towson……….11:00am……….Comcast SportsNet/Comcast Network
Texas Tech at Texas……….1:00……….ESPNU
Ole Miss at LSU……….1:00……….SEC Network
South Carolina at Georgia……….1:00……….CSS
Tulsa at UTEP……….1:00……….CBS College Sports/Time Warner Cable
Kansas State at Kansas……….2:00……….Metro
Auburn at Alabama……….2:00……….Fox Sports Net
Drake at Missouri State……….2:05……….Mediacom
Southern California at Stanford……….3:00……….Fox Sports Net
Virginia Tech at NC State……….3:00……….Fox Sports Net/SunSports/Comcast SportsNet
Iowa State at Missouri……….3:00……….Fox Sports Net
Richmond at Xavier……….3:00……….ESPNU
Michigan State at Iowa……….3:30……….Big Ten Network

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8
UMES at North Carolina A&T ……….3:30……….ESPNU
Virginia at Maryland……….6:00……….Fox Sports Net/SunSports/Comcast SportsNet
North Carolina at Duke……….6:00……….ESPN2
Gardner-Webb at Liberty……….6:00……….Flames Television Network
Gardner-Webb at Liberty……….6:00……….SportSouth
Tennessee at Vanderbilt……….8:00……….ESPN2

So, there’s something else that I wanted to write about.  What the heck was it?  Something about a football game, I think.

If it comes to me, I’ll let you know!

How do you find that stuff, Boltgirl?

The Breakers, in addition to their dispersal draft signings (Stephanie Cox and Michelle Enyeart), re-signed Fabiana and added another international – Forward Laura Del Rio.

Looks to me like the Athletica are the hands down winners when it comes to off-season moves, though.  And I am still puzzled by the Red Stars’ choice to let go of Lindsay Tarpley.

Turning to politics, the tidbit that caught my eye has to do with the former First Dude’s influence up there in Alaska, as reflected in newly-released e-mails.  Are we surprised?  Not really.  Annoyed?  You betcha!

It’s one of those comments that comes along from time to time, and reminds me of the huge and crazy-making gulf that exists in this country.  Here’s what Noah said:

How can you call this grace? O’Bummer is scrambling and he has no idea what to do. Massachusetts a red state now?!? The Democratic Party is falling on it’s face. They had the house and senate majority for years AND THEY STILL CANNOT PASS THEIR AGENDA…epic fail.

Pull your head out of the sand and come over to reality. All of O’Bummers ideas might sound good, but they are fiscally impossible. I’m no history scholar, but I’m pretty sure one of the major reasons the USSR collapsed was because they flat out went broke. Wouldn’t it be a shame if the US collapsed because we ran out of money? Or maybe all of you progressives subconsciously want this…

Noah invites me to “come over to reality” – and that’s what always brings me up short.  We truly do live in different realities, I think.  Noah seems to truly believe that the world as he knows it is in danger … at the hands of people like me.  I am a threat to what he holds dear.  (Of course I don’t actually know Noah … but I do feel, from the tone of his comment, that he is upset with me .. don’t you?)

What feels tragic to me is that the Noah’s of this world appear to me to be passionately defending people who wouldn’t even deign to spit on them … meanwhile blaming the party that actually is trying to do something to make this country livable for classes other than just the wealthiest.  (And don’t get me wrong … I am probably almost as pissed at the Democrats as Noah is – but for different reasons altogether.)

Joining Noah with bizarre and disturbingly paranoid perceptions of Obama is a large percentage of self-identified GOPers, according to a recent poll.  Here are a few samples from the results … they leave me speechless:

• 39 percent of Republicans believe Obama should be impeached, 29 percent are not sure, 32 percent said he should not be voted out of office.
• 36 percent of Republicans believe Obama was not born in the United States, 22 percent are not sure, 42 percent think he is a natural citizen.
• 31 percent of Republicans believe Obama is a “Racist who hates White people” — the description once adopted by Fox News’s Glenn Beck. 33 percent were not sure, and 36 percent said he was not a racist.
• 63 percent of Republicans think Obama is a socialist, 16 percent are not sure, 21 percent say he is not
• 24 percent of Republicans believe Obama wants “the terrorists to win,” 33 percent aren’t sure, 43 percent said he did not want the terrorist to win.
• 21 percent of Republicans believe ACORN stole the 2008 election, 55 percent are not sure, 24 percent said the community organizing group did not steal the election.
• 23 percent of Republicans believe that their state should secede from the United States, 19 percent aren’t sure, 58 percent said no.
• 53 percent of Republicans said they believe Sarah Palin is more qualified to be president than Obama.

The powers that be at the GOP do not actually believe any of this (they are grown-ups, after all).  But they are what I would call evil, because they are perfectly willing to use fear, prejudice, and disinformation to block progress and recoup/retain power.  They do this in the service of the monied elites that own the party.

People like Noah are being thoroughly duped by their craven machinations. And Noah will be angry and upset to hear this.  He probably won’t believe it … but if he doesn’t wake up, he’ll need to start constructing his ark (if he hasn’t already).  There ain’t a lot Obama (or the rest of us) can do in the face of this much blindness, greed, and dishonesty.

And most likely, when all’s said and done, he’ll continue to blame “progressives” – because that’ll be the lie he’s fed by the elites of the GOP – and why think beyond that?

Why, indeed?

Went to hear the Soweto Gospel Choir at the Capital Center for the Arts last night … and if they ever are in your area, you simply must see them!

Went to see A Single Man on Tuesday night … if you haven’t seen it yet, you simply must see it!

Colin Firth was interviewed by Terry Gross on Fresh Air last night … you simply must hear it!

The WPS season schedule is taking shape, and the Sol Dispersal Draft is today … and the big news, so far, is that The Athletica traded three players to Atlanta to get the first pick!

Who are they going for?  Marta?  Boxxy?  Check out their already-strong roster … kinda scary!

Looking forward to seeing what the Breakers do with their pick … and now I’m outta here!

I have very fond memories of discovering the winter games for the first time – back in, let’s see, maybe 1964.  Yeah – 1964.  We had our old black and white set in the living room … and some nights there was even a fire in the fireplace.  It felt very special and I was enthralled.  I probably wrote reports about it for school.

This was all before the Olympics, like everything else, became a commodity to be marketed to us.  We had the space to sidle up to an event like that and become interested on our own – rather than being goaded and implored and having it thrust in our faces constantly.

I liked it then – having some space.  Being able to “discover” things.

Now I’m more inclined to want to push things away.  There’s not much you can sidle up to … it’s all already in our inboxes and on our flatscreens and dvrs.  The Nokia Sugar Bowl and the Chick_Filet-Whatever-Bowl and the Bud Lite whatever … and shite!

And before moving another step into today’s post … Happy Birthday, JPE!  Enjoy your day – and the coming year!  Looking forward to your return! 

On the B-ball front, we watched Rutgers nearly pull off the upset of Notre Dame last night (only to fall off in the final minutes).  I also see that the Sun are signing Kara Lawson.  Cool!  I’d love to get down there for a game this summer … although the Breakers are likely to take up all of my fan time, realistically!

Speaking of the Breakers – here’s some more commentary from the Boston crew on the demise of the Sol.  From everything I read, the league sounds like it’s in good shape, and primed for an excellent, competitive 2010 season.  Stay tuned!  Oh, and speaking of staying tuned, here’s the women’s b-ball TV schedule through Friday … not a lot of stations that we get, unfortunately.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2
Florida Gulf Coast at Mercer (game joined in progress)……….6:00……….CBS College Sports
West Virginia at Connecticut……….6:00……….CPTV

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3
Texas at Oklahoma……….7:00……….Sooner Sports Network
Oklahoma State at Nebraska……….7:00……….Fox Sports Net

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4
North Carolina Central at Liberty……….4:00……….Flames Television Network
Quinnipiac at Sacred Heart……….4:00……….Fox College Sports/CTSN/ESPN Full Court
Arkansas at Tennessee……….6:00……….Fox Sports Net
LSU at Georgia……….6:00……….CSS
Hofstra at George Mason……….6:00……….FiOS1
James Madison at VCU……….6:00……….Comcast SportsNet
Iowa at Ohio State……….6:30……….Big Ten Network
Alabama at Mississippi State……….8:00……….ESPNU
Campbell at Stetson……….8:00……….CSS
Loyola Chicago at Youngstown State (tape delay)……….9:00……….My YTV

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5
Wake Forest at Virginia Tech……….5:30……….Fox Sports Net/SunSports/Comcast SportsNet
Northern Iowa at Southern Illinois……….7:05……….Mediacom
Creighton at Missouri State……….7:30……….MVC TV/Fox Sports Net
Georgia Tech at Maryland……….7:30……….Fox Sports Net/SunSports/Comcast SportsNet

First -- he goes to the so-called lion’s den and schools the GOP brain trust at their annual retreat (well done Mr. President).

Then he attends the Georgetown-Duke game and shares his b-ball chops with the world (in case you were wondering if he was for real on that front).

I do wish that he would give women’s b-ball a little more time.  Hopefully this year he’ll do BOTH brackets!

And now, on the snail mail vs. e-mail question, I must admit that I’ve come up empty so far.

I did find this site with lots of good ideas for reducing your carbon footprint.

It sure looks like junk mail is a big culprit, however -- and I’m gonna explore this idea from the site:

Did you know that the energy used to produce, deliver and dispose of junk mail produces more greenhouse gas emissions than 2.8 million cars?! You can dramatically reduce your junk mail and offset CO2 emissions through the service of our nonprofit partner 41pounds. 41pounds will contact dozens of direct mail companies to remove your name from lists, including catalogs you specify. The cost is $41 for everyone in your household for 5 years, and 41pounds will donate $15 to Carbonfund.org to help support our mission. Sign up now!

What’s on your docket for today?

I’m gonna be doing some research … see what the info is on what’s actually got the bigger carbon footprint (after factoring in ALL of the components in the process) – sending a letter or sending an e-mail.

There’s gotta be some Google-able info on that out there womewhere!

Gotta, gonna … guess we’re gonna be folksy and colloquial this morning, eh?

Ever since I was a wee lass, I’ve loved sports. There is something about the combination of competition and camaraderie that speaks to my soul. There are miracles and feel good stories that litter the history books of amateur and professional sports. I’m hoping Super Bowl XLIV will add another chapter to this book.

I’ve never been happier to see a New England sports team NOT in the championship game. Cheering against the Saints is just not an option. The fact that they are playing the Colts is just icing on the cake. Did I mention I can’t standing Manning??

I’ll be stuffing my face with ridiculously unhealthy food next weekend as I wait (im)patiently for the game to begin. My prediction? Saints take it 34-27 with Saints holding off a Colts comeback. I don’t suspect it will be a blowout but I’m just hoping for the win -- both for the team and the people of New Orleans.

If this team pulls off their victory, it could very well top the Red Sox World Series wins as the feel good story of the decade. How can you root against them? A return from shambles to the top would be the biggest F-U to the Shrub administration and the government that abandoned them when they needed their help the most.

Despite the outcome, I do know one thing. I know that as I watch this game, I’ll feel that same lump in my throat that always seems to accompany a game that means so much more than that “W”. As that final whistle blows, tears will cloud the screen as I digest what I had just witnessed. No, there’s no rooting against these boys.

Here is a short video that talks about the important role the black & gold has played in the rebuilding process of NO:

At first I was horrified on hearing it -- PTSD from old WUSA days.  But the model is different (franchises) this time around -- so what happens with the Sol doesn’t drag on the league the way it would have back in the day.  And with two new teams we’re still up one from last year … and most teams (other than the Sol) have modest business models.

Breakers’ GM Andy Crossley weighed in on the situation and gave us some good news about the Breakers’ status:

Crossley is confident that WPS will continue to grow. He’s starting to see interest increase from last year.

“We’re up 20 percent in ticket sales,” Crossley said. “I feel, locally, interest is growing here. I would say the league has certainly picked up momentum from last year.”

“I can’t wait. I think we’ve got a really exciting team this year. Tony and Lisa are happy the way the draft turned out. I think now we have an opportunity to add quality players in the dispersal draft. It’s going to be very, very competitive in training camp.

It was actually that training camp that was my first thought when I heard about the Sol folding and the dispersal draft (2/4/10).  Feeling kinda bummed for the just-out-of-college players who were picked late in the 1/15 draft and were probably ecstatic to be coming into camp … who now may have to compete against the likes of Boxxy, Marta and Karina LeBlanc.  Yikes -- talk about a roller coaster!

Oh, and having just purchased 2 more season tickets from the Breakers, I can attest to the growing interest … as it was pretty slim pickings in the section I was hoping for!

So here’s the dispersal pick order … and the rosters of the Sol and the Breakers … (FA means Free Agent) …

Who do we want in Boston? And who do we have room for? Will this tip Lil into retirement? (Not yet -- one more year, Lil, okay?  We’ll need some warning before you hang up your boots.)

Anyway -- who do I want?  We need scoring.  Do I want Marta?  Oddly enough, I’m not totally enthralled with the idea.  She’d be fun to watch, don’t get me wrong … but a part of me would really like to see the Breakers do it without her … leaving a healthy Kelly Smith with the spotlight all to herself.  (Do I sound like an eldest child?  Worried about dispersal displacement?  Yup!)

Here’s the discussion (from the Breakers’ point of view) on BigSoccer.

Apparently Tony likes Dallstream.  Hey … we’d like forwards who can work with Tony and vice versa.  So, betweem Nikki Washington, Casey Nogueira and Kiersten Dallstream … oh, and Marta … we should be able to pick up something good for the B’s, I’m thinking.

I do wish that Camille Abily were still with the Sol (and therefore being ‘dispersed’).  I liked her a lot!  Gold Pride lucked out on that one!

Any way you look at it, the 4th should be interesting … and the Breakers will pick up some more talent … and the 2nd WPS season is getting closer and closer!

I think the wind is blowing the cover off of some bad actors … let’s take a look … maybe it’ll be cleansing!

First off, the Swiss firm Covalence has published its annual report on the worst corporations in the world … worst ethically, that is.

According to their website:

Covalence publishes annual and quarterly ethical rankings covering 581 companies within 18 sectors. > Universe.

Covalence Ethical Ranking 2009

Covalence Ethical Ranking 2009 has been published on 26 January 2010.

Leaders Across Sectors: 1. IBM, 2. Intel Corp, 3. HSBC Holdings, 4. Marks & Spencer, 5. Unilever, 6. Xerox, 7. General Electric, 8. Cisco Systems, 9. Dell Inc., 10. Procter & Gamble > More results across sectors

Sector Leaders (click on sector to view details): Automobiles & Parts: BMW Group; Banks: HSBC Holdings; Basic Resources: Alcoa Inc; Chemicals: DuPont; Construction & Materials: Holcim; Financial Services: American Express; Food & Beverages: Unilever; Health Care: GlaxoSmithKline; Industrial Goods & Services: General Electric; Insurance: Swiss Re; Media: Walt Disney Co.; Oil & Gas: Suncor Energy Inc.; Personal & Household Goods: Procter & Gamble; Retail: Marks & Spencer; Technology: IBM; Telecommunication: Vodafone; Travel & Leisure: Starbucks; Utilities: PG&E Corp.

So, what you see above are the good guys.  Here are the ones at the bottom of the list … with the last being the worst, and so on.  Congratulations Halliburton … and Dick!

570. Barrick Gold Corporation | Basic Resources

571. Mediaset SpA | Media

572. Total SA | Oil & Gas

573. Grupo Mexico SA de CV | Basic Resources

574. Syngenta AG | Chemicals

575. Ryanair Holdings plc | Travel & Leisure

576. Occidental Petroleum Corporation | Oil & Gas

577. Philip Morris International Inc. | Personal & Household Goods

578. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. | Basic Resources

579. Chevron Corp. | Oil & Gas

580. Halliburton Company | Oil & Gas

581. Monsanto Co. | Food & Beverages

Wondering how they arrive at their rankings?

Covalence ethical quotation system is a reputation index based on quantifying qualitative data, which is classified according to 45 criteria such as Labour standards, Waste management, Product social utility or Human rights policy. It is a barometer of how multinationals are perceived in the ethical field.

The system integrates thousands of documents found among media, enterprise, NGO and other sources, for producing the EthicalQuote score which serves as a base for calculating Covalence rankings. This score reflects the historical evolution of multinational companies’ ethical reputation.

This tool received the Cantonal Sustainable Development Prize (Geneva) in 2004 and prompted Covalence among the finalists of the Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2005 award organised by the Schwab Foundation. Covalence research is also distributed by Thomson Reuters, Bloomberg and Capital IQ.

Covalence is closely monitoring 18 sectors including 581 companies that are included in the Dow Jones Sector Titans. Covalence is a limited company that was founded in Geneva in 2001 by six persons with political science and finance backgrounds.

Looks like it would take more time than I have this morning to delve into the details, but I’m pleased that they got Halliburton nailed … Monsanto, too.

And then, if we’re talking blowing the cover off of miasma .. there’s always John and Elizabeth … good god, y’all!

It’s not that they fucked up – it’s the level of insincerity and inauthenticity.  I just HATE it when Democrates behave like GOPers at their self-righteous, faux family values worst!  Damn, damn, damn.

On a MUCH more positive note – here’s Tracey Ullman with Rachel Maddow!

And why weren’t Scalia and Thomas there?

And Justice Alito … WTF?

According to Marc Ambinder there are going to be some vacancies this summer … unfortunately (I suspect) not involving the most vacant of our justices.  (Yeah, Clarence, I mean you!)

In WPS News, the Beat are on track to be in their new stadium come May … and here’s a profile of Kasey Moore … Boston Breakers’ defender extraordinaire.

And which do you prefer, the iPad or the iPon? 

Personally, I like being able to swim and ride horses whenever I want to!

Here’s a great behind-the-scenes look at how Apple does it, from The Onion.

… and then, what better to follow it with, than a visit from the Church Lady!

Dear Pat Robertson,

I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I’m all over that action.

But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I’m no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished.

Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth — glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle. Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake. Haven’t you seen “Crossroads”? Or “Damn Yankees”?

If I had a thing going with Haiti, there’d be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox — that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it — I’m just saying: Not how I roll.

You’re doing great work, Pat, and I don’t want to clip your wings — just, come on, you’re making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That’s working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract.

Best, Satan

And then there’s tomorrow’ State of the Union message … I wonder if decorum will prevail (for a change).

And then there’s the news (from the USWNT and WPS) that Aly Wagner has retired.  She was an incredibly skilled player for whom injury and fitness issues seemed to frequently get in the way … at least in the latter part of her career.  We never got to see her play too much here in Boston, as the WUSA folded right after she was traded to the B’s for Angela Hucles back in ‘03.  Long time ago!

It’s still dark here – so hard to tell if the rain has stopped.  Sounds like HollyCornblog and CharlieHopbrew had some basement flooding over NY way.  (Hope none of those hops were harmed!!!)

First off, yes – the Colts and Saints are in the Superbowl.  It could maybe, possibly, ya-never-know, even be a good game.

And on the speculation front, the question is, have we seen the last of Mr. Favre?

And what was he thinking when he threw that ball in the 4th quarter?

And if he, indeed, actually retires … what will we talk about in August?

Brangelina, maybe?  But if Bret, Brad, AND Angelina are done … what will we talk about then?

Well, there’s Sarah Palin’s hair … and BMI’s of the stars … but I think I’ll just stick with Brangelina today, and deal with August later.

In the meantime, here is a piece by Ruth Marcus from the Washington Post about the stunning intellectual dishonesty of last week’s decision by SCOTUS.

Many of those commenting on the decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission have focused on the power-grab part. I agree with them. It was unnecessary for the court to go so far when there were several less-radical grounds available. It was audacious to seize the opportunity to overrule precedents when the parties had not pressed this issue and the lower courts had not considered it. It was the height of activism to usurp the judgments of Congress and state legislatures about how best to prevent corruption of the political process.

“If it is not necessary to decide more, it is necessary not to decide more,” a wise judge once wrote. That was Chief Justice John G. Roberts — back when — and dissenting Justice John Paul Stevens rightly turned that line against him.

As bad as the court’s activism, though, was its shoddy scholarship.

Read on …

Can we impeach one or two of these duds .. er, I mean dudes?

In other news … who do you have winning today, Mo?

Sorry to say it, but I am kinda hoping for an upset in the early game … and then for the Saints to keep marching.  (Hope Reggie B is at full strength!)