“Big game hype equals big dollars,” declares the South Bend Tribune. “This is the highest demand (from Notre Dame fans) that we’ve seen for hotel rooms in the last 10 years,” says Fred Domenick, general manager of the South Bend Marriott.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports:

Minnesota Vikings players are being investigated in connection with a lake cruise that turned into a wild sex party last week on Lake Minnetonka. The party became so out of control that crew members on the two yachts were offered money for sex and feared for their safety, law enforcement authorities and an attorney for the cruise company said Tuesday.

If that wasn’t kinky enough, apparently they also gave someone’s lawn a golden shower. All this while the Vikings are in the midst of lobbying for public funding for a new stadium.

Another Star Tribune writer adds:

There is misbehavior, and then there is Vikings behavior.

When Kirby Puckett made alleged advances on a woman in a bar, such conduct was termed a “scandal.”

When Vikings players turn a rental boat into a floating brothel, such conduct is called a “Thursday.”

Heh.

If someone steals your stash of pot, you may want to think twice before reporting the theft to the cops. Heh. (Hat tip: Brooke.)

Following up on the weird Smurf ad, I started thinking “Smurf,” to myself all day. (And they let me work with what?) I thought to myself, “My, what a flexible word! It’s sort of like the F-bomb; I wonder if I could work it into my graduate thesis.” So after dinner this evening, I went to Google and punched in:

smurf verb noun pronoun adjective

And lo! It seems many have pondered this question. Indeed, I found something that looked ‘officialish’. Had the Oxford English Dictionary really considered this, and rejected it?

The principal objection of the OED editors, according to many observers, is not based on cultural prejudice, but on the linguistic threat posed by the word “smurf,” which raises serious philological quandaries.

“The Smurfs use this word, ’smurf,’ as virtually every part of speech,” said Stanford linguistics professor Carolyn Parnassus. “It is a kind of meta-sign which can serve as an adjective, adverb, article, auxiliary verb, clitic, coverb, conjunction, demonstrative, noun, preposition, preverb, pronoun, postposition, or quantifier. It means everything, and therefore nothing. The only way for the OED to really properly define the word would be to stick it in the preface and say ‘definition: see the following.’”

I say put it in. Instead of the preface, they could give it its own chapter, such that you’d have S-smuggle, “Smurf”, and then smut-systematize. Read more about how the Oxford English Dictionary Absolutely, Positively Refuses to List “Smurf”.

Posted by Brian (Briandot)

From CNN:

“People are interested to know why I picked Harriet Miers,” Bush told reporters at the White House. “They want to know Harriet Miers’ background. They want to know as much as they possibly can before they form opinions. And part of Harriet Miers’ life is her religion.”

OK; I admit that this does not qualify as a religious test for public service in the same sense that the phrase once did. However, one would then feel safe to infer from this that Bush would not pick a non-Christian for the Court (as if there were any doubt of this anyway).

This really opens a larger subject: is it possible to get to hold high office without a professed faith? Are there any professed atheists/agnostics in Congress/Federal Judiciary? (For that matter, are there any Muslims, Hindus, what-have-you?) Such a question will surely lead to some heated exchange, but the above Bush quote suggests that religion — one might say his religion — is indeed a requirement.

Posted by Brian (Briandot) (Agnostic, if you were wondering)

“For those of you going to the ballgame, I hope enjoy it. I’m not sure you will. Let’s put it this way: you’re going to see a good team, one way or the other.” –Professor Hall

Heh.

Pete Carroll on Charlie Weis:

This is a fantastic and improved football team; the impact of the head coach is obvious. He has done a wonderful job to train their players to adapt to a new style of offense in 15 days of spring football and in the weeks of camp. To execute like they have is really a credit to their ability to teach, their philosophy and knowing what they want to do, because they can really put it together. … This is not the same football team; this is not the same offense. The players are the same but they are performing at a higher level because of the guy who is running the thing. I couldn’t say enough positive things about how his abilities show what he is all about, early on.

(Grudging hat tip: Coach Leahy.) I wonder if Ty Willingham — whose Huskies get a shot at Carroll’s Trojans next Saturday — is listening.

Carroll also answered a question about whether Reggie Bush will be at 100% for Saturday’s game: “We will have to wait and see when he gets to practice today. There is no damage at all to his knee, it is sore from getting banged on it, but he is going to practice today. We will ease him through the week until he is feeling 100%. He might feel 100% today. He is real encouraged, and I am not really concerned about it.”

And it’s interesting to note that Carroll isn’t buying into the “just another game” meme:

This is a wonderful opportunity. It is a great matchup for college football, for those former players from both schools that love this game, and for the fans. It is a beautiful opportunity for us to match it up. We are excited to be in this situation where we can draw this much attention and focus. It is a huge game for our program. It is a huge game for Notre Dame’s program. … This is about a bunch of kids that get to play in a great setting, in a great football game with memories to be made. We are thrilled about it. … I am sure for both teams everybody wants to be apart of this and be involved in it. I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity. I like our chances against Notre Dame. … There is a lot here with two winning football teams. It is everything we could have asked for.

Well, we could have asked for a Notre Dame victory over Michigan State, instead of a heartbreaking overtime loss, so that this would be a battle of unbeatens with national-championship ambitions, probably #1 vs. #5 or something like that. But, close enough.

I got this via e-mail from an NDLS student participating in the yearlong London Law Centre program:

This is the kind of thing we get on this side of the pond.

Talking about a man who had been missing for seven years and a day:

“He might have gone off on a rather spanking holiday.”

Heh.

BREAKING NEWS from Engadget:

Apparently there’s a Salling Clicker replacement for the Mac — a Mac remote, as it were. It’s called FrontRow.

We also have word of a new, flatter iMac with built-in iSight. This guy will have a larger drive, FrontRow, and will cost the same as the current 17-inch model — ships today.

The new iMac lineup prices are as follows: $1299 US for the 1.5GHZ 17-incher, $1799 US for the 2.1GHz 20-incher.

New iPod announced! The new iPod, as speculated, features video capabilities and the wider display, but it’s still a music-first device.

More details to come…

So basically, lots of stuff for me to blow my summer associateship paychecks on. :)

UPDATE: MacRumors reports:

Apple’s managed to block most of the Mac web from updating live. We tip a hat to Apple for finding a location without cellphone or wireless access. Here’s information gathered thus far.

New iMac, new Video iPod, new Apps.

- iMac: faster, larger disk, built in iSight. Includes FrontRow (app)
- iPod: 30GB/60GB with Video - realtime decoding of MPEG4 and H.264. 260,000 colors. Video out.
- FrontRow and PhotoBooth Apps.

Wait… is FrontRow a remote control, or an application? I’m confused. And what’s PhotoBooth???

MORE: Again from MacRumors:

- 30GB iPod: $299 - 31% thinner than current 20GB; - 60GB iPod: $399.
- New iPods avail next week. Comes with case
- iMac: $1299 for 17″ model with 1.5GHz, $1799 for 20″ model with 2.1GHz
- iTunes 6 to be released
- Front Row - comes with new iMacs. Lets you enjoy video/music/pictures from sofa. Everything still displayed on iMac screen. iPod-like remote. 6 button remote.
- Photobooth - appears to be slide show application.

iLounge says FrontRow is a “remote control. Apple style. Looks like an iPod shuffle. Music interface from iTunes but with great full screen display.” Will it work with existing Macs? (What is it? Bluetooth-based?) I want one!! How much is it??

UPDATE: It’s Bluetooth, according to iLounge.

Music videos and TV shows will be available for purchase from the iTunes Music Store, according to Mac Rumors. Does this mean Becky and I can (legally) download episodes of CSI and Lost that we missed???

UPDATE 2: Engadget:

Oh, and one more thing…

It’s not only music videos you can buy. No, Apple’s set up to allow you to purchase TV shows for $1.99 apiece. Get Desperate Housewives or four other ABC shows premiering on iTunes at two bucks an ep.

WHAT ABOUT LOST???

Wait, wait… MacRumors says Lost is one of the available shows! YAY!!!

UPDATE 3: iLounge has more details: “Current episodes next day. Ad free. One episode 10-20 minutes download time. Current season and past seasons. 320 x 240 native videos. Size of 6 songs. All videos under FairPlay. No burning of videos on CD or DVD. Play on 5 devices.”

Meanwhile, Stuff explains the Front Row remote/app:

Front Row - which comes with all new iMacs - gives people a new way to enjoy your music, video and pictures from the sofa - with an iPod style remote control. It still uses the iMac’s screen, but text is big and control is simple, so you don’t have to be hunched up in front of the screen.

I see, so it’s a screen-less, iPod shuffle-like device, coupled with an application… so, to answer my earlier question, it’s both hardware and software.

But can you buy it for other, non-iMac computers? I assume so… but no one has confirmed this yet (that I’ve seen). And if you can buy it, how much does it cost??

In case you can’t tell from this post, Front Row and the downloadable TV shows are, for me, the two big news items out of this. I don’t really care about the video iPod, and I’m not in the market for a new iMac. (I might very well be in the market for a new PowerBook next summer, but not yet, and not an iMac.)

FINAL UPDATE: iLounge: “Event over.”

Sorry, Brian. No new PowerBooks today. It seems that “credible” tip wasn’t so credible after all.

Whatever, I’m still excited about the remote, and the ability to download Lost episodes for $2 a pop.

Anyway, speaking of things being “over,” my lunch break is over, too. Back to work.

P.S. One more thing… :)

All the newly announced gadgets and gizmos are now available to be drooled over at Apple.com.

Apple’s much-ballyhooed “One more thing…” announcement will take place at noon South Bend time (1pm East Coast, 10am West Coast).

Will Brian be right? Or will it be a new iPod? [UPDATE: More here; alleged photo here.] A video iPod, perhaps?

There is no webcast, but MacRumors promises details as soon as they’re available.

UPDATE: See also iLounge and Mac Observer. “No live updating will be permitted during the event,” according to Mac Observer, but updates can be expected “soon as the event is over.” iLounge adds, “Live updates will not be possible due to the lack of Wi-Fi and bad cellular coverage or intentional blockage of cellular service at the California Theater in San Jose.”

UPDATE 2: From Engadget:

Apparently there’s a Salling Clicker replacement for the Mac — a Mac remote, as it were. It’s called FrontRow.

We also have word of a new, flatter iMac with built-in iSight.

More details to come…

So apparently there’s more than one “more thing(s).”

UPDATE 3: …and a video iPod in a pear tree. Details in a new post above.

When Charlie Weis was asked yesterday about his memories of ND-USC games from when he was a student at ND, one thing stuck out — the green jerseys:

It was a pretty wild experience. 1977, you know, 49-19 was the final of that game. Watching the team come out there and warm up in blue and didn’t think too much of it to tell you the truth. And they came out, and I remember the big Trojan horse and remember the team coming out there in those green jerseys and knowing this was going to be something special. Fortunately, it played out right and spurred Notre Dame on to win a national championship that year.

So… will the Irish wear their “lucky” green jerseys again on Saturday? It would be the first time since the Boston College game in 2002, and we all know that didn’t work out so well for the Irish — but then, they really shouldn’t have needed “luck” in that game, whereas this time, it might be more appropriate. But Weis says no:

Weis…said while the Irish might wear green again someday, it probably won’t be Saturday.

“That emotional stuff doesn’t last too long,” he said. “I think we’re going to have to play our best game to have a chance to win.”

Of course, if they were going to wear the green jerseys on Saturday, they wouldn’t tell us that now, would they?

UPDATE: Here’s the full quote the Weis press conference last Thursday:

Q: You spoke about being at the Notre Dame - USC game as a student and the team came out in green jerseys. Would you consider doing that?

WEIS: I wouldn’t count on seeing that. I also told you that emotional stuff doesn’t last too long. We are going to have to play our best game to have a chance to win. We all know that. You know it and I know it. That is what I am hoping we do.

Would I ever consider it, I should say, ‘Yes, I would consider it,’ so you guys can write it. (Laughter) Yeah, I would consider it. (Laughter). But don’t count on it for this one. I will give you a little insight on that.

(Hat tip: Lisa.)

So, that sounds like a genuine “no.” But still, I stand by what I said above: if they were going to wear the green jerseys on Saturday, they wouldn’t tell us that now. Hell, they might even engage in some “misdirection” if asked point-blank whether they’re planning to wear ‘em. After all, the element of surprise is key to producing the spontaneous energy and emotion that the green jerseys are supposed to inspire. Just sayin’…

Oh, the Smurf-anity!!! (Hat tip: Briandot.)

No, the Pope won’t be at the Pep Rally… but that’s OK, because Jesus is coming to campus!

Jim Caviezel, the actor who plays Jesus in the Passion of the Christ, will be here on Thursday, October 13 to pray the rosary with the Notre Dame community and to speak on his spiritual journey. The event will take place at 6:45 pm at the Grotto.

ND is really pulling out all the stops for this ‘SC weekend, aren’t they? :)

Next time someone tells you that, you might want to introduce them to Miranda McOsker. In a varsity football game this past week she threw 4 out of 5 passes, 3 of which were touchdowns. Not bad for a 15 year old who hadn’t played quarterback before this year.

McOsker is one of about 250 girls playing high school football out of 100,000+ total according to the California Interscholastic Foundation.

Alex has the latest prehistoric hobbit news. Scientists say the newly discovered fossil probably came from a blockheaded Bracegirdle from Hardbottle.