The Love Show!

I'm so excited
We're moving in tomorrow
Finally we're home

It'll be awesome. I'm really looking forward to it. Tomorrow night, I'll be pretty tired...but pretty happy to have everything in the house and to be able to actually stay.

And then, just a few days later, Thanksgiving. Which we're hosting. That's right. And we're going to knock it out of the park.

[VERY EXCITING]

Cool show.

Check it out TONIGHT at 8p on WHYY-TV, or watch On Canvas any time on WHYY.org/video.

[Man, I am SUCH a promo guy!]

Facebook's recent "redesign" has inspired plenty of hate. Things are all over the place and tough to find and you keep getting bugged to get in touch with people on your friend list you don't talk to very often.

Look, linking up on a social networking site is not an implicit agreement to maintain constant, energetic contact with someone. Sometimes, it's just business. Others, it's just voyeurism. Usually...it's just not hating someone enough to hit "Ignore" on their friend request.

Here's a rare hit-and-miss suggestion selection from the ol' Facebook sidebar. It's batting .500, which is .500 more than is usually...batted.



Okay, that top guy? I used to work with him. He was a total wangjockey and no one should befriend him. Ever.

Moving on, Facebook got it right about Erica. We used to be pretty cool, and we've lost touch in recent years. Not a bad suggestion, guys.

Thing is...it seems so random.

What's the point, if the system's just RANDOMLY selecting someone from my list of contacts? If there's something in place that measures people with whom I used to correspond more, fine. If not (and I assume this is the case), stop bullying me into befriending douchebags and keeping in touch with people I obviously don't care enough to keep in touch with in the first place.

And as for friend suggestions, there are plenty of people on that list I'll NEVER wish to befriend. It's understandable that Facebook would suggest someone I used to work with - he's friends with people I know (and who have poor taste). But if I were to click the little "x" above that suggestion...he's not banished forever. He'll be suggested again.

What the hell? If I want someone gone from the suggestion pool, give me a NEVER SUGGEST AGAIN option or something. HIDE him from suggestions, even. Let me rate that suggestion, like you do with your sidebar ads.

"Why did you select no?"

"OFFENSIVE/IRRELEVANT/DUMBASS/ALL OF THE ABOVE/ETC."

That's all I'm saying.

Quit pushing me around, Facebook Overlords (TM).

Your agenda of people I should get to know better is of no interest to me.

However, way to randomly select Erica, this time. Maybe I will. Plus, it's true - my presence indubitably improves one's Facebook experience immeasurably. It's hollow and empty without me, of course.

The problem is, next time, it'll be some total loser or something whose updates I've already hidden and who I've long since forgotten about, anyway.



[EXACTLY!]

COWBOY CAPTION THEATRE



ROMO: Okay, guys. We clearly suck. We're down by...let's see...eleventy-thousand.

WITTEN: I'm pretty good. I bet I could score eleventy-thousand points.

ROMO: In 4 minutes?

WITTEN: ...probably.

BARBER: You want I should run it?

ROMO: Maybe. That might work. We DO need to get closer to that endzone at some point. We've been toying with them all day, now it's time to turn on the afterburners and win this thing.

WITTEN: You, uh, think we maybe should've fired up those burners a little sooner? Maybe in the third quarter, even?

ROMO: Nooo, no.

WILLIAMS: You could throw it to me. How about throwing it to me?

EVERYONE: NOOOOOO!

WILLIAMS: Awwww...dangit.

ROMO: Tell you what. How about you all just go out there and do your thing. And I'll drop back and do my thing. And, hopefully, I won't get sacked or fumble it, this time. Cool?

EVERYONE: COOL!

ROMO: Oh, and Roy...if I DO throw it to you, you have to actually catch it. And not drop it.

WILLIAMS: Drop it?! When have I ever...

ROMO: (Sigh.)

WITTEN: Let's just do this, 'Boys. We've got four minutes to turn this shut-out into ANYTHING but a complete embarrassment.

ROMO: Haven't we won four straight games? Didn't we just beat the Eagles IN PHILLY?!

AUSTIN: I'm here, too. Just wanted to put that out there.

ROMO: SHH. Quiet, Miles. I'm still trying to pretend I forgot that you exist, so that Roy doesn't get pissy.

WILLIAMS: Hm? You say somethin'?

ROMO: Nope. Okay, random pass to somebody on the field on two. One, two -

EVERYONE: BREAK!

[End scene.]



WHAT WENT DOWN



The Cowboys would go on to score, turning a complete debacle of a shut-out game into a still-sad 10 point loss to Green Bay. Not that the Packers are a bunch of total sucks, mind you. I did pick them early in the season to be kind of a thing. And if they're going to turn it around, they picked a great game in which to show some testicular fortitude.

Still...c'mon, Dallas! The Eagles even lost!

Hell, if you'd told me, coming into this week, that only ONE NFC-E team was going to walk away with a win...I can guaran-damn-tee you it wouldn't have been the friggin' Redskins.

Yeesh!

Week 10, not a pretty one for this division. I prefer to ignore that this week ever happened, except for the Eagles losing and Westbrook getting knocked around, again. That, I prefer to remember, quite fondly.

Well, I mean I hate to see Westbrook getting beaten up in his Golden Years (TM), but...c'mon.

It's time to face facts. The Reid-McNabb-Westbrook Era is so totally wicked over. Time to move on to greener (cough) pastures, Birds. See if a new combination is what it takes to elevate a consistently worthy team to dynasty level.

(Unlikely. This is Philly, you know. Har!)

Let's take a peek around the rest of the league, shall we? Complete with my useless and completely unasked-for opinions!



GAMES TONY GIVES 2 CRAPS ABOUT

Colts/Patriots - Uncredible. The Colts continue their undefeated streak, and Bradybot and his boys walk away with a helluva' shiner! This was always going to be an awkward year for New England, but the same could easily be said for Indianapolis, and they're making magic happen every damn week. I'm happy for them. I've always liked Indy, and I'd like to see Manning make it all the way to the Big One, this season. Whether or not that'll happen...well...who knows? All I know is the Colts are QUIETLY storming through an undefeated season. They can win 14 games any given year, and NO ONE pays attention until the post-season. Amazing. Every damn season! How do they continue to get so little attention/respect? Do people just take them for granted? Do people HATE Indy? I just don't get it.

Dolphins/Bucs - Brother Ed is a 'Phins Phan, and I'm kind of into what they're doing down there, since my man the Tuna parked his huge ass in an executive suite. The Dolphins are my Official Trap Game Team of the Season (TM), but there's no trap loss when you're Tampa Bay. Only loss by sucking. And Miami won this close game, as they should've. Eat it, pirates. Keep on swimmin', Dolphins. You've got my interest peaked.

Saints/Rams - 28-23? Why the HELL was this game so close?!! The Saints still won it, though. They're beyond on fire, and everyone knows it. Could a near-loss to St. Louis - of all teams - be a sign that they're not invincible, though? Hmm...the plot thickens. New Orleans is still damn scary, either way. And, even though they loss, this has to be the Rams' proudest moment of the season. C'mon.

Redskins/Broncos - Damn 'Skins. Sure, they won. But the big story, here, is that Kyle Orton, that goofy-looking creature, was injured. Denver's had a good run, this season, despite all the off-season drama. Sad to see it kind of fall apart. Especially if it means Washington gets to win. Bah!



GAMES TONY'S BEEN FORCED TO GIVE 2 CRAPS ABOUT

Vikings/Lions - Because I'm following Brett Favre's amazing re-comeback after de-re-de-retiring, I have to care that this happened. But, yeah...what a stinker. Detroit is tragically bad, and Minnesota walks away with an easy one. Note, they did WIN. There are teams that will go into easy games against teams which are clearly inferior and LOSE. So, this is kind of important. Brett's march to post-season glory/redemption continues...SALUTE THE GENERAL!

Cardinals/Seahawks - I despise both of these teams. I don't want to see Arizona anywhere NEAR the post-season, again. But, you know what? They keep winning. And it looks like they could sleeper their way back into it, if they keep on doing so...(shudders). I don't care so much as feel the need to keep my eye on the Cardinals.

Bengals/Steelers - Okay, now it's getting serious. The Bengals are a bonafide THING. And the Stillerz are continuing that oh-so-predictable post Super Bowl slump. Both are teams that can just up and beat you, don't get me wrong...but the balance of power has shifted in the AFC-N. Completely and undeniably. The stripe-y guys are 7-2, and the yellow dudes are 6-3. Kaboom!

Niners/Bears - I kind of wanted to see Cutler do well in Chicago. He's NOT doing so well. Ouch. Denver's been on a slump, but...not like the Bears. This is pathetic. Cutler has almost as many picks as he has passes, lately. And as for the 49ers, well...all I know is they could put 10 points on the board, and the Bears could only manage SIX. Terrible. Both teams are at 4-5, now. The Niners broke a 4-game losing streak, here. Coach Mike Singletary, the Bears gift-wrapped a lovely little in for you. Let's see which team is the next to win a game. Wow. Seriously, Chicago. Injuries and mistakes are a bad combination.



AND THE REST...

Chiefs/Raiders - Lame. So don't care. Neither of these teams is going anywhere. I bet Matt Cassel misses the good ol' days, when he played for a real team.

Panthers/Falcons - The Panthers can win games?! Huh? Oh, right. Atlanta's banged-up and Matt Ryan isn't GOD after all. Oh, well. Bored just reading this game happened, though I'm also annoyed that Delhomme won something. I'm way over his continued existence.

Titans/Bills - Nice that Tennessee has figured out how to win again, and all, but...yeah, just don't care, yet. And the Bills rot. So, there you go. Chris Johnson > Terrell Owens. T.O. is the huge, scowling face of a 3-6 team. Johnson is the slightly happier star of a 3-6 team that's actually movin' on up, instead of plummeting deeper into the abyss. There's a difference.

Jaguars/Jets - That either team had to win this is hard to fathom. Neither is very good at doing so, this season. The Jags did, though. And Even-Less-Than-Not-So-Squeaky-Clean Sanchez, the young, slapped-around QB for New York, takes it on the chin, again.



TONY'S OFFICIAL "OF THE WEEK AWARDS" (TM)

Well, let's dust off this old feature. It's been a few weeks since I gave out a real set of these coveted beauties...

...open wide, teams.

Here they come!

LAMEST GAME OF THE WEEK: Titans/Lions. Come on...any game including the Lions bites!

SHOCKER OF THE WEEK: Judging by everyone's reaction, this should go to Dallas/Green Bay. NO, however. I'm giving it to Saints/Rams for being so damn close!

EPIC FAIL OF THE WEEK: Hey, Steelers. How are you?

RIPPLE EFFECT OF THE WEEK: The Colts beat the Pats! Manning is the new Annointed One! FEAAAAAAAAAR HIIIIIIIIIIIM!

SUPERMAN OF THE WEEK: Manning, again! Big comeback, big win.

WORST WIN EVER OF THE WEEK: Titans, are you proud of what you've done? Picking on the special needs team?

MOST AWESOME THING THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK...OF THE WEEK: I could say...the continued perfection of Indianapolis and New Orleans. Both barn-burners, both winners are having awesome seasons. But, that's too obvious. I'm going to give it to the Bengals. (I know!) Epic win over your ol' pals from Pittsburgh. And a pretty bold statement.



THE ENDZONE

So, there you have it! An entire week in the NFL, summed up quickly and with trademark panache.

As for the now-famous (not true at all) TONY'S MONDAY NIGHT MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK...

...I'm going with the Ravens over the Browns, in Cleveland. Call it a hunch. The purple birds will win this one in a big way.

See you next week...crazy how close we're getting to the end of the season.

[BOO! DON'T END, FOOTBALL!]

With The Big Move (TM) less than a week away, we had a pretty epic list of stuff to accomplish, this weekend. Saturday night was spent enjoying Adam & Rana's engagement party, so we didn't have the whole day...but, we've been sneaking over to the house on weeknights to chip away at the dumb, little projects that keep us from finishing the big stuff on weekends.

And that has made all the difference, as some jerk said.



Still, the list of projects is pretty much endless. Long after the furniture is in place and we're using our new home as an actual home, there will be a lot to knock out, update, replace, etc.

There has been a line we wanted to cross before moving in, though. A few projects, like ripping up carpets, painting rooms are best tackled before there are large pieces of furniture are in the way. We've been attacking rooms and outdoor-type stuff for weeks, and I think we've finally reached a point where we can move in and feel comfortable. The fresh coat of us was much-needed. The place looks much better, and a lot of cleaning had obviously been neglected for many moons.



We even got a few more of those bush stumps out of the ground, out front. Tough stuff, that...

Anyway, scrubbed and spit-shined, ready or not, here comes the rest of our crap.

We've even got FiOS and the Internets in place.

I'm totally ready to get in there, sit on my couch and relax at the end of a day...and that day is coming sooner than later.

[MOVIN' ON!]