Sunday in The Times: More on Centenary's 'new' mascot. VOTE NOW!

Centenary will keep its nicknames of Ladies and Gents, but the school will add a mascot for some fun. Voting continues through Sunday at midnight for Centenary students, alumni, staff and faculty: go to centenary.edu/mascot to vote.

Times readers will be able to voice their mascot opinion through votes Sunday online at shreveporttimes.com.

Here are the school's five finalists. This information is from Centenary's marketing and communications department. The mascot art is by the talented David Wright of The Times, who drew each finalist to scale, more or less.

Explorers
Exploration is the important value embodied by the mascot Explorers, connecting the mascot nicely to the college’s current branding statement, “Explore. Invent. Connect.” Explorers are fearless adventurers and risk-takers, seeking new experiences through open-mindedness and independence. Picture a swash-buckling pirate, a frontier-opening pioneer, a high-tech scientist or a high-flying astronaut — or any and all of these incarnations. The Explorers mascot links athletics with academics by pointing back to our mission statement without being nerdy, silly, or campy; exploration is dignified. The Sioux City Explorers, a minor league baseball team, are often referred to simply as the X’s, an interesting interpretation worth considering. Currently, there is only one NCAA Div. I school using the concept: the LaSalle University Explorers in Philadelphia.

Squirrels
Squirrels are small creatures that are “clever”, “persistent”, “expert climbers” and “thrive in urban environments”. Their abundance on campus and around Shreveport seem to make them a natural mascot possibility. General public opinion is favorable with such iconic popular images as Rocky from Rocky & Bullwinkle, Sandy Cheeks from SpongeBob Squarepants, and Hammy from Over the Hedge. However, don’t let the cuddly images fool you. Squirrels have incredibly sharp teeth and, through gnawing-induced power outages, have brought down the power grids of stock markets, universities, and even cities. Currently, only Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia, utilizes the Squirrels mascot.


Catahoulas
Catahoulas, also known as Catahoula Leopard Dogs, are the official state dogs of Louisiana. Catahoulas are usually merle colored animals with eyes of mismatched color — they are described variously as “solid,” “strong,” “independent,” “physical,” “highly intelligent,” and “very noisy.” In addition to the home state connection, the aforementioned attributes positively articulate the Centenary experience and the Centenary community. Though the idea of a dog as mascot (e.g., University of Georgia) may not be unique, the introduction of the Catahoulas offers many one-of-a-kind possibilities for portrayal (whether real and/or animated). The distinctiveness of the Centenary Catahoulas will be translated much like the popular University of Southern Illinois Salukis. There are no current Catahoula mascot references among NCAA or professional athletic teams.

Mud Cats
Flathead catfish, nicknamed the Mud Cats, are a North American freshwater variety of fish found in rivers throughout the Missouri and Mississippi River basins, including the Red River. These fish can grow to weigh up to 120 pounds and are typically found at the bottom of rivers, hence the “mud cat” moniker. There is a connection — although slight — to the already established Shreveport/Bossier community through S/B’s popular minor league hockey team, the Mud Bugs. In the college world, the Mud Cats offer a unique mascot opportunity. So unique, in fact, that one can imagine a “celebrity” potential for the Mud Cats, much like the Banana Slugs of the University of Santa Cruz. The only references found so far are the Mississippi Mudcats (an arena football team) and the Carolina Mudcats (a minor league baseball team). Currently, there is no NCAA Div. I school with the Mud Cats as a mascot.

Fire Ants
Abundant in our geographical region, Fire Ants are small insects that really “pack a wallop” when they sting. These fierce, tenacious creatures rely on teamwork to accomplish their tasks and pop up where you may least expect. Just as their size parallels the smallness of our own student population, and their characteristics of perseverance and might model that of our Centenary community, the maroon color of their bodies will also help associate the Fire Ant with Centenary’s dominant school color (also maroon). The Centenary Fire Ants will be a versatile mascot: cute and funny at one moment and fighting strong the next. An additional benefit to this mascot choice is the infrequent use of Fire Ants as college mascots. Currently, there is only one NCAA school, the University of South Carolina – Sumter Fire Ants in Sumter, South Carolina.

Oklahoma!, where the gravy comes sweepin' o'er the plain

(Ed. Note: In the picture here, Oklahoma is right below the "tes" in "United States.")

From Key Marketing Group and Communications...

Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Oklahoma Centennial Cookbook Hits Stores for the Holidays
Famous Recipes from Famous Oklahomans

Oklahoma author Ronnye Perry Sharp - and a host of Oklahoma celebrities - are celebrating Oklahoma's centennial milestone with the release of "Oklahoma's Historical Centennial Cookbook."

Published by Tate Publishing & Enterprises, the book is designed as a collector's item to tell the story of Oklahoma's history and share famous recipes from famous Oklahomans.

Recipes cover a broad spectrum of Oklahoma culinary preferences - from elegant dinner party favorites to native American recipes like Succotash and Pashofa and just about everything in between. Celebrating Oklahoma's centennial, historical notes and facts from the state's 100-year history are weaved throughout the book.

The book includes recipes and contributions from well-known Oklahomans including country music stars Toby Keith and Vince Gill, former OU football coach Barry Switzer, and the entire Washington, D.C. delegation from Oklahoma including Congresswoman Mary Fallin and Senator Jim Inhofe. The list of celebrities continues with OU President David Boren, Native American astronaut John Herrington, Governor Brad Henry, former OU football star Joe Washington, World Wrestling Entertainment announcer and BBQ expert Jim Ross, Oklahoma Centennial Project an d Events Chairman Lee Allan Smith, businessman Bob Funk, Oklahoma restaurateur Hal Smith, and former Governor Frank Keating. Dr. Robert Blackburn of the Oklahoma Historical Society and famed businessman Boone Pickens contributed as well with the book's foreword written by Oklahoma First Lady Kim Henry. Many other well-known Oklahoma personalities from political, educational, business, and entertainment arenas are also included.

A portion of book proceeds will go toward cancer research and muscular dystrophy research, Sharp announced. Sharp explained that as a seven-year survivor of stage-three and stage-four breast cancer, she takes great pride and comfort in knowing that book proceeds will go toward saving lives.

The book is now available at www.tatepublishing.com and any bookstore nationwide or can be ordered through barnesandnoble.com, amazon.com, or target.com.

Three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee Bob Burke is the book's contributing author. Burke has earned the title of writing more non-fiction books than anyone in history. He is a member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame.

Tom Flora, the book's contributing photographer, maintains several degrees from photography schools and organizations. Currently he serves as Vice President of the Professional Photographers of the Southwest and will serve as president in 2008.

There's no place like Texas...except, well, Texas

From Linda in Ft. Worth. Thank you Linda. When you come up with a list for Louisiana, send it. (Make sure Punkin Center and Bunkie get on it.)

Texas the FUN state!!

A list of actual places to travel in Texas ..


Need to be cheered up?

Happy, Texas 79042
Pep , Texas 79353
Smiley , Texas 78159
Paradise , Texas 76073
Rainbow , Texas 76077
Sweet Home , Texas 77987
Comfort , Texas 78013
Friendship, Texas 76530
***
Love the Sun?

Sun City , Texas 78628
Sunrise , Texas 76661
Sunset, Texas 76270
Sundown, Texas 79372
Sunray , Texas 79086
Sunny Side , Texas 77423
***
Want something to eat?

Bacon , Texas 76301
Noodle , Texas 79536
Oatmeal , Texas 78605
Turkey , Texas 79261
Trout , Texas 75789
Sugar Land , Texas 77479
Salty, Texas 76567
Rice , Texas 75155
And top it off with:
Sweetwater , Texas 79556
***
Why travel to other cities? Texas has them ALL!

Detroit , Texas 75436
Colorado City , Texas 79512
Denver City , Texas 79323
Nevada , Texas 75173
Memphis , Texas 79245
Miami , Texas 79059
Boston , Texas 75570
Santa Fe , Texas 77517
Tennessee Colony , Texas 75861
Reno , Texas 75462
***
Feel like traveling outside the country?
Don't bother buying a plane ticket!


Athens , Texas 75751
Canadian , Texas 79014
China , Texas 77613
Egypt , Texas 77436
Turkey , Texas 79261
London , Texas 76854
New London , Texas 75682
Paris , Texas 75460
***
No need to travel to Washington D.C.

Whitehouse , Texas 75791
***
We even have a city named after our planet!

Earth , Texas 79031
***
And a city named after our State!

Texas City , Texas 77590
***
Exhausted?

Energy , Texas 76452
***
Cold?

Blanket , Texas 76432
Winters, Texas
***
Hot?

Poolville, Texas 76487
Cool, Texas ( Parker County )
***


Like to read about History?

Santa Anna, Texas
Goliad , Texas
Alamo, Texas
Gun Barrel City , Texas
***

Need Office Supplies?

Staples , Texas 78670
***

Men are from Mars, women are from
Venus , Texas 76084
***
You guessed it... it's on the state line...

Texline , Texas 79087
***
For the kids...

Kermit , Texas 79745
Elmo , Texas 75118
Nemo , Texas 76070
Tarzan , Texas 79783
Winnie , Texas 77665
Sylvester , Texas 79560
***
Other city names in Texas , to make you smile..... : :))

Frognot , Texas 75424
Bigfoot , Texas 78005
Hogeye , Texas 75423
Cactus , Texas 79013
Notrees , Texas 79759
Plainview, Texas 79072
Best, Texas 76932
Veribest , Texas 76886
Kickapoo , Texas 75763
Dime Box, Texas
Telephone , Texas 75488
Telegraph , Texas 76883
Whiteface , Texas 79379
Twitty, Texas 79079
***
And last but not least. The Anti-Al Gore City

Kilgore , Texas 75662
***
Have a Good Day!
***
P.S. Whoops, left out :

Muleshoe
Cut n shoot,
Hoop And Holler,
Ding Dong,

and don't forget......
Farewell , Texas
***
And, of course, there is a place in Texas that is......

KNOTT , TEXAS
***

Is that a big brick, or are you just happy to see me?...

THE WORDS BELOW ARE FROM THE ACME BRICK FOLKS...This brick is in town today from noon until 2 at Acme's Shreveport Sales Office, 1919 Kings Highway in Shreveport. The Acme Brick folk invite you to go by for a piece of free pizza and a look at the world's biggest brick......

On July 4, 2007, Acme Brick celebrated America’s birthday and Acme’s 116th year in a really big way – in fact over 9,000 pounds big.

At 6 a.m., the staff of Acme’s Denton, Texas, brick plant “delivered” Baby Clay. This “baby” sets all kinds of records because he weighs in at over three tons and is 116 inches long (9 ft. 8 in.) – one inch for every year that Acme has been in business. That makes Clay nearly 3,000 times the size of a standard brick.

This giant brick has been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records™ as the world's biggest. The newborn was named Clay because he is comprised of clay materials from each of Acme’s 23 brick plants around the Southwest.

Acme President and CEO Dennis Knautz said, “We think that the creation of Clay demonstrates exceptional expertise among our brickmaking staff. This was a huge, unprecedented challenge for them. It seems fitting that one of America’s oldest and the world’s largest American–owned brick company should produce the world’s largest brick to commemorate Acme’s 116 years in business.” The brick also measures 39 inches tall and 39 inches wide.

Baby Clay is Acme’s fifth attempt to create this world record brick. The first four attempts, beginning in September 2004, were tremendous learning experiences for the determined brickmakers. The crew made adjustments, and the fifth time was the charm. Acme’s Denton plant required 13 months to create Baby Clay compared to the normal time of a week for a normal brick. “I think that the successful birth of Baby Clay also says something about the traditional American values of hard work and persistence as demonstrated by Harland Dixson (Acme’s plant manager); Mack Wilcox, our project manager; and his crew," said company president Knautz.

During October and November, Baby Clay has been on tour, visiting Acme offices and plants in celebration of the company’s 116th birthday. A special trailer was created to accommodate the newborn in his travels. It is anticipated that Clay will be making a number of “guest” appearances in other venues as well.

-30-

Corn Bread: We're Thankful For It

In honor of Thanksgiving, here is the recipe that people request most from me.

This is a slight variation of the corn bread Neva McKay taught me and Reggie Redding how to make when we were high school seniors in her Home and Family Living Class. She was wonderful, and as a food, this corn bread of hers almost matches her. That's how good it is.

Send your roses to me in care of The Times, 222 Lake Street, Shreveport, La 71101. I thank you.

I like to call it Corn Bread That Will Make You Hurt Yourself (or) First-String Corn Bread (or) BCS Corn Bread (or) Super Bowl Cornbread.

· 1 cup self-rising white cornmeal

· 1 cup sour cream

· 1 small can cream-style corn

· 1/2 cup oil

· 3 eggs

· 1/2 tsp. salt

· 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (optional)

· Bacon (optional)

Pre-heat oven 400 degrees. Mix ingredients. Pour batter into hot skillet (heated with a small amount of oil.) Bake about 20-25 minutes.

Options: Put a layer of uncooked bacon in bottom of skillet, pour batter on top and bake. Or, pour half batter into skillet, add cheese, pour in other half and bake.

Then eat 'til you weep.

And for goodness sakes, err on the side of undercooking. You can always cook something more; you can't uncook something. If your corn bread is shriveled up and wrinkled, just go ahead and start pounding it. You've just made stuffing.

T-mail: It's potluck ... so you're in luck!

We are having Thanksgiving potluck here at the salt mines today; I loves me some potluck.

So, I'm feeling generous and reflective (and hungry). And because I'm in a good mood and autumny, I'm posting some pictures forwarded to me. I have no idea where these are from but they are purty. I love a leaf. Not as much as a potluck, but I love a leaf.

Also, see if you can find the misplaced picture...

Wait a minute...San Jose's not a state!...is it?

(Editor's note: Dionne Warwick (shown here, back in the day), who had a monster hit in the late 1960s with "Do You Know The Way To San Jose?" by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, was not at the Louisiana Tech vs. San Jose State game in Ruston Saturday night. "If the game had been in San Jose, she would have been there," her publicist said. "She doesn't know the way to Ruston.")

Here's a tale of Saturday's football game at Aillet Stadium, more from the losers' point of view than from Tech's. I was writing specifically for Dionne Warwick and had hoped to get a quote from her, but ... didn't happen.

And this doesn't happen every day either: both Louisiana Tech and San Jose State face, as their next opponent, Nevada, of the WAC. Fortunately for Nevada, they won't take on both teams at once. SJSU plays Nevada this week while Tech is open; the Bulldogs travel to Nevada on Dec. 1 to close out their regular season.

Tech 27, San Jose State 24:

'One play away...'
Spartans rally but fall short late against Bulldogs

By Teddy Allen

RUSTON, La. – San Jose State played its worst first half on the road of the year, lost two fumbles for the first time all year, and found itself settling for field goals on each of the three times it set up shop on or inside Louisiana Tech’s 5-yard-line here Saturday night.

And still, with two minutes to play and 16 yards between them and the end zone, the Spartans were looking dead-ahead at their first lead of the night, and a happy ride home.

“One play away,” SJSU coach Dick Tomey said moments after a 27-23 loss to Western Athletic Conference opponent Louisiana Tech. “We gave up some big plays. We made some uncharacteristic mistakes. We got some momentum, we just couldn’t keep it long enough to get ahead. And still, we were just one play away…”

Tomey talked on a hill above Joe Aillet Stadium’s south end zone where a few minutes before, quarterback Adam Tafralis’ fourth-and-4 pass from the Tech 16, intended for Jacob French in the heart of the end zone, was knocked down with 1:51 left to play.

“One play short,” Tomey said. “We overcame everything that happened, but…”

He shook his head.

One play short.

Tech took over, ran out the clock with San Jose out of time outs, and kept its hope of a winning season alive. Tech is 5-6 overall, 4-3 in the conference and can become bowl eligible when it closes the season at Nevada after an open date.

San Jose’s season’s hopes met the same fate as Tafralis’ final pass: grounded. The Spartans are 4-7 overall, 3-4 in the WAC and end their season Saturday at home against Nevada. A nine-win team last year, the Spartans 2007 season has gone a lot like Saturday’s game in north Louisiana: stop and go, herky jerky, and a whole lot of too little, too late.

“This hurts a lot,” Tomey said. “We had a chance to compete, to have a winning season, and we didn’t get it done.”

The Spartans’ played the first half as if they were still on the bus in the parking lot. Tech built a 24-6 lead, mainly on Spartan brain cramps. Four big gainers for Tech either were scores or led to scores: a 46-yard run, a 52-yard punt return, and passes of both 49 and 50 yards. “Missed tackles,” Tomey said. “Blown coverages.”

“That’s part of the game,” he said. “You don’t want it to be, but it happens.”

The tide turned in the second half, and quickly. The Spartans’ opening possession ended with Tafralis passing 23 yards to a streaking James T. Callier for SJSU’s first touchdown. Tafralis ran for four yards and a score to make it 24-20 with 5:27 left in the third quarter; that score was set up after Tafralis scrambled before finding Kevin Jurovich for 39 yards, one of the hometown junior’s 11 catches in the game.

“In the third quarter,” said Tech rookie head coach Derek Dooley, “everything went south. We couldn’t stop them.”

Tafralis finished with 36 yards rushing, second to French’s 43 yards. He completed 28 of 47 passes for 369 yards—his sixth 300 yards-passing game of the year -- and was picked off once.

“He did a terrific job of keeping us in the game,” Tomey said of his senior quarterback.

The teams traded field goals before SJSU took over on its 20 with 3:15 left and trailing by four. What happened next didn’t take long; two completions and two pass interference penalties against Tech put the ball on the Bulldog 22. From that point, two incompletions and a scramble led to the game-defining 4th-and-4 from the Tech 16.

“If we had any faults down the stretch, it was in our trying for the touchdown; all we needed was a first down,” Tomey said. “But it’s easy to say that when you’re not actually playing in the game. We were in the game because of Adam, because of his scrambling and throwing and running.”

It helped that Tomey had Matt Castelo tackling people. The senior linebacker from Valley Christian High in San Jose did that 21 times, including four tackles for losses.

Last year, the Spartans ripped the Bulldogs, 44-10, in San Jose with a 2006 Division I-A single-game best 476 yards rushing. The Spartans managed only 105 yards rushing Saturday.

“We fought really well in the second half, not so good in the first, but Louisiana Tech had a lot to do with that,” Tomey said. “There are a lot of good days ahead for Tech football.”

There is only a week ahead for the current bunch of Spartans, but already they’ve ended a long hard road. Seven times this year they’ve traveled; six times they returned with one more loss than they’d left home with. Their lone road win came against hapless Utah State, no small accomplishment in retrospect: that 23-20 win in Logan came sandwiched between three straight road losses – at Arizona State, Kansas State and Stanford – and a week before the home opener – in Game 5 against UC-Davis, on Sept. 29.

After Tech, SJSU’s road record fell to 1-6.

“Tonight’s the poorest first half we’ve played on the road, but the road’s got nothing to do with it,” Tomey said. “You’ve got to make a play, and we didn’t. They did. You’ve got to be mature enough to overcome that.”


-30-

Tech 27, San Jose State 23

Good night and be careful driving home. Don't forget to tip your ushers and parking attendants...

and writers.

SEEYA!

4th and 4 fromTech 16 for SJSU...

...pass incomplete and nearly intercepted in the heart of the end zone...

Tech takes over at its 17......

SJS has no time outs left.

TECH WINS 27-23. Tech is 4-3 in the WAC and 5-6 overall.

San Jose is 3-4 in the WAC and 4-7.

San Jose ends its season next week at home against Nevada.

Tech closes out the season in two weeks against Nevada, on the road. Tech is open this week.

Announced attendance is 13,027...

...give or take a few deer hunters.

Tech aded a 41-yard field goal and leads 27-23, with eight minutes and counting to play. San Jose state faces a third-and-three at the Tech 44 ... and under pressure, Adam Tafralis' pass is incomplete. The Spartans line up to punt...

It's getting interesting...


And WONDERFUL punt. 42 yards. And downed at the 2. That's where Tech takes over. And now we're at a huge spot in this game...

Spartans pull to 24-23 on a 22-yard FG...

... using a 39 yard pass to move into scoring position.

With a minute left in the half, the Spartans just intercepted a pass and are in business with a first-and-ten at the Tech 37.Before the interception of the tipped pass, the Bulldogs had put together their first two first downs of the second half...

AND THIS JUST IN ...
The Spartans just lost their second fumble of the night. The team had lost just one fumble all year. Tech takes over on its 46.

Where are the Bulldogs?

I am still here in Aillet Stadium.

Halftime ended eight minutes ago and I am still waiting for Louisiana Tech to come out of the locker room.

Tech, a 24-6 leader at the half, now leads by 4: 24-20.

The Spartans, victims of four plays of 46 yards or more in the first half, have used a 23-yard pass and a 39-yard pass to quick-strike Tech.

The Bulldogs have up two field goals in the first half and have given up two touchdowns in the first eight minutes of the third quarter.

The Spartans waste less than two minutes...

...before scoring on a 23-yard pass play from Adam Tafralis to James T. Callier. The drive took just 5 plays and covered 65 yards.

Tech leads 24-13...

and i shouldn't have had another helping of green beans.

Maybe a third helping of banana pudding will settle my stomach. There's only one way to find out. Back in a second...well, in a few minutes.

HALFTIME: Tech 24, San Jose State 6...

... and the good folk in the Aillet Stadium press box just popped a brand new thing of popcorn and it is smellin' RIGHT and it will be a few minutes before i update this again. When I do, be careful reading it: it'll be a little oily...

Tech leads 24-6 ...

...after a 20-yard field goal with 4:15 to play.

Tech has had four plays of 46 yards or more. All have led to scores.

SJSU just doubled its season total for fumbles lost...

SJSU had lost just one fumble -- one -- coming into the game.

Receiver Kevin Jurovich just doubled the total, and Tech took over at its own 40. Tech still leads 21-6, with 7:05 left in the half...

I have not gotten another banana pudding yet, but that doesn't mean i haven't thought about it. . .

AND, on a 3rd-and-20, Champion chunks short to Livas who finds a crease and rolls to the 2.......

Oh, I forgot about the ULM thing...

A loyal Louisiana Tech-er in the press box said they were happy for the ULM victory over Alabama today but that "hey, we've done it twice."

Tech beat Bama in both 1997 and 1999.

21-6 Tech leads San Jose State at the end of the initial stanza...SJS just converted a third-and-1 and have a first down at their own 41.

Tech still leads...ULM still beat 'Bama...

Tech QB Zac Champion connected with Phillip Livas for 66 yards and a touchdown, and a 52-yard punt return by Phillip Beck set up Tech with a first-and-goal at the 9; Champion's third-and-goal from the 6 was complete to Beck, giving Beck the first TD of his college career and a 21-6 lead with 1:06 to play in the first quarter.

Champion has 27 career TD passes now; that ties him in the Tech record book with current Ruston High coach Billy Laird, who coached at both Tech and Northwestern State after his Tech QBing days.

7-3 Tech with 9 minutes left in first quarter

Tech fumbled it's opening snap and the Spartans recovered, leading to a 28-yard field goal. Not a good way to start Senior Night. A fumbled snap from a freshman center to a senior quarterback -- is that senior moment?

Tech answers with a 3-yard TD pass that caps an 8-play, 72-yard drive to take a 7-3 lead.

I'm on my second banana pudding. seriously, i just don't care anymore...

Spartans just completed a pretty 25-yard pass to the Tech 45...

Senior Night ...

Tech is open next week and closes its regular season at Nevada, so tonight's tilt is the final home game for 17 seniors. They're being introduced now.

Tech will wear its blue jerseys, white pants, red helmets. SJSU is in yellow pants, white jerseys with bluenumbers, and blue helmets. The Spartans are 1-5 on the road this season. They beat hapless Utah State but of the five losses, each was by at least 20 points, and three were by more than 30.

Ten minutes til kickoff...

...the anthem has been played, the alma mater too. And we had prayer.

I recommend the press box chicken spaghetti and the green beans, which have tiny onion bits in them, and bacon. And they have sweet tea. You don't even have to ask!

Cool, comfortable evening. Not much of a crowd on the students' side as the quarter break began Friday. Which means. . . more chicken spaghetti for us.

Live from Aillet Stadium in Ruston...

Hey everybody. This is Teddy Allen at Joe Aillet Stadium's pressbox where i am about to go eat some green beans and banana pudding. They have good food here.

Down on the field, Louisiana Tech is 28 minutes away from a play date with San Jose State. Both teams have 4 wins and need to win tonight to keep alive their hopes of a .500 season and bowl eligibility.

i'll keep you posted on the game. i can tell you already that the banana pudding is good; i've had it before. It's Division I-A banana pudding.

It's Always Something: Sausage rolls not on a roll

Texas company recalls 98,000 pounds of frozen sausage rolls

MERIDIAN, Texas (AP) — Double B Foods Inc. is recalling about 98,000 pounds of frozen sausage roll products because of concerns about potential listeria contamination.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the company’s voluntary recall Thursday. The frozen sausage rolls were produced on various dates between Oct. 25 and Nov. 6, the USDA said. The company found the potential problem during an in-plant testing program.
The company said there have been no reports of illness.
In addition to being sold in Texas, the products were distributed to institutions, catalog sales and distribution centers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.
Consumption of food containing Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a rare but potentially fatal disease.
Listeriosis can kill babies and people with weakened immune systems and cause miscarriages in pregnant women. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. (Ouch...)

It's a 'Dogs play 'Dogs world...

Tech to Host Mississippi State in Ruston

RUSTON – Louisiana Tech Athletic Director Jim Oakes announced Thursday that he has signed a contract for a two-game football series with Southeastern Conference foe Mississippi State starting next year.
Tech will open the 2008 season Aug. 30 with Mississippi State at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston. According to the Tech record books, it will be the first time a current member of the SEC has played in Ruston since the Bulldogs hosted LSU in 1913.
“We are extremely excited about bringing Mississippi State to Joe Aillet Stadium for next year’s season opener,” Oakes said. “This will be a great opportunity for our fans to help break the home attendance record and sell the stadium out. It should be an incredible atmosphere.”
Louisiana Tech set the single game home attendance record of 28,714 in a 17-16 win over UL-Monroe at Joe Aillet Stadium on Sept. 13, 1997.
Tech will return the trip to Starkville on Sept. 5, 2009.
Mississippi State leads the all-time series between the two programs 7-2, although Louisiana Tech defeated State 38-23 in Starkville in 1996, the last time the two teams played.

All-Time Series
1904, MSU 32-5
1908, MSU 47-0
1927, MSU 14-0
1938, MSU 48-0
1968, Tech 20-13
1980, MSU 31-11
1987, MSU 14-13
1988, MSU 21-14
1996, Tech 38-23

* From Tech Sports Information Office

T-Mail: Comet Holmes

From my friend and local photographer whiz, Shreveport's Terry Atwood...

"Here are two images I shot of Comet Holmes showing what light pollution from the city does to astro photos. The first image was taken from my driveway in Shreveport near Youree/Kings Hwy. The second images was taken atop Winding Stair Mountain in the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas near Boxley.

"Both images are taken with the same lens and exposure time: a 30-second exposure using a 300mm f2.8 lens with an Exposure Index (ASA) of 800."

The top photo was taken Nov. 6, the other on Nov. 10.

TO SEE THE COMMENT ... again, this is from the T-Mail bag, from Terry Atwood, today...
The comet is between the sideways "M" of Cassiopeia which is overhead about 9:30 pm and the Pleadies (Seven Sisters) to the right. It is next to the brightest star in that area (Alpha Persei or "Mirfak"). It is not much to look at for the novice viewer. It looks like a round fuzzy star and does not have a long tail like Comet Hale-Bopp had a few years ago, or Comet Hyakataki of about ten years ago (which had a tail about 100-degrees long--about 2/3 of the overhead sky). Visually it looks about half the size of the full moon, even though physically it is larger than the sun. I can see it from my driveway here in town in Shreveport if I look carefully. It is easy to see in any binoculars.
-30-

Why do elephants drink? To forget...

Drunken elephant activist Paris Hilton stifles a tearful, perhaps even hopeless yawn as two pacyderms, including one under-age, play a bar game called "Pass The Leafy Limb."

The Associated Press

GAUHATI, India — Paris Hilton is being praised by conservationists for highlighting the problem of binge-drinking elephants in northeastern India.
Activists said a celebrity endorsement such as Hilton’s was sure to raise awareness of the plight of the pachyderms that get drunk on farmers’ homemade rice beer and then go on a rampage.
“The elephants get drunk all the time. It is becoming really dangerous. We need to stop making alcohol available to them,” the 26-year-old socialite said in a report posted on World Entertainment News Network’s Web site. Her comments were picked up by other Web sites and newspapers around the globe.
Last month, six wild elephants that broke into a farm in the state of Meghalaya were electrocuted after drinking the potent brew and then uprooting an electricity pole.
“There would have been more casualties if the villagers hadn’t chased them away. And four elephants died in a similar way three years ago. It is just so sad,” Hilton was quoted as saying in Tokyo last week. She was in Tokyo to judge a beauty contest. Her publicist couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

T-Mail: If you're a squirrel, read this, and be careful...

(The squirrel pictured here, formerly a pitcher for the LSU baseball team, is not one of the squirrels mentioned below...)


From the T-Mail bag, in response to a column titled "City varmits bring out the animal in him," about a local hunter/home protector ticketed for shooting squirrels who were eating his house in the city limits...



I enjoyed your column on the "squirrel killer"...I am the momma of another Broadmoor shooter. My squirrel killer graduated from CE Byrd in May...

Around seven years ago I pulled into my carport and saw seven squirrels in various poses in the vacant spot next to mine. Some of the deceased were posed sitting up while others were laying on their stomachs with their little arms propped underneath. And out of the house came the killer just a proud as he could be for shooting them. I knew that my son's father had purchased him a pellet gun but I was unaware that he had brought it home. After I quit laughing and quickly disposed of each of the victims in a ziplock type bags and placed them in the trash can, I had to sit down and explain why this is wrong and that he could be arrested even as a fifth grader. I did have to admit he apparently had better aim than his parents.

I glad that your neighbor's pile went unnoticed. I guess he is smarter than a fifth grader but equally as proud.
-30-

Washoe signs "Seeya"...

This is from the Friends of Washoe Web site. Washoe was a chimpanzee, a very special one in age and signing ability, at Central Washington University’s Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute. CHCI is a sanctuary for a unique family of chimpanzees who have acquired the signs of American Sign Language (ASL) and use those signs in conversations with each other and their human companions.

Washoe is pictured here. (She is the one on the right.) I've highlighted like this some of the information I found most interesting.

www.friendsofwashoe.org
Our beloved friend Washoe passed away Tuesday evening, October 30, at 8:00, after a brief illness. At the time of her passing she was at home at CHCI, with her family and closest friends.

Washoe was 42 years old, a long life for a female chimpanzee. Most females in captivity live an average of 33.5 years.

Friends are invited to attend a memorial service for Washoe on Monday, November 12 at 10:00 a.m. (Ed. note: That is today. I should have posted this earlier. That’s on me.) The service will be held adjacent to CHCI in a tent.

Parking will be available in Lots P-8 (Library) and O-5, on the corner of 14th and D Streets.

ASL interpreters will be provided.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Washoe’s name to Friends of Washoe, to continue supporting her family.

You can leave your remembrance of Washoe at our Tribute Page.

More from Friends of Washoe.
Washoe was born in Africa, around September of 1965. She is the only one of the four chimpanzees at CHCI to have been born in Africa. Her capture probably consisted of a hunter killing her mother and then taking her to market to be sold to a dealer. After she was brought to the United States for the Air Force, Drs. Allen and Beatrix Gardner adopted her for their research.

Washoe is the matriarch of this family and was the first chimpanzee to acquire a human language. Her name sign is formed with the fingers of a “W” hand flicking the ear on the same side. She was named for Washoe county Nevada where she lived with Drs. Allen and Beatrix Gardner until age five.

Full Name: Washoe Pan satyrus. Pan satyrus is an old taxonomic classification used for chimpanzees. She was named for Washoe county Nevada where she spent her early childhood with the Gardners. Washoe is a Native American word from the Washoe tribe meaning “people.”

Pronunciation: wa’ show

Name Sign: “W” flicked on ear. Refers to the large ears she had as an infant that she has since grown into.

Date of Birth: Unknown; estimated to be September, 1965. Washoe’s birthday is celebrated on June 21, 1966, the anniversary of “Project Washoe.”

Place of Birth: Washoe was born in West Africa, wild captured, and later used by the US Air Force.

Taxonomic Classification: Pan troglodytes troglodytes

Early Childhood/Rearing Conditions: Washoe was adopted by Drs. Beatrix T. and R. Allen Gardner on June 21, 1966. She was cross-fostered; that is, she was raised in the Gardners’ home as if she were a deaf human child. Washoe was the first non-human to acquire a human language -- American Sign Language. She moved with Roger and Deborah Fouts to the University of Oklahoma in 1970 and came with them to Central Washington University in 1980.

Personal: Washoe is the matriarch of the CHCI chimpanzees and can be described as maternal in her behavior toward the other chimpanzees. She is known for being fair and kind with both chimpanzee and human companions. Washoe is slow to invest herself, but with time, she becomes a loyal friend. She has a good sense of humor.

Favorite Activities: Washoe appears to enjoy spending time in her outdoor area. She spends her free time looking through books, magazines, and catalogs (especially shoe catalogs). She apparently likes to look at them by herself but doesn’t mind signing about the pictures with friends. Other activities she engages in are brushing her teeth, painting, coffee and tea parties, and checking out the shoes of her human companions.

Favorite Foods: Oatmeal with onions, pumpkin pudding, split pea soup, eggplant, gum, tea and coffee.

'A True Fisher of Men'

(ABOVE: From DallasCowboys.com ...The Cowboys achieved another milestone in building their $1 billion new stadium, completing the first of two structural steel arches that each will span a quarter-mile.)

Below is good stuff...


Mickey Spagnola - Email
DallasCowboys.com Columnist
November 6, 2007 8:11 PM

A True Fisher of Men

EULESS, Texas - Tuesday was an off day for the 7-1 Dallas Cowboys, tied for the best record in the NFC and second-best record in all of the NFL.

Yet Tuesday was a hard day for the Dallas Cowboys. Not just the players. Not just the coaches. Not just members of the front office. And not just the staff members who walk The Ranch hallways.

This tough day included the many people who simply work with the Dallas Cowboys, not for, and those who once played for the Dallas Cowboys, but no longer.

They came here Tuesday afternoon to the First Baptist Church of Euless in respect and to honor the best way they could a man who had passed away.

JohnWeber.

That is not a misprint for those of us who have known JohnWeber over the past three decades. Few just called him John. There are lots of Johns in the world. No one called him Weber. That just didn’t seem right, not respectful enough.

To us, he was always a run-together, JohnWeber, the team chaplain for some 20 years, the team photo runner at away games, the team baggage helper in the locker room at road games. You name it, JohnWeber would do it.

Most of all, though, his official title should have included team friend, and evidently after sitting in this church for some 90 minutes, this was not unique to us out here at The Ranch. Listening to speaker after speaker after speaker, JohnWeber was everyone’s “best friend.”

Problem was, some of us probably didn’t realize it, because this 59-year-old man made everyone he met seem as if his best friend.

I mean look, JohnWeber knew I grew up in Chicago. He’s always asked me about the city, and just this season when we were staying downtown for the Bears game, told me what I great city I was from. But when he died of a heart attack last Thursday, it occurred to me I had never asked where he was from (South Dakota).

He knew I went to the University of Missouri, and would give me one of his trademark “ahhhs” while telling me what a great journalism school it was and would go on to ask my why I thought it was so good. I had no idea he went to Dakota Wesleyan University.

JohnWeber knew I had worked at the Dallas Times Herald. I never knew he worked as a graduate student at Florida State University, nor that he was on the board of Athletes in Action or that he toiled for Camp Crusade.

He knew I had a daughter who recently had gotten married. I never knew he had five children - son Tim, and daughters Sarah, Elizabeth, Hannah and Rebekah - nor that his wife was Carol or that she had a grander smile than his.

What I did know about JohnWeber, and he about me, is that we had shared a common interest in our younger days, both having wrestled, although John was able to do so in college, me just a few years in high school. He asked me where I had gone to high school, and he acted as if he knew Bloom Township High School’s wrestling program. His sincerity was so convincing I never once even remotely doubted he might have just been trying to be nice.

All these thoughts flashed-flooded forward last Thursday, not only that day JohnWeber died, but, as I would learn Tuesday, the very day, after 27 years of working toward this goal, he was supposed to hand in his dissertation at Dallas Seminary for his long-awaited doctorate degree.

And I felt inadequate. He knew so much about me, but me so little as it turned out about him.

I knew why, too, even before his son Tim pointed out, “He was the best listener I ever met.”

So good, when you talked to JohnWeber, he made you feel as if you were the most important person he had ever met, so no wonder each of his daughters claimed they were his “favorite daughter,” or that Elizabeth would say “He had the greatest way of making people feel important.”

She knew better than the rest of us, and why, after looking over the hundreds who took time out of their day to attend the service, said, “This is a room full of all his favorite people.”

See, Team Chaplain was his title, but inaccurate. He was Franchise Chaplain. Team Chaplain makes you think he only dealt with the players. That would be wrong, and if you were here Tuesday you would have understood.

There were players in attendance for sure, JohnWeber having conducted the pregame chapels and Bible studies for years and years, having made a defined impression on these young men. But that’s not all. There were members of the front office in attendance; trainers and equipment guys; members of the TV and radio departments; Internet and video; media and community relations; player development; football operations; Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine and security; Desperados players and coaches.

Still, that’s not all. The guy who takes care of the team’s game-day sideline communication systems was here. One of the lunch caterers was here. The recently retired American Airlines pilot who flew the team charter flights for so many years. Guys from American’s ground crew. Members of the local media - writers and TV guys. Amazing.

Even more so, there were former Cowboys players, guys like Chad Hennings and Billy Cundiff and Tim Seder and Mike Saxon, and those were just the ones I saw among the maybe more than some 500 people at the memorial. And even defensive lineman Kenyon Coleman, now playing for the New York Jets but who saw fit to spend part of his bye week attending this service.

To me, that is the greatest tribute to a man’s 59 years on this earth. JohnWeber cast a wide net, a true fisher of men.

Now a lot of speaker-types had something to say about him after his five children so eloquently summed up their father, including Pat Summerall, who called this guy who had a way of staying in the background yet having such a profound affect on so many “a man’s man.”

But leave it to Greg Ellis to get to the bottom of JohnWeber. And this was not just some afterthought for Ellis. As you might have read on DallasCowboys.com after the Philadelphia game, Ellis would follow Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips’ awarding Terrell Owens a game ball for his performance in Sunday night’s 38-17 victory by grabbing one of the actual footballs used in the game, standing up in the middle of the group with the ball held high and saying this would be JohnWeber’s game ball. The players all nodded.

This had been on Ellis’ mind.

So Ellis strode to the lectern, ball in hand again to eventually present to Carol Weber, saying, “It really hit me how important John was to the world.” Ellis remembered a few of JohnWeber’s pregame chapel talks, one this year at Buffalo and one a few years ago. He had taken notes, recalling JohnWeber once saying, “Integrity is doing what is right even when it’s hard” and then this, too, about faith and freedom, Ellis quoting, “Freedom is doing what you ought to do, not what you want to do.”

Geesh, leave it to Ellis. He kept saying all the things I was thinking of saying about JohnWeber. So did his kids. So did his friends. So just maybe JohnWeber was all this to everybody, seemingly an exhausting task to be that consistent, that caring to so many for so long.

There are too shames to all this:

In my books, 59 years then is not long enough for such a unique man, and, sometimes you never realize what you got until it’s gone, those very thoughts racing through my head on the charter flight to Philadelphia when the charter coordinator stopped by to chat about JohnWeber, then telling me what I didn’t want to know: That I was sitting in what would have been his seat.

How I wished I could ask JohnWeber just one question . . . just one.

A lesson learned for sure, one about being more aware and more grateful of those people we meet, because in the end, well, let Ellis so appropriately and fittingly sum up JohnWeber far better than I ever could:

“Sometimes you don’t realize when you have greatness with you.”

Dawgs vs. Tigers

The late Mike the Tiger went wild whenever a dog was around, so much so that they quit letting dogs come around. I wonder if that's what killed him.

As seen here, the new Mike is more docile. When you're a 35-point favorite, you can afford to be. We'll see...

Louisiana Tech meets LSU Satuday night in Tiger Stadium, 7 p.m.

Hank Thompson gets a six-pack to go...I mean, REALLY to go

Former Louisiana Hayrider Hank Thompson dies of lung cancer at his Texas home at the age of 82

By MATT CURRY
Associated Press Writer

DALLAS (AP) — Hank Thompson has died of lung cancer just days after canceling his tour. The country singer was 82.
Thompson died late Tuesday at his home in the Fort Worth suburb of Keller, said spokesman, Tracy Pitcox, who is also president of Heart of Texas Records.
“He was battling aggressive lung cancer,” Pitcox said Wednesday in a statement. “He remained conscious until the last couple of hours and passed away peacefully at about 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday night surrounded by his friends and family.”
The last show Thompson played was Oct. 8 in his native Waco. That day was declared “Hank Thompson Day” by Gov. Rick Perry and Waco Mayor Virginia DuPuy.
Fans loved Thompson’s distinctive gravelly voice and his musical style, a mix of honky-tonk and Western swing. He was named to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989.
His first recording was “Whoa, Sailor” in 1946. That year, he started a band called the Brazos Valley Boys, which won Billboard magazine’s touring band of the year award 14 consecutive times.
Thompson had 29 hits reach the top 10 between 1948 and 1975. Some of his most famous songs include “Humpty Dumpty Heart” and “A Six Pack to Go.”
His album “The Wild Side of Life” reached No. 1 in 1952. It inspired a famous “answer song” written by J.D. Miller, “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.” Recorded by Kitty Wells, the song was the first No. 1 hit by a woman soloist on the country music charts and made Wells a star.
Thompson’s song was about a guy who’d lost his wife when she left him “and went back to the wild side of life.” The song says, “I didn’t know God made honky-tonk angels.”
“It wasn’t God who made honky-tonk angels, as you said in the words of your song,” sang Wells, who worked with Thompson for many years. “Too many times married men think they’re still single, that has caused many married girl to go wrong.”
Wells said Wednesday she never took Thompson’s tune personally and didn’t record the response for personal reasons.
“It was just a song,” she said from her Nashville home.
The two hits were both on the charts at the same time.
“I think mine kind of helped his record, and his helped mine,” she said.
Thompson grew up a fan of Gene Autry, which fueled his love of the guitar. By the time he finished high school, he was playing on a local radio show, where he was featured as “Hank the Hired Hand.”
He served in the Navy, and studied electrical engineering at Southern Methodist University, the University of Texas and Princeton.
Thompson considered a career in engineering, but remained in show business. He caught the attention of Tex Ritter, who helped him get a contract with Capitol Records.
Pitcox said Thompson requested that no funeral be held.
A “celebration of life,” open to fans and friends, will be held Nov. 14 at Billy Bob’s Texas, a Fort Worth honky-tonk.
Survivors include his wife, Ann. He had no children.

'War Fair' tales...

Mr. Albert McKee called me from Ruston after reading yesterday’s column about the old State Fair Classic, NSU vs. Tech series. In the late 1960s, NSU students hired a pilot to drop WRECK TECH leaflets on the Ruston campus the day before the Saturday game. The pilot accidentally -- nor not, who really knows? -- dropped them two miles west, on the Grambling State campus, instead.

McKee was a Tech student in 1946 (right after WWII, you’ll recall) when a Tech student in the Army Air Corp flew over Natchitoches and dropped sacks of flour all over Demon land on the Friday before Saturday’s game in Shreveport. But, McKee said the student had low fuel and had to land near the river by the NSU campus. Demon students “captured” the pilot, shaved his head, painted a purple “N” on it, caged him, kept him overnight, and during halftime of the game the next day, let him out of the cage -- on the 50 yard line, something you’d surely get arrested for today.
“Yep, that was back in the good ol’ days,” McKee said.

Another pilot, a former NSU student who preferred not to be mentioned -- he’s a professor at a local university which may or may not be LSUS -- also dropped WRECK TECH leaflets from a plane in the 1960s -- “but I hit the campus,” he said. “I know where Ruston is.”

The NSU Student Government Association had hired him for the prank. His cousin was a “bigwig” with the SGA. He borrowed the plane from a friend in Springhill, dropped the leaflets early on the Friday morning of State Fair weekend, flew back to Springhill, then drove back to Natchitoches. He went to his cousin for his money, “about $30,” he said, “maybe $50.”

She said she needed an invoice.

An invoice? He didn’t want to sign his name to a bill that would basically be a confession. “So,” he said, “I never got paid.”

Which is how it goes at the fair. You pays your money, you takes your chances.

One more, this one from the T-Mail files...
Hi,
I liked your article this morning about the State Fair Game. I was a student at Northwestern State College,
(1946-1950) We never won during those years. After the game we would walk down the Midway with our friends, and big corsages on. The workers would ask "who won"? Needless to say, we were not happy campers.We had no wins while I was there.
One year, I think I was a freshman, I rode the train to Shreveport from Natchitoches for the game. I decided to ride back with friends. We were late, and the Dean of Women was not very understanding. It was not even midnight. We were campused, and my Mother threatened to come to Natchitoches. I lived through it though.

I remember Henry Burns and the leaflet incident. Even though I am somewhat older than Henry, I agree, "we lost a great tradition."
Sincerely,
Mildred

Pea Festival arrives, hits the big time!

The following missive is from my favorite Pea-R guy, Bill Dailey, in Emerson, Ark...

Emerson’s Tiller Race in 2008 Old Farmer’s Almanac


One of the Ark-La-Tex's most unusual sporting events is currently featured in a national publication.

Emerson’s World Championship Rotary Tiller Race has made it into the 2008 Old Farmer’s Almanac.

The race of souped-up garden tillers, the marquee event of the annual Emerson PurpleHull Pea Festival, is featured in a section of the almanac highlighting unusual or “quirky” competitions in the United States and Canada.

“You know the sport has arrived when it makes it into the Old Farmer’s Almanac,” says Bill Dailey, spokesman for the festival. “I was wondering why the festival was suddenly getting emails from all over the country asking about tiller racing.”

The World Championship Rotary Tiller Race began in 1990, the first year of the festival’s existence. At the time, it was thought a race of garden tillers would be an appropriate, quaint side event, given tillers were widely used to grow purple hull peas in local backyard gardens.

Since then, it’s grown into a monster.

In the very first race, 16-year-old Jason Hines surprised event organizers when he showed up with a tiller that he and his grandfather had modified for speed. In following years, racers arrived with tillers using various combinations of engines and homemade tiller tines.

“We went through a period when alcohol burning engines were all the rage,” said Dailey. “We’ve even had electric tillers there. Now it’s mostly back to gasoline.”

The current world record is held by Shane Waller of Junction City, Arkansas, who in 2005 tilled the 200-foot track of plowed ground in 5.72 seconds, an average speed of almost 24 miles-per-hour.

The Emerson PurpleHull Pea Festival & World Championship Rotary Tiller Race is held annually on the last weekend in June. The 2008 event will be June 27-28.

Brad Paisley's Top 10 Songs...

...according to this grab-bag of loyal fans. My list is in the paper today and at the bottom of this blog, but that's just if you want a list that's entirely accurate.

JIMMY WATSON

1. “Whiskey Lullaby” -- features Alison Krauss - ‘nough said. Has the whole cheatin' leading to drinkin’ leading to dyin’ thing going.
2. “Online” -- Inspired the best comical video ever shown on CMT -- it features Taylor Swift - ‘nough said.
3. “When I get where I’m going” -- I’m goin’ there too, although hopefully not today. Features Dolly Parton -- ‘nough said.
4. “I’m gonna miss her” a.k.a. “The Fishin’ Song” -- got to interview Bradley for a story on this song.
5. “Ticks” -- One of the most romantic tunes ever penned. Everybody ought to experience a co-tick-picking campout.
6. “Celebrity” -- makes fun of himself and others of his lofty ilk.
7. “He didn’t have to be” -- The kind of song that makes your woman swoon.
8. “We Danced” -- a song about something that never happens in real life, but it’ll make your bartender smile.
9. “Little Moments” -- we all like ‘moments’ whether they’re little or big.
10. “She’s Everything” -- We’re all waitin’ for a woman like that.

ADAM BATCHELOR (he just did 5 because it's a weekday and he can't do 10 because of "union rules," he said.)
5. Online
4. Ticks
3. Alcohol (Mr. Batchelor likes his titles short)
2. Whiskey Lullaby
1. The Fishin' Song

JOSHUA KERRY
10. Online
9. The Fishin' Song
8. Alcohol
7. Half the Man He Didn't Have to Be
6. Little Moments
5. Celebrity
4. Mud on the Tires
3. Whiskey Lullaby
2. Two People Fell in Love
1. She's Everything

JARED SATTLER
10. Online
9. Fifth Gear
8. Celebrity
7. Whiskey Lullaby
6. The Fishin' Song
5. Mud on the Tires
4. Little Moments
3. Alcohol
2. She's Everything
1. I'm Still a Guy

CASEY ALLEN
10. Wrapped Around
9. Time Well Wasted
8. The Cigar Song
7. I’m Still a Guy
6. Letter to Me: “I’m sure it’ll be Song of the Year or something.”
5. The Best Thing I Had Going: “Most of the rest of these are off ‘Mud on the Tires,’ which is only the greatest CD in the history of country music.”
4. Ain’t Nothin’ Like
3. Come on Over Tonight
2. Mud on the Tires
1. Famous People

TEDDY LIST
10. Cornography: Paisley and James Burton trade guitar licks.
9. Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy: Paisley respects his country forefathers. Listen for the Don Rich lick. Rich played guitar for the Buckaroos, as you know -- Buck Owens and the Buckaroos had a huge hit with this tune.
8. Letter to Me
7. Time Well Wasted
6. Mud on the Tires
5. Long Sermon
4. She’s Everything
3. I’ve Been Better
2. Better Than This
1. Waitin’ on a Woman