Volume 2 Issue 34
March 20, 2003
Underway
The War begins, Monica Lewinsky gets a new job, and Greg's March Madness Picks
So, where's the "shock and awe"? Apparently we'll know it when we see it, but I haven't seen it yet. Looks like the intel on Hussein made us jump the gun, but things seem to be underway now, and it looks like we may even have Basra liberated in time for the evening news (perhaps complete with great photos of the people welcoming the US troops with flags and flowers!)
Looks like the attacks in Baghdad have still been pretty strategic, mostly major government offices, and a presidential palace or two. But I also noticed that the lights were still on, so that may mean that the US is planning to leave most of the infrastructure intact, though some footage from the Kuwaiti border also showed bridging equipment crossing into Iraq. Overall, the Pentagon has said that this isn't it though...I'd imagine the true "Shock and Awe" will be around primetime tonight.
Best quotes of the first night? Well, there was this quote from an early Washington Post dispatch -
"In the nearby Persian Gulf, combat pilots aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt were ordered to sleep during the day to prepare for nighttime operations. British sailors were told their beer rations would stop, which many regarded as a sure sign of impending hostilities."
And this one from former General Norman Schwartzkopf on NBC, about the effect of the "target of opportunity" throwing off the war plans -
"It's like choreographing a musical, getting it all down, and then on opening night some SOB jumps out of the Orchestra pit with a bayonet and you have to improvise"
Look for Stormin Norman to be doing theatre review soon I assume...But the best so far today has been Dan Rather on CBS. When I go into the room here with the TV, we're switching between ABC, NBC, and CNN mostly (for some reason we had ESPN for a while, but it's gone now...so I had to take a 2 hour lunch down at the bar), but in my office I only have the radio, which is on the local CBS news station here (http://www.wtop.com if you're looking for a good free online radio station for war news), and they from time to time simulcast Rather on CBS-TV. Some of the best Ratherisms so far...
On whether or not Saddam was actually giving that address last night:
"Since I recently saw him, I'd have to say it looks like him. If you had to bet the rent, I'd say it was him."
And then talking to an analyst about the ground forces, when the guy mentioned a GPS system:
"Wait a minute, what's a GPS? I know that most of our viewers know, but Grandma watching probably does not."
Good old Dan...always good for a quote.
As the war progresses, check out this Slate site for a list of great places to get news -
http://slate.msn.com/id/2080407/
Also, the New York Times has a great summary on the right hand side of their page. Most of the articles today are about the war, but I imagine once the furor dies down I'll be able to find more and more of the rest of the insanity. Again, I've separated the war/non-war news into separate sections, with an additional March Madness section as well.
And it's raining again...with a flood warning. Oh boy, can't wait to see the basement tonight!
WAR NEWS:
Saddam: Was it really him that gave that speech last night? Is he still alive?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60695-2003Mar20.html
Turkey: Turkey has opened its airspace to the US. But too late to get the bribe -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2862903.stm
The Media: Is Saddam planning on taking the media still in Baghdad hostage?
http://slate.msn.com/id/2080432/entry/0/
The Protesters: Anti-war protesters blocked bridges today in DC -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60776-2003Mar20.html
World Reaction: The "Arab street" ain't too happy -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60440-2003Mar20.html
And "Shock and Awe" isn't getting too many good reviews either -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55823-2003Mar19.html
Homeland "Security": Tractor Man summarized -
http://slate.msn.com/id/2080380/
That Other Country: South Korea is watching the war in Iraq...and they are very scared...becuase they could be next -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/20/international/worldspecial /20CND-KORE.html
And Osama: Over 1,000 US troops began a new offensive in Afghanistan, near Kandahar, apparently looking for Al-Queda -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/20/international/asia/20KAND. html
Still more insanity out there....
Killer Flu Bug: The SARS syndrome has been traced to a hotel in Hong Kong -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2867055.stm
Space Shuttle Columbia: The Flight data recorder has been found, potentially a big break for the investigators -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58925-2003Mar20.html
Look Who's Running for President: Doctors say Bob Graham will be able to run -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56491-2003Mar19.html
Worse than War? Monica Lewinsky will host a new reality show...for Fox of course -
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Entertainment/ap20030319_1987.htm l
Going Gambling? The hottest casino game nowadays is playing a chicken at "Tic-Tac-Toe" -
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/new_jer sey/5433369.htm
March Madness picks for the day below...Usual posting should be up around usual time, 3pm. If you're looking for 3/19's posting, just click on the calendar in the upper right hand corner.
March Madness: Ok, here they are...Greg's picks for games on Thursday, March 20! Greg's picks are based off of his soon-to-be winning NCAA pool entry, using a combo of statistics and just feeling. Remember kids, gambling is illegal. Yeah. I'll post them each morning, so check the website at http://www.fromtheswamp.com if you want to see them before tip-offs, they'll be there before the rest of the article. Some you get comments, some you don't :) These picks are slightly updated to reflect the first few games. Ok, here we go, in Regional Order -
Midwest Region
12:20pm ET - #14 Holy Cross (26-4) OVER #3 Marquette (23-5): As a 15 and 16 seed the last two years, Holy Cross has come close to the upset. This is their year...or maybe not :)
2:40pm ET - #11 Southern Illinois (24-6) OVER #6 Missouri (21-10): I think S. Illinois is headed for the Sweet 16...Missouri has just not been on the ball lately
7:25pm ET - #12 Weber State (26-5) OVER #5 Wisconsin (22-7): Weber may make it all the way to the Sweet 16...
9:45pm ET - #13 Tulsa (22-9) OVER #4 Dayton (24-5): Obviously the Midwest is my upset region...
West Region Why are like all of the western games today? This damn thing used to make sense...
12:40pm ET - #9 Gonzaga (23-8) OVER #8 Cincinnati (17-11): Was pretty easy...
3:00pm ET - #1 Arizona (25-3) OVER #16 Vermont (21-11): Come on...don't be stupid. Zona' won't win, but they'll get to the Sweet 16
7:10pm ET - #4 Illnois (24-6) OVER #13 Western Kentucky (24-8): Illinois should be an Elite Eight team
7:10pm ET - #7 Memphis (23-6) OVER #10 Arizona State (19-11)
7:20pm ET - #6 Creighton (29-4) OVER #11 Central Michigan (24-6)
9:30pm ET - #2 Kansas (25-7) OVER #15 Utah State (24-8): Kansas makes it to the Final 4 this year.
9:30pm ET - #5 Notre Dame (22-10) OVER #12 Wisconsin-Milwaukee
9:40pm ET - #3 Duke (24-6) OVER #14 Colorado State (19-13): But will Duke make it past the 2nd round?
South Region
2:40pm ET - #5 Connecticut (21-9) OVER #12 BYU (23-8): You know the whole brouhaha over BYU having to play on Sunday? Won't be an issue
5:00pm ET - #13 San Diego (18-11) OVER #4 Stanford (23-8): I didn't believe this at first, but all of my signs are there...this could be a big one.
East Region
12:25pm ET - #8 California (21-8) OVER #9 NC State (18-12): What an ending! Wow!
2:45pm ET - #1 Oklahoma (24-6) OVER #16 S.C. State (20-10): Oklahoma will be OK up to the Championship Game, me thinks...
My record so far, as of press time: 2-1 (.667)
