Winter's Coming But It's Really Not A Big Deal For You by Wal Ozello

Did you see the Minnesota v Ohio State football game?  Hear the stories about the the snow that needed to be shoveled out of the stadium?

Maybe you're from Cleveland, where you've already got snow dumped on you in buckets and realized that everyone forgot how to drive in this weather.

Maybe you're getting ready for ski season... joining the school's ski club... waxing up your snowboard.

I'm going to spend the day switching out my lawnmower and snowblower in my garage. Winterizing the lawnmower, and making sure the snowblower starts. I'll get all my winter gear together, too.  God forbid if we get a couple inches this week, I'll have to do my driveway and a couple of neighbors' as well.

It's getting cold, folks. It's time to put in the storm windows, reset the thermostats, and get out the winter pajamas. Get the ice melt out, snow shovels on hand, and prepare for snow, ice, cold, snow, ice, cold, and some more snow, ice, and cold.

But here's the thing.... I don't have it that bad and my guess is neither do you. I got a roof over my head, windows I can close, and doors I can shut. Some people don't have that. They may have a tent, an alley way, or a highway bridge.  Their heating source may be a heat exhaust from a downtown building. Some others may have a house to live in, but can't afford the heating bills or even extra blankets for their kids.

Keep these people in your thoughts and prayers as the days grow shorter and colder. I'll be giving some real thanks this year during the last Thursday in November. I have a house, a job, and health insurance. That's a lot more than some other people.

And if you can find it in your heart to help, I recommend donating to a homeless shelter whether in money, blankets, or food.

Wal Ozello is  a science fiction techno-thriller novelist and the author of Assignment 1989: The Time Travel Wars  and Revolution 1990. He's a resident of Upper Arlington, Ohio and a frequent customer at Colin's Coffee.

Learn more about Wal Ozello and other Pencilstorm contributors by clicking here

How I Spent My Sunday Morning by Colin Gawel

Ah yes, a free Sunday morning. My wife is out of town and Owen is at a sleepover. I usually take Sundays off from the coffee shop so no worries there. Three hours of unadulterated free time. The sky is the limit. What to do? Write a song? Read the NY Times? Go for a run? Drink some coffee, or perhaps even a Bloody Mary? Call some old friends and catch up? Start tackling Pencilstorm stories I need to write, such as Watershed opening for Cheap Trick or recording with Tim Patalan in Michigan? Clean the house? Winterize the lawn mower? Write about Ray Davies being the best songwriter? The upcoming Dead Schembechlers show? Practice guitar? Call my Dad? or sister?

Yeah, those are all good ideas.

or..

I could lay in bed with the blinds drawn and Google myself to read old reviews for an hour or so. The highlight being Todd Baker defending me from the charge of being an irresponsible parent on the NPR weekend edition message board. At this point I probably should have at least gotten up to make some coffee but.......

I just had to check in on YouTube to catch some footage from the 2014 KISS Kruise. Bam! Full second night show posted thanks to my man Larry Hirshon.  They played "Plaster Caster?" Well, I've just got to watch that. Ooo, and a full acoustic set too? Larry, you have done it again. Then I wondered if those greedy bastards were changing their set lists during their Vegas residency. They aren't. Tough luck for all you Kiss fanatics who bought tickets for every show hoping they would play lots of deep cuts from Unmasked. I bet Jim Johnson doesn't spend his Sunday morning googling KISS set lists.  Speaking of set lists, didn't Cheap Trick open on the KISS Cruise? I wonder what they played. And when we opened for them in Myrtle Beach that was a hell of a set list. I should really write a follow up on that. But damn, check out this version of Speak Now in Los Angeles in 2013.

Whoops, too late. Owen is home. Three hours gone. Better clean this house and get ready to watch football. Nice.

Colin Gawel plays in Watershed, owns Colin's Coffee and is concerned about the nature of his true nature. He did get off his ass and start Pencilstorm, though.

When being wrong feels so right, The NCP gears up for the 6-3 Browns taking on The Texans:

Follow @northcoastposse for Sunday snark and analysis of Cleveland's favorite sons 

Big$- In all honesty, when we started this little project I never expected to be writing about a 6-3 football team. As a lifelong Browns fan, I’m not just a glass half empty guy, I’m a “holy crap, now were gonna die of dehydration guy”, but even I am having a hard time focusing on the negatives from last week. The defense forced a $20-million-a-year QB into Joe Bauserman land and the offense was smooth and efficient. It was great to see the three headed monster running attack chew up the field allowing Hoyer to fire off precise strikes when necessary. As a side note, I want to personally take the time to apologize for my lack of faith in new center, Nick McDonald. He came up a big last week, and after reading about he overcame being abandoned by his widower father as an early teen I feel bad for doubting him. So in conclusion, rather than harp endlessly about the punt return woes (hopefully Jim Leonard was reminded he isn’t Gale Sayers during film sessions this week), I’m gonna sip my Four-String Brass Knuckle, kick back and enjoy 6-3.

K-Dubs, the Soldier- It took nine games, but the Browns finally put together a complete game effort.  The offense was balanced, as the team rediscovered the running game.  The Browns gained more yards through the air (198) and nearly as much on the ground (170) as the Bengals had in total offense (179).  The defense caused four turnovers, turning one of them into a touchdown and missing a field goal on another, and the offense dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 11 and ½ more minutes.  I honestly did not see this one coming, but the performance—not just the win—lent legitimacy to the Browns record, as coming into the game they only had one win over a plus-.500 team in the schizophrenic Steelers.  As the NCP hates on all AFC North rivals equally, watching Andy Dalton get pulled to lick his wounds was an early Christmas gift.  The win on the national, Thursday-night stage, gives the team great momentum heading into the second-half of the season.

Where we starting LeBron this week?

Big$- This week, I’m giving the King a 1 day reprieve from his Cavalier duties and calling on him to keep the WR1 spot warm for the soon to be returning Josh Gordon. His athletic prowess should allow for muscle memory to kick in and recall his 2002 all state days.

K-Dubs, the Soldier- No offense to Gary “Big Play” Barnidge and Jim Dray “Day,” who have filled in quite admirably in the absence of Jordan Cameron, but I would like to see LeBron start at tight end this week.  If you think Jimmy Graham, who played basketball at the University at Miami, Florida is great at tight end, think of the damage a guy that went from dominating in high school to dominating in the NBA in a span of six months would do.

Prediction:

Big$- Although it may be easier for me to write about painful losses, I don’t foresee one coming this week. As excited as I am for the all of the elements that have been working for the Browns, my main source of optimism comes from the Texans starting QB Ryan Mallett. He has always seemed to me to be, for lack of a better term, disinterested. I have full faith that Dansby, Whitner, Haden and company will find ways to exploit this lack of interest. On offense for some reason, I have a strange feeling that Dr. Dray will find a way to impact this game as Hoyer may be looking for quick outlets in the face of J.J. Watt. In the end, with the Dawg Pound as rabid as ever, I expect a 17-10 Browns victory.

K-Dubs, the Soldier- This game is a tough one to predict.   The Texans have a very good defensive line, even if No.1 draft pick Jadeveon Clowney sits this one out with the knee injury that has hampered him this season.  The Browns have struggled this season when they played defensive fronts that can get penetration to stifle the run and pressure Hoyer.  See the Jacksonville and Tampa Bay games.  I imagine nightmares involving J.J. Watt have kept Kyle Shannahan up late all week.   There are a lot of factors cutting in the Browns’ favor, though.  For starters, despite having an All-World D-end in Watt, the Texans still rank 28th in the league in total defense.  Second, the Browns are up against another inexperienced quarterback in Mallett, who is making his first pro start.  This is good news for the Browns, who are plus-9 in turnover margin this year.  Also, Texans running back Arian Foster is injured and not expected to play.  He left last week’s game against the Eagles with a groin injury.  The loss of Foster, who leads the AFC with 822 yards, is also huge because of his utility in the passing game, as the Texans like to flex him out into the slot position to match up against linebackers and safeties.   The production they have gotten from Foster has been necessary because the drop-off in production from perennial all-star wideout Andre Johnson.  He is no longer the deep threat he once was, having a career low in yards-per-catch and tallying only 1TD so far this year.  He is the type of receiver Joe Haden has had success against in the past.  The real battle to watch will be between second-year receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who leads the team in receiving yards and TDs, and which ever No.2 cornerback will be covering him, likely Buster Skrine.  This game is also at home and will presumably be in bad weather.  Therefore, the conditions should favor a quarterback in Hoyer, a Cleveland native and Michigan State grad, over a guy in Mallett that played at Arkansas.  Considering these factors, I think the Browns will win a tight game, benefiting from turnovers to overcome a lack of production on offense.  Look for the Browns to win 20-13.

Baver's Picks and Colin's College Football Questions 11/14/14

Colin: Give us an update on your picks to date and what games and lines you find interesting this weekend?

Baver: 22-13-1 against the spread, including the OSU games, where I’m 7-1-1.  I think Bama is the best play on the board, laying 9.5 against Miss State.  Don’t see much of a hangover from the LSU OT win with the Tide now facing the nation’s #1 ranked team.  The Messy State defense has struggled recently and won’t be able to stop the balanced Bama offense.  I also like Utah getting 8 on the road at Stanford.  I guess the argument against the Utes is that they are reeling with two straight losses.  Regardless, the line is too high and that game should be close.  And I like the Noles giving 2 ½ at Miami.  No, it wouldn’t shock me to see FSU’s luck in close games finally run out, but there is simply too much of a talent differential for Florida State to be laying only 2 ½ against the Canes.   

Colin: Geez… an 11 am local kick and frigid weather on the road following on the heels of a huge win. Additionally, all the pundits are popping off about how the Buckeyes need to run up the score on a tough Minnesota defense.  OSU v Gophers has all the makings of a classic trap game. How do feel about this one knowing what you know now?

Baver: I’m more concerned now than I was earlier in the week.  The first two things you mentioned…the 11 am (local) kick after three straight night games and a game time temperature of around 22 degrees.  Fortunately, the wind forecast doesn’t look too bad.  It’s no secret that JT Barrett’s biggest downside is his arm strength.  If he struggles throwing the ball with the wind playing a factor, Meyer may play things close to the vest like he did in Happy Valley.  I’ll still take the Bucks to cover, but I’d steer clear of this one if I were a bettor, especially with the line back up to 14.  Yes, definitely a trap game for the Bucks.

Colin: Since everyone is asking, I guess I have to ask too….does Braxton return to Ohio State next year?  And if he does, is he the #1 QB?

Baver: My guess is that Braxton returns to OSU, despite the fact that he is completely detached from this year’s Buckeye team.  I do think there are some games going on with Meyer and Herman talking about having Braxton next year….like it’s a done deal.  I think Meyer will continue to tell you that Miller will be back next year, and that he is the starter at QB when he returns….whether he believes these things or not.  I tend to doubt that Miller goes the graduate transfer route, and also doubt that the QB job will simply be handed back to him if he returns to Columbus.  I see no way a healthy JT Barrett isn’t taking at least 40% of the QB snaps next season even if Miller is back and stays relatively healthy.  Barrett has been the most pleasant surprise I have ever seen at Ohio State with the amount of progress he has made in such a short time.  And it wouldn’t surprise me to see Miller used primarily as the H-back next year should he return.  He has no future as an NFL QB, so I would hope Braxton is open to idea of playing some TB, WR or H-back if he dons the scarlet and gray for one more season. 

Colin: Ok, you have answered JT vs Braxton, but I have a bigger question: Why is ANYBODY talking about this right now? It's 0.00% impact on this season. Can't we just agree to save it for spring practice? 

Baver: I guess the JT vs Braxton topic is right there with 2015 & 2016 recruiting, along with the most current top 4 playoff committee ranking.  There are Buckeye fans that spend more time in the fall following recruiting than they do following that year’s Buckeye team.  And the current top 4 ranking by the playoff committee?  Basically worthless right now – don’t know why people get so worked up about it.

Colin: Why is Nebraska suddenly being given respect? No team has been softer for the past decade than the Cornhuskers and I fully expect Wisconsin to completely embarrass them yet again this weekend in Madison. The only difference between the two is that Wisconsin lost a close game to LSU and the Blackshirts played nobody in the non conference. Would you take the over/under on Badgers 450 yards rushing?

Baver: I’m with you in thinking the Huskers are in trouble against the Badgers with Melvin Gordon likely sticking it down their throat.  And despite having only one loss right now, with their remaining schedule, Nebraska should still be able to achieve their mandatory 4 losses that Pelini is required to have each season.

Colin: ESPN already starting to rev up the OSU bandwagon. Let's face it, if OSU wins out, the committee will be throwing metrics, Baylor and TCU out the window in favor of TV ratings and an Urban Meyer storyline. If OSU wins out, are they in?

Baver: I’ve been saying it since before the Sparty game….if the Bucks win out they are in.  It’s possible that they win out and don’t get in, but it’s unlikely.  And the Bucks seem to be getting love from unlikely places since beating MSU in East Lansing.  Taking a Baylor or TCU team that did not win a conference championship game over a 13-1 Ohio State team that beat Wisconsin or Nebraska in the B10 title game?  Don’t think it happens.  And your almighty dollar argument supports this argument even more.

Today's-Hot-Young-Country Country Op-Ed by Aaron Beck

Thanks to Aaron Beck for letting us re-post his piece about last week's Country Music Awards. I didn't want you to miss it. Colin G.

Twenty years ago, today's-hot-young-country country was hilarious enough. But the new breed is taking it to Spinal Tap levels. Things I loved about last night's Country Music Awards, which - in a perfect world - would be aired for 3 hours every Wednesday night:

1) That all the aw-shucks dudes are so supernaturally clean.
Seriously, does a team of handlers power wash these fellas all day
before these shows? I mean, Vince Gill, one of the cuddliest
pop-country singers 20 yrs back, today is as threatening as a Hell's
Angel in comparison.

2) That the names of all the singers sound like characters from
General Hospital. I give you Luke Bryan, who dodged some nasty
lightning strikes last night (see photo).

3) "Outlaw" Eric Church. This guy. My God. Trying way too hard, dude.
Waylon Jennings had more "outlaw" in any one of the goddamn toes he
had amputated right before he died of "the sugar."

4) That the songs are either Spring Break Country-ish (let's go to
Cabo der der der der der) or "rockin' " a Coldplay/Bon Jovi/Journey
vein. Hilarious.

5) That an award dubbed "Entertainer of the Year" is given to someone.
Always seems like the winner of this ought to be juggling a kitten, a
chainsaw, and an apple, rather than singing lyrics written by seven song-
factory-line-workers in an office near Vanderbilt.

6) That said winner will then thank his manager at Mercury South, his
publicist, the guy who precision trims his 3-day beard, and then point
to the roof of the building and thank Jesus, who no doubt is wearing
fashion jeans and a sleeveless black T while glued to his fresh
900-inch flat screen in his new condo in a new mixed-use building in a
neighborhood full of earth-to-mouth gastropub-dive-bar concepts.

7) That the Dierks Bentley song "Drunk on a Plane" wasn't written by
Weird Al or Ray "The Streak" Stevens.

8) Florida Georgia Line! Yes! These top-shelf cornballs are a couple
clicks away from Chippendale's auditions at 2 p.m. on a Monday
afternoon in Tampa at the former Structure store in the West Shore
Plaza.

9) That rootin', tootin' Garth Brooks is still with us and possibly
could revive Chris Gaines and tour with Keith Urban.

10) That, based on all this evidence, that there's a big chance this
time next year that you'll catch my new band, Tanktop, featuring Cody
Papaw on lead vocals, performing our first sensitive-man single "You
Call Me Stupid, I Call Me Country (While Ya'll Treat Me Like That?)."

Baver's Buckeye Bag 11/12/14

Baver’s Buckeye Bag 11/12/14

Thoughts on the Sparty win and going forward

--Urban Meyer teams continue to be deadly as underdogs, with the Buckeyes soundly beating Michigan State in East Lansing, at night.  The Buckeye offense now has to be considered the real deal, and will be very tough for anyone to stop from here on out…even a playoff team, should the Buckeyes get there.  The defense on the other hand certainly did not play their best game and will likely face an offense better than Michigan State’s if they make the playoff.  Regardless, that was a GREAT win.

--Was Michigan State really that good?  Maybe, maybe not.  I give a ton of credit to the Buckeye offense, but I think it’s now obvious that the Sparty defense is not on par with what they had a year ago.  Again….regardless…..a GREAT win for the Bucks.

--Hats off to left guard Billy Price, who got beaten early, but went on to have his best game as a Buckeye.  The Buckeye interior O-line trio of Price, Boren and Elflein took care of business in East Lansing.

--Two guys that are really helping this Buckeye offense reach the next level: veteran WR’s Devin Smith and Evan Spencer.  Smith has come alive, and if the kid comes to play, there aren’t many corners in the Big Ten that can cover him.  And Evan Spencer does everything that doesn’t show up in the box scores.  A tip of the hat to these two seniors.

--Dontre Wilson continues to be up and down, but I hate to lose him with the foot injury.  Although, Meyer says Dontre Wilson will be out “a few weeks”.  Only out a few weeks with a broken foot?  That would seem to be a quick return.

--It appeared to be a big downgrade at the field corner spot with Gareon Conley subbing for Eli Apple the first two drives against MSU, as Apple dealt with a hamstring injury.  Conley got beat early and that may have been a different game had Apple not spelled him on Michigan State’s third drive.  Apple didn’t practice all week because of the injury, so that was a gutsy performance out of Eli.

--Michael Bennett is a beast – period.

--Some strange happenings with nickel back Armani Reeves?  The Buckeye coaches continue to say they “can’t” comment on Reeves’ status.  I won’t speculate as to what is going on with Reeves and just say that I think the Bucks could have used him Saturday in East Lansing. 

--Based on the updated odds to win the National Championship, the chances of Ohio State making the playoff still appear to be excellent “if” they win their next 3 games “and” the B10 title game.  Four more wins should bounce the Buckeyes up from #8 in the current playoff committee poll to top 4.  Ohio State is the third overall favorite to win the National Championship game at sportsbook.com with 6.5-1 odds, trailing Alabama (3.5 to 1) and Oregon (4 to 1).  OSU is the 6th favorite at the 5 Dimes sportsbook, with 8 to 1 odds, behind Alabama (4.5 to 1), Oregon (5 to 1), and the trio of TCU, Miss St, and Fla State, each of which is catching 7.5 to 1.

The trip to Minny and possible winter wonderland

As of early Wednesday morning, the weather forecast for the Minnesota game was a high of 29 degrees with a 40% chance of snow.  This worries me.  And it’s obviously a bad spot for Ohio State after such a big win against Sparty.  So, you have the bad spot, the act of facing a tough defense on the road, and the uncertainty that comes with snow and cold weather. 

As for the matchup….  Minnesota’s offense is a big downgrade from Michigan State’s, with the Gophers ranking 96th in the country in total offense, despite playing a weak schedule.  I am not sure if they did it with mirrors last week, putting up a 51-spot on Iowa, but I don’t expect much from the Gopher offense this week.

There is more of a concern on the other side of the ball, as the Gopher defense has been stubborn all year.  They rank 21st nationally in total defense and are fairly strong against both the run and the pass.  TCU has one of the best offenses in the country, averaging 47.2 pts per game, but scored only 30 on the Gophers in decent weather (in Fort Worth) in mid-September.

If the weather ends up being “not so bad,” I like the Buckeyes here, regardless of the spot (on the schedule).  I may change the score prediction later in the week, based on an updated weather forecast, but I almost certainly will still like the Buckeyes to cover the spread (currently OSU by 12, as of Wednesday morning) regardless of how much the line moves.  The Call: Ohio State 28 Minnesota 10.

--Brent Baver