just not sure

I am writing this ahead of time. I am feeling the good times are back. Watch those scalpers dance in the street. I have scouted both Iowa and Minnesota and with my incredible knowledge of all things football and a good coin, I feel confident that this headline will be true Sunday morning.

Once more Iowans will be ready to pick Kirk Ferentz king or emporer or maybe even Czar (or Tsar?) of Iowa. Let the good times roll. Roll all night long!

And now for the small stuff in the other news

1) What US Senator railed against Obamacare for hours on end, then voted for it?

2) Organizers of the World Food Prize named an award in the name of former Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray. This is ironic since his party voted to drastically cut what in the US house last week?

3) Looks like an amendment to the Continuing Resolution written to protect a GMO producing company will be stripped out by the Senate. What company received the favor of an amendment to a previous continuing resolution?

4) After 10 years in effect, 85% of Massachusetts residents said this had no effect on their lives. What has had no effect on their lives?

5) Textbook reviewers in this state want to include climate change denial and creation science in their science textbooks. This state often sets the standard for national textbooks. What state is it?

6) This head of a pasta company had egg on his face after making disparaging remarks about gays. Then he made a non-apology apology. What pasta company is being boycotted by gays and their friends?

7) Prior to the climate report released this week by the IPCC, another report was released by a skeptic group meant to muddy the waters. What is this group called? Extra credit! Who bankrolls them?

8) The tactic of muddying an issue and causing confusion with similar sounding reports from similar sounding groups was honed during the attacks on what harmful product?

9) Has it been that long? Oct. 1 is the 44th anniversary of the release of the Beatles last recorded album. What is the name of that album?

10) Robert Benmoushe spoke out loudly for a group that he feels is being discriminated against rather harshly. What group is this?

11) Would you like a salad with that? What fast food company will allow customers to sub a salad or a fruit for their fries beginning next year?

12) Keeping his streak alive, the Pope made another statement this week that made headlines. The Pope said the love of what is the root of all evil?

13) Stating “A politically motivated, decades-long war on expertise has eroded the popular consensus on a wide variety of scientifically validated topics,” what science magazine has shut off the comments section of their website?

14) Strapping on her pink Mizuno Wave Rider 16 tennies, which woman has told local Dems she is running for governor of Texas?

15) Steve King is laughing, but which former candidate for Iowa governor is making noises about running in a primary against King in 2014?

I am old enough to remember when the Iowa – Minnesota game had bearing on the national championship. Evashevski coaching on one sideline, Murray Warmath on the other. Man, I am old.

1) Rafael (Ted) Cruz

2) the Food Stamp budget

3) Monsanto

4) marriage equality

5) Texas

6) Guido Barilla of Barilla pasta

7) NIPCC (non-governmental International Panel on Climate Change). Funded by the libertarian Heartland Institute.

8) cigarettes

9) Abbey Road

10) Wall Street traders who get large bonuses. Compared people who complain about them to lynch mobs

11) McDonald’s

12) Money

13) Popular Science

14) Wendy Davis

15) Doug Gross

Go Hawks!