The Explorers' Club
№ CCCXX - The Moons of Jupiter, Part II: The sixty-plus non-Galilean moons, & the rings of Jupiter.







Operation ÖSTERREICH
Last week was the first week since Labor Day that did not see even a solitary daily constitutional. (Scheiße!) Through November & into December, I was averaging only two constitutionals per week, exactly half of my intended rate of four per week. This is a sorry state of affairs, one I dare not wait 'til '13 to address.

Thus far, I am holding the line on the consumption of Christmas cookies. I know that I have neither the will nor the willpower to quit cookies cold turkey, so I am allowing myself a small daily allotment. My diet has otherwise changed very little since Labor Day; I have not cut out as much snacking as I'd like, but I also have not allowed the holiday bounty to undo all the preceding months' good work. At least one part of ÖSTERREICH is operating according to plan.

The Victors: Project OSPREY
Thursday, 20 December 2012
(№ 2) Michigan 93-54 Eastern Michigan
12-0, Big Ten 0-0

The valiant Wolverines are now a single victory away from an undefeated non-conference schedule. Due to Indiana's loss to Butler, the valiant Wolverines are now ranked № 2, & receiving № 1 votes in the A.P. & the coaches' polls. Be afraid. Be very, very afraid.

Go Blue!

The Victors
The valiant Wolverines (№ 19) are going to be costumed as idiots for the New Year's Day Outback Bowl game against the epithetless Gamecocks of South Carolina (№ 11). Instead of wearing Michigan's august uniforms, they will be wearing "special" uniforms. This is a great idea; why would we want to look like ourselves, like the winningest team in the century-plus history of college football, when we face the "Old Ball Coach's" squad? Why not instead look like an anonymous Arena League team? What a capital idea!

Go Blue! hang, Dave Brandon.

The Rebel Black Dot Songs of the 4th Sunday of Advent
Sufjan Stevens, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" from Songs for Christmas (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: The wait is almost over. As Advent draws to a close, the Christmastide is nigh upon us!

Samstag, 22 Dezember
Brian d'Arcy James, "Michigan Christmas" via iTunes (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: On the last day for secular R.B.D.C.S.O.T.D., the temperatures finally became bone-chilling & the dead grass was at long last obscured by snow. At the eleventh hour, it began to look a lot like Christmas in the Mitten.

Freitag, 21 Dezember
Eddy Arnold, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" from Elf: Music from the Major Motion Picture (T.L.A.M.)