An unabashedly non-sports related post

So I picked up Bill McKibben's book 'Deep Economy' the other day. McKibben, a former staff writer for The New Yorker, is essentially a writer on social commentary. 'Deep Economy' is an appeal of sorts to transition the economies of the world into more sustainable, localized entities that can exist in spite of peak oil and all that garbage. Without trying to sound like too much of a hippie liberal guido communist, the cause is something I really believe in. But, to bring us to the point of this post, I believe in that very cause most fervently of all when it presents itself in the form of a good-ass piece of bacon.

I'm talking here about Oxford's newest restaurant, Big Bad Breakfast, operated by John Currence (of City Grocery) and located on North Lamar near Panini and Volta. Big Bad Breakfast (BBB is the logo, and also much easier to type) is the latest local eatery to take advantage of the various quality foodstuffs available right here in north Mississippi. What sort of foodstuffs? Read this damn article, because as evidenced by my lack of an article in a month or so, I’m too lazy to tell you.

Anyways, the Ghost of Jay Cutler and I went to BBB a few days ago to nurse away a light hangover, and we were quite pleased with what we found. Ghost (I don't really call him that, we're not in a damn fighter jet squadron) got the Big Bad Breakfast Platter, from which I shamelessly stole some bacon and hash browns. The bacon is probably the best I've ever had, and has a really nice spicy tobasco flavor to it. I ordered the brandy-spiked French toast for myself, and it was pretty excellent, very light and fluffy compared to most French toast. The coffee was Cafe du Monde chicory, and it, too was stellar.

Anyways, I dig places like L&M's Kitchen, The Ravine, and now BBB for making use of great local produce to serve up some of the best damn food that you can get anywhere. This is my shameless plug: go to BBB. The location isn't one that makes it easy for them, but the food kicks ass, the service was good, and the atmosphere was awesomely corny and southern. Can't recommend it enough.

Post scriptum: I have been kicking around ideas with a couple other RSC guys for posts to pass the time between now and football season. If you want restaurant reviews, local music write-ups, videos of LSU fans injuring themselves, or whatever, let us know. If you don't, we'll just do whatever the fuck we want. Until next time...

Red/Blue/Manning/Willis/Fireworks/ChangingtheCultureofAlcohol Preview!!!!@3

So if you're looking for a great weekend in Oxford this spring... this may not be it. Avett Brothers headline Double Decker, and will easily be the best act in DD history, as far as I'm concerned. Unlike the past few years though, the DD headliner probably couldn't start at quarterback and/or cornerback on the football team. So if you like, I dunno, sports and shit, maybe this weekend will be ok...

I have a beef with the Ole Miss PR 'machine' this weekend. By declaring Manning-Willis day this weekend, we slight two recent Ole Miss greats, Deuce 'Volkswagen' McAllister, and Derrick Burgess. Like Manning/Willis, they had great collegiate success on underachieving Ole Miss teams, and went on to do great things in the NFL, McAllister being an integral part of the best Saints team in history, and Burgess leading the NFL in sacks two years ago. Also, Deuce has already supplied the University with a significant monetary contribution, and with all of his dealerships, he looks to do the same in the future, as well as send his kids here to pledge Phi Delta Theta.

So anyway, here are two lists of observations/predictions to look out for this weekend, one of which is likely to happen, one of which, if it happens, don't say I didn't call it...

Real predictions:

1. Greg Hardy does something ridiculous. Whether he kills Billy Tapp in cold blood or chases down Mike Wallace on a deep route after shaking off a Michael Oher Block and getting chop blocked by Corey Actis and Chaz Ramsey, expect Greg to do something to assert himself as the most dominant class skipper on campus.
2. Dustin Mouzon turns in a solid performance, solidifying his top spot at CB, leaving Vaughn and Green to battle it out for the other spot. My vote goes to Green, based on his having been taught to, I dunno, catch the ball sometimes.
3. Tony Fein makes a good push as the starter at Mike 'backer. I think Cornell or perhaps Trahan get the eventual nod here, but Fein is instinctive, and will likely do well against our offense. Spread and/or spread option offenses will kill him, but he'll at least be in the conversation until we come across one for realstown. Staff sources indicate that despite his speed limitations, Fein's wicked awesome tattoo could start at outside 'backer in a pinch.
4. Allen Walker/Jamarca Sanford/an errant observer might hit Dex so hard he dematerializes. I'm really excited about him being so involved in the offense. But please, Coach, don't put him in until SEC play.
5. Jevan Snead will NOT throw an interception to Mike Dzura, as he did last spring. Mainly because Dzura got, like, hardcore busy with frat stuff and isn't on the team anymore. Seriously, though, if Snead throws picks, it'll only be to legit DB's, ya'll. I am worried about his Brett Favre tendencies, but hopefully he learns to trust his offense enough to help him score without throwing up garbage.
6. Offensive line gets beat up, gets called various effeminate names by Markuson. I think they'll be fine, especially when John Jerry gets rid of whatever unsavory medical condition currently ails him. However, Peria + Hardy + Tillman + Laurent + Stevens + Lockett = a disconcerting amount of sacks for an offensive line coach. This will also cause folks to be underwhelmed with Cordera Eason, but again, I'll give him a pass for now.
7. Assuming that teams are divided into first team O/second team D vs. second team O/first team D, I'm picking the first team O, since the defensive line backups will dominate their offensive counterparts, and the deep receiving corps on the second team won't have many good passes come their way. 17-7, first team O, decided in regulation...

Fake predictions (but don't blame me if they happen):

1. Tracy Rocker and Jerrell Powe get bored on the sidelines and ingest Dexter McCluster. Though not as high in protein, Nutt will appeal to Powe to snack on private school kickers in the future.
2. Rory Johnson, Mico McSwain, and Jamal Harvey drop by to watch their former teammates, but are quickly evacuated as the APR reactor reaches critical mass.
3. Andy Kennedy and Mike Bianco make a special guest appearance to speak to the team about reaching their potential... various NAFOOM posters suffer irony-related aneurysms.
4. Houston Nutt will express his continued optimism towards the team saying that, although he is excited about the progress of the team as a whole, "we're really just waiting on Hunter Miller."
5. Make your own... It is damn near 2:30 A.M., and I'm almost sober.

Big-boned Bulldogs

According to an irreputable e-Zine an organization of journalists of the highest quality and integrity, Mississippi State is the third fattest university in America. This comes to no shock to me after having tasted their delicious cheeses (yes, they've got us beat in cheese) and homemade chocolate milk on-tap at the school's cafeteria. Furthermore, this also comes as no shock when observing the girth of one Slyvester Croom.

I know, the logic behind said assessment is fairly flawed when considering the lack of the Universities of Tennessee or Kansas on the aforementioned list, but work with me here. They breed 'em fat out there in Starkville, and God, Allah, Yaweh, or haphazard-forces-of-Darwinism be praised! Somebody's gotta make sure my Mississippi State brand ricotta is extra lumpy.

You know those Bulldogs aren't a bit ashamed of this either. They're probably starting sumo clubs and opening more buffets just so everyone can know that they are the pride and joy of the Morrill Land Grant group of universities.



Mississippi State: As proud of it's collective girth as Wierd Al