10:45 p.m.

• OK, for the love of God, Bob Costas, please stop making that forced laugh on Sunday Night Football whenever Keith Olbermann makes a wisecrack during his highlights. I've said it before: Even though Keith should be strung up for treason, I think he's excellent at doing sports highlights. You don't need to have laughter in the background. Trust me. It's not necessary.

9 p.m.

• Oh hell no.

McCain's Crowds Swell in N.H.

 

From CBS News' Dante Higgins:

 

MERRIMACK, N.H. --Something has shifted here in NH. As we got off the bus and headed into another town hall, we get word from McCain’s advance team that the room is packed.

 

“Good luck getting in there,” campaign staffer Justin Stevens yelled to the press as he ushered the Senator off the bus.

 

For the second time in a row today, McCain’s events were mobbed by voters and press. This morning he addressed about 500 people in a church basement - one of the largest crowds he's had in a while.

I'll tell you what. The GOP choice of candidates aren't really doing much for me, outside of Rudy. The only thing I like about Huckabee is that he's for a national sales tax. However, that's about the ONLY think I like about him. Romney is just there -- no way he'd win in a general election. Thompson: meh. I didn't bother reading the title to the following link on Drudge, but it pretty much speaks for itself:

RASMUSSEN National GOP: McCain 17%; Romney 16%; Huckabee 16%; Giuliani 15%; Thompson 12%...

The Jesus freaks are for Romney and Huckabee and non-Jesus freaks are for McCain and Giuliani. Add the percentages up and it looks like the Republican voters are split with 32 percent going for Romney and Huckabee and 32 percent going for Giuliani. Who's backing Thompson? People who watch "Law and Order." It's still too early to see who will break out.

But what about the Democrats? You came to the wrong place for that. I still say Hitlery is going to get the nomination because if Obama or Edwards takes a big lead nationally, they'll wind up dead.

• I just noticed I forgot to give a TB score for the Steeler game. Oops.

11:45 a.m.

• This local story has been on my nerves for a while. Basically, the county that engulfs Shittsburgh is going to tax booze to fix a funding gap in our region’s pisspoor Port Authority system.

While implementing the new drink tax on New Year's Day might be a tall order, it's no "Mission: Impossible," an Allegheny County judge said.

 

Common Pleas Judge Terrence O'Brien on Friday denied a request from two restaurants and a lobbying group to halt the 10 percent tax on poured alcoholic drinks.

 

"While many vendors covered by (the drink tax) will doubtless experience inconvenience and difficulty during the early weeks of the collection of this new tax," O'Brien wrote, "plaintiffs ... did not convince me that compliance with the ordinance is, as they allege, 'impossible...'"

 

…The tax money is intended to help plug a $30 million county budget gap and fund the cash-strapped Port Authority, while averting a property tax increase. It will take effect at 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Now here’s what pisses me off: Why the hell do restaurant owners have to suffer because the government is unable to maintain an efficient transit system. Isn’t it great that you can tax things that have nothing to do with a funding issue? Wow, that will really make the Port Authority change its ways. Why, in two years when nothing changes, the Allegheny County can tax potato chips or universal remotes!

I liked this newsbit in particular.

Some bars and restaurants have pictures of county officials in the windows stating they are not welcome while others, including Smokin' Joe's Saloon on the South Side, have printed a line on receipts for the "Onorato Tax."

Dan Onorato is the county executive, and while I like a number of things he does (even for a Democrat), he’s wrong on this one. And that’s also why I live outside Allegheny County.

I often wonder why other businesses don’t itemize the true costs of their products, especially gas stations. Fine, put the final cost for a gallon of fuel on your marquee sign. However, while a person is filling up at $3 per gallon, put a chart on each of your pumps showing how much of a take your friendly federal, state and local governments have on your wallet.

9:15 a.m.

• Since just about every team is resting its starters, I'll do the same. However, by "resting my starters," I mean "give picks with no explaining."

Buffalo

(2.5) Carolina

Cincinnati

Dallas

Green Bay (3.5)

Jacksonville

New Orleans

Baltimore

Seattle

San Francisco

Indianapolis

(3.5) Minnesota

San Diego

Arizona (6.5) <---- called an audible

Kansas City