Hot Air Balloon Tragedy; Emmy Awards; Football Rituals; and MORE

Florida: Real And Imagined

A pilot and three other passengers were identified by authorities Monday as those killed in a hot air balloon crash in the Arizona desert over the weekend.

Eloy Police Department Chief Byron Gwaltney said eight skydivers survived the tragedy in "an empty field in a desert area" of Eloy, a city in Pinal County about 65 miles southeast of Phoenix and 55 miles northeast of Tucson, Arizona. Shortly after the skydivers completed a jump from the balloon, Gwaltney said, “something catastrophic occurred with the balloon, causing it to crash to the ground."

At a news conference, Eloy Mayor Micah Powell reported the balloon had been carrying 13 adults − its operator, four passengers and the eight skydivers. Three passengers and the pilot died, while another passenger was critically injured.

The impact, Powell said, took place in "the world's largest drop zone" for skydivers.

Eloy police identified the pilot of the hot air balloon as Cornelius Van Der Walt, 37, a resident of Eloy who was originally from South Africa. The three passengers who died were identified as Chayton Wiescholek, 28, of Union City, Michigan; Kaitlynn Bartrom, 28, of Andrews, Indiana; and Atahan Kiliccote, 24, of Cupertino, California.

The woman who was critically injured was identified by police as a 23-year-old from Scottsdale, Arizona.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives in this tragic incident," the Eloy Police Department said in a statement.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known Monday.

"But eyewitnesses stated that in the last several seconds of the impact that the material of the hot air balloon was just straight up and down and the impact was fairly large," Powell said.

Five people were inside the gondola when it crashed, officials said, and one died at the scene. Three passengers were taken to a hospital where they later died, Powell said.

Another passenger was taken to a trauma center and was in critical condition Sunday, Powell said.

The cast of the hit 1980s sitcom "Cheers" reunited on stage at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Jan. 15 to present the awards for outstanding directing in a comedy series and writing for a comedy series.

Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger and George Wendt all appeared in a recreated Bull & Finch Pub bit on stage at the 75th annual award show.

The reunion was missing a few names — Shelley Long and Woody Harrelson come to mind — as well as the late Kirstie Alley. Alley died in 2022 at the age of 71.

"Cheers" ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993 on NBC.

(Talking point idea: Binge watching old series is only recently possible. It is the same as re-listening to old albums)

Why is it called “The Emmy”?

The name Emmy derives from Immy, a nickname for image orthicon, a camera tube used in television. The Emmy Award statuette consists of a winged woman, representing art, holding aloft an electron, representing science. The Emmy Awards are made by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

The 75th Emmys have officially concluded. But for a recap of the winners, check below (with red carpet highlights here).

Originally slated to air in September 2023, the Emmys were moved to 2024 to accommodate the actors and writers' strikes, which unfolded simultaneously last year.

Some of the awards were handed out during the Creative Arts Emmy Awards earlier this month, with winners reflected below.

Outstanding Drama Series

“Andor”

“Better Call Saul”

“The Crown”

“House of the Dragon”

“The Last of Us”

WINNER: “Succession”

“The White Lotus”

“Yellowjackets”

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Jeff Bridges, “The Old Man”

Brian Cox, “Succession”

WINNER: Kieran Culkin, “Succession”

Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul”

Pedro Pascal, “The Last of Us”

Jeremy Strong, “Succession”

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Sharon Horgan, “Bad Sisters”

Melanie Lynskey, “Yellowjackets”

Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Bella Ramsey, “The Last of Us”

Keri Russell, “The Diplomat”

WINNER: Sarah Snook, “Succession”

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

F. Murray Abraham, “The White Lotus”

Nicholas Braun, “Succession”

Michael Imperioli, “The White Lotus”

Theo James, “The White Lotus”

WINNER: Matthew Macfadyen, “Succession”

Alan Ruck, “Succession”

Will Sharpe, “The White Lotus”

Alexander Skarsgård, “Succession”

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

WINNER: Jennifer Coolidge, “The White Lotus”

Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown”

Meghann Fahy, “The White Lotus”

Sabrina Impacciatore, “The White Lotus”

Aubrey Plaza, “The White Lotus”

Rhea Seehorn, “Better Call Saul”

J. Smith-Cameron, “Succession”

Simona Tabasco, “The White Lotus”

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Murray Bartlett, “The Last of Us”

James Cromwell, “Succession”

Lamar Johnson, “The Last of Us”

Arian Moayed, “Succession”

WINNER: Nick Offerman, “The Last of Us”

Keivonn Montreal Woodard, “The Last of Us”

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Hiam Abbass, “Succession”

Cherry Jones, “Succession”

Melanie Lynskey, “The Last of Us”

WINNER: Storm Reid, “The Last of Us”

Anna Torv, “The Last of Us”

Harriet Walter, “Succession”

Outstanding Comedy Series

“Abbott Elementary”

“Barry”

WINNER: “The Bear”

“Jury Duty”

“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”

“Only Murders in the Building”

“Ted Lasso”

“Wednesday”

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Bill Hader, “Barry”

Jason Segel, “Shrinking”

Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”

Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso”

WINNER: Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Christina Applegate, “Dead to Me”

Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”

WINNER: Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”

Natasha Lyonne, “Poker Face”

Jenna Ortega, “Wednesday”

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Carrigan, “Barry”

Phil Dunster, “Ted Lasso”

Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso”

James Marsden, “Jury Duty”

WINNER: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear”

Tyler James Williams, “Abbott Elementary”

Henry Winkler, “Barry”

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Alex Borstein, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”

Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”

Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary”

Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary”

Juno Temple, “Ted Lasso”

Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso”

Jessica Williams, “Shrinking”

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Jon Bernthal, “The Bear”

Luke Kirby, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”

Nathan Lane, “Only Murders In The Building”

Pedro Pascal, “Saturday Night Live”

Oliver Platt, “The Bear”

WINNER: Sam Richardson, “Ted Lasso”

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Becky Ann Baker, “Ted Lasso”

Quinta Brunson, “Saturday Night Live”

Taraji P. Henson, “Abbott Elementary”

WINNER: Judith Light, “Poker Face”

Sarah Niles, “Ted Lasso”

Harriet Walter, “Ted Lasso”

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

WINNER: “Beef”

“Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”

“Daisy Jones and the Six”

“Fleishman Is in Trouble”

“Obi-Wan Kenobi”

Outstanding Television Movie

“Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas”

“Fire Island”

“Hocus Pocus 2”

“Prey”

WINNER: “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Taron Egerton, “Black Bird”

Kumail Nanjiani, “Welcome to Chippendales”

Evan Peters, “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”

Daniel Radcliffe, “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”

Michael Shannon, “George & Tammy”

WINNER: Steven Yeun, “Beef”

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Lizzy Caplan, “Fleishman Is In Trouble”

Jessica Chastain, “George & Tammy”

Dominique Fishback, “Swarm”

Riley Keough, “Daisy Jones and the Six”

WINNER: Ali Wong, “Beef”

Kathryn Hahn, “Tiny Beautiful Things”

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Jesse Plemons, “Love & Death”

Joseph Lee, “Beef”

Murray Bartlett, “Welcome to Chippendales”

WINNER: Paul Walter Hauser, “Black Bird”

Ray Liotta, “Black Bird”

Richard Jenkins, “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”

Young Mazino, “Beef”

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Annaleigh Ashford, “Welcome to Chippendales”

Camila Morrone, “Daisy Jones & The Six”

Claire Danes, “Fleishman Is In Trouble”

Juliette Lewis, “Welcome to Chippendales”

Maria Bello, “Beef”

Merritt Wever, “Tiny Beautiful Things”

Niecy Nash-Betts, “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”

Outstanding Animated Program

“Bob’s Burgers”

“Entergalactic”

“Genndy Tartakovsky’s Primal”

“Rick and Morty”

WINNER: “The Simpsons”

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance

Julie Andrews, “Queen Charlotte”

Alex Borstein, “Family Guy”

Mel Brooks, “History of the World, Part II”

WINNER: Maya Rudolph, “Big Mouth”

Wanda Sykes, “Crank Yankers”

Ali Wong, “Tuca & Bertie”

Outstanding Narrator

Mahershala Ali, “Chimp Empire”

Angela Bassett, “Good Night Oppy”

Morgan Freeman, “Our Universe”

WINNER: Barack Obama, “Working: What We Do Today”

Pedro Pascal, “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World”

Outstanding Talk Series

WINNER: “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah”

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

“Late Night with Seth Meyers”

“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”

“The Problem with Jon Stewart”

Outstanding Variety Special (Live)

“The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna”

“Chris Rock: Selective Outrage”

WINNER: “Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodgers Stadium”

The Oscars

The Tonys

Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)

WINNER: “Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter”

“John Mulaney: Baby J”

“Lizzo: Live in Concert”

“Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music & Laughter”

“Trevor Noah: I Wish You Would”

“Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer”

Outstanding Reality Competition Program

“The Amazing Race”

WINNER: “RuPaul’s Drag Race”

“Survivor”

“Top Chef”

“The Voice”

Outstanding Structured Reality Program

“Antiques Roadshow”

“Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives”

“Love Is Blind”

WINNER: “Queer Eye”

“Shark Tank”

Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program

“Indian Matchmaking”

“RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked”

“Selling Sunset”

“Vanderpump Rules”

WINNER: “Welcome To Wrexham”

Outstanding Game Show

“Family Feud”

WINNER: “Jeopardy!”

“The Price Is Right”

“That’s My Jam”

“Wheel Of Fortune”

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program

Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, “Queer Eye”

Nicole Byer, “Nailed It”

Padma Lakshmi, “Top Chef”

Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, “Baking It”

WINNER: RuPaul, “RuPaul’s Drag Race”

Outstanding Host for a Game show

Mayim Bialik, “Jeopardy!”

Steve Harvey, “Family Feud”

Ken Jennings, “Jeopardy!”

WINNER: Keke Palmer, “Password”

Pat Sajak, “Wheel of Fortune”

Outstanding Scripted Variety Series

“A Black Lady Sketch Show”

WINNER: “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”

“Saturday Night Live”

Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special

“Being Mary Tyler Moore”

“Judy Blume Forever”

“My Transparent Life”

“Pamela, A Love Story”

WINNER: “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie”

Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series

“Dear Mama”

“100 Foot Wave”

“Secrets of the Elephants”

WINNER: “The 1619 Project”

“The U.S. and the Holocaust”

A star-struck Green Bay Packers fan couldn’t believe her eyes when quarterback Jordan Love stepped over to help free her car after it got stuck in snow.

Lucy Kurowski, 20, shared a picture of herself and the NFL star on Instagram on Friday, days before Love led his team to a 48-32 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the playoff wildcard round Sunday.

She told Fox affiliate WLUK of Green Bay that she was leaving a hair appointment Friday in the Green Bay suburb of De Pere when she realized her car was stuck.

“He gets out of his car and he’s like, ‘Are you OK?’” Kurowski said. “And I was like, ‘Are you Jordan Love?!’ I was fangirling,” she said. “I couldn’t even believe it. It didn’t feel real. I was in a state of shock.”

The pair weren’t able to free the car, but Kurowski was still won over by Love’s kindness.

Kurowski’s aunt shared the selfie the pair took on X, where it has received 30,000 likes. “What can’t he do?” she asked.

Love, 25, a product of Utah State University, threw for three touchdowns in Sunday’s game, marking his postseason debut with a victory that went against many predictions given the Cowboys’ unbeaten 16-game home streak.

Love has thrown for 4,159 yards this season, putting him seventh in the NFL passing charts, with a completion rate of 64.2.

Tiny nanorobots that can self-propel within the body can reduce the size of bladder tumours by 90%, a study has shown.

Such nanorobots can deliver radioactive iodine directly to tumours inside the body, using urea (waste) as 'fuel'.

The research, which was conducted using mice, provides hope to patients with a bladder tumour, which has one of the highest incidence rates in the world and ranks as the fourth most common tumour in men.

Samuel Sanchez, ICREA research professor at Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia in Spain and leader of the study, said: "With a single dose, we observed a 90% decrease in tumour volume. This is significantly more efficient given that patients with this type of tumour typically have six to 14 hospital appointments with current treatments.

"Such a treatment approach would enhance efficiency, reducing the length of hospitalisation and treatment costs."

How do the nanorobots work?

The tiny nanomachines consist of a porous sphere made of silica.

Their surfaces carry various chemical components with specific functions. Among them is the enzyme urease, a protein that reacts with urea found in urine, enabling the nanoparticle to propel itself.

Another crucial component is radioactive iodine, a radioisotope commonly used for the localised treatment of tumours. The robots 'swim' through the bladder until they encounter either the wall of the bladder or a tumour.

Why can they help kill tumours?

The scientists concluded that the nanorobots collide with the edge of the bladder as if it were a wall. In the tumour, which is spongier, they penetrate the tumour and accumulate inside.

The highly mobile nanobots swim everywhere until they encounter tumours. The next step, which is already underway, is to determine whether these tumours recur after treatment.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Dead’ Man Jolted Back to Life by the Intolerable Bumps of India’s Potholes

They breed anger and derision; they cause annoyance, discomfort, and even expensive repairs, but India’s famous potholes actually saved a life on Friday.

The ‘late’ Darshan Singh Brar was being transported to the Indian version of a wake after his untimely death from a chest infection at the age of 80.

Family, relatives, and friends had already gathered for a banquet and cremation, when the ambulance he was being carried in received a nasty jolt from a pothole on the roads in Nising, in far-Northern India’s Haryana state.

It was then that Mr. Brar’s grandson who was onboard the ambulance at the time noticed his hand moving. Checking his pulse and finding—to his great shock—there was one, he notified the driver to immediately turn toward the nearest hospital.

He was declared alive and savable and was referred to the Rawal Hospital in the city of Karnal.

“It is a miracle. Now we are hoping that my grandfather recovers soon,” said Balwan Singh, another of Mr. Brar’s grandsons. “Everyone who had gathered to mourn his death congratulated us, and we requested them to have the food we had arranged. It is God’s grace that he is now breathing and we are hoping he will get better.”

A valued and respected member of his local community in Nising, NDTV news reports that “an entire colony” was named in his honor.

He had been feeling very ill and was taken to the hospital in Nising and put on a ventilator. After four days, his heartbeat stopped. He was taken off the ventilator and declared dead.

Doctors at Rawal Hospital said that the grandfather is breathing without the aid of a ventilator and his heartbeat has normalized. They can’t say for certain why the other hospital declared him dead, but speculated it may have been a technical error.

Dubbed the ‘Millennium Camera,’ a device dreamed up by an experimental philosopher in Arizona aims to capture a one thousand year-exposure of Tuscon.

Along with some colleagues, Jonathon Keats, a research associate at the University of Arizona College of Fine Arts, installed the camera next to a bench in Starr Pass with the aim of encouraging people to imagine a thousand years into the future.

Any photographer who has turned their camera off auto shoot mode will know that if you let in even just 10 minutes of light, much less 1,000 years, you’ll have a blank white image.

Keats has planned for that, and chose to use a pinhole camera equipped with rare materials.

Through a pin-sized hole in a thin sheet of 24-karat gold, light will slip into a small copper cylinder mounted atop a steel pole. Over ten centuries, sunlight reflected from Tucson’s landscape will slowly fade a light-sensitive surface coated in many thin layers of rose madder, an oil paint pigment.

Football Superstitions

1. Patrick Mahomes: Same Underwear Every Game

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has a peculiar ritual that might raise a few eyebrows. He wears the same pair of underwear for every game.

2. Josh Allen: Pre-Game Vomit

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has a strange pre-game ritual: he vomits before every game.

3. John Henderson: Face Slap

Former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle John Henderson had one of the most intense pregame rituals. He would have a member of the training staff slap him in the face before each game.

4. Tom Brady: Mantras and Stones

Arguably the greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady has a few superstitions of his own. One of them involves using mantras and special stones for good luck.

5. Brian Urlacher: Eating Cookies

Former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher had a sweet pregame ritual. He would eat two chocolate chip cookies before every game.

6. Dallas Cowboys' Offensive Linemen: Running a Route Tree

A couple of Dallas Cowboys' offensive linemen have a unique pregame ritual. They run a route tree, a series of different pass routes, before each game.

7. Super Bowl Superstitions

While not tied to a specific player, the Super Bowl is rife with superstitions. From avoiding certain colors to eating specific foods, players and fans alike partake in various rituals to ward off bad luck.

8. NFL Fans' Pre game Rituals

According to a survey by OnePoll, 65% of NFL fans practice a pregame ritual they believe brings their teams good luck. While these superstitions may not directly affect the outcome, they're an integral part of the game-day experience. These can include the following.

• Wearing Specific Clothing or Accessories: Many fans wear the same jersey, hat, or other team-specific clothing item for every game, especially if the item has been 'lucky' in the past.

• Tailgating: A popular ritual is to gather in the parking lot of the stadium hours before the game, grilling food and sharing drinks with fellow fans.

• Superstitious Seating: Some fans insist on sitting in the same spot on their couch or at the bar for every game.

• Team Chants: Fans often participate in chants or songs specific to their team prior to the game starting.

• Touching Team Memorabilia: Fans may have a special piece of team memorabilia that they touch for good luck before the start of each game.

• Game Time Food: Certain fans eat the same meal or snack during every game, believing the food brings good luck.

• Avoiding Certain Colors: Fans often avoid wearing the opposing team's colors on game day.

• Predicting the Game's Outcome: Some fans make a point of predicting the score or outcome before the game starts.

9. Jake Elliott's Pregame Ritual

Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott might not be the most superstitious player in the NFL, but he has a pregame ritual of his own. The specifics are a closely guarded secret, but it's clear that whatever he's doing, it's working.

10. Superstitions from the Miami Dolphins Documentary "Ace Ventura Pet Detective"

In the 1994 totally real, actually happened (take my word for it), hilarious comedic documentary film "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective," (starring Jim Carrey) a number of Miami Dolphins superstitions are humorously depicted. These include

• Dan Marino's Isotoner Gloves: In the film, it's implied that Dan Marino always wears a pair of Isotoner gloves, given to him as a promotional deal. The gloves are seen as a good luck charm.

• The Missing Dolphin Mascot: The team's dolphin mascot, Snowflake, is kidnapped, creating a superstitious belief that the team can't win without their lucky mascot.

• The "Laces Out" Rule: In the film, there is a superstition about how the football should be held for a kicker. It must be laced out, and when it's not, it leads to disastrous consequences in a game.

• The Curse of Ray Finkle: Former Miami Dolphins player Ray Finkle is portrayed as a disgraced player who, after a missed kick in the Super Bowl, is believed to have cursed the team.

• The Sacred Ring: The championship rings are seen as symbols of the team's glory days and are treated with reverence by the characters in the movie.

• A player Hasn't washed his jock strap: "Because he thinks flies are luck"

7 Hilarious Football Fan Superstitions Shared by Redditors

Fiery Ritual

Some fans unquestionably take their rituals to the extreme. During Vince Young’s playing days, a Redditor mentioned that they used to perform a rather unconventional practice of burning a photo of the player. They would attach a picture of his face to a Barbie doll and place it on the grill as part of their ritual.

Sound Of Silence

This particular approach might come across as a bit harsh, yet it seems to show results for this person. Apparently, ignoring their wife and kid during the game is their strategy. “I know it’s weird and the results haven’t been great, but I’m not going to risk it,” they wrote. Priorities, dude!

Quantum Football Mechanics

Some say that dissecting your superstitions like a science can work wonders. A Reddit user shared their approach, saying that if, for some reason, they tune into the game late and the Ravens are in the lead, they turn the game off. “Watching will only swing the game in the opposite direction. It’s like the Heisenberg Principle of quantum football mechanics. Intense observation will only change the outcome,” they humorously explained. That’s dedication!

Designated Sweet Spot

Having a lucky seat or a designated sweet spot to park yourself during every football game is a ritual many fans swear by. According to one person, during game days, they make a point to occupy the exact same barstool. They mentioned, “Everyone has assigned seats at the bar.”

Goodbye Hygiene

Some hardcore football fans throw hygiene to the wind. A Reddit user opened up about their peculiar belief. If they don’t shower right before the game, they’re convinced the Eagles will end up on the losing side. They added, “Sometimes if we had a crappy first half, I’ll take another shower, for a fresh start.”

Habitual Counting

Luck can take some interesting forms, like the practice of counting things a specific number of times. A person mentioned that on game days, they apply three strokes of deodorant per armpit in support of Russell Wilson. Some people are all about the idea that stuff tends to go down in threes.

1. Baby Clothing in a Family Divided and Packer Jerseys of Fans in Mexico

When the family bought their toddler daughter a Packers shirt before one of the longest winning streaks in NFL history started, the shirt became a weekly aspect of her garb.

When said tiny person decided (or was it a conspiracy orchestrated as a game-day scratch by the Giants’ fan father?) not to wear the Packers shirt, everything in the Packers cosmological balance went.

2. Sticking With the Clothing Theme

A Packers fan in Mexico reports him and his wife were given Packers jerseys as a gift. The idea was both members of the matrimony had to wear the jerseys on game day in solidarity. The husband explains, "On days when she didn't want to wear it and we argued, the Packers started slow.

3. Living Room Tableau: The Staging for Victory

One of my own superstitions is starting the game sitting on the eastern-most part of the couch.

This spot has the best view of the flat-screen glory and a winning cushion (clearly says so on the label, by stating "do not remove!").

When cheddar hits the fan and the Packers need a boost, I move to the other side (heading west if you're doing football GPS, geo-cache scoring at home), believing an imbalance of football gravity has its axis at the center of my living room.

The percentage of time this superstition aids the Packers is debatable depending on the beverage consumed during games, but multiple occasions in this current season the results of "tilting the pinball machine of NFL plight," as I like to call it, resulted in a Charlie Peprah interception.

This is the stuff of champions and Yoda-like wisdom, my fellow Packer fans.

4. "They Play Well When I Leave the Room... Bad When I'm There"

For years, my father has found there are certain losses where he feels they are playing bad when he's watching, but for a break or when returning from a halftime walk, the Packers are hot again.

Once aware the football spirits are watching, he tries to out-duel the jinx. Sneaking in when others cheer or trying a few distractions to pull away from the action, only to rush back when the announcers' voices seem to rise in excitement.

5. Refrigerator Blunder

Upon waking up before the epic Jan. 10, 2010 playoff loss to the Arizona Cardinals (Good Guys 45, Cards 51), a Madison, WI woman was hungry for a brunch snack. When she wanted to add cheese to her omelet she reacted in horror: The cheese, born and made in Wisconsin, had expired as of Jan. 9, 2010. Would eating it be sacrilege?

6. Radiowaves Versus TV Broadcast

Since the rate of oscillation of a radio broadcast is between 3 kHz and 300 GHz, if many in Packer nation switch to the radio broadcast, who knows what sort of electricity we can bring to the team!

Packers fans know more about physics and the electricity of a football game than any other fanbase. Why do I say this? Because some have the wild superstition that if the game isn't going well, and they're only listening to television analysis, that the great Packer radio announcers can bring them back.

So they switch to the radio while watching TV (despite the new delay caused by HD broadcasts) and boom, the Pack is back!

7. "Too Much Talking, Too Little Football"

Many Packer fans I've spoken with say they don't like to watch the big games at a bar because they can't get "into the zone" for the game (too many distractions) as much as in their living room.

One Packer fan from Milwaukee, WI reported to me that she tells her fellow girlfriends at the gathering to "be quiet" during the plays. Talking is only encouraged during commercials for this strict Packer fan who also believes the good karma of victories come from diligent observation and analysis, not chit-chat.

8. What Is the Winning Percentage When the Bikini Girls Are in the House?

Of all the bad-ass hunters in Wisconsin and tough-guy jobs people take in the tundra, how many can make it through a game in December or January without a jacket let alone without a real shirt?

The bikini girls come to many Packer contests and have weathered the storm through pleasant September all the way through late season's below freezing average temps and snow.

9. Leaving the Game at All Is Taboo

Come to any city or town in Wisconsin and you'll notice during the Packers games, nobody is in the stores, walking on the streets and traffic in Milwaukee seems to have stopped. Aside from a rare halftime run for munchies or adult beverages, Packers fans take their fandom seriously.

Similarly, you don't want to admit to your friends that you took a walk with your dogs during the second half of the Giants playoff game for fear of being ostracized from the community.