decided to make this chili recipe on a cold snowy day in the NY
Firehouse Chili Gumbo
This recipe is adapted from the one that a Louisiana firefighter named Jeremy Chauvin entered into a national cook-off run by Hormel Foods in 2017, and that took home the prize for America’s Best Firehouse Chili. It is not really a chili in the Texas sense of the word. There is a roux at its base — it’s more like a chili gumbo, a bayou take on the original red.
My upstairs neighbors teach at IU and invited me to go to a bar with them to watch the game. Looks like it’s a bar that caters to IU alum on game day. I haven’t decided if I’m up for that. May be too intense for me.
We have a prognostication league at work. The focus is primarily on NFL games, with college games mixed in during the Bye weeks.
We're in the playoffs portion right now and I'm the Plaoffs Commissioner. The Divisional round has eight players (prognosticators) who predict the winning team and the margin of victory in each game. The top 4 in the Divisional round will go to the Conference Championships.
3 of the 8 players correctly predicted all 4 NFL winners; they'll move on to the next round. 2 players correctly predicted 2 of 3 winners before last night's Rams vs. Bears game. Both had predicted Rams over Bears. One chose Rams by 4, the other Rams by 7. Only two points separated them in their predictions for the earlier games.
If the MOV was Rams by 6 or more, the Rams by 7 player wins on the tie breakers or he wins on being closer to the actual score. If the MOV was Rams by 5 or less or even if Chicago won, the Rams by 4 player wins by being closer to the actual score.
When the Rams went up by 7 in the 4th quarter, it turned the Rams by 4 player into a Bears fan. He needed the Bears to tie it because they weren't going to kick down by 7. So, that last Chicago TD was a huge development.
Then the Rams got the FG to win in OT. Which meant the Rams by 4 player advances. The Rams by 7 player is eliminated.
A replay of the receiver/defender on that play was shown. Both players were in the end zone looking for the ball. Both had their hands on the other's jersey. Both dropped their hands at the same time and the Bears receiver took 2 or 3 more steps to separate, and caught the pass before stepping out. It was a failure on the Rams defender in judging the ball, I think. He shouldn't have given up on the play.
The game couldn’t have started worse for the San Francisco 49ers. Rookie Jordan James ran himself out of the play on the opening kickoff. Chase Lucas compounded that with a missed tackle. Eddy Pineiro’s slide tackle came up empty, and Rashid Shaheed ran the opening kickoff back for a touchdown to give the Seattle Seahawks a quick 7-0 lead.
The San Jose Sharks looked good in the first period in Detroit, with the return of Will Smith seemingly giving the team a boost. But maintaining that pace through a 60-minute game against the Detroit Red Wings, another team in a playoff position in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, was not to be. Ultimately, the Red Wings beat the Sharks 4-2 in a game that was filled with miscues and missteps that cost San Jose in the end.
The Golden State Warriors Saturday night game against the Charlotte Hornets got off to an odd start. Or rather, it became odd before it even started.
Shortly before the game tipped off, the Hornets announced their starting five … and All-Star LaMelo Ball was not in it. And then, despite normal introductions for the Warriors in the minutes before the game began, the starting five that took the floor was not the starting five that had been announced … instead, Will Richard was on the court, and Jimmy Butler III was nowhere to be found.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills have fired head coach Sean McDermott after another season that failed to end in a Super Bowl appearance, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane is being retained, a source told ESPN. He will help lead the team's search for a new coach to lead the Bills' debut season in their new stadium.
Not really surprising. The Bills under McDermott have come close to a Super Bowl berth more than once, but couldn't seal the deal. That McDermott's time in Buffalo coincided with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City was unfortunate, but it is what it is.
That the Bills couldn't advance with the Chiefs out of the way was too much, I'd guess.
BERKELEY – The California women's tennis team swept all four of its singles matches and won three times in doubles Sunday as the Cal Winter Invitational came to a close.
The Golden Bears got straight-set wins from freshmen Mille Johanna Moerk and Laura Cilekova before sophomore Anya Murthy defeated Cal Poly's Candela Aparisi 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 and junior Tiziana-Marie Schomburg bested Kennedy Buntrock 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the last two matches of the day at the Hellman Tennis Complex. Earlier at Hellman, the 80th-ranked Cilekova and junior Mao Mushika posted a 7-6(2) result over the Mustangs' Aparisi and Natalie Lynch as the Bears won three of four doubles matches.
Former Cal football players and starting New England safeties Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson helped the Patriots move on to the AFC Championship Game with a 28-16 home victory over Houston on Sunday in an AFC Divisional Round game.
The rookie Woodson was involved in two of the five turnovers forced by New England with one of the team's four interceptions and its lone fumble recovery. Woodson also had five tackles, one quarterback hit and three passes defended.
FRESNO, CALIF. – The No. 5 California women's water polo team punched up another big first period of play to roll up a 16-9 win over No. 8 UC Irvine today in the finale of the Polopalooza in Fresno. Maria Bogachenko led the scoring onslaught with five goals, while Julia Bonaguidi and Abbi Magee had hat tricks for the Golden Bears to help improve to 3-0 on the year.
PITTSBURGH – California women's gymnastics captured its first dual-meet win of the 2026 season in the Golden Bears' Atlantic Coast Conference opener at Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon. Cal Head Coach Geralen Stack-Eaton recorded her milestone first win as a head coach as the Bears beat the Panthers 195.550-194.975.
Behind a career performance from Lulu Twidale in which she poured in 36 points with eight 3-pointers, the California women's basketball team handled Boston College with a 73-58 win at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill on Sunday afternoon. The 36 points were the most by a Golden Bear since Kristine Anigwe scored 37 against Houston on Nov. 6, 2018 and the eight triples were the second most in a single game in program history after Asha Thomas drilled nine against Manhattan on Nov. 24, 2017. The Golden Bears (11-9, 2-5 ACC) hit 14 triples – their most in a game this season and won their second straight game over the Eagles (4-17, 0-8).
FRESNO, CALIF. – The No. 5 California women's water polo team whipped up two important wins to kick off its 2026 campaign, beating No. 15 Michigan 23-18 before a significant 14-9 victory over No. 4 Hawai'i out at the Polopalooza in Fresno. Feline Voordouw amassed seven goals and Julia Bonaguidi had six across the two Cal wins, while Abbi Magee opened the day with a career-high six goals in the slugfest with the Wolverines.
LOS ANGELES- California rugby rolled to back-to-back victories at the annual Dennis Storer Classic, defeating Fresno State 50-5 and UCLA 45-0 on Saturday.
Freshman Julian Bishop started out the scoring against Fresno State, one of eight underclassmen starters in the Bears first contest of the day. Back-to-back tries from freshman Gur Levy and a try from Flynn O'Connell to end the first period helped the Bears build a halftime lead of 24-5.
BERKELEY -- The California men's basketball team took down No. 14 North Carolina 84-78 in a fierce battle at Haas Pavilion, fending off the Tar Heels' late push to pocket a key conference win. The Golden Bears' first win over a top-15 opponent since 2016 was highlighted by a 20-point day from John Camden and 19 points apiece from Dai Dai Ames and Justin Pippen. Cal is now 14-5 overall and 2-4 in ACC play, while UNC goes to 14-4, 2-4.
LOS ANGELES – The No. 7 California women's swimming & diving team closed out its weekend in Los Angeles on Saturday with its second dual win in as many days. The Golden Bears won 11 of 16 events and had 28 podium finishes to defeat UCLA 179-120 at Spieker Aquatics Center.
LOS ANGELES – Keaton Jones and Yamato Okadome were each multiple winners to lead the No. 4 California men's swimming & diving team to a 178-122 dual-meet victory over No. 18 USC on Friday at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
SPOKANE, Wash. – In its first meet as a team in 2026, California track & field got off to a roaring start at the Spokane Sports Showcase, with multiple freshmen making an immediate impact and several returners posting strong marks of their own at The Podium to shake up the Golden Bears' record book. In total, Cal collected two school records and three freshman records as well as four additional program top-10 marks and four event wins.
LOS ANGELES – The No. 7 California women's swimming & diving team opened 2026 with a road win over No. 11 USC on Friday at Uytengsu Aquatics Center in Los Angeles. Despite competing short-handed with several Golden Bears at the USA Swimming Pro Swim Series, Cal was able to win eight events and knock off the host Trojans 156-144.
Former California women's soccer goalkeeper Teagan Wy signed her first professional contract with reigning NWSL champion Gotham FC, as announced by the club Friday. Wy is penned through the 2028 season and will join Gotham for its preseason training in Spain ahead of the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup.
Late in my run yesterday I crossed paths with a young woman wearing a UNC windbreaker. I was tempted to yell out that we kicked their ass in both football and basketball but managed to control myself.
i was thinking, maybe i'll make some appropriately themed thing for dinner tonight. then i couldnt think of anything (even after having lived there for 8 yrs)
the best i could come up w/ it biscuits and gravy for breakfast which is all over the south as well.
The past is strewn with the ruins of the empires of tyranny, and each is a monument not merely to man’s blunders but to his capacity to overcome them. While it is a bitter fact that in America in 1968, I am denied equality solely because I am black, yet I am not a chattel slave. Millions of people have fought thousands of battles to enlarge my freedom; restricted as it still is, progress has been made.
Other college
CFP championship tonight. 730p ET start
decided to make this chili recipe on a cold snowy day in the NY
Firehouse Chili Gumbo
This recipe is adapted from the one that a Louisiana firefighter named Jeremy Chauvin entered into a national cook-off run by Hormel Foods in 2017, and that took home the prize for America’s Best Firehouse Chili. It is not really a chili in the Texas sense of the word. There is a roux at its base — it’s more like a chili gumbo, a bayou take on the original red.
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018961-firehouse-chili-gumbo
My upstairs neighbors teach at IU and invited me to go to a bar with them to watch the game. Looks like it’s a bar that caters to IU alum on game day. I haven’t decided if I’m up for that. May be too intense for me.
I would go. See what fanatics are like.
Colorado gets commitment from Cam Newton
https://www.on3.com/rivals/news/2026-running-back-cam-newton-commits-to-colorado/
Watch out massage parlors in Boulder...
PRO
Rest of the NFL:
DEN 33 BUF 30
NE 28 HOU 16
LAR 20 CHI 17 (OT)
We have a prognostication league at work. The focus is primarily on NFL games, with college games mixed in during the Bye weeks.
We're in the playoffs portion right now and I'm the Plaoffs Commissioner. The Divisional round has eight players (prognosticators) who predict the winning team and the margin of victory in each game. The top 4 in the Divisional round will go to the Conference Championships.
3 of the 8 players correctly predicted all 4 NFL winners; they'll move on to the next round. 2 players correctly predicted 2 of 3 winners before last night's Rams vs. Bears game. Both had predicted Rams over Bears. One chose Rams by 4, the other Rams by 7. Only two points separated them in their predictions for the earlier games.
If the MOV was Rams by 6 or more, the Rams by 7 player wins on the tie breakers or he wins on being closer to the actual score. If the MOV was Rams by 5 or less or even if Chicago won, the Rams by 4 player wins by being closer to the actual score.
When the Rams went up by 7 in the 4th quarter, it turned the Rams by 4 player into a Bears fan. He needed the Bears to tie it because they weren't going to kick down by 7. So, that last Chicago TD was a huge development.
Then the Rams got the FG to win in OT. Which meant the Rams by 4 player advances. The Rams by 7 player is eliminated.
High drama of a sort.
MLB!
Giants pitchers and catchers report in 22 days
A's pitchers and catchers report in 23 days
Dodgers pitchers and catchers report in 25 days
are we going to get a daily countdown??!!
Maybe just every Monday.
playoff football was insane
in particular Caleb Williams throwing the most insane last minute TD to send game to OT. Bears lost anyways ..
when i saw him backpedaling about 25 yds, i figured the game was over and game would end w/ INT or soft throw into nowhere
Same. Talk about pulling a rabbit out of a hat!
Not sure what the Rams CB was doing. Was he pushed?
i didnt look that closely, seems like they just lost track of the guy who caught pass
A replay of the receiver/defender on that play was shown. Both players were in the end zone looking for the ball. Both had their hands on the other's jersey. Both dropped their hands at the same time and the Bears receiver took 2 or 3 more steps to separate, and caught the pass before stepping out. It was a failure on the Rams defender in judging the ball, I think. He shouldn't have given up on the play.
There was a little push. Maybe more like a release
49ers NFC playoffs 2026: San Francisco eliminated with Divisional Round loss to the Seahawks
https://www.ninersnation.com/san-francisco-49ers-nfl-playoffs/154975/nfc-playoff-bracket-2026-eliminated-updated-wild-card-results-philadelphia-eagles
The game couldn’t have started worse for the San Francisco 49ers. Rookie Jordan James ran himself out of the play on the opening kickoff. Chase Lucas compounded that with a missed tackle. Eddy Pineiro’s slide tackle came up empty, and Rashid Shaheed ran the opening kickoff back for a touchdown to give the Seattle Seahawks a quick 7-0 lead.
A lead which the 49ers never erased or overtook. In fact, the 49ers never got to 7 points.
One big takeaway: the 49ers were simply overmatched vs Seattle due to injuries. Everything else snowballed off of that fact.
Quick bites: Red Wings double up Sharks
https://www.fearthefin.com/quick-bites-red-wings-double-up-sharks/
The San Jose Sharks looked good in the first period in Detroit, with the return of Will Smith seemingly giving the team a boost. But maintaining that pace through a 60-minute game against the Detroit Red Wings, another team in a playoff position in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, was not to be. Ultimately, the Red Wings beat the Sharks 4-2 in a game that was filled with miscues and missteps that cost San Jose in the end.
Warriors cruise past Hornets
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/warriors-scores-results/107413/warriors-hornets-scores-recap-draymond-green-deanthony-melton
The Golden State Warriors Saturday night game against the Charlotte Hornets got off to an odd start. Or rather, it became odd before it even started.
Shortly before the game tipped off, the Hornets announced their starting five … and All-Star LaMelo Ball was not in it. And then, despite normal introductions for the Warriors in the minutes before the game began, the starting five that took the floor was not the starting five that had been announced … instead, Will Richard was on the court, and Jimmy Butler III was nowhere to be found.
Source: Bills fire coach Sean McDermott after 9 seasons
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47660266/source-bills-fire-coach-sean-mcdermott
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills have fired head coach Sean McDermott after another season that failed to end in a Super Bowl appearance, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane is being retained, a source told ESPN. He will help lead the team's search for a new coach to lead the Bills' debut season in their new stadium.
Not really surprising. The Bills under McDermott have come close to a Super Bowl berth more than once, but couldn't seal the deal. That McDermott's time in Buffalo coincided with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City was unfortunate, but it is what it is.
That the Bills couldn't advance with the Chiefs out of the way was too much, I'd guess.
CAL
[WTEN] Bears Close Out Cal Winter Invitational
https://calbears.com/news/2026/1/18/womens-tennis-bears-close-out-cal-winter-invitational.aspx
BERKELEY – The California women's tennis team swept all four of its singles matches and won three times in doubles Sunday as the Cal Winter Invitational came to a close.
The Golden Bears got straight-set wins from freshmen Mille Johanna Moerk and Laura Cilekova before sophomore Anya Murthy defeated Cal Poly's Candela Aparisi 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 and junior Tiziana-Marie Schomburg bested Kennedy Buntrock 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the last two matches of the day at the Hellman Tennis Complex. Earlier at Hellman, the 80th-ranked Cilekova and junior Mao Mushika posted a 7-6(2) result over the Mustangs' Aparisi and Natalie Lynch as the Bears won three of four doubles matches.
[FB] Hawkins, Woodson On To AFC Championship Game
https://calbears.com/news/2026/1/18/football-hawkins-woodson-on-to-afc-championship-game.aspx
Former Cal football players and starting New England safeties Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson helped the Patriots move on to the AFC Championship Game with a 28-16 home victory over Houston on Sunday in an AFC Divisional Round game.
The rookie Woodson was involved in two of the five turnovers forced by New England with one of the team's four interceptions and its lone fumble recovery. Woodson also had five tackles, one quarterback hit and three passes defended.
[WPOLO] No. 5 Cal Picks Up Third Win At Polopalooza
https://calbears.com/news/2026/1/18/womens-water-polo-no-5-cal-picks-up-third-win-at-polopalooza.aspx
FRESNO, CALIF. – The No. 5 California women's water polo team punched up another big first period of play to roll up a 16-9 win over No. 8 UC Irvine today in the finale of the Polopalooza in Fresno. Maria Bogachenko led the scoring onslaught with five goals, while Julia Bonaguidi and Abbi Magee had hat tricks for the Golden Bears to help improve to 3-0 on the year.
[WGYM] Bears Capture Win In Conference Opener
https://calbears.com/news/2026/1/18/womens-gymnastics-bears-capture-win-in-conference-opener.aspx
PITTSBURGH – California women's gymnastics captured its first dual-meet win of the 2026 season in the Golden Bears' Atlantic Coast Conference opener at Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon. Cal Head Coach Geralen Stack-Eaton recorded her milestone first win as a head coach as the Bears beat the Panthers 195.550-194.975.
[WBB] Twidale’s Career Day Powers Cal Past Boston College
https://calbears.com/news/2026/1/18/womens-basketball-twidales-career-day-powers-cal-past-boston-college.aspx
Behind a career performance from Lulu Twidale in which she poured in 36 points with eight 3-pointers, the California women's basketball team handled Boston College with a 73-58 win at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill on Sunday afternoon. The 36 points were the most by a Golden Bear since Kristine Anigwe scored 37 against Houston on Nov. 6, 2018 and the eight triples were the second most in a single game in program history after Asha Thomas drilled nine against Manhattan on Nov. 24, 2017. The Golden Bears (11-9, 2-5 ACC) hit 14 triples – their most in a game this season and won their second straight game over the Eagles (4-17, 0-8).
[WPOLO] No. 5 Cal Beats No. 15 Michigan, No. 4 Hawai'i To Open 2026
https://calbears.com/news/2026/1/17/womens-water-polo-no-5-cal-beats-no-15-michigan-no-4-hawai-i-to-open-2026.aspx
FRESNO, CALIF. – The No. 5 California women's water polo team whipped up two important wins to kick off its 2026 campaign, beating No. 15 Michigan 23-18 before a significant 14-9 victory over No. 4 Hawai'i out at the Polopalooza in Fresno. Feline Voordouw amassed seven goals and Julia Bonaguidi had six across the two Cal wins, while Abbi Magee opened the day with a career-high six goals in the slugfest with the Wolverines.
[RUGBY] Rugby Posts Pair of Wins at Dennis Storer
https://calbears.com/news/2026/1/17/rugby-posts-pair-of-wins-at-dennis-storer.aspx
LOS ANGELES- California rugby rolled to back-to-back victories at the annual Dennis Storer Classic, defeating Fresno State 50-5 and UCLA 45-0 on Saturday.
Freshman Julian Bishop started out the scoring against Fresno State, one of eight underclassmen starters in the Bears first contest of the day. Back-to-back tries from freshman Gur Levy and a try from Flynn O'Connell to end the first period helped the Bears build a halftime lead of 24-5.
[MBB] Cal Tops No. 14 Tar Heels 84-78 At Haas
https://calbears.com/news/2026/1/17/mens-basketball-cal-tops-no-14-tar-heels-84-78-at-haas.aspx
BERKELEY -- The California men's basketball team took down No. 14 North Carolina 84-78 in a fierce battle at Haas Pavilion, fending off the Tar Heels' late push to pocket a key conference win. The Golden Bears' first win over a top-15 opponent since 2016 was highlighted by a 20-point day from John Camden and 19 points apiece from Dai Dai Ames and Justin Pippen. Cal is now 14-5 overall and 2-4 in ACC play, while UNC goes to 14-4, 2-4.
[WSWIM] No. 7 Cal Defeats UCLA 179-120
https://calbears.com/news/2026/1/17/womens-swimming-diving-no-7-cal-defeats-ucla-179-120.aspx
LOS ANGELES – The No. 7 California women's swimming & diving team closed out its weekend in Los Angeles on Saturday with its second dual win in as many days. The Golden Bears won 11 of 16 events and had 28 podium finishes to defeat UCLA 179-120 at Spieker Aquatics Center.
[MSWIM] No. 4 Bears Down No. 18 USC
https://calbears.com/news/2026/1/16/mens-swimming-diving-no-4-bears-down-no-18-usc.aspx
LOS ANGELES – Keaton Jones and Yamato Okadome were each multiple winners to lead the No. 4 California men's swimming & diving team to a 178-122 dual-meet victory over No. 18 USC on Friday at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
[T&F] Bears Shatter Records In Spokane
https://calbears.com/news/2026/1/16/track-field-bears-shatter-records-in-spokane.aspx
SPOKANE, Wash. – In its first meet as a team in 2026, California track & field got off to a roaring start at the Spokane Sports Showcase, with multiple freshmen making an immediate impact and several returners posting strong marks of their own at The Podium to shake up the Golden Bears' record book. In total, Cal collected two school records and three freshman records as well as four additional program top-10 marks and four event wins.
[WSWIM] No. 7 Cal Downs No. 11 USC 156-140
https://calbears.com/news/2026/1/16/womens-swimming-diving-no-7-cal-downs-no-11-usc-156-140.aspx
LOS ANGELES – The No. 7 California women's swimming & diving team opened 2026 with a road win over No. 11 USC on Friday at Uytengsu Aquatics Center in Los Angeles. Despite competing short-handed with several Golden Bears at the USA Swimming Pro Swim Series, Cal was able to win eight events and knock off the host Trojans 156-144.
[WSOC] Wy Signs With Reigning NWSL Champion Gotham FC
https://calbears.com/news/2026/1/16/womens-soccer-wy-signs-with-reigning-nwsl-champion-gotham-fc.aspx
Former California women's soccer goalkeeper Teagan Wy signed her first professional contract with reigning NWSL champion Gotham FC, as announced by the club Friday. Wy is penned through the 2028 season and will join Gotham for its preseason training in Spain ahead of the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup.
Late in my run yesterday I crossed paths with a young woman wearing a UNC windbreaker. I was tempted to yell out that we kicked their ass in both football and basketball but managed to control myself.
She might have known that they beat us in WBB.
Indiana
i was thinking, maybe i'll make some appropriately themed thing for dinner tonight. then i couldnt think of anything (even after having lived there for 8 yrs)
the best i could come up w/ it biscuits and gravy for breakfast which is all over the south as well.
i dont think i have ever actually made biscuits and gravy. it is one of my wife's favorites and she can make a decent rendition.
Bubby's in Manhattan is solid. of course i would rather just eat cherry pie for breakfast if i was there!
And this is my sausage gravy recipe.
2 tbsp oil
1 lb breakfast sausage
2 tsp pepper
few shakes of cayenne pepper
Remove sausage and keep oil in the pan.
3 tbsp unsalted butter
3 tbsp flour (soak up oil)
2 1/4 whole milk added slowly
2 tsp fresh thyme maybe some sage
Last couple times I used the Sage breakfast sausage from Whole Foods. So good.
This is the buttermilk biscuits recipe I use. I cut and fold more than the recommended 3 times.
https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-classic-buttermilk-biscuits-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-109142
Big glass of milk?
MLK
first thing i read this morning
MLK's Final Message
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/mlks-final-message
The past is strewn with the ruins of the empires of tyranny, and each is a monument not merely to man’s blunders but to his capacity to overcome them. While it is a bitter fact that in America in 1968, I am denied equality solely because I am black, yet I am not a chattel slave. Millions of people have fought thousands of battles to enlarge my freedom; restricted as it still is, progress has been made.