MESA, Ariz. -- Ryan Dempster plans to move from closer to starter for the Chicago Cubs this season. On the first day of spring training, he took on another role: prognosticator.

"I think we are going to win the World Series. I really do," Dempster said.

That's a bold prediction before the start of a season that marks the 100th anniversary of the Cubs' last World Series winner.

"Funny when people make predictions or they say things and people are like, 'How could you say that?'" Dempster said Wednesday, as pitchers and catchers reported to camp.

How?

"Like you believe it, you really do," Dempster added. "Enough of all the ... you know the curse this, the curse that, the goat this, the black cat, the 100 years, whatever it is. We're a better team than we were last year, I truly believe. And last year we made it to the playoffs."

Ok, I'm going to use this as a catch all to organize my thoughts  and what have you for planning the viewing party for the UFC show at the end of the month.

Attending:
Me
Marissa
Dad
Andy & Jess
Davin
Moira & Dick
Christy & Adam
Eddie & his neck AIDS
Rick & Karen
Ken

Maybes:

Megan Fitz
Leinie (85% sure)
Matt (target of berating)
Jodie

Food:
White chocolate Bread pudding (or else a beating)
3 (4?) Pizza loaves
Ranchero dip
Chips
Skylabs
beer
Coke
H&D baked goods
Variety of christmas candy

Provisions:
Folding chairs
TV trays

Things to do:
finish putting away things in basement
re-read Friday Foodie entries on Ladies... for more drink ideas
re-read bar assembly entry on Bendis Board for more drink ideas

The A shift (night shift) USO spot is probably the easiest job that Marquette has to offer.  1 round of buildings, virtually no one is around at night, USOs are paid for their knowledge more than for what they actually do, etc.  But Thanksgiving week is easily the best week of the year.  

Yeah, winter break's not too bad, but the university stays open for 90% of it, so there's always stairwells to open, and there's usually conferences of some sort.  Summer break isn't even really a break because of summer school.  Here's the quick summary of why Thanksgiving week is so awesome:

Tuesday night: Have to only check half the buildings since the 3pm-1am C shift USO gets the east side.  Only have normal morning buildings to open and no classrooms since there's nothing scheduled.

Wednesday night: A possible 20 hours of pay for 8 hours of "work" (8 hours of holiday pay + 8 hours regular pay at time & a half (the equivalent of 12 regular hours, natch) because the holiday automatically makes it overtime), although I've taken to banking the holiday pay and using it as a free day off later on.  No openings at all, other than the church.

Thursday night: See Wednesday night.

Friday night: See Wednesday night, minus the extra pay.  Nothing to open because who the hell schedules conferences or meetings or ANYTHING on Thanksgiving weekend, other than Jesus?

Saturday night: See Friday night and add the return of the 3-1 C shifter.

All in all, a fantastic week.  I'm going to get a lot of reading done, oh yes.

ST. GEORGE, Utah (Reuters) - Polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs, whose word was considered God's will to his fundamentalist church of breakaway Mormons, was convicted on Tuesday of being an accomplice to rape by forcing a 14-year-old girl to marry her first cousin.

Jeffs, the self-described "prophet" of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or FLDS, spent 15 months on the run and was on the FBI's Most Wanted list before his arrest in August 2006.

The tall, gaunt Jeffs showed no expression as the verdict was read. The rape victim, who is now 21 and remarried, sat in the front row of the crowded courtroom packed with media and Jeff's supporters.

Sentencing was set for November 20. Jeffs, 51, faces five years to life in prison for each of the two felony charges.

...

Prosecutors claimed during the two-week trial that the powerful religious leader had encouraged forced sex in arranging the wedding despite the girl's objections, and instructing the couple to "go forth and multiply."

The woman, who the court requested not be identified, said that when she later begged to be released from her union, Jeffs told her she should repent and instructed her to give herself "mind, body and soul" to her 19-year-old husband.

Within the community, Jeffs' accuser testified, women are taught to be submissive and "keep sweet," while dissent can lead to exile and religious damnation. Jeffs often punished men in the community by reassigning their wives and children to other men, she said.

From an email I got today:

The Milwaukee Brewers are making 1,000 tickets available - free of charge - to Marquette students, faculty and staff for both the Tuesday, Sept. 25, and Wednesday, Sept. 26, games at Miller Park against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Translation: We're in the midst of a pennant race and still can't sell out.  Please come be drunk rowdy college students at Miller Park.

SO fucking sad.

Here's what Crean had to say about the matter:

"Jerel's lack of effort in rebounding and his response to the response from the bench regarding that lack of effort kept him out of the game Sunday night," said Crean. "One of the hardest parts of coaching is developing leadership and helping guys become complete players. We want our players to get the most of their ability and some times the best way to help them gain a better understanding of that is with some time on the bench."

One of the things I hate/love/hate about the start of a new school year is the restarting of publication of the Tribune.  Without fail, at least once a month, they will publish something so stupid, it's almost obscene.  Well, 2 issues in and I think they've hit the low point for the year already.  From Viewpoints:

Marquette University should move out of downtown

By Sarma Danturthi, Biomedical Engineering

Marquette University should move away from downtown. First and foremost, a downtown area is not a great place for an educational institution. There is too much noise from traffic, not safe for students despite a great police force. Second, the real estate problem keeps Marquette from expanding greatly. Third, the real estate is too expensive to buy and too many funds are used to buy real estate whereas these funds can be better utilized for other great opportunities such as research or equipment, etc.

Other problems involve parking. Those who cannot afford monthly parking fees are forced to put their cars on the streets which are not safe at night, particularly at downtown. Marquette's placement is dwarfing the other businesses.

If Marquette moves, many businesses will use the downtown space. For example if Marquette were to move to, say South Milwaukee, the airport will be closer to business, it would reduce traffic downtown, increase value of downtown for other businesses, and help rebuild ravaged areas like South Milwaukee and beyond. Even the bus service will consider running regular buses to Marquette from all other areas of Milwaukee.

Yes I am aware of the costs of moving away and it could be several million dollars of worth. But selling its downtown properties can fetch those funds to Marquette.

The question is whether we want to remain at downtown and keep engulfing small businesses to grab more space (and kill aspiring businesses) and cramp ourselves or move away and create a great atmosphere away from the buzz and din of the downtown traffic and give the space to other businesses to prosper.

This series matters a little bit more because the Brewers and Cubs don't face each other after Thursday night's game. It matters enough that Cubs fans booed longtime Brewers announcer Bob Uecker as he led the crowd in singing the seventh-inning stretch. Then they did something I've never seen from a Wrigley crowd: They sang it again, as if Uecker's version was infected.

1) Found a Engineering smart room ajar with NO (ZERO)(0)(NADA)(ZIP) data projector inside
2) Somehow caused the gate arm to Lot N to continually go up and down
3) Had a doorknob in Army ROTC come off in my hand
4) Had a co-worker ask if paychecks were going to be moved out of the shift command office. (YES WHAT A GREAT PLAN ESPECIALLY AFTER WE PULLED THE REPORT BOARDS FOR SECURITY REASONS)
5) Actual Conversation on Frequency 4:

318: On 4
319: Hey, I was just looking at the Summer DR binder and I don't know if any DRs are going to show up in the morning, because all the buildings are X'd out for the day, and I've had problems with DRs running late the last few days.
*dull thunk as I bang my head on the gate arm control box in Lot N*
Me: 368 REGARDING
319: Go ahead.
Me: Its move in.  Buildings will start running their own staffs, so no more summer DRs.
319: So, uh, do we still open the buildings in the morning?
Me: ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH (although this comes across the radio as: The FMs are going to be up early and on duty, so they can take care of it.)

And if you guessed that the co-worker in #4 and 319 are the same person, YOU WIN.  And yes, these are very good examples of why he failed out of (OH EXCUSE ME, may as well say what he's telling everyone else: VOLUNTARILY STEPPED DOWN FROM) the job I currently have.  Although I suppose that's a better excuse than using your mother's failing mental health as the reason why he struggled, and yes, I will destroy him if I ever hear him say that in person.

4. Marquette purchases apartment building

Marquette University has purchased the Trebor Apartments, 620 N. 17th St. The transaction was completed on Aug. 16.

Marquette’s location, the changing dynamics of university life and the desire to enhance the campus environment make it prudent for the university to monitor property opportunities in our campus area. When the Trebor building came on the market, the university evaluated it as a strategic location relative to the potential site for a proposed new College of Engineering.

In addition to the Trebor, Marquette is under contract to purchase a number of other properties within the campus area. These include:

• Kalt Apartments at 1621 and 1623 W. Wisconsin Ave. and 628 N. 17th St.
• Marquette Apartments at 1622-1634 W. Wisconsin Ave.

• University Center at 1610-1616 W. Wisconsin Ave.
• Commercial Buildings at 1202 and 1222 W. Wells St.

Closing on these properties is expected to occur before the end of the year. A generous gift from an anonymous donor helped make the purchase of these properties possible at this time. A portion of the bond issue approved by the Board of Trustees in May 2007 will also be used to finance the property acquisitions.

The site of the Kalt Apartments is critical for the proposed engineering project. The location of the Marquette Apartments is also strategic, and the building will be used to provide housing for students while residence halls undergo renovations and upgrades. The commercial buildings at 12th and Wells are close to the Al McGuire Center, Parking Structure 2 and student residences; no specific use for this site has been identified at this time. 

Apartment residents are being notified of the property transactions. The Office of Residence Life will operate the Kalt and Trebor Apartments, most of which are occupied by Marquette students. The university is working closely with residents of the Marquette Apartments to find suitable alternative housing. Doug Smith, associate general counsel for the university, said the university will honor the existing terms of all residential and commercial leases for the properties.