The Zos:
Event of theYear (TIE):
ZoBro Ernesto Cortes' graduation from JB Alexander High School in Laredo, TX takes top honors along with the wedding of Livy Keithley (C'98) and Sharlene Sidhu (C'00).

The Game Changer of the Year (ZoNotes' Person Of The Year):
President Bush risked his "political capital" to lead the GOP to the big win in the 2002 midterm elections. If the Dems had been so bold, perhaps they still might have the Senate.

Sporting Moment of the Year
The New England Patriots' win over the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl is the runaway winner here. The Anaheim Angels' World Series win would have made it if it weren't for that rally monkey.

Political Breakthrough of the Year
Actually, two here. First and foremost -- the GOP's stunning election day showing in the midterms is the clear first choice. The GOP now controls every segment of the government for the first time in the modern communications era. The second is the democratic transition of power to a leftist government in Brazil, with the election of Luiz Lula. For a country with a long history of military involvement in politics, this was a big deal.

The "He Said WHAT?" Award
Clearly, Sen. Trent Lott's (R-Miss.) laudatory commentary about Strom Thrumond's 1948 segregationist candidacy for President is the winner. But the far leftists also threw in their lot when Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) hailed Osama bin Laden's alleged charitable acts.

Wordplay of the Year
No votes received.

Song of the Year
Averil Lavigne's "Complicated." I sing it in the shower, in the gym, and at breakfast. You do too.

Album of the Year
The Dixie Chicks -- "Home". The Chicks' third big album is a musical triumph, a decisive score.

The Popcorn Butter Award: Best Movie (TIE)
"Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring," and "Spider-Man". Yes, I am a geek. Live with it.
"Episode II"

The "I'm Reading it Too," Book of the Year
Robert Caro's "Master of the Senate," about LBJ's time as Senate Majority Leader.

The "Fire Him -- NOW!" Award
Trent Lott was in line for this one when he was driven out as Majority Leader. And then Cowboys head coach Dave Campo was in line for it until Jerry Jones did the deed before the year completed. So, no real winner here, but there really isn't one when you get to this category anyway, is there?

ZoNotes

Tomorrow, the Zo Awards!!

Taking a Rain Check
One of the first major decisions Brazil's new leftist president Luiz Lula made when taking office last week was to postpone by a year the Brazilian air force's F-X fighter requirement. At a hefty price tag of $700 million for 12 to 24 aircraft, the F-X simply didn't fit in this year's budgetary plan. Brazil had been considering:

>Lockheed Martin's F-16C/D Block 50+
>SAAB/BAE SYSTEMS' Gripen
>Russia's MiG-29
>Russia's Su-35 Super Flanker
>Dassault Aviation/EMBRAER Mirage 2000BR

The combined Dassault/EMBRAER offering would have been the most likely "national" solution, given the promise of manufacturing fighters and their sensitive onboard systems technology in Brazil. In the interim, Brazil is considering a variety of leasing options in order to replace the aging Mirage IIID/E BR fighters currently in service. Now, why would a S. American country want to opt for high-performance fighter aircraft in the first place? Brazil has an expansive airspace and would need aircraft with sustainable patrol range to perform the air defense role appropriately.

On a basic level, the acquisition of high-level technology (and the ability to produce it indigenously) represents a step forward for rising countries like Brazil. Transcending that, a Brazilian-marketed fighter on the regional market could offer competition to American products such as the highly successful F-16, which recently scored a huge win,with Poland chosing it over Mirage 2000-5 and the Gripen.

The F-16 win was bundled inside an exotic loan and financing package from the U.S. government. As Brazil contemplates an interim fighter requirement, the U.S. could gain some traction with a similar arrangement for Brazil. Of course, as Brazil is not a NATO ally, it is perhaps too ambitious to expect a Polish-like solution.

If you go to the Pride of the Fall blog, you realize that Sean Mullaney (B'00) scored some eerily prescient predictions regarding playoff teams earlier in the season.

Wordplay
"Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself."

ZoNotes

Tomorrow, the Zo Awards!!

Taking a Rain Check
One of the first major decisions Brazil's new leftist president Luiz Lula made when taking office last week was to postpone by a year the Brazilian air force's F-X fighter requirement. At a hefty price tag of $700 million for 12 to 24 aircraft, the F-X simply didn't fit in this year's budgetary plan. Brazil had been considering:

>Lockheed Martin's F-16C/D Block 50+
>SAAB/BAE SYSTEMS' Gripen
>Russia's MiG-29
>Russia's Su-35 Super Flanker
>Dassault Aviation/EMBRAER Mirage 2000BR

The combined Dassault/EMBRAER offering would have been the most likely "national" solution, given the promise of manufacturing fighters and their sensitive onboard systems technology in Brazil. In the interim, Brazil is considering a variety of leasing options in order to replace the aging Mirage IIID/E BR fighters currently in service. Now, why would a S. American country want to opt for high-performance fighter aircraft in the first place? Brazil has an expansive airspace and would need aircraft with sustainable patrol range to perform the air defense role appropriately.

On a basic level, the acquisition of high-level technology (and the ability to produce it indigenously) represents a step forward for rising countries like Brazil. Transcending that, a Brazilian-marketed fighter on the regional market could offer competition to American products such as the highly successful F-16, which recently scored a huge win,with Poland chosing it over Mirage 2000-5 and the Gripen.

The F-16 win was bundled inside an exotic loan and financing package from the U.S. government. As Brazil contemplates an interim fighter requirement, the U.S. could gain some traction with a similar arrangement for Brazil. Of course, as Brazil is not a NATO ally, it is perhaps too ambitious to expect a Polish-like solution.

If you go to the Pride of the Fall blog, you realize that Sean Mullaney (B'00) scored some eerily prescient predictions regarding playoff teams earlier in the season.

Wordplay
"Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself."

ZoNotes

Borrowing a quote from new Cowboys headman Bill Parcells -- I am Energized.

Home
If there's one thing I learned during my 21 December-1 January trip to Laredo, TX, it is that you can always come home -- just remember that the furniture is in a different place. But it's still your furniture. Take that as you will. It was refreshing to eat the food I love and rest up in my hometown. Who was that Greek god, Antaeus, who would absorb energy from the very earth on which he stood? I had my Antaeus moment in Laredo.

He have a Central Hockey League team -- the Laredo Bucks -- which has come as a fountainhead for the local community.

But now, I'm back, and this is great hitting weather.