This is not your practice blog

New version of Wizard of Oz

TV alert: Sci Fi Channel is showing a wacky new 3-part version of The Wizard of Oz. Tin Man will be on this Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday (Dec. 2, 3, and 4). Check it out, Oz fans.

Teddy bear toss

Some minor league hockey teams have a wacky holiday tradition: fans bring teddy bears to a designated game, and when the team scores, the fans toss the stuffed bears onto the ice. The team then collects the teddy bears and gives them to a kids charity. Here's what it looked like in Portland a few days ago:

Never mind that the referee actually waved off the goal right after the puck went in. Once the first person started with the teddy bears, it was all over. The team says more than 20,000 bears were collected. You can find a bunch more of these highly entertaining videos on YouTube.

Champ Bailey is a hothead

Kid with giant sucker

Helpful instructions

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Corn dog with snout

Princess Tater

Happiest, busiest place on Earth

Mushroom or corn dog?

This striking object is one of several similar growing in the grass outside my office:

It's about 5 inches high.

Dear friends: what on earth is it? Or maybe...it's NOT OF THIS EARTH!!!

Insane hockey travel

This guy is seeing a hockey game in each of the NHL's 30 arenas, and he's doing it in 30 consecutive days. He was in San Jose Monday night, then on to Calgary.

When he came to San Jose, he met this guy (who also happens to be my son). Last year this guy engaged in some amazing travel himself: he saw every single game played by the San Jose Sharks last season (82 regular season games and 11 playoff games).