I’m not sure why the NBC shows would want to go head-to-head with the third round* of the NCAA Tournament, rather than waiting one more week to come back, but they didn’t.
Poor strategy aside, we got three new episodes for the first time in a month, and that’s never a bad thing.
Here’s a recap of the violent, bloody conflict of March 24, 2011:
Don’t let the title alarm you.
A few weeks back, I discussed a controversial magic trick involving Chinese goldfish and possibly magnets.* Another equally-impressive-slash-disturbing trick has come my way in the form of the video you see below. I don’t want to give it away, so please watch it for yourself. I suspect you’ll need to watch it twice. I also don’t want to do any research on what I’m seeing on this video, so I have no idea if this footage is brand-new or ten years old. The video was uploaded about three years ago. That much I do know. Here it is:
Here’s a different performance of the same trick, with a slightly better view of the minks dropping:
My theory: The fox-thing (wolf-thing?) is just a trained canid. No problems there. The minks (ferrets?) are held inside the coat, and are released by some mechanism controlled by the lady wearing it. This mechanism also flips the fur panels on the outside of the coat at the same time, making it look like the released minks were clinging to the coat, rather than merely contained inside it.
In other words, the things you see hanging outside the coat aren’t really the minks.
I don’t really have a point, here. I just wanted to post this video.
It’s either very cool or a little unsettling.
Ok, it’s both.
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As the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University triumphantly earned their way into the Sweet Sixteen, the fact that both schools are located in the same 
city has not escaped the watchful eye of the New York Times.
To be sure, many people in Richmond are merely overjoyed that the big, fancy folk at the venerable Old Gray Lady would write anything about the capital of the Commonwealth. Accuracy be damned! They said our name! THEY SAID OUR NAME!
Unfortunately, there are some problems with the piece.
In Part 2 of this week’s podcast, Tom and Mike debate the merits of being a one-legged
wrestler (guess which one of them takes the “having one leg is an advantage” position?), as well as discussing the future of boxing and professional football in light of the problems that currently plague those sports, particularly concussions. They also touch briefly upon March Madness and sing the praises of the wondrous restaurant known as Chik-fil-A.
After a two-week slowdown caused by other commitments, we’re back at full speed. 
Well, such as it is. Up first is a two-part podcast. Tom and Mike transition from one topic to another like the Frogger of yore diligently hopping across so many logs and lily pads.
In part one, we (eventually) discuss the tragedy in Japan and the cultural implications of same, the political situation in Libya and the impact at home, the decline of Comedy Central roasts, MacGruber, as well the timely issue of John DeLorean’s legal troubles! Plus, we have a brand-new theme song for the podcast! (Partially) enjoy the show!
Download: The Axis of Ego Podcast 03-21-11 (Part1)
From the narcolepsy department* comes this gem: Sixers color man Eric Snow suddenly falls asleep during a broadcast from a few weeks back. It happens over a minute into this clip, and most bizarre is the fact that he’s totally lucid just seconds before waking up in a very groggy post-doze state. Enjoy, dear readers:
Eric “Sleepy” Snow catches some “Z’s” during a rare Sixer “W.”
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I wasn’t originally planning on doing a SitCombat article this week. Two reasons: One, the NCAA Tournament takes precedence over my viewing schedule. Two, I thought 30 Rock was going to be another rerun this week. It turns out, it wasn’t. It makes me a little uneasy to think that, unlike the Office, 30 Rock didn’t feel the need to air reruns during March Madness for the sake of not being able to draw its key demographic.
In any event, I’m going to review the two new shows from last night head-to-head.
Here’s the sitcom landscape for March 17, 2011:
Don’t worry. Baseball preview season is almost over, which means that we’ll be back to normal soon enough (and, hopefully, I will be able to go to bed before 4:00 AM every night-slash-morning). 
In the meantime, enjoy this look at the NCAA Tournament brackets of a man who follows college basketball only slightly more closely than he follows The Bachelor.
I make multiple brackets each season due to a combination of indecisiveness and cluelessness, with a dash of cowardice thrown in for good measure. The first of these brackets is my primary, or “Orthodox” bracket, so named because, although well-intentioned, it doesn’t have a prayer of winning. Let’s take a look:
The NBC shows are still in reruns, which could open the door for Archer to retain its title after a very strong showing last week. The Office offered up Andy’s fake seminar, 30 Rock refreshed our memories on Tracy’s battle with his wife’s reality television show, while Archer provided new fare and guest-star Rachel Harris.
Here’s a look at how things shook out for March 10, 2011 (with the appropriate “rerun penalties” doled out:
NBA Scouts: “White College Basketball Star’s Whiteness Looks Pretty White From Here!”
I happened to peruse a New York Times article about Jimmer Fredette’s prospects as a professional basketball player this week. I don’t normally read much sports coverage from the NYT, so twice in one week is noteworthy.
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