BRACKET-ON-THE-DALES, Okla. -- As D-Raupp drops it like it's ice cold...Detroit still soars to the lead as Russ "Lightning" Hopkinson is looking like a genius. Following closely is Jeff "I Got Robbed Last Year" Young, who is also from the D. Goodness sakes.

And...how about Your Michigan State University Spartans from East Lansing, Mich? MSU...we love thy shadows. And thy Izzos. 

TOURNEY HILLS, Tenn. -- After several big-tymer-style upsets, DRaupp from D-troit has managed to cling to a thin lead, while losing Memphis as one of his Final Four picks. Hard to say what might happen today.

Can he hang in?

 

Group Standings (Top 10 of 58)

• View Complete Standings

 

Namaste

It's Tuesday around noon and a group of Toronto Organic employees are gathered in a nice quiet space getting ready for a little Bliss.

With the sunshine beaming through the surrounding glass windows, Yoga mats lined up, the subtle music starts and the group gets ready to begin their first on-site lunch time Yoga class.

For the next 60 minutes we will be taken away to another place, stretching, posing, breathing and just simply relaxing.

What better way to spend your lunch break? Can't wait for next week's class.

OM

--Diane P.

Photo: Associated Press via Tampa Bay Online

BRACKET LAKES, Wisc. -- When he's not dazzling you with his giant email sig, he's putting on a virtual clinic in how to virtually prognosticate. Hat off, D-wayne. Now get back to thinking about Facebook's redesign.

We'll be getting interviews with our leaders and hopefully some creative insults -- the kind that really hurt feelings -- in the coming days leading up to the second weekend.

 

BRACKETTOWN, Sask. -- Sixteen games were played today. Sixteen more tomorrow.

After 12 games, we still had one perfect bracket out of 58 entries. Congrats to you, "mcastronaut". And in last place was the person who didn't make picks...followed closely by your humble editor. Seriously.

Ahahaha. Ahem. Here's where we stand thusfar...You can see through a number of these aliases---We've got the McAstronaut in 1st, the ever-brilliant-and-talented-EM-Manhattanite Chris Patten of NY in 2nd, Then a couple Detroiters.

Hudson Proxy = moving on up! Sleeper alert.

 

Rank	Bracket	Correct Picks	Points	Possible Pts
1	SALEM  jamescmcastronaut	15 of 16	15	189
2	Third time's a charm  pattenhere	14 of 16	14	190
2	soko organic  sok1211	14 of 16	14	190
2	DiMeg  Joe D	14 of 16	14	190
2	SJD2  stjohnond	14 of 16	14	190
2	draupp  draupp_design	14 of 16	14	190
2	Tony J (DET)  Tony	14 of 16	14	190
2	Bracketless  James	14 of 16	14	188
2	Abelt 's Bracket  christopherabelt	14 of 16	14	188
2	Miggity Mike  mkmaiorana@...	14 of 16	14	188
55	The Hudson Proxy  turnip213	10 of 16	10	184

 

 

 

And, as the Butler (Ind.) Bulldogs spot their matchups, I guess that means we're underway. With 58 entries in the "Organic Pool (Non-Billable)" bracket challenge over 'ta Yahoo!, it's still anyone's game. It's the magical-est time of the year, where we still have all our Final Four teams alive!

Anywho, there's some interesting picks to share:

Favorites to Win:

12 - North Carolina

10 - Pittsburgh

7 - Louisville

7 - Michigan State

4 - Memphis

Upset Specials:

 "slange", whoever that is, picks the #10-seed USC Trojans to take the top prize.

"dizzle" picks the #15-seed Binghamton Bearcats to hoist the trophy in Detroit.

"GoBlue" picks the lowly and hapless #10-seed Michigan Wolverines to win it all.

"Duke Sucks" picks the #3-seed Syracuse Orangemen to broadcast their dominance to the nation. Not really an upset, but you can expect full "Duke Sucks" coverage going forward to get our SEO up.

Four players didn't offer a winner, filling out every game except the champ. And one Organic decided to simply pull the "Price Is Right" move and bid zero in every blank. Oh my!

 

 

BRACKETVILLE, U.S.A. -- Despite the obvious inevitability of a Michigan State march to the promised land this year, the NCAA has decided to still hold a tournament to determine a champion in 2009.

As such, you can make "picks" on a "bracket". Then depending on how well you picked the various results, you can be ranked against your friends or co-workers.

Sam Cannon has started a sweet little group over at Yahoo! Click here to fill out your bracket...

http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1

Check your email for our Group # and Password. Or just email me at mhudson@

Top prizes for best individual and office. Go get 'em.

==Mike Hudson

 

 

NEW YORK -- The walls come tumbling down...

As well as the cubicles and desks. See all that blue tape all around? Well, you need it to see the footpaths so you can get around.  The eastside is currently a destruction zone while the other side seems like a small city. 

Many new relationships are forming while working in these close quarters.  What else have we uncovered? Half painted walls from previous years and a receptionist desk in a middle of a poorly used space. Discoveries!

 

More to come...there's even talk of some time lapse photography in our future.

--Nicole Goldman

Coffee aficionado Mike Hudson swung through the D last week and brought with him some of the West Coast's finest.  I was lucky enough to partake in a brew of each.   I sampled the Four Barrel Colombian first - it was good...I mean real good.  If you are in the SF office, like coffee and have not checked this place out yet, get on it.  The next cup was from Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia roasted by Intelligentsia it charmed my palate with its citrus fruit acidity, the Kurimi sparkled and shone as it brought forth flavors of orange, lime and lemongrass. Notes of jasmine and honeysuckle carried a delicate sweetness that gave the cup a juicy, refreshing character.   The subtle and clean finish left notes of sweet spice and cocoa.  Truly an elegant cup.

About three years ago, a couple people in our Toronto office shared their cravings for roti. Little did they know it would drive new traditions -- or enlighten those of us who had never heard of the addictive bread. It started as a communal gathering that spawned the need for online ordering (known around the office as Rotitron 3000). The ordering system provides weekly stats on the number of rotis ordered, the type ordered, strength of roti and more. Since November 10, 2006, Organics have spent $9,703 on roti lunches.



Today, we've launched the iPhone app "Rotitron Mobile." No more missed rotis if you can't get to your computer before the Thursday deadline.

Thanks to David Feldt in Toronto for the scoop.

Sarah Jo Sautter