This year, all wrongs were righted in the playoffs. The Colts, Baltimore's despised former team, were dispatched in a home win without yielding a single touchdown. Then came a visit to the top seeded Broncos, led by playoff nemesis, future hall-of-fame QB Peyton Manning. The Ravens were 9.5-point underdogs. It was a double overtime game played in bone-chilling conditions at mile high altitude. Classic football, one for the ages. It took a 70 yard bomb, the Mile High Miracle, with 31 seconds left to get the Ravens to overtime, but that was only because Ravens special teams mistakes allowed 2 return touchdowns. Manning threw an interception in overtime, the Ravens moved into position, and Justin Tucker nailed the 47-yard field goal to pull off the huge upset. Next up were the Patriots, who the Ravens had faltered against last year. The oddsmakers had the Ravens as 9.5-point underdogs again, in spite of the fact that the Ravens have always played the Patriots very tough, even in their stadium. This time the Ravens would not be denied. Their hard-hitting, physical defense shut down the high-flying, finesse offense led by Tom Brady. In the Super Bowl, the 49ers were only 4-point favorites, but certainly seemed like the most balanced and dangerous team the Ravens had yet played (at least to me). They came out flat, though, and the Ravens took advantage, building a 28-6 lead early in the 3rd quarter. But just when thoughts of a blowout were swirling in my head, the lights went out in the stadium. When played resumed more than a half-hour later, the 49ers took control and put the Ravens back on their heels. The defense was looking tired, and the 49ers seemed to be moving the ball at will. In the game's penultimate sequence, the 49ers had 4 downs to get 5 yards for a touchdown and their first lead of the game. They had been running the ball with great success, but after an initial run on first down (which got them a couple yards), they inexplicably threw 3 consecutive passes on fade routes, failed to convert, and turned the ball over on downs. Baltimore ran down the clock and held on for the win. They had bent, but not broken, and they were champions!

Joe Flacco had one of the greatest postseason runs for a QB in history. Not only did he outduel Manning and Brady, he tied the mark for most postseason touchdowns (11) without an interception originally set by another Joe (Montana). He's a free agent, but I'm sure he'll be back with the Ravens next year. Hopefully he structures his new mega-deal such that other key veterans and free agents can be brought back as well. Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens GM, has always done a sterling job, and we fans are confident he will keep the Ravens in contention for years to come. The Ravens have become one of the great franchises in the NFL. I'm proud to be a fan.

1) It does not come with a power supply. It uses a Micro-USB connector for the power, BUT needs more than the standard 500ma of current that is typically provided via USB. The specs say the minimum current required is 700ma, but based on what I have read and experienced, you need a power adapter that provides at least 850ma (with 1A or greater being ideal) to ensure there's enough power for even simple USB devices connected to the Pi (e.g. keyboard/mouse). I am using a 2A Xentris Micro-USB charger.

2) Even using a charger with plenty of power, the Pi is limited to providing a maximum of 150ma of power to each USB port. Some keyboards, particularly those with USB hubs built in, can reach that limit and cause issues. A cheap and simple keyboard is the best bet. I am successfully using a Logitech keyboard without a USB hub which has current draw listed on the bottom as 100ma.

3) The HDMI out works quite well connected to TVs. I had some difficulties connecting to a monitor using a HDMI->USB adapter -- there was lots of noise and interference on the screen. I tried boosting the HDMI output signal, as per the Raspberry Pi Wiki, but couldn't get it to work until I used an actual HDMI->DVI cable ($7 from AmazonBasics). For some reason the adapter (made by Rocketfish) was causing enough signal loss that the monitor was having problems.

4) Everything is set to UK settings. The Pi foundation is a UK based charity so I suppose that's to be expected, but remember to change your timezone and keyboard layouts, if you are based elsewhere (such as the US).

5) The ARM processor is not very powerful. If you have used embedded boards with more powerful ARM chips (including many modern smartphones), it will seem particularly underwhelming. However, for the cost, it's decent. The GPU, which supports 1080p displays and H.264 decoding in hardware, is what really sets it apart, especially in this price class. I plan to spend a bit of time looking at how I can best leverage the GPU, which supports OpenGL 2.0 ES, OpenVG, and OpenMax software APIs.

More to come...

But coverage of the NBA had already started to shift to the big names in free agency, and as soon as the Lakers were crowned champs the headlines became about Lebron, Wade, and Bosh all the time. All three decided to sign with the Miami Heat (with Lebron announcing his decision on a polarizing ESPN special) to create an Eastern conference superteam. Lebron clearly quit in the playoffs, and by joining Wade's team has basically admitted that he cannot be the primary option (a.k.a. alpha dog) on a championship team. While this hurts his legacy as an individual player, there is no doubt that the Miami Heat are transformed into a championship contender immediately. Pat Riley has already filled out the remaining roster with sharpshooters and wily veterans. His handpicked successor is coaching the squad, and you can never rule out the possibility that he may return to the sidelines himself. Other top Eastern teams such as the Celtics and Magic have kept themselves mostly intact, but I'm not sure they are capable of defeating the Heat in a 7 game series.

In the Western conference, the playoff teams from this year are likely to back in the playoffs next year (save perhaps Phoenix), but none have improved enough to beat the Lakers at full strength in a playoff matchup. So I think a Lakers-Heat final is quite possible.

If we are looking at a Lakers-Heat Finals next year, I think the Lakers are well equipped to handle it (barring injuries). Matt Barnes and Ron Artest will provide the pesky defense on the wings to make Lebron and Wade work hard for their points and Bosh will struggle against the length of Gasol and Bynum in the post. Steve Blake (from Maryland, Go Terps!) should help keep the ball moving and drain open 3s along with the ever reliable Derek Fisher.

Even Wade had to admit that the two-time defending champions are still the favorites next year, despite the Miami hype. I think the Heat will win championships -- likely even multiple championships. But only after the Lakers reign is over. And its not over yet. Threepeat here we come!

This years Celtics rely more on the playmaking of Rajon Rondo who has blossomed into the leader of the team. The future hall-of-fame "Big 3" (Garnett, Allen, and Pierce) remain mentally-tough, battle-tested veterans who can erupt for big games and hit clutch shots. And they are still playing great team defense.

But I think this is the Lakers year. Here's why:

1) The Lakers have home court this time around. The Celtics are a very good road team, but the Lakers role players have played consistently better at home. The Lakers have not lost a home playoff game this year.

2) The Lakers have Bynum available to play this year. His knee injury has limited his mobility, but along with Gasol and Odom he gives the Lakers plenty of size to match up with Garnett, Perkins, and Wallace.

3) The Lakers now start true a defensive stopper (Artest) rather than a defensive liability (Radmanovic). Artest provides the kind of toughness that Lakers lacked against a physical Celtics team in 2008. And when he plays within the system, Artest can still provide the kind of 3-point threat that Radmanovic did.

4) The current version of the Celtics don't have as good of a bench. Nate Robinson and Rasheed Wallace are decent, but not quite James Posey and Eddie House (who combined for 29 points to spark the Game 4 comeback win in LA back in 2008).

5) The revenge factor. The Lakers were outplayed in 2008, and while they won it all last year, it was against the Magic. This is their chance for redemption.

I think this will be a classic series. The Celtics are (rightfully) convinced they can win this series. They will execute their game plan and avoid mental mistakes. They will play tough D.

For the Lakers to win, they will need Kobe to continue to play like the best player in the league. At the start of the postseason I thought his injuries were too much, but he has been scoring 30+ regularly while maintaining a high shooting percentage and getting his teammates involved. He's nearly had a triple double twice. Gasol and Odom will have to contribute consistently and Bynum will have to prove himself capable of mixing it up inside. Artest will have to earn his defensive-stopper credits. And Fisher will have to continue to be the level-headed rock that keeps the team on an even keel.

This will be Fisher's 7th Finals. His matchup with Rondo will be a tough one, but he's got the guts, heart, and experience to do his job. Gasol and Odom have 2 years worth of Finals experience to draw on. I think they will come through as well. Artest is the wild card. Can he harass Pierce (or whoever he is chosen to to guard) as well as he did Kevin Durant? Can he choose his shots wisely?

I think he'll manage it well enough. My prediction: Lakers in 7

With division rivals making knee-jerk moves (Santonio Holmes to the Jets for a 5th rounder -- really??) and Ozzie Newsome's history of excellent draft choices there are lots of reasons for optimism. Go Ravens!

If Phil can get the team focused, and Kobe is able to heal sufficiently, they are still capable of another Finals run, but it's going to be an uphill climb.

Just as the '85 Lakers rebounded from the previous year's Finals defeat, I think these guys are poised to win a championship. My prediction: Lakers in 6

Pros:

- The car is fast. BMW claims a 0-60 mph time of 6.0 seconds, and it seems even faster. The massive torque makes passing at any speed effortless.

- The fuel economy is amazing, especially on the highway. I got 40.5 mpg on a 250 mile, uninterrupted drive while averaging 80 mph! Even in mixed driving I have not seen less than 30 mpg.

- Because of the excellent mileage, the car has a range of over 500 miles. Fewer visits to the gas station!

- As of right now, in my area, diesel is running anywhere from 5-15 cents cheaper than premium gasoline. This is likely to change, but I'm enjoying it right now.

- The clean diesel moniker is accurate. No black smoke, except from the tires when peeling away from a light with the traction control off!

- The handling is up to BMW standard. Which is to say awesome :)

- The interior is nicely appointed, again up to BMW's usual standards.

- The new iDrive is pretty good. Apparently the previous generation model was a pain, but this time they've separated out climate control and added hard buttons, making the current setup quite usable.

- The music options are plentiful (iPod, satellite radio, HD radio), and worth it, especially if you're a music nut like me.

- The navigation system is solid and the Bluetooth integration works smoothly and provides decent voice quality even with ambient road noise.

Cons:

- The car requires very high grade diesel, which is hard to find in the U.S., especially since the law doesn't require labeling of pumps like gasoline. In practice this means you will usually have to use a cetane boosting additive (which ends up costing about $1 or so extra per fill up).

- From the outside, at idle, and especially on cold start, the car is noisier than a gasoline powered car. From the inside, at highway speeds, the noise levels are the same or possibly even less.

- It's expensive. But if you're considering a high end BMW, what's an additional couple grand, right?

In sum, the car is a brilliant blend of performance and economy provided you are willing to deal with the inconvenience of tracking down good quality diesel fuel and/or using cetane boost additives. I, for one, find it a worthy trade off.

Glasvegas - Glasvegas - While they may have been overhyped by the UK press, Glasvegas deliver the musical goods. They are heavily indebted to the cool, detached sound of the Jesus & Mary Chain, but with their heartfelt songs and widescreen production values, the end result is more epic than insular. James Allan's thick Scottish accent takes some getting used to, and his lyrics are sometimes simplistic, but there's no doubting his passion. And ultimately the album is successful because the majority of the songs are very, very good.

TV On The Radio - Dear Science - TVOTR have always been critics darlings. But this time around, they've nailed the balance between the "art" and "pop", and the result is amazing. By injecting brittle funk grooves into the mix, they've made their music danceable and appealing to both head and heart.

The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound - In a nutshell they're like Bruce Springsteen fronting a muscular punk band (think Social Distortion, not Blink-182). The well-written songs are full of covert and overt references to not only the Boss, but everyone from Tom Petty to The Clash. What makes the album great is that the songs sound genuine, lived-in, and absolutely perfect on the car radio.

The Airborne Toxic Event - The Airborne Toxic Event - Talk about your diverse influences -- 80's alternative, SoCal punk, dance-rock, and garage-rock stylings are all featured within the first half of the album! But many of the songs work so well that watching the band try on different styles is quite entertaining. And when the styles blend into an ace track like "Sometime Around Midnight" you know the album is a keeper.

Black Kids - Partie Traumatic - Hands down, the most fun and danceable indie-pop album of the year. They sound like Robert Smith fronting the B-52s, with frothy, hook-filled songs and touch of wacky soul. It's a heady brew that can still be enjoyed as pure pop.

The Hold Steady - Stay Positive - Another in a string of amazing albums. If you haven't warmed to Craig Finn's speak-singing yet, you're missing out on another stunning batch of carefully observed character sketches and short stories masquerading as songs. And the music, informed by punk/alternative, but distilled from classic rock sounds is more powerful than ever. There's so many great songs it's hard to pick standouts, but I've got to mention "Lord, I'm Discouraged" where Finn's matter-of-fact lyrics about watching the woman he's in love with sink into drug addiction are countered by the finest, most emotive guitar solo I've heard in years. It's as if the guitar is expressing all the emotion that Finn's narrator can't.

The Virgins - The Virgins - Ten sharp, punchy, and well-produced tunes that bring to mind the catchiest, classic "new wave" artists (The Cars, Elvis Costello, Talking Heads) as well as their more recent offspring (Strokes, Marvelous 3). I'm still confused as to why they didn't get more promotion. They're as radio-ready as they come. Nearly every song sounds like a top ten hit (in my mind, anyway).

M83 - Saturdays = Youth - Compared to previous albums, the shoegaze-y fuzz has been toned down, but the swirling synths, cinematic feel, and pop hooks are intact. The result comes off as an affectionate tribute to the 80s. To their credit, it never sounds like pastiche and yet several of the songs could fit seamlessly in a John Hughes film.

Santogold - Santogold - She was compared to M.I.A. at first, and while that comparison is somewhat valid (especially on "Creator"), Santogold's sound is a lot more varied. Elements of reggae/dub ("Unstoppable"), R&B ("My Superman"), and straight-ahead pop/rock ("Lights Out") shine through on different tracks. Others, including the brilliant "L.E.S. Artistes", are difficult to categorize. Nearly all are excellent, making this a superb debut.

Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours - Adding a touch of 60s pop melodies to their signature sound yields fantastic results. The strong singles "Hearts On Fire", "Lights & Music", and "So Haunted" are the high points, but the rest of the album is very nearly as good. They've successfully expanded their sound from the 80s-retro fixation of their well-received debut.

Honorable Mention (a.k.a. The Next Ten)
Neon Neon - Stainless Style
The Bell - Make Some Quiet
Killers - Day & Age
Bloc Party - Intimacy
CSS - Donkey
Kooks - Konk
Pride Tiger - The Lucky Ones
Q-Tip - The Renaissance
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
Gentleman Jesse - Introducing Gentleman Jesse & His Men

Reissues/Live/etc.
Adorable - Footnotes 92-94
The Smiths - The Sound Of The Smiths
Pavement - Brighten The Corners: Nicene Creedence Edition
The Clash - Live At Shea Stadium
Final Solution - Brotherman (soundtrack)
The Replacements - Let It Be/Tim/Pleased To Meet Me
U2 - Boy/October/War/Under A Blood Red Sky

In comparison, the premium gasoline-powered 335i is rated at 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque, and with the automatic transmission does 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. However, it is rated by the EPA at only 17 mpg city / 26 mpg highway.

So let's do the math. On the highway (where most of the big mileage is racked up for me, and in the U.S. overall), based on the EPA rating, the 335d gets about 27% better mileage. Right now, diesel fuel is about 15% more expensive than premium gasoline. So it makes financial sense, per-mile. The penalty performance-wise? The diesel is 0.6 seconds (roughly 11%) slower to 60 mph.

Many of the other traditional disadvantages of diesel have been overcome with new technology. AdBlue-injection and the availability of low-sulfur diesel fuel have reduced emissions to meet even strict California standards. Noise and vibration issues have been reduced to the level of typical gasoline engines. With modern engine designs and better glow plugs, cold-weather starts are not a concern unless the winter temperature is regularly below zero degrees Fahrenheit. BMW has a lot of experience manufacturing diesels in Europe, so the 335d should be fairly reliable.

Of course, diesel is only available at one out of four gas stations nationwide. The fuel is "messier" in that it doesn't evaporate if spilled and has a distinct smell. The diesel engines themselves are heavier and more expensive, too.

Taking all this into account, the 335d is hardly a slam dunk, but is worth considering. I know it will be on my car shopping list next year.