Well well well, since VFLOAB is bored and doesn’t feel like talking about Iraq again, I thought I’d gather the All SEC NFL Team like I did with the All Big Ten Team a few days ago. The one thing I found most interesting is how few Florida players made this team.
QB - Peyton Manning - Tennessee
RB - Shaun Alexander – Alabama
RB - Deuce McAllister – Ole Miss
WR - Darrell Jackson – Florida
WR - Hines Ward - Georgia
TE - Jason Witten – Tennessee
C - Kevin Mawae - LSU
OG - Alan Faneca – LSU
OG - Randy Thomas – Miss St.
OT- Chad Clifton - Tennessee
OT - Willie Anderson - Auburn
K - John Kasay – Georgia
Wow what an offense. Manning is going to have all day (and he’ll need it seeing that he doesn’t have much from the receiver position after Ward). But the running backs… look who’s sitting right now. This team would run all over you epically with that fantastic offense line which is almost as good as the Big Ten’s. But since they’ve got better backs and are deeper, the SEC gets the nod here. While they won’t be able to destroy teams though the air they’ll run on you all day long.
DE - John Abraham – South Carolina
DE - Alex Brown - Florida
DT - Marcus Stroud – Georgia
DT - Richard Seymour – Georgia
LB - Takeo Spikes – Auburn
LB - Al Wilson - Tennessee
LB - Marcus Washington – Auburn
CB - Fred Smoot – Miss St.
CB - Champ Bailey - Georgia
S - Corey Chavous – Vanderbilt
S - Deon Grant – Tennessee
Okay so the team is a little thin at line backer and safety but… wow. That D-line is going to be tough to start and considering how many D-Tackles they’ve got sitting on the bench, that line will be fresh too. You can’t do too much better than Smoot and Bailey and while this team may be beat deep that goes for every team. They don't have a punter, but they may not need to punt.
Back-Ups:
QB - Eli Manning – Ole Miss
RB - Rudi Johnson - Auburn
RB - Carnell Williams – Auburn
RB - Jamal Lewis - Tennessee
WR - Eddie Kennison – LSU
WR - Eric Moulds – Miss St.
WR - Michael Clayton – LSU
TE - Randy McMichael - Georgia
OT - Chris Samuels – Alabama
OT - Kenyatta Walker – Florida
OT - Chris Samuels – Alabama
OT - Kenyatta Walker – Florida
DE - Leonard Little – Tennessee
DE - Shaun Ellis – Tennessee
DT - Anthony McFarland – LSU
DT - John Henderson – Tennessee
LB - Kendrell Bell – Georgia
CB - Sheldon Brown – South Carolina
CB - Lito Sheppard – Florida
What a bench. That’s all I'll say.
30.11.05
29.11.05
Dorothy Day
While VFLOAB does not always agree with what Day wrote she is still and inspiration. Day's commitment to social justice and helping the poor and neediest is a goal that we should all strive for in order to make the world a better place.
Day was the founder of the Catholic Worker movement along with Peter Maurin. So to Dorothy Day who twenty-five years later can still teach us so much. Dorothy Day died 25 years ago today and here are some of my favorite quotes.
"A conversion is a lonely experience." – Dorothy Day
"I believe because I want to believe, I hope because I want to hope, Ilove because I want to love." – Dorothy Day
"Freedom – how men hate it and chafe under it, how unhappy they arewith it." – Dorothy Day
"We want no revolution; we want the brotherhood of men. We want mento love one another." – Dorothy Day
"But without faith in each other, we cannot go on. Without hope wecannot go on. Without hope we cannot live." – Dorothy Day
"But I am sure that God did not intend that there be so many poor. Theclass structure is of our making and by our consent, not His, and wemust do what we can to change it. So we are urging revolutionarychange." -- Dorothy Day
"The reason for our existence is to praise God, to love Him and serveHim, and we can do this only by loving our brothers." - Dorothy Day
"Yet, how can we be happy today? How can we transcend this misery ofours? How can we believe in a Transcendent God when the Immanent Godseems so powerless within time, when demonic forces seem to be letloose? Certainly our God is a hidden God." – Dorothy Day
"What attracts one in a Che Guevara and a Ho Chi Minh is the hardshipand the suffering they endured in living their lives of faith andhope. It is not the violence, the killing of one's enemies." –Dorothy Day
"In other words, we must give up over and over again even the goodthings of this world, to choose God." – Dorothy Day
"It is so tremendous an idea that it is hard for people to see itsimplications. Our whole literature, our culture, is built on ethics,the choice between good and evil. The drama of the ages is on thistheme. We are still living in the Old Testament, with commandments asto the natural law. We have not yet begun to live as good Jews,letalone as good Christians. We do not tithe ourselves, there is noyear of jubilee, we do not keep the Sabbath, we have lost the conceptof hospitality. It is dog eat dog. We are all hunting whales. Wedevour each other in love and in hate; we are cannibals." – DorothyDay
27.11.05
It Keeps Getting Worse
Back in early September I gave W some advise, “Cheer up, the worst is yet to come.” At the time the Katrina disaster was in full stream and W was getting blasted every which way from all sides. About the only good thing for Bush was that people forgot about Iraq for a month or so.
But the situation in Iraq just keeps getting worse. It’s hard to find any positive press from anyone at the moment. We’ve got US troops maybe using chemical weapons (we found the WMDs… we had ‘em). It’s obvious that getting the three different groups in the country to get along and run the country is going to be one of the most difficult tasks ever undertaken. The insurgency shows no signs of fading, let alone ending.
And it seems like every day now there is a new revelation of human rights abuses coming out of Iraq. Now this:
'People are doing the same as [in] Saddam's time and worse,' Ayad Allawi told The Observer. 'It is an appropriate comparison. People are remembering the days of Saddam. These were the precise reasons that we fought Saddam and now we are seeing the same things.'
Just who is Allawi? He’d be the first Prime Minister of Iraq.
What does this all mean? The United States looks more hypocritical and worse day by day. When we sit down and talk to China or North Korea or Latin America about human rights, they just point the finger back at us. “Look at what you’re doing in Iraq to Iraqis or letting the Iraqis do to each other!” And they have a valid point.
There’s a reason why Hugo Chavez’s stock is rising faster than the Bears D at the moment. People look and read his attacks of the United States and nod their heads in agreement. Sure Chavez is too vocal and odds are the Hugo Chavez Era is going to end badly. But Chavez is saying the things that many people around the world, and even in the US, feels.
While this week also had some bittersweet news with the government finally pressing charges against Padilla, there are still some major problems that the Bush administration has to take care of (Guantanamo Bay and Iraq). VFLOAB actually has a strong belief that W could fix these things. But his major obstacle is his Vice President, Dick Chaney. If Bush wants to save his Presidency and the world, then he’ll have to do something with Dick Chaney. Until Chaney is out of the picture, things will only continue to get worse.
Quick Picks:
Bears (+3) over Bucs
Bills (+3.5) over Panthers
Chargers (-3.5) over Redskins
Oakland (-7) over Dolphins
Jets (-2) over Saints
Philly (-4.5) over Packers
But the situation in Iraq just keeps getting worse. It’s hard to find any positive press from anyone at the moment. We’ve got US troops maybe using chemical weapons (we found the WMDs… we had ‘em). It’s obvious that getting the three different groups in the country to get along and run the country is going to be one of the most difficult tasks ever undertaken. The insurgency shows no signs of fading, let alone ending.
And it seems like every day now there is a new revelation of human rights abuses coming out of Iraq. Now this:
'People are doing the same as [in] Saddam's time and worse,' Ayad Allawi told The Observer. 'It is an appropriate comparison. People are remembering the days of Saddam. These were the precise reasons that we fought Saddam and now we are seeing the same things.'
Just who is Allawi? He’d be the first Prime Minister of Iraq.
What does this all mean? The United States looks more hypocritical and worse day by day. When we sit down and talk to China or North Korea or Latin America about human rights, they just point the finger back at us. “Look at what you’re doing in Iraq to Iraqis or letting the Iraqis do to each other!” And they have a valid point.
There’s a reason why Hugo Chavez’s stock is rising faster than the Bears D at the moment. People look and read his attacks of the United States and nod their heads in agreement. Sure Chavez is too vocal and odds are the Hugo Chavez Era is going to end badly. But Chavez is saying the things that many people around the world, and even in the US, feels.
While this week also had some bittersweet news with the government finally pressing charges against Padilla, there are still some major problems that the Bush administration has to take care of (Guantanamo Bay and Iraq). VFLOAB actually has a strong belief that W could fix these things. But his major obstacle is his Vice President, Dick Chaney. If Bush wants to save his Presidency and the world, then he’ll have to do something with Dick Chaney. Until Chaney is out of the picture, things will only continue to get worse.
Quick Picks:
Bears (+3) over Bucs
Bills (+3.5) over Panthers
Chargers (-3.5) over Redskins
Oakland (-7) over Dolphins
Jets (-2) over Saints
Philly (-4.5) over Packers
26.11.05
All Big Ten NFL Team
I always hate this weekend. The first weekend of no Big Ten Football just a bummer of a weekend. I guess in a way it gets us ready for February when there is no more football. But this is always a weekend where it feels like you are getting kicked in the nuts again and again and again (I realize that the ‘Sconies played last night, but it was in Hawaii so that does not count).
But with this is mind, I decided to go though NFL rosters and come up with a all Big Ten Team. Here’s what I came up with.
QB – Tom Brady – Michigan
RB - Larry Johnson – Penn State
RB - T.J. Duckett – Michigan State
WR - Plaxico Burress – Michigan State
WR - Muhsin Muhammad – Michigan State
TE – Dallas Clark – Iowa
OT – Robert Gallery – Iowa
OT – Orlando Pace – The Ohio State University
OG – David Diehl – Illinois
OG - Steve Hutchinson - Michigan
C – Casey Wiegmann - Iowa
K – Neil Rackers – Illinois
This offense is good, not great, but very good. They’ll give Brady a ton of time to sit back in the pocket and find Plaxico and Muhammad. Odds are they would play a one running back, three wide out set with Galloway or Chambers as the third wide out. Johnson gives the team a bit of everything in the back field.
DE - Adewale Ogunleye - Indiana
DE – Simeon Rice – Illinois
DT – Jimmy Kennedy – Penn State
DT - Dan Wilkinson – The Ohio State
LB – Ian Gold - Michigan
LB - Julian Peterson – Michigan State
LB - Mike Vrabel – The Ohio State University
CB - Charles Woodson – Michigan
CB - Nate Clements – The Ohio State University
S – Mike Doss – The Ohio State University
S- Eugene Wilson – Illinois
P - Tom Tupa – The Ohio State University
This D would eat up most teams. While they are a bit thin at D-tackle and safety, but their cornerbacks and linebackers are top notch. I can’t see too many teams stopping Rice and Ogunleye on the ends. Wilkinson is having a nice year and those line backers can do everything and are tackling machines.
Backups
QB - Drew Brees – Purdue
FB - Mike Alstott - Purdue
WR - Chris Chambers - Wisconsin
WR – Terry Glenn – The Ohio State University
WR - Joey Galloway – The Ohio State University
WR - Antwaan Randle El - Indiana
OT - Flozell Adams – Michigan State
OT - Mark Tauscher – Wisconsin
OT - Jon Jansen – Michigan
OG - Brandon Moore – Illinois
DE – James Hall - Michigan
DE - Erasmus James – Wisconsin
DT - Luis Castillo – Northwestern
LB - Napoleon Harris – Northwestern
LB - Brandon Short – Penn State
LB - LaVar Arrington – Penn State
CB - Chris Gamble – The Ohio State University
CB - Antoine Winfield – The Ohio State University
This team is deep at linebacker, on the O-line, and at wide out. They have some nice CBs on the bench. They could use a running back and some help on the D-line, but over all not a bad team at all. Some very good to great NFL players are on this list.
Now the question is would anyone from Notre Dame besides Julius Jones make this team?
But with this is mind, I decided to go though NFL rosters and come up with a all Big Ten Team. Here’s what I came up with.
QB – Tom Brady – Michigan
RB - Larry Johnson – Penn State
RB - T.J. Duckett – Michigan State
WR - Plaxico Burress – Michigan State
WR - Muhsin Muhammad – Michigan State
TE – Dallas Clark – Iowa
OT – Robert Gallery – Iowa
OT – Orlando Pace – The Ohio State University
OG – David Diehl – Illinois
OG - Steve Hutchinson - Michigan
C – Casey Wiegmann - Iowa
K – Neil Rackers – Illinois
This offense is good, not great, but very good. They’ll give Brady a ton of time to sit back in the pocket and find Plaxico and Muhammad. Odds are they would play a one running back, three wide out set with Galloway or Chambers as the third wide out. Johnson gives the team a bit of everything in the back field.
DE - Adewale Ogunleye - Indiana
DE – Simeon Rice – Illinois
DT – Jimmy Kennedy – Penn State
DT - Dan Wilkinson – The Ohio State
LB – Ian Gold - Michigan
LB - Julian Peterson – Michigan State
LB - Mike Vrabel – The Ohio State University
CB - Charles Woodson – Michigan
CB - Nate Clements – The Ohio State University
S – Mike Doss – The Ohio State University
S- Eugene Wilson – Illinois
P - Tom Tupa – The Ohio State University
This D would eat up most teams. While they are a bit thin at D-tackle and safety, but their cornerbacks and linebackers are top notch. I can’t see too many teams stopping Rice and Ogunleye on the ends. Wilkinson is having a nice year and those line backers can do everything and are tackling machines.
Backups
QB - Drew Brees – Purdue
FB - Mike Alstott - Purdue
WR - Chris Chambers - Wisconsin
WR – Terry Glenn – The Ohio State University
WR - Joey Galloway – The Ohio State University
WR - Antwaan Randle El - Indiana
OT - Flozell Adams – Michigan State
OT - Mark Tauscher – Wisconsin
OT - Jon Jansen – Michigan
OG - Brandon Moore – Illinois
DE – James Hall - Michigan
DE - Erasmus James – Wisconsin
DT - Luis Castillo – Northwestern
LB - Napoleon Harris – Northwestern
LB - Brandon Short – Penn State
LB - LaVar Arrington – Penn State
CB - Chris Gamble – The Ohio State University
CB - Antoine Winfield – The Ohio State University
This team is deep at linebacker, on the O-line, and at wide out. They have some nice CBs on the bench. They could use a running back and some help on the D-line, but over all not a bad team at all. Some very good to great NFL players are on this list.
Now the question is would anyone from Notre Dame besides Julius Jones make this team?
23.11.05
Rowand to Phillies for Thome
I like the deal... for both teams. Phillies keep Howard and get a centerfielder. White Sox get a DH who should be better than Carl if he stays healthy.
As for centerfield... I'm not crazy about giving up a centerfielder, but whatever. Pods can move over to center if worst comes to worst.
Just a few thoughts... Sox in getting rid of Rowand, Frank, and Everett have cleared 14 million. Thome is going to cost what 6.5 million? That's still 7.5 million plus a few million more with winning and attendance boost... so we'll say that Kenny still has 10-12 million more to play with. Konerko takes 3 million of that leaving 7-9 million.
So we hear Juan Pierre is going to come and bat first or second. But I'm not totally sure about that. Juan and Pods are too alike... fast, no power, above average fielders, average to bellow average arms... I'm not sold on that on. Sox would probably want someone with a tad more pop.
So what about Manny or Johnny Damon? Just throwing that out there, but the Sox have money to spend. I know you have to also think long term (resigning all those pitchers after next year) but it's something to think about. Damon could play center and would look fantastic in left batting second. Manny said he wanted to play for Ozzie. I don't want them to get Manny (Manny, Thome, Konerko?, and AJ would be a poor man's 2003 Frank, Konerko, Carlos, and Maggs). But I'm throwing it out there.
One thing is clear, the Sox aren't done yet.
As for centerfield... I'm not crazy about giving up a centerfielder, but whatever. Pods can move over to center if worst comes to worst.
Just a few thoughts... Sox in getting rid of Rowand, Frank, and Everett have cleared 14 million. Thome is going to cost what 6.5 million? That's still 7.5 million plus a few million more with winning and attendance boost... so we'll say that Kenny still has 10-12 million more to play with. Konerko takes 3 million of that leaving 7-9 million.
So we hear Juan Pierre is going to come and bat first or second. But I'm not totally sure about that. Juan and Pods are too alike... fast, no power, above average fielders, average to bellow average arms... I'm not sold on that on. Sox would probably want someone with a tad more pop.
So what about Manny or Johnny Damon? Just throwing that out there, but the Sox have money to spend. I know you have to also think long term (resigning all those pitchers after next year) but it's something to think about. Damon could play center and would look fantastic in left batting second. Manny said he wanted to play for Ozzie. I don't want them to get Manny (Manny, Thome, Konerko?, and AJ would be a poor man's 2003 Frank, Konerko, Carlos, and Maggs). But I'm throwing it out there.
One thing is clear, the Sox aren't done yet.
21.11.05
Maybe it's because there is no goal
VFLOAB doesn’t have much to add today after what seemed like a pretty low key weekend. We could make a big deal about the ‘debate’ in Congress on Friday night, but to be honest the entire debate didn’t catch our eye. It was a day late (well 20 months) and a dollar short (let’s say 400 billion). Debating war intelligence about Iraq at this point won’t change anything. As it’s been said, the war in Iraq was either a total lie or an unbelievable mistake/mess up in collecting intelligence data. Take your pick because at this point it doesn’t really matter.
Also, we (I), haven’t really decided what to do with the troops already there. Both sides of the argument (bring them home vs stay the course) have valid points that need to be considered. Yet each day it’s starting to look more and more hopeless over there. That’s because there is no real goal. The actual war has been won… so now what? With no goal or agenda for the military… what is the point and mission? And that’s why things continue to get worse and worse. There is no end in sight. There is no light at the end of the tunnel.
That’s when VFLOAB hears the “the goal and mission is to establish a democracy in Iraq”. And granted, that does appear to be the case, but how can a foreign country establish a democracy in a country that they don’t control or occupy and are planning on leaving? VFLOAB has been saying this for two years now, “freedom has to come from with in” but the neo-Cons and others haven’t listened. They’ve figured that our troops would be greeted like heroes, praised with flowers, and Iraqis would be voting for a liberal and secular president by now. But anyone had done a little study of history, they would have seen that installing a democracy is hard to do anywhere, let alone in a non-industrialized country that lacks a large and strong middle class. So the goal of a democracy was always sort of a pipe dream.
Moving on, it’s going to be interesting to follow what happens in Israel over the next three or four months. Sharon leaving the Likud party to start is own will be remarkable to say the least. As far as this weakening or strengthening Sharon, I’ll leave that to the experts. But anything that makes it more likely for Sharon to leave office is probably a good thing at this point. He is, no matter what he did in Gaza, too much of a hawk to bring about peace.
Bears win and look like a team that might make a little noise in the playoffs. They sort of remind me of a poor mans 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers. Notre Dame and Ohio State appear to be on a collision course for the Fiesta Bowl. Reggie Bush should be President. And I’m carefully watching what happens with Aaron Rowan, Juan Pierre, and Jim Thome.
Also, we (I), haven’t really decided what to do with the troops already there. Both sides of the argument (bring them home vs stay the course) have valid points that need to be considered. Yet each day it’s starting to look more and more hopeless over there. That’s because there is no real goal. The actual war has been won… so now what? With no goal or agenda for the military… what is the point and mission? And that’s why things continue to get worse and worse. There is no end in sight. There is no light at the end of the tunnel.
That’s when VFLOAB hears the “the goal and mission is to establish a democracy in Iraq”. And granted, that does appear to be the case, but how can a foreign country establish a democracy in a country that they don’t control or occupy and are planning on leaving? VFLOAB has been saying this for two years now, “freedom has to come from with in” but the neo-Cons and others haven’t listened. They’ve figured that our troops would be greeted like heroes, praised with flowers, and Iraqis would be voting for a liberal and secular president by now. But anyone had done a little study of history, they would have seen that installing a democracy is hard to do anywhere, let alone in a non-industrialized country that lacks a large and strong middle class. So the goal of a democracy was always sort of a pipe dream.
Moving on, it’s going to be interesting to follow what happens in Israel over the next three or four months. Sharon leaving the Likud party to start is own will be remarkable to say the least. As far as this weakening or strengthening Sharon, I’ll leave that to the experts. But anything that makes it more likely for Sharon to leave office is probably a good thing at this point. He is, no matter what he did in Gaza, too much of a hawk to bring about peace.
Bears win and look like a team that might make a little noise in the playoffs. They sort of remind me of a poor mans 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers. Notre Dame and Ohio State appear to be on a collision course for the Fiesta Bowl. Reggie Bush should be President. And I’m carefully watching what happens with Aaron Rowan, Juan Pierre, and Jim Thome.
18.11.05
Hi I can't spell my name right, but I own you
Yep, Brett Favre. Just did a little number crunching...
Favre's last 20 games against the Bears:
17-3
4,843 yards (242 a game)
42 TDs (2.1 a game)
only 19 picks (I'm still waiting for Favre to have a Favre game where he throws 4 picks against the Bears... I think it happened in 1992, but I can't find the stats to back me up).
I wish I could find Favre's game by game stats in 1992, 1993, and 1994 so I could do a full career comparison... in other words would Brett Favre be a Hall of Fame QB if he didn't play the Chicago Bears (21-5 career record)? Anyway in Favre's played 12% of his games against the Bears and has about (I'm guessing about those 6 games against the Bears in '92, '93, and '94) 12% of all his passing yards and 14% of all his touchdowns.
This is pretty funny: Check out the Part Seven.
17.11.05
Thinkin' About...
VFLOAB has much to say... just so little time to say it right now. Just a few quick thoughts...
* The Washington Post should fire Bob Woodward.
* The number of cops around the White House is shocking. Seriously, it's almost like what you would see if you were watching a Hollywood movie and there's some bad guy big shot drug dealer and all his security people around him protecting him... just nuts.
* This is a fantastic article about the fantastic song by the Hold Steady "Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night." Breaks down the song and the meaning of the lyrics in the song. Any song that mentions Nelson Algren is a great song in VFLOAB opinion.
* Time for liberals, I'm sorry progressives, to start to make some noise about what they want. And this is a great start. If the right can do it, then the left can do it. If they want to make admendments, then the left should make admendments to the Constitution.
* VFLOAB have been closely following the return of former President of Peru, Alberto Fujimori's return to South American. He landed in Chile two weeks ago and is in jail there as Peru tries to get him extradited. Chile still has not freed him and doesn't look like they will. While VFLOAB didn't follow Fujimori's career in politics in the 1990s, Fujimori is wanted on corruption charges in Peru and it his time as President in Peru was a threat to democracy in the country. Bringing him to justice would be a welcomed sight as long as he also got a fair trial.
* The Washington Post should fire Bob Woodward.
* The number of cops around the White House is shocking. Seriously, it's almost like what you would see if you were watching a Hollywood movie and there's some bad guy big shot drug dealer and all his security people around him protecting him... just nuts.
* This is a fantastic article about the fantastic song by the Hold Steady "Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night." Breaks down the song and the meaning of the lyrics in the song. Any song that mentions Nelson Algren is a great song in VFLOAB opinion.
* Time for liberals, I'm sorry progressives, to start to make some noise about what they want. And this is a great start. If the right can do it, then the left can do it. If they want to make admendments, then the left should make admendments to the Constitution.
* VFLOAB have been closely following the return of former President of Peru, Alberto Fujimori's return to South American. He landed in Chile two weeks ago and is in jail there as Peru tries to get him extradited. Chile still has not freed him and doesn't look like they will. While VFLOAB didn't follow Fujimori's career in politics in the 1990s, Fujimori is wanted on corruption charges in Peru and it his time as President in Peru was a threat to democracy in the country. Bringing him to justice would be a welcomed sight as long as he also got a fair trial.
13.11.05
Week 10 Picks
Really quickly here…
BILLS (-2.5) over Chiefs
There just seems something weird about this line. Would this really be a pick ‘em on a neutral field? Aren’t the Chiefs a better team? Maybe the Bills aren’t that bad… and they are coming off a bye week. I like the Bills.
Redskins (+1) over Bucs
The Sinks aren’t good, but they aren’t bad.
GIANTS (-9.5) over Vikings
If the Vikings go 6-2 to finish the year, I wouldn’t be surprised. But the Giants are really good at home.
FALCONS (-9.5) over Packers
The Packers stink.
RAIDERS (+3) over Broncos
Just a feeling… probably the wrong feeling, but a feeling.
BEARS (+13) over 49ers
This line is way to big until you realize that:
1) The Bears are at home
2) The Bears D might be the best in the NFL
3) Cody Pickett is starting on the road in Chicago against a good defense.
Last Week: 3-3-1
Overall: 26-24-1
BILLS (-2.5) over Chiefs
There just seems something weird about this line. Would this really be a pick ‘em on a neutral field? Aren’t the Chiefs a better team? Maybe the Bills aren’t that bad… and they are coming off a bye week. I like the Bills.
Redskins (+1) over Bucs
The Sinks aren’t good, but they aren’t bad.
GIANTS (-9.5) over Vikings
If the Vikings go 6-2 to finish the year, I wouldn’t be surprised. But the Giants are really good at home.
FALCONS (-9.5) over Packers
The Packers stink.
RAIDERS (+3) over Broncos
Just a feeling… probably the wrong feeling, but a feeling.
BEARS (+13) over 49ers
This line is way to big until you realize that:
1) The Bears are at home
2) The Bears D might be the best in the NFL
3) Cody Pickett is starting on the road in Chicago against a good defense.
Last Week: 3-3-1
Overall: 26-24-1
11.11.05
What and Where Has Iraq Gotten Us?
It has now been 31 months since the fall of Baghdad in April of 2003. And VFLOAB now feel that it’s an appropriate time to examine what and where has the military victory of Saddam’s Iraq has gotten us.
Bush today gave a speech concerning the war in Iraq and terrorism (with a banner that read "Strategy for Victory"… of course VFLOAB recalls Bush declaring victory in May 2003 “Mission Accomplished” so did we win? Are we losing? Does anyone know? When he’s underwater does he get wet?) basically saying that those being critical of him now are hypocrites (okay maybe most Dems on the Hill) and that that this was a war we had to win (we I guess meaning the United States). That’s all fine and dandy but…
What is winning in Iraq?
If it’s getting rid of Saddam then yes, Mission Accomplished.
Is it establishing a democracy in Iraq? Well that’s something we won’t know for years. A stable democracy in Iraq would require that Iraq could sustain herself without help from the US military. Of course as it is now, the US military is the only reason why Iraq isn’t in a full fledged civil war. So the establishment of a peaceful self-sustaining democracy in Iraq is a few years off. The establishment of a thriving, independent, strong democracy in Iraq is probably a generation away… if it ever gets that far.
So Iraq has stretched the military and gotten us into a situation where winning and the goals are not clear… if even attainable. It’s left over 2,000 US soldiers dead and thousands more wounded. It’s left hundred of thousand of Iraqis dead. The war has cost taxpayers billions of dollars; probably more than we’ll even know.
But we did get rid of Saddam. We found out the hard way, the worst way possible, that Iraq doesn’t have WMDs. Iraqis, while living in some very violent times, are able to participate in government right now and in many ways are more ‘free’. The US has moved their troops out of the Kingdom and into Iraq.
Are we safer now since we’ve invaded Iraq? As a country we are probably no safer than we were before the invasion. There’s little doubt though that the invasion has lead to the instability to other countries in the region and maybe even brought on the attacks in other places in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Well besides Iraq, what is winning the war on terror?
That’s more difficult. That’s a war you can probably never win. You can only hope to contain and weaken the access terrorists have to materials and resources. The war on terror is ever changing. Just look at this war on terror, some of the terrorists today were our friends yesterday. That’s just the nature of terrorism.
While you can’t fully ignore the terrorists at the same time you do not want to pay too much attention to them. By saying that they exist and saying that you will fight them and continue to fight them you give them validity.
Of course the minor detail is that the terrorists existed prior to 9/11. And here we are now four years since 9/11 and 2 and a half years after Iraq no closer to anything really. That’s the scary thing about terrorism. It never really goes away. It changes, finds new causes, new people, but it’s always there. From liberals* to communists to the anarchists to the fascists to religious extremism… the face of terror has changed over the last two hundred years many times. And it will continue to do so whither Iraq is a democracy or not.
* I think it’s safe to assume that the powerful in the late 18th and into the 19th century would have considered liberals who demanded and fought for suffrage and education and other public services as terrorists.
Bush today gave a speech concerning the war in Iraq and terrorism (with a banner that read "Strategy for Victory"… of course VFLOAB recalls Bush declaring victory in May 2003 “Mission Accomplished” so did we win? Are we losing? Does anyone know? When he’s underwater does he get wet?) basically saying that those being critical of him now are hypocrites (okay maybe most Dems on the Hill) and that that this was a war we had to win (we I guess meaning the United States). That’s all fine and dandy but…
What is winning in Iraq?
If it’s getting rid of Saddam then yes, Mission Accomplished.
Is it establishing a democracy in Iraq? Well that’s something we won’t know for years. A stable democracy in Iraq would require that Iraq could sustain herself without help from the US military. Of course as it is now, the US military is the only reason why Iraq isn’t in a full fledged civil war. So the establishment of a peaceful self-sustaining democracy in Iraq is a few years off. The establishment of a thriving, independent, strong democracy in Iraq is probably a generation away… if it ever gets that far.
So Iraq has stretched the military and gotten us into a situation where winning and the goals are not clear… if even attainable. It’s left over 2,000 US soldiers dead and thousands more wounded. It’s left hundred of thousand of Iraqis dead. The war has cost taxpayers billions of dollars; probably more than we’ll even know.
But we did get rid of Saddam. We found out the hard way, the worst way possible, that Iraq doesn’t have WMDs. Iraqis, while living in some very violent times, are able to participate in government right now and in many ways are more ‘free’. The US has moved their troops out of the Kingdom and into Iraq.
Are we safer now since we’ve invaded Iraq? As a country we are probably no safer than we were before the invasion. There’s little doubt though that the invasion has lead to the instability to other countries in the region and maybe even brought on the attacks in other places in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Well besides Iraq, what is winning the war on terror?
That’s more difficult. That’s a war you can probably never win. You can only hope to contain and weaken the access terrorists have to materials and resources. The war on terror is ever changing. Just look at this war on terror, some of the terrorists today were our friends yesterday. That’s just the nature of terrorism.
While you can’t fully ignore the terrorists at the same time you do not want to pay too much attention to them. By saying that they exist and saying that you will fight them and continue to fight them you give them validity.
Of course the minor detail is that the terrorists existed prior to 9/11. And here we are now four years since 9/11 and 2 and a half years after Iraq no closer to anything really. That’s the scary thing about terrorism. It never really goes away. It changes, finds new causes, new people, but it’s always there. From liberals* to communists to the anarchists to the fascists to religious extremism… the face of terror has changed over the last two hundred years many times. And it will continue to do so whither Iraq is a democracy or not.
* I think it’s safe to assume that the powerful in the late 18th and into the 19th century would have considered liberals who demanded and fought for suffrage and education and other public services as terrorists.
10.11.05
Thumbs Down to Lobbyists
For the few of you that don’t believe that corruption exists in the federal government look no further than Jack Abramoff. It’s becoming more and apparent that Mr. Abramoff has handed millions of dollars to various people in the government. Mr. Abramoff is a lobbyist, and lobbyists are paid to get politicians to vote a certain way or meet with people. While the corruption in these cases are as obvious, as say the Trucks for Hire scandal in Chicago or under the table money exchanges, it’s hard to ignore the amount of money changing hands. In the article, Abramoff asked for 9 million bucks to set up a meeting between the President of Gabon and W (what anyone does with 9 million dollars to set up a meeting is beyond me, but I'm sure it some how features pay offs, nice dinners, maybe a few iPods, and a trip to a strip club or ten). One has to wonder where and to whom that 9 million bucks goes to… any doubt that more than a few people in DC see that money?
And this goes back to my desire for a bit of time now… something has to be done about lobbyists and lobbying. It’s getting out of control. Just walking around K Street (trust me, I do it almost every day) you can see the white guys in suites talking in low voices looking like 36 year olds at a high school dance. The sooner there are limits on placed on lobbying the better. In many ways lobbying is becoming legalized corruption. And lobbyists in DC has more than doubled since Bush has taken office* according to the Washington Post. And maybe the scariest thing of all is the flow of people in the public sector moving into the private sector, the most obvious example being Ed Gillespie. Gillespie was the chair of the RNC just a year ago, today he’s a lobbyist.
Of course my biggest problem with lobbying and lobbyist is that no one is looking out for the little guy. No one is lobbying for the poor or the homeless or the unemployed. There’s just no money there. Lot of morals, but no money in lobbying for the most needy.
So what’s to be done? Obviously, if Congress stepped in and set some limit, but odds are that would never stand considering that I’m sure someone would argue, and win, that it’s a violation of ones first amendment rights. The best way to stop these lobbyists is to ignore them. If elected officials and their staff on the Hill can ignore the numerous phone calls and lunches… well we might have something here. But these are politicians we’re talking about. Most are in it for the power. So many until a really big scandal hits, one where someone on the Hill or in the White House takes money from a lobbying firm, we won’t see anything done. And that’s a shame because the very nature of lobbying is anti-democratic.
*VFLOAB would love to blame Bush for that, but some how we haven't figured out how yet... unless of course we just do the tired old "because it's Bush!"
And this goes back to my desire for a bit of time now… something has to be done about lobbyists and lobbying. It’s getting out of control. Just walking around K Street (trust me, I do it almost every day) you can see the white guys in suites talking in low voices looking like 36 year olds at a high school dance. The sooner there are limits on placed on lobbying the better. In many ways lobbying is becoming legalized corruption. And lobbyists in DC has more than doubled since Bush has taken office* according to the Washington Post. And maybe the scariest thing of all is the flow of people in the public sector moving into the private sector, the most obvious example being Ed Gillespie. Gillespie was the chair of the RNC just a year ago, today he’s a lobbyist.
Of course my biggest problem with lobbying and lobbyist is that no one is looking out for the little guy. No one is lobbying for the poor or the homeless or the unemployed. There’s just no money there. Lot of morals, but no money in lobbying for the most needy.
So what’s to be done? Obviously, if Congress stepped in and set some limit, but odds are that would never stand considering that I’m sure someone would argue, and win, that it’s a violation of ones first amendment rights. The best way to stop these lobbyists is to ignore them. If elected officials and their staff on the Hill can ignore the numerous phone calls and lunches… well we might have something here. But these are politicians we’re talking about. Most are in it for the power. So many until a really big scandal hits, one where someone on the Hill or in the White House takes money from a lobbying firm, we won’t see anything done. And that’s a shame because the very nature of lobbying is anti-democratic.
*VFLOAB would love to blame Bush for that, but some how we haven't figured out how yet... unless of course we just do the tired old "because it's Bush!"
Cheers Tony
Here it to Tony Blair who had a great run. Whither he knows it or not, it looks like his time as Prime Minister is slowly coming to the end. Yesterday he lost the vote on the terror plan, which would have changed police to hold suspected terrorists for 90 days instead of 14 days. After Labour won reelection in May, many figured that Blair would step down at some point in the next two to three years. The loss yesterday may speed things up a big. Blair’s somewhat of a sitting duck as it is right now, and although it’s tough to go out on a losing note, it just might be time. Blair may try to hold on for another six months or so, just a guess, and then hand everything over to Gordon Brown. While I was against changing the number of days to 90, I do want to give Blair a pat on the back and thank you. He’s always come across as a good guy and someone who I think should move to, say, New York and run for governor. Why not? Arnold in Cali and Tony in the Empire State, it be kind of funny and just go on to prove that American politics are a bit of a joke.
9.11.05
Lot to Say, Little Time
I've got a lot to say... ideas, thoughts, general stuff like that...
Just that no computer at work and for various reasons it's been hard to write anything recently. Not that anyone probably cares, but I should be up and running again soon... I hope.
Just that no computer at work and for various reasons it's been hard to write anything recently. Not that anyone probably cares, but I should be up and running again soon... I hope.
5.11.05
That Time of the Week
So another weekend is here and that means it’s time to drop some football picks on ya. Wow that sounds dumb. Sorry. Let’s just get on to this.
Little late for NCAA picks, but I do like Wisconsin getting 13 and the Vols getting 7.5.
Last Week: 3-3
Overall: 9-9
NFL:
First things first, there are way too many road favorites this weekend in the NFL. In fact, something is fishy considering that there are NINE home dogs. Has that ever happened in the NFL? It’s going to be hard not to take the points.
Giants (-11) over NINERS
Let’s see here… Cody Pickett is the starter for the 49ers. Once again, Cody Pickett is starting for the Niners. Sort of like Brooks Bowlinger starting for the Jets a few weeks ago, if this doesn’t make you feel like gambling, nothing will.
SAINTS (+3) over Bears
I don’t like this game. Orton on the road. Bears giving three points. Saints have to play well and catch a break at some point… then again this might be the kind of game were Aaron Brooks throws four picks and it doesn’t matter what Orton does. But I have my doubts.
Eagles (+3) over REDSKINS
With TO being out and gone I have no clue. I could see this line breaking either way at this point. No way it’s going to be 3 at game time. Anyway, do the Birds come out and play well? Do they play good D and run the ball a bit, thus becoming a better football team? Or do they roll over and say screw it? I really have no clue. But I’m starting to think that they come together and play a good game and win.
PATS (+4) over Colts
I know I should take the Colts, but I’m not. Until Manning wins in New England, I’m going to go with the Pats. This is classic: fool me once, shame on you. Fool me seven times, shame on me. Plus this feels like a 27-24 game.
DOLPHINS (+2) over Falcons
I’m starting to believe that the Fins are good team at home, and since I’m getting points on top of it… plus you’ve got to wonder when Vick ends up costing the Falcons a game. Maybe it will be this week. Maybe it will be in two weeks. But when ever it is, it won’t be good.
Seahawks (-4) over CARDS
I’m not going to say it… I’m not going to say it… but the Seahawks are flying a little under the radar screen, and you’ve got to start wondering… I’m not going to say it. Not gonna say it.
Raiders (+4.5) over CHIEFS
I don’t think the Raiders are that bad of a team. Are they going to make the playoffs? No. But they aren’t a bad team. They can move the ball on offense. And that alone makes them a scary team to play. Plus the Chiefs aren’t nearly as good as everyone, myself included, thought they were.
Last Week: 4-4
Overall: 23-21
Little late for NCAA picks, but I do like Wisconsin getting 13 and the Vols getting 7.5.
Last Week: 3-3
Overall: 9-9
NFL:
First things first, there are way too many road favorites this weekend in the NFL. In fact, something is fishy considering that there are NINE home dogs. Has that ever happened in the NFL? It’s going to be hard not to take the points.
Giants (-11) over NINERS
Let’s see here… Cody Pickett is the starter for the 49ers. Once again, Cody Pickett is starting for the Niners. Sort of like Brooks Bowlinger starting for the Jets a few weeks ago, if this doesn’t make you feel like gambling, nothing will.
SAINTS (+3) over Bears
I don’t like this game. Orton on the road. Bears giving three points. Saints have to play well and catch a break at some point… then again this might be the kind of game were Aaron Brooks throws four picks and it doesn’t matter what Orton does. But I have my doubts.
Eagles (+3) over REDSKINS
With TO being out and gone I have no clue. I could see this line breaking either way at this point. No way it’s going to be 3 at game time. Anyway, do the Birds come out and play well? Do they play good D and run the ball a bit, thus becoming a better football team? Or do they roll over and say screw it? I really have no clue. But I’m starting to think that they come together and play a good game and win.
PATS (+4) over Colts
I know I should take the Colts, but I’m not. Until Manning wins in New England, I’m going to go with the Pats. This is classic: fool me once, shame on you. Fool me seven times, shame on me. Plus this feels like a 27-24 game.
DOLPHINS (+2) over Falcons
I’m starting to believe that the Fins are good team at home, and since I’m getting points on top of it… plus you’ve got to wonder when Vick ends up costing the Falcons a game. Maybe it will be this week. Maybe it will be in two weeks. But when ever it is, it won’t be good.
Seahawks (-4) over CARDS
I’m not going to say it… I’m not going to say it… but the Seahawks are flying a little under the radar screen, and you’ve got to start wondering… I’m not going to say it. Not gonna say it.
Raiders (+4.5) over CHIEFS
I don’t think the Raiders are that bad of a team. Are they going to make the playoffs? No. But they aren’t a bad team. They can move the ball on offense. And that alone makes them a scary team to play. Plus the Chiefs aren’t nearly as good as everyone, myself included, thought they were.
Last Week: 4-4
Overall: 23-21
3.11.05
Thoughts from Nov. 2nd and Nov. 3rd
I don’t have a PC at work that I can use right now so here are the random thoughts I’ve jotted down…
• “You don’t miss me… I know.”
• Why has the Left had such struggle uniting? Is the Left too revolutionary or progressive? To big and grandiose? Has it to do with the thought process or intellect of it? Or is it something more in the realm of so many people attempting to achieve a goal, but all of them seeing a different means of getting there? In other words, they fight over the means of achieve a goal, forgetting about the goal in the process? Or does it have to do with that fact that usually the Left does not have the power and is not in an economic situation, and therefore all efforts to unite are difficult because of the lack of funding? The Right on the other hand is reactionary or defensive; they can take up a cause and put their feet in the ground. But the Left is so often on the attack or being the aggressors, that It’s difficult for them to come together.
• Why don’ the Dems label Alito as either homophobic or as a sympathetic to gays. In other words give Rove a taste of his own medicine.
• China works as an authoritative government and free economy because it is NOT an information based, or even market based, in its system. Since the government controls everything and they do not want to give up their power, they’re going to do whatever they can to improve peoples lives while not giving up that power. So they embrace a free economy but only to a degree. The government is happy to allow certain individuals to have access to the information and market, but not everyone. And they’re more than willing to be the workshop of the world.
• On terror, terrorists, and torture… when did we allow the terrorists to define us and our actions? “If the terrorists did it…” is not a reason for us to do the same. We as a country were founded on ideals like freedom, liberty, and life. And if we want to promote freedom it is our duty to not be hypocritical. To promote freedom we must respect freedom. To promote liberty we must honor liberty. And to spread life, we must protect life.
• Bud Selig takes a lot of heat in the media because he’s based out of Milwaukee. Since he isn’t in New York the media feels that they can take pot shots at him since they don’t have to answer to him, deal with him, or if they need something he’s not in New York so Selig is in a tougher position to play the media game.
• The best park about winning may be that at random times you think… “Hey we won! We won the World Series!” and you smile and feel good.
• The bird flu… wouldn’t it be cheaper, safer, and morally correct to hit the flu at the base of the problem? In other words try to stop it in Southeast Asia before it spreads? I know that’s a difficult task, but why prepare for when it’s going to hit the USA or Europe? By then isn’t it too late anyway? Should we also be concerned about peoples not in the West?
• Why are we blaming oil companies for making money again? Is it their fault that oil costs an arm and a leg?
• Let’s give it up to Illinois on the Hill! They’ve got Denny Hasert, the #2 Democrte in the Senate in Dick Durbin, can do no wrong SuperHero Obama, Henry Hyde, Jesse Jackson Jr., and Rahm Emanuel. Nice work Illinois.
• After reading about these secrete prisons… the abuse of power and the White House is starting to approach Soviet like standards and tendencies at this point.
• Let’s see here: we’ve had prisoner abuse… the outsourcing of prisoners to other countries so that they may be tortured… secrete prisons… detainees held without being charged or trials… what’s next? How much worse is this going to get?
• Wait… you mean a large middle class with economic opportunity in a free market with a free and steady flow of information along with an open minded out look are the main ingredients to a democracy? You don’t say? And that’s what we should be promoting and fostering in the Middle East? No shit! What’s next that you’re going to tell me. That either Karl Rove or Dick Chaney is the Anti-Christ? (for the record, I’d guess Chaney. Say what you will about Rove, he’s still more an evil-genius. At some point you just have to admire in spite.)
• Is there a power struggle in the White House between Chaney, Bush, Rice, and to a degree Rove? That’s something to watch for.
• Reason #9,583,355,491 why tax cuts for the rich do hurt the poor… since we’ve cut taxes for the rich and took away that income and now are spending more money than we have as a government we have to cut back on services so what do we cut back on? Tax deductions? Tax breaks? Property taxes? Kick backs? No… food stamps and Medicaid! Let’s make the poor, poorer!
That’s good for now… I’ve been able to read the Journal, Post, and Times’ front section each day the past two days and I’ll pass on the best of the best that I’ve read… oh wait I can’t with the Journal or the Time’s Op-Ed page! Anyway… quickly:
Interesting look at the White House, US, and Latin America at the moment.
It’s hard to not like Tim Kane after this profile in the Post today. Seems like a good guy and a genuine guy. I like him a lot.
There will never be love lost between myself and Francis Fukuyama, but I’ve got to say this is the most thought provoking piece I’ve read in the last two days (though I loved Bob Herbert’s Ob-Ed in today’s Times).
• “You don’t miss me… I know.”
• Why has the Left had such struggle uniting? Is the Left too revolutionary or progressive? To big and grandiose? Has it to do with the thought process or intellect of it? Or is it something more in the realm of so many people attempting to achieve a goal, but all of them seeing a different means of getting there? In other words, they fight over the means of achieve a goal, forgetting about the goal in the process? Or does it have to do with that fact that usually the Left does not have the power and is not in an economic situation, and therefore all efforts to unite are difficult because of the lack of funding? The Right on the other hand is reactionary or defensive; they can take up a cause and put their feet in the ground. But the Left is so often on the attack or being the aggressors, that It’s difficult for them to come together.
• Why don’ the Dems label Alito as either homophobic or as a sympathetic to gays. In other words give Rove a taste of his own medicine.
• China works as an authoritative government and free economy because it is NOT an information based, or even market based, in its system. Since the government controls everything and they do not want to give up their power, they’re going to do whatever they can to improve peoples lives while not giving up that power. So they embrace a free economy but only to a degree. The government is happy to allow certain individuals to have access to the information and market, but not everyone. And they’re more than willing to be the workshop of the world.
• On terror, terrorists, and torture… when did we allow the terrorists to define us and our actions? “If the terrorists did it…” is not a reason for us to do the same. We as a country were founded on ideals like freedom, liberty, and life. And if we want to promote freedom it is our duty to not be hypocritical. To promote freedom we must respect freedom. To promote liberty we must honor liberty. And to spread life, we must protect life.
• Bud Selig takes a lot of heat in the media because he’s based out of Milwaukee. Since he isn’t in New York the media feels that they can take pot shots at him since they don’t have to answer to him, deal with him, or if they need something he’s not in New York so Selig is in a tougher position to play the media game.
• The best park about winning may be that at random times you think… “Hey we won! We won the World Series!” and you smile and feel good.
• The bird flu… wouldn’t it be cheaper, safer, and morally correct to hit the flu at the base of the problem? In other words try to stop it in Southeast Asia before it spreads? I know that’s a difficult task, but why prepare for when it’s going to hit the USA or Europe? By then isn’t it too late anyway? Should we also be concerned about peoples not in the West?
• Why are we blaming oil companies for making money again? Is it their fault that oil costs an arm and a leg?
• Let’s give it up to Illinois on the Hill! They’ve got Denny Hasert, the #2 Democrte in the Senate in Dick Durbin, can do no wrong SuperHero Obama, Henry Hyde, Jesse Jackson Jr., and Rahm Emanuel. Nice work Illinois.
• After reading about these secrete prisons… the abuse of power and the White House is starting to approach Soviet like standards and tendencies at this point.
• Let’s see here: we’ve had prisoner abuse… the outsourcing of prisoners to other countries so that they may be tortured… secrete prisons… detainees held without being charged or trials… what’s next? How much worse is this going to get?
• Wait… you mean a large middle class with economic opportunity in a free market with a free and steady flow of information along with an open minded out look are the main ingredients to a democracy? You don’t say? And that’s what we should be promoting and fostering in the Middle East? No shit! What’s next that you’re going to tell me. That either Karl Rove or Dick Chaney is the Anti-Christ? (for the record, I’d guess Chaney. Say what you will about Rove, he’s still more an evil-genius. At some point you just have to admire in spite.)
• Is there a power struggle in the White House between Chaney, Bush, Rice, and to a degree Rove? That’s something to watch for.
• Reason #9,583,355,491 why tax cuts for the rich do hurt the poor… since we’ve cut taxes for the rich and took away that income and now are spending more money than we have as a government we have to cut back on services so what do we cut back on? Tax deductions? Tax breaks? Property taxes? Kick backs? No… food stamps and Medicaid! Let’s make the poor, poorer!
That’s good for now… I’ve been able to read the Journal, Post, and Times’ front section each day the past two days and I’ll pass on the best of the best that I’ve read… oh wait I can’t with the Journal or the Time’s Op-Ed page! Anyway… quickly:
Interesting look at the White House, US, and Latin America at the moment.
It’s hard to not like Tim Kane after this profile in the Post today. Seems like a good guy and a genuine guy. I like him a lot.
There will never be love lost between myself and Francis Fukuyama, but I’ve got to say this is the most thought provoking piece I’ve read in the last two days (though I loved Bob Herbert’s Ob-Ed in today’s Times).
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