Wow, I'm actually a bit impressed by this, though not pleasantly. NPR is concerned that another network seems to have a political bias? Pot. Kettle. Black.
Is there anyone who listens to NPR who can with a clean conscience and without taking drugs say (or believe) that NPR doesn't have its own political bias? I don't know about the drugs or conscience, but apparently Dick Meyer from NPR doesn't (or can't) detect any bias there.
Is Fox biased? Sure. Biased like ABC/CBS/NBC/MSNBC/NYT/LAT/NPR. Of course it isn't bias if one agrees with a particular worldview, its just-you know-the truth. Keith Olbermann isn't biased, he's just right. Speaking truth to power and all that. No bias to see here, just move along.
I can't decide on the diagnosis: hubris or tone-deafness.
h/t to Politico
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Packers-Ravens
I managed to score two tickets for the Packers' Monday night game against the Baltimore Ravens. A good friend is going with me and I'm under the impression that yes, alcohol will be a factor. It's supposed to be coldish there: high of 27, low of 18, wind about 5-10mph. Snow in the morning. Yeah, I'm going to freeze. I'll report in later with charming anecdotes.
Update: Charming Anecdotes: It was cold, fun, and Green Bay won. Sorry to the Ravens fans behind us, but I think we were gentle.
Update: Charming Anecdotes: It was cold, fun, and Green Bay won. Sorry to the Ravens fans behind us, but I think we were gentle.
Good Heavens
Imagine my surprise when I looked at my Sitemeter stats (yes, I do that) and found I had had a visitor from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York. What on earth is anyone from there doing here?
Monday, November 30, 2009
Michael Moore may not be a fool, but he sure is foolish
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
It must be noon, for Pat Buchanan is correct
Even a broken clock is right twice a day, and today is Pat Buchanan's day. It leaves an ashen, nasty, taste in my mouth to say it though. He talks about the same misgivings which I have about using the US courts to fight terrorists. I'll let his words speak for themselves.
That is, by putting terrorists on trial we abrogate the entire legal basis for using the military to fight them. One does not follow due process procedures in combat. Imagine having to interview each enemy soldier to determine guilt or innocence before they might be fired at. Not just interviewing, though. An arrest must be made, a trial (with counsel) granted then conducted. Guilt must be ascertained, then sentencing would follow. What exactly is the punishment for taking up arms against the United States, anyway? Ten years for sedition or treason? But they aren't citizens of the United States so that's out.
See what I mean? Nothing but trouble. If OJ Simpson could wriggle out of a murder conviction through prosecutorial missteps, then why not Khalid Sheikh Mohammed? I sure hope that Obama knows what he is doing here. This is his show and it might very well be a disaster.
"And if we must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that KSM was complicit in mass murder, by what right do we send Predators and Special Forces to kill his al-Qaida comrades wherever we find them? For none of them has been granted a fair trial.
When the Justice Department sets up a task force to wage war on a crime organization like the Mafia or MS-13, no U.S. official has a right to shoot Mafia or gang members on sight. No one has a right to bomb their homes. No one has a right to regard the possible death of their wives and children in an attack as acceptable collateral damage."
That is, by putting terrorists on trial we abrogate the entire legal basis for using the military to fight them. One does not follow due process procedures in combat. Imagine having to interview each enemy soldier to determine guilt or innocence before they might be fired at. Not just interviewing, though. An arrest must be made, a trial (with counsel) granted then conducted. Guilt must be ascertained, then sentencing would follow. What exactly is the punishment for taking up arms against the United States, anyway? Ten years for sedition or treason? But they aren't citizens of the United States so that's out.
See what I mean? Nothing but trouble. If OJ Simpson could wriggle out of a murder conviction through prosecutorial missteps, then why not Khalid Sheikh Mohammed? I sure hope that Obama knows what he is doing here. This is his show and it might very well be a disaster.
Friday, November 13, 2009
This is Badass
Military Photos: Testing the XM-25
I know this is only a prototype. I know its still being tested. I know it won't look like that when it gets dropped into the itchy hands of American grunts someday. Still, doesn't that make you want to go out and tear up the range?
(thanks to Strategypage)
I know this is only a prototype. I know its still being tested. I know it won't look like that when it gets dropped into the itchy hands of American grunts someday. Still, doesn't that make you want to go out and tear up the range?
(thanks to Strategypage)
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Army Reserve medics are better
Support: Older Is Better And Will Save Your Life
This is something I noticed while I was in the army, myself. The reservist medical troops were better, sometimes much better, than their active duty counterparts. Something I suppose about the reservists doing their job everyday, and not spending time taking some pretty pointless classes and other training.
The reservists also got to learn, and use, more advanced techniques and equipment and as a result have more cutting-edge knowledge.
It really is hard to compare the job experience a standard combat medic in the regular army gets to that of their paramedic counterparts in the civilian world. Regular duty guys spend a lot of time doing not much at all while a big-city paramedic working in an ER or an ambulance crew get worked like dogs. All that pays off for the sick, and injured though as superior knowledge and experience lead to superior results. That is, less dying and more living. (hat tip: Strategypage.com)
This is something I noticed while I was in the army, myself. The reservist medical troops were better, sometimes much better, than their active duty counterparts. Something I suppose about the reservists doing their job everyday, and not spending time taking some pretty pointless classes and other training.
The reservists also got to learn, and use, more advanced techniques and equipment and as a result have more cutting-edge knowledge.
It really is hard to compare the job experience a standard combat medic in the regular army gets to that of their paramedic counterparts in the civilian world. Regular duty guys spend a lot of time doing not much at all while a big-city paramedic working in an ER or an ambulance crew get worked like dogs. All that pays off for the sick, and injured though as superior knowledge and experience lead to superior results. That is, less dying and more living. (hat tip: Strategypage.com)
NOW calls for Cable to be suspended - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
NOW calls for Cable to be suspended - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Wonderful. The NOW has next to nothing to say about Wm. Clinton's transgressions or the exclusion of women from Obama's inner circle, but does have time to worry about allegations made against a football coach.
Cable should be suspended alright, because he has a horrible football team to show for his efforts. If the allegations against him are proven then the NFL should take whatever action it takes in such cases. I'm not sure that allegations alone should lead to suspension, especially when they are unrelated to his actual, you know, job.
I see from the article that he admits slapping his (now ex) wife twenty years ago. Terry O'Neil:
“Why would the NFL tolerate having a man who admits to having battered his wife"
Honestly. Our president did cocaine twenty years ago, our media icons have violated many, many, laws. Roman Polanski raped a little girl twenty years ago. I'm supposed to get excited that a football league has a man working in it who slapped his wife twenty years ago? I wonder if she ever slapped him? Does that make a difference? Should it? Are there two tiers of justice and transgressions for the two sexes?
Wonderful. The NOW has next to nothing to say about Wm. Clinton's transgressions or the exclusion of women from Obama's inner circle, but does have time to worry about allegations made against a football coach.
Cable should be suspended alright, because he has a horrible football team to show for his efforts. If the allegations against him are proven then the NFL should take whatever action it takes in such cases. I'm not sure that allegations alone should lead to suspension, especially when they are unrelated to his actual, you know, job.
I see from the article that he admits slapping his (now ex) wife twenty years ago. Terry O'Neil:
“Why would the NFL tolerate having a man who admits to having battered his wife"
Honestly. Our president did cocaine twenty years ago, our media icons have violated many, many, laws. Roman Polanski raped a little girl twenty years ago. I'm supposed to get excited that a football league has a man working in it who slapped his wife twenty years ago? I wonder if she ever slapped him? Does that make a difference? Should it? Are there two tiers of justice and transgressions for the two sexes?
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Favre v. Packers
What we saw in the Monday Night Football game was what Green Bay used to see from Brett Favre. The reason that Ted Thompson (GB's GM) cut him semi-loose is that Green Bay hadn't seen that Brett Favre for years.
Favre made no secret that the weekly grind of film study, meetings, practice, and everything else that defines pre-game prep had become irksome to him. So he tried to get by on his native talent. Good for him because he has loads of talent. The trouble is that everyone else in the league does, too. Which means that he went into game after game for years, under-prepared mentally, not knowing what he needed to know to compete as well as his potential would allow. At the same time Favre started getting a little old. The last month or so of each season highlighted that age as his performance began to decline in those games. That is the Brett Favre that Green Bay saw from the 2000 season on.
So when Thompson traded Favre to the Jets he did so because Favre didn't seem to want to do more than just come to the games, strap it up, and let loose. Make no mistake, Favre went the the required meetings and practices, but there is a huge difference between doing the minimum demanded and what it takes to be great.
I get it, after 20+ years of playing football I'd be tired of it, too. But you just can't phone it in when you're playing at the profession's pinnacle. Favre needed a change of scenery to motivate him to play to his potential again, and he got it.
Now all that remains to be seen is what Favre plays the rest of the season in Minnesota. Without a doubt, the Monday night game against Green Bay was Favre's Super Bowl. What we saw was what we saw when Brett Favre cared enough to do everything he could do, not just what he had to do, and it showed.
Of course we also saw an offensive line that kept him from so much as getting a scratch while Green Bay's Rogers just got hammered relentlessly. Even so, the Packers were still one play from winning all the way until the last minute. If Green Bay had anything like the pass protection the Vikings generated, this Monday Night game might have been the best, ever.
Coulda, woulda, shoulda. If Favre had kept playing post-2000 the way he's playing in Minnesota this year, he would still be a Packer.
He didn't, and that is a sports tragedy.
Favre made no secret that the weekly grind of film study, meetings, practice, and everything else that defines pre-game prep had become irksome to him. So he tried to get by on his native talent. Good for him because he has loads of talent. The trouble is that everyone else in the league does, too. Which means that he went into game after game for years, under-prepared mentally, not knowing what he needed to know to compete as well as his potential would allow. At the same time Favre started getting a little old. The last month or so of each season highlighted that age as his performance began to decline in those games. That is the Brett Favre that Green Bay saw from the 2000 season on.
So when Thompson traded Favre to the Jets he did so because Favre didn't seem to want to do more than just come to the games, strap it up, and let loose. Make no mistake, Favre went the the required meetings and practices, but there is a huge difference between doing the minimum demanded and what it takes to be great.
I get it, after 20+ years of playing football I'd be tired of it, too. But you just can't phone it in when you're playing at the profession's pinnacle. Favre needed a change of scenery to motivate him to play to his potential again, and he got it.
Now all that remains to be seen is what Favre plays the rest of the season in Minnesota. Without a doubt, the Monday night game against Green Bay was Favre's Super Bowl. What we saw was what we saw when Brett Favre cared enough to do everything he could do, not just what he had to do, and it showed.
Of course we also saw an offensive line that kept him from so much as getting a scratch while Green Bay's Rogers just got hammered relentlessly. Even so, the Packers were still one play from winning all the way until the last minute. If Green Bay had anything like the pass protection the Vikings generated, this Monday Night game might have been the best, ever.
Coulda, woulda, shoulda. If Favre had kept playing post-2000 the way he's playing in Minnesota this year, he would still be a Packer.
He didn't, and that is a sports tragedy.
Monday, August 24, 2009
2009 Green Bay Packers Predictions
Another off-season has come and (mostly) gone with the regular season only a few weeks away, I feel compelled to make my annual post. While I love watching the GBP and all that, normally I can't justify saying much about how they play. There are plenty of writers who have much better access and information than I do opining already. Sports isn't like other topics-for the most part what you see is what you get. Regardless, here goes.
The defense has a new scheme, the 3-4 and will hopefully learn to use it effectively this year. The player appear to be somewhat upgraded with DT/DE/NT Raji. The other high draft choice, LB Matthews may or may not be a starter this year; I'm leaning towards not. He has too much ground to make up from practice missed because of injury and the LBs already on the team don't appear willing to give up their jobs easily. The other defensive players are essentially unchanged except for being a year older. This is only a factor for the starting CBs, Woodson and Harris. Is this the year that Harris starts to get old? I'm not sure but he has seemed to wear down late in the season these last few years. Overall I would rate the defense somewhat better in terms of personnel and scheme.
The GBPs offense looks unchanged from last year, apart from the offensive line. That is however a big conditional statement there. LT Clifton appears likely to be the only holdover from the Packers dominant offensive lines from the past years and is getting old himself. How well the OL learns to work together will be a major though quiet story this season. WR Jennings earned a huge new contract and will lead a very good set of receivers this year. TE Finley in particular has appeared to improve from last season and could play a large role in this offense. QB Rogers looks very sharp and should only improve on his first season as a starter this year. With a healthy RB Grant, a settled offensive line, and the outstanding receiver group Rogers might have a monster year.
Special teams for GB have been at best mediocre and at worst an absolute disaster for several years, reflecting the team's general youth. Special teams are played by those not quite good enough to start but good enough to make a roster. With the Packers consistently the youngest team in the NFL that means lots of rookies and JAGs playing, and it showed every week. With the starters very settled now for two years the backups should have had a chance to develop enough to become quality contributors on special teams. K Crosby is in no danger of losing his job but who will be the punter? Neither P Kapinos or Brooks should get comfortable enough to sign a one-year apartment quite yet. It is no understatement that consistently mediocre would be an improvement for the punting game.
Last season the Packers appeared to be a team whose defense couldn't hold a lead late in the fourth quarter, and the offense while efficient had some troubles running the ball. The record of 6-10 should be improved on this season. When I look at the schedule I see ten wins. I expect GB will split the series with Chicago and Minnesota and take both from the Lions. I see the other wins coming from Cincinnati, St. Louis, Cleveland, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, and one from either Seattle or Arizona. Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Dallas would be upsets barring unforeseen circumstances.
There is my season preview. 10-6 should be good enough for the playoffs. A lot will depend on Brett Favre, just not the way it usually.
The defense has a new scheme, the 3-4 and will hopefully learn to use it effectively this year. The player appear to be somewhat upgraded with DT/DE/NT Raji. The other high draft choice, LB Matthews may or may not be a starter this year; I'm leaning towards not. He has too much ground to make up from practice missed because of injury and the LBs already on the team don't appear willing to give up their jobs easily. The other defensive players are essentially unchanged except for being a year older. This is only a factor for the starting CBs, Woodson and Harris. Is this the year that Harris starts to get old? I'm not sure but he has seemed to wear down late in the season these last few years. Overall I would rate the defense somewhat better in terms of personnel and scheme.
The GBPs offense looks unchanged from last year, apart from the offensive line. That is however a big conditional statement there. LT Clifton appears likely to be the only holdover from the Packers dominant offensive lines from the past years and is getting old himself. How well the OL learns to work together will be a major though quiet story this season. WR Jennings earned a huge new contract and will lead a very good set of receivers this year. TE Finley in particular has appeared to improve from last season and could play a large role in this offense. QB Rogers looks very sharp and should only improve on his first season as a starter this year. With a healthy RB Grant, a settled offensive line, and the outstanding receiver group Rogers might have a monster year.
Special teams for GB have been at best mediocre and at worst an absolute disaster for several years, reflecting the team's general youth. Special teams are played by those not quite good enough to start but good enough to make a roster. With the Packers consistently the youngest team in the NFL that means lots of rookies and JAGs playing, and it showed every week. With the starters very settled now for two years the backups should have had a chance to develop enough to become quality contributors on special teams. K Crosby is in no danger of losing his job but who will be the punter? Neither P Kapinos or Brooks should get comfortable enough to sign a one-year apartment quite yet. It is no understatement that consistently mediocre would be an improvement for the punting game.
Last season the Packers appeared to be a team whose defense couldn't hold a lead late in the fourth quarter, and the offense while efficient had some troubles running the ball. The record of 6-10 should be improved on this season. When I look at the schedule I see ten wins. I expect GB will split the series with Chicago and Minnesota and take both from the Lions. I see the other wins coming from Cincinnati, St. Louis, Cleveland, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, and one from either Seattle or Arizona. Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Dallas would be upsets barring unforeseen circumstances.
There is my season preview. 10-6 should be good enough for the playoffs. A lot will depend on Brett Favre, just not the way it usually.
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