Neo

Fight fan alert. If you have iTunes (and I'm sure other services), there are two films to rent. "Facing Ali" and "Ali's Greatest Fights". Facing Ali is a series of interviews by his greates foes. Greatest Fights is just that. Fascinating view of the man, the sport, the social and political climate of the 60s and 70s, etc. The Rumble in the Jungle and The Thrilla in Manilla. Two bouts that tested men to the their very depths. The poignant and curious story of Ali and Frazier and the pain Frazier suffered. I know, everything's back in the day with me! ... "Is that all you got, George?" Addendum: If you prefer books, King of the World: Muhammad Ali and the Rise of an American Hero by David Remnick and Lazarus and the Hurricane: The Freeing of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter by Sam Chaiton and Terry Swinton.

1). My team won, so I'm not blaming refs, but, man, the NFL is becoming unwatchable with all of the flags. Even when they're the right call (the unequal treatment of punter contact), this sanitization drives me nuts. 2). Our corners. Best I've seem since it became a flag to touch a receiver. Awesome. 3). Two halves, two defenses, each correct. The first half fun of bringing the house and jumping routes vs. the second half zone trading points for minutes. I liked it. 4). The jury's still out on McCoy, but it worries me less. 5). Sports and head injuries. Did you see Graham's eyes for the split second before the replay cut away? "We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto". 6). Add Dareus. 7). I'll never bemoan drafting CBs again. 8). Karlos! 9). Roman's plays take an extra second to develop. I have to get used to that. 10). Add Sammy. 11). Gronk's not a beast, he's THE beast, but I like our LBs with a safety over the top. Athleticism. Brady 1-2-3 with his receivers is roughly equivalent to Luck 1-2-3 and his, when viewed together. Brady's line's more suspect. 12). Where would Kiko play? (duck). 13). The kicking game rocked. 14). Luck and Pagano are gracious interviews. 15). The Bills had fun, today, if post game pressers are any indication. Wildly different circumstances, but compare today to the last three years of Sabres pressers. Sports are fun when athletes are having fun. 16). Pegula returns to Buffalo; deus ex machina.

Moses Malone dead at 60. I remember both of his games as a Brave; all six minutes played, the one rebound and the one personal foul. Well, not very clearly. RIP, Mr. Malone. What strange days 1976 to 1978 were. For several years before, Buffalo was major league in three sports.

Climate Change -- Much discussed. I found a link to the 2014 U.N. REPORT so often mentioned in political policy conversations. It is long (167 pages). It is science and statistics. It is charts and graphs. I am not a meteorologist nor a statistician. I can, however, read and look at graphs. This wouldn't be link-worthy without plentiful, simple, and visually easy graphs. Accordingly, you can scroll and get a good feel for the argument and the urgency. Thoughts (mine, not the paper's) 1). Credibility and skepticism for the UN among some, a non-meteorological consideration, is a debate within the debate stalling the acceptance or rejection of the conclusions. This is unfortunate. It's not an undeserved criticism of the U.N., however. It's also not a reason to dismiss the work. 2). Even a quick read, online, of the highlights, summaries and conclusions will establish a base for me to consider when evaluating candidates. I now know "warming, by how much, for what reasons, on what trajectory" as those concepts inform President Obama. 3). The question begged, of those who say it's not settled science, is "who disputes and how?". I know they're out there, but I'd like to find their response to this report. In short, apples to apples would be helpful. 4). Not a surprise, but scary stuff. For your surfing and scrolling pleasure ...... http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/syr/SYR_AR5_FINAL_full.pdf

Indianapolis W New England W @ Miami L NY Giants W @ Tennessee W Cincinnati L Jacksonville (London) W Miami W @NY Jets W @ New England L @Kansas City L Houston. W @ Philadelphia L @ Washington W Dallas. L NY Jets W 10-6 Wild Card

I'm not a military strategist. I'd say will, faith, commitment and inspiration. Another example of something that informed my view on the folly of war and ideology. Colonel Kurtz: Kurtz: "I've seen horrors... horrors that you've seen. But you have no right to call me a murderer. You have a right to kill me. You have a right to do that... but you have no right to judge me. It's impossible for words to describe what is necessary to those who do not know what horror means. Horror... Horror has a face... and you must make a friend of horror. Horror and moral terror are your friends. If they are not, then they are enemies to be feared. They are truly enemies! I remember when I was with Special Forces... seems a thousand centuries ago. We went into a camp to inoculate some children. We left the camp after we had inoculated the children for polio, and this old man came running after us and he was crying. He couldn't see. We went back there, and they had come and hacked off every inoculated arm. There they were in a pile. A pile of little arms. And I remember... I... I... I cried, I wept like some grandmother. I wanted to tear my teeth out; I didn't know what I wanted to do! And I want to remember it. I never want to forget it... I never want to forget. And then I realized... like I was shot... like I was shot with a diamond... a diamond bullet right through my forehead. And I thought, my God... the genius of that! The genius! The will to do that! Perfect, genuine, complete, crystalline, pure. And then I realized they were stronger than we, because they could stand that these were not monsters, these were men... trained cadres. These men who fought with their hearts, who had families, who had children, who were filled with love... but they had the strength... the strength... to do that. If I had ten divisions of those men, our troubles here would be over very quickly. You have to have men who are moral... and at the same time who are able to utilize their primordial instincts to kill without feeling... without passion... without judgment... without judgment! Because it's judgment that defeats us." And ..... Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. George Santayana

Just had our 73rd straight, about 4 hours ago!

Mr. Weave ... To clarify, not to convince ... I agree with what you say, too. I'm not using democracy and freedom as political ideas, I'm using them as ideas around tolerating diversity, tolerating religions other than yours, tolerating no religious belief, women as equals, theaters and books with R ratings, etc. That's the freedom I refer to. It is centuries old. We're the west. We've challenged ideas for centuries. That's the enemy. Convert, conform, and all is well. Do you really think they don't hate America because it is, in fact, America? Visit a jihadist web site. They want you dead because of what you stand for and what you believe. I'll add - exacerbated because we're there. We arrived, to more fully acknowledge a many sided issue.

AWEsome thread and timing, JD. With camp coming, and all eyes on the "prizes", this will refocus me on a most important element of a camp. That is, determining positions at the margin, not simply watching the development of the givens. I feel good about Johnson as number two in net. Most will, I believe. I'd be interested in the voices who watched Makarov in Rochester. Schaller and McCormick intrigue me, too. Hope Cody's well, of course. At the same time, if Schaller shows development, he could surprise. I understand he doesn't bring one role McCormick brings, but I think that's more a team role than an individual role. I'll say Schaller. Is that an upset?

For the record, I have Palestinian sympathy, as well. I hope that's not a surprise! I remember having my first conversations in 1983, senior year. I studied classics, among other things, and made reference to "Palestine" in a conversation with friends. Because it was a mixed group, I found myself listening to all manner of views! What'd' I know ... 21 and not so worldly. I support a Palestinian state, of course, with assurances of Israel's right to co-exist. I guess "supporting" something's the easy part. The devil's in the details.Thank you, all, for not pointing out that I spelled Israel incorrectly, like, five times.

So, do you support the gift shop?

Common ground. I want joyful, happy, healthy people of all, any, or no religion co-existing with one another with mutual respect.

Certainly given "by men", and I dig the distinction your language implies. I get it. My approach to Israel has always been existential. In 1948, men created it. It was largely supported, if you allow "largely" to mean the number of nations and acknowledge there was little Arab support. Either way, it happened. Now, you either believe Israel has a right to exist, or not. I do. I inherited it, being born after the vote. I can't go back and remember what my view at the time would've been. I suspect I'd have supported it. With that right would come the same responsibilities other nations have, of course. With it would also come the right of self determination and the freedoms claimed as citizens. To me, it will be freedom and self determination that's hated until I learn it's something else. Israel's the face of that. It's different, it doesn't share our beliefs, it has its own values and beliefs, its rulers are secular. Lastly, regarding Zionism. This is a term I understand, but not nearly at a studied or conclusive level. To the extent it means "Jews securing a homeland, culture and way of life", I have no argument with it. To the extent it means "colonialism and imperialism", I would object to it. My objection, though, would be toward the concepts of imperialism and colonialism, themselves, with Zionism being simply an example. Is Israel colonial or imperialist? I'll consider that. Can the annexation of land when surrounded by self described enemies sworn to your destruction be considered something different than imperialism? I'll consider that, too.

Can I say they hate Isreal because it's a free democracy that doesn't conform to their religious views? In other words, Isreal's exhibit A in my point about freedom. It's different and self determining. They don't hate the land, although they do view it as theirs. They hate what Isreal believes. That is, free, democratic and non Muslim.

Grateful for a solemn remembrance, nfree. Certainly solemn for all, regardless of political persuasion. You're right, I/we mentioned nothing in this thread. I thought about it, but considered that it could lead to arguments and petty personal attacks on both sides. The victims families deserve better. Shame on us. I have a thought about your post and the word "enemy". We're so reluctant to use that word for fear of what it says about us, not them. Pick your favorite "us" and "them". I often hear "We identified an enemy, so we must be bad, or paranoid, or imperialists, or oil barons, or racists because we made them our enemy". I see none of that here. We have an enemy because the enemy chose us to be their enemy. Have an argument with the word? Then debate with those on the other side who chose it. You'd get a much stronger argument from an ISIS leader than you would from me if you told him "your not my enemy". Lastly, I reject the "we caused them to identify us" argument. We're the enemy because of our beliefs and our freedom. An ideology of free choices, and its ability to influence, threatens ideologies where that can't be tolerated. Our self blame pit is bottomless. One message and out on this topic. To the families and loved ones - I did remember your loss, yesterday. Regarding the gift shop. It's run by the 9/11 Museum, Chaired by Mayor Blumberg, with Bush, Bush II, Clinton, Carter, Pataki, Christie, Corzine, Cuomo, Giuliani, among others, as current, former and honorary board members. Proceeds are going toward a national 9/11 memorial. There's no private sector, here, if that's what "commercial" referred to.

Rick Perry's out. Money's out.

I posted recently that I'd love a debate around candidates' Supreme Court view. Let me add energy policy to my short list. 1). Entitlements. 2). Funding and taxes. 3). Supreme Court and nominees. 4). Energy. 5). Defense and our role in the world. I could pick a candidate with that.

LTS: Good thoughts. I get it.

Mr. D ... Grateful! We have common ground.

Mr. Drunkard, if you're so inclined ..... Your views on The Pledge of Allegience and "In God We Trust" on currency ... "So help me God", etc. ... would interest me from the point of view not based on establishment or separation. Sincere inquiry to a man of one belief bombarded at the state level with so many messages. I'm not setting up a challenge, I'm asking to "feel your shoes". We debate the most obvious displays (crèches, trees) - what about the numerous others?

No one needs my defense. This is a good thing, because my ability to defend is very limited. Accordingly, this post is about .... ME! Regarding going to the police, alleging, and then choosing not to testify. PA asked two questions. One, "why do that"? I'm interested, myself. Not enough to ask her based on my relationship with her (none; and none of my business). The question applies no blame to her. How could it? It's unanswered. The question was asked of her, assuming settlement is going on, by the police, the prosecutor, the family and will be by friends and reporters. The question will be asked by her kids 30 years from now. I'm sympathetic to dozens of her answers and would support any motivation she had. "Her call!" PA asked it here. I wondered it myself, both about this crime and crime in general. The great leap of faith I can't make is concluding PA is blaming the alleged victim for the rape when asking her why she didn't follow through with testimony. Two, "do you have a duty" to testify if you allege? Again, I wondered, myself. Some knowledgeable people talked about the state enforcing that by subpoena. I learned. Still more people talked about the human side and why compelled testimony doesn't happen in rape cases. Already sympathetic to the humanity, I learned the state is, too. Again, I see no conclusion of blame. I may have missed something. I have, before. I may have faulty thinking skills. However, my humanity isn't an issue, I see no blaming, and I've had some of the same curiosities. Asking someone "why" doesn't mean you challenge their answer. If she told me "why"', I might say "beautiful" and mean it. If my daughter were in the same shoes, and decided not to press forward, I'd ask "why" and hug her tearfully while supporting her decision. Brb, getting flack jacket!

I hope my joke translated!! Inter webs!! Id love to have a beer! This place is crazy cool.

Screw off.

I have no knowledge of the situation. I'll use genders to fit this particular matter. Call me crass, but I can see a financial settlement bringing the peace of security and certainty to a victim and her family. It wouldn't be gleeful in my mind's eye. Between Goldigger and a righteous woman financially at risk live millions of other women. Her call, not mine. I wondered the point regarding compelled testimony sympathetic to PA's justice and civil order arguments. Eleven educates me on compelled or subpoenaed testimony. This was ugly the moment it happened. Going outside of my gender construct for this particular case, I say that if the victim's satisfied, I'm satisfied. If, in fact, Kane is the victim, he can find solace in financial resources and Kafka novels. No disrespect intended. We debated the combinations and permutations that might have resulted in these allegations. Nothing's clear to me. Even the righteous can lose in court. Perhaps, given the vagaries of outcome, a settlement's best.

Grateful ... and heal! Had I been hit, the settlement would be for auto body work!