nfreeman

So if I understand this correctly, Mirtle wasn't tweeting about TP? Just about the concept of ownership meddling? And this somehow has been deemed to vindicate PAFan's ongoing, based-wholly-on-speculation (not sure whether this is "speculation that" or "speculation whether") crusade? If you must.

Dennis -- that is awesome. Congrats to you and your awesome wife. If you're taking suggestions for names -- "French Connection Menace" "SabreSpace Moderator Menace" "Rex Ryan Menace" Enjoy!

Better than, say, the local Sabres reporters, none of whom seemed to be in the loop on this? Boom!

Interesting. He's good good size and a nice college resume.

Now that would be pretty sweet.

Yes, and both deserve credit for this. But it doesn't mean the job is done or that vigilance is no longer needed. It's also worth noting that the problem is several orders of magnitude greater in Europe than it is here due to much greater proportions of Muslim immigrants and lesser assimilation.

I agree that it can't be stopped, but it can be combatted to the point where it approaches de minimis effect in terms of casualties. This has happened in Israel.

Did you read it? Did you bother to figure anything out about the writer? Or did you just react with intellectual snobbery because it wasn't from the NYT or WP? I had dinner last weekend with a Trump supporter. He's not a fascist. More broadly, I think Trump is whipping up populist-style discontent among those who have been lied to and economically left behind. They are PO'd, to be sure, and they aren't particularly conservative or capitalist in philosophy, but I don't see fascism. As for the return of skinheads and other ultranationalists in Europe -- this is regrettable, and well of a piece with European history, but also not fascist. No one is talking about abandoning democracy or crushing dissent. I think he was talking about Salman Rushdie and the bounty put on his head by Muslim religious leaders for the sin of defaming Islam. Which Christian terrorists, specifically? In particular: which Christians are committing acts of mass murder in the name of Christianity? NB that when a Christian knocks over a liquor store and shoots someone in the process, that isn't terrorism.

From Merriam-Webster: Full Definition of fascism 1 often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition 2 : a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control <early instances of army fascism and brutality — J. W. Aldridge> While I will agree that Muslim fascism differs from "classical" fascism in the sense that the bonds to the currently-defined map (and thus what we think of as "nations") are weak, Muslim fascism substitutes Islam (and Sunni/Shiite) for "Germany" or "France" or whatever. Clearly the other elements are there in spades. As for Trump: whatever he's selling, it isn't fascism. Here is a pretty even-handed discussion of no-go zones: http://dailycaller.com/2015/12/02/muslim-no-go-zones-in-europe/

Do you think it will not happen here?

No-go zones are absolutely a real thing. The "rise of right-wing nationalist parties" isn't the real problem here, nor is fascism ascendant anywhere except the Muslim world, where it is the dominant political reality. 11 posts on the latest Muslim act of mass murder, and no one has bothered to mention who the perpetrators were or why they did it -- even though everyone here knows. Heads that are stuck in sand -- willingly! -- do not win wars.

So an evil corporation rigged the lottery and gave the best player in 40 years to...Edmonton? A small-market Canadian team that sells out every game no matter how bad they are? I wonder if it's the same evil corporation that controls this message board and stifles all criticism of the Pegulas? You have a rare talent for concocting conspiracy theories. It's all connected, I tell ya.

The first day of the NCAA tournament is awesome.

I have no recollection of this whatsoever, but I have no doubt that from Darcy's perspective, Atlanta's insistence on including Ghyslain Rousseau in the deal was the deal-breaker.

Well, I should've been more precise. What I've read Brooksie saying is that other teams have inquired, and he thinks the Rangers should consider trading Kreider -- not that he thinks the Rangers are considering trading Kreider. In any case, I think there is NFW they trade Kreider for cap reasons, although I could see them doing so as part of a Rangers-style blockbuster to bring in a big star.

Link? I've seen Brooks speculate on this, and report that other teams have inquired, but have not seen him report that the Rangers are shopping him.

Your use of "poach" notwithstanding, they still aren't going to trade Kreider. I think they'll let Yandle go in free agency and if needed dump Nash in a Sharp-like trade.

They aren't going to trade Kreider.

I would take Nash for 2 years and modest assets going back to the Rangers in a heartbeat.

Dude! No spoilers in here!

So I learned this morning that Ian McShane, who is a terrific actor and played IMHO one of the best characters in TV history on "Deadwood" (which was a great HBO show that ran for 3 seasons, ending about 5 years ago), is going to be on GoT this year. Evidently, McShane gave an interview recently in which he revealed some GoT plot spoilers, which naturally resulted in some blowback from fans of the show. When he was subsequently asked about the hubbub, he said something like "these people need to get a f---ing life. It's just a bunch of tits and dragons." Holy mackerel I am psyched for this season.

That was indeed awesome.

OK -- I think this was the missing thread. Now restored.

Good call. Also a good point. Not sure what the solution is, but something significant is needed.

Totally fair, but his first 5 seasons were spent in a pretty dysfunctional setting for hockey learning/development and his 6th was a washout due to injury and other issues (some of which were, to be sure, of his own making). If GMTM and DDB are successful in building the team and educating the players the right way, Kaner will have the opportunity to grow his game substantially -- while playing with better linemates than he's ever had before. So I don't think he's at his ceiling. In the meantime, he brings what he has relentlessly, and it's been pretty effective so far.