NFL 2017-18 Week 13 Preview

Thursday Night Football - Washington at Dallas - Washington is on the road, but they have been playing far more impressively as of late, and just look a lot hotter than Dallas, a team that has been cooling off lately. Yes, the Cowboys have lost three in a row, right as they needed to start getting serious about a playoff push. Now, the 'Boys are on the brink of official elimination, and without Eliot starting, and with all of the turmoil in Big D, they seem to be running on empty. Hard to see how they win this one, frankly. My pick: Washington

Denver at Miami - A battle between two teams who have gone flat lately, and who are both largely already out of the playoff picture. Both of these teams have been really floundering, although Denver's losing streak is starting to reach serious proportions. I honestly do not remember the Broncos looking this inept for so long and consistently during the course of a season. They have not won a game in two months! They played the Raiders tough last week, which is an encouraging sign, and could lend one the belief that they could finally snap the streak and win in Miami. But the Dolphins, despite how badly they have played, still have some talent, and frankly, should be able to win this game. But neither team is a sure bet, right? My pick: Miami 

Detroit at Baltimore - Another huge game! This will be a battle of two teams battling to remain in the playoff hunt for their respective conferences. The Lions saw their chances to qualify seriously hurt with the loss to Minnesota on Thanksgiving, and their confidence had to have been shaken from that. Baltimore, meanwhile, is starting to look very hot. The division title is out of reach, but as of right now, they have a playoff spot, which means that they control their own destiny. With the momentum from recent wins, coupled with home field advantage and a possibly downtrodden Detroit team, the Ravens should take this one. My pick: Baltimore

Houston at Tennessee - The Texans more or less fell out of relevance completely as the season wore on, while the Titans are proving themselves more and more legitimate with each passing week. They now host the Texans, the division winner for the prior two years, but this should be a changing of the guard kind of game. Whatever very slim hopes Houston might have going into this game will likely be ended after this one is over. Tennessee is improving quickly, and have a wildcard with Mariota at the helm. They are finding ways to win, even when they do not play especially well, and that is the mark of a dramatically improving team. The Texans, meanwhile, still look mediocre, and will have to start looking into preparing for next season. My pick: Tennessee

Indianapolis at Jacksonville - The Colts have been out of the AFC South race for quite a while. But the Jaguars badly need to recover from that disappointing loss in Arizona last weekend. After all, they have to keep up with the Titans, and possibly even jump ahead should the Titans be upset. So, you know that Jax will be fired up. The Colts stink on the road (and generally are just not that good, period), and the Jaguars should benefit from home field advantage, as well as just generally being the far better team right now. My pick: Jacksonville

Kansas City at N.Y. Jets - The Jets season has to be over at this point, and you would figure that the Chiefs would win this game, simply because they need to. However, KC has been having some serious issues as of late, especially on offense. You can almost feel the pressure that they are under. This is not the same team that raced off to that hot 5-0 start, and stood as the league's only remaining undefeated team. The Chiefs are in serious jeopardy of outright losing a division lead that at one point seemed insurmountable. Meanwhile, the Jets have played a lot of opponents tough, especially at home in the Meadowlands. I like Gang Green to show up once more, and pull off another major win, as Todd Bowles comes closer to keeping his job for next year. My pick: N.Y. Jets

Minnesota at Atlanta - Wow!  What a game this one should be! The Vikings are red hot, possibly even the hottest team in the league, and certainly among the top three or four, along with the Eagles, the Steelers, and of course the Patriots. But they now go to Atlanta, where they will face a dangerous and talented team that seems to be coming into their own again this season. Yes, the Falcons are starting to be hot as well, and they have to fight for their playoff lives right now! What an intriguing match-up this makes this particular game, and it just might wind up being the game of the week! It could go either way, and that makes this a tough game to call. However, the Vikings streak will likely end sooner or later, and Atlanta needs this one more than Minnesota. So, I likely will have to pick the home team to edge out the red hot visiting team in this particular game. My pick: Atlanta

New England at Buffalo - The Bills have home field advantage for this one, but that is the only advantage I see them having here. Well, they did win last weekend, and they do have a winning record at the moment. Also, clearly, they feel the pressure, as they are fighting for their playoff lives. Will it be enough? The Pats are one of the hottest teams in the league right now, and trying to keep pace with Pittsburgh in the race for home field advantage. Also, New England usually is good with the killer instinct, and they surely smell blood, sense that the division title is theirs for the taking up in Orchard Park this weekend. Buffalo has a chance to finally make the playoffs for the first time in the 21st century, but my suspicion is that the Pats will set them back a bit with a win this Sunday. My pick: New England

San Francisco at Chicago - Two of the worst teams in the NFC face off against one another at Soldier Field in the frigid Windy City this weekend. This might just be the last, and certainly will be the best, opportunity for both teams to get at least one more win before the season ends. The 49ers finally beat the Giants a few weeks ago, eliminating the possibility of a winless season. But they lost to Seattle last weekend, and going on the road to the inhospitable confines of Chicago in December might be a bit too much for them. My suspicion is that the early enthusiasm from glimpses of a possibly brilliant future come back to Soldier Field on Sunday, at least for one more game. Da Bears should be able to get another notch in the W column here. My pick: Chicago

Tampa Bay at Green Bay - The battle of the bays. The Packers still have a slim shot at the playoffs, although they are on life support. Meanwhile, the Bucs have basically been eliminated for several weeks already, unofficially. They are getting hot, but can they stay hot on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field in December? That is a tall order, especially after the Pack played one of their best games since Rodgers was injured last week. Not sure that it will be nearly enough to even make the Pack a serious contender, but they should be able to win this one, at least. My pick: Green Bay

Cleveland at L.A. Chargers - The Chargers are really getting hot, and surely feel that they have a real chance at history. Only one team in NFL history came back from an 0-4 start to qualify for the playoffs, and not only was it the Chargers back in 1992, but they outright won the division title. Surely, the Chargers feel that history might repeat, as they can beat out the Raiders, and possibly the Chiefs, if KC continues their recent collapse. Whether or not they can do it, the Chargers surely want to avenge their late season loss to the Browns last season, which allowed Cleveland to avoid the winless season. Not this time, at least not this game. Not against a fired up Chargers team, out in the West Coast. No reason to doubt the Chargers here in this contest. My pick: L.A. Chargers

Carolina at New Orleans - Big game! Huge showdown between the two top teams in the NFC South, although it is likely too early to suggest that the winner will take the division. The Saints finally saw their eight-game winning streak snapped out in L.A. last weekend, while the Panthers just managed to hold off the Jets to finally catch New Orleans. This will be a tough game, and frankly, it could go either way. The Saints seem to have established a more conservative style of play, with a tough defense and a solid running game. Plus, they still have Drew Brees passing, plus home field advantage. All of that would seem to give the Saints the edge in this one. My pick: New Orleans

L.A. Rams at Arizona - Two NFC West teams meet in the desert of Arizona. The Rams are still red hot, and hoping to cling to their narrow lead over Seattle in the NFC West. But Arizona pulled off a major win last week to keep their playoff hopes alive, and absolutely need to win this one, as they have no margin for error. The Cardinals got walloped the last time that these two teams met, when the Rams crushed the Cards in Los Angeles. But will home field advantage change things that dramatically, or are the Rams just too good for Arizona to handle? Remember that L.A. has one of the hottest offenses in the league right now, and they will be throwing everything that they have got in order to try and eliminate a division rival, as well as to stay ahead of the tough Seahawks, and other teams more generally in the NFC Playoff picture. I like the visiting team to complete the sweep in this contest. My pick: L.A. Rams

N.Y. Giants at Oakland - The Giants have one of the worst offenses in the league, yet they take perhaps the best player on that offense out of the starting lineup for this game. In Eli Manning's place will be Geno Smith, who was adequate at best sometimes with the Jets. He is not used to starting, and the offense still has obvious issues with a weak offensive line, no serious running game, and a ton of injuries with their wide receivers. They not only have not scored 30 points in about two years, but they have not even put up 20 points in what feels like forever. And they will now go on the road, back to the West Coast, to face a hot team fighting for their playoff lives? No, I don't think so. The Raiders should just win, baby. My pick: Oakland

Sunday Night Football - Philadelphia at Seattle - Another huge game with enormous playoff implications! The Eagles are so close to officially clinching the NFC East, that they can taste it! But the Seahawks need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. As of right now, they might not even make it if they keep losing tough games. But they are still right on the heels of the Rams, with a showdown coming up soon between those two teams. Seattle has lost a few games here and there that they likely should have won, so they obviously would want to win a big road game like this, if they can manage to tame Philly enough to pull off the upset. But the Eagles have pulled off nine in a row for a reason, and so it will be a tall order. Surely, the Eagles are not unbeatable, and are destined to lose a game somewhere along the line, right? I will pick an upset, although this game likely can go either way. My pick: Seattle

Monday Night Football - Pittsburgh at Cincinnati - I know that I am not exactly being partisan here, but I would really love to see the Bengals win this game. Frankly, the Steelers are tiresome, and admittedly, I hate to see them enjoy success while Roethlisberger - the NFL's answer to Donald Trump - is at the helm. After all, Pittsburgh has owned the Bengals in particular (as well as the Browns) for a very long time now. These games just usually do not go Cincy's way. However, the Bengals are at home, and they will be fighting for their playoff lives. They have also actually been playing well as of late after a disastrous 0-3 start. Will it be enough? Most likely not. Not against the consistency that the Steelers bring forth. Hate to say it, but it seems unlikely that the Bengals can pull off an upset here. My pick: Pittsburgh

Toronto Downs Calgary in the Snow for the 105th Grey Cup Title

Man, I always loved football games when they are played in the snow! Maybe this sounds silly when talking about a sport that is supposed to be brutal, but it feels almost pretty, watching games when that white stuff is falling from the sky, and covering the field. It gives these games a whole new feel to them.

And to my surprise, I was able to watch a decent amount of the Grey Cup, although not all of it. That is because it aired on ESPN, which was a pleasant surprise indeed. When I get to watch Canadian programs like this, it is so reminiscent of trips that I have taken in the past up there, that it almost feels like I am right back up there, at least for the short time when I am watching the program. And this one was no exception.

The last time that I had seen or heard from Ottawa was for the trip that my son and I took up there earlier this year, for the 150th anniversary celebrations of Canadian Confederation!

It was nice to see, and we watched Calgary - the recent traditional powerhouse of the Canadian Football league (CFL) jump out to an early lead with a touchdown, although the conversion failed. Toronto answered back not too much later, but they actually missed the extra point attempt, so the game was tied, 6-6.

However, Calgary was able to get the lead back when running back Jerome Messam plowed in from 6 yards out. After a successful two-point conversion this time, the Stampeders led, 14-6. Thw two teams then exchanged field goals before the 2nd quarter was out, and Calgary went into the locker room leading art halftime, 17-8.

Toronto would come storming back in the second half, scoring a touchdown with a run from back James Wilder, and a successful two-point conversion made it a tight one-point game.

The Stampeders were not done yet, though. Messam got another touchdown, this town by the air, and Calgary once again expanded their lead to 24-16.

However, the final quarter was dominated by Toronto. Argonauts defender Cassius Vaughn picked up a Calgary fumble and returned it 103 yards for a huge defensive touchdown. The two-point conversion tied the game up, 24-24.

Then, with time running out, the Argonauts relied on their placekicker, Lirim Hajrullahu, for Tornot's only field goal of the game. But it could not have been timed any better, inside of one minute left in regulation.

The Argonauts defense then iced it when defender Matt Black intercepted what otherwise might have been a Calgary touchdown on the game's final play.

The city of Toronto held a parade yesterday to honor their champion Argonauts. 

Ringo Starr Finally Receiving Rightful Recognition as One of Rock's Greatest Drummers

Photo by Luiz Fernando Reis (Bealtes cor 36 on Flickr) 

Creative Commons License -https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Image courtesy of niteprowl3r Flickr page -  beatles: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sreichenbach/3025971406/in/photolist-5BoTSN-6Kp6DG-9oQPyZ-6Kp8vw-6Kp9oJ-6KjXm4-6KoV2S-6KjVca-eC4tTE-6Kp3Qm-6Kp3hq-6KoWdy-6KjLZg-6Kp5yf-6KjUgt-6Kp6TN-6KjXdM-6Kp45N-6Kp1WY-6KoUGs-6KoVYG-6KoUx9-6Kp153-6KoX3q-6KoZUu-6KjLoH-6KoVv9-6KoXvh-4vA8mP-6Kp4SW-6KjWq6-6Kp4xm-6KjVXZ-6Kp4hS-6Kk1G6-6KkdtD-6KjMRH-6KoVS5-r1ZqRn-6KjZfx-6KjMrx-6KjZue-6KjYzt-6Kp7D9-bCr2k3-aWjPYX-6KvxqP-6Kp7R7-aUXW5n-6KjZW8

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You know, when I look around at the world today, it is hard to face everything that seems to be going on.

We have the living embodiment of everything that is wrong with the country serving as president. Literally, he is the poster child for everything that our country is, but should not be.

I have mentioned this next quote several times before, but feel it should be mentioned time and time again, so that people understand that Trump not only is unpopular here in the United States, but rightly viewed as a buffoon around the rest of the world, to boot. One of the quotes that I feel best encapsulates that is from Paul Thomas of the New Zealand Herald in an article ("The Greatest Threat to America? Republicans") from July of 2015, well before Trump was even the Republican nominee, let alone the elected leader of our land:

"Trump personifies everything the rest of the world despises about America: casual racism, crass materialism, relentless self-aggrandisement, vulgarity on an epic scale. He is the Ugly American in excelsis."

That seems to perfectly encapsulate this embarrassment of a "leader," in my opinion. When you have to prepare yourself every day for the new headlines, and you still cringe that such an idiot could ever have been elected into the White House, you know that our national standards have lowered, possibly to a point of no return. 

And that's just here in the United States!

We have other maniacs in other countries, such as North Korea and now the Philippines. Iran is the same as always, which is not a pleasant or comforting thought. And now, there seems to be tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as if that region needed still more tensions. Of course, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is ongoing, with no real improvement or breakthroughs in sight. Outright slave auctions were recently discovered in Libya, there are tensions over elections in Kenya, and even though there is general and genuine pleasure with the removal of Robert Mugabe as leader of Zimbabwe, what happened there still is, for all intents and purposes, a military coup d'état.

 Sometimes, I sound like a pessimist, but many people feel that I am actually an optimist. Yet, with all of those news items dominating the headlines, and with the alarming rise of waves of nationalism and fascist movements, particularly in Europe and North America, it is enough to shake anyone's desire to keep up with the news.

That means that sometimes, we need to give ourselves a break. And that is why I sometimes switch gears.

A couple of days ago, I wrote something about the 50th anniversary of the release of the Beatles "I Am the Walrus" album in the United States.

The Beatles have been one of my favorite groups since I can first remember listening to music. I still get a pleasant feeling while listening to them, and different songs, and even entire albums, remind me of other times and other places of my own life. The Revolver album reminds me of my grandparents home in Liberty, NY, and the generally good memories that I have from then. Rubber Soul reminds me of the trip up to Canada (Montreal) that my grandparents took my brother and I on in the summer of 1983, where we stopped at Lake George, specifically, where I picked that album up (a cassette copy!). Abbey Road reminds me of Marly-le-Roi, a suburb of Paris, because when my brother and I spent a week there with a relative, that was the only rock record that I remember her having, and so naturally, it was played to death. And there are some other albums that remind me more generally of France, or other memories, that would frankly be too long too list here. 

The strange thing with the Beatles is that they are just about the only major rock band that I can think of which I never grew tired of hearing, even briefly. There are other bands which I love, obviously, including some that I was a fan of during my childhood, and some that were more recent. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a big fan of Pearl Jam, for example, as well as Soundgarden (and anything associated with Chris Cornell). I love Nirvana, too. Loved the music of the Animals, the Kinks, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, the Who, and Pink Floyd, to name a few. Was really intensely into the Dead Kennedys, Metallica, Anthreax, Megadeth, Voivod, and some others while growing up during middle school and high school, and early into college. But I tired of all of those bands at some point or another, to some degree or another, except for the Beatles. Considering that the Beatles are still heard often on the radio, I think that is something worth mentioning!

Indeed, there is still a pleasant feel - and not just nostalgia - when I see or hear something about the Beatles. It could be when they come on the radio, or when there is something on television that comes on about them (I missed the Ron Howard film that aired on PBS this past weekend, annoyingly enough). If one of the band members is being interviewed, I generally make a point of stopping whatever I was doing in order to watch and listen. Hell, I even read some books by the Beatles, including a book of poems by John Lennon and another one by Paul McCartney!

So, having just mentioned the 50th anniversary of a great album, I am reminded that George Harrison died on this day, back in 2001. I was saddened, and especially annoyed with myself for not having seen him when the chance was there to do so. He seemed too young to go, and that was such a depressing time, so shortly after September 11th. But it seems fitting to honor his memory today, on this, the anniversary of his death.

Yet, there are still two former members of the Fab Four who are still alive, and are still playing music, as well all know!

One thing that I made a point of doing as a father was to take my son to see the last two living members of the Beatles, while they are still around and playing music and touring. Just a couple of months ago, we saw Paul McCartney in Brooklyn. It actually was not the first time that my son saw him, although he was way too young to remember the time that we saw him in Québec City, back in 2008, when he gave a free concert on the Plains of Abraham for the 400th anniversary of that city. In fact, he was sleeping for most of that show, although he was awake for the first few song, as well as for the entirety of the 45-minute or so warm-up, which we were one of the privileged few to have seen (most people never got to see this in person, because they had not yet opened the gates to the public).

Last year, however, I took him to see Ringo Starr. That was up in Massachusetts, up in Worcester. It was a nice weekend, where we obviously did more than just go to that concert. Yet, going to see Ringo was obviously the highlight of that extended weekend!

Ringo is one of the greatest drummers in rock history. In fact, the Beatles were thrilled when he first joined the band, and felt that he lent them credibility and experience. Of course, he had to shave his beard to match their clean-cut image, but this he did. And he became a member of what would be the most legendary rock band in history.

Yet, for a long time, he has been kind of seen as the black sheep of the band, for reasons that are not altogether clear. Sure, he seemed a bit goofy at times, and people poked fun at him for this. There was that famous Saturday Night Live clip when they were offered $3000 for a reunion (a paltry amount  even then which was jokingly offered for the band to reunite). And many seem to feel that he just got lucky.

Ringo Starr is one of the great drummers of all time, and it sometimes annoys me that he does not get the credit that he so richly deserves. But it seems that, finally, he might be starting to get credit, and this recognition is long overdue!

Take a look at the LA Weekly article (see link) below:

Quote on Trump taken from the following article:


The greatest threat to America? Republicans by Paul Thomas, 17 Jul, 2015:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11482176

People Are Finally Recognizing Ringo Starr as One of Rock's Great Drummers SCOTT TIMBERG | NOVEMBER 27, 2017

http://www.laweekly.com/music/ringo-starrs-drumming-style-was-perfect-for-the-beatles-8868739

NFL 2017-18 Week 12 Review

Buffalo 16, Kansas City 10 - I had assumed that the Chiefs were easily going to win the AFC West. But seeing them fall from grace this dramatically makes me think that they will not. Whatever the problems are, they seem to be sticking doggedly to this team, as the Chiefs have won just one game following a 5-0 start to the season. They failed to win a game in November, and now are only a game ahead of both the Chargers and the Raiders. Think about this: the Chiefs were fully four games ahead of the Chargers after the first month or so, and they might wind up losing the division lead to them - and this is not baseball! Buffalo, in the meantime, finally ended their slide and got right back into the playoff picture, right at the most opportune time, and did so with an impressive road win in a tough place to play. A solid and encouraging win for the Bills, and another dispiriting loss for the Chiefs and their fans, as the slide, which has seen them drop from being seen as serious contenders for home field advantage, to just another division leader, to now, in serious jeopardy of outright losing that huge division lead that they once had! My pick: Inaccurate

Carolina 35, N.Y. Jets 27 - The Panthers did not have an easy time of it in this game, but they nonetheless stayed pretty hot, and managed to avoid an upset loss to a lesser team. In so doing, Carolina finally managed to tie the New Orleans Saints, who finally lost after winning eight straight. So, the Panthers have to be feeling pretty good about themselves right now. The offense showed some serious life, and ability to score points, while the defense did their job well enough to secure the win. As for Gang Green, whatever slim chances that this team had to make a run for the playoffs likely was lost with this outcome, but they have played far tougher than most ever thought that they could. Time to start thinking about rebuilding for next season.  My pick: Accurate

Philadelphia 31, Chicago 3 - The Eagles did exactly what everyone expected them to in whipping Chicago for a league high ninth straight win, as they now stand alone for the longest active win streak in the league. They also enjoy the best overall record in the league, at 10-1. Let's face it: the Bears were never in this one, and Philly rolled over them. But Chicago is a weak team, and not really a major test for the high-flying Eagles. That test will come as early as next week, when the Eagles visit Seattle, and take on the still tough Seahawks, in a game that may go a long way towards establishing this team as serious contenders, or just pretenders. Let's see what happens. At the very least, it should be interesting!  My pick: Accurate

Cincinnati 30, Cleveland 16 - Time is seriously running out for the Browns to produce a win this season. There are some games that they could conceivably win, such as possibly the Chargers next week, or more likely the weakened Packers, or perhaps the Ravens, or especially the Bears, even in Chicago. However, Cleveland became the first team since the then expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 1976 and 1977 seasons to start off two consecutive seasons with 0-11 starts. That means that the Browns are seriously flirting with having descended to historical new lows, even for them. Cincy took care of business and produced a convincing win that keeps their slim playoff hopes alive, but the news increasingly out of the NFL in Ohio is just how inept these Browns are! It really is a mystery whether or not they can avoid a winless season.  My pick: Accurate

New England 35, Miami 17 - The Patriots continue to be the model franchise in professional North American sports, as they earned yet another victory against a crumbling divisional opponent. What made this win so significant? It secures a 17th straight winning season for New England, and keeps them very comfortably ahead of the second place Bills, by three games. It also keeps them tied with Pittsburgh in the race for home field advantage. Yes, Belichick and Brady just keep rolling, just keep setting new, impressive standards, as they keep on securing an ever more prominent spot in the history books. And frankly, they have a very real shot at adding to their collection of championship trophies this season, with the way that they are playing, and the level of talent and experience that this team is loaded with! I will not be betting against them! My pick: Accurate

Atlanta 34, Tampa Bay 20 - The Falcons appear to be back! They were able to produce another solid win yesterday, taking an early lead and then withstanding a strong Tampa Bay comeback effort, before wrapping this game up with a decisive touchdown in the end to ice it. This marks Atlanta's third straight win, and even though they seemed out of the division race not long ago, they suddenly are right back in the division race, trailing both the Panthers and the Saints by one game, and facing those two teams a combined three times in the final month of regular season play. As strange as it sounds, the Falcons essentially control their own destiny right now, which is precisely where they would want to be, and which seemed almost unimaginable just a few short weeks ago!  My pick: Accurate

Tennessee 20 Indianapolis 16 - This is a huge game for the Titans, who needed it badly. They managed to win on a day when they were not playing especially inspired football, and this win, coupled with the loss by Jax, means that the Titans are nonetheless back in a first place tie with the Jaguars. The Colts played tough, and indeed, looked capable of winning this one for a long time. But in the end, it was the Titans who did just enough to earn a huge divisional win on the road. Whatever chances the Colts had - however slim - to sneak into the playoffs (surely with some help) must have ended once and for all with this latest loss, but it was a solid win for Tennessee, a team that continues to establish themselves as legitimate contenders for the playoffs. My pick: Just barely accurate

Seattle 24, San Francisco 13 - The Seahawks desperately needed a win in this one, and they got it. It was not especially pretty or explosive. But it was precisely what they needed, and when they needed it, and so they got the job done, much like the Seahawks of a few years ago might have done. San Francisco was able to produce an impressive win against the Giants, but Seattle is a team of a much stronger caliber, and proved a bit too much for San Fran. With the win, the Seahawks are able to move ahead of Detroit for that final wildcard spot, although they are still on the outside. However, they are just a game behind the Rams, and will face them in a huge clash in what is likely to be a "winner take all" meeting for the NFC West later this season. Before that, however, the 'Hawks get to host the Eagles in a huge clash next weekend! Now, that will be a big game, with a lot at stake for both teams - legitimacy for Philly, and playoff and divisional hopes for Seattle.  My pick: Accurate

Oakland 21, Denver 14 - The Raiders suddenly look like a serious contender for the division title again! Who would have believed that after Oakland lost four straight games earlier this season, and looked completely irrelevant? This was not an easy, or even a pretty, win for the Silver and Black. But hey, a win's a win, and it gets them to keep in a second place tie with the L.A. Chargers, with both of them pulling to within a game of the once mighty, and seemingly untouchable, Chiefs, as that team continued to fall. A good win for the Raiders, and another bad loss for the Broncos, who look worse than I remember them looking in a very long time, if not ever.  My pick: Accurate

Arizona 27, Jacksonville 24 - The Jaguars lost a tough game at Arizona, against a team who, quite frankly, they should have beaten. Now, with the Titans also winning, the Jaguars are no longer in sole possession of first place in the AFC South, but tied for it. The Cardinals played a bit like what they were capable of, and what they showed a few years ago, when they were winning far more frequently than they were losing. Still, they nearly lost a grip on this game, and it took a miracle field goal attempt that was successfully converted in the final seconds to secure this win for them. But it keeps the Cardinals flickering playoff hopes alive, at least for now. And at this point, Arizona will take it.  My pick: Inaccurate

L.A. Rams 26,  New Orleans 20 - The Rams took on another elite NFC team, but this time, it was in Los Angeles. Also, this time, the Rams won. By so doing, they manage to retain their lead in the NFC West, and stay in the company of elites themselves. The Saints had an impressive eight-game winning streak going into this one, but the Rams produced just enough to end that one and come out on top. For New Orleans, they still have reason to feel good, with a surprisingly tough defense, and very decent running game, and with Drew Brees, they can surely still be explosive on offense when needed. But they now have to share the division lead with the Panthers, and there are still plenty of divisional games left for both the Rams and the Saints. Neither team has secured their division just yet.  My pick: Accurate

Sunday Night Football - Pittsburgh 31, Green Bay 28-  Pittsburgh had to really hand on in this one, because the Packers proved to be a very tough challenge. They really pushed the Steelers to the limit, tying it up with a strong looking drive late in the fourth to tie it, and really keeping up with the Steelers all night long. It took an almost miracle field goal drive at the end for Pittsburgh to secure this one, but a win is a win, and it keeps them well ahead in the AFC North, and still tied with the Patriots in the race for home field advantage. As for Green Bay, you have to wonder why they did not show this kind of toughness for the past month or so, following the injury to star quarterback Rodgers.  My pick: Accurate




Monday Night Football - Baltimore 23, Houston 16-  It was not exactly pretty, but the Ravens nonetheless got the job done. Besides, the Ravens calling card is being physical and low-scoring, relying on their defense and a conservative offense, generally speaking. So, this was right up their alley. You could feel the Texans trying to dig as deep as possible in this one, trying to make up for past bad losseses and mistakes. But they just did not have it in them to beat a focused and determined Ravens team on a cold Maryland night. Now, the Ravens are very much alive for a playoff spot, while Houston is pretty much done for the year. Again, a solid win for Baltimore, and a dispiriting loss for the Texans, who now need to start thinking about next season.  My pick: Accurate

The Beatles "I Am the Walrus" Released 50 Years Ago Today!

Photo by Luiz Fernando Reis (Bealtes cor 36 on Flickr) 

Creative Commons License -https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Image courtesy of niteprowl3r Flickr page -  beatles: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sreichenbach/3025971406/in/photolist-5BoTSN-6Kp6DG-9oQPyZ-6Kp8vw-6Kp9oJ-6KjXm4-6KoV2S-6KjVca-eC4tTE-6Kp3Qm-6Kp3hq-6KoWdy-6KjLZg-6Kp5yf-6KjUgt-6Kp6TN-6KjXdM-6Kp45N-6Kp1WY-6KoUGs-6KoVYG-6KoUx9-6Kp153-6KoX3q-6KoZUu-6KjLoH-6KoVv9-6KoXvh-4vA8mP-6Kp4SW-6KjWq6-6Kp4xm-6KjVXZ-6Kp4hS-6Kk1G6-6KkdtD-6KjMRH-6KoVS5-r1ZqRn-6KjZfx-6KjMrx-6KjZue-6KjYzt-6Kp7D9-bCr2k3-aWjPYX-6KvxqP-6Kp7R7-aUXW5n-6KjZW8

Creative Commons License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Yes, the album, and the song with the same name, when the Beatles reached their psychedelic peak was released on this day, half a century ago!

Frankly, I did not even realize this, until hearing it on the radio, on Canada's Q program.

They had someone (will get the name later) who discussed the significance of the song, "I am the Walrus," particularly.

He mentioned that this was the height of the Beatles experimentation in psychedlia, and that after this album, they returned to a "back to basics" approach. It was interesting, because John Lennon came up with some incredible stuff, but I never had known or heard some of these stories relating to this particular song before.

For example, the music was inspired by Lennon's having heard some police sirens, which is why the song kind of resembles the sound of European police sirens. When you listen to it, you can kind of hear it, and recognize it for what it is supposed to be reminiscent of.

Also, Lennon had been a bit critical of Bob Dylan, and suggested that he had liked Dylan when he was still rock, and that Dylan's lyrics tended to be popular lines that were simply fitted in for song lyrics, and which Dylan then received a lot of credit for. But Lennon also figured that maybe he could do the same thing, and that is what he did for "I am the Walrus." 

For example, the line "Yellow matter custard, dripping from a dead dog's eye" were taken from a nursery rhyme from Liverpool, of all things. 

And the whole idea behind "I am the Walrus" was inspired by a writer, Lewis Carroll, specifically his poem, "The Walrus and the Carpenter." Lennon wanted to be on the hero's side, but it is actually the Carpenter who is the hero in that one, but walrus just sounded better, more exotic.

Some interesting stuff! And it all started 50 years ago today, when the Beatles "I am the Walrus" was released in the United States!

Carl Sagan Knew That the United States Would End Up Precisely the Way That it Has!

If memory serves me correctly, I have shared this before here somewhere in the past.

However, every time that I see it, my jaws drop. I mean, the guy was obviously incredibly intelligent and insightful, as well all know. Still, it is almost eerie just how spot on he was in forecasting how horribly wrong the direction of this could was, and just where it would lead us.

Indeed, this has come to pass. I mean, everything that he saw coming has indeed come to pass, including the nation's once diverse economy being largely reduced to a service and information economy, and manufacturing power has been passed to other countries. When technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and our elected "leaders" (perhaps I should put elected in quotes as well, given the presence of big money politics, towing the party line for future campaign funds, Super PACS and Super Delegates and an electoral college that has repeatedly denied the candidate with the majority of overall votes from winning the White House) cannot even begin to grasp all of the problems that this nation now faces, and when people feel that they have lost control over their own lives, and can no longer question their leaders using serious knowledge as their weapon. He foresaw a time when we collectively could no longer distinguish between what feels good, and what is actually true, as we "slip back into superstitions and darkness."

Yes, Sagan saw this "dumbing down of America" decades before most people understood that it was going to happen, let alone that it was inevitable, and how an overpowering media would understand that they could grab our increasingly short attention with 10-second soundbites, rather than 30-second soundbites that were more common decades ago. 

And who can deny his chilling closing lines regarding this grim future, which is our present day nation, when we are indeed bombarded with the "lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance” that Sagan saw decades ago?

This nation used to lead the world in almost every conceivable way. It once was far and away the wealthiest, most affluent, culturally influential, and economically and militarily powerful nation in the world, with the highest ranked education system to boot! We had a nation that was on top of the world, and where the future seemed bright!

So, what the hell happened? More importantly, how can we begin to restore at least some of the privileged status that we once so enjoyed, and yet clearly took for granted? 

Personally, I believe that the best thing that we as a nation can do to start getting our sense of purpose and direction back is to listen to our scientists! We need to make facts matter again! 

Because indeed, that is one of the main things behind our decline, and it is the reason why we now stand alone in the world as the only nation to reject the Paris Climate Accord on the basis that we do not believe in the science of climate change, and are not entirely convinced that it is either real, or at least that it is nearly as dire as expert scientists are warning us of! We still have the wealthiest economy in the world, and easily the most powerful military. Yet, tiny nations like Iceland are embarrassing us by leading us in clean alternative energy development? How disgraceful on our parts!

The worst of it is that we were warned, even well before Carl Sagan warned what kind of nation we would become with this quote from his 1995 book! Indeed, former President Jimmy Carter was spot on in terms of accuracy with the energy crisis and the need to develop alternative energy sources and to end our reliance on Middle Eastern oil. Also, Carter correctly diagnosed the moral failings within the nation that far too many Americans were allowing themselves to get away with in his so-called "Malaise" speech (that was not what he called it, though). 

We had a chance to continue to improve as a nation, and to get a sense of purpose and direction back, because we had Jimmy Carter leading us, and he was that rare breed of politician who actually saw a future beyond the next election cycle. 

Instead, we turned our back on him, and elected a good-looking man with a winning smile, who softly told us what we wanted to hear, rather than what we needed to hear, as Carter had. Carter lost the 1980 election in a landslide, and we were a worse nation as a result, and have been a worse nation ever since. That was the seed, if you will, of our current malaise, of our national decadence and decline, and these days, it seems that few people, regardless of their political affiliation, would argue that we have seen a serious decline in this nation.

Some truly patriotic Americans saw the danger, and indeed tried to warn us. President Jimmy Carter certainly did many decades ago, and we turned our backs on him. And indeed, noted scientists Carl Sagan also understood the storm that was coming, with downright eerie accuracy! Carl Sagan saw what the future foretold. Like a crystal ball. Perhaps he knew that we would elect a man as pathetic as Donald Trump as our "leader?" 

Sagan predicted, back in 1995 (over two decades ago!) exactly the kind of nation that we now live in! Look at this quote:

“I have a foreboding of an America in my children's or grandchildren's time -- when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what's true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness...  

“The dumbing down of American is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance”  

~  Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark

NFL 2017-18 Week 12 Preview

Buffalo at Kansas City - The Chiefs lost a bad game last week, but Buffalo had an even worse weekend. Both teams are struggling, but Buffalo at least appears to be hitting the depths right now, and are dangerously close to being effectively eliminated from playoff contention. KC is struggling, having won one game following an impressive 5-0 start. They once had a big, almost seemingly insurmountable lead in the AFC West, but the Raiders and Chargers seem to be getting hot. Now, the Chiefs absolutely need to win, and a weak and floundering Bills team should be just the tonic that they need. My pick: Kansas City

Carolina at N.Y. Jets - Some people are picking the Jets to upset the Panthers. Indeed, Gang Green has been playing surprisingly impressively all season long. But the Panthers seem like an elite team again this year, and they have everything to play for. They are in a wildcard spot at the moment, but only trail the first place Saints by a game. And they have produced some impressive wins, and seem to get the most important wins when they need it. Probably this is a relatively low scoring game, but in the end, it seems to me that the better overall team should win. Personally, I am guessing that will not be the home team. My pick: Carolina

Chicago at Philadelphia - The Eagles are the hottest team in the league right now, with the best overall record of 9-1. The Bears, by contrast, feel like a team losing momentum that they had a few weeks ago. And this game will be played in Philly, to boot. The Eagles have a red hot offense, and seem especially tough at home. This one could get ugly. Frankly, I do not see many reasons to think that Chicago would have a real shot to pull off an upset. My pick: Philadelphia

Cleveland at Cincinnati - The battle of Ohio teams again. Bengals are not a very good team, but the Browns, once again, look like the worst team in the NFL. It feels like they have been that, or near that, for a long time. Cleveland has one of the worst offenses in the league, and their defense is hardly much  better. And they are running out of time once again to produce their first win. My best guess is that they will fall short in this game as well, too, as the Bengals keep their playoff hopes, which are on life support, intact for at least one more week. My pick: Cincinnati

Miami at New England - The Patriots are loaded with experience and talent, and their coach might just be the best in NFL history. They are especially tough to beat at home, and this game is up in Foxboro, with less than a week to go before December. The Dolphins are a warm weather team, and have not been particularly impressive. Their offense has been particularly limited. This one should be a cakewalk for the defending champ Pats. My pick: New England

Tampa Bay at Atlanta - The Falcons are getting hot, while Tampa Bay's season has been over for quite some time. Atlanta's offense once again seems to be fine tuning for a playoff run, while the Bucs are to rebuild for next season, and playing for pride for the remainder of this season. It is doubtful that pride will be enough. With the Falcons enjoying home field advantage, and in need of a win, this one should be in the bag for them. My pick: Atlanta

Tennessee at Indianapolis - This is a big game for the Titans, who need a win to keep up with Jacksonville, let the Jaguars pull even further ahead in the race for the AFC South. Tennessee lost a bad game last week, and so they need to bounce back this week, especially since they are playing a bad team. Yes, this is a road game, and the Colts have been decent at home. But if the Titans are to make a serious run to the playoffs, then these are the kinds of games that they need to win, because they are the better team in this game. If they do not win, you have to begin to seriously wonder how much better they are supposed to be than the Colts, and if they are ready for a serious run for the postseason. Now, I cannot say for certain that the Titans will in fact make the playoffs, but my suspicion is that they will make a serious run, but they first need to win this game in order to do it. My pick: Tennessee

Seattle at San Francisco - The 49ers finally got their win two weeks ago against the Giants, but they have a harder test this week. The Seahawks come to town, and the Niners  will have their hands full. Seattle has admittedly been sputtering, not winning with the consistency that many expected from them. However, they urgently need a win, and this is precisely the kind of game that might help them to recover enough to get back on track. My pick: Seattle

Denver at Oakland - The Raiders need a win, and the Broncos are really struggling. Denver has not won a game in nearly two months! And Oakland has to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, which means that they cannot overlook this game. It is strange to see the Broncos quite this bad, because I figured that they would be a lot better than this. But at it is, there is little reason to expect them to be able to pull off what would be a truly surprising, even shocking, upset here! My pick: Oakland

Jacksonville at Arizona - The Jaguars are trying desperately to cling to their narrow lead in the AFC South. They have won four straight, and they should be able to produce a solid win today against the Cardinals out in Arizona later today. Why? The Cards just are not that good, and have not played up to their potential in either of the last two seasons. Their playoff hopes are just about dead, and they really have little to play for against a likely extremely motivated opponent. My pick: Jacksonville

New Orleans at L.A. Rams - For the second straight weekend, the Rams will take on another elite team, in a battle of first place NFC teams. Last weekend, the Rams fell far short at Minnesota. Now, they take on the Saints, who are tied with the Eagles for the longest active win streak in the league, with eight straight. But the Saints looked vulnerable against Washington, and you have to guess that they are bound to lose a game sooner or later, right? Indeed, a trip to the west coast to face the still first place Rams will be a tough one, but frankly, I could see either team winning. Ultimately, though, I suspect that home field advantage means something, and could be the difference in this one. My pick: L.A. Rams

Sunday Night Football - Green Bay at Pittsburgh -  Pittsburgh is one of the hottest teams in the league right now. They are tied with New England in the race for home field advantage in the AFC playoffs, and are especially tough at home. This week, they take on a usually greatly reduced team in the Packers without Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay has produced exactly one win, and they just have not looked like a playoff caliber team since Rodgers got injured. Little reason to expect them to pull off an upset in the Steel City tonight. My pick: Pittsburgh

Monday Night Football - Houston at Baltimore - The Ravens are a strange team, completely lacking in consistency. The Texans are hardly any more consistent than Baltimore is, though. Both teams need this win in a big way to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive. But I am guessing that the Ravens, who have been hotter of late, will play closer to their capabilities. It would be hard to pick against Baltimore in this one. My pick: Baltimore

Trump & Administration Do Not Take Thanksgiving Day Off From Their Relentless Pursuit of Disgracing Themselves & All Americans

On Thanksgiving morning, Donald Trump played some golf in the morning. He seems to always be playing golf, even though he promised, he swore, that he would never, ever play golf if and when he was elected president. Too many problems that the country has and would be facing. And he promised to take the responsibility of working on those problems seriously, which would leave no time for golf.

Funny, because he probably has not gone a full week since taking the oath of office without playing golf, you know?

In fact, he spends so much time on golf courses, that you have to wonder just how much time he has left to dedicate to running the country. But, to be honest, since he is full of bad ideas and awful values, perhaps it is better that he is on the golf course, rather than doing his job, since doing his job basically consists of screwing over the American people, time and time and time again, and in a variety of ways. With this most corrupt White House administration in history, it is almost an art form.

And as millions of Americans took a break for Thanksgiving, Trump went back to what he calls the "White House South" at Mara Lago, in Florida, and of course continued with his ridiculous and vindictive tweets, which a vast majority of Americans agree is beneath the dignity of the office that this pathetic man is supposed to serve. You know, when he's not too busy playing his rounds of golf.

Then, he addresses troops, but he made sure to tout his own leadership in the process, of course. Oh, and he blamed the "previous administration" for perceived failings, too, of course.

Some things never change, especially when you have an overgrown, bratty toddler who never outgrew his "me" phase in the highest office.

It must be fun, huh?

Too bad it's not as much fun for the rest of the country, who has to endure this ridiculous excuse for a man's status as a truly fake president, although he has already earned the status as the "Worst President in American history."

What a Disgrace This week might have been the low point in an administration full of them. by Charles P. Pierce, November 22, 2017

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a13859971/trump-lavar-ball/

RIP, Victims of Egyptian Mosque Attack

Over 300 people died yesterday in a terrorist attack at the Al Rawdah mosque on the Sinai peninsula in Egypt. The mosque is located roughly 40 kilometers or so (about 25 miles) from the North Sinai capital city of Al Arish. 

The mosque was packed because of Friday religious services, which s typically the day when Muslims go to religious services.

The terrorists set off bombs first, then shot at those who were attempting to escape. The death toll now stands at over 300, with more than 120 others injured, as of the latest reports.

President Abdul Fattah Al Sisi vowed a very aggressive response, saying that the Egyptian military would respond with what he called "brutal force." 

Sisi also declared three mourning beginning today, Saturday, to honor the victims.



Egypt Mosque Attack Death Toll Rises, Egypt President Vows Foreceful Response, by Ramadan Al Sherbino of the Gulf News, November 25, 2017:

http://gulfnews.com/news/mena/egypt/egypt-mosque-attack-death-toll-rises-egypt-president-vows-forceful-response-1.2129839

Black Friday Headlines Show Americans at Their Worst

It is no secret that there are many paradoxes in the United States right now.

However, one of the most glaring paradoxes happens to fall on this day each year. Because just one day after sitting down and having dinner with family, with the design being to focus on all that we have to be thankful for, tens of thousands of Americans (conservative estimate) will wake up super early, or perhaps even camp out, in order to go to stores and malls to get what are supposed to be the best deals out there for all sorts of things, although the main focus usually is on electronics, and perhaps toys. 

What we see on our television sets are images of stores that are jam-packed with people, waiting on long lines to get into stores to pick up the great deals. Often, we see people losing control, racing and even elbowing some people out of their way to get to these consumer goods at allegedly slashed down prices. What we read about in the headlines is even more horrifying, with people inevitably being injured from fights and from being trampled on by these mobs. 

And again, the most depressing aspect of all of this is that this "holiday" comes one day, literally, after the one holiday where we are all supposed to take some time to think about what we are thankful for. It hardly seems possible that these people who are lining up, camping out, and too often losing their minds to acquire cheap consumer goods, like the latest iPhone, are actually genuinely thankful for all they have been blessed with in life. After all, if that really were the case, why go out on a frigid night and leave the comforts of home in order to stand on line for hours, in the dark, in order to obtain still more stuff? 

Now, when I was growing up, Black Friday was not nearly so big of a deal, and it did not usually make the kind of news headlines that it tends to do now. It was a day when most people had off, and the stores offered what were supposedly the best deals of the entire year. So, it was a bit like Memorial Day sales or Labor Day sales, except that it fell about one month before Christmas, and was supposed to be the day when you could get the most extreme savings. Black Friday also marked the beginning of extended holiday hours for stores, and many stores continue this tradition, opening earlier than normal, and closing later.

But then, at some point, one of the big stores had the idea to open earlier than anyone else. Perhaps it was 6am, or something like that (I cannot specifically remember), and that made waves. Then, other stores started doing the same, and pushed the opening time even earlier. Before long, it was 3am. Then, it was midnight.

Now, it seems that many of these stores begin opening on Thanksgiving evening, which had formerly been one of the most sacred days on the calendar, if you will. In some cases, certain stores force their employees to work on Thanksgiving, and there was a bit of an outcry over this, for a while, although it never generated the kind of controversy that expressing "Happy Holidays" seems to have done.

Let us be clear: Thanksgiving itself has a troubled history. After all, the experience of Native Americans is, slowly but surely, becoming more familiar to Americans, and so the fact that they do not celebrate Thanksgiving, that for them, it is a reminder of a genocide that they were forced to suffer through, and that this holiday essentially honors that genocide for them, should tip everyone off that Thanksgiving is not simply this innocent holiday where we finally take a moment to truly be grateful for all that we have been blessed with in life.

But if there was any ambiguity left, if many felt that people truly were sincere about their gratitude for all of life's blessings, the recent trend of Black Friday madness and greed and excess certainly should cast all doubts aside. If Thanksgiving is supposed to be a holiday that aspires to the best that Americans have to offer, than Black Friday is a "holiday" that, instead, illustrates the worst that Americans can reveal about themselves.

NFL Thanksgiving Games Review

Okay, so we had three intriguing games yesterday, and almost each one featured two teams with realistic playoff hopes.

The first game featured the red hot Vikings visiting the Lions in Detroit. The next had the Chargers visiting the Cowboys in Big D. And the final one featured the lowly New York Giants visiting the nation's capital for a Thanksgiving evening game.

Minnesota's defense seemed to have taken yet another NFC North quarterback out, although Matthew Stafford came back into the game. Still, there are plenty of question marks now left for the Lions, including how well Stafford can lead this team after what seemed like a serious injury. 

The Cowboys are basically done, as the Chargers continued their incredible momentum to keep increasing pressure on the struggling Kansas City Chiefs.

And the Giants at least did not get embarrassed in Washington, and even had a chance to pull off an upset. But in the end, they fell to 2-9 on the year with yet another loss.

So, let's take a look at the Thanksgiving Day that was this time around:

Minnesota Vikings 

vs.

Detroit Lions 

Minnesota 30, Detroit 23 - Well, the Lions were enjoying a good season up to yesterday's game. But this was a painful and sobering loss, and it now compromises Detroit's chances of qualifying for the postseason, seriously putting their chances in doubt. Minnesota, meanwhile, further established themselves as one of the elite teams this season in the NFC, and perhaps even in the NFL. They will win the NFC North, and will be fighting for one of the top seeds in the playoffs. They perhaps have a chance at the number one seed, although they still have some very tough games coming up to get through first. But the Vikings looked very strong and efficient in this one, grabbing the lead and momentum early, and basically holding onto the advantage for the entire rest of the game. They kept Detroit at arm's length the rest of the way, managing to stay calm and milk the clock while capitalizing on turnovers late in the game to doom Detroit's chances and hopes for a comeback. Matthew Stafford suffered an injury in the fourth quarter, and it was unclear just how serious the injury was, although one good sign was that he did play again. Still, the Lions just were not able to take advantage of enough opportunity's in yesterday's game, and now, they are very much on the outside of the playoff picture, looking in, well behind Carolina, and behind the Seahawks and the Falcons for that final spot. Tough loss for Detroit but an impressive win for the Vikings, who avenge a loss at home to the Lions with a huge, decisive win on the road, and a de facto division title along with it.  My pick: Inaccurate



Los Angeles Chargers    

vs.

Dallas Cowboys

L.A. Chargers 28, Dallas 6 - It seems pretty safe to say that the season is pretty much over for Dallas now, right? Unlike when they played tough against Philly last weekend, the Cowboys were never really in this one. The Chargers seemed to dictate the tempo from the beginning, and Dallas was unable to mount any kind of a comeback, or even really make much of a game of it. They just came out looking and feeling completely flat. The Chargers, in the meantime, looked like a team peaking just in time to make what appears to be a serious push for the playoffs. Strange, because these teams have the same 5-6 record. Yet, the Chargers have a better chance in a seemingly weaker AFC, while the Cowboys are quite distant from the more serious NFC contenders. This game really felt like a story of two teams going in the opposite direction. A huge road win for the Chargers, who now get a little extra time to rest. For Dallas, meanwhile, a dispiriting loss that probably ends any hopes that they had for this season. Now, they will need to begin to focus on rebuilding for next season, and dealing with all of the distractions that hurt them this season. My pick: Accurate

New York Giants 

vs.

Washington

Washington 20, N.Y. Giants 10 - Frankly, I was just glad that my Giants were not humiliated again. That said, they did not play well. Or, at least, the offense did not play well. The defense played fairly well, and kept Washington in check for most of the game. With a halfway decent offense, the G-Men would have had a chance to win. However, with the offensive issues that they had this year so far, you kind of knew that this was the way that this game would work out. In fact, the rushing game looked solid at times, and for a while, they were moving the ball. But that did not translate to points, and points are clearly what this team needs more of, more than anything. Washington earned a solid divisional victory, although it may be too little, too late, as they are well behind in the race to qualify for the postseason. My pick: Unfortunately Accurate

Thanksgiving & Medieval Origins? Aye!

Still yet another aspect of the history of Thanksgiving, which I admittedly was not really aware of. Apparently, it can be traced further back even than the Pilgrims of America, and may have some roots in medieval Europe itself!

Here is the fascinating link:

Passeth the cranb'rry sauce! The medieval origins of Thanksgiving by Ken Albala Professor of History, Director of Food Studies, University of the Pacific, November 25, 2015

http://theconversation.com/passeth-the-cranbrry-sauce-the-medieval-origins-of-thanksgiving-50562

Being Thankful # 12...

Last year, I started posting about some things that I am thankful for, just as a reminder to me, and presumably to my readers, to be appreciative of the little things. The last one, to my knowledge, came on Thanksgiving Day, fittingly enough.

But a year has now passed, and I never did post another one. Yet, as I read this particular blog from last year, it felt like I pretty much nailed what to be thankful for last year, at least to some degree. So, I will simply report what I wrote last year, but will add this last little bit: I am thankful that my son seems to be very healthy and happy, and at least appears to be doing much better in school this year than he was last year!

Here (below) is what I wrote for Thanksgiving Day last year:



Thanksgiving Day is today. So, what better time to write a blog about being thankful for things than today, right?

So, let me get to it.

Once again, I am thankful to be able to share and enjoy this Thanksgiving meal with family and friends.

Also, I am very thankful for the relative good health of those family members and friends, as well. The older I get, the more obviously important that is, and the more appreciative I am of it.

More generally, I am thankful also for all of the blessings of life, that make the bad times, the less savory times, more easy to digest and get through.

Here's hoping that those of you reading this have a blessed day!

A Little More About Thanksgiving

Photo courtesy of Photo by Mike Licht's  Flickr page - First Fun Thanksgiving, after J.L.G. Ferris: https://www.flickr.com/photos/notionscapital/3062587135/in/photolist-5ECyst-5EzJoE-pVy3jb-7fpxz3-qeFTma-qKb5y-5EzLTh-8t2HcA-7zsVzq-4VHY6u-7zpaDD-8WafKb-du7kcg-94jgy5-7iaerA-bDGB8q-7gdJdk-5EvrxZ-duwNaQ-pm6cSN-ducUDh-aLNyAr-7ht9zD-7ht9Xa-7zpa6v-ducVrb-ducV2j-hVfhTm-5EvqUr-7htaaT-5EVqpB-atE2SX-hTNSE4-5EWeaq-b6wAht-dvD2CZ-kT8u2c-8W85un-dZVCSd-72vahj-qoZEZF-5EH4Nm-5Evw3k-dZVCCq-dkMSGo-8WmYaF-dZPVCv-dkMQxe-dkMzWc-t8GEw

Creative Commons License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

First of all, I am trying to steer clear of National Geographic, ever since Rupert Murdoch took it over and made it a soundboard for his neocon ideology.

Also, I do not want to be the guy who brings everybody down by continually mentioning that the true history of Thanksgiving is a lot less innocent and noble than has been traditionally, popularly believed.

That said, I am adding this one link that brings out another aspect of Thanksgiving history, although doing so with this little aside: I will be celebrating Thanksgiving with not one, but two Thanksgiving meals with friends and family today. However, I will be celebrating by trying to emphasize all of the blessings that I have been truly blessed with. Also, we cannot change history, but we can try to understand it more accurately, and come to terms with it. I am not advocating scrapping Thanksgiving altogether, but the crimes committed in the past, which this holiday essentially honors, should be addressed plainly and truthfully. So, I am doing my part (or as much as I can right now) to spread the word. It seems particularly relevant right now, when the United States is under the microscope for all of the racial tensions that are rising to the surface at this moment in history.

A Few Things You (Probably) Don’t Know About Thanksgiving by Becky Little of National Geographic, November 21, 2015:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/11/151121-first-thanksgiving-pilgrims-native-americans-wampanoag-saints-and-strangers/?sf15916639=1