Cardinals Get Back on Track in San Francisco on Thursday Night Football

Yes, it was not the kind of embarrassingly lopsided victory over Tampa Bay that would have many other teams squirming, although the Cardinals nonetheless took care of business last night out in Santa Clara.

In a game that was not as close as the score would indicate, the Cardinals got past numerous problems that have plagued them so far this season, including injuries to starting quarterback Carson Palmer. They played efficient football, and were able to notch their first road win of the season, and only their second win of the season to date.

This was a much needed win, and a confidence booster, for an Arizona team that ranked among the favorites to reach the Super Bowl in the preseason, although things have been rough for them so far this season. Like San Francisco, they entered this contest with a surprisingly meager 1-3 record, quickly falling two games behind both the Rams and the Seahawks in the NFC West division.

However, the Cardinals might have righted the ship a bit with last night's win, which ended the bleeding and puts the Cardinals back into contention, where almost everyone expected them to be in the first place. The offense was explosive, and the defense was solid, showing glimpses of what they were expected to be this season to begin with.

As for San Francisco, their struggles continue. Following a convincing home victory against the Rams to open up the season, the 49ers have now dropped four straight. Three of the losses have been blowouts, including last night's loss to Arizona. They already are facing a rather predictable quarterback controversy, and the overall play has been lousy. This team has seen one of the quickest declines in recent NFL history, seeing the talent that had them competing at the highest levels only a few seasons ago, and dropping them into consistent cellar dwellers.

NFL 2016-17 Week 5 Preview

(Thursday Night Football) Arizona at San Francisco - Both of these NFC West teams are sitting at 1-3, and are in a must win situation entering this game. However, the Cardinals were one of the teams that figured to rank among the elites, while the 49ers have lost an enormous amount of talent in a short time span, and have been struggling now for the last few seasons. We are still waiting for the Cardinals to show that they bear some resemblance to the team that went all the way to the NFC Championship Game last season, as they only played one solid game this season. However, that should change after this game, as the Cardinals, despite issues at quarterback, should have enough to right their ship, at least for this one game. My pick: Arizona

Chicago at Indianapolis - A tough game to call, because frankly, neither team is playing well. The Bears finally got their first win of the season against Detroit last weekend, while the Colts lost a disappointing game and now have to recover from their overseas trip. With home field advantage, however, the Colts should have a certain advantage and, also, is not Andrew Luck about due for a breakout game again? My pick: Indianapolis

Tennessee at Miami - The Dolphins got beat down in Cincy last week, and so they need a pick up. With the Titans coming to town, and the struggles that Tennessee seems to be having so far, particularly with the disappointing play of young quarterback Marcus Mariota, With home field advantage playing a role, the Dolphins should be able to take this game. My pick: Miami

NY Jets at Pittsburgh - The Jets still have enough talent to seriously believe that they can make a run to the playoffs. However, the abysmal 1-3 start has obviously hurt their chances. And having to travel to Pittsburgh will not make things any easier. The Steelers got blown out two weeks ago, but had a strong rebound with a blowout win over Kansas City last weekend. The Jets have to hope to pull off a huge stunner on the road, and that means that the defense has to play exceptionally well against Pittsburgh's dangerous offense. Unfortunately, it just does not seem likely. My pick: Pittsburgh

Houston at Minnesota - The Texans are 3-1, and riding high in the AFC South. However, they will need to play their best game yet this season if they hope to knock off Minnesota from the ranks of the remaining undefeated teams. The Texan's defense is tough, but the Vikings are tougher. They do not need to score a ton of points to get past Houston in this one. My pick: Minnesota

New England at Cleveland - Well, while things are getting better for the Patriots, as they get their starting quarterback back, things never seem to get any better for the Cleveland Browns, the only remaining winless team in the league. They enter this game at 0-4, and are facing a solid and explosive Patriots team determined to get back on the right course following their first home shutout loss since 1993. Getting a road win by the lake would be what they need and, frankly, it is difficult to see how the Browns can avoid that. My pick: New England

Washington at Baltimore - Washington's fortunes have risen in the last couple of weeks, while the Ravens were disappointed with the loss to Oakland last week. This one is a tough game to call, as either team can win. However, something just tells me that Washington will have just enough to escape with a victory here. My pick: Washington

Philadelphia at Detroit - The Eagles are soaring high, while the Lions suffered their most sobering defeat last weekend against the formerly winless Bears. The Lions do have home field advantage, although Philly is well rested after a week off. If the Eagles return in good form, as I imagine they will, they should be able to pull off a solid road win in the Motor City. My pick: Philadelphia

Atlanta at Denver - The Broncos defense looks, if anything, like they are better than they were last season, and that is saying something! The Falcons, in the meantime, look like they are serious again, particularly on offense. Yet, they have a history of collapsing at the most inopportune times, and going into the high altitude at Mile High Stadium to test out their offensive proficiency against this Broncos team is probably too tall of an order for Atlanta. My pick: Denver

Cincinnati at Dallas - Another tough game to call, and it would not be surprising no matter who wins. The Cowboys are riding high, playing with confidence after reeling off three straight wins. The Bengals got off to a rougher start, but finally started to resemble their normal playoff status team with a win over Miami last week. Home field advantage should play a role here, and that obviously would go to the 'Boys. It could go either way, but someone has to win (unless, of course, it is a tie). My pick: Dallas

Buffalo at Los Angeles - Yet another game that could go either way. The Bills just pulled off their biggest and most impressive road win in years by shutting out New England last weekend. Brady or no Brady, that is a huge accomplishment, and with two straight wins, they have to be riding high. The Rams are also riding high, with three straight wins themselves, but this will be a tougher test for them. The Bills defense is finally starting to look really strong again, and if they continue that in this game, it should prove to be the difference. My pick: Buffalo

San Diego at Oakland - The Chargers showed some early promise, but they cannot be feeling to great about themselves after yet another heartbreaking loss dropped them to 1-3. In the meantime, Oakland is looking great, and at 3-1, they are trying to stay within striking distance of Denver. The Raiders have a quarterback who seems to be a steady and stable presence, and that should help them to get past the Chargers in this game. My pick: Oakland

NY Giants at Green Bay - I hate to say it, but after a promising 2-0 start (and it should have been 3-0, as they should have found a way to beat Washington), the Giants are starting to resemble the same old team that they have been for a few years now (ever since their victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI). Everyone seems to feel that Odell Beckham is a whining prima dona, and that seems to include his own quarterback, Eli Manning. The Giants offense was supposed to have opened up to put more points on the scoreboard, but that is not what they have done this season. Unfortunately, going to Lambeau Field is not the tonic that the G-Men need right now. They likely do not have the capacity on defense to contain the Packers, and their offense likely cannot score much, either. Hard to see how New York goes into Green Bay and comes out with a win. My pick: Green Bay

Monday Night Football  Tampa Bay at Carolina - The Panthers are looking surprisingly weak so far. Perhaps they are still aching from their loss in the Super Bowl, or perhaps they had a kind of hangover from all of that success that they enjoyed last season, and the staggeringly high expectations that many had for them this season. Whatever the reason, they just have not played very well. Cam Newton, last year's MVP, has been getting roughed up, and Carolina has just not been able to overcome their problems so far, accounting for their surprising 1-3 start. However, they should have plenty enough in their tank to take care of Tampa Bay in this contest, and start the process of recovering. My pick: Carolina

Today is World Teacher's Day

As someone who was on both sides of a teacher's desk in schools during the course of my years, as well as someone who has been impacted greatly, in ways both good and bad, by teachers, I wanted to make sure to try and honor teachers, and the huge impact that they have on every society.

Teachers hold far more power and influence than many people tend to think. They do indeed influence our kids, and can teach valuable life lessons for kids - and I am not just talking about the A, B C's and 1, 2, 3's, either. Sometimes, the stories and revelations that they give about their own lives can be enormously influential. Sometimes, for that matter, revealing their dreams can inspire, as well. 

In my own personal life, I have seen time and time again just how much of an impact teachers can have. Some of the teachers in high school that had the biggest impact on me included a science teacher who told some personal stories where he revealed what he believed were examples of great strength and character, as well as a history teacher who not only advocated better environmental practices, but got his students to join the cause and protest the local McDonald's to stop using styrofoam. I unfortunately was not a part of that, although a few years later, I did go to the town council with him to be a part of some presentations by students against a proposed development that would have destroyed the virgin woodlands of our town. 

There was another teacher in my high school who could sometimes reveal such deep and poetic sounding thoughts, as well as giving some simple yet very sound advice, that it changed my way of thinking, quite literally. I enjoyed it at the time, yet years later, when I found myself thinking of some of the things that he said, it dawned on me just how huge of an influence he actually had on me.

Of course, there were some other great teachers that I had, as well. And working in the field, as I have done, on and off, for some years now, I have also met some great teachers, truly dedicated to their kids. Often times, they will make up for a lack of budgetary funding and spend some of their own hard-earned money to try and make sure that the kids in their classroom are well equipped and given every tool and advantage to learn. Much of this goes unnoticed, and too many teachers have thankless jobs.

Yet, I will also say that not everybody that I met in a teaching capacity should have been there. I remember one history teacher that I had in middle school suggesting outright that the races should live "separate...but equal." Fortunately, that did not go unchallenged, although unfortunately, I was not the one with the courage to do it. There was another teacher in that school who did something that I will never forget, as it was such a clear example of what not to do and say towards a kid. This kid had an Irish last name that began with the letter O and an apostrophe. For argument's sake, let's just say that the kid's name was O'Hare (that was not his actual name, but it serves the purpose). Well, one time, after that kid failed to produce required work, that teacher kind of muttered to himself, "O'Hare...O'Hare." Then, looking up at the kid, he said, much louder, "Your name should be Zero Hare, because that is what you amount to. It was a different era, one when challenging a teacher was almost unthinkable, and so no one said anything. But I remember looking at the expression on that kid's face, and that teacher's tendency to say insulting things (there were other episodes, although none of them stand out quite as distinctively or memorably as that one). I have seen quite a few teachers like that, who really just have no business being around kids. One teacher (again, in that same middle school) who would scream until she was red-faced for the smallest infractions, and the kids must have gotten used to that, because they hardly even paid any attention to her. And yet one other teacher in that same school system during the time that I worked there, and she was quite full of herself, talking about her "six zone heating and central air conditioning" home. She had a specialty class of ED (emotionally disturbed, although I imagine they changed that name to something more politically correct these days). She allowed these kids to go wild too often, and really did not push them towards anything resembling discipline. I asked her once how many of her students went on to have normal lives, and she said one. In all of her years teaching different classes, only one kid went on to have a normal life. But she made a decent salary and was driving around an expensive car. Her husband was well-to-do as well, and my suspicions were that she was very much in it for the money more than anything else.

I had my own run in with a staff member (not a teacher, but a guidance counselor who would go on to become the Vice-Principal of the school) who sent out clear negative vibes. Being a terrible student, visits to his office had become routine experiences for me after report cards came out. I remember walking in, and him saying, "So, how many F's this time, Charles?" He went on to ask his routine questions, all while showing an all too visible level of disinterest towards me, not really caring to actually try and find out why I was struggling. I was a bright kid, and know for a fact that he had other bright kids visit his office who, like me, could have done better. But he was content to sit on his big salary and watch kids like us fall through the cracks. He bent over backwards to help those who he termed the "good kids." He helped them choose good colleges and career paths. For kids like me, however, he went through the motions, and it was obvious. Years later, I returned to that school as a substitute, and he seemed surprised to see me in that capacity. Then, he said something that I will never forget. He said that he remembered that I was always "one of the good kids." That was news to me, and my skepticism must have been transparent, because the conversation ended rather abruptly thereafter. I watched this man from afar, and saw his blatant favoritism, and knew that there was something about him that felt intensely wrong. Now, being quite a bit older and understanding things a bit better than I did, I view him as the symbol of an uncaring bureaucracy within the education system, one that basically caters to the favorite sons and daughters, while allowing others to fail. He became one of the faces that I associated with an unfair and generally failing education system. Or perhaps, a better way to put it is to suggest that were there were failures, people such as this man simply stood by and let it happen, although they were only to happy to collect their checks and focus on their tenure within the school system (and in his case, to move on up the ladder of the school system), while actually doing little of substance to make education and the opportunities that it could give kids truly better for all of the students who had the misfortune of being under his umbrella.

Now, I still work in a school system, although not on an everyday basis, which I used to do. Still, you can kind of just tell. Some teachers are there because they really, truly care about the kids, and they will do anything and everything to enhance the learning process, to make sure that their kids are given every opportunity to learn, to succeed. In some cases, they provide disadvantaged kids with the only real place where they will find stability. And yes, there are some teachers who are also lazy and just in it for themselves, looking to score tenure so that they can rely on a steady paycheck, and the kids clearly come in a distant second, if even that high.

In this day and age, in the United States, education is an undervalued profession. Teachers are increasingly blamed when things go wrong, and not given credit when things go right. There was a cartoon that I remember seeing some years ago, and it revealed a deep and disturbing truth about education these days. On the top half, there was a cartoon with the caption "Explain this!" under a drawing of a kid slinking down, with his parents behind him and the teacher in front of him holding a report card with a big red "F" as she glared at him, clearly in a conference called to address his academic struggles. Then on the bottom was the modern day, those same words, "Explain this!" Yet this time, the teacher was the one slinking back, as the parents were glaring at the teacher, holding a report card that showed a big red "F."

I think that there is more than a little grain of truth to that. Many parents these days are part of the problem, rather than part of the solution. Like some teachers who should not be teachers, some parents should not be parents, frankly. Some of them are just overgrown kids themselves. The work environment makes a huge difference, too. I was subbing at one school (a notoriously bad and wild one), and remember eating in the staff room during lunch. The teachers there were complaining  that during Teacher Appreciation Day, the principal had only gotten them a box of donuts. In the other elementary schools in town, they had devoted an entire classroom, where they cleared some space and dimmed the lights, and parents of kids came in to give the teacher's massages! But in that school, they felt cheated, and got diddly squat. The morale among the teachers there is generally low, and that kind of feeling is poison that easily spreads. 

This might sound corny, but we really could use more positivity within the education field. The focus should not be on systematically testing the performance of our teacher's, using the "one size fits all" testing system against them. Education is far more nuanced than that, even if some people do not particularly like nuance. We keep looking for better results while systematically looking to make significant budget cuts, and those two things do not go hand in hand, particularly when the military budget is bloated far beyond all reason. 

So today, let us honor teachers, and the job that they do. Let us recognize the impact that they have on our kids, and the influence that they collectively (and sometimes individually) have on the kids that they teach, and often become mentors to. It is a difficult and demanding job, and I was not kidding when I suggested that it is a largely thankless one. But it might help to go ahead and thank a teacher if you encounter one today. It certainly cannot hurt!

2016 - 17 NFL Week 4 Review

London Game - Jacksonville 30, Indianapolis 27 - Even though I had predicted a Jacksonville upset win, I was still a little surprised that the Colts actually let this happen, given the high stakes. Indianapolis is, presumably, the toughest challenge that the Houston Texans will receive within the division in the race for the title, but the Colts certainly are not looking good at all thus far. They have not been able to get any consistency, and this loss drops them down to 1-3, placing them in a last place tie with the Titans and Jaguars, and with Jax now holding a tiebreaker advantage, at least for the time being. For Jacksonville, this was a huge win that restores some hope for a season that was quickly spiraling out of control prior to this first victory of their season.


Houston 27, Tennessee 20 - While the Colts blew a chance to separate themselves a bit from some fellow divisional opponents, the Texans had the same opportunity and took care of business.  They did not blow out the Titans, but they were able to pull out the win, something that the Colts failed to do out in London. The Texans right now hold a two game lead over everyone else in the AFC South, and this was a nice rebound from the embarrassment that they suffered at the hands of the Patriots. As for the Titans, they will have to endure losses like this, but genuinely seem to be getting better and more competitive week after week, don't they?

Seattle 27, NY Jets 17 - This game pretty much went as most people surely would have expected, as the Jets dropped their second straight. They might have enjoyed home field advantage, but the Seahawks just proved to be too much for them, with a stifling defense, and an offense that, while not exactly explosive, is very effective at what they do: grinding it out and controlling the ball, the clock, and the tempo of the game. The Jets were simply powerless to stop this rising behemoth of the NFC, who are beginning to resemble their formerly powerful selves of a few years ago, when they were Super Bowl championship material. As for the Jets, this is another setback, and they are treading dangerously close to this being a disappointing season once again, after the tremendous promise that they showed last season.

Washington 31, Cleveland 20 - In a weekend of upsets, you might think that the Brownies could catch a break and get their first win of the season, right? Wrong. Cleveland could not pull it off, and they were beaten by a rejuvenated Washington team that seems to be feeling their oats, suddenly. The Browns, by virtue of this loss, their fourth straight to start the season, are now the only team remaining in the league without a victory. For Washington, this brings them right back into the NFC East race, tied with the Giants and one game behind Dallas, although the Eagles remain unbeaten for now.

Chicago 17, Detroit 14 - The Bears finally managed to stop their bleeding in a season that was already getting uncomfortably close to a disaster, even though this is only week four. They were winless, flirting with an 0-4 start, and having lost their starting quarterback and just looking atrocious. This was not the type of win that would restore any hopes of a playoff run, but it is nonetheless their first win, and against a divisional opponent. For Detroit, this third straight loss after some really promising glimpses earlier in the season has to be most disheartening, as it looks more and more like the Lions will suffer through another disappointing season. They really were the better team going in, and should have found a way to win this game against a reeling ball club.

Buffalo 16, New England 0 - On a weekend filled with upsets and surprises, this was, by far, the biggest! I mean, the possibility of a tough, defensive-minded Buffal team traveling to New England and beating the Patriots was not exactly unthinkable, especially Since Tom Brady was still not at quarterback, and Gronk is still out. However, that the Bills completely dominated, even shutting the Pats out before their home fans just seemed so remote as to be virtually unthinkable. Yet, this is how it happened. Rex Ryan always seems to give Belichick and New England tough games and, sometimes, even stunning losses. But few losses that the Pats have suffered in recent seasons can be more shocking than this one! To get blanked, at home, when the team has an opportunity to take a three-game lead against everyone else in the division, essentially locking it up after only four weeks, with their best talent on the verge of coming back? Hats off to the Bills for an amazing performance and coming through in the clutch in a real must-win situation! The Bills are now 2-2, and only one game behind the first place Pats.

Oakland 28, Baltimore 27 - Traditionally, the Raiders have often struggled when they have to travel east to play, and they were facing an undefeated team this weekend in Baltimore. Yet, somehow, they managed to pull off a tremendous road victory. They had the late lead, and perhaps in years past, their defense would have buckled under the pressure, would have given in. Not this year, as the Raiders managed to hold Baltimore scoreless at the end, securing their biggest and best win of the season to date. A disappointing result for Baltimore, although that was a fantastic 3-0 start, and they are still in pretty good shape.

Dallas 24, San Francisco 17 - Watch out, because the 'Boys suddenly are on fire! After dropping their home opener against division rivals, the New York Giants, Dallas has now won three games in a row, beating Washington on the road, then dominating the Bears on national television and now, beating the 49ers in San Francisco (well, in Santa Clara). This used to be the rivalry that surpassed all other rivalries back in the 1990's, and although both teams have dropped off since then, this was a pretty tough and intense game. The 49ers had been blown out for two games in a row, and their defense was particularly worrisome, having allowed a lot of points. They looked tighter this weekend, although the Cowboys also came to play, and managed to tough it out for a solid road win, as they improve now to 3-1.

New Orleans 35, San Diego 34 - Once again, San Diego held a big lead, only to watch it disappear. Once again, it was a series of seemingly unlikely mistakes that doomed them, as a once very promising start to the season has given way to a grimmer reality, as they lose at home to the previously winless New Orleans Saints. Drew Brees was solid in his return to San Diego, where his professional career began. It was an emotional return for him, as he was not sure he would even be able to play again. But here he is, a Super Bowl champion and MVP, leading his team to an important first victory of the season.

Los Angeles 17, Arizona 14 - The Rams got blown out in their home opener out in San Francisco. Strangely, however, the Rams have not lost since then, while the 49ers have not won since. And the Rams keep winning games that you kind of expect them to lose. They won a shootout last week at Tampa Bay, finally showing some offense. Then this weekend, a tough, grinding win against the Cardinals at Arizona. Now, that is a huge victory, as the Rams keep pace with the Seahawks in a first place tie. As for the Cardinals, they have already matched their total number of losses during the 16-game regular season last year, and that after only four games so far. Something is wrong out in the desert. Palmer is making mistakes, and that defense is not nearly as intimidating as they probably should be by now. This was a team with serious hopes for a championship, and they were one of the elites last season. Right now, they just need to stop the bleeding, before anything else. Tough loss for Arizona, great win for the Rams. 

Pittsburgh 43, Kansas City 14 - Wow! Pittsburgh was in a hurry to put that Philadelphia debacle behind them, as they blew out the Chiefs, taking a huge lead early and never letting up on the gas. Kansas City lost their second game this season, although this time, they really took a pounding. They seem to be tough at home, but they also tend to struggle away. Granted, Pittsburgh is never an easy place for a road team to win at, although the Chiefs surely could have done better than what passed for their effort in this one. Hugely disappointing for Kansas City, as they fall farther behind both Denver and Oakland in the AFC West. A solid win for the Steelers, who are right back on top of their division.

Denver 27, Tampa Bay 7 - This outcome had seemingly no surprises, as the game pretty much went exactly as expected. The undefeated Broncos proved to be the heavyweights, just pounding on an outmatched opponent unable to cope with their power. Denver's defense is looking more and more elite, as they notch another impressive road win in very convincing fashion. No fireworks, but the offense had more than enough to get the job done. Tampa Bay has shown some real glimpses at times, although this is a game that proved forgettable for them, dropping them to 1-3. Still, they are the only team to have knocked off first place Atlanta, so there's that. As for the Broncos, this win, coupled with the losses by the Chiefs and San Diego, puts them in solid position, although the Raiders impressive start has them nipping at their heels.

(MNF) Minnesota 24, NY Giants 10 - The Vikings jumped out ahead, 14-0. Not a good thing for the Giants to allow, seeing as though they were the road team playing against an undefeated team with what appears to be an incredible defense. Still, New York made a game of it, closing to within 17-10 in the fourth quarter, before the Vikings scored a touchdown to seal the deal, as the final nail on the coffin. The Giants, after an impressive 2-0 start, have now dropped their last two games, and essentially find themselves having gone from being in a first place tie with the Philadelphia Eagles, to being in last place, within a surprisingly short span. The Cowboys are 2-1, and Washington, like the Giants, are also 2-2, but right now hold the tiebreaker advantage. New York desperately needs a win right now. As for Minnesota, they are starting to resemble a potentially serious contender this season, and might just be the hottest team in the league!

European Court Rules That Time Commuting To & From Work is "Work"

I have mixed feelings about this one.

On the one hand, commuting to work is to me absolutely time away from home. It is not leisure time, and often not pleasurable at all. Indeed, if you are stuck in a massive traffic jam that is causing you to be late to work or, if on the other side of the day, you just want to get home after a stressful day at work and you are just crawling along, unable to get to where you are going, it is absolutely annoying and adds unnecessary stress.

So, I can definitely agree with the principle of it.

However, if this idea actually spread, I just know that companies are going to make sure that they get the better of things, and that might mean not hiring people who have longer commutes, for fear that they will have to shell out more money.

Perhaps people can be paid either one hour extra per day for two way commutes, or in some cases, even one hour before the shift starts, and one hour afterwards. After all, some people do indeed have long commutes. Even though this may not be ideal, it is the reality of the world in which we are living today. 

Still, all in all, this is still more of something that could and perhaps should be recognized in the future, although I do not believe we are quite there yet now. However, this court ruling in (where else?) Europe definitely should raise the issue of commute time being officially recognized as work time, as it is certainly time away from home, from leisure.

If government could somehow guarantee that companies will not be permitted to be heavy handed and take advantage of this (and that would be a tall order, frankly), this is a good idea who's time has come, and I applaud this court's decision.

However, I worry if we are quite ready to accept this kind of thinking yet. Frankly, I have my doubts, and especially here in the United States, where so many people seem to think and act and especially vote against their own best interests. Here, people too often feel guilty when they take advantage of the benefits that they are entitled to, including vacation time. It remains a mystery to me why so many Americans do feel this guilt, but there you have it.

In any case, the idea that the time you spend commuting is, indeed, "work" time, as it is clearly time devoted towards something relating to work (that is to say getting there and coming back from work) and that it is obviously not free time as such, does indeed mean that this is lost time. This could be an important ruling with ramifications beyond just Europe, although I admittedly do worry how this could be manipulated, as well.

A court has ruled that time spent traveling to and from work is “work”

http://qz.com/500186/a-court-has-ruled-that-time-spent-traveling-to-and-from-work-is-work/?utm_source=atlfb

Trump Now Starting to Close in on Lead in Presidential Elections

As of right now, Fivethirtyeight has Trump actually winning both battleground state of Florida and Ohio.

Several other polls show that the race is indeed tightening, and some (such as Bloomberg) are now suggesting that Trump has even taken a slight lead.

All of this after months of Hillary Clinton supporters absolutely adamantly assuring Americans that she was the only hope to defeat Trump.

I know that I have said this before (quite a few times, actually) but frankly, it needs to be said again: she is a pathetic candidate. Corrupt to the core, tired and way too much a part of the system that has screwed people over and rigged both the political and economic system against Americans, and people know it. Collectively, Americans are not as dumb and gullible as they used to be, although there are obvious exceptions (case in point, those adamant supporters of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton). People recognize more than ever that traditional politicians are not the answer and, far from it, they are the problem. That overly polished style is what people now associate with the basest elements of politics, and who is more polished like that than the Clintons?

In fact, I personally believe that this lack of polish is what appeals to many Trump supporters to begin with. Despite policies that clearly aim to cater to the most privileged among us, he still has this reputation among supporters as an advocate of the common man. Yes, this billionaire born with a silver spoon in his mouth is, according to them, "one of us."

Of course, his act is preposterous, and anyone with some objectivity and common sense should easily be able to see through that illusion.

Yet, Hillary Clinton is such a weak opponent that many still opt for him, because she is seen, with some legitimacy, as worse. After all, Trump's lack of polish is probably a liability, where Clinton's connections and overly polished style to appeal to the widest possible voting base is increasingyl rightly seen as the problem. She has a history of being willing to say and do anything to get more power, to get elected into higher office. 

Frankly, people have had enough. 

Yet, the Democratic leadership, in their infinite wisdom, were too scared to stay out of the race when they saw for themselves just how weak and vulnerable a candidate she was. They had assumed that she was unbeatable, and once Bernie Sanders exposed that theory for the lie that it was, they resorted to cheating to make sure that she became the nominee.

Now, Donald Trump, despite his eccentricities, is scoring points by basically insinuating the very same things that Sanders (and others, including President Obama) have long argued about Clinton. He is calling her "crooked Hillary" and suggesting that she is too much of an insider, too polished, and that far from the country being better because of her, it has reached a point where anybody would be better. And he is scoring points with that line of attack, to the point that, rather incredibly, he is closing in on what would be a shocking victory.

You would think that Hillary would have more to say than simply the same old tired message of "Vote for me, otherwise that guy gets in." Yet, she keeps resorting to that, and keeps losing what once had been a sizable lead in the polls as a result, mostly because she has no defense against his attacks against her. Indeed, she is a liability for the Democratic party, even though their most stubborn proponents still go to extraordinary lengths to deny this. 

And that mistake that they keep repeating could very well cost them the election, something that indeed seemed highly unlikely, if not impossible, just a few short months ago, when it was the fractioning of the Republican party that was making all of the news headlines.

Here is a depressing article about the now very real possibility that Trump may actually have a shot at winning this thing:

Trump surges in the polls as the first presidential debate with Clinton looms Katie Little, Sept. 26, 2016:

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/26/trump-surges-in-the-polls-as-the-first-presidential-debate-with-clinton-looms.html

Who will win the presidency?

http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-election-forecast/?ex_cid=rrpromo

Going on a Weekend Trip

Yes, another trip.

This time, it will be to Canada and New England. More specifically, it will be to Montréal, Québec, and Maine. We will be camping in Maine on the last night, just before coming home.

That means that, in all likelihood, I will have, at best, limited access to this blog for those days, although I will try to release something each day while up there, even if those are pictures and nothing more.

Yes, I will try, but cannot promise, to be sure.

One thing about this coming weekend is that it will be my birthday, and I will be turning 42. This is not one of those famous numbers or milestones that people reach, to be sure, although it obviously means that I am one year older. 

Sigh.