Trump Gets History of Russian Invasion of Afghanistan Completely Wrong. Surprised? Neither Am I.

Here we go again.

It would probably be better if Trump simply learned not to talk, to try and keep his big, ignorant, embarrassing mouth closed every now and then.

Maybe he never heard these words from Mark Twain:\

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."

Apparently, he truly believes he is the "very stable genius" that he claims himself to be. But man, for a genius, he sure the hell gets a lot of things wrong. Like, almost everything.

Here he went again, talking about fairly recent history in Afghanistan, and getting it very, very wrong, quite typically. He claimed that the Soviet Union was right to invade Afghanistan, because terrorists were pouring into that country, and they needed to take care of it. Here, specifically, is what Trump said:

“The reason Russia was in Afghanistan was because terrorists were going into Russia. They were right to be there.”

This is clearly wrong. The Soviet Union went in there to try and raise up a Communist government there. The instability that resulted from the invasion helped to create terrorists, some of which formed into the Taliban and Jihadis, many of whom came to haunt the United States in different ways, and for different reasons. But the Soviet Union itself was not being plagued by a migration of terrorists from Afghanistan at the time. And many are calling Trump to task for this false narrative on recent history, including the conservative leaning Wall Street Journal.

He went on. Of course he did. Because when you are dead wrong, and you have an ego larger than the superpower that you are the head of, what else are you going to do? Here is some more of what he said, which is at least not as blatantly, outrageously wrong as his previous statement:

“Russia used to be the Soviet Union. Afghanistan made it Russia, because they went bankrupt fighting in Afghanistan.  

“The problem is it was a tough fight. And literally, they went bankrupt. They went into being called Russia again, as opposed to the Soviet Union. You know, a lot these places you’re reading about now are no longer a part of Russia because of Afghanistan.” 

Now, this is not as dead wrong, to his credit (only with Trump, do we seem to have to give credit for not being totally, completely clueless and off base). Indeed, the Soviet Union did go bankrupt because of Afghanistan. And indeed, this bankruptcy helped to hasten the decline and ultimate demise of the the Soviet Union, so that many other republics were created from what had been the U.S.S.R..

But what I find telling here, personally, is that Trump stated - with the benefit of hindsight - that the Soviet Union was right to invade Afghanistan. Granted, he was wrong about his reasons, but the very idea that the former superpower was justified in waging a war that ultimately bankrupted it and led to it's decline and eventual dissolution should have many Americans very worried, particularly given his inflated military budgets, and his constant talk of trying to be tough and willing to fight wars, supposedly in the national interest. If the Soviet Union was right to fight what many in the world saw, and continue to see, as a war of aggression that turned sour and eventually bankrupted the now former superpower, that seems to suggest that Trump might be willing to lead the United States to a similar kind of costly war. And let's face it, the United States has fought in two very costly wars simultaneously in recent history, with one being in Afghanistan.

Not exactly encouraging to hear Trump's version of history, or the apparent lessons that he, and almost no one else, takes out of it: that a superpower is right to wage a war that most of the world sees as aggressive, and which ultimately bankrupts that nation and leads to it's decline.

Let us also not forget that Trump is actively and aggressively pursuing the same policies that have also led to bankrupting the United States: tax cuts and incentives to the ultra-wealthy and to the corporate welfare program.

Sometimes, it is astonishing that one man could be so damn wrong so damn often, and about so damn much! It truly is staggering.

And you might think, given how humiliating it is to have all of the times that you were wrong aired out for literally all the world to see like dirty laundry, that he might stop. But he just seems incapable of doing so.

Well, that's Donald Trump. He was the man elected to represent the country, to be the face and voice for at least four years. And he is exactly what most people thought he would be, or even worse, and there is no indication that he is even capable of slowing down his own humiliations or failures.

Plus, Trump also managed to insult the other allied nations who actually sent troops to assist in the struggle against terrorism in Afghanistan, which by the time of the invasion in post 9/11 2001, had indeed become a hotbed of terrorism. Just in case his rise to the White House and subsequent behavior has not turned enough of the rest of the world off already, he seems almost intent on finishing the job by really disgusting the rest of the world with his "Ugly American" face and voicing the worst, most arrogant, dismissive, and entitled opinions imaginable. That way, if the United States might actually need some help from someone else someday, Trump will have thoroughly burned all of those bridges, like he is doing in so many ways already, particularly with his trade wars and comments like lumping dozens of countries as "shithole nations."

All this winning, eh?



Here are two articles, including the Wall Street Journal article, that discusses Trump's recent shared opinions on Afghanistan, which will be yet one more major blemish on a presidency that already has seen more than it's fill of them, all under two years still! I know, it feels like it has been a whole lot longer than that for me, too.
Trump’s Cracked Afghan History His falsehoods about allies and the Soviets reach a new low. 681 Comments By The Editorial Board Jan. 3, 2019:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-cracked-afghan-history-11546560234

AP Fact Check: Trump’s Afghanistan Comments Inaccurate by the Associated Press, January 5, 2019:

https://www.voanews.com/a/ap-fact-check-trump-afghan-comments-inaccurate/4729988.html

NFL 2018-19 Wildcard Weekend Preview

Saturday Games

AFC

Indianapolis Colts

v.

 Houston Texans (11-5) 

Indianapolis at Houston - The Texans get home field advantage by virtue of having won the division championship, and they enjoyed an impressive 6-2 home record this season. Indianapolis clearly has the higher profile, more explosive offense, but the Texans showed some explosiveness on offense themselves at points this season. The Texans have the better defense, even if the Colts defensive rankings were surprisingly high. Home field advantage could prove pivotal, although I feel that the Colts actually have more momentum going in, as they were absolutely on fire towards the end of this season. Remember, they were 1-5 heading into the mid-season point, and they have won nine out of ten of their remaining games since, including what amounted to a de facto playoff game on the road in Tennessee last weekend. So, they have had their backs to the wall for a long time, and know how to win under pressure. The Texans, meanwhile, started off 0-3, and then pulled off nine straight wins, which was a franchise record. But they are a modest 2-2 in their last four games, and they had to hang onto the final weekend before finally clinching the division title. So, I like the Colts as the hotter of the two teams. In their two earlier meetings, the team exchanged a pair of games decided by a field goal, with the road team winning both times. Right now, that sounds like it might be repeated, with the away team, the Colts, coming out on top again. My pick: Indianapolis 

NFC

Seattle Seahawks (10-6)

v.

Dallas Cowboys (10-6)

Seattle at Dallas - Another tough game to call. If this game was being held in Seattle, this would be a lot easier to pick. These two teams met in Seattle earlier this season, of course, with the Seahawks winning, 24-13. At that time, it was seen as a big disappointment for the Cowboys, as Seattle was hardly seen as a serious playoff contender early in the year. And the Seahawks entered that game with an 0-2 record, which many felt confirmed their suspicions that they were a weak team. But clearly, they are in a very different, and better, place. Then again, so are the Cowboys. So, this game is interesting and difficult to make a pick with. Neither team particularly stands out as the clear-cut favorite. Statistically, Dallas has the better defense. But their offense has really struggled at times this season, and prior to the Giants game, that was particularly true in recent weeks. So, they will struggle against Seattle's tough and physical defense, most likely. Seattle's offense is the better unit, and the Cowboys will likely struggle to shut them down. Dallas was a difficult place to play for visiting teams, which should bode well for the 'Boys. But the Seahawks feel like the team with a bit more momentum going in. This is just a very tough game to call, as neither team is a lock. There is a lot to like, and admittedly dislike, with each. Too many vulnerabilities that could lead to things going wrong. My best guess is that home field advantage helps the Cowboys have a good chance against the Seahawks, but this one should be very tight. And my gut instinct tells me that in a tight, close game, the Seahawks will find a way to win this. My pick: Seattle

Sunday Games

AFC

Los Angeles Chargers (12-4)

v.

Baltimore Ravens (10-6) 

L.A. Chargers at Baltimore - This is a rematch of a game that these two teams played just a couple of weeks ago, which was won by Baltimore. Yes, the Ravens went on the road to the West Coast and pulled off a huge win, which kept their playoff and division title hopes intact. They wound up winning, and that is the reason that a 10-6 team will be hosting a 12-4 team in this game. But that is how the NFL operates presently, and so the home field advantage could help to decide this goes to the Ravens, who were nowhere near as consistent as the Chargers were this season. Yet, they have won six of their last seven games, when their backs were to the wall. That makes them a dangerous team, and the win on the road against the Chargers, in a must-win situation, should give them a psychological edge. They know that they can beat the Bolts, and this time, they have home field advantage, to boot. After all, the Ravens finished 6-2 at home. But here's the thing: the Chargers were tied with the Saints for the best road record in the league. They played their best on the road, and something tells me that they are good enough to turn the tables on the Ravens, and beat them on their home turf, much like they themselves were beaten when the Ravens were the visiting team. Just a tough game to call, really! The Ravens have the better defense, and that usually proves especially useful once the postseason rolls around. But the Chargers also had a solid defense, and their offense was more consistent and explosive usually than Baltimore's offense was. This game really could go either way, and it could be decided in the final moments. This is the kind of game that could live up to the principle that football is a game of inches. Right now, the Ravens are the hotter team, having earned the division title, and home field advantage should help them. So they are my pick to win, albeit narrowly. My pick: Baltimore

NFC

Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)

at

 Chicago Bears (12-4)

Philadelphia at Chicago - Both teams have a tough defense, and both teams have been playing very well in recent weeks. This is a tough one, because you do not want to make the mistake of underestimating a tough Chicago Bears team, especially playing at home, but you also do not want to underestimate the defending champions, who showed heart and determination particularly in these final weeks in order to make this improbable run to the postseason. I would expect a low-scoring, defensive contest, especially if the injury to Foles become an issue once again. The Bears can have a potentially explosive offense themselves, but despite some notable defensive lapses on the part of Philly at times this season, they seem to be peaking at the right moment. Frankly, I believe this contest could go either way. These two teams feel evenly matched. They did not play earlier this season to clue us in on what might happen, so that makes this more difficult to predict, but also adds an element of intrigue and surprise, because these two teams are not really all that familiar with one another. But if I have to pick a winner, my guess is that the home town Bears pull it off, albeit barely, possibly right at the end of the fourth quarter. My pick: Chicago

Predictions Abound Regarding Trump Being Forced Out of White House in 2019 - But Should We Believe It?

Now, I have mentioned many times over my own skepticism regarding any real possibility that Trump will be impeached, or will get seriously in trouble in any other way, for all of his myriad wrongdoings in the past few years, to say nothing of his long laundry list of wrongdoings before he actually ran for the White House. It sounds absurd that a President would pardon himself, but trust me, this man of pure vanity, this MAGAlomaniac is capable of it! If he could get away with possibly getting into serious legal trouble by doing so, he would not hesitate for a second, no matter how ridiculous it might look. Besides, after the last two years, does the thought of looking even more ridiculous or moronic really scare him? It would just be another such episode for the man who was literally laughed at for all the world to see while giving a speech at the United Nations.

Even if that did not happen, Republicans simply will not hold him accountable, and that will end any and all serious talk of Trump actually being removed from office before the 2020 election. 

Still, a lot of people believe that this will indeed happen, or that Trump will be forced out. Personally, I do not see it, and trust me, I would love to see it! This is one area where I would definitely love to be wrong, because Trump has been nothing but a disaster for this country, and indeed for the entire world, frankly.

But when New Year's Day 2020 rolls around, my expectation is that Trump will still be in office, still ranting and raving, still sending idiotic, mind-numbingly stupid tweets that show his pettiness and vindictiveness, and that he will continue to show astonishing levels of immaturity and complete lack of professionalism and dignity throughout the coming year. Frankly, he is a sign of where the nation is at right now, whether or not people like to hear it. There is a reason that he was elected, after all, and tens of millions of people remain very faithful in their support of this president. 

Yes, Trump has finally been singled out as having done wrong, personally. But it will likely come to naught. Sorry, but I just do not have faith in what so many others seem to have faith in, that Trump will be forced from office. Again, my hope is to be wrong on this, and I would be pleasantly surprised if Trump finally feels that his feet are to the fire, and he is being held accountable for his countless acts of wrongdoing. But I just am not banking on it.

Let's face it: Trump could and should have been behind bars for many things, and for a long time now, since well before he ever even thought about running for the White House, like he did (and failed) back in 2012. There is a reason why this man is seen by many who know about him, regardless of their political persuasion, as a shallow narcissist and scam artist. He conned people out of their money with several blatant scams, such as "Trump University." He refused to pay some workers their wages, and he had to settle out of court when faced with allegations of fraud.

Then, he ran for President, because with credentials like those, he apparently feels qualified. These days, it seems that anyone who is famous, anyone who has a large public profile, feels entitled to at least seriously contemplate running for high office. And nobody has ever felt as entitled as Trump does, and no one is even in his league when it comes to narcissism. 

The problem, of course, was that he received support because he appealed to people's prejudices. Why even pretend that there is any significant other reason why this man emerged immediately as the leader in the Republican field. He was not politically correct, and spoke what passes for his mind about many things, including racist rants. And yes, this appealed to more and more people, as they viewed this known and proven liar as somehow essentially truthful in some key way. Other Republicans were too scared to attack him until it was too late, and one by one, they all fell, until Trump became the nominee. Then, he beat Hillary in the general election, and the rest is history.

Since then, we have learned about his wrongdoings, which are predictably considerable in length, since running in 2016. We learned that he lied, time and time again. We learned that he had much more involvement and ties with Russia than he had let on earlier, sure (although I personally am still very skeptical that this was the reason that he won). We learned that he never meant what he said about divorcing himself from his business interests while president, and that he now faces serious charges of violations of the emoluments clause, as it seems he and his family and business interests are personally profiting. And just the thousands of times that he has lied and/or given misleading statements, which he seems to get away with like no one we have ever seen before.

Yes, all of these are major issues, and Trump should be held accountable.

But let's also be real for a second. We Americans are living in the world's wealthiest nation (yes, it remains the nation with this distinction for the time being), yet there are growing numbers of poor and homeless people, and people looking for food in trash bins, and we seem to accept this, by and large. We Americans have long claimed that this is the "land of the free," yet we have more people in prison than any other nation in the world, by far. We claim to welcome immigrants, and have the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of this welcome from the tyranny of other lands, but we now support a tyrant who is threatening our civil liberties and who has pulled the welcome mats from immigrants. We claim to be the "leaders of the free world," but it is clear that the rest of the world is beginning to make a point of moving on without the United States in a growing number of areas, from action to fight climate change to trade deals and nuclear deals. We claim to be a nation where all citizens are seen and treated equally under the law, yet we see countless episodes or racism and sexism and overall prejudice tolerated time and time again. We claim to believe in progress, yet we keep electing climate change deniers and people who clearly do not believe in science, time and time and time again. 

We have problems as a nation, and Trump is simply the most blatant face and voice of all of this hypocrisy. But until we actually resolve these issues that we as a nation are collectively guilty as, why should we expect the elected leader of this nation to be held accountable to higher standards, when we exempt ourselves from basic standards of national decency, ourselves? I believe we should work on fixing those issues as a nation first and foremost, because my own sneaking suspicion is that, given the short attention span that Americans are currently known for, many will simply believe that Trump, and only Trump, is the evil that needs to be gotten rid of, and that once he is gone, everything will be right with the world and with this country. And that clearly is not, nor will not, be the case.

It's time that we woke up as a nation! Yes, let's hold Trump accountable, by all means! But let us hold ourselves collectively accountable and try to fix these problems first, and not again get lulled into a false sense of security, which strongly contributed to Trump's rise to power in the first place. Because believe it or not, I think someone even worse than Trump - and possibly far worse - is still a very distinct possibility, and right now, we are not even all that far from it.

Here are two links to articles predicting that Trump will not serve the entire year in the Oval Office:

Predictions: Trump goes, unexpected candidate emerges in 2019 BY JOHN LEBOUTILLIER, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR — 01/01/19

https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/423132-predictions-trump-goes-unexpected-candidate-emerges-in-2019?fbclid=IwAR32tF-yTvdP-yvl07CmX_x5uFJZ2Bca8Iky7APNTf_SetExlFiDqs1i5vE




DONALD TRUMP WILL RESIGN THE PRESIDENCY IN 2019 IN EXCHANGE FOR IMMUNITY FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY, FORMER BUSH ADVISER SAYS BY TIM MARCIN ON 1/2/19

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-resign-2019-family-immunity-1276990?fbclid=IwAR1yAqHLnc8PWqCm2qo0qnpiJhXsNrgiWvCkOEneJOnOIDdGH6jmBsooqb8

Mitt Romney Blasts Trump's Lack of Leadership in Editorial...Yes, Again

When a nation elects a clown into office, it has to expect a circus.

When a nation elects a reality television star into the highest office, it has to expect some serious, and unnecessary, drama. 

With Trump, we have gotten both. Since he took office, it has been non-stop lies and MAGA-lomania and ridiculous tweets and disgusting actions and statements, just one piled atop the other. Through it all, we have seen blatant corruption and transparent conflicts of interest and petty attacks on any and all who attack him. Trump loves to quickly grab all the credit when anything he deems good happens, while he quickly points the finger of blame at anyone and everyone else when things go bad, as they inevitably do under him.

One minute, he goes before cameras with the entire nation, and indeed the entire world, and claims, "I am proud to shut down the government." That means that he seems to take pride in a glaring failure, as federal government employees will have to go without paychecks at this, what is often the most crucial time of the year: the holidays. Then, the next minute, he is blaming the other party, claiming that this is a "democratic shutdown."

This is only the latest in the staggering number and level of absurdities involving this man, who hardly acts like a grown man at all. Frankly, he seems childlike to me, and I do not mean that in a complimentary manner, as children can be quite endearing. Children have their faults, but at least they are cute, even if they act out once in a while. There is nothing remotely cute about Trump's childish behavior and meltdowns. Frankly, they are disgusting reminders of just how privileged this spoiled brat elitist has been all of his life, to literally not be able to handle any criticisms or anything that does not go precisely how he wants it to.

All of this has been on display before the entire world, and Trump has indeed become the butt of jokes the world over as a result. It is reflecting very poorly on the United States.

If there is one thing that I am truly astonished by about the Trump phenomenon, if you want to call it that, is how willfully blind his supporters are to any and all criticisms of their man. Even when Republicans criticize him, they dismiss it as either jealousy or lap up Trump's own claims that criticisms of him inevitably fall under the domain of "fake news."

This has itself led to some strange episodes, although it seems like everything involving Trump is frankly strange. 

The latest frankly bizarre back and forth criticisms of Trump are coming from former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who seems to flip flop constantly regarding his opinion of Trump. As he is just about to be sworn in as Senator from Utah, Romney is using his prominent stage to once again criticize Trump, which is something he has been known to do in the past. In an editorial, Romney leveled very serious criticism at Trump, suggesting that "the president has not risen to the mantle of the office."

Here is more of what Romney wrote in his Op/Ed piece:

"To a great degree, a presidency shapes the public character of the nation. A president should unite us and inspire us to follow "our better angels." A president should demonstrate the essential qualities of honesty and integrity, and elevate the national discourse with comity and mutual respect. As a nation, we have been blessed with presidents who have called on the greatness of the American spirit. With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable. And it is in this province where the incumbent's shortfall has been most glaring."

Don't get me wrong: I agree with Romney on this point. And it is pretty rare for me to agree with Romney on much. After all, this was the man who mocked concern about rising ocean levels in his Republican acceptance speech for the presidential nomination, back in 2012. This was the man who dismissed 47 percent of the people. This man is, in some respects, a watered-down version of Trump, having been born a wealthy elitist, and never known any real struggles the way that most working-class American families often now know struggles, having to juggle a lot on limited salaries and with often minimal benefits.

Here's the thing, though: Romney sounds very distrustful of Trump when it seems politically profitable to be suspicious, and then he seems to be begging for his support, or trying to get a job from him in Washington, when Trump could prove useful to his ambitions. At some points, Romney dismisses and condemns Trump point blank as a "phony, a fraud." Then, he has dinner with him and seems almost in love, like they are besties. Here is a timeline of this rather strange, and often contradictory, history between the two men that I borrowed from CBS News (see link below):

March 3, 2016:

 Romney:

"Here's what I know. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He's playing the American public for suckers: He gets a free ride to the White House and all we get is a lousy hat."

Trump responded:

"He was begging for my endorsement" in the 2012 presidential election.  "I could've said, 'Mitt, drop to your knees.' He was begging me," he said.

April 12, 2016 

Trump speaking of Romney at one of his rallies:

"The last election should have been won, except Romney choked like a dog," Mr. Trump said of Romney's 2012 run for the presidency during a New York rally. "He choked. He went 'I can't breathe! I can't breathe,' he said." 

June 11, 2016

Romney public mulls over possibly voting for Gary Johnson, saying that he would be better than Trump.

November 19, 2016 

Then-president-elect Trump and Romney played golf at his Bedminster, NJ course. Romney said they had "a far reaching conversation with regards to the various theaters in the world where there are interests of the United States of real significance."  Mr. Trump told the press "it went great."

November 29, 2016 

Romney and Mr. Trump met for dinner during which Romney reportedly pitched the president to consider him for secretary of state. Mr. Trump eventually chose Rex Tillerson for the post.

August 17, 2017 

Romney blasts Trump's response to the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, when the president blamed "both sides" for the violence during the white supremacists rally and their counter protestors.  Here is what Romney said then:  

"This is a defining moment for President Trump. But much more than that, it is a moment that will define America in the hearts of our children. They are watching, our soldiers are watching, the world is watching. Mr. President, act now for the good of the country."

December 5, 2017 - On the Roy Moore controversy:

On the same day Mr. Trump reiterated his endorsement of Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore, Romney criticized the candidate.  

"Roy Moore in the US Senate would be a stain on the GOP and on the nation," Romney tweeted, referencing multiple allegations of Moore's sexual misconduct involving teenage girls. "Leigh Corfman and other victims are courageous heroes. No vote, no majority is worth losing our honor, our integrity."  

December 6, 2017 

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said that Mr. Trump and Romney discussed congressional Republicans' tax plan over the phone, according to CNN. The call came after the president's Dec. 4 trip to Utah in which, during a speech, he praised Sen. Hatch and encouraged him to run for reelection. Romney notably did not attend that speech.  Conway said that Romney and Mr. Trump have a "great relationship."

Now, Romney is blasting Trump once again, saying that Trump has not risen to the level of the office of the presidency, as he had hoped that he would. Yet, he also claims that he will do as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants, and will toe the part line.

Politics makes strange bedfellows, eh?

Here are the two CBS News articles that I used (especially the quotes) in writing this particular blog entry about the strange history between Romney and Trump:


A timeline of President Trump and Mitt Romney’s relationship BY BLAIR GUILD  UPDATED ON: JANUARY 3, 2018

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-timeline-of-president-trump-and-mitt-romneys-relationship/




Mitt Romney slams Trump in editorial days before being sworn into Senate BY CAROLINE LINTON  UPDATED ON: JANUARY 2, 2019 / 12:21 AM / CBS NEWS

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mitt-romney-trump-washington-post-editorial-today-2019-01-01/

A Wonderful New Year's Sentiment by Neil Gaiman

In 2018, I began reading Neil Gaiman. 

I was only vaguely aware of his work before that, but had heard about the Sandman comic series, which had sounded intriguing and had come highly recommended years ago by a friend, yet which I had never fully gotten into.

Then, while listening to the Q on 93.9 during one of my evening commutes, I heard a radio interview with Gaiman, and was really impressed with his intelligence, and his body of work. So, I went to my library and picked up one of his books, "The Ocean at the End of the Lane," which author Joe Hill (son of Stephen King) had described as being perfect, neither a word too short or too long. That was some high praise, and so I had to see what the book was like.

And it was good! Great, even, really!

So, I picked up another Gaiman book, this one, "Trigger Warning," a collection of short stories. Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Predictably, I picked up another work of his, "Nevermore." That one I picked up more recently, and have only gotten so far with. But it is quite good to this point, and this trend with Gaiman is becoming common enough that I know it is no fluke. He is a terrific author!

I ran into a pretty amazing quote that serves as a wonderful New Year's sentiment, and thought I would share it here, being that this is New Year's Day, and all. Enjoy!

“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”

Neil Gaiman

NFL 2018-19 Regular Season Finale Weekend Review

The final weekend in the NFL definitely promised to be interesting, and it delivered. There were teams that needed to finally clinch division titles, like the Ravens and the Texans and the Chiefs, and there were teams like the Patriots and Rams and Chiefs (yes, the Chiefs were in both categories). The two Pennsylvania teams, the Eagles and the Steelers, were hoping that luck was on their side, and they would qualify for the playoffs. Then, there was a de facto playoff game in Tennessee, between the Titans and the Colts.

What a weekend! 

So, let's take a closer look at all of the games, particularly the ones with playoff ramifications:

New England Patriots 38, N.Y. Jets 3 - Well, this was more like it for the Patriots. They had not looked particularly good all season long, although they managed to win a weak division where every other team, other than New England, was a losing one this season. But the Pats had looked less than their usual stellar selves, as well. But this win was a necessary one. They needed to win this one in order to secure the second seed, and get that much-needed playoff bye. Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes, and the Patriots defense crushed the inept Jets offense. New England not only got the win that they needed, but got a statement win, signifying that they appear to be playing their best as they enter the playoffs. They are especially tough to beat at home in New England, and they will play their next game in two weeks from the comforts of home. Watch out! My pick: Accurate

Dallas 36, N.Y. Giants 35 - Not sure why Dak Prescott was in this game for so long, or why the Cowboys would risk his health when they were locked into the fourth seed. That was a brave decision, and it worked out for Jason Garrett, I guess. But Prescott played, and played extremely well, throwing four touchdown passes. The game was symbolic for the G-Men, who fought hard to keep up and came close to pulling off a win in the end, but fell short of managing a comeback win. The Cowboys solidify their record a bit more this season, but this game really meant nothing to them. It could have been disastrous had a starter, particularly Prescott, suffered an injury. My pick: Inaccurate

Atlanta 34, Tampa Bay 32 - A very exciting game for both teams to end the season on. This was far too little and much too late for Atlanta, but for what it is worth, they do get the win, and looked good doing it. The Falcons battled back from an early deficit to keep it close and, ultimately, to pull off a solid win. They ended the season with a few good wins to help boost their morale, although this season can hardly be seen as anything but a disappointment for them. As for Tampa Bay, this season opened up with tremendous promise, but ends with an all-too familiar disappointment as they head off to the off-season. My pick: Inaccurate

Carolina 33, New Orleans 14 - The good news for the Panthers is that they won and snapped their horrendous losing streak. The bad news is that they did it against the Saints back-ups, and not against the dangerous team that has dominated the NFC, particularly in the second half of the season, and earned the NFC's number one ranking entering the postseason. Yes, New Orleans did the wise things and pretty much sat their starters, even though they have a playoff bye. But that is smart, not risking any injuries or anything. They were locked into the number one seed, after all, and so they had nothing to gain and nothing to lose. So, this was pretty much as expected.. My pick: Accurate

Detroit 31, Green Bay 0 - Zero. Bagel/ Nada. Shut out and blown out at home to the Lions, a team going nowhere, and a team that the Packers used to own, especially up in Lambeau Field. Plus, Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion. A nightmare end to a disappointing season for the Pack. It does not get much worse than this for Green Bay. This was just a terrible way to end the season. As for the Lions, this was a big victory that sends them off on a very positive note for the coming off-season. They had their ups and downs this season, but ultimately, the playoffs were nowhere to be found. Still, this must feel good, managing to shut out the Packers in Green Bay. The hex is most definitely over! My pick: Inaccurate

Buffalo 42, Miami 17 - In a game that really did not matter much in the grand scheme of things, the Dolphins looked like they were playing with some pride and keeping up with Buffalo for a good while. They fought back from a 14-0 deficit in the first quarter to tie it by halftime. But then, the roof caved in. The Bills just completely took over the game, which became a route. The result was an ugly, but symbolic, loss for Miami, who still had playoff hopes not too long ago. Now, they are in turmoil. For Buffalo, this was a solid win in a season when many expected them to be much, much worse, so this bodes well for them. Josh Allen had a monster day, throwing for three touchdowns and running for 95 yards and two more touchdowns. My pick: Accurate

Houston 20, Jacksonville 3 - Now, at least the Texans got the job done in this one. They had to win in order to clinch the division title, and to their credit, they got it done. Granted, the Jaguars are hardly a powerhouse kind of a team, but this situation could potentially have been dangerous for Houston. After all, the best they could hope for at home against Jax was to meet expectations and beat them convincingly, which they did. Now, they ave the division title, and the third seed in the AFC playoffs. It might not have been what they wanted weeks ago, but it was what was on the table, and it was better than losing and seeing another team, the Colts, win the division instead. But Houston hardly looks like they are as elite as they looked earlier this season, when they enjoyed a franchise-best nine game win streak. As for the Jaguars, the went from having won the division title and an AFC Championship Game finalist last season, to being a last place, losing team this season. All the bears that went their way last year seemed to go against them this year. They probably are glad to put this season behind them, and well should be. My pick: Accurate

L.A. Rams 48, San Francisco 32 - The Rams had to win to keep their elite status and playoff bye. A loss would have given Chicago the second seed, and would have meant that the Rams would have to play next weekend in the Wildcard Game. Assuming that they would have won, they would then have had to travel to Solider Field - in January - and face the same Bears team that shut them down just weeks ago. So, yes, this was an important win, even if it came against a weaker division rival. The 49ers started winning some towards the end, but their season felt doomed when they got off to a sluggish start, and then lost their starting quarterback. This game went as expected, for the most part. My pick: Accurate

Kansas City 35, Oakland 3 - Kansas City had been the most consistent team in the AFC all season, and appeared to be the top team in the conference from the beginning. Then came the shocking loss to the Chargers, followed by the loss in Seattle, and it seemed like the Chiefs were choking at the most inopportune time. But KC took full advantage of both home advantage and a weak opponent yesterday, jumping all over the Raiders early and often, and piling on the points. They were not going to have a letdown. They had a chance to wrap up home field advantage, and they took care of business and left no doubts. They earned the number one seed. Whether or not they can ride that all the way to the Super Bowl is another matter. But this Chiefs team was one of the best offenses in recent memory. Patrick Mahomes had one of the most incredible seasons that any quarterback has ever had, becoming only the second quarterback to throw for over 5,000 yards and throw at least 50 touchdowns in the same season (Manning in 2013 did the same). Mahomes joined Manning and Brady as the only quarterbacks to have thrown 50 touchdown passes in the same season, and both of those other guys led their teams to the Super Bowl in the seasons that they achieved that feat. That is not to say that Mahomes will lead his team to the promised land, but it is a good sign. Clearly, Mahomes is the real deal, and the Chiefs earned that number one seed this season.  My pick: Accurate

Chicago 24, Minnesota 10 - Here we got again. For a second year in a row, the Vikings found themselves heartbroken, as the Eagles did what they needed to do to advance, and Minnesota failed to do what they needed to do. Of course last year, the Vikings failed against the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. This time, they failed against the Bears, while watching the Eagles thoroughly take care of business in Washington. The end result is the same, though. Philly moves on, and Minnesota goes home earlier than they wanted to. The loss to the Eagles last year was an embarrassing blowout in Philly, where the Vikings were completely outclassed. This time, it was right in their home, and against a familiar divisional rival, the Bears. Still, the Vikings failed to get much of anything going. Their defense did not have an awful day, like they did last season against the Eagles, but they were not able to stop Chicago when it mattered most. But where the Vikings really let their fans down was with that offense, which was supposed to be one of the most explosive units in the league. They sure did not look like it in this game. There was Kirk Cousins, the $84 million dollar man, arguing with Adam Thielen on the sideline. Seeing that alone showed you all that you needed to know about the Vikings offensive struggles this season. I'll be honest: I never understood why Cousins became one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the league. To my mind's eye, he is probably the fourth best starting quarterback in his division of four teams, and there are plenty of other quarterbacks out there not in the NFC North who are better, and have proven themselves more. Tom Brady. Drew Brees. Eli Manning. Philip Rivers. Quite a few others, frankly. So why did Minnesota pay him so damn much? Are they regretting it now. I would bet dollars to donuts that they are. This was a disaster for the Vikings, who never should have missed the playoffs, or even been in the position of having to win this final regular season game to get in. Clearly, they have a lot to work on in the off-season, which started early for them this year. As for the Bears, they earned the number three seed, and played extremely well in this game, and pretty much all season. They should be a good, solid team for years to come!  My pick: Inaccurate

L.A. Chargers 23, Denver 9 - The Chargers needed to win this game for a chance at the division championship. They did it, and won convincingly, even though the Chiefs clearly left no doubt in their game, and took the division title instead. But the Chargers are a solid team, with a tough defense and a veteran leading a dangerous offense. Yes, they lost to Baltimore late in the season, and it cost them a chance at the division championship. Now, the Chargers have to go to Baltimore for the rematch, and it is not going to be easy. But they are a real serious team, and could reverse their fortunes this time around. As for the Broncos, they are a huge disappointment, and have plenty of work once again for a much longer off-season than they wanted or expected. My pick: Accurate

Baltimore 26, Cleveland 24- The Ravens are a dangerous team. They have a wicked tough defense, and a quarterback that poses a threat and hurt or beat you with his legs or with his arm. Lamar Jackson is incredibly fast, and he seems to be able to will his team to get the job done when it is absolutely necessary. He did it yesterday, managing to do just enough to avoid what could have been a devastating defeat, for what also would have been a second year in a row. Instead, Baltimore are the AFC North division champions, and will get to host a playoff game next weekend against the Chargers. At this point, I would not want to have to play the Ravens in the playoffs, because they can be very tough. As for the Browns, they had a wonderful season, one that promises a bright future. That is particularly true for Baker Mayfield, who broke the rookie touchdown pass record with 27 this season. This Browns team is a young and rising power in the NFL, and should be competitive in the near future. But this day belonged to the Ravens, who earned the win, and the division crown that is now theirs.  My pick: Accurate

Philadelphia 24, Washington 0 - Like the Chiefs, the Eagles left absolutely no doubt, taking a lead early, and never allowing Washington to really get into this game. There was never any doubt. The major concern for the Eagles right now is the health of Nick Foles, the QB who led them to the Super Bowl victory last season, as he suffered bruised ribs and is questionable for next week at this point. Still, Philly left no doubts, taking full advantage of the struggles that division rivals Washington are going through, as well as Minnesota's choke job. Now, the Eagles are in the playoffs, and will go to Chicago to face the Bears. Not sure whether they will win or not, but the fact that they got there is impressive, and a testament to their persistence and faith in themselves and their system. For Washington, this was just the miserable end to a once promising season that wound up feeling cursed as the bad luck and injuries just kept mounting.  My pick: Accurate

Pittsburgh 16, Cincinnati 13 - The Steelers struggled a bit, but took care of business when they had to in this one. Still, despite the win, Pittsburgh players and fans stayed on the field to watch the end of the Ravens-Browns game, in the unfamiliar position of routing for the Browns, in hopes that they could pull off the upset and knock off the Ravens, which would give the Steelers the AFC North title. It obviously did not happen, but Pittsburgh played well, and should have reasons to feel confident going into the off-season and hopes for next season. They still have a solid amount of talent, and should be back in playoff contention next season. It just did not work out for them this season. My pick: Accurate

Seattle 27, Arizona 24 - The Seahawks were already in the playoffs, but they wanted to win to secure the fifth seed, and a date with Dallas, rather than a trip to frigid Soldier Field to take on the rising Bears. The Cardinals provided a surprisingly tough test, especially considering they were one of the worst teams in the league this season. But in the end, Seattle managed the win, and earned that fifth seed. Now, they travel to Dallas to meet the 'Boys, with a real chance at advancing. My pick: Accurate

Sunday Night Football

Indianapolis 33, Tennessee 17 - This was the big game, and clearly, I underestimated the mastery that the Colts enjoy over the Titans in this era of Andrew Luck. The Colts took the lead early, and were able to keep the pressure on, ultimately managing a convincing road win at the Titans to punch their ticket into the playoffs. Not sure why the Titans simply cannot manage anything good against the Colts, but that failure proved very costly in this game. Indianapolis becomes the third team ever to recover from a 1-5 start to qualify for the playoffs. The last team to do it was the 2015 Kansas City Chiefs, and they also headed to Houston to play the Texans in the wild card, like the Colts will be doing. They won that in a blowout. Can the Colts repeat that feat, as well?  My pick: Inaccurate

New Year’s in History

Years ago, I wrote an article in the Guardian Liberty Voice (GLV) on the history of New Year's Day celebrations, a tradition that actually dates back some 4,000 years ago. 

This was the last article that I wrote and published for the GLV for 2014, and it took a considerable amount of research. But I felt proud once it was done, and happy when it was published fairly quickly after I submitted it. 

Admittedly, I did not write for GLV for a very long time, but one of the things that I did do was write on the history of certain holidays. The one that I feel proudest of was an article on the history of Thanksgiving, the American holiday that, tradition has it, is when the white pilgrims and Native Americans got together for a feat of mutual thanksgiving. The reality is something quite different, and it was a subject that had long fascinated me. It was one of the articles that garnered some attention, and some fairly rare praise from other writers of GLV. 

There were other holiday that I explored the history of, including Christmas, Boxing Day (the day after Christmas is a day when you are supposed to give to those less fortunate in most other English speaking nations outside of the United States), St. Patrick's Day, and some others. 

This includes New Year's Day, which was a fun project to explore. It was a fascinating and revealing article to write, and I hope everyone will take a look by clicking on the link below:

http://guardianlv.com/2014/12/new-years-in-history/