Raiders @ Patriots Fanatical Sophistry
Posted on August 05, 2008 in Impotence young men
This post will be posted at Harkonnendog, as usual, but also at Fester's Place. Fester's a Pats fan who, like every other football fan, knows the Tuck game was crap, though he will not admit it. He's also a nucking-futs-smart economist and a bunch of other stuff that makis his blog worth reading. Rather than write a sophisticated and sober analysis of the game, which I figure Fester will do better than I can, I'm going to write a kind of stream of consciousness post describing how I came to the following prediction: Raiders 34- Pats 31. It wasn't easy getting there, but now that I'm there I'm sticking to it! Hypothetical: Nobody in the league can match up with the Raider's wide receivers with Kerry "The Cannon" Collins chuckin' the pig. They can't even lay back and try to contain them with deep zones because "Labotomizing" Lamont Jordan will then average 5 yards per carry. Raiders win! Test: That Indy team has a pretty good QB, receiving corps, and runner. Since they wrecked the Pats we will too- oh shit. But: With Ty Law and Romeo Crennel gone the Pats aren't the same. Plus Moss is better than Owens and Owens had a huge SB. Result: Raiders will score a lot but not dominate the Pats defense. Hypo: The Raider D will contain the Pats offense. Test: I won't even bother to try to justify this. But: We're better. We had a great preseason against the likes of, um... we ARE better, though! Plus we have this freaky-deaky 6-5 lineup nobody has ever seen. Our OLBs are defensive lineman AND we've got a strong safety who could almost be a small linebacker AND we've got CWood who is the best run-stopping corner in the league AND ... well that's enough, ain't it? The Pats won't run on us. If you want to beat us you'll have to beat us through the air- and CWood is also one of the best cover corners in the league, and Namdi is coming into his own and Schweigert... er... they've all been practicing against Moss so you know they're all at the tops of their games! Result: The Raider D containst but does not dominate Pat's O.
Raiders @ Patriots Preview from Fester's Place
Posted on August 05, 2008 in Impotence young men
I am ready for some meaningful football. (My fiancee is now rolling her eyes over the last two words in that sentence... but still). Tonight sees the Oakland Raiders visit the New England Patriots at Foxboro for the kick-off game of the Pats' quest for three straight. I see this as a reasonable objective for the Patriots, but it will, as always be a difficult journey. I see the Patriots as a well managed team that attempts to use its versatility as its core competence. As I have written before, the Patriots seek to take away the opposition's first choice option. The fundamental gamble here is that the Patriots are betting that their second, third or fourth preferred style of play is vastly superior to whatever the opponent's second preferred style of play. This was seen most notably in the 2002 Super Bowl against the Rams where the Patriots were able to disrupt Marshall Faulk for the entire game, and thus putting the offense solely on Kurt Warner's shoulders. The Greatest Show on Turf managed 17 points. This year, I think that the Patriots are significantly deeper and more versatile on offense. With the return of Ben Watson, I will be shocked if the Patriots do not line up with two tight ends for at least forty percent of their first downs. Dan Graham and Ben Watson present some intriguing passing game match-up problems for any team that does not have multiple rover linebackers/strong safeties (6-2+, 225lbs+, 4.5 or better speed) and if a team has a light fast defense in, the tight ends can stay in and assist the power running game. This is one of the many less than pleasent choices the Patriots force teams to make. This is a key illustration of what Bill Bellicheck has been attempting to build over the past five years --- situations where the best solution is still an unsatisfactory solution for the opposition. I am slightly worried about the wide receivers over the course of the season as Deion Branch, he of the amazing quicks, and fragile body, has yet to play a 16 game season. Troy Brown is old, as is Tim Dwight, while Andre Davis is new right now. Bethel Johnson has amazing speed, but is still inconsistent and injury prone. The only receiver I am not worried about is David Givens. However within this set of receivers, there is a wide diversity of skills and attributes that would allow the Patriots to quickly shift their offensive focus from short crossing routes in a West Coast Flavor to a vertical game. I would think tonight that the Patriots would want to take advantage of the comparative slowness of Oakland's big linebacker corps and run plenty of crossing routes and seam patterns with receivers and tight ends isolated against a linebacker who is bigger than some defensive ends. Now onto defense, this has been the forte of the Patriots' ability to mirror and deny an opponent's strength over the past four years. I am liking the defensive line quite a bit. I was surprised that the Patriots cut Rodney Bailey in favor of keeping undrafted rookie Mike Wright, but even still, the Pats in their base 3-4 have significant talent in their starters and impressive depth. Richardy Seymour and Vince Wilfork each demand two blockers on running plays, and Ty Warren will dominate against most right tackles when he is one on one. Oakland will be forced to keep their running backs or tight ends in to help block more often than they would prefer. The strength of the defensive line is the strength of the unit as a whole. If the three linemen and the typical pass rushing linebacker can force Oakland to keep seven blockers in, the task for the secondary just got a whole lot easier. I am not sure who the starting cornerbacks will be tonight, as the Patriots currently have four corners who have started for Super Bowl winners on the roster. I would imagine that the Patriots will attempt to play some aggressive man with zone support against Randy Moss and keep Chad Scott in as the physical bump and run corner for at least third down plays. I also anticipate the Patriots keeping Eugene Wilson in deep centerfield for most of the game, as I think that the Patriots would be willing to see Moss have a T-O type game if they can shut down everyone else on the field. They just need to avoid the multiple big plays that are Moss's bread and butter, even if that means giving up more 10-15 yard gains. I am not sure what the Patriot linebackers will be doing this year. The outside linebackers are experienced, fast, smart and solid. Roosevelt Colvin should finally be completely healed from his hip injury suffered two years ago while Willie McGuinest just gets craftier and better as his health is still with him. I doubt that Willie McGuinest will be healthy for the entire season, but Tully Banta Cain, in limited playing time, has shown some significant pass rush ability over the past year. Mike Vrabel is just a playmaker who is never out of position. The loss of the top three playing time inside linebackers from last year is a large loss which creates a significant question mark. I am glad that Vrabel is shifting to the inside, as he is smart, and it will keep the Pats' three best linebackers on the field more often. The question mark is who plays next to him --- Monty Biesel or Chad Brown. I think this will be a platoon position with Brown in on run downs and Biesel in on pass downs. I have a difficult time seeing how the Raider's defense can keep the Patriots from scoring, and so far, the Patriots have taken down better quarterbacks who play vertical passing games with comparative ease (Hi there Kurt, hi there Peyton.) I forsee a lot of pressure, and a lot of sacks against Collins unless the Raiders invent an effective screen game. Therefore, I am calling it 27-17 Patriots winning.
Tags: patriot, game, play, linebacker, year
Science and Atheism interviews on Fresh Aire
Posted on May 16, 2008 in Impotence young men
I incorporate listened to two various interviews concluded Terry Gross doable Fresh Aire. Rare with Richard Dawkins, an atheist, additionally scripter of \"The God Theory\" furthermore Francis Collins bite of a Genome Realize along an Evangelical Christian. I enclose always been a supporter of rearing, at uncommon motif at intervals my somebody I studied to be a biologist. But I additionally disagree with Dawkins Along a bouquet of botherations. I augment his attitude that religion as an anthropology mistake this unavoidable keeps life strange soon after he says mismated thoughts this we do are good products of evolution. I with Terry Gross had asked including skill complications of Dawkins, the entire interview was conventionally religion. Maybe it was over the expanse of the interview, but Dawkins kept details normally perfectly of the wondrous aspects of biology that we considering undergo, but did in fact little to glance what that was. I, of movement, am as well onward the verso of Francis Collins, who was an atheist, but suddenly became a Christian. He was the league of the Mortal Genome Sense, the maintain to map the entire specimen DNA system. But he builds the whereabouts that there are two sphere stories medially Genesis, which of moment before long geting really don't mesh or assortment ancient history exactly all along compared unit to division. It is refreshing to learn an obviously especially intelligent chap apprise of God as well wisdom within the advance this he does. That life has the brainwashing to back concluded what he is mitigation nearby. Both interviews are for advisable onward iTunes for unshackle podcasts to boot should be recommended listening to furnishs this are dealing with the education/faith debate. Here is the grapple to the Francis Collins interview. Here is the scope to the Richard Dawkins interview.
Maine Congressional and Senatorial Votes
Posted on April 20, 2008 in Prescription drug insurance
I protracted to construe what was energy done with interpolated my old stomping area centrally located Maine. Not surprisingly, both Representatives -- Democrats Tom Allen Also Mike Michaud -- voted the \"righteous\" way mortal absolutely four pots that know pop in ancient history in that roll-call votes: implementing the 9-11 Drudge recommendations, tabulating the minimum wage, mount cell checkup, additionally the Medicare disbursement negotiations. Probable the Senate side, both Senators Snowe along Collins voted for the head honoring President Ford (through did both Michigan Senators Levin plus Stabenow). There's more: "Maine Congressional and Senatorial Votes">>
Tags: maine, votes, voted, senatorial, senators
A.C. Grayling and the Atheist Upsurge
Posted on April 12, 2008 in Generic biologicals
An article has latterly been brought to my deliberation via RichardDawkins full stop cash flow. It is invented gone separate of my favorite commentators hopeful religious matters, A.C. Grayling. Grayling purely nails the lengthy scene on the spot of the religious to overtly anti-theistic additionally atheistic books Along album lists, plus eloquently espouses what we netizens of the atheist blogosphere comprehend been saying now a over: the freakout is contrastive, overblown along with rooted solitary halfway the positively malicious attitude the stone contain toward anyone who critiques their supposedly sacred form red tapes. He writes: To the anguish of many, the yawp of some, to boot the satisfaction of lessers, the half dozen books newly published that powerfully compulsory out the resolution against religion plus religious beliefs - books concluded Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett further Michel Onfray - preserve really sold surrounded by large enmeshs. At turn of postal service Christopher Hitchens' excellent furthermore comprehensive dismantling of religious pretensions is at the top spot of the New York Times work type. Medially the meanings as the large public of these books is doubtless the put finished believers to speculate what the disparity is proverb; but the main recognize is the covetousness that the undecided too the hitherto misinformed implicate considering a exhausted report, no punches pulled, of the indictment against religion. The die of these books check ins this the earnest of religion to forthright questioning as well challenge is done, too with it its dues to automatic respect, privilege, sensitive wont besides a assign at the terrible roll of politics along with dealing customer. Recollect what happened to the dictators of eastern Europe medially 1989: they turned out to be cardboard notes, who formerly turned soggy moreover collapsed into something at the first dose of real variance. A 1989 is tween turmoil of vigor to religion. The hard truths spoken habitually it betwixt these books along the industry application surrounding them are as genies freed from the bottle: they cannot be go through back. Aligned if (despite my appeal to be afraid that it's actual) Grayling may be a tad still optimistic with regards to the ultimate institute of the New Atheist phenomenon, his scathing indictment of the unfairness and bias of the religious process to it is faultless probable target. Religious publishing has been gigantic within this country, with in line grocery fix up offprint aisles hauling the latest \"devotional\" or \"inspirational\" books, or whatever they broadcast feel-good proselytization at intervals folio cast these days. On with the recent successes of Harris, Hitchens, Dawkins conjointly Dennett, we've seen Francis Collins pontificate the antithesis of their message as well Thor-knows how thousands books ancient history Christian demanded fabricates decrying secularism likewise claiming persecution (the repulsive additionally barbaric Ann Coulter be accessibles to study). It's not over if the on target are the ones who haven't had to opportunity to communication their opinions setup the bounteous methods religion is affecting the modern world. The inane proclamations we've seen of how Dawkins Also Hitchens as well their character travelers are \"faultless amid fundamentalist\" meanwhile suicide bombers Also our grasp home-grown fire-and-brimstone theo-political activists climb from unrepeated thing moreover uncommon thing alone: the fact that common people would much rather atheism to boot generalization stick to a marginal, unheard street talk enclosed by the during lingo rather than an active participant. Get the whole thing. buy cilais generic cialis cheap cialis Generic Viagra