BigRedBuster

This is a very very sad situation. I personally know someone who knows the nuns and priest involved. One nun was able to survived by hiding and they couldn't find her. The priest was captured and nobody knew where he was. Now, we are hearing word that he is being tortured and ISIS plans to crucify him on Good Friday. LINK LINK More on Father Tom

I have a considerable issue with people lumping "the media" into one overpowering conglomerate, as if all police, lawyers, accountants and grocery clerks fall into a similar cohesive unit, as well. They don't. The vast majority of journalists, whether on TV or the paper, are hard-working and honest people doing everything they can to share stories and report. It is an incredibly thankless job, one that people just can't and will never understand unless they physically do it. Consider the fact that a significant amount of reporters, who are just getting into the business, are making in the realm (or less than) $20,000 a year. Many of them work hard and dedicate themselves to their craft, while simultaneously (and routinely) receiving nothing but hatred and scrutiny from idiots with an opinion and a keyboard. And CNN, CBS and whatever other networks we all watch are not the media in it's entirety, though they do make up some of the most influential groups. Now, "the media" has it's sour and unacceptable traits. Many outlets are influenced by big money. Many do have agendas they push. Many are also caught between a rock and a hard place of maintaining 'journalistic integrity' while being influenced. The national networks come off as untrustworthy. The media has made, in my opinion, considerable mistakes in recent history with their coverage. Ideas that may have sounded good in theory, but in practice, were horrific. I don't say all this to any one person, nor am I asking you take pity on journalists. They knew what they signed up for. But, when people lump "the media" into one all-powerful entity, they're lumping a lot of honest people into unfair niches, both your local reporter and the 20-year vet. So, before placing blame on "the media," consider your own inadequacies and shortcomings. Consider the fact that there are literally hundreds of news outlets out there, and if any of you only pay attention to what one outlet is saying, that's as much your problem as it is anyone else's. Obviously, I am not talking about your run of the mill local reporters. If that was not clear, that's my mistake. I'm talking about the national media where if those local reporters just getting into the industry will have to compromise much of what they learned in college to get ahead. I'm talking about places in the industry where it is clear the management and ownership of the news outlet have agendas and they will push that agenda because there is an audience that will lap it up. In my mind, this has corrupted the media industry in a way that allows people to wallow in the cess pool of crap that agrees with their preconceived ideas of the world. It doesn't open up people to new ideas or a differing opinion that may make their view of the world a little more clear and real.

Well, my brackets did fairly well but my betting against the spread yesterday sucked.

Pastrami.

In honor of my daughter who is a 4.0 Biology major in college. LINK PS....she's the one that sent this to me because I always accuse her of being a nerd.

Thumper.

Haven't had a chance to follow along much to his growth, but with this tweet and some other rumblings... sounds like we have a pretty good player coming in? What are peoples thoughts on him? I watched him in Grand Island against Aurora Colorado last month. Very solid player. The game was extremely sloppy though on both sides. It was hard to get a real gauge for me on how good they are from that one game. It was like they all were trying to do too much and just would commit unforced turnovers. I think he will be a solid contributor. There is actually another player that's a guard I am very interested to see how he does. I thought he was a junior this year. I can't remember the name though.

6 today and 2 from yesterday. Very seldom are they wrong when there is a big group like that right before announcing.

This is the greatest holiday ever. All you are required to do is have fun. You don't have to be romantic. You don't have to buy gifts. You don't have to hang out with relatives if you don't want too. All you have to do is have fun. One thing about living where I am is there is a local cafe that serves corned beef and cabbage that is absolutely to die for. Even people who usually don't like it crave this guy's food. Guinness? Naaaa....you don't need to drink that. Drink what you want. Amen. We usually make our own corned beef and cabbage, drink beer, and watch basketball I remember in Des Moines it seemed like half the city would take the afternoon off and hang out in irish pubs and watch basketball. Dang it was fun. One year both ISU and Iowa were playing on St. Patty's Day. It was fun to say the least.

I've never understood why that was banned either. It is like if a team was successful running a half back pass, the NCAA should out law it the next year. Makes no sense.

This is the greatest holiday ever. All you are required to do is have fun. You don't have to be romantic. You don't have to buy gifts. You don't have to hang out with relatives if you don't want too. All you have to do is have fun. One thing about living where I am is there is a local cafe that serves corned beef and cabbage that is absolutely to die for. Even people who usually don't like it crave this guy's food. Guinness? Naaaa....you don't need to drink that. Drink what you want.

I am absolutely no expert in this. However, I was listening to a discussion this morning where other "experts" were saying there is no time line on doing this. So, I would assume they could wait till then. However, again....be careful what they wish for. I'm also assuming Clinton could rescind the nomination after she was elected and nominate someone much more liberal. The grey area would be between the election and when she is sworn in. I would assume that if the Republicans lose the Whitehouse and congress, Obama will work very closely with Clinton and that would mean he would rescind the nomination and wait till January where she could nominate who she wants.

I guess I'm old school. Give me a quarters table with good friends and a lot of beer and I can have a blast.

Your son's coach really didn't know what he was doing then. Batting and infield defense (including pitching in this) is the biggest part of being successful. Base running???? Understand the infield defense and teaching the baselining is easy.

Man, I miss Sully's in West Des Moines on this day. People in central Nebraska just don't understand how to celebrate this holiday.

I've thought he is a silent commit for some time.

Top candidates off the top of my head would be Evelyn, Fuller, Hammond. But you never know, Tarin Smith was a shocker last year. What are your reasonings on those three?

Double post.

Protect your ears. The only reason why the nominee would not be confirmed is because the Republicans don't want him to be. If they were smart, they would take this nominee and put it on the fast track. But....Republicans and smart have not been two words associated with each other for a long time.

I definitely sympathize with workers who count on pensions for retirement. However, they are absolutely the worst form of retirement savings/program there is. When you retire, you want total control over your retirement funds. Tying both parties for what can be decades to an agreement is just assigning.

The only thing I have seen publicly that would draw him away from us is if Holmes and Gebbia really don't want to come here and they are pulling him in a different direction. That doesn't mean there isn't something going on behind the scenes that we don't know about. But, it's clear they really would like to stay together so they may have some influence on where he goes instead of him having influence on where they go. PS....I still think he is in.

You know, I really half expected Republicans to call this a victory and go home. They can claim to have served the Senate's advice and consent role to force President Obama to nominate a moderate, serious candidate with significant bipartisan support -- and one who would serve closer to 15 than 30 years. Without that ruckus, they can argue that President Obama would surely have nominated some outrageous left-wing firebrand. But no, they're digging in -- from McConnell to Grassley to even Hatch (who last Friday had said '[The president] could easily name Merrick Garland, who is a fine man. He probably won't do that...') Even beyond the ugliness of this intransigence, I just don't understand the political calculus here. Do they think doubling down is going to help them keep seats this November? ....to which I can only say: They should be very very careful what they wish for. I see this strategy absolutely blowing up in their face especially if they not only lose the Whitehouse (which looks probable) and congress (and that's possible).

Ummmm.....my post really didn't have anything to do with that.

Thanks for the links. I tried reading the first one and just couldn't. His very clear preconceived ideas show me that I'm not going to be able to trust his opinion. If you're going to read these, you've got to be OK with the massive liberal filter. What's sad is I've seen nothing from the media (and I've got no other sources to work with) to dispel their portrayal of Trump supporters. That is like me listening to people who claim Bernie supporters are all a bunch of free loading college students that want free tuition. Hey, I haven't read a story from the media telling me different. All I'm saying is I would prefer to see a source a little more objective.

Thanks for the links. I tried reading the first one and just couldn't. His very clear preconceived ideas show me that I'm not going to be able to trust his opinion.