Let’s talk some Sports
It’s been all politics this week, so I am starting off differently today.
The World Series starts Friday. It is a dream World Series for the MLB and television ratings. It is New York versus Los Angeles, the two biggest TV markets in the country. It is Yankees versus Dodger, shades of yesteryear before the Dodgers moved to L.A. It is Judge versus Ohtani, the two biggest stars in the league. It is east coast versus west coast. I have no idea who will win. I just hope it goes seven games.
On Saturday we have MSU at U of M. After their convincing victory over Iowa last week the Spartans seemed to have found their way, while the Wolverines are still searching for a quarterback who can complete some passes and not throw an interception or fumble the ball. After seven games the Wolverines should not be in this situation. Even though the game is at the Big House, I look for Sparty to prevail.
The Lions were able to overcome the season ending injury to Aiden Hutchinson and still prevail against the previously undefeated Vikings at Minnesota on Sunday. After six games, Jared Goff looks like he may be the front runner for the MVP in the NFC, while the Lions look like they have what it takes to get to the Super Bowl. It is a long season and an injury to Goff, or any other key player will probably put an end to their chances. In the meantime, I am just going to enjoy the ride. It has been a long time coming.
The Pistons opened their season last night at home against the Pacers. The Pistons led for most of the game, but in the end the Pacers hit some big shots, while the Pistons did not. Although they lost, I thought the Pistons had a good showing. They competed on defense for 48 minutes and had only 14 turnovers, which compared to last year should be very encouraging. The Vegas odds have the Pistons only winning 25 games this season. I have put $25 on them doing better than that.
Every Journey Starts with a Single Step.
From multiple media sources. A letter signed by over 2,000 Israeli citizens.
We, Israeli citizens residing in Israel and abroad, call on the international community – the UN and its institutions, the United States, the European Union, the League of Arab States, and all states around the world – to intervene immediately and implement every possible sanction towards achieving an immediate ceasefire between Israel and its neighbors, for the future of both peoples in Israel and Palestine and the peoples of the region and for their rights to security and life.
Many of us are veteran activists against the occupation, for peace and mutual existence in this land. We are motivated by our love for the land and its residents, and we are concerned for their future. We have been horrified by the war crimes committed by Hamas and other organizations on 7 October and we are horrified by the countless war crimes that Israel is committing. Unfortunately, the majority of Israelis support the continuation of the war and massacres, and a change from within is not currently feasible. The state of Israel is on a suicidal path and sows destruction and devastation that increase day by day.
The government of Israel has abandoned its citizens who are hostages (and has killed some), it has neglected the residents of the south and north of Israel, and it has forsaken the fate and future of all of its citizens. Israel’s Palestinian citizens are persecuted and silenced by state authorities and by the wider public. It is our opinion that the repression, intimidation and political persecution prevent many who share our views from joining this call.
Every day that goes by further distances any possible horizon for a regional agreement and reconciliation, a future where Jewish Israelis can live with security in this place. Achieving these will require lengthy processes, but the constant massacres and destruction must be stopped immediately!
The lack of true international pressure, the continuation of arms supplies to Israel, economic and security partnerships and scientific and cultural collaborations, bring most Israelis to believe that Israel’s policies enjoy international support. The leaders of many countries make repeated statements about the horror they feel and verbally denounce Israel’s operations, but these condemnations are not backed by practical actions. We are replete with empty words and declarations.
Please, for our futures and the futures of all of the residents of Israel and the region, save us from ourselves and use real pressure on Israel for an immediate ceasefire. This last paragraph is my Quote of the Day.
Follow up on Retired General and the Former President’s Chief of Staff, John Kelly.
From Heather Cox Richardson, …for retired Marine general John Kelly to have spoken out against Trump before the 2024 election was a huge deal. As Secretary Buttigieg put it: “It’s one thing for some leftist group to call you a fascist. Quite another when it’s a fellow Republican. And absolutely astonishing when it’s your own chief of staff.” But Kelly was not alone. Former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley told veteran journalist Bob Woodward that Trump is “fascist to the core.”
In tonight’s CNN town hall, Vice President Harris told Cooper that she agreed that Trump is a fascist. She noted that when a four-star Marine general comes out two weeks before an election to warn Americans that one of the candidates is a fascist, we should see this as “a 911 call to the American people.”
When Trump talks about “the enemy within,” Harris said, “ [h]e’s talking about the American people. He’s talking about journalists, judges, nonpartisan election officials…. And he’s going to sit there unstable, unhinged, plotting his revenge, plotting his retribution. Creating an enemies list
Orchid of the Day and Onion of the Day
Per the NY Times today. The head of The Los Angeles Times’s editorial board resigned on Wednesday after the paper’s owner quashed a presidential endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris.
In an interview with Columbia Journalism Review, Mariel Garza, who held the title editorials editor, said she had quit because “I want to make it clear that I am not OK with us being silent. In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I’m standing up.” Garza gets my Orchid of the Day.
Ms. Garza said that the editorial board had planned to endorse Ms. Harris, but that Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the billionaire owner of The Los Angeles Times, decided this month that the newspaper would not make any endorsement for president. The paper did not explain to readers why it was not issuing an endorsement.
It is very disappointing that the L.A. Times has not issued an endorsement and offered no explanation as to why. The L.A. Times has not been a big fan of the former president and they have been highly critical over the last eight years.
In 2020, the Detroit News chose not to endorse either Biden or Trump. In doing so, they provided an explanation to the readers as to why they were not endorsing either candidate.
The L.A. Times and its owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, get my Onion of the Day for not taking a stand on something as important as this election without an explanation.
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Quote of the Day: “Please, for our futures and the futures of all of the residents of Israel and the region, save us from ourselves and use real pressure on Israel for an immediate ceasefire.” Two thousand Israeli citizens in a letter sent to the leaders around the world.
Orchid of the Day: Mariel Garza, former editorials editor for the L.A. Times-see above
Onion of the Day: The L.A. Times and its owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong-see above.
Question of the Day: Will the letter signed by 2,000 Israelis have an impact on the leaders of the world who continue to fund Netanyahu’s war.
Image of the Day: Is there any announcer better than Dan Miller. After 30 years of frustration, he is enjoying the hell out the Lions now.
Calls of the Game: Lions hand Minnesota first loss on game-winning field goal | Lions vs. Vikings
The refusal of The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times to endorse a Presidential candidate tells me all I need to know. I canceled my subscriptions to the NYT and the WP because their non-endorsement is an endorsement of hate, greed, misogyny and lies. Is that journalism? Not in my book.