Did Bush just call America the enemy?

My God he's a fuck-up. From the linked story-

The classified National Intelligence Estimate, parts of which Bush declassified earlier this week, suggests the Iraq war has helped recruit more terrorists.
"Some have selectively quoted from this document to make the case that by fighting the terrorists -- by fighting them in Iraq -- we are making our people less secure here at home," Bush told the Reserve Officers Association. "This argument buys into the enemy's propaganda that the terrorists attack us because we're provoking them."

So the United State's National Intelligence estimate, that he partially de-classified is "enemy propaganda"?

NFL Picks Week 4

Not much to say, but the Madden curse struck again, Shaun Alexander has a broken foot. Fortunately, it looks like he won't be out too long. I'm not to worried about my 'Hawks though- last year we lost our #1 receiver Darrell Jackson, and went 10-0 in the games without him. The Seahawks are just too good to be derailed by one missing piece of their offense. On to the picks, home team in caps.

ATLANTA over Arizona- The Falcons will return to their rushing ways against a struggling Cardinals team

Dallas over TENNESSEE- Why do I get the feeling that after last week's "suicide" attempt by T.O., he'll play and have 100+ yards?

Indianapolis over NEW JERSEY JETS- Indianapolis struggled last week, but I think their high-powered offense will bounce back and be too much for the J-E-T-S, JETS! JETS! JETS!

Miami over HOUSTON- I'm not real confident in this pick, the Dolphins just look too shaky on both sides of the ball, and you have to assume the Texans will win at least a couple of games. But I still think the 'Fins are better

BUFFALO over Minnesota- The Bills have been in the games they've played, and the Vikings have won through some luck. Look to the Bills to have a big game at home

CAROLINA over New Orleans- The Saints are coming off an emotional win at home, and the Panthers have Steve Smith back. The Saints get their first loss

BALTIMORE over San Diego- This is the Charger's first real test this season, and I think the Ravens will throw everything that killer D has at Rivers and get him rattled early.

KANSAS CITY over San Francisco- The Chiefs are struggling, good thing they play at home against a team with no D.

ST. LOUIS over Detroit- Another low confidence pick, I can't really figure either of these teams out. They both look pretty good for stretches, then look god-awful. So I picked the team that's actually won a game.

Cleveland over OAKLAND- I swear to god, I think the Raiders might not win a single game this year, they are god-awful. It will be fun to watch Randy Moss go even crazier than he already is as the season goes on.

Jacksonville over WASHINGTON- The Jags are tough, and I just don't see the mediocre Redskins beating them, unless Brunell has a perfect game, and Leftwich falls apart.

CINCINNATI over New England- The Bengals are rolling right now, and the Pats are starting a free-fall. You can't lose that many good players and remain competitive in the NFL.

Seattle over CHICAGO- You saw what the Seahawks did to the Giants, right? Look, the Bears have a great D, but they also have played Green Bay, Detroit and Minnesota. Those teams are not even close to the same league as the Seahawks offense. Add that to the Bears having an average (at best) offense going against a very good, healthy Seahawks D and I don't see Da Bears winning.

PHILADELPHIA over Green Bay- Green Bay sucks and Philly is good. End of story for Monday.

Last week: 11-3
Season: 34-12

Land of the Free!

So New York wants to follow Chicago's nanny-state lead and ban restaurants from using trans fats in their cooking. That Stallone movie Demolition Man is looking less far-fetched every year. Paraphrasing Sandra Bullock's character- "Alcohol, tobacco, butter, salt, foul language and sex have been determined to be bad for you and therefore, illegal."

Why does government feel the need to interfere in our most basic choices?

NFL Picks Week 3

Another light blogging week, work has been super busy with month end. Anyway, right to the picks (home team in caps).

Carolina over TAMPA BAY- Big divisional battle with one of these teams going 0-3. The Bucs QB Simms has looked god-awful in the first two games, and it looks like the Panthers pro-bowl receiver Smith will be back. Poor Bucs, they looked so promising before the season started.

Chicago over MINNESOTA- The Vikings won a couple of wacky games, but the Bears are just rolling right now... until next week when my Seahawks will come to the windy city to deliver them their first loss.

PITTSBURG over Cincinnati- The Bengals got banged up last week, and I think Big Ben will bounce back from last week's loss. It will be a close game though.

DETRIOT over Green Bay- The Packers just look awful, and the Lions D plays pretty tough with the pass rush.

INDIANAPOLIS over Jacksonville- The Jags are coming off a big emotional win with a short week. I just don't see them holding the Colts offense down enough to win.

New Jersey Jets over BUFFALO- Just a hunch, although the Bills have played pretty tough the first two weeks.

MIAMI over Tennessee- The Titans just look bad right now, and if Culpepper plays decent and doesn't make any bad decisions, the Dolphins should win handily.

WASHINGTON over Houston- See above, but substitute the Texans for the Titans and Brunell for Culpepper. Plus, Cliton Portis is back in the line-up, so that should give the Redskins a boost.

BALTIMORE over Cleveland- The Ravens look really good right now, but they've also only played two teams with no wins, this game will be the third. Next weeks game against the Chargers should show us how good the Ravens really are.

SEATTLE over New Jersey Giants- The Giants are coming off an emotional come-from-behind OT win, and returning to the thundering noise of Qwest Field, where they fell apart last year. Look to the Seahawks to get new receiver Branch involved early too. I'll be there screaming with the rest of the fans, Eli won't be able to hear himself think!

Philadelphia over SAN FRANCISCO- While the Niners are better than last year and playing teams tough, I think the Eagles will bounce back from their collapse last week.

St. Louis over ARIZONA- Again, just a hunch, I think the Rams are a little better than the Cardinals.

Denver over NEW ENGLAND- The Pats barely won their first two games, and I think Denver is on an upswing. The Pats are going to regret letting so many of their veterans go.

Atlanta over NEW ORLEANS- While the sentimental favorite will be the Saints playing their first home game, I don't think they have the talent to beat the Falcons the way they're playing (unless they knock Vick out of the game, which will happen to him one of these games the way he's been running).

Last week: 12-4
Season: 23-9

NFL Picks Week 2

Light blogging (as in none) this week, been super-busy at work, and the CEO was in town, so too much on my plate. Anyway, on to the picks (home team in caps). My internet went down this weekend, so I didn't get this posted before the games, but I swear, I did no editing after the games were played.

MIAMI over Buffalo- I thought the Dolphins played a decent game last week. Remember, they were winning against the Super Bowl champs on the road into the 4th quarter, until Culpepper fell apart at the end. No way they lose at home to the Bills.

MINNESOTA over Carolina- The Panthers are a little too banged up, Delhome can't find any receiver except Smith, and they're on the road. Meanwhile, the Viking looked decent last week (although they were playing the Redskins, who I just don't think are very good).

CINCINNATI over Cleveland- The Browns suck, and the Bengals don't. I hope Chad Johnson does some fun stuff for their home opener.

CHICAGO over Detroit- Final score- Bears 5, Lions 3

INDIANAPOLIS over Houston- No brainer, the Texans suck, Colts don't (until the playoffs).

New Orleans over GREEN BAY- Last week was horrible for the Pack, and the Saints have improved into an average team. I think it will probably be a race to the bottom between the Raiders and Packers.

PHILADELPHIA over Giants- I think the Eagles are playing this season with a chip on their shoulders, and they looked pretty slick last week (I know, it was against the Texans). I think they will see this as a statement game, playing a good team at home, and a chance to make division rival start 0-2.

BALTIMORE over Oakland- Raiders are going 1-15 this year, and the Ravens will be good as long as McNaire stays healthy.

ATLANTA over Tampa Bay- I thought Simms looked terrible last week, and Vick and Dunn are a great 1-2 punch

SEATTLE over Arizona- Come on, it's my NFC Champs Seahawks against the perennial basement dweller of the West

St. Louis over SAN FRANCISCO- The Niners are a little better this year, but I still think the Rams will win (assuming they remember how to score a touchdown)

DENVER over Kansas City- Denver at home against a Chiefs unit without Trent Green. Unless Larry Johnson has hell of a game, the Chiefs are in trouble

New England over NEW JERSEY JETS- Pennington looked good last week, but I think Tom Brady is on a mission this year

SAN DIEGO over Tennesee- The Titans suck, and Tomlison can damn near win games by himself. I'm looking forward to seeing the Chargers play the Ravens in two weeks though, see how they hold up against a good team.

DALLAS over Washington- I just don't think the Redskins are very good, and Portis is not going to play, the Cowboys D will roll on the Skins

Pittsburg over JACKSONVILLE- Don't bet against the Super Bowl champs, plus the Jags are banged up defensively

Last week: 11-5
Season: 11-5

NFL Picks- Week 1

It's that time of year again, and man have I been jonesing! Pre-season just doesn't do it, it's like craving a Black Butte Porter and having to settle for a Miller High Life. Anyway, on to Week 1 picks (home team in caps).

Steelers v. Dolphins- Wow did Culpepper look bad in that game! Steelers D looked tough though, the Bengals are going to have a tough battle to win the AFC North

Atlanta over CAROLINA- The Panthers seem to be a favorite among the pundits to win the NFC title, and they'll beat Atlanta. Vick is an erratic quarterback (though fun to watch) and the Falcons have had shit for team chemistry before the season.

TAMPA BAY over Baltimore- At least the Ravens have a decent quarterback in McNaire (until he goes down for the season in Week 5). Both teams have good, though aging, defenses but the Bucs have the edge offensively.

NEW ENGLAND over Buffalo- Poor Bills. Quick, who's the QB? Brady will take them apart.

Cincinnati over KANSAS CITY- I'm not sure about this one, just because it's so hard to play at Arrowhead, but I think the Bengals are the better team, although their offseason trouble are a little worrisome. And I love watching Chad Johnson.

Denver over ST. LOUIS- Despite what Bill Simmons thinks, the Rams ain't that good, and Denver is a solid team. Hey Bill, there's a reason your bandwagon isn't crowded.

CLEVELAND over New Orleans- This was a coin-flip for me, 2 bad teams that improved themselves to possibly average in the offseason. So I went with the home team.

New Jersey Jets over TENNESSEE- I have no idea about this one either, both these teams look bad to me this year, but the Jets have had more recent success than the Titans.

Philadelphia over HOUSTON- The beginning of a long, painful season for the Texan fans who will all develop ulcers from obsessing that they didn't get Reggie Bush. Also, I'm picking the Eagles as my sleeper team, and they'll win the NFC East after the Dallas Parcels/T.O./Bledsoe shitstorm happens and the injury bug bites the Giants. Oh, and the Redskins are going 6-10.

Seattle over DETROIT- I know the Lions are supposed to be better, but come on, they're playing the NFC champs! Screw Peter King and Bill Simmons who both picked the Lions to win, both those guys freely admit they can't pick games!

Chicago over GREEN BAY- I'm already wincing thinking about that Bears D using Favre as a tackling dummy.

JACKSONVILLE over Dallas- Low scoring game, good defenses, I went with the home team. I've always hated the Cowboys, I've always hated Parcels, and I hope if nothing else, T.O. fucks up that team so bad, their recent playoff drought gets extended another 10 years.

ARIZONA over San Francisco- Battle of the Basement, but the Cardinals are better. It will be interesting to see James running behind the worst line in the NFL though.

Indianapolis over NEW JERSEY GIANTS- The Manning Bowl! Did you know they are brothers, and Archie Manning is their dad? Anyway, the Colts are the better team, and god I can't stand Eli. No way Peyton loses to his little brother on national TV.

WASHINGTON over Minnesota- The Vikings are a mess of a team, playing on the road. The patchwork team the Redskins have should be able to beat the the Vikings.

San Diego over OAKLAND- Wow the Raider looked bad last Thursday. My Seahawks had held them to 50 total yards by the half, and they were in danger of not breaking 100 in the game. LT will destroy them.

Go Seahawks! Step one on the path to the Super Bowl!

Bush Lied, What a Shocker

Andrew Sullivan has a nice breakdown of Bush's speech here, here, and here. Good thing we have such a moral, upstanding Christian leader who can authorize torture and lie about it to our faces. WWJD?

As if I really need a reason....

Modern Drunkard Magazine's "40 Rock-Solid Reason's to Get Drunk Tonight"

A couple for all the Bush-loving neocons out there-

13. Churchill and FDR got drunk, Hitler didn’t. So what are you, some kind of Nazi?

28. Al-Qaeda forbids drinking and since when did you start taking orders from Al-Qaeda?

Parents Television Council "Celebrity" Advisory Board

Take a look at this photo array, and name one person who has been relevant in entertainment in at least the last 15 years, and I'll send you your very own copy of Pat Boone's metal album!*

The PTC annoys the living hell out of me, mostly because they are so disingenuous. Their stated goals sound fine-

"We are a nonpartisan organization that works with elected and appointed government officials to enforce broadcast decency standards. Most importantly, the PTC produces critical research and publications documenting the dramatic increase in sex, violence and profanity in entertainment. This information is provided free of charge so parents can make informed viewing choices for their own families.... The PTC agrees that parents have the greatest responsibility when it comes to monitoring the viewing habits of their children..."

However, their website and campaigns repeatedly target cable television (not covered by the FCC and not available unless you choose to pay for it), encourage the government to legislate to control cable as well as broadcast channels and complain that the industry solutions to parents concerns (parental controls, TV ratings and the V-chip) don't do enough to empower parents. Therefore, it must be the government's job to protect your kids for you. Who cares if millions of adults are deprived entertainment they want to see? Don't you know the children are watching?


*offer not valid anywhere, as I'm sure someone will claim that Cheryl Rhodes is an amazing cultural influence