The Brock Badgers hosted the Brock Cup as part of an OUA swim meet held at Brock on Saturday; with universities Laurentian, Queens, McMaster, Trent, Wilfrid Laurier, and York in attendance.

Cd

Price rises offset a fall in consumption in the water company Severn Trent’s first half earnings…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: ocean wave. The blog is also related to: coastal ocean.

Every good nostalgic blog mentions something about their unnatural crush on a cartoon character from MTV’s Daria.  For me, like many, I was desperately in love with Trent, apathetic musician and older brother to Jane. But Daria was more than just hot cartoon characters.

Daria and her stud, Trent

Daria was arguably the single best cartoon character ever to grace television in the late ‘90s.  She is the reason for my scholarly apathy; Because of Daria, I skipped senior prom, developed a monotone voice and I became the girl who would literally watch the volleyball roll past me in gym class (when I even bothered getting changed), hell my haircut even resembles Daria’s. I didn’t know why I hated high school or my peers, but I knew it was in the same spirit of everything I loved while growing up.  Apathy on T.V. raised my generation.

Daria premiered on MTV in 1997. Her character was first introduced in Beavis and Butthead. In 2002 the show was canceled and doomed to live in syndication on the “N” network.

Daria on Beavis and Butthead

I have been waiting years for Daria to be released on DVD. I once met a friend of a friend whose uncle was the producer of the show, I then begged for a copy but no dice.  It was announced a few months ago in the opening preview to The State series DVD that my wait will be worth it, Daria is scheduled to be released in fall 2010.

Daria, I miss the way you pair large black boots with skirts, the way you get joy out of “Sick Sad World”, and your Mark Twain bed shirt.

Daria Morgendorffer, I miss your face- Shassie

Was half price being Paknsave’s Cheap as Tuesday.

Births:

Freddy a brother for Lily

Deaths:

Bruce Douglas

Alexander Robert

Stanley Joseph

Bruce

Geoffrey

James Ritchie

Leo Ward

John James Patrick

Paul Frank

Charles Robert

Gordon Francis

Trent Cody

Quentin

Noel Joseph

Christopher

Janet Ida

Hilda May

Margaret May

Margaret Joyce

Joyce Lillian

Patricia Irene

Margaret

Winifred Jean

May

Patricia Maud

Joy Myrtle

Yvonne Margaret

Dora Winifred

Mary Evelyn

Hazel Isobel Florence

Doris Margaret

Well today was an interesting day. It all started back on July 4th, 2009 when I was on the beach having some beers with friends and girlfriends enjoying our “Independence” Day under the hot summer sun. A few wiffle ball games, some tosses of the football, and hey, how about a few beers. I mean, fuck, it was a holiday and a Saturday. Doesn’t make you a bad guy getting a buzz on once in a while does it? True story, I’m half a beer deep, that’s right…ONE beer, haven’t even started crushing yet and we see some middle-aged, short short wearing, yuppie typed tough guy come over and kick over our beers.
“Holy Shit, is this deuchbag for real?” I’m thinking, holding in all my rage to see what’s next.
He then, like he practiced it in the mirror all winter, lifted his shirt a bit and and flashed his wickedly awesome badge. Man, I was so not envious of him. I actually felt bad for the robot. Anyways, still thinking I did no wrong knowing that I’m close to 7 years over the legal drinking age,I proceeded to go up to the beach house with my buddy, fetch our ID’s along with everyone else’s, and show these tyrants they are making a mistake. Much to my complete disbelief, the two officers have already gotten a head start on writing each one of us a ticket. We’re grown adults. Its Independence Day for Christs Sake. I’m 27 years old and I’m getting a drinking ticket? Are you for real???? No one even had a beer in hand but we were found guilty of being in possession of a substance that keeps our struggling economy alive on some levels. What a catch 22. It took alot of patience from me not to instigate more issues with the officers, so I said my piece and was mum.
Obviously, when I got the $100 dollar violation in the mail, I immediately checked the “Appeal” Box which leads me to my rant. So, I’m sitting in Newburyport District Court this morning waiting for my hearing and I see yuppie-boy sitting next to the judge in the small little room where my case would be heard. It took about an hour and half to finally get a chance at redemption and I didn’t back down. Fuck that. I figured I was going to pay the ticket anyways so I might as well be heard. I first started off by telling them I hadn’t drank since 2007 (a blatant lie, but honestly, I didn’t murder anyone so my conscience is clear and I could really care less), I told them what a joke I thought this whole ticket process was on a national holiday, Did I really commit a crime? I also mentioned that the police officer violated my personal information rights by asking my girlfriend continuously for my social security number while I was inside collecting all of our ID’s. The judge and officer both completely dismissed my disagreement over my social security number and said its common practice. Oh really? I don’t ever remember giving out someone elses social in order to expedite their process of writing our a ticket. Apparently, they’re naive to identity theft as well. Then I it got heated. I wish I could have got an audio of this judge ripping me a new one. Worse than I ever got from any coach that I’ve played hockey for, but I really didnt mind. I was laughing inside, I said my piece, its a free country. Apparently, Judge Judy thought I disrespected Jesus (who I believe in) or a highly ranked army officer (which I respect the hell out of), telling me never to talk to a cop or a judge the way I did. It was a good 2 minute rant on her behalf. What a bitch she was. All I kept saying in my head continuously was “I don’t care, Fuck you, I don’t care, Fuck you, I don’t care fuck you etc”. At the end of her little speech, she let me off! Hahahahah. She believed me about not drinking. What a joke. If I told the truth I woulda had to pay that 100 big ones. I know for a fact because I was listening to the hearings before and everyone took the apologetic approach like they killed someones dog in order to get off the ticket. I simply told a little story. They lie to us. I will lie right back. I respect what most cops do. I really do. But drinking a beer on our nations holiday?!?!?!? Pleeeeeeeease, you aren’t getting my dough. So, got up, thanked her for dismissing my case and walked out of the room only to see everyone chuckling and staring at me because they heard the fireworks going off. Right when I got in my truck, I drove off and put this song on right away. Capital G off of Nine Inch Nails 2007 album “Year Zero”, It kinda fit the mood. Trent Reznor, full of so much rage, anti capitalism, and truth. An industrial God. Keep on rockin, Enjoy your night, and Fight for Your Rights!

Capital G (lyrics)
NIN

I pushed the button and elected him to office and a
He pushed the button and he dropped the bomb
You pushed the button and could watch in on the television
Those motherfuckers didn’t last too long

I’m sick of hearing about the have and have not’s
Have some personal accountability
The biggest problem with the way that we are doing things is
The more we let you have the less that I’ll be keeping for me

Well I use to stand for something
Now I’m on my hands and knees
Trading in my god for this one
and he signs his name with a capital G

Don’t give a shit about the temperature in Guatemala
Don’t really see what all the fuss is about
Ain’t gonna worry about no future generations
And I’m sure somebody’s gonna figure it out

Don’t try to tell me that some power can corrupt a person
You hadn’t had enough to know what it’s like
You’re only angry cause you wish you were in my position
Now nod your head cause you know that I’m right..alright!

Well I use to stand for something
But forgot what that could be
There’s a lot of me inside you
Maybe you’re afraid to see

Well I use to stand for something
Now I’m on my hands and knees
Trading in my god for this one
and he signs his name with a capital G

Well I use to stand for something
But forgot what that could be
There’s a lot of me inside you
Maybe you’re afraid to see

Well I use to stand for something
Now I’m on my hands and knees
Trading in my god for this one
and he signs his name with a capital G

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:8-9)

In part 1 of this series, we saw that the Galatian believers were on the verge of defecting (μετατίθεσθε) from the gospel of the grace of Christ (χάριτι Χριστοῦ) unto a false gospel and put themselves in the hands of those who desire to pervert/distort (μεταστρέψαι) the gospel message. From Acts 15 and the rest of the Galatian epistle, we know that this false gospel is one that would have men find the beginning of their justification in the grace and merit of Christ, but to complete that justification by work and merit of man.

This “other” gospel is none other than the false gospel of Rome. According to the Roman religion, the guilt and punishment for sin are expiated in baptism. From that time forth, sins may be forgiven by use of the church sacraments, but the temporal punishments are yet to be discharged. These punishments must be discharged in life by the work of penance, or after death by suffering in purgatory.

GRACE AND FAITH NECESSARY

In the roman system, justification is in Christ, and by faith and grace. Faith and grace are absolutely necessary (but not sufficient). This “justification” is “in Christ” in the sense that Christ died for sins, Christ’s nature is infused into the initiate in baptism, and in that Christ is received in the Eucharist. This “justification” is by grace in that God has graciously provided the church with the gracious means to dispense grace. And this “justification” is by faith in that faith must be mixed with work for it to be effectual.

The difference between the Roman system and the justification as set forth in the Bible are that: the Bible teaches that justification is the free act of God’s grace whereby he pardons sinners – in other words, it is a judicial act, not a process. True grace is based, from beginning to end, on the merits of Christ imputed to believers ALONE. It is an act of God’s free grace ALONE, apart from any ability of man to cooperate. Finally, it is received by faith ALONE. This is not to say that the Spirit of God does not produce fruit in the believer, He necessarily does. It is to say, that the fruit of justification is not the grounds of justification.

A few examples from the counter-gospel Council of Trent will underscore the differences:

CANON IX.-If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema.

CANON XII.-If any one saith, that justifying faith is nothing else but confidence in the divine mercy which remits sins for Christ’s sake; or, that this confidence alone is that whereby we are justified; let him be anathema.

CANON XIV.-If any one saith, that man is truly absolved from his sins and justified, because that he assuredly believed himself absolved and justified; or, that no one is truly justified but he who believes himself justified; and that, by this faith alone, absolution and justification are effected; let him be anathema.

CANON XXIV.-If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be anathema.

CANON XXX.-If any one saith, that, after the grace of Justification has been received, to every penitent sinner the guilt is remitted, and the debt of eternal punishment is blotted out in such wise, that there remains not any debt of temporal punishment to be discharged either in this world, or in the next in Purgatory, before the entrance to the kingdom of heaven can be opened (to him); let him be anathema.

* All the soul damning doctrines delivered by the council can be read here: Council of Trent

GRACE AND FAITH SUFFICIENT?

In the next post we’ll examine this “other” gospel in the light of scripture and compare these teachings with those of true Biblical Protestant doctrine, where in contrast, God’s saving grace and gift of faith are not only necessary, but are sufficient.

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel“ Gal 1:6 (KJV)

After the Apostle Paul delivers his salutation, he dives right into the heart of matter – the urgent need for which he was compelled to write – the Gospel was in crisis.  It seems that some Galatian believers were on the verge of apostasy, by deserting the true faith and being deceived by “another” gospel.  Which, by the way, he is quick to explain is not gospel at all.

Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (verse 7)

He then pronounces an apostolic anathema upon anyone who preaches “any other gospel” than “the grace of Christ.”

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.  (verses 8-9)

The word “accursed” used the KJV quotations in verses 8 and 9 above are translations of the Greek word ἀνάθεμα.  This word is simply transliterated into English in the  following verse from I Cor 16, which demonstrates the full force of the word.

If any man loveth not the Lord, let him be anathema. Maranatha.
(1 Cor 16:22, ASV)

The Greek word ἀνάθεμα, in the NT, conveys the meaning of being cursed from God and reserved unto destruction.  In the LXX, it is the Greek word chosen to render the Hebrew word cherem, as in the following.

The proper understanding of the word anathema is important because it serves as a sobering warning to those that would pervert the Gospel of Grace. Regarding perversions of the Gospel of Grace, the Roman Counter-Reformation council – The Council of Trent – an extremely important and pivitol landmark in cannonizing Rome’s Middle Age heresies, pronounces anathema no less than 31 times in it’s Justification Cannons.

As Rome tries to syphon apostate “protestant christians” from liberal denominations, it has the difficult task of whitewashing these embarrassing cannons of Roman doctrine. Consider the subtlety of the following Roman apologetic, in light of the Apostle’s warning!

Anathema By Jimmy Akin

I got this flyer at uni as Kano is performing at the Nottingham Trent SU in October. Couldn’t help but notice the hoodie. Smet is another one run by Christian Audigier Inc, the guys behind the whole Ed Hardy brand. The Smet link can be found under designer brands on the right-hand side.

Behind all the conference coverage lies a story in today’s Guardian about cyanide and raw sewage being leaked into the River Trent (continues).

Dead fish hauled out of River Trent

Maybe it just looks like your bog-standard (sorry) environment story. It hits you a little more than usual with its scale: the public have been warned to keep away from a 20 mile toxic stretch of river. That’s a long stretch; the highest fine for such an offence in the past has been £240,000, according to Utility Week. But all in all, just your usual fare. Naughty company, fine, etc.

I couldn’t see it that way once I’d read this quote from the Guardian article:

“Many thousands of fish are dead. On one 100-yard stretch there were estimated to be 2,000 dead sticklebacks” – Mark Owen, Angling Trust.

Before I even knew it, reading that sentence had brought back all the nightmares I used to have as a kid. I would dream about the environment creeping up and ‘getting me’ – it was first the fish, then you’re next – the rising sea levels will splash up against your bedposts.

And where did I get these fears from?

Well, when I was far too small my parents, maybe on a cruel eco-ducation mission, I don’t know, bought me Ted Hughes’ little-known sequel to The Iron Man, 1993’s The Iron Woman. In it the young heroine lives in a terrifyingly grey, slicked, industrial landscape which was so brilliantly described it stuck in my mind for the rest of childhood.

The little star of the story meets the Iron Woman, a gigantic, metal creature who can hear the screams of every animal in pain from the polluted river that runs through the town. The nightmarish story gets more and more bizarre, as the whole town, infected by the Iron Woman, begins to hear the screams too, until eventually every man of adult age is transformed into a fish to ‘teach them a lesson’.

You may think this is pretty silly, but it scared the shit out of me. And the image of thousands of dead and dying fish whirling round and screaming in silvery-grey polluted waters? That scared me shitless too. Just look at the original cover for the book, for God’s sake, and compare it to the one that’s kicking about now – which one do you think a 6-year-old would lose sleep over? (continues)

New Cover - harmless

Old cover - help!

Obviously I didn’t twig when I was 6, this sort of thing happens all the time. And I reckon that’s the message Ted Hughes was, of course, trying to send out all along. All I can say is it worked. I hear about 2,000 dead fish and they’re suddenly not just a number: all the details of the story that I used to think so much about suddenly come flooding back to haunt me.

Getting a kicking over this sort of thing when I was young meant I’ve now got a little environmental person in the back of my mind. Like it or not, scroll back to the picture at the top, think of the story – and maybe you’ll have one too.

So one of the folks Stark (finally wearing a suit and asking respectfully instead of chasing them with a sweaty shirt on) asked was Rep Trent Franks (R-AZ). Stark thought he caught another birther but Franks said he believed barry was born in Hawaii – Stark said great – Franks interjected a little Republican message – Stark said he’d posted in on the internet – Franks said great. And then Rep Franks became the 11th cosponsor in Rep Posey’s birth certificate bill Bill H.R. 1530 that simply requires the presidential candidate to prove he is eligible for the office by producing at the very least his long form birth certificate.

Wonder if Mike Stark feels played?

[Anything essential is seen only with the heart.]

Songs by 放大同 are on my current easy-listening playlist. Just bought new wine glasses today and am most pleased with them.

The Sweet Sixteens S/T Debut 45 on Spin The Bottle Records

Side A  Sixteens Theme / She Said Alright

Side B When the Sun Comes Up

The Sweet Sixteens are another band from Party City USA.  The band is Richie, Erik and Ryan, Chris B (ex-member of The Mans) and Scooter AKA The Bossman (ex-member of Bossman and the Bad Habits).  This is a great 45 to get the party started.  It’s super minimalist sound.  But listening to it is like being at a summer time party in the middle of winter.

Side A’s Sixteens Theme is a hype building song. This song gets old man rhythm in your shoes. Then by the time She Said Alright comes on you will be dancing all over the place and ready for some action.

Side B’s When the Sun Comes Up is a catchy love song with faint sounds of your favorite 80s video game in the background. It will for sure get stuck in your head.  It’s a great song.

7.5 out of 10

To order this or The Boy Toy’s Debut contact  Spin The Bottle Records

Posted by Audiegrl

An enemy of humanity? I’m left speechless…

GOP Rep. Trent Franks

Huffington Post—A Republican member of the House of Representatives accused President Barack Obama of being “an enemy of humanity” during a conservative values forum this past weekend.

In a speech Saturday before the How to Take Back America conference, Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) made comments that went far beyond the limits of traditional White House criticism. At one point, Franks demanded that Obama release his birth certificate to prove his constitutionally eligibility to hold office. The bluntest charge, however, centered on the president’s position on abortion, which the congressman derided as “insane” and godless.

“Obama’s first act as president of any consequence, in the middle of a financial meltdown, was to send taxpayers’ money overseas to pay for the killing of unborn children in other countries,” said Frank. “Now, I got to tell you, if a president will do that, there’s almost nothing that you should be surprised at after that. We shouldn’t be shocked that he does all these other insane things. A president that has lost his way that badly, that has no ability to see the image of God in these little fellow human beings, if he can’t do that right, then he has no place in any station of government and we need to realize that he is an enemy of humanity.”

More @

Watch his disgraceful video:

RightWingWatch.org, who provided the video, also has a follow up to this story

A spokesperson for Trent’s office attempts to clarify:

Trent Franks of Arizona said in a speech to conservatives Saturday in St. Louis that Obama’s decision to fund international family planning organizations that support legal abortion shows “he has no place in any station of government and we need to realize that he is an enemy of humanity.”

Bethany Haley, spokeswoman for Franks, said the congressman was referring to “unborn humanity” and should have clarified his statement.

Right… As you can see we have another example of an elected Republican official throwing red meat to his base, and then being forced to ‘clarify‘ his comments after the event has concluded and the damage has been done.

These attempts to de-humanize the President will only continue to increase the climate of hate.

At the How to Take Back America Conference in St. Louis, I talked to Franks and asked if he wanted to clear the air on the whole controversy. He jumped at the chance, explaining that he had always known that “it would hurt me politically, people would say ‘he’s a right-wing wacko’” if he filed a lawsuit. The president, said Franks, is American, “even if he acts un-American.” But he should release his long-form birth certificate.

I’ve noticed more and more boys sporting this 60’s-70’s do and I’m not too sure If I like it yet.  My son is 4 and I stopped bringing him to the salon.  I’ve jumped on the band wagon.  Celebrities play a huge part on how we groom our kids… hair that is.  I remember when Angelina had Maddox in a mohawk and every kid from White Rock to West End had this on themselves and their kids.  My son is fortunate to have inherited my husband’s straight hair and not my wild, puffy creature which I call my hair.   And while his hair does look good long, I do get tempted to take him to the hair dresser or even worse (cue the funeral music) cut it my self.  My husband would go ape-sh#@ on me!

What’s next? The oh so popular 80’s mullet?  I would never go that far.  I think back in the 80’s a celebrity … probably a wrestler or country singer got a hair cut and the hair dresser got distracted and just didn’t finish.  Then Boom!  The mullet was born!  No thank you. i

I’ll have my son stick with this shag.

So week one is behind us and a few predictions of mine rang true. LT got his due injury and Sproles went bonkers in his place, my Fantasy Team once again pinched a giant loaf of disappointment into the toilet where my record floats and yes, Tom Brady pulled another victory out in a heart stopping display of human superiority.

In a way, I felt bad for Buffalo, the way I now feel bad for Richard Seymour. Sent to the Raiders? Are you kidding me? That team is like a person who survives a self inflicted gunshot wound. The team is the body and Al Davis is the head. The diseased, depressed, self hating head that can’t kill the body despite his repeated rooftop leaps and poisonings and otherwise obvious-to-any-first-year-psych-student attempts to end it all. Seymour was on the Red Eye with no plays, no terminology, just experience as an elite player who was on an elite team as part of a Spartan like phalanx who delivered on his prediction as well. When reporters asked what number he’d be wearing, Seymour indicated to reporters that finding him on the field would be simple; “I’ll be the one on the quarterback”. And Seymour was so on top of Rivers all night you could play their highlights on the Logo channel and the audience wouldn’t complain. But despite their impressive play, the Raiders lost. Just like Buffalo. Both were ‘dogs, but I think that Buffalo made Vegas even more money as the spread-busters.

This was supposed to be a cake walk for the Pats. Buffalo was testing their no-huddle offense, which I think is great in theory; how many times do you watch a losing team implement the hurry-up, and upon seeing them quickly march down the field and score do you say “Why didn’t they just do that the whole time?” I ask myself this quite a bit. Sure, it can be costly, but so can conservative offense and prevent defense. Ask Tom Cable. He went for the win, not the punt, then went to a prevent D and the Chargers shocked him. Buffalo was going to commit to the no-huddle this season, and I was excited. I was even more excited when they got T.O. Finally, the drinking town with the sports problem would be competitive again. 81 vs. 81. Then they traded their O line. Then, in preseason, the no-huddle offense couldn’t sniff the endzone if it were a beagle on a Weed Farm. Then they fired their Offensive Coordinator. As a football fan, I was worried. As a Pats fan, I was salivating. I purposely picked up and started Joey Galloway because I figured he’d have more stats than the entire Bills Offense. The Bills were Swayze and we were Pancreatic Cancer. There was no chance.

Then, like Kanye snagging the trophy away from Taylor, the Bills came out of nowhere. (And apparently Galloway was hiding in the very place the Bills came from; nowhere.)

I chalk it up to the rust from Brady’s injury, which until he shook off, I felt like Monday Night Football was being directed by David Lynch. The whole scene was surreal. I’m not talking about the throwback jerseys or the refs looking like candy canes instead of Zebras or the Patriots receivers dropping the ball or Al Michael’s “hair”. I’m talking about score. Buffalo was ahead? Was I drunk? Did someone ruphie me? God I hoped so. Sure I’d be sick as hell, but I’d feel a sense of pride and flattery every time my core locked as I vomited toxins into the porcelain god, always there for me, ready to receive, to accept, to hold my fantasy team and now my half digested pastrami and the mickey that launched it. No, that was not the case. The other AFC East metrosexual, Trent Edwards, was taking full advantage of Marshawn Lynch’s criminal proclivities and having a field day with the law abiding secondary slicing Fred Jackson. It was unacceptable. Parity in the NFL this was not. This was something deeper at work. This was the knee bucking of Goliath, shaking, about to crumble, toppling over onto- Wait? What’s this? The look. Brady’s eyes. He has the look. He has just finished marking the time on the sideline, clocked that two scores are needed and there’s only time for two possessions. He’s yelled at his team. He’s now walking out with The Look. And The Calm. I only walk with that calm after three bloody marys and a xanax. If the secondary is comprised of luggage laden travelers on a concourse, I too, can find my open spots. But this is not self medication at the Burbank Airport. This is Monday Night Football at Gillette, and this is Tom Brady, who just wins, baby. Take that Al! It’s the indefinable thing.

Sure there was help. Merriweather’s punishing hit to knock the ball lose so Gostkowski could fall back on his own kick as he was folded shut like a suitcase, and let’s not forget our Ben’s. London, England counts on Big Ben, and New England has Big Ben Watson and you can set your watch to the QB-TE hook-up that is clockwork in the Patriot offense. Before Watson, there was Big Ben Coates. Hmmm…No connection, bad comparison, still…not gonna delete. The point is, the guy just wins.

I hope this continues next Sunday vs. the Jets, but I have my doubts. Rex Ryan’s a D wiz responsible for a lot of the Raven’s successs and Mark Sanchez seems to be a break in the mold of the University of Spoiled Children’s latest offerings of slacker party boy jerkoffs like Leinart, Bush and Booty (Booty? Really? I gotta point out that’s ridiculous, and I’m a Studley!). Sanchez seems to have a work ethic to go with his God-given talent. The defense is much improved and the offense is firing on all cylinders. This is a team of no names who are strong on both sides of the ball. Reminds me of, oh I don’t know, the 2000 Patriots?!! To top it off, in true New York douchebag tradition, the Jets have implemented a little Spygate of their own, but these self centered hypocrites will never admit it and they’ll think they’re being honest because they’re in such deep denial.

Longtime Brady back-up Kevin O’Connell (behind Cassell last year) was finally cut in the preseason in favor of back-up Brian Hoyer. O’Connell was picked up by the Detroit Lions. For about a week. Guess who just signed the ex Patriot quarterback with the extensive knowledge of the Patriot’s playbooks, players and schemes despite the fact that they already have a starting QB who won the job after a controversy which means great depth at the position which means they didn’t need the extra QB for anything other than gleaning information for game prep? That’s right. The Jets. If you see them calling Defensive Plays that stop the Pats in their tracks; that seem like they knew what they were running ahead of time, it’s because they did. This game has the makings of that Bull Durham scene where Kevin Costner tells the batter Tim Robbins is bringin’ the heat for 4 quarters of bull hitting steak earning TD strikes, unless we announce our presence with authority. If we don’t, I’m going to put on a garter, breathe through my left eyelid and listen to Garrison Keillor come back from the stroke on my quadraphonic Blaupunt. This is Crash Davis with the dubious honor of writing this blog, signing off.

[Daphne and Trent.]

Shot Daphne and Trent’s wedding last Friday. Daphne is Singaporean and Trent is Australian but they’re both working in the UK now. So they had one celebration in London, one in Melbourne and their last stop was Singapore. Literally a round-the-world wedding with the destinations back-to-back. They were very relaxed in spite of their hectic traveling, which is amazing.

The Federation has received this invitation from Fons Vitae Lodge:

To all members of Federation of School Lodges,

As a Derbyshire Lodge, we feel that masons and Old Tridents (Trent College, Long Eaton) living around the London area are potentially missing contact with us.

Accordingly, we have decided to hold a special London meeting for the first time, including a tour of Freemasons’ Hall and would like to extend a warm welcome to fellow FoSL members.

The meeting is taking place on Friday 2^nd October 2009.  The tour of FMH will commence at 14.00 hrs., followed by the meeting, which will be a 2^nd degree Passing, at 15.00hrs. approx.  The festive board is being held in the Freemasons Arms, which has been used by freemasons during three centuries, was the first meeting place of the Geographic Society in 1800’s and the Football Association was founded there in 1863.  The cost will be £30 including wine.

We very much hope you will be able to join us, especially if your lodge is considering doing something similar and would like to consider a reciprocal support arrangement.

For further information or to book a place, please contact John Gilbert on 0208 668 9402, or email johngilbert81@hotmail.com.

Finally! The wait is over…the NFL season is upon us!

Yes folks, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans kick off the NFL season tonight! While football season officially started with a “punch” (haha, get it?) last Thursday with College Football playing their first games, the pro game gets their season going tonight. Each week I’ll try to give my prediction on all the games of the week and I will highlight the more interesting games (rivalry games, interesting stories, etc.).

Week One Games to Watch:

Last season the Titans knocked the stuffing out of the Steelers. But the Steelers won the whole thing.

Tennessee Titans @ Pittsburgh Steelers (Thursday, Sept 10 @ 8:30 PM)

This was supposed to be the AFC Championship last season. Didn’t happen…and the Steelers went on to win it all. Anyway I thought last season’s Titans were pretty much a fluke and I don’t see them repeating last season’s success this year. Yes, the Titans literally “stomped” all over the Steelers with a 31 to 14 drubbing in last sesaon’s Week 16 match up, but I just can’t believe in the Titans this year…or even in this Week 1 match up.

Steelers get their revenge and win. Big.

Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots (Monday, Sept 14 @ 7:00 PM)

Can Brady be Brady this season?

This match up lacks any “beef” or hate that the Steelers/Titans game has, but it does have some interesting story lines for certain players. This is Tom Brady’s first regular season game back from the knee injury that sidelined him all of last season. Brady had a pretty damn good preseason and I think he will be amazing this season. One of my favorite playmakers making his debut with the Bills is Terrell Owens. I’m interested to see what he does in Bills offense because T.O. is not play with a Garcia, McNabb, or a Romo. The Bills signal-callers are Trent Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick…uhh, ya. While T.O. may not have an amazing season, he will have a good season (barring any injury or blow-up) and contribute a good deal to the Bills’ offense. There is also the T.O.-Randy Moss plot-line to watch.

Patriots win.

Haynesworth a rich man, but can he turn the fortunes of the Redskins?

Washington Redskins @ New York Giants (Sunday, Sept 13 @ 4:15 PM)

Perhaps a renewed NFC East rivalry? Probably…if the Redskins got Cutler. But they didn’t. Still, according to experts, the Redskins are an early season “darkhorse” pick to run the table because of their relatively easy schedule. The ‘Skins also have a pretty good defense on paper with the mega-signing of Albert Haynesworth, a linebackers’ crew of McIntosh-Fletcher-Orakpo, and a decent secondary. On offense they have Portis and Cooley but that’s about it (sorry Moss and Randle El). Since the Redskins do have an “easy” schedule, it is important that they beat their NFC East rivals in order to make the playoffs.  How I see it is that both the NFC North and East are going to be playing for that very last wild card spot at the end of the season. So beating a division foe would be essential for both divisions.

Giants win.

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers (Sunday, Sept 13 @ 8:20 PM)

Bears v. Packers. 'Nuff Said

Speaking of rivalries, this is the most storied one of them all – Bears v Packers…just as long as we forget that the 90’s happened. Anyway the NFC North has recently undergone a renaissance lately. Firstly, the Black-and-Blue division has 3 very capable Quarterbacks (I’ll hold out on Stafford). Secondly, the popular hybrid 3-4 Defensive scheme is making way into the division with the Packers using it as their base and the Lions flirting with it. Aside from the Lions, the Bears, Packers, and Vikings have very good defenses that are all loaded with talent, speed, and power. I know the Bears did not have a good defensive season in 2008-2009 but they will be better in 2009-2010. However, I would be surprised if they back to top-10 form.Vikings will have the best statistical defensive season in the NFC North.

Everyone is talking about how great of a preseason Aaron Rodgers had, and as a Bears fan I have to agree he will beyond amazing this season. I thought last season Rogers was awesome. The Bears secondary will be sliced-and-diced by Rogers in their first meeting of the season. I don’t care if ‘Peanut’ Tillman is back, the Bears secondary will get shredded by the speed of the Packers’ receivers and Rodgers’ precision passing. Look out for Ryan Grant to bounce back from a sub-par season and have a 80 to 100 yard game thanks to the passing game.

The key for the Bears? Defense. Plain and simple. This is still The Black-and-Blue division and defense will win the Division this year. Last season the Bears were just utterly terrible on defense. Might I have to remind Bears fans of the Atlanta game? How about the Houston game? Eww… Look, the offense last season was not bad and they put the Bears in position to win, but the defense choked and cost them a playoff spot. This year the offense is even better with Cutler and a solid veteran O-line. I think Cutler will be good, but the receivers need to hold on to the ball against a very good and active Packers secondary in order to minimize interceptions and turnovers. What I think will be a question mark is whether or not Forte can run the ball against the Packers new 3-4 defense. I honestly don’t know what to expect from the Packers D.

Just like the Redskins-Giants game, this rivalry game has more at stake for the sake of playoff positioning at the end of the season than anything else. A win against a NFC North rival is very important because the division is playing against the heavyweight AFC North division in inter-league play where wins there can be scarce (The NFC East is playing the fairly easy AFC West). The NFC North has a shot at sending multiple teams to the playoffs this year.

Interestingly, I was talking to a friend – a Packers fan – very early this summer and I boldly predicted that the Packers would be one of the best teams this year and that they would make it deep into playoffs…this was before all the so-called experts picked them.

Packers win. Sadly…But only because the Bears secondary hasn’t gelled yet.

Rest of Week One Predictions:

Atlanta wins over Miami

Baltimore wins over Kansas City

Philadelphia closely wins over Carolina

Cincinnati wins over Denver

Minnesota wins over Clevland

Houston wins over New York Jets

Indianapolis wins over Jacksonville

New Orleans wins over Detroit

Dallas wins over Tampa Bay

Arizona wins over San Francisco

Seattle wins over St. Louis

San Diego wins over Oakland (perhaps a close game)