1984Echoes

I prefer dividends. Ok, yeah, sorry... I thought you were teasing or something like that...

Haha! Funny! EURL (EU ETF): purchased 400 sh's Jan 16, 2025 at avg cost of 21.60 today: $30.30 or after-hours at 30.80 if you wanted to use that. YINN (China ETF): purchased 400 sh's Jan 10, 2025 at avg cost of 23.50 today: $52.35

With Trump, Dictator of the U.S. ... Europe is the place to be!!! (or even China...! as an investment.)

We have three 2nd round defenseman at Grand Rapids that the Org seems like they are high on... Wallinder (LH), Tuomisto (RH) and Buium (LH). Can any of these guys stick in the NHL? Even if it's as a 3rd pair, I would consider that a plus. If one turs into a serious defensive defenseman (let's say Wallinder shows he can pair with Seider on the 1st pair) then even without much offense that would be a major plus... But I haven't seen any Grand Rapids play... I don't know what they look like on the ice or if they have enough upside to make it in the NHL, as 3rd pair or otherwise. Buium had some offensive upside, at least when he was playing at Denver... I watched some of his play... very agile. Not as much O as his brother which is why he was a 2nd rounder instead of a top 10 pick... But I always thought he had a very high level of talent. Like a young Walman with a slightly higher upside. But that's just me. I want to sign Noah Dobson this summer, I believe he's a UFA. Pair him with Edvinsson for a dangerous 2nd pair that should rival Seider on the 1st pair... And... My secret wish upon a Birthday Candle is that Buium shows enough to eventually earn his way up to 1st pair with Seider. Probably dreaming... But I have been known to be a bit optimistic from time to time...

Yes this... exactly.

Per AJ: "It's just a sprinkle... Nothing more than that." So... just trying to find creative ways to cover a few OF innings... which explains Baez in CF and Tork in RF.

It's illogical to us. But they're morons. So... it's perfectly logical to them. That's the illogical logic of our current "State of the U.S." Which means we are in DEEP **** in this country because a bunch of brainless ****wads voted the most IDIOTIC and ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL MORON into the White House. AGAIN. Even AFTER he initiated a COUP ATTEMPT against the United States of America on Jan 6th, 2021. I seriously have to ask this of EVERY Trump supporter: "WTF is WRONG WITH YOU!!!" This ALSO includes my brother, my mom and dad (both), and most of the rest of the family. Yeah... I'm the "black sheep" of the family. And PROUD OF IT!!!

Couldn't they just abstain to change the math calculus and still have Zero Dem "yay's"?

PS: Like Lee just said... That = BRAINLESS GREEDY ****ING MORON. Perfectly logical.

The full logic? Hongbit already stated it. Trump and Musk want MASSIVE "Billionaire's Tax Cuts". And the only way to achieve that is to slash the federal budget in every way possible. They don't care what they cut. Or more bluntly: they don't give a "flying ****" what gets cut. Libraries? "Awesome, more tax cuts for us. Libraries are for liberal elites anyways." Nuclear oversight in the U.S., control over our dam systems and airways...? "DO IT!!!" "Oh, wait a second, whoops... get those guys back!" Slash cut and burn. **** veterans. **** the VA. **** POC and women. **** liberal elitest libraries. **** Social Security and Medicare. Those are all WASTED DOLLARS when they COULD BE in OLIGARCHIC POCKETS!!! Like in Trump's and Musk's pockets. It's the only thing that matters. Everyone heard Trump when he said he wanted to slash the military budget in half right? "I spoke with Putin about cutting our military budgets in half and he was for it. Just gotta talk to Xi now and we can do this!" Not joking. Of course he wants the military budget slashed in half. More tax cuts for him and his fellow oligarchs. Makes perfect logical sense. From a certain perspective that is...

Trump = BRAINLESS, GREEDY ****ING MORON. That's the logical explanation.

Coming in 2025 to a theater near ... : Baez = RH'ed McKinstry.

I followed this recipe exactly... or as best I could... So this is what I drafted (straight up, no trades), and I'll include RAS and other comments as to why I think Brad might look at a guy that popped up in my draft: 1st round - Kenneth Grant, DT, UM, 6'3" 330. Didn't show a RAS. Tyleik Williams kept showing up as available here as well. Both are DOMINANT run-stopping thick NT or 5T types who show they may have some pass rush skill, or could develop some, as well. Not Aaron Donald level... but either a few annual sacks and/or collapsing the pocket up the middle works here... I'd be happy with either one. 2nd round - Tate Ratledge, LG, Georgia, 6'6" 308, 9.98 RAS. No brainer. Savaiinaea was also available here and if Ratledge were gone I think the Lions would choose him as he also is exceptionally talented, thicker and nimble and aggressive, played a lot of LT but will move to LG in the NFL, but isn't quite as athletic as Ratledge with a 9.13 RAS. I'd still take him. But prefer Ratledge. 3rd round - Tyler Baron, DE, Miami, 6'4" 262, 9.33 RAS. Has some pass rush upside. Extremely athletic. Sav'ion Jones also consistently available and he is bigger, and may have pass-rush skills that could develop as well. Both are PHYSICAL and RELENTLESS (hmmm... makes me think they are "Dan Campbell" guys...!) I would be happy with either. 4th round - Kaden Prather, WR, Maryland, 6'3" 204, 7.04 RAS. Not a great RAS but I think would make for a good development guy at the "X". 6th round - Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa, 6'5" 250, 8.72 RAS. Good development guy as the 3rd TE. 7th round - Caleb Ransaw, CB, Tulane, 5'11" 198, 9.96 RAS. Good development guy at CB: Hasn't been a playmaker... but is VERY physical, doesn't miss tackles, has great speed and is VERSATILE (has played box safety, outside and nickel, and even inside LB). Sounds like someone we know might take a chance on him... 7th round - Glendon Miller, S, Maryland, 6'2" 198. No RAS recorded, but "aggressive, versatile, instinctive, strong ball skills and anticipation to jump routes, excels in run support" sold me...

I don't think so. I think it's Nate 1st, and ASP with a year in Grand Rapids.

I think buddha mentioned UFA's this summer... Could we get Noah Dobson? I'd love to pair him with Edvinsson. And trade for Owen Power to give him a chance to live up to his draft billing as a top pair guy... So Power-Seider and Edvinsson-Dobson. Everyone else 3rd pairing or spot play on ST's... Unless Wallinder or Buium are ready to break out and pair up with Seider or on a second pairing with Dobson...? But I don't see any signs of that yet... Thoughts?

Next up will be Danielson who, before he gets a job Centering a line of his own (I LOVE the way the DeBrincat-Kasper-Kane line is looking...!), will be a winger on the Raymond-Larkin line... Just a guess. Soderblom and Compher may also get some time there... but I think Nate takes that spot primarily and swiftly... Next year.

Torres is only signed for 1 year. If Tork perks back up... and he shows that he's improved in the field... He may be back at 1B full-time in 2026, Torres gone to a big contract, Keith back at 2B... But I'm just guessing. And there are a lot of moving (and unproven) parts as well...

I said the exact same thing under Biden. My one complaint with Biden was he wasn't forceful enough. That covers a LOT of policy areas. In particular (from my interests...) a lack of support for Ukraine. Not that he didn't support them. But too little. Too late. Too much dawdling and acting scared of Putin when the only thing Putin respects is strength. Trump keeps talking about "strength"... but I don't see strength from him. Just a stream of stupidity. And stupidity does not equate strength.

If Trump really wants to pull a power-play on Putin he'll need to declare a "no-fly" zone west of the Dnieper, put in American Air Defenses and forces to protect the no-fly, and demand European troops in the same vicinity to assist with the "no-fly". At that point, Trump can call the war "frozen", and order Putin to "back the **** off or you face ALL of us." Just my 2 cents. Of course, I would put NATO troops in Moldova and southern Ukraine (south of Odessa) and order Putin to "Get your Russian soldiers out of Moldova as part of this deal." He'll whine (Putin) that "Russian-speakers in Transdniestria are threatened by the Moldovans" but that's complete horse****. Putin could come out of this VERY VERY unhappy, and with his balls completely cut off... If only someone had the leadership qualities to stand up to him. ... ... ...?

Even if they sign players though this draft is still built to help the Lions in those specific areas... 1) The D-Line is loaded in the draft... so I could see a pass-rusher in the 1st couple of rounds and a DT project in the 3rd/4th. Just a guess. 2) There are a lot of good-looking guards rated from the end of the 1st through the 4th round... I expect Brad to grab one that he likes. 3) There are only a few bigger cover corners with speed... I'd like to get one in the 2nd or 3rd... Just a personal preference because I like having at least one guy that can be really physical with the bigger receivers in the NFL. I still have thoughts of "The Legion of Boom"... 4) I think bigger wide receivers are almost always available. Some in the later rounds. Never know which ones might have a chance but I'd like to see Brad take another swing... Think of Puka in the 5th round standing next to Amon-Ra and Jameson...

AGAIN!!! (Just wanted to emphasize that point...!) 😉

No, I was talking financial... As for moral bankruptcy... That's an AUTOMATIC INVITATION into Trump and his morally bankrupt MAGA followers' "NO Ethics Club".

I thought bankruptcies put a person IN Trump's orbit... Or at least that's what was argued in this very forum (actually, its predecessor...) quite often by one or two of our MAGA "experts".

Maybe Shavon Revel slides to us all the way down in the 2nd...

How is Reed against bigger receivers though? He's 5' 9". I'd like at least one good cover-CB that has size. I think I'd like Reed more in the slot as well, if he can cover the quicker guys/ slots... Charvarius Ward is probably going to be even more expensive than Davis though... Oh... and he just signed with the Colts for 3 and $60 mill.