1984Echoes

But how many Independents did she lose? Quite a few people were annoyed with her... simple-mindedness. Or did it even matter because of Obama's popularity?

Bottom line: Don't know. She may have pulled in some conservatives for him. And lost him some Independents. But Obama was going to wipe them off the floor regardless.

You mean HIS reputation was ruined shortly after he put Sarah Palin on the ticket... right?

I think it's more fun to play than watch. Sort of like golf, tennis, etc... And it certainly ain't non-athletic kids. Because they can run ALL day long. I've played very little (I can count the times on one hand), but I don't mind running around chasing and kicking the ball. I'm not good at it at all. But watching it is something entirely different to me. The strategy is inconsequential to me... I'm not interested in soccer strategy because I'm not interested in soccer. It's cheap (a round ball and any open space anywhere, anytime, that's it); and easy to play, which makes it popular. I won't deny that it's popular, it is. Around the world. Not as much in the U.S., but the US is gaining steam... But people go crazy for it in almost any other country. The top sport in almost any other country. Especially the Latin countries south of our border. I grew up prior to the US's current soccer phase, when it practically didn't exist. Certainly not in Michigan. But my cousins (on my mom's side, moved from Detroit to Margate in 1971) a bit younger than me growing up in South Florida were all into soccer. Lots of sunshine, lots of fields, lots of kids running around. That, and the huge influx of Latinos (Cubans, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Venezuelan, Mexican, etc...) from all over starting in the 1960's have greatly increased its popularity in the US. And not just with Latinos either. And... the creation/ growth/ popularity of MLS has also been a boon to its popularity. But I grew up before this. And I don't play the game. And I don't like watching it, it's extremely boring to me. Just a bunch of guys running back and forth, back and forth, kicking a ball. Sorry... I'm just not interested. I don't hate it. Just doesn't grab my attention.

I've been told I resemble Jim Carrey...

As we speak...

Exactly. It's Russian fake news. They staged it. They're actually moving troops out of barracked positions and into attack formations along the Ukrainian border.

Hmmm... Let me think about that... Bunch of guys run to the left, then they run to the right, Kicking a ball... cool. They run to the left, and then back to the right. And then they run back to the left again, kicking that ball. And then they run back to the right again, kicking that ball. They run to the left, and then they run to the right. And now they are running back to the left. And now they are running back to the right. They run to the left, kicking that ball, and then run to the right, kicking that ball. Oh Look! They're running to the left! Oh look! They are running to the right! Then they run to the left once more, and they actually kick it at the goalie... but he grabs the ball and he kicks it himself. Now they are running back to the right, and they actually kick it at the goalie... but he grabs the ball and he kicks it himself. So they run it back to the left... and then they run it back to the right. There's a lot of running back and forth, right to left. And left to right. Right to left, left to right. Again and again and again. Right to left, left to right. Oh look! They're running that ball to the left! Oh wait! No, they're running that ball to the right! Someone must have scored because I hear the announcer shout "GOAL, GOAL, GOAL, GOAL, GOAL!!!!!" Did someone just score 5 goals? No? That was just one? Damn, I missed it! Got tired turning my head back and forth to the left and to the right. With nothing happening but that ball being kicked around a lot. Left to right. Right to left. The game ends you say, score 1-0. Did I miss anything? My neck hurts going back and forth all afternoon. This is not better than tennis. BTW: Who won? Could I please have some baseball, or football (American), or basketball, or some good old hockey please?

I think that's next year, not this year. Once Covid Shenanigans no longer count for anything...

No... Way too much babushka in her... She looks just like my ex-Mother-in-Law.

Which may even put Zadina on the trading block... I'd hate to give up on potential so early just in case the light bulb turns on... Might depend on what we can get back. Although his value has to be at a low point right now...

If we get 54 of them we could create a football team.

I'm not certain what you mean by that question Buddha. I mean I get that they were all in the same draft and we basically traded Chychrun for Cholo (released) and Hronek (meh)... and maybe you intend that as a joke so, you know, haha... But that's also water under the bridge so, even though that trade ended up sort of crappy... Seriously (even though we screwed up), would you make a play for Chychrun if the Coyotes were to make him available? I wish we already had him instead of taking Cholo & Hronek but... since we can't... IMO: I make a play for him. Would they take Hronek (that would be funny...)? Or Veleno? Plus a McIsaac and a couple 2nds? I don't know what their asking price is but I believe it will be steep... but... I'm interested. Put him on the top line with Seider.

And he's doing OK with that... Frank & Diallo look like they could be useful. Josh & Trey contributed although... much less than evenly... And then he turned Josh & Trey into Bagley. I'm interested in seeing if Bagley's career can be turned around and in seeing what he can turn into if he does turn it around. I'm not expecting a star... but if he can be turned into a highly productive player, even at less than star level... then Weaver basically turned nothing into something. He signed both Josh and Trey for cash. And then bought Bagley for that investment.

Rumors are Arizona might put Chychrun on the market... He'd be hugely expensive in trade assets... but should the Red Wings make a play for him?

That's asking the impossible.

Detroit Red Wings, 22-21-6, 7-12-3 AWAY ESPN+ 2/14 8:00 PM Minnesota Wild, 28-11-3, 14-3-1 HOME

Anyone who disagrees with him.

They've updated significantly since Chechnya and have shown their improvement on the battlefield in Syria, Ukraine and Kazakhstan... Not world-beating competition... but they're no longer a struggling military power... This will be bloody with lots of death on both sides.

More of that please...

PS: I didn't mean scores again this game but, rather, in general... The second line really has started becoming an effective line the past few weeks - all due to Bert IMO.

HELL NO!!! Tuzzi-Line SCORES AGAIN!!! I think we HAVE to hold onto Bert because... whichever line he is on becomes an instant scoring line. We now have two effective/ dangerous scoring lines and that's all due to splitting up Bert & Larkin. Move surrounding players... look for who can create an effective 3rd line... and go from their. But Bert is the "glue guy" that this team HAS to have (along with more blueline talent) in order to make a strong move towards the playoffs again. IMO.

Russia's only southern warm water naval base is in Sevastopol. There is no possible way that Putin would lose that to the potential that Ukraine joins NATO. I also am not worked up over Crimea because I look at that as a military and political reality. Plus some of the Russian-controlled history as you've mentioned... Even though Crimea has changed hands throughout history, multiple times (originally the Greeks, who founded the coastal villages at the time, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, Crimean Tatars, etc...), and, therefore do not recognize Russian sovereignty based on "history".... I fallback on the military reality of Crimea: No. Possible. Way. Putin. Will Lose. Crimea. On the other hand, I have contempt for him running Russian troops into parts of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine (the Donbass) simply because he wants to screw with his neighboring countries.

Correct. Prior to 1790 they were part of a Polish-Lithuanian Empire (not I believe as a co-equal but at least with some autonomy and dignity rather than being raped as Stalin did to them). Prior to that they were an Independent Nation, prior to that, they WERE the Rus empire (loose term based on the day and age) based in Kiev; and Moscow didn't even exist. From the first Viking settlers in the late 800's AD until 1790 (900 years of history), they were either Independent, or controlled all of the territory surrounding them. But that doesn't mean anything because Russia defeated the Polish-Lithuanian Empire and took control of Ukrainian territory in 1790. Putin... go F yourself.

A dozen assists out of that and some efficient scoring too... The bench has been very good for Killian...