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dreaminginthedeepsouth · 3 years

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LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

July 25, 2021

Heather Cox Richardson

Both Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia and Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio told television hosts today that they expect an infrastructure deal on the $579 billion bill this week. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has said that he will delay the Senate’s upcoming recess until this bipartisan bill and another, larger bill that focuses on human infrastructure are passed. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) says she will not hold a vote on the smaller infrastructure bill until the larger bill, which is a priority for Democrats, passes the Senate.

There are a lot of moving pieces in this infrastructure bill that have more to do with politics than with infrastructure.

First, what is holding up the bill in the Senate is a disagreement about the proper ratio of funding for roads and public transportation. When Congress passed the Federal-Aid Highway Act in 1956, starting the creation of 41,000 miles of interstate highways, lawmakers thought that gasoline taxes would pay for the construction and upkeep of the highways. Congress raised the gas tax four times, in 1959, 1983, 1990, and 1993. But, beginning in 2008, as fuel efficiency went up, the gas tax no longer covered expenses. Congress made up shortfalls with money from general funds.

In 1983, in order to gain support for an increase of $.05 in the gas tax from lawmakers from the Northeast who wanted money for mass transit, Congress agreed to establish a separate fund for public transportation that would get one out of every five cents collected from the gas tax. This 80% to 20% ratio has lasted ever since.

Now, Republican negotiators are demanding less money for public transportation and more for roads, sparking outrage from Democrats who note that a bipartisan agreement has stood for almost 40 years and that changing the ratio between public transportation and roads will move us backward. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, in 2019, fossil fuels used in transportation produced 29% of U.S. greenhouse gases.

Portman, the lead Republican negotiator, says that Republicans have made a “generous offer” and that it will provide a “significant increase” in transit money. "Democrats, frankly, are not being reasonable in their requests right now,” he said.

Republicans want to deliver money to rural areas where people depend on driving, even though there are far more people who live in areas that benefit from public transportation. Rural areas, of course, are far more likely than urban areas to be full of Republican voters.

Democrats in the House are eager to address climate change. On July 21, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and 30 Democratic members of the committee wrote to Pelosi and Schumer to urge them to include instead the terms of the INVEST in America Act the House passed on a bipartisan basis earlier this month. That bill offered a forward-looking transportation package that expanded public transportation even as it called for road and bridge repair. “We can’t afford to lock in failed highway-centric policies for another five years,” they wrote.

But there is a larger story behind this transportation bill than the attempt of Republicans to change a longstanding formula to keep themselves in power. Republicans who are not openly tying themselves to the former president want to pass this measure because they know it is popular and they do not want Democrats to pass another popular law alone, as they did with the American Rescue Plan when Republicans refused to participate.

Democratic leadership wants to work with those Republicans to pass a bipartisan bill because it will help to drive a wedge though the Republican Party, offering an exit ramp for those who would like to leave behind the increasing extremism of the Trump Republicans.

Trump Republicans are, indeed, becoming more extreme as the House’s select committee on January 6 takes shape. After the Senate rejected a bipartisan commission to investigate the insurrection, House Speaker Pelosi and the House voted to establish a select committee. Its structure was based on one of the many committees established by the Republican-controlled House to investigate the attack on U.S. government facilities in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012. It permitted the minority to name 5 members, to be approved by the Speaker.

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) tried to undercut the committee by appointing three members who had challenged the counting of the certified votes on January 6, including Jim Jordan (R-OH), who was at a December meeting with Trump and other lawmakers when they discussed protesting the vote count on January 6, and Jim Banks (R-IN), who attacked the committee, saying: “Make no mistake, Nancy Pelosi created this committee solely to malign conservatives and to justify the Left’s authoritarian agenda.” When Pelosi rejected Jordan and Banks, McCarthy pulled all five of his appointees.

But Pelosi had already established the committee’s bipartisanship when she appointed Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY), a staunch Republican who voted with Trump more than 90% of the time but who openly blamed him for the January 6 insurrection. Today, Pelosi added Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) to the committee as well.

Kinzinger is an Iraq War veteran who was one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in January. "Let me be clear, I'm a Republican dedicated to conservative values, but I swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution—and while this is not the position I expected to be in or sought out, when duty calls, I will always answer," Kinzinger said in a statement.

McCarthy promptly tweeted that the committee had no credibility because Pelosi had “structured the select committee to satisfy her political objectives.”

McCarthy is scrambling, not least because he will almost certainly become a witness for the committee.

But there is more. With Trump out of office, pressure is ramping up on those who advanced his agenda. News broke on Thursday that the FBI had received more than 4500 tips about Brett Kavanaugh during his nomination proceeding for confirmation to the Supreme Court, and had forwarded the most “relevant” of those to the White House lawyers, who buried them, enabling the extremist Kavanaugh to squeak into a lifetime appointment to the court.

In Georgia, law enforcement officers indicted 87 people in what they are calling the largest gang bust ever in the state. Seventy-seven are part of the “Ghostface Gangsters” gang of white supremacists whose network stretched from Georgia to South Carolina to Tennessee. “The gang’s culture, structure, leadership, chain of command, and all involved in the furtherance of this ongoing criminal enterprise have been charged,” law enforcement officers said.

Meanwhile, vaccinated Americans are becoming increasingly angry at the unvaccinated Trump supporters who are keeping the nation from achieving herd immunity from the coronavirus. Some Republicans are starting to call for their supporters to get vaccinated.

As pressure mounts, McCarthy is not the only one who has signed onto the post–January 6 Trump party who is ramping up his rhetoric. This weekend, when presented with a gun, Trump’s disgraced former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn told the crowd, “Maybe I’ll find somebody in Washington, D.C.”

Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ), who has been linked to the planning for the January 6 insurrection, suggested at an Arizona rally for the former president last night that the rioters were peaceful and that the real criminals were “insiders from the FBI and DOJ.” It seems likely he is hoping to discredit those organizations before more information comes out.

At the same rally, the former president spoke for almost two hours, reiterating his lie that he won the 2020 election and suggesting he would be reinstated into the White House before the next election. (He was weirdly fixated on routers.) He blamed Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, former Vice President Mike Pence, and Kavanaugh for his loss of the White House, and praised his former lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

“The radical left Democrat communist party rigged and stole the election,” he said.

A final note tonight: We lost a great American, Bob Moses, today. I don’t want to tack him on to tonight’s letter; he deserves his own. So hold this space. Until then, Rest in Power, Dr. Moses.

—-

Notes:

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R45350.pdf

https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions

https://transportation.house.gov/news/press-releases/chair-defazio-leads-30-transportation-and-infrastructure-committee-members-in-urging-congressional-leadership-to-include-transformational-policies-from-the-invest-in-america-act-in-infrastructure-legislation

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/transit-money-emerges-last-major-obstacle-bipartisan-senate-infrastructure-deal-n1274788

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senators-hopeful-bipartisan-infrastructure-spending-bill-could-land-monday-n1274960

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/25/1020464213/nancy-pelosi-adam-kinzinger-january-6-committee

Ron Filipkowski @RonFilipkowskiMichael Flynn is presented with a rifle as a gift in Yuba, CA, and says that now “maybe I’ll find somebody in Washington, DC.” 609 Retweets1,212 Likes

July 25th 2021

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/01/13/ali-alexander-capitol-biggs-gosar/

Aaron Rupar @atruparRep. Paul Gosar turns reality on its head by portraying January 6 as a mostly peaceful affair, then pushes an absurd conspiracy theory that the real criminals on that day were "insiders from the FBI and DOJ" 1,182 Retweets4,650 Likes

July 24th 2021

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/22/us/politics/kavanaugh-fbi-investigation.html

https://www.wrdw.com/2021/07/22/georgia-gov-kemp-will-visit-augusta-discuss-large-scale-gang-bust/

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/24/trump-election-claims-rally-500719

https://www.wrdw.com/2021/07/23/87-locals-charged-biggest-gang-bust-state-history/

Aaron Rupar @atruparTrump has been speaking for more than 90 minutes now. He's currently goading his audience into booing the US women's soccer team. 735 Retweets3,061 Likes

July 25th 2021

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

#political #Heather Cox Richardson #Letters From An American #history #infrastructure #corrupt Gop #criminal GOP #January 6 2021 #capital insurrection

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virginiaprelawland · 4 years

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Case Study: The Importance Of The “Central Park Five

By Jenna Shifflett, James Madison University, Class of 2021

July 28, 2020

The body of Trisha Meili was found on the night of April 19, 1989. Meili was a twenty eight year old, white, investment banker, and would be known throughout the case that would follow her discovery as the “Central Park jogger.” Meili had left for her regularly scheduled run a little before nine on that April night, and was found naked and gagged in a Central Park ravine no more than four hours later. Police and the public would soon learn that Meili had been raped and beaten within an inch of her life, leaving her in a coma for the following twelve days. At this time, it was believed that she would not be able to fight her life threatening injuries, sparking the police to treat her case as a homicide.

As Trisha Meili was first beginning her run, a flurry of action was also unfolding in New York’s Central Park. Prior to the discovery of Meili’s body, several other attacks had taken place from the North Woods, a section of the Central Park located near the neighborhood of Harlem, to the Reservoir of Manhattan's Central Park. The attacks that night, done upon eight other inhabitants of the park, were allegedly carried out by a rogue group of approximately thirty teenagers. The group was reported to have entered the park near Harlem, committing assaults and robberies against civilians as they moved their way through. Within the North Woods area, several cyclists were attacked and a man was left unconscious after being robbed of his food and drink. Further south, near the reservoir, four men were also attacked by a group of teenagers. The crimes began to be reported between nine and ten in the afternoon, and the police began to apprehend suspects. Meili was found later -- around 1:30 a.m -- in the North Woods area, pulled 300 feet off the beaten path in an attempt to hide her body. The discovery of her body would lead to an increased desire in police to find the party or parties responsible.

The attack of Trisha Meili ignited a media firestorm like no other, which drew further attention to the racial tensions that were already occurring in New York City [1]. The New York Post was quoted saying that the teens involved were “from a world of crack, welfare, guns, knives, indifference and ignorance… a land with no fathers,” and that “[their] enemies were rich … [their] enemies were white.” During this tense time, former real estate tycoon Donald Trump even took out ads in many of New York’s biggest papers, publishing a call to action to “bring back the death penalty” for those allegedly responsible [2]. As this news spread through the city, the public was up in arms and demanding justice. Fourteen teenagers were taken into custody in the days following April 19, 1989. Of the arrested teenagers, guilty verdicts were quickly dealt out to Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise. These young men -- all black or hispanic and between the ages of fourteen and sixteen -- were from this moment known as the “Central Park Five.” There were no eyewitnesses to the boys’ alleged crimes, nor DNA evidence that could link any of them to the scene of Meili’s attack. Despite this, they were all charged with a variety of crimes including rape, attempted murder, assault, sexual abuse, robbery, and rioting.

In 2002, after serving sentences ranging from six to thirteen years in prison, the Central Park Five were finally given a second chance at life. With new DNA evidence proving a confession by convicted rapist Matias Reyes true, the charges against the innocent men were all dropped for good. Since then, the Central Park jogger case has been highly publicized in popular media, including countless articles and a number of award show appearances. Most notably, the Central Park Five themselves inspired a 2012 documentary of the same name, as well as a Netflix mini-series entitled “When They See Us.” At the beginning of the case's initial publication, the most dominant voices present in the Central Park Five’s narrative was that of the police and the media. Rather than being tried for a crime that they actually committed, the Central Park Five were actually on trial for something completely different; the color of their skin. The racial tensions in New York City were at an all time high, and the Central Park Five’s case greatly suffered due to this negative narrative painted by the police and the media. A member of the Central Park Five, Yusef Salaam, spoke of this issue of narrative by saying, “Since the day we were wrongfully arrested, others controlled the story about us without ever seeing us. The prosecutors, the police, the media, the people of New York … they created a lie that suited them and erased us” [3].

This case is extremely relevant today and will continue to be in the future. Since the exoneration of the Central Park Five, they have been able to take the narrative back by telling their own stories. Their interviews, as well as numerous media dramatizations, have provided valuable insight into the horrible happenings that occurred behind the scenes of this case. Their Netflix mini-series, “When They See Us,” showcases the brutal police integration that the boys went through, where lies and violence were used to convince them all to falsely confess on each other. Four of the five teens confessed on videotape following hours of this interrogation, and were doubted when they later recanted their confessions because they were coerced [4]. In an interview with The Guardian, Yusef Salaam recalls that he could hear the police officers beating up another future member of the Central Park Five, Korey Wise, in the room next door. “They would come and look at me and say: ‘You realize you’re next,’” he remembers in the interview, “The fear made me feel really like I was not going to be able to make it out” [5]. Cases such as this are crucial for bringing injustice to the public’s attention, so that civilians feel inspired to apply pressure on our justice systems and force them to right their past wrongs. If we are not forced to face the mistakes of the past, we have no reason to want to learn or be better for the future.

________________________________________________________________

[1] “The Central Park Five.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 14 May 2019, www.history.com/topics/1980s/central-park-five.

[2] Laughland, Oliver. “Donald Trump and the Central Park Five: the Racially Charged Rise of a Demagogue.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 17 Feb. 2016, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/17/central-park-five-donald-trump-jogger-rape-case-new-york#img-3.

[3] “Central Park Five Tragedy Reframed in Netflix Series ‘When They See Us.’” Innocence Project, www.innocenceproject.org/central-park-five-tragedy-reframed-in-netflix-series-when-they-see-us/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2dLo5Yus5gIVy5yzCh1LswTREAAYASAAEgIoSvD_BwE.

[4] “The Central Park Five.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 14 May 2019, www.history.com/topics/1980s/central-park-five.

[5] Laughland, Oliver. “Donald Trump and the Central Park Five: the Racially Charged Rise of a Demagogue.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 17 Feb. 2016, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/17/central-park-five-donald-trump-jogger-rape-case-new-york#img-3.

Photo Credit: Thomas Good - Next Left Notes

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junker-town · 5 years

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7 teams moving up, 6 moving down in the NFL playoff picture

Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

The Ravens took over the top spot in the AFC, while the NFC East is at dumpster fire levels. Geoff Schwartz examines the latest playoff standings.

Well, it’s time to get back to it after an excellent weekend of football. I hope you all enjoyed your time with family and friends over the holiday. As usual, I’m going to recap the playoff contenders from the past few days with a look ahead to next week.

And it was another wild weekend in the NFL, especially in the AFC. Because we know the teams that will most likely make the playoffs in the NFC, it’s a little more boring — outside of the NFC East, which is a dumpster fire right now.

Here’s a look at the biggest movers, up and down, in Week 13.

Moving up in the AFC

1. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens have the look of a Super Bowl team. They played one of their worst games of the season against the 49ers and yet still won the game. On Sunday, the Niners had more yards per play, were better on third down, better at rushing, and Jimmy Garoppolo threw for more yards than Lamar Jackson. None of that mattered. The Ravens got the 20-17 win in the rain after a Justin Tucker field goal.

And for the Ravens, that is all they needed. They’ve now beaten the Patriots, 49ers, Seahawks, and Texans. They keep slaying the beast and when you watch them play, they have that mojo. They don’t make mistakes and things break their way. They make their own luck as well by being disciplined, not having mental errors, and not turning the ball over.

With the Patriots losing to the Texans Sunday night, Baltimore is now in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed.

2. Tennessee Titans

Well, I didn’t see this coming at all. The red-hot Titans went to Indianapolis and won another game with Ryan Tannehill under center. Since they’ve made the switch to Tannehill from Marcus Mariota, this offense has been unstoppable. Here’s the difference with the two quarterbacks:

We've now seen six starts by each #Titans QB... Mariota: 59.1 %, 1,179 yards, 7 TD, 2 INTs, 25 sacks, 0 rush TDs, 7.4 yards per attempt, 16.3 points/gm (2-4) Tannehill: 72.7%, 1,602 yards, 12 TDs, 4 INTs, 24 sacks, 3 rushing TDs, 9.1 yards per attempt, 29. 7 points/gm (5-1)

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) December 1, 2019

As the quarterback play has improved, so has the running game. In the last three weeks, Derrick Henry has broken off for 188, 159, and 149 yards. The Titans’ offense is rolling. Their defense has just been OK this season, but they’ve dealt with injuries and have played teams that can score on offense. I trust their defense down the stretch and I think I need to trust this resurgent Ryan Tannehill.

The Titans are buying in and with their upcoming schedule — including two games against the Texans — they control their destiny for the AFC South.

3. Houston Texans

They stay the course with a big win over the Patriots. Deshaun Watson was awesome as usual and like I stated above with the Titans, they control their own destiny with two games left against their division rival. Also, they get the No. 3 seed with the tiebreaker against the Chiefs. That puts the Texans into an easier wild card game.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

In their last three games against the Raiders, the Chiefs have won by a combined score of 103-22. They own the Raiders and Derek Carr, and now likely own the division again for the fourth season in a row. They have a two-game lead in the standings, but in theory it’s a three-game lead as they hold the tiebreaker against the Raiders.

However, the Kansas City offense continues to be off this season. It was predictable that we’d see some regression, but Patrick Mahomes hasn’t looked all that comfortable this season in the pocket. Yes, he’s playing well, but not as well as we saw last year. He’s still drifting out of the pocket too often and missing on throws he’s made in the past.

Nonetheless, the Chiefs are going to win the division and either get the third or fourth seed. A first-round bye isn’t going to happen.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

I hope Mike Tomlin gets some love for NFL Coach of the Year. The Steelers beat a Browns team that was almost at full strength and playing well. Meanwhile, the Steelers were a mash unit:

No Big Ben. Bell and Brown long gone. No JuJu, no Conner, no Pouncey or Tuitt. Fourth-string QB from training camp. 7-5. Pretty incredible resolve from the Steelers.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 1, 2019

It didn’t matter. The Steelers won another game and are still in the wild card hunt. Right now, they are sitting in the No. 6 seed with games left against the Cardinals and Jets. If they win both, that gives them nine wins, which should be enough to make the playoffs. If they steal one against the Ravens or Bills, watch out.

Moving down in the AFC

1. New England Patriots

Their offense is broken. There’s no chemistry. There’s no one open. There’s nothing. It’s painful to watch. Please listen to this:

Been saying this for weeks now for @Patriots offense. Outside of the physical-12 has trust in 1 guy. Edelman. That’s it...and it’s warranted. Watch below. @MikeGiardi @patspulpit #SNFonNBC #Patriots @RochieWBZ @BenVolin pic.twitter.com/Vf8mbaUqXg

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) December 2, 2019

That is where the Patriots are now on offense. Defensively, they are fine. But they are probably not getting homefield advantage because the Ravens don’t seem poised to lose in the last four weeks.

Still, while everyone will freak out about the Patriots losing this game, I’m not. I just can’t. How many times have they proven these games don’t matter in the playoffs?

2. Cleveland Browns

Yikes. The head coach is wearing “Pittsburgh Started It” t-shirts like a petty teenager. Coaches are getting quoted before the game about taking back the North. Sheldon Richardson puffed up his chest earlier this week ... and they lost.

I can’t state this enough: Freddie Kitchens is holding this team back. When a head coach is out wearing stupid shirts that undermine his message (or maybe it doesn’t and that of course is the issue), it shows a lack of maturity that rubs off on the team. His team is undisciplined and underachieving. And he just doesn’t get it, as his postgame comments about the shirt show.

3. Oakland Raiders

Two weeks ago, the Raiders were the up-and-coming team that everyone needed to watch out for. The Raiders’ rookie class was crushing it, and the media was praising the organization. Even I said some nice things about them. However, that’s all come crashing down after blowout losses to the Jets and Chiefs.

The Raiders have improved this season but they aren’t good enough to contend for the playoffs yet.

Moving up in the NFC

1. New Orleans Saints

The Saints are the only team that has clinched a playoff spot so far. They have locked down the NFC South and will likely end up with the No. 1 or No. 2 spot in the NFC standings.

2. Green Bay Packers

The Packers took care of business in a snowy contest against the Giants. There’s not much else to report on them. They’ve kept pace and depending on the result of the Seahawks-Vikings Monday night matchup, the Packers could have a game lead on the Vikings.

The NFC North winner and runner-up with probably get the No. 3 seed and the No. 6 spot. That battle is down to the Packers and Vikings. It could be determined when they meet in a few weeks.

Moving down in the NFC

1. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers lost to the Ravens in a game they should have won. They played better but didn’t win. That’s the NFL. I have a hard time putting them in this section because they proved they are still an elite team. However, with a trip to the Superdome to face the Saints coming off 10 days of rest, this loss in Baltimore could cost them a chance at the No. 1 or 2 seed.

In fact, it could cost them the NFC West. In that case, they’d end up the fifth seed and would play on the road against an NFC East opponent in the playoffs.

2 and 3. Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles (but really, the entire NFC East)

The NFC East is a complete wreck. The Cowboys lost to the Bills on Thanksgiving. It was ugly. And then it got worse. The Eagles have the easiest schedule down the stretch. So what did the Eagles do Sunday? They lost to the Dolphins in Miami.

The NFC East might have a seven- or eight-win team hosting a home game against a 12-win team. Just wild.

As a refresher, here’s what the playoff standings look like before Monday Night Football in Week 13:

AFC standings:

Baltimore Ravens (10-2)

New England Patriots (10-2)

Houston Texans (8-4)

Kansas City Chiefs (8-4)

Buffalo Bills (9-3)

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5)

NFC standings:

San Francisco 49ers (10-2)

New Orleans Saints (10-2)**

Green Bay Packers (9-3)

Dallas Cowboys (6-6)

Seattle Seahawks (9-2)

Minnesota Vikings (8-3)

**clinched the division

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viraljournalist · 5 years

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NBA Power Rankings - Who are the league's best teams now?

New Post has been published on https://viraljournalist.com/nba-power-rankings-who-are-the-leagues-best-teams-now/

NBA Power Rankings - Who are the league's best teams now?

In our post-Finals Power Rankings, we asked whether offseason chaos was on the horizon.

Welp.

Free agency saw Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving team up in Brooklyn, D’Angelo Russell join the Splash Brothers, Jimmy Butler take his talents to South Beach, and Tobias Harris and Kristaps Porzingis sign max deals with Philly and Dallas, respectively. And that was just the first 24 hours!

The league has changed seemingly overnight, and we’re here to make sense of where all 30 teams stand heading into a highly anticipated 2019-20 season.

Note: These rankings are based on where voters think teams belong heading into the 2019-20 season, taking into account injuries and potential further player movement. Title odds for 2019-20 were provided by Caesars sportsbook. ESPN.com’s Malika Andrews, Kevin Arnovitz, Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Royce Young and Ohm Youngmisuk contributed the following information.

More: Post-Finals rankings | Moves for every team

| Free agency news

1. Milwaukee Bucks 2018-19 record: 60-22 2020 title odds: 9-2 Previous rank: No. 1

While the fabric of the Eastern Conference has changed drastically in recent weeks, the Bucks’ core has stayed largely the same. The team re-signed starters Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez as well as key reserve George Hill. What set the team apart last season was its deep bench. Will the acquisitions of Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews be enough to make up for the departures of Malcolm Brogdon, Tony Snell and Nikola Mirotic? A strong bench to support Giannis Antetokounmpo is essential for Milwaukee to make it out of the East finals. — Malika Andrews

Key additions: Robin Lopez, Wesley Matthews

Key subtractions: Malcolm Brogdon, Nikola Mirotic

2. Denver Nuggets 2018-19 record: 54-28 2020 title odds: 20-1 Previous rank: No. 4

While the rest of the NBA world went wild, the Nuggets made a few moves along the edges but quietly had one of the best summers of anyone. Adding Jerami Grant is one of the most underrated moves of the offseason, and they effectively are adding 2018 No. 14 overall pick Michael Porter Jr., who sat out the entire season with back issues. Assuming progression from their young rising stars, the Nuggets are firmly a favorite in the West. — Royce Young

Key additions: Jerami Grant

Key subtractions: Trey Lyles

3. LA Clippers 2018-19 record: 48-34 2020 title odds: 4-1 Previous rank: No. 5

After a year of rumors of quietly recruiting Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers landed the mysterious forward after what might have been the most intrigue-filled week in free agency in recent memory. Shocking the Lakers, the Raptors and the entire NBA, the Clippers persuaded Leonard to become a Clipper by stealthily working a trade for Paul George. Though the blockbuster move cost a historic haul of five first-round picks, two first-round-pick swaps and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari, the Clippers are now instant title contenders. Leonard and George should fit in seamlessly with a gritty supporting cast and budding Clipper culture built on a low-ego, team-first mentality. Doc Rivers’ defense could be the nastiest in the NBA with Leonard, George and Patrick Beverley forming a perimeter wall. Rivers has the best second-unit combo in Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell, and role players such as JaMychal Green, Maurice Harkless and Landry Shamet might make the Clippers the best team in not just Staples Center this season but perhaps in the entire league. — Ohm Youngmisuk

Key additions: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Maurice Harkless

Key subtractions: Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Garrett Temple

4. Philadelphia 76ers 2018-19 record: 51-31 2020 title odds: 8-1 Previous rank: No. 3

After coming within four bounces of beating the Raptors, falling with a devastating loss at the buzzer in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the 76ers went out and made some dramatic moves this summer: re-signing Tobias Harris to a five-year, $180 million deal; executing a sign-and-trade with the Miami Heat, sending Jimmy Butler there in exchange for Josh Richardson; and signing Al Horford away from the Boston Celtics with a four-year, $113 million contract. Now, thanks to Leonard leaving Toronto and the rest of the East contenders either standing still or taking a step backward, Philadelphia seems to be the favorite to emerge from the East and reach the NBA Finals for the first time since Allen Iverson led the Sixers there in 2001. — Tim Bontemps

5. Houston Rockets 2018-19 record: 53-29 2020 title odds: 8-1 Previous rank: No. 7

The Rockets rolled the dice by reuniting Russell Westbrook with James Harden, particularly considering the hefty price of the lightly protected 2024 and 2026 first-round picks they sent to Oklahoma City along with Chris Paul. “It’s risky for sure, but I believe the upside is greater than with CP,” a team source said. Westbrook’s ball dominance and poor 3-point shooting present fit concerns, but Harden pushed hard for the trade, which the Rockets hope will allow them to be legitimate contenders through The Beard’s prime, and their window was closing because of the 34-year-old Paul’s physical decline. — Tim MacMahon

Key additions: Russell Westbrook, Tyson Chandler

Key subtractions: Chris Paul

6. Los Angeles Lakers 2018-19 record: 37-45 2020 title odds: 3-1 Previous rank: No. 8

A chaotic offseason started with Magic Johnson resigning and putting Rob Pelinka on blast as well as a coaching search that saw negotiations with Ty Lue fall apart before the Lakers hired Frank Vogel. But once the chaos settled, the Lakers landed their highly coveted second superstar and another franchise superstar big man to build around for the foreseeable future in Anthony Davis. Pelinka paid a heavy price in having to send out Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart, three first-round picks, a pick swap and cash to acquire Davis and create as much cap space as possible. They then waited and failed to persuade Kawhi Leonard to come, but acted quickly in free agency by surrounding LeBron James and Davis with several experienced veterans. The Lakers believe they have addressed their mistake from a year ago by adding shooters like Danny Green, Quinn Cook, Jared Dudley and Troy Daniels. They believe they have 3-and-D guys with the additions of Green, Avery Bradley and the re-signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. And they added size with DeMarcus Cousins and re-signed JaVale McGee while also bolstering their backcourt depth and bringing Alex Caruso back. This is a roster built to contend for a championship, and anything short of a deep playoff run will be a disappointment. — Youngmisuk

Key additions: Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Danny Green, Jared Dudley, Avery Bradley

Key subtractions: Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Tyson Chandler

7. Boston Celtics 2018-19 record: 49-33 2020 title odds: 25-1 Previous rank: No. 9

Nothing went the way it was supposed to last season for the Celtics, who entered the season as the favorites to top the East — only to be drummed out of the playoffs in five games (including four straight losses) by the Bucks. The already bitter taste in the mouths of Celtics fans was made worse after Kyrie Irving and Al Horford chose to leave for Brooklyn and Philadelphia, respectively, in free agency. Irving was replaced by All-Star Kemba Walker, which some might see as an upgrade. It will be much more difficult to make up for losing Horford. Enes Kanter will likely be Boston’s starting center, with second-year big man Robert Williams III, Frenchman Vincent Poirier and German Daniel Theis behind him. They will give Boston a few ways to play, but not nearly at the same level of skill and poise that Horford, one of the league’s most versatile bigs, did. That, in turn, puts a ceiling on just how good Boston can be — regardless of how much growth the Celtics get from young wings Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. — Bontemps

8. Portland Trail Blazers 2018-19 record: 53-29 2020 title odds: 25-1 Previous rank: No. 10

The Trail Blazers lightly reshuffled their rotation, with a few critical role players moving elsewhere. The Blazers have the core elements back, but any progression this season will come in two main ways: 1) Jusuf Nurkic getting healthy and returning to form, and 2) Hassan Whiteside fitting in and adding rim protection plus a significant new wrinkle to the pick-and-roll game. — Young

9. Utah Jazz 2018-19 record: 50-32 2020 title odds: 14-1 Previous rank: No. 13

The Jazz might be equally as good offensively and defensively, which would make Utah a bona fide contender. Poor shooting prevented the Jazz from making their playoff series against the Rockets competitive, as Utah went 26-of-110 (23.6%) on wide-open 3s, as defined by NBA.com as no defender within 6 feet. That won’t be a problem after they traded for Mike Conley and signed Bojan Bogdanovic, who should take pressure off Donovan Mitchell to create offense and open up the floor when the young star guard has the ball in his hands. It’s up to Rudy Gobert, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year, to make sure the Jazz remain elite on that end of the floor. — MacMahon

10. Toronto Raptors 2018-19 record: 58-24 2020 title odds: 50-1 Previous rank: No. 2

The Raptors didn’t have long to celebrate their stunning run to the franchise’s first title, thanks to Kawhi Leonard’s decision to leave his throne as King of the North to take up residence at Staples Center with the LA Clippers. Still, though the Raptors don’t have a championship ceiling anymore, they have a good enough roster — built around emerging young forward Pascal Siakam, the winner of this season’s Most Improved Player award — to remain a factor in the East. The Raptors do have several large expiring contracts belonging to Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka that they could flip at the deadline for assets — or they could go into next summer with oodles of cap space to chase players who can remake their roster. Don’t expect anyone north of the border to be upset, though. They’ll be spending the season deservedly celebrating their hard-won title. — Bontemps

11. Golden State Warriors 2018-19 record: 57-25 2020 title odds: 14-1 Previous rank: No. 6

Not long after losing a physically and emotionally devastating NBA Finals to the Toronto Raptors, the Warriors watched Kevin Durant head East to join forces with Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn. But the Warriors did their best to recover by adding rising All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell to help Stephen Curry with the scoring load until Klay Thompson returns from his knee injury. Willie Cauley-Stein is still only 25 and will have every opportunity to show what he can do as Golden State’s new center with DeMarcus Cousins in Los Angeles. Steve Kerr will also try to incorporate new Warriors Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III. Though Golden State’s stranglehold on the Western Conference is over, the Warriors still have Curry and Draymond Green — two proud All-Stars motivated to show that any idea of Golden State’s demise is premature. –– Youngmisuk

Key additions: D’Angelo Russell, Willie Cauley-Stein, Glenn Robinson III, Alec Burks

Key subtractions: Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, DeMarcus Cousins, Shaun Livingston

12. Brooklyn Nets 2018-19 record: 42-40 2020 title odds: 20-1 Previous rank: No. 12

Brooklyn completed its remarkable turnaround over the past few years by signing Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan in the opening hours of free agency, lifting a franchise that had been left for dead in the wake of trading four first-round picks to the Celtics back in 2013. If Durant were healthy, the Nets would likely be the favorites in the East. But he is not, having torn his Achilles during the NBA Finals, and will miss — at a minimum — most of next season. In the meantime, the Nets will hope that things go differently for Irving than they did in Boston last year, when he and the team’s young players struggled to mesh and the Celtics disappointed. Brooklyn’s roster has a similar composition, including emerging wing Caris LeVert, that will try to push the Nets along until Durant can return — whether that’s sometime late next season or in 2020-21. — Bontemps

13. San Antonio Spurs 2018-19 record: 48-34 2020 title odds: 40-1 Previous rank: No. 15

The Spurs were snakebitten by Marcus Morris changing course and signing with the Knicks, because they not only lost him but also traded Davis Bertans to clear the way. They made a few minor moves, but getting Dejounte Murray healthy has been the primary offseason objective. The Spurs are the Spurs, so therefore they will be good, but as the West reloaded, nothing sizable enough changed that will boost San Antonio up the standings. — Young

14. Miami Heat 2018-19 record: 39-43 2020 title odds: 40-1 Previous rank: No. 22

The Heat in recent seasons have generally been better than the sum of their parts, and for the first time in a while, they’ll feature an NBA star in his prime: Jimmy Butler. The union of the intense, workaholic Butler and the intense, workaholic Heat organization would seem to be an NBA match made in heaven. Miami will feature its typically stingy, well-prepared defensive schemes and likely cobble together some clever, unorthodox looks on offense to compensate for any lack of shooting. — Kevin Arnovitz

15. Indiana Pacers 2018-19 record: 48-34 2020 title odds: 40-1 Previous rank: No. 14

The Pacers’ splashiest free-agency acquisition was former Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, who signed a lucrative three-year, $85 million contract with Indiana. Until Victor Oladipo returns from the quad injury that ended his 2018-19 season, much of the Pacers’ offense will likely run through Brogdon. The Pacers were the No. 4 seed in the 2019 playoffs. For them to be ranked that highly again, Domantas Sabonis must continue to evolve. Most importantly, when and how Oladipo returns will heavily influence Indiana’s chances. — Andrews

16. Detroit Pistons 2018-19 record: 41-41 2020 title odds: 250-1 Previous rank: No. 19

Despite being strapped for cap room, the Pistons added two proven guards to their roster in free agency: Derrick Rose and Markieff Morris. The No. 8-seeded Pistons were swept in the 2019 playoffs largely because the No. 1-seeded Bucks’ depth allowed for their starters to stay fresh. The Pistons, on the other hand, struggled to put out a seven-man rotation. In the playoffs, head coach Dwane Casey relied on heavy minutes from Andre Drummond and the injured Blake Griffin. Morris is another big body who will help ease the load of Griffin and Drummond, and Rose has the talent and experience to lead Detroit’s second unit. If Griffin can stay healthy, the Pistons have a strong chance of making another playoff push. — Andrews

17. New Orleans Pelicans 2018-19 record: 33-49 2020 title odds: 75-1 Previous rank: No. 24

The Pelicans can be competitive this season and a contender in the future thanks to some lottery luck and great work by new executive VP David Griffin. No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson and the haul of high-profile young talent and draft picks the Lakers gave up for Anthony Davis represent the promise of a bright future in the Big Easy. Adding big man Derrick Favors and knockdown shooter JJ Redick — and keeping terrific two-way guard Jrue Holiday — provide hope of winning now. — MacMahon

18. Dallas Mavericks 2018-19 record: 33-49 2020 title odds: 100-1 Previous rank: No. 17

The Mavs failed to add a proven starter in free agency despite entering the summer with almost $30 million in salary-cap space. Guards Seth Curry and Delon Wright, who have been quality reserves, came to Dallas as consolation prizes. Over the past 13 months, the Mavs have managed to add two potential long-term superstar pillars in Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, but the goal of making a major leap into the playoffs this season appears quite ambitious in the loaded West. — MacMahon

Key additions: Seth Curry, Boban Marjanovic, Delon Wright

Key subtractions: Dirk Nowitzki

19. Orlando Magic 2018-19 record: 42-40 2020 title odds: 125-1 Previous rank: No. 20

Will the Magic take the next big step forward after their first playoff appearance in seven years, or will 2019-20 be a consolidation season? Orlando is loaded up front, with power forwards and centers in deep supply (and that was the case before the Magic signed Al-Farouq Aminu and drafted Chuma Okeke, who is recovering from an ACL injury). The Magic’s fortunes rest on their capacity to get more out of their guards, with the highest ceiling belonging to Markelle Fultz. The Magic are cautiously optimistic the former No. 1 overall pick could give them some of the perimeter shot creation they desperately need. — Arnovitz

20. Sacramento Kings 2018-19 record: 39-43 2020 title odds: 150-1 Previous rank: No. 16

Luke Walton was hired to help develop De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley III and Buddy Hield. But Vlade Divac spent money in free agency to keep and add some veterans around Sacramento’s promising young core. The Kings kept Harrison Barnes with a four-year, $85 million deal. They replaced Willie Cauley-Stein with Dewayne Dedmon on a three-year, $40 million deal and added veterans such as Trevor Ariza and Cory Joseph. Walton should have a mix of young up-and-coming players to go with veterans who can help stretch the floor. Unfortunately, they reside in a division that has two of the most formidable pairings in the NBA in the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and Lakers’ LeBron James and Anthony Davis, plus the Warriors. — Youngmisuk

Key additions: Trevor Ariza, Dewayne Dedmon, Cory Joseph

Key subtractions: Willie Cauley-Stein, Alec Burks, Frank Mason III

21. Minnesota Timberwolves 2018-19 record: 36-46 2020 title odds: 500-1 Previous rank: No. 23

For a minute there, it appeared the Wolves would be making a major addition in D’Angelo Russell, and who knows, maybe they still will at some point. But it hasn’t been a great summer so far, as they decided not to match on Tyus Jones and didn’t make any significant upgrades elsewhere. There are roster-building roadblocks, such as Andrew Wiggins and his contract, but there is still a young core worth adding to, or eventually it will lead to another reboot. — Young

22. Atlanta Hawks 2018-19 record: 29-53 2020 title odds: 200-1 Previous rank: No. 21

There’s a lot of shine to the Hawks’ rebuilding project, and even whispers that the upstart Hawks could sniff the postseason next spring in a conference where 80% of success is just showing up. Joining the existing young core led by Trae Young and John Collins will be a pair of rookie forwards drafted in the top 10, a couple of functional veterans on the perimeter and a reclamation project in Jabari Parker. The biggest challenge ahead for Atlanta will be crafting a defense that can compete with the grownups if and when those games in March and April carry playoff implications. — Arnovitz

23. Chicago Bulls 2018-19 record: 22-60 2020 title odds: 125-1 Previous rank: No. 29

The Bulls drafted guard Coby White and added Thaddeus Young and Tomas Satoransky to the roster. Still, it’s hard to envision Chicago finishing in the top half of the Eastern Conference. Perhaps it can squeak out a playoff appearance — but with the East becoming even more competitive, it is a tall task. Expect this to be another development year for the Bulls. Their young core of Wendell Carter Jr., Zach LaVine, Otto Porter Jr. and Lauri Markkanen has some growing to do. And if an improbable playoff run does materialize, it will require that the Bulls stay healthy. Carter’s offseason abdominal surgery isn’t a good start. — Andrews

Key additions: Coby White, Thaddeus Young, Tomas Satoransky

Key subtractions: Robin Lopez

24. Oklahoma City Thunder 2018-19 record: 49-33 2020 title odds: 150-1 Previous rank: No. 11

With an apparent plan taking shape of disassembling the house and preparing to rebuild a new one, it would seem the Thunder will take a significant step back. But if Chris Paul decides he wants to stay with OKC — a hefty “if” right now — the Thunder can still be a reasonably competitive team in the West. A core of Paul, Steven Adams and Danilo Gallinari can win games, but the question is how long they might remain part of it. — Young

25. Phoenix Suns 2018-19 record: 19-63 2020 title odds: 1000-1 Previous rank: No. 28

Phoenix got the hot coach in Monty Williams, but the rest of its summer has been a head-scratcher. The Suns traded away T.J. Warren and his reasonable contract along with the No. 32 pick to Indiana to create cap space. They then traded a 2020 first-round pick from Milwaukee to Boston for the No. 24 pick (Ty Jerome) and center Aron Baynes. They traded away former No. 4 overall pick Josh Jackson and De’Anthony Melton along with two second-round picks to Memphis. Phoenix kept Kelly Oubre Jr. for $30 million over two years and signed Ricky Rubio to a $51 million, three-year deal to become its starting point guard. But it certainly feels as if Devin Booker is staring at yet another long season.– Youngmisuk

Key additions: Ricky Rubio, Dario Saric, Aron Baynes, Cameron Johnson

Key subtractions: Josh Jackson, T.J. Warren

26. Memphis Grizzlies 2018-19 record: 33-49 2020 title odds: 1000-1 Previous rank: No. 27

The Grizzlies have fully committed to rebuilding around young centerpieces Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. Memphis’ reshuffled front office has laid the foundation for the rebuilding project by collecting young talent and future first-round picks through trading all-time Grizzlies great Mike Conley and moves made possible by that deal, such as getting a pick from Golden State by using a trade exception to take Andre Iguodala, whom Memphis hopes to flip for another asset. — MacMahon

27. Washington Wizards 2018-19 record: 32-50 2020 title odds: 500-1 Previous rank: No. 25

The Wizards are less in a rebuilding mode than a holding pattern as they navigate the future of their pricey starting backcourt — John Wall, who is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon and unlikely to see much if any action in 2019-20, and Bradley Beal, one of the league’s elite shooting guards, who is coveted by contenders across the league. It’s likely to be a long winter in Washington while the Wizards weigh their options, develop Troy Brown and Rui Hachimura and buy time. — Arnovitz

28. New York Knicks 2018-19 record: 17-65 2020 title odds: 200-1 Previous rank: No. 18

This summer was expected to be triumphant — finally — for the Knicks. Instead, all they could do was watch as Irving and Durant chose to go across the East River and join the rival Nets. The fact the Knicks followed that up by signing a series of solid but unspectacular players — Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, Marcus Morris, Elfrid Payton and Wayne Ellington — to short-term deals did little to erase the bitter feelings with which their fans were left after the front office traded Kristaps Porzingis and then struck out on stars in free agency. Now the Knicks will struggle once again, while the Nets are the exciting team within the five boroughs. There will at least be one difference between last year and this one at Madison Square Garden, however: the presence of No. 3 overall pick R.J. Barrett, plus last year’s picks — first-rounder Kevin Knox and second-rounder Mitchell Robinson. — Bontemps

29. Charlotte Hornets 2018-19 record: 39-43 2020 title odds: 1000-1 Previous rank: No. 26

The Hornets will enter the 2019-20 season absent their top two win-shares leaders from last season and largely the same nucleus of league-replacement frontcourt talent whose contracts, one day, will expire. Depending on your appraisal of Terry Rozier, the bees either have a respectable young replacement for Kemba Walker at point guard or have once again forked over a contract of excessive value and length to a player without the body of work to justify it. Perhaps Charlotte can get a breakout season from one of its prospects: the tantalizing and sometimes confounding Malik Monk, or the promising forwards plucked in the past two drafts: Miles Bridges and PJ Washington. — Arnovitz

30. Cleveland Cavaliers 2018-19 record: 19-63 2020 title odds: 1000-1 Previous rank: No. 30

The youngster development continues in Cleveland. Watching Collin Sexton and Cedi Osman take their next steps could be entertaining, but a 2020 playoff run seems far-fetched for the Cavaliers. While top-tier Eastern teams such as the Nets, Bucks, Celtics and Pacers added big names to their rosters, the Cavs stayed relatively quiet in free agency. Cleveland continued to add to young talent, drafting Darius Garland with the No. 5 pick. It’ll also be adjusting to first-year coach John Beilein. Realistically, this year will be about chemistry building, not pursuing a playoff spot. — Andrews

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rupertacton · 7 years

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FUCK MY LONDON

Hermit's Cave. Sniff in the bogs. Fucking stinks in here. Camberwell Road. Corrib Bar. Watching football. Landlady said we were welcome back but not to bring any black people with us. Not in those words. Never went back. Walking past venues I played in that are no longer there. Rhythm Factory. Whitechapel Road. Round the corner. Used to be able to buy hash. Private member's club. Pool table. Foreign students. Building gone. Pint in the Castle. One end of Brick Lane. £2 in my pocket. Other end. Got food. Zoot. Beer. Still had some change. In my day this was all fields. Stewart Home. This is my home. I want to leave. Leave home. Chemical Brothers. Prodigy. Brixton Academy. No drugs. 13. Wouldn't go to see either of them now. Fuck them. Tried to get into the 4 Aces. Dalston used to scare the shit out of me. Me and Andrew went to buy an ounce and got robbed. Clapton Square. Got away with the weed but Andrew got his phone and ring nicked. Andrew convinced it was a set up. I'm still not sure. Arrested for criminal damage and possession at Caledonian Road & Barnsbury Station. The free line. Graf everywhere. Me and Mark. He was already on doing more serious stuff. Getting banged up for writing would've been silly. Bumped into him on Cambridge Heath Road. Years later. He was in an X5. Little gaff out in Essex. Kid. Still moving food but not touching it if you get what I mean. Born in Walworth. First wave gentrification. Sitting out in the garden at 6am sharing a joint with one of the Birmingham Six. Reading Ballard. Under the Westway. Subterranea. Black Star and Company Flow. MCD and Scratch Perverts supporting. Mainly crushing fucking boredom though. Africa Centre. Hour of jungle at the end of Funkin' Pussy. Listening to Rudimentary Peni. Carcass. Blak Twang. Rodney P. Heartless Crew. Upfront FM. Fuck it. Listing stuff. I'm sitting in the Barbican. Working. Listening in to an American man having a conversation with an English woman. I sort of hate them. They are probably alright. Vacuous pricks. The lot of us. St James' C of E primary school. Bermondsey. Jamaica Road. Everyone white. Almost. Everyone racist. Almost. What the fuck happened there? Used to play out on the Arnold Estate near the community centre my mum helped found. Found a load of porn out back. Awakenings. You can get a St John Bakery custard donut there now. Arches used to be full of garages. Cut and shut. Dennis was a ticket tout. Got us tickets to the '93 Semi-Final. In the fucking Spurs end. I was in an Arsenal shellsuit. Scarf. Cap. Got let in the Arsenal end. Grew up watching Palace. Everyone at school was Millwall or Liverpool. Why the fuck do I support Arsenal? Questions. Didn't grow up but I got old. Long nightwalks. Getting robbed in broad daylight on my own street. Kids from Kid's Company. Wallet full of cash I couldn't really tell anyone about. My sister wanted to go down there with a kitchen knife. In the end they apologised. Sent a cheque. We all make mistakes. Always carry a glass Lucozade bottle. Middle class grunger to middle class wannabe badman but I never wanted to be anything. Books. So many books. Art was everywhere. Went to Sensation. Load of shit obviously but exciting. Southbank. Mid to late 90's. Never skated. Legendary names. Benjobe. Tom Penny. Hardcore. Hip-hop. Rapping. Kope was working at A1 Stores on Wooly. Bag full of spraypaint. I never painted. Different sort of writing. Exploration. I'm not an urban explorer. Follow the Thames. Richmond to Teddington. Tower Bridge to East India Dock. Trinity Buoy Wharf. Sitting in a lighthouse all day. Hungover. Got chased through Broadway Market. Years before the farmers showed up. London is tiny if your postcode limits your movement. Escape. Fiction is liberating. The truth won't set you free. George Davis is innocent. Frankie Fraser on the 12 bus with his little dog. Chatting to my mum. Richardson's club house and torture chamber on a quaint little square just off Camberwell Road. Pet shop that used to stink of skunk. Dangerous dogs out front. This is what you're moving into. The ghosts will catch up with you. The past is never really the past. I'm past it. Read too many conspiracy theories. Canary Wharf as a beacon of occult energy. Hawksmoor Churches. All mainstream. Pick up the info in Waterstones in the London section. Make up your own myths. Smoking DMT in Blythe Hill Fields. London breathing. Viewpoints. Greenwich Park. Primrose Hill. Parliament Hill. Lunchtime. Out of the stockroom. Packing records all day. Enough to make you hate music. Where's the glamour? Guestlist is standard. Why the fuck would you pay to watch music? I still love it. Astoria. Gone. Plastic People. Gone. We went downstairs and when we went back out everything was covered in snow. Walking back. D Double E and Footsie. Legends. Tubby on decks. I think. All blends into one. But the snow. That happened. Stayed in Hackney. Walked back along a white carpet. These moments we live for. Put up with all the shit. I never really took photos. Stopping traffic at Elephant & Castle roundabout after getting run over. Black cab driver wanting to make sure I was alright. Asked what football team I support. Told him. Said he'd leave me in the road if it was up to him. Banter. Fucked up my Helly Hansen. Driver had no insurance. I told him to drive off but everyone made him stay. Writing is alchemy. You don't have to believe me. Planning is alchemy. London is being remixed. New block of flats named after the pie and mash shop on Westmoreland Road. Some attempt at continuity. Don't worry about me. It's everyone else. The search for authenticity is futile. Tayyabs. Lahore. Needoo. The holy trinity. But don't kid yourself. You can't eat your way to an understanding of lived experience. I'm sitting across the road from Madame Tussauds. This is authentic London even if you think it isn't. Some of my best friends are northerners. GO HOME. Get out while you can. I grew out of the fear of other areas. I moved. I walk from Lesnes Abbey to Grove Park on the Green Chain with my uncle. I walk from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace on the Parkland Walk with my girlfriend. I walk from Limehouse Basin to Island Gardens to Greenwich to Southwark Park with my mate. I walk from my flat to Walthamstow Marshes via the Olympic Park with myself. Memories shadowing every step. An egret and a heron near Stratford Westfield. I'm convinced we're all going to die in a shopping centre. Kingdom Come. Every witness appeal tells a story. Pain. Tragedy. I was watching Therapy? at Brixton Academy when the second riot happened. A venue full of pale faced teenagers insulated from an outpouring of justified anger. I performed with the guy who is supposed to have started the first Brixton riot. When the whole city rioted I walked up the back of Walworth Road watching kids hide stuff in bins. No one even noticed me. This is England. Wembley. Norway. Such a terrible match. The people behind me and my dad making monkey noises whenever Paul Ince touched the ball. Turned me off England for life. I couldn't even enjoy Euro '96. Arch contrarian. Of course I disagree. Got my bank account emptied and lost about £140 of other people's money getting robbed on Churchill Estate. Never trust someone who has just come out of prison for kidnap who says they can get some good food for a good price. Lesson learned. Two kids on the N68 tried to move me up. This was much later. I was wearing a Stone Island. I think they thought I was balling. I'd spent the night doing other people's sniff. I had a shit phone and an Ipod. I explained. We left on good terms. Lesson learned. Even where I used to sign on is gone. RIP Camberwell Job Centre. I fucking hated you but I miss you. Monday night football at the Petchey Academy saved my life. Made me a better person. The Shacklewell before it was cool. When it was cool. Saw Rodigan out back. Felt like a proper shubs. The Haggerston when it was Uncle Sam's. Live jazz. Terrible pints. Sitting in a Polo. UKG. Smoking draw. Just driving around. My room in the attic full of smoke. Entire house stinking. So many lost years. Round to Len's after a night out. Get the chop out. Staggering home. 8am. Mouth so dry. Lying in bed. Zoot in the ashtray. Bottle of water. Normal weekend. The Gramaphone. Commerical Street. Gone. Rushing. Hudson Mohawke and Rustie. Insanely strong pills. Up to the tubes for a weird after party. Everywhere will go soon. Corsica Studios. Summer of ket. Spangled in the smoking area. That rave in Hackney Wick. Bouncer wearing a bally. I was sick into a ballon. I was falling in love. Never wanted a relationship before that. Football. Drugs. Music. Books. Art. Masturbation. Very occasional sex. That was enough for me. I was kidding myself. Obviously. You pick and choose memories. You order the moments. You try to create a coherent picture. There is no coherent picture. Nothing to see here. Move along. First football match. Palace. Millwall. Punch ups in the family enclosure. Scary as fuck. LOVED IT. Grown men screaming cunt. Just got a text saying Whitechapel Bell Foundry is closing. My London is over. Fucked. Done. You can keep it. Do what you want with it. I don't care. If I don't care then why am I crying?

THE CUNTS, FREAKS, CRIMINALS, BOHEMIANS, NAZIS, NUTCASES, IMMIGRANTS, COMMIES, TRAMPS, ARTISTS, VANDALS, MUSICIANS, SHOTTERS, MIDDLE CLASSES, WHITES, BLACKS, WORKING CLASSES, TOFFS, GAYS, CHANCERS, BANKERS, BARROW BOYS, STALLHOLDERS, STAKEHOLDERS, LADS, CASUALS, RUDEBOYS, ANARCHISTS, BELL MAKERS, DRUGGIES, BARISTAS, RAVENS, BEEFEATERS, TOURISTS ETC. ARE ALL GONE. DONE. FUCK MY LONDON.

#london #factual fiction #fictual faction #history #lost #camberwell #walworth #walking #mental health #drugs #music

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lovebitemusic · 6 years

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Don't Get Your Children To Practice Until You Read This... By Christobel Llewellyn

Big Carp Fishing Bait Methods And Exploiting Fish feeding Behaviours!by: Tim Richardson. . all dubbed over by American voice actors. The diets are listed in no particular order. People Power. List the strategies that have worked for you in the past, in all areas of your life, to achieve any type of goal. Always wear appropriate clothing and ankle-high hiking boots. If you desire to change your current financial situation and establish a solid wall of protection against the global market forces that simultaneously render millions jobless and a relative few wealthy beyond imagination, then you must take action. As more evidence about the crime was collected, the police began to focus on the possibility of DeFeo killing his family. We're human and it's just something that you can become mindless about. The author has done all the hard work of researching, writing and having it published. You can induce a competitive escalation of bait excited fish activity in your swim, right up through the ranks of the more numerous smaller fish and in fact affect the feeding behaviour of the very biggest wariest carp. Moving on Up. The Lutz family had been overcome by the greed within their hearts. Current thinking among physiologists such as Wilson is that we begin to learn to make complicated moves rather laboriously - working out the details step by step, making corrections when we observe our own mistakes, and consciously and deliberately establishing patterns of movements that eventually become less tentative and finally become smooth and secure. Although this trail is the shortest route, remember that the summit reaches 4,928 feet. When you start to understand the 'why' behind your lying, you will find that addressing this 'why' will be the end of your lying ways. About The Author. And by being prepared to take risk you'll out grow your lying habit. This is 'mirrored' in carp, and it is especially interesting for us, in big carp so why not truly exploit this natural behaviour and achieve some exceptional catches!. People Power. List the strategies that have worked for you in the past, in all areas of your life, to achieve any type of goal. Always wear appropriate clothing and ankle-high hiking boots. As the Dutch and others crowded out the Massapequans and occupied their little fishing village as their own, the Indian burial grounds outside the village lay fallow and relatively undisturbed (except for European settlers who robbed the graves for consumer goods just as the Puritans had done upon their arrival at the abandoned Indian village they renamed Plymouth Plantation in 1620).

Page 1 of 2 :: First - Last :: Prev - 1 2 - Next. The most important thing is to think about your audience and choose the format that works for you both. The most important thing is to think about your audience and choose the format that works for you both. When you start to understand the 'why' behind your lying, you will find that addressing this 'why' will be the big little lies summary end of your lying ways.

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positivepsychologyinterventions · 7 years

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Knives, Fire, and Running with Scissors: On Letting Our Kids Take Risks

Before we begin I feel the need to point out that the title of this piece is facetious. Of course your children shouldn’t be allowed to run around with knives, scissors and fire. That being said… let them ride a bike!

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine recently about the way kids are coddled these days. Normally I am not a “Back in my day” kind of guy. But when I see how little children are allowed to spread their wings in the modern age, I can’t help but feel a bit of that curmudgeon surface.

Overparenting can have grave consequences for children as they grow. But what you might not realize is just how much you are holding them back.

Skinned Knees and Bruises

A fascinating article published in the UK newspaper The Guardian pointed out the paradox in modern parenting. We see it as our role to keep our kids safe and so we limit their exposure to risk. Along with that elimination of danger has come a 90% decrease in the distance that kids wander from home on their own since the 1970’s.

Why does this matter? It could actually be stunting their growth and development as a whole. That stunting could have a severe impact on society as those kids take over. We may already be seeing that effect now.

Much of this is due to what we see in the news. Facebook trending stories tell of missing children being found dead within miles of their home. Crime sprees and natural disasters happen across the world. Yet, studies have proven time and again that we are living in a safer time than ever before. Could our exposure to 24-hour news be feeding our fear frenzy and causing us to hold our children back from the time they need alone to develop?

For most of our children the primary risk they will face is that of skinned knees, bruises and occasionally broken bones. While none of these things are pleasant, they are a normal part of growing up. Each of us can remember such events and what was happening when they occurred. We were climbing trees, racing on bikes, with our friends blocks away from home until the streetlights were coming on.

As adults we are able to look back on each scar and remember the event that coincided with it. The pain is a distant part of that memory, hardly present at all. It is the moment that shines bright in our mind and the lesson that we learned from it, which we took into our later years, that helped form who we later became.

We are not keeping our kids safe. We are robbing them of experiences they should be having.

Finding the Balance

That isn’t to say that certain precautions aren’t wise and necessary. I can think of more than one example where I was in more danger than my adolescent brain could grasp. There is a line between overparenting and underparenting. Walking it can be very difficult.

Starting out slow is probably the best course. Begin to let your kids go out and play on their own. Give them the ability to walk around the block, or to the park nearby without you. Let them ride their bikes around the neighborhood.

From there you can begin to widen the scope. An 8-year-old should be supervised, but if they have a 12-year-old sibling why not allow them to be the one to do it? Go out for a walk on your own or with your partner and let them stay home alone. Go to the store and don’t bring them with you.

Most importantly, give them the ability to make decisions on their own. These don’t have to be big decision, just everyday choices related to their lives. Sometimes these decisions may be bad but that is a part of building resilience and learning to take responsibility.

After all, everyone makes mistakes, sometimes big ones. Let them make their own, even if it means a bit of discomfort from time to time.

Resources

10 Tips For Raising Resilient Kids. (2016, July 17). Retrieved October 23, 2017, from http://ift.tt/2yOTD91

Child’s body found in Richardson is ‘most likely’ missing 3-year-old Sherin Mathews. (2017, October 23). Retrieved October 23, 2017, from http://ift.tt/2zusMiC

Henley, J. (2010, August 16). Why our children need to get outside and engage with nature. Retrieved October 23, 2017, from http://ift.tt/25FKA8t

Park, M., & Valencia, N. (2017, July 27). Police recommend charges for teens who taunted drowning man. Retrieved October 23, 2017, from http://ift.tt/2uXUK7l

The Effects of Overparenting on Children. (2015, December 28). Retrieved October 23, 2017, from http://ift.tt/2yRdpkh

The world is actually safer than ever. And here’s the data to prove that. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2017, from http://ift.tt/2mQQR0p

A Clean Slate: Helping Your Teen Start Over After Misconduct On Their Permanent Record. (2017, September 21). Retrieved October 23, 2017 from http://ift.tt/2AVyFH9

from World of Psychology http://ift.tt/2AVyDiv via IFTTT

#IFTTT #World of Psychology

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psychotherapyconsultants · 7 years

Text

Knives, Fire, and Running with Scissors: On Letting Our Kids Take Risks

Overparenting can have grave consequences for children as they grow. But what you might not realize is just how much you are holding them back.

Skinned Knees and Bruises

We are not keeping our kids safe. We are robbing them of experiences they should be having.

Finding the Balance

After all, everyone makes mistakes, sometimes big ones. Let them make their own, even if it means a bit of discomfort from time to time.

Resources

10 Tips For Raising Resilient Kids. (2016, July 17). Retrieved October 23, 2017, from https://psychcentral.com/lib/10-tips-for-raising-resilient-kids/

Child’s body found in Richardson is ‘most likely’ missing 3-year-old Sherin Mathews. (2017, October 23). Retrieved October 23, 2017, from https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2017/10/22/richardson-police-plan-news-conference-unconfirmed-rumorsspread-3-year-old-sherin-mathews-found

Henley, J. (2010, August 16). Why our children need to get outside and engage with nature. Retrieved October 23, 2017, from https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/16/childre-nature-outside-play-health

Park, M., & Valencia, N. (2017, July 27). Police recommend charges for teens who taunted drowning man. Retrieved October 23, 2017, from http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/26/us/florida-teens-charges-drowning-man/index.html

The Effects of Overparenting on Children. (2015, December 28). Retrieved October 23, 2017, from https://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2015/12/30/the-effects-of-overparenting-on-children/

The world is actually safer than ever. And here’s the data to prove that. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2017, from https://www.pri.org/stories/2014-10-23/world-actually-safer-ever-and-heres-data-prove

A Clean Slate: Helping Your Teen Start Over After Misconduct On Their Permanent Record. (2017, September 21). Retrieved October 23, 2017 from https://www.sundancecanyonacademy.com/a-clean-slate-helping-your-teen-start-over-after-misconduct-on-their-permanent-record/

from World of Psychology https://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2017/11/16/knives-fire-and-running-with-scissors-on-letting-our-kids-take-risks/

#World of Psychology

0 notes

erraticfairy · 7 years

Text

Knives, Fire, and Running with Scissors: On Letting Our Kids Take Risks

Overparenting can have grave consequences for children as they grow. But what you might not realize is just how much you are holding them back.

Skinned Knees and Bruises

We are not keeping our kids safe. We are robbing them of experiences they should be having.

Finding the Balance

After all, everyone makes mistakes, sometimes big ones. Let them make their own, even if it means a bit of discomfort from time to time.

Resources

10 Tips For Raising Resilient Kids. (2016, July 17). Retrieved October 23, 2017, from http://ift.tt/2yOTD91

Child’s body found in Richardson is ‘most likely’ missing 3-year-old Sherin Mathews. (2017, October 23). Retrieved October 23, 2017, from http://ift.tt/2zusMiC

Henley, J. (2010, August 16). Why our children need to get outside and engage with nature. Retrieved October 23, 2017, from http://ift.tt/25FKA8t

Park, M., & Valencia, N. (2017, July 27). Police recommend charges for teens who taunted drowning man. Retrieved October 23, 2017, from http://ift.tt/2uXUK7l

The Effects of Overparenting on Children. (2015, December 28). Retrieved October 23, 2017, from http://ift.tt/2yRdpkh

The world is actually safer than ever. And here’s the data to prove that. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2017, from http://ift.tt/2mQQR0p

A Clean Slate: Helping Your Teen Start Over After Misconduct On Their Permanent Record. (2017, September 21). Retrieved October 23, 2017 from http://ift.tt/2AVyFH9

from World of Psychology http://ift.tt/2AVyDiv via theshiningmind.com

#World of Psychology #child psychology

0 notes

junker-town · 7 years

Text

College basketball's preseason top 25, according to us

These are the 25 best teams in college basketball, according to us.

As the summer came to a close, it seemed like the main storylines of the 2017-18 college basketball season were pretty easy to peg.

Will Sean Miller finally get Arizona over the hump and into the Final Four?

Can Duke live up to its “super team” billing this season?

Will freshmen like Marvin Bagley, Michael Porter and Collin Sexton be as good as advertised?

All of those questions became secondary on Sept. 29. That’s the day the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York released a complaint detailing the findings of an FBI investigation into the ugly underbelly of college basketball. Since then, four assistant coaches have been arrested and charged, Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino has been fired, and a handful of high-profile players have been held out of competition.

The FBI investigation isn’t going away, but it also isn’t going to keep college basketball’s 2017-18 season from happening. Beginning on Nov. 10, 351 teams will begin the long and beautiful journey towards March and the NCAA tournament. Here are the 25 teams that as of right now appear to be the class of that large group.

Odds by Mike, evens by Ricky

1. Duke

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

With Mike Krzyzewski fielding the youngest team of his career, it’s easy to see Duke in this top spot for a second straight preseason and wonder aloud: “Are we all making the same mistake again?”

The Blue Devils were a near-unanimous No. 1 choice before the start of a roller coaster season that ended with a surprising second round NCAA tournament loss to South Carolina. While recent history is certainly capable of repeating itself when this many freshmen are involved, there are equally compelling reasons to believe that the Dukies are going to live up to their preseason hype.

For starters, Coach K has a true point guard this season in the form of five-star freshman Trevon Duvall. Instead of forcing Grayson Allen or someone else to play out of position, Krzyzewski will have the comfort of having a true floor general run the show in 2017-18. Also there’s Allen himself, a gifted senior whose tumultuous college career up to this point should allow him to provide the type of leadership last season’s team was sorely lacking.

Sometimes we make things more complicated than they need to be, so let’s also toss this in: Marvin Bagley III is simply a more talented player than any of the guys who suited up for Krzyzewski last year. Fellow freshmen Wendell Carter and Gary Trent Jr. are great too, but it’s the super versatile 6’11 Bagley who truly sets this team apart from the rest of the country. At least on paper.

2. Arizona

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Can Sean Miller finally make the Final Four? It was already one of the biggest storylines in the sport before the FBI investigation that led to the arrest of long-time assistant Book Richardson and a cascade of recruits immediately decommiting from the program. But unlike other teams, Arizona seems set to ride out the investigation rather than dishing out precautionary suspensions, in the process showing how serious they are about winning right now, future sanctions be damned.

That’s a good thing, because college hoops fans deserve to see this team play. Allonzo Trier is one of the sport’s great individual scorers, a bullish two-guard who can get buckets from all three levels. Freshman center DeAndre Ayton is a certified unicorn whose combination of size, athleticism and skill could make him the most dominant big man in the country from day one. There’s also a potential breakout sophomore star in Rawle Alkins and a host of four- and five-star recruits who provide great depth.

Maybe the FBI investigation will eventually end Arizona’s season before it really starts. Until then, the Wildcats have as much on-court potential as any team in America.

3. Michigan State

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

By the time this season’s Final Four rolls around, it will have been 18 years since a Big Ten team last won a national title. Michigan State, the most recent team from the league to cut down the nets, is hoping to be the same one that ends the drought.

The moment Miles Bridges opted to turn down the chance to be a lottery pick in favor of playing one more season for Tom Izzo he made himself the national Player of the Year favorite and his team one of the top choices to win it all. Despite missing a healthy chunk of his freshman season because of injury, Bridges was remarkably productive in his college debut. He did a little bit of everything for the Spartans in 2016-17, averaging 16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists per game.

Also returning to East Lansing this season are fellow sophomores Nick Ward (13.9 ppg), Joshua Langford (6.9 ppg) and Cassius Winston (6.7 ppg), who are all expected to take steps forward in year two. Five-star freshman Jaren Jackson should be one of college basketball’s most talented newcomers, and he’ll have frontcourt tutelage in the form of senior forwards Ben Carter and Gavin Schilling, who both missed all of last season because of injuries.

4. Kansas

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas checks just about every box: a productive senior point guard, shooters on the wing, a high-upside freshman big man and one of the sport’s most dependable coaches. The Jayhawks win the Big 12 every year and you’re a fool if you bet against this team doing it again this season.

Devonte Graham played the role of supporting actor last season behind Frank Mason, but he’ll be the leading man now. Graham is a good shooter, a solid defender and the type of veteran ball handler every team needs in March. Svi Mykhailiuk, LaGerald Vick and five-star transfer Malik Newman will knock down shots from the perimeter, while Billy Preston and Udoka Azubuike form a huge and talented front line.

Kansas is the rare program capable of making a run at the Final Four every year. This season is no exception.

5. Villanova

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

With North Carolina going to back-to-back title games and cutting down the nets last April, what Villanova has done the past two seasons has sort of been swept under the rug. The Wildcats, of course, beat the Tar Heels at the buzzer of the 2016 national title game, and were the No. 1 overall seed heading into last season’s Big Dance with a 31-3 record.

All-American Josh Hart and March Madness icon Kris Jenkins are both gone, but the good times should continue to roll on for Jay Wright and company in 2017-18. Junior point guard Jalen Brunson is a legitimate national Player of the Year candidate, Mikal Bridges has been considered ‘Nova’s best NBA prospect since he arrived in Philly, and former five-star big man Omari Spellman is finally eligible and ready to provide Wright with a dominant post presence.

Toss in the expected improvement of guys like Donte DiVincenzo and Eric Paschall as well as the return of Phil Booth, and you once again have a team that should be right in the thick of the national championship hunt come March.

6. Kentucky

Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

John Calipari is the greatest recruiter alive, and his philosophy on the the trail has never been more transparent. Calipari wants the biggest, faster player at any cost, and that’s how he got this roster, one that feels like it sacrifices ‘fit’ in the pursuit of cold, hard talent.

Kentucky has at least eight five-star recruits on the roster, led by athletic wings Hamidou Diallo and Kevin Knox. P.J. Washington is a bulldog at the four, Nick Richards is an athletic blocker at the five and Quade Green should provide a steadying presence at point. And that’s just the freshmen.

The big question for Kentucky is if they can knock down shots from the perimeter. Size and athleticism should again win the Wildcats the SEC, but it’s hard to advance in March without reliable three-point threats. Perhaps Diallo and/or Knox turns into that type of player. Maybe Kentucky will just ride offensive rebounds all the way to San Antonio. Even with all that talent, this team still feels like it could go boom-or-bust.

7. Miami

Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images

Enthusiasm for Hurricane hoops has rarely, if ever, been higher than it is heading into the 2017-18 season. Miami won 10 games in the ACC last season and return a higher percentage of minutes (67 percent) from a year ago than any other team in the conference. Headlining that core group of returnees are all-conference caliber players Bruce Brown and Ja’Quan Newton.

Miami also brings in the best recruiting class of the Jim Larrnaga era, one headlined by McDonald’s All-American Lonnie Walker. If the Hurricanes can avoid the noise that could come with being named in the FBI’s September complaint, there’s no excuse for this team not to finish in the top four of the ACC and earn a top four seed in the NCAA tournament.

8. USC

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Like Arizona, USC is fielding a team with a real chance at the Final Four while also having to deal with the shadow of the FBI investigation. Tony Bland, arrested in the federal probe, was a key, beloved assistant for the Trojans who will be missed. That speaks nothing of the two unnamed players mentioned in the investigation who could eventually be suspended.

If USC has its full complement of players, this squad is incredibly deep and experienced at every position. Jordan McLaughlin, Elijah Stewart and De’Anthoy Melton lead an embarrassment of riches on the perimeter. Chimezie Metu is an elite athlete at center and Bennie Boatright is a gifted scorer as the stretch forward next to him. The bench is stacked too, with Duke transfer Derryck Thornton and freshman shooter Chuck O’Bannon leading the way.

USC finally has the athletes to play the fast, loose style Andy Enfield has always desired. The Trojans are going to be a ton of fun ... unless the FBI or the NCAA gets in the way.

9. Florida

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

For anybody who doubted it, Mike White proved once and for all last season that there would be life for Florida basketball after Billy Donovan. The Gators won 27 games and were one victory away from achieving the program’s sixth trip to the Final Four. That trip could easily come this season thanks to a combination of key returnees and key additions.

Junior shooting guard KeVaughn Allen is back after averaging 14.0 ppg last season. He’ll have backcourt help in the form of senior point guard Chris Chiozza, the buzzer-beating hero from last year’s Sweet 16 win over Wisconsin. Down low, the Gators will be blessed (at some point) by the return of senior center John Egbunu, who tore his ACL last February. Florida also brings in grad transfer Egor Koulechov, who averaged 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds last season at Rice.

10. Wichita State

Thomas Joseph-USA TODAY Sports

Wichita State is in its first year in the American, but it shouldn’t have needed a bigger conference for validation. This is one of the most dependable non-blue blood programs in the country under Gregg Marshall. He’s done it again this year: in the shadow of the Fred VanVleet-Ron Baker years, Gregg Marshall has built another team with legitimate title aspirations.

The Shockers are again led by a pair of studs in sophomore point guard Landry Shamet and junior forward Markis McDuffie. There’s just one problem: both are currently battling foot injuries. The good news for Wichita State is that there’s senior depth all over the roster, most notably big man Shaq Morris and shooter Conner Frankamp. A new conference might provide new challenges, but expect the Shockers to be healthy and cohesive again by March.

11. North Carolina

Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images

The reigning national champions have a shot at making it back to the Final Four for a third consecutive season. Last season’s Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Joel Berry, is back, as are fellow senior Theo Pinson and Elite Eight hero Luke Maye. The task for the Tar Heels is going to be to find a way to replace the remarkable amount of production that left Chapel Hill after last season.

The backcourt should be fine once Berry returns from his hand injury, but its the frontcourt where Roy Williams needs some guys to emerge. The Tar Heels were successful the last two years largely because they led the nation in rebounding margin and offensive rebounding percentage. Williams will likely ask Pinson and talented Pitt transfer Cameron Johnson, both natural wings, to play more on the block to help out the very green UNC big men.

12. West Virginia

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

West Virginia isn’t beating anyone by surprise at this point. Bob Huggins is going to deploy a vicious full court press operated by a team of hard working, under-recruited athletes. Scoring might be a struggle, but no matter: every game against the Mountaineers is a war, and no one is coming out of it feeling good about themselves.

This year is no different. Jevon Carter is back as one of the country’s top returning guards. Daxter Miles Jr. is a tough and steady senior and Esa Ahmad is a high upside big man who will be valuable once he returns from his first semester academic suspension. There’s nothing overwhelming about West Virginia’s talent level, but they always seem to find a way to grind out wins.

13. Louisville

Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images

There may not be a more difficult team in college basketball to gauge right now than Louisville. On paper, the Cardinals are unquestionably a top 15 team. Quentin Snider has been a steady presence at the point guard position for three years now, and junior forward Deng Adel has the potential to be a First Team All-ACC performer.

The issue, of course, is that the team lost its Hall of Fame head coach just three days before its first practice. It’s hard to imagine that, and all of the other off-the-court distractions, not having at least some effect on the team’s 2017-18 performance.

14. Cincinnati

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati annually fields an elite defensive team that struggles to score. The Bearcats finally made strides towards balance last year when they finished No. 34 in offensive efficiency, the first time they’ve cracked the top 50 since Mick Cronin took over in 2007. There’s reason to believe this team can be even better offensively.

Junior off guard Jacob Evans is a three-level scorer and long defender. Kyle Washington is an inside-out big man who can heat up quick, while sophomore Jarron Cumberland is an ace shooter on the wing. Tough, athletic forward Gary Clarke is still here captain the defense. Cincy will always be a team that grinds out games, but there’s enough talent here to talk yourself into a deep March run.

15. UCLA

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Lonzo Ball era was brief but eventful, as the Bruins went from 15-17 in 2015-16 to one of the most exciting teams in the country a year ago. The good times don’t have to be over just because Ball is now suiting up for the Lakers.

Double figure scorers Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh are both back, and Steve Alford has also welcomed in a top five recruiting class. Headlining that crop of freshmen is five-star point guard Jaylen Hands. Hands might not be as flashy running the show as Ball was, but he has the potential to be every bit as effective in terms of producing wins.

16. Seton Hall

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Seton Hall has been building for this particular season for four years. The Pirates will feature four senior starters who have helped the program reach consecutive NCAA tournaments after a nine-year drought, but they still haven’t broken through with a win yet.

This team is good enough to go on a run. Angel Delgado is a double-double machine who should be one of the best front court players in America. Khadeen Carrington and Desi Rodriguez are high scoring guards, and sophomore Myles Powell potentially provides some much needed outside shooting. The Pirates lack a natural point guard, but they’re as tough and experienced as any team.

17. Xavier

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

No one is surprised any more when Xavier is making noise during the month of March. That said, it’s still staggering to see that over the past 10 years, the Musketeers have advanced to the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16 six times. The most recent of those appearances came a year ago, when Chris Mack’s team pulled three upsets before falling to Gonzaga in the West Regional final.

Despite all the program’s postseason success, Xavier has still never experienced a Final Four. Musketeer fans are hopeful that streak will end in a few months thanks to the return of All-American candidate Trevon Bluiett, who poured in 18.5 ppg last season. He and senior J.P. Macura should make up one of the best backcourts in the country.

18. Minnesota

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Gophers had the biggest single-season turnaround in college basketball last year, going from an 8-win team to a 24-win No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament. Almost everyone returns, including elite shot blocker Reggie Lynch and senior point guard Nate Mason. Amir Coffey, a smooth 6’8 sophomore wing, is the most talented scorer on the team and should end up as one of the better players in the Big Ten. There’s also Mr. JellyFam himself, Isaiah Washington, creating offense off the bench. Minnesota won’t surprise anyone this year.

19. Notre Dame

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame is in the midst of one of the most successful stretches in program history, one which appears set to continue this season. The Fighting Irish have won 82 games since the start of the 2014-15 campaign, the most they’ve ever won over a three-year stretch. They advanced to the Elite Eight in both 2015 and 2016, and won a game in last year’s Big Dance before being ousted by West Virginia.

The good times figure to keep rolling in 2017-18 thanks largely to the presence of preseason First Team All-American Bonzie Colson. The senior forward was the only player in the ACC to finish last season averaging a double-double (17.5 ppg, 10.2 rpg). He’ll join forces with senior point guard Matt Farrell to form one of the most potent inside-outside combos in college basketball.

20. St. Mary's

Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Is this the year St. Mary’s finally knocks off Gonzaga from the top of the WCC? It feels like it. The Gaels have a legitimate star in Aussie center Jock Londale, a steady lead guard in Emmett Naar, and a high-impact transfer in wing Cullen Neal. There’s shooters everywhere, and one of the country’s best offensive minds, Randy Bennett, finding ways to get them all open.

If the ‘Zags beat this team three times again this year, it will be a real accomplishment.

21. Purdue

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

It’s ever easy to replace a consensus First Team All-American like Caleb Swanigan. It helps when you’re returning the other four starters from the season before and six of that squad’s top seven scorers.

Even without Swanigan, Purdue figures to be a load to handle in the post. The Boilermakers have five players who are 6’9 taller, led by 7’2 center Isaac Haas. They also have a preseason All-Big Ten player in senior forward Vince Edwards, and an all-conference caliber guard in Carsen Edwards. It’s been 11 years since a Big Ten team won back-to-back regular season conference titles, but Purdue has the pieces to at least make a run at ending that streak.

22. Northwestern

Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

Northwestern as a preseason top-25 team? Believe it. After making the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history last year, the Wildcats return every key starter from a team that gave national runners-up Gonzaga a real run for its money in the round of 32. Bryant McIntosh is a productive senior at point guard, Vic Law profiles as one of the Big Ten’s best two-way wings and Dererk Pardon can be a monster on the inside.

The novelty of Northwestern basketball being good is over. Now it’s about building something that lasts.

23. Virginia Tech

Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Virginia Tech broke a decade-long NCAA tournament drought in 2017. A year later, Buzz Williams appears to have a team capable of taking the program to the (modern) Sweet 16 for the first time in history.

The team returns all five starters from a season ago, but also must replace its two leading scorers from last season in the graduated Zach LeDay (16.5 ppg) and Seth Allen (13.3 ppg). No one ever accused Williams of being conventional. The upside is that the Hokies figure to have a fully healthy Chris Clarke, who was the team’s leading rebounder (7.3 rpg) and third-leading scorer (11.4 ppg) when he tore his ACL in mid-February. The Hokies ended the season just 5-4 after Clarke went down.

24. Gonzaga

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

It’s easier to talk about who’s not here, of course, after last year’s national runners-up lost a huge chunk of their rotation. Credit Mark Few for still putting out a team that will compete. Johnathan Williams and Killian Tillie will form a dependable and productive front court, while junior guard Josh Perkins will look to push his game to new heights without Nigel Williams-Goss around.

The most interesting player here is Rui Hachimura, a Japanese import with an NBA-ready body but raw skill set. If he puts it together this season as a sophomore, the ‘Zags will be formidable once again.

25. Missouri

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

LSU couldn’t make it to the NCAA tournament with Ben Simmons and Washington couldn’t even win 10 games with Markelle Fultz. That doesn’t mean there’s no hope for Missouri to have a big season with the similarly gifted Michael Porter Jr.

For starters, Porter Jr. won’t have to do it alone. His younger brother, and fellow five-star recruit, Jontay, helps headline a five-man recruiting class that ranked in the top five nationally. Toss in a handful of key returnees and a proven new head coach in Cuonzo Martin, and it’s not ridiculous to peg Missouri as a team capable of going from eight wins to top 25 caliber in the span of only a year.

0 notes

therightnewsnetwork · 7 years

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We Hear You: GuideStar, Parroting SPLC, Loses Way in ‘Hate Group’ Rhetoric

Editor’s note: Readers had strong feelings about Rachel del Guidice’s coverage of the decision by GuideStar—an aggregator of tax data on charities and other nonprofits—to use the label “hate group” for some well-known conservative organizations, attributing the designation to the controversial Southern Poverty Law Center. This week’s roundup begins by sampling those comments.—Ken McIntyre

Dear Daily Signal: Good information on what is wrong in America (“Nonprofit Tracker Smears Dozens of Conservative Organizations as ‘Hate Groups’”). Lists that a hate group creates should not be deemed credible. The Southern Poverty Law Center has a proven record of being a hate group in its own right.

How GuideStar could consider using the SPLC for honest input—or input of any organization like it—goes beyond sane thinking.

Germany went through a similar thing in the 1930s, turning the good people into criminals and then murdering them. It is a well-known fact that history repeats itself when history is suppressed. But we are fortunate to have many who know history and will not let truth die.—Don Cauley

***

Jacob Harold, if you are going to remain GuideStar’s president and chief executive officer, you shouldn’t be a political activist. There is a built-in perceived conflict of interest.

But if you are an activist, you should preserve the integrity of GuideStar and create well-publicized firewalls to ensure your political activities and viewpoints do not influence your company’s activities and decisions. Admittedly a high bar, but that’s why GuideStar’s leader shouldn’t be a political activist in the first place.

You have, of course, crossed the line on all of the above.—Mark Simmons

Regarding Rachel del Guidice’s story about GuideStar, the company that tracks nonprofits and identifies some conservative-led organizations as “hate groups,” I find the label helpful. These are the groups I will donate to.—Rob Brooks

***

GuideStar and the Southern Poverty Law Center might as well paint a target on each of the organizations they identify as hate groups. And I am dead serious after what happened when Republican leaders were targeted.—Corey W. Smith

***

Truth is hate speech to those who hate the truth.—Daniel Kenneth Rousselle

***

Obviously this GuideStar group lives in the liberal anti-reality bubble. Why would anyone find it credible? GuideStar is like the far left: out of touch with the real world.—Kathy Garry Moynan

***

I had never heard of GuideStar before this. I trust nothing and no one who relies on the Southern Poverty Law Center, because it is a hate group.—Ford Hanson

Nonprofit Tracker GuideStar Smears Dozens of Conservative Organizations as ‘Hate Groups’ https://t.co/RhtPkWu8sW via @LRacheldG @DailySignal

— Ryan T. Anderson (@RyanTAnd) June 21, 2017

If the SPLC were as vigorous in attacking hate groups on the left, maybe it would have more credibility.—Doug Wallace

***

I wonder what organizations and persons are big funders of GuideStar?—Doug A. Cullinan

***

It is wrong when an organization like the SPLC becomes a hate group in itself by abusing its power when it identifies anyone as hateful with whom it agrees. Disagreement and hate do not equate, but the way the SPLC does business, those words are synonymous … making it the most hateful entity involved.—Tor Anderson

***

The SPLC fails to recognize the Council on American-Islamic Relations as being a hate group.—Jeff Davis

***

The left has more power than we think. How “The Communist Manifesto” became required reading at most universities, including Penn State, while the Constitution became known as a racist document, is unfathomable.

Conservatives are not bad people. We want our constitutional rights preserved, which is exactly why America elected Donald Trump.—Walter Swartz

***

I believed in and contributed to the Southern Poverty Law Center when it was first formed. I saw and wanted to fight oppression.

When that battle was largely won, the SPLC—like a carnivore in search of fresh meat—had to justify its existence. It fell victim to that contagious, evil transformation, much like many other organizations I used to support.

I didn’t leave the Southern Poverty Law Center. The SPLC, and others, left me. They have become the oppressors.—Joanna Brannon Jones

Conservative non-profits are being designated as “hate groups.” Do you think it’s an attack on conservative ideas? https://t.co/oSjOwF0FzK pic.twitter.com/ubPUoxjWm0

— The Daily Signal (@DailySignal) July 3, 2017

There is no doubt that the SPLC initiated the practice of labeling conservatives—or anyone daring to protect traditional marriage—as hate groups, which makes it the supreme hater of all time.

It has been a moneymaking machine and targets the most vulnerable so it can extract as big a dollar amount as possible. The Daily Signal should ask those running GuideStar: How much money is in it for you?—Joan Smurthwaite

***

The SPLC served a useful purpose in its day. Now it has devolved into an anti-white hate group and has turned into the very thing it fought against.—J.A. Lessard

***

I am the furthest thing from a fan of the Southern Poverty Law Center, but in the interest of full disclosure I must say that it lists the Nation of Islam and the New Black Panthers under a section on black separatist groups, a class of organizations of which they disapprove.—Paul McCosby

***

I find it hysterical that there is a video of the FBI’s interview of Family Research Council attacker Floyd Corkins in your story (“Nonprofit Tracker Smears Dozens of Conservative Organizations as ‘Hate Groups’”). The FBI no longer considers the Southern Poverty Law Center an authority on hate-crime investigations. Enough said.—Michael Schaefer

Nonprofit tracker @GuideStarUSA to remove “hate group” labels on conservative groups https://t.co/fN3ylUbrcr via @LRacheldG @DailySignal

— Rob Bluey (@RobertBluey) June 26, 2017

GuideStar CEO Jacob Harold—who also is described on the company’s website as a social change strategist—is trying to play God, if you ask me (“Nonprofit Tracker to Remove ‘Hate Group’ Labels on Conservative Groups for ‘Time Being’”).

He is purposely pushing a social agenda diametrically opposed to the Founding Fathers’ idea of what America should look like. Am I hitting the nail on the head, Mr. Harold? —Kim Edgar Underwood Runyan

***

Why are groups that express sincerely held religious beliefs, founded in Holy Writ, labeled as hate groups?—Neill McArthur

pic.twitter.com/aMPGcMXp2c

— Jacob Harold (@jacobcharold) January 23, 2017

After reading Rachel del Guidice’s story on Liberty Counsel’s filing suit against GuideStar (“Defender of Religious Freedom Sues Nonprofit Tracker GuideStar Over ‘Hate Group’ Labels”), I am wondering: When does the Southern Poverty Law Center become labeled a hate group?

There is a lot of hate coming from that organization these days. One thing it doesn’t hate is money: In 2015, the salary of its president and chief executive officer, Richard Cohen, was nearly $350,000. Seems there’s not much poverty at the SPLC.—Rod Frisco

***

It is obvious that the SPLC no longer represents its founding principles, but has become the very ideology of hate it used to fight. Sad.—Yvonne Franck Gray

***

So great to hear Liberty Counsel is taking GuideStar to court.—Patricia Travitz

How Environmental Groups Are Responding to Trump’s ‘Solar Wall’ Pitch https://t.co/d6aq606RN3 via @FredLucasWH @DailySignal

— John Richardson (@jpr9954) June 26, 2017

The President’s Proposal to Put Solar Panels on the Wall

Dear Daily Signal: I like the idea of combining two separate ideas into one (“How Environmental Groups Are Responding to Trump’s ‘Solar Wall’ Pitch”). Yet I think they should be done apart from each other, and then made to work together for the their intended purposes: solar energy to power all outposts, and maybe even nearby towns, and the border wall to help protect our nation from illegal intrusion.

Putting the solar panels on the wall could become disastrous, or end up being ingenious for future uses for cleaner energy. Maybe the wall not only can help protect our country, but also protect the solar panels. This could be either a great mistake, or a great innovation. But I truly think it is a great idea.—Scott Moore

***

That’s a great idea, solar panels on the border wall. Let’s see how well they work in providing electricity for some in that area. Great testing ground for the sustainability of solar panels in the long haul.

Of course, the usual lefties of all stripes will object because President Trump is not of the approved minority or victim class of the moment.

Anyone notice how if one so-called victim class is dealt with, another one comes to the forefront demanding their “rights” to take precedence over everyone else’s? I’m having difficulty keeping a straight face with each new demand from whomever.—Jules P. Guidry

***

My biggest issue with the idea of putting solar panels on the wall is that they will be vandalized or stolen almost immediately.—James Bowen

***

Actually it wouldn’t be a bad idea if the solar panels weren’t so fragile. I still think confiscated drug money should be used to build the border wall. And since so many other nations have walls, including Mexico I might add, I think it is past time we built one.—Pamela Rich

***

People who don’t acknowledge the impact of population growth on the environment have no right to call themselves “environmentalists,” especially the bogus Sierra Club. Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson said those who say they’re for the environment but against limiting immigration—which today represents nearly 90 percent of our population growth—are “phonies.”—Dave Gorak

***

It sounds to me that the assumption for the solar panels on the wall is to generate electricity for the United States. Is anyone talking about using the panels to electrify the fence, so that people didn’t grab hold of it? Just wondering.—Ron Bacon

Study: Up2 5.7 Million Noncitizens Voted in Past Presidential Elections. Voter Fraud?https://t.co/uZt3MkO7lw via @FredLucasWH @DailySignal

— Glen T (@ggeett37aaa) June 23, 2017

How Are We Doing?

Dear Daily Signal: Election integrity is a very serious matter, indeed, as Fred Lucas reports, as well as is the failure of the mainstream media (“Up to 5.7 Million Noncitizens Voted in Presidential Elections, Study Finds”). I am a long-time supporter of Judicial Watch, and contribute to the American Center for Law and Justice and to The Heritage Foundation as I can, on a fixed income as a retiree and veteran. It does not leave me much room. However, I will contribute as I can to The Daily Signal.

In my view, this country now faces the greatest threat from internal subversion since the Civil War. I am well informed of the nature and progression of the radical left, whose roots go back to communism in the ’60s. Especially troubling is how such a significant percentage of Americans, especially the young, seems to have no perception or concern over the nature of this threat. Keep up your good work.—Evan Tibbott

***

You state that you provide only “conservative commentary and policy analysis,” but think of the following you’d have if you gave both sides of the issues, a one-stop shop so to say. You would definitely have my attention.—Davis Pitt

***

Thank you to Fred Lucas for his honest and fair reporting. We need more journalists like him. We’ve got too much fake news that does not even address what is going on in politics, let alone what matters to the public. Keep up the good work.—Catherine Pendergraft

***

I enjoy reading your posts, as they are useful. However, I referred one of my left-of-center D.C. “insider” friends to The Daily Signal site and he pointed out in glee that the German army published a magazine called Signal during World War II.

He added that the “S” logo in black at the top of your site tends to echo the old WWII Nazi symbols, “therefore” sending dog whistles to the ultra-right-wing types. I know, really. I am just passing this on. Continued success with The Daily Signal.—Robert Arnold, Sonoma, Calif.

***

I do not understand how, in light of the many articles published on unclean voter rolls, the media and Democratic politicians can continue to go unchallenged when spewing, “There is no voter fraud.”—C. Biklip

***

I fear for my country!—Johanna

The post We Hear You: GuideStar, Parroting SPLC, Loses Way in ‘Hate Group’ Rhetoric appeared first on The Daily Signal.

from http://www.therightnewsnetwork.com/we-hear-you-guidestar-parroting-splc-loses-way-in-hate-group-rhetoric/

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patriotnewsblogger-blog · 7 years

Text

We Hear You: GuideStar, Parroting SPLC, Loses Way in ‘Hate Group’ Rhetoric

New Post has been published on http://www.therightnewsnetwork.com/we-hear-you-guidestar-parroting-splc-loses-way-in-hate-group-rhetoric/

We Hear You: GuideStar, Parroting SPLC, Loses Way in ‘Hate Group’ Rhetoric

How GuideStar could consider using the SPLC for honest input—or input of any organization like it—goes beyond sane thinking.

***

Jacob Harold, if you are going to remain GuideStar’s president and chief executive officer, you shouldn’t be a political activist. There is a built-in perceived conflict of interest.

You have, of course, crossed the line on all of the above.—Mark Simmons

***

Truth is hate speech to those who hate the truth.—Daniel Kenneth Rousselle

***

Obviously this GuideStar group lives in the liberal anti-reality bubble. Why would anyone find it credible? GuideStar is like the far left: out of touch with the real world.—Kathy Garry Moynan

***

I had never heard of GuideStar before this. I trust nothing and no one who relies on the Southern Poverty Law Center, because it is a hate group.—Ford Hanson

Nonprofit Tracker GuideStar Smears Dozens of Conservative Organizations as ‘Hate Groups’ https://t.co/RhtPkWu8sW via @LRacheldG @DailySignal

— Ryan T. Anderson (@RyanTAnd) June 21, 2017

If the SPLC were as vigorous in attacking hate groups on the left, maybe it would have more credibility.—Doug Wallace

***

I wonder what organizations and persons are big funders of GuideStar?—Doug A. Cullinan

***

The SPLC fails to recognize the Council on American-Islamic Relations as being a hate group.—Jeff Davis

***

Conservatives are not bad people. We want our constitutional rights preserved, which is exactly why America elected Donald Trump.—Walter Swartz

***

I believed in and contributed to the Southern Poverty Law Center when it was first formed. I saw and wanted to fight oppression.

I didn’t leave the Southern Poverty Law Center. The SPLC, and others, left me. They have become the oppressors.—Joanna Brannon Jones

Conservative non-profits are being designated as “hate groups.” Do you think it’s an attack on conservative ideas? https://t.co/oSjOwF0FzK pic.twitter.com/ubPUoxjWm0

— The Daily Signal (@DailySignal) July 3, 2017

There is no doubt that the SPLC initiated the practice of labeling conservatives—or anyone daring to protect traditional marriage—as hate groups, which makes it the supreme hater of all time.

***

The SPLC served a useful purpose in its day. Now it has devolved into an anti-white hate group and has turned into the very thing it fought against.—J.A. Lessard

***

Nonprofit tracker @GuideStarUSA to remove “hate group” labels on conservative groups https://t.co/fN3ylUbrcr via @LRacheldG @DailySignal

— Rob Bluey (@RobertBluey) June 26, 2017

***

Why are groups that express sincerely held religious beliefs, founded in Holy Writ, labeled as hate groups?—Neill McArthur

pic.twitter.com/aMPGcMXp2c

— Jacob Harold (@jacobcharold) January 23, 2017

***

It is obvious that the SPLC no longer represents its founding principles, but has become the very ideology of hate it used to fight. Sad.—Yvonne Franck Gray

***

So great to hear Liberty Counsel is taking GuideStar to court.—Patricia Travitz

How Environmental Groups Are Responding to Trump’s ‘Solar Wall’ Pitch https://t.co/d6aq606RN3 via @FredLucasWH @DailySignal

— John Richardson (@jpr9954) June 26, 2017

The President’s Proposal to Put Solar Panels on the Wall

***

Of course, the usual lefties of all stripes will object because President Trump is not of the approved minority or victim class of the moment.

***

My biggest issue with the idea of putting solar panels on the wall is that they will be vandalized or stolen almost immediately.—James Bowen

***

Study: Up2 5.7 Million Noncitizens Voted in Past Presidential Elections. Voter Fraud?https://t.co/uZt3MkO7lw via @FredLucasWH @DailySignal

— Glen T (@ggeett37aaa) June 23, 2017

How Are We Doing?

***

I fear for my country!—Johanna

The post We Hear You: GuideStar, Parroting SPLC, Loses Way in ‘Hate Group’ Rhetoric appeared first on The Daily Signal.

http://www.therightnewsnetwork.com/we-hear-you-guidestar-parroting-splc-loses-way-in-hate-group-rhetoric/ %cats%

#conservative #republican

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