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Week 13 Starts: Be thankful you made it this far
Start or Sit, Waiver Wire December 1, 2013 JacobLeave a comment
We'll keep things short and sweet this week so you can get back to enjoying those leftovers.
We didn't cover waiver wire picks this week because turkey is distracting, but you can peruse the late additions suggested by FantasyPros, ESPN, Rotoworld, and Keepers. Buffalo Bills D/ST…oh, how I wish I could get you. Continue reading →
Alex Smith, Bobby Rainey, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, fantasy football playoffs, Josh McCown, Lamar Miller, Michael Floyd, pickups, sits, sleepers, starts, T.Y. Hilton
Sorry, Kolb. Michael Vick starts in Philadelphia after all
News September 22, 2010 JacobLeave a comment
Sometimes you draft poorly. I'm told it happens.
You may end up with a worthless set of running backs — guys who got too old without letting you know that you should remove them from your draft board. Maybe you ended up with a horrible corps of wide receivers — the worst of the worst who couldn't catch a ball if their life depended on it.
Maybe the quarterback you set your sights on just can't seem to get it through his head which color his team's jerseys are, and he spends his free time checking down to the running back before he is pummeled by the defense.
Maybe you just drafted a bunch of Buffalo Bills.
When you come to grips with the reality that your fantasy football team needs work, you wish and wish upon a star that someone would save you, that somehow, someway, a top 10 quarterback would drop from the heavens and into your lap — someone to help you rise above your 0-2 record.
Well…that just happened. Michael Vick is now the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Oh, and all you guys who picked him up to start in Week 2 and just happened to land him for the entire season…for shame.
We would say more, but we won't because it's clear that you've made a deal with the devil, and that's not the kind of juju I want coming after my own fantasy football team.
backups, Buffalo Bills, Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, pickups, QB, quarterback, starts
Foolish Thoughts: Marc Bulger and Sunday Night Sadness
Culture, News November 3, 2009 Jacob1 Comment
Baseball stole our Sunday Night Football. How is that fair? Give it back, World Series. I demand it.
I'm fine with baseball as long as I don't have to sit through an entire game. In my opinion, it should be played in highlight form, jumping to the major parts and leaving out all the rest.
Pitching change? No, sir. You should only be able to make a change between innings. You play yourself out of your own mess, pitcher.
We could also probably speed things up by not using a third baseman. If you get past second, you have to beat the catcher to home plate or get caught trying.
Yeah, yeah, I know that ruins all that "for the love of the game" stuff, but baseball hasn't done it for me for several years now. I am all for going to a game in person, but watching a game on TV is just…not the same.
And besides, the first minute baseball interferes with my football, it violates my rights. I think it's fair to hold a grudge. I was forced to watch the Favre-Favre-Favre-fest in Green Bay, and then it was just over. Done.
But at least they put on National Treasure.
Fantasy Football Fools has a new enemy.
Patrick Crayton gets a pass this week. He's settled in nicely to his role as the slot receiver and returner for the Cowboys.
No, the new bane of my existence is one Marc Bulger, quarterback of the St. Louis Rams and the only human incapable of throwing a touchdown pass against the Lions.
It was a bit of a sleeper pick — okay, a lot of a sleeper pick — to toss him into my starting lineups this week, but it was out of necessity in one league.
Believe it or not, the blogger league I am in was smart enough to stock up on quarterbacks this year. I got hosed in the draft at quarterback and ended up with only Carson Palmer and Trent Edwards. Edwards has since been dropped for bench depth and pure worthlessness.
Palmer's bye week in Week 8 left me wanting, so I went to the waiver wire only to find that Bulger was the best it had to offer. I almost pulled off the victory, even with Bulger's pathetic 5.3-point performance, but the Saints defense butchered me in the end.
In the Buffalo Wild Wings All-Star Blogger league, I went with Bulger over Mark Sanchez, mostly due to a fear that Sanchez would do just enough to win. Surely, Marc Bulger, facing the defenseless Detroit Lions, could put up a touchdown, maybe even two touchdowns.
How could I be so foolish…
Luckily, I pulled off the win without Bulger in the BWW league thanks to a clutch performance from Tony Gonzalez and a low-scoring week for my opponent, but Bulger is still not to be trusted.
It's not like you own him in any leagues, but Bulger is all that is wrong with mankind. When the time arises to do what is necessary, he fails miserably, even with the odds in his favor. Bulger is Mr. Glass to everyone else's unbreakable Bruce Willis. He's the even more obscure movie reference to that movie reference.
To his credit, he's not getting a lot of help out there from his offensive line, but he does have Steven Jackson fighting like a champ for extra yards on every play.
In short, he's not going to be on my team come Week 9, and I'll be a better man for it.
Okay, okay. I agree that starting Beanie Wells wasn't the smartest move. But if the Cardinals hadn't been forced to pass after going down early — what happened to that run defense? — we might have seen a completely different outcome for Beanie.
As it happened, Andre Johnson was definitely the stronger start, but neither player blew anybody out of the water this week. The Texans were slowed by the Buffalo Bills' passing defense, but the Bills' run defense was pathetic, just as advertised.
Ryan Moats, most known for being abused by police, took over the running duties after Steve Slaton was benched for fumbling, and Moats tried his best to earn a larger portion of the duties moving forward. He scored three touchdowns, and if you own Slaton, he probably caused you a minor aneurysm.
The best part? It's anybody's guess what this means for Slaton and Moats going forward. Moats could be in line for the starting job. Slaton owners better just try to lock up both backs while they can.
Slaton's been disappointing enough, but there's no sense allowing the Houston running game to slip from your grasp by ignoring Moats' big day.
Apparently, we shouldn't have been so worried about LaDainian Tomlinson, but for a two-touchdown day, the yardage wasn't there. Just 56 yards and not a single reception? That doesn't have me screaming "He's back" in the street anytime soon.
I loved Matt Forte last season. He was my best pick in the draft last year, and I rode his consistency all the way into the fantasy playoffs. But he's just not getting the job done this year.
The offensive line isn't helping him in the running game, and Jay Cutler has the ability to make plays through the air when the game is close rather than checking down to Forte like Kyle Orton was fond of doing last year.
Without those check-down passes, Forte suffers against tough run defenses. He has only shown up against the Lions and this week against the Browns.
If you have the opportunity, I wouldn't hesitate to trade him, but try to get the greatest value you can for a guy who was drafted with a top-five pick this year.
Is the AFC East the most unpredictable division in football? Just when you think that you know how a game is going to turn out, they spin it on you.
I lucked into starting the Miami defense in one league, but how we were to expect the Dolphins would beat the Jets again? And this time off the returning skills of Ted Ginn?
The Patriots need to get back to form to make everything normal again.
Steven Jackson finally scored a touchdown. The world shook. The seas parted, and it'll probably never happen again in 2009. Single tear. He deserves many more for the way he's been running this year, but the schedule is not in his favor.
Andre Johnson, Arizona Cardinals, Beanie Wells, Brett Favre, Buffalo Bills, Carson Palmer, Chicago Bears, Chris Wells, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Jay Cutler, Kyle Orton, LaDainian Tomlinson, Marc Bulger, Matt Forte, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, Patrick Crayton, Ryan Moats, St. Louis Rams, Steve Slaton, Steven Jackson, Sunday Night Football, Ted Ginn, Tony Gonzalez, Trent Edwards, World Series
Starting Beanie Wells over Andre Johnson: Smart Play or Crazy Talk?
Culture, Start or Sit October 31, 2009 Jacob1 Comment
In a fantasy football group I participate in each week, Fantasy Football Fanatics on LinkedIn, I recommended going with Beanie Wells in a flex spot over Andre Johnson this week.
Am I crazy or is this smart strategy? I'm going with the numbers here.
My argument for going with Beanie:
There is definitely a huge risk factor in starting Beanie. Still, he's a hot hand and I'd go with my gut on him.
I really don't think A.J. is going to go this week. He has a bruised lung. That hurts (I can only imagine.) Besides, the Texans know they probably don't need him to beat the Bills.
If he plays, he'll likely be limited and share time with Jacoby Jones and Andre Davis. Then, you have to consider how tough the Bills have been against opposing wide receivers. Actually, they've been the best. Just check out the stats at FF Today. Meanwhile, Buffalo ranks first on this chart for fantasy points allowed to running backs. Steve Slaton, I like. Andre, I don't.
This could be Andre Johnson's worst week of this season, so that's where I'm coming from in going with Beanie vs. Carolina (tenth most fantasy points allowed to running backs) in a game that could be controlled by defense and the running games.
I am fine with starting either, but Beanie's matchup wins my vote.
It's definitely one of those decisions that I'm going out on a limb to make. The safe play is always to start your studs. At least when they fail, you can say they didn't show up for you, rather than admitting that you made a stupid guess.
So what say the foolish masses? Is this a smart play? Would you start Beanie? Or would you rather play it safe with Andre Johnson, banged-up and facing a receiver-squashing Bills defense?
Andre Davis, Andre Johnson, Arizona Cardinals, Beanie Wells, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chris Wells, Fantasy Football Fanatics, flex spot, Houston Texans, Jacoby Jones, running back, Steve Slaton, wide receiver
On the Wire: Week 8 Pickups, Sleepers, Sadness and Fantasy Basketball
Waiver Wire October 27, 2009 Jacob1 Comment
Another critical bye week hits us right where it hurts, in the middle of the season. At least this week provides us with a few more players that have value from now until the end of the season.
If anyone was silly enough not to pick up Miles Austin after I talked about him for the past two weeks and recommended him as a sleeper start this past week, well, there's always fantasy basketball, right?
Kidding, of course. Don't do that to yourself.
I played fantasy basketball for one season a couple of years ago, and after several weeks of setting lineups only to discover I was simply filling in active players into slots based on their game schedule, I spent an afternoon setting my roster through the end of the season. I made no pickups, no drops, and no changes for the entire second half.
I finished third.
I'm sure there are more competitive leagues out there with better scoring systems, different lineups and interesting rules, but it just hasn't caught my eye yet. Sorry, guys.
The fact that fantasy basketball overlaps with fantasy football pretty much rules me out of ever being able to really get into it. I plan on dominating my opponents deep into the NFL season on my way to a championship, there's no time to check on whether Blake Griffin is back from his injury.
Guys I've mentioned before who we won't get into today but who also might still be on the waiver wire in no particular order: Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys; Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings; Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles; Justin Fargas, RB, Raiders; Andre Caldwell, WR, Bengals; Mike Bell, RB, Saints; Donnie Avery, WR, Rams; Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Colts; Tony Scheffler, TE, Broncos. (If you want to talk about these fools, drop me a line in the comments.)
Hot Claims
Shonn Greene, RB, New York Jets
Greene wins the top spot because he has the potential to dominate in a nice offense. His yardage and two touchdowns were in mop-up duty in Oakland. He'll get a few carries to spell Thomas Jones now that Leon Washington is out for the season, but their running styles are so similar that it would take an injury, fall from grace or a Larry-Johnson-esque Twitter blow up for Jones to give a significant portion of his carries to Greene.
I do like him though when he gets his chance. This rookie has that drive that makes players successful in the NFL. Being gigantisaurus behind one of the best run-blocking lines in football doesn't hurt either.
Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco 49ers
You know, two years ago, a guy in one of my fantasy leagues said that Alex Smith was going to the Super Bowl when he drafted him as his starting quarterback in the late rounds.
It was right off the heels of Frank Gore's massive season, and this guy, who shall remain nameless, always has a knack for making outrageous claims during fantasy football drafts. Needless to say, he didn't finish the season with Alex Smith under center.
But Smith looked like a total badass against the Texans on Sunday in leading the 49ers to three scores, all to Vernon Davis. True, he didn't get the win, but he did win the starting job in San Francisco. Give him a week or two to feel comfortable in the role, and Alex Smith might just live up to expectations. This week's matchup against the Colts will test his ability to make a play when it counts.
He's got the weapons with Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan. Maybe revival is in the cards for this former first-round pick.
Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Is this Beanie finally awakening to the speed of the NFL? The Cardinals looked to Beanie Wells over Tim Hightower to carry the run game against the Giants this week, and he did. He even notched himself his first NFL score.
It may be a mix of these backs from week to week, but Wells is certainly the most talented in Arizona.
If Beanie can build upon this success, he could be a great add for the second half of the season. The Cardinals have been winning through their defense, and a control-the-clock running game would compliment that very nicely.
Potential Contributors
Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Pure potential again here, but with Larry Johnson blowing up about his coach's experience on Twitter and general habit of getting himself (and the ladies) into trouble, I think it's a good bet we see more of Charles in the coming weeks.
From his time at Texas, I can tell you that he's no specialist at holding onto the ball, nor is he built to be an every-down back. But what he does have is some blazing speed and moves in the open field. If the Chiefs start featuring him, they'll probably try and go the Darren Sproles route with him.
Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Call it a slow build, but the diva looks worthy of ownership by season's end. He could have a nice finish, like a great wine but with an idiot for an agent.
Jason Snelling, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Snelling is filling in while Jerious Norwood sits out with more injuries. He showed some burst against the Cowboys, but Michael Turner is still the workhorse of this offense. Snelling's not really someone I'd want to depend on in any given week, but he's a warm body if you have a hole to fill this week.
Sigh, that's what she said.
Fred Davis, TE, Washington Redskins
Chris Cooley might be out of the year with that ankle injury, and in his stead, Davis caught the passes and a touchdown. Cooley has been the leading receiver for the Redskins so far this year, and Davis would pick up that torch easily. He's not much of a blocker, so expect the Redskins to look deeper on the roster to fill that void left by Cooley at the line. Davis will be all about the passing game.
If you've been hurting for a tight end thus far, now's your chance to snag one who could be in line for a starting role. But then again, he's still on the Redskins.
Donald Lee, TE, Green Bay Packers
Jermichael Finley's knee injury should keep him out for at least a few weeks. That leaves Lee alone in the starting role, and he should take advantage as the passing game in Green Bay lights up opponents these next few weeks.
If Cooley's out for the year, Davis is the better long-term grab, but Lee could definitely have the bigger games for the next few weeks.
Buffalo Bills D/ST
I don't know how they do it, but even banged-up and missing key players, this defense has created turnovers. The secondary is making up for this defenses weakness in stopping the run, and they just might be worth hanging onto in your league if you used them as a fill this week against Carolina.
Right now, they're a top-10 fantasy defense.
Names I Keep Mentioning
Mike Wallace, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
As I said before, Wallace has designed plays coming his way every week in this newly christened Steelers' passing offense. He should be a reliable fill-in when needed even if he can't reproduce his yardage and touchdown from Week 7 every week you need him.
New Orleans Saints D/ST
Darren Sharper is the man, and as long the Saints keep the lead, this defense is going to create turnovers all day long. Even trap games like this week against Miami turn into decent performances thanks to Sharper's ability to find the end zone when he gets the ball in his hands.
Denver Broncos D/ST
Coming off a bye week, don't forget about the surprise defense of the year. Mike Nolan is making adjustments that win games, and the Broncos are getting to the quarterback. If no one else has taken a chance on them this year, maybe you should.
For more waiver wire pickups, visit The Hazean, Fanhouse, Fantasy Joe, Lester's Legends, Fantasy Football Librarian, The FF Geek Blog and FF Toolbox.
As always, the comments are yours. Discuss. Refute. Deny. Bring the funny.
Alex Smith, Andre Caldwell, Anthony Gonzalez, Beanie Wells, Buffalo Bills, Chris Cooley, Chris Wells, Darren Sproles, Denver Broncos, Donald Lee, Donnie Avery, fantasy basketball, Frank Gore, Fred Davis, Jamaal Charles, Jason Snelling, Jeremy Maclin, Jerious Norwood, Jermichael Finley, Josh Morgan, Justin Fargas, Michael Crabtree, Michael Turner, Mike Bell, Mike Wallace, Miles Austin, New Orleans Saints, pickups, Shonn Greene, Sidney Rice, sleeper, studs, Tony Scheffler, Vernon Davis
The real concern with T.O.'s lack of production thus far
Tips & Strategy October 14, 2009 Jacob3 Comments
Some will say not to get rid of the superstar wide receiver, but Terrell Owens' time to make an impact in Buffalo is running out. As the season goes on and the weather in Buffalo turns colder, the Bills' passing game is at the mercy of the elements.
For the past two years, Lee Evans has seen his numbers decline in late November and December when the running game and Marshawn Lynch are far more effective than Trent Edwards, who turns into a pumpkin midseason.
Granted, Edwards hasn't been concussed this season…yet, but Edwards hasn't proven he can finish strong for the Bills either. This season, he hasn't even started strong.
So if you're a T.O. owner, things could get worse, much worse. T.O. could see the same drop Lee Evans has had as Buffalo looks to the running game at home, but I guess if you look at it on the bright side, there isn't much of a drop for his numbers to take since Edwards has squandered the talent in the passing game thus far.
If T.O. can't get productive this month — and by this month, I mean this week — the window is going to start closing fast for him to have any value this season.
Not to mention, as old as T.O. is, the cold may make him more prone to injury, slower to heal or otherwise limit his playmaking ability. T.O. takes care of himself. He's a quick healer, but Owens has never played a full season for a cold weather team like Buffalo.
So that's the real concern if you're holding onto T.O. It's not that he hasn't produced so far; it's that he might run out of time to produce at all if he doesn't get going soon.
If you have any offers on the table to take T.O. off your hands, I'd take the best one. He may have a few spectacular games in him this year, but I'd rather not be tasked with determining when or if it will happen for him.
If you have no offers, you're stuck with him. All you can do is hope that he gets it together sooner rather than later.
Buffalo Bills, fantasy stock watch, Lee Evans, Marshawn Lynch, Terrell Owens, trade, Trent Edwards, veterans, weather, wide receiver, WR
Shameless Plugging: Surprising Receivers and Disappointing Starts
Site News October 1, 2009 JacobLeave a comment
While imagining the possibilities of Vince Young returning to his starting job — Hey, it could happen… Maybe? In special packages? — I contributed to a few other articles around the Web that I just wanted to share.
While a little outdated after Laurent Robinson's injury this week, I participated in the Fourth & 1 Debate, a fantasy football roundtable debate, last week with several other fantasy football bloggers and experts around the Interwebs. In this debate, we discussed our favorite surprise receivers this season.
Spoiler Alert: I selected Laurent Robinson, Devery Henderson and Percy Harvin.
Laurent Robinson may have been the first victim of the Fourth & 1 curse, which I just invented after this debate. Let's see if it becomes as deadly as the Madden curse before the end of this season…
In addition to last week's roundtable, I also sent out an open letter to Trent Edwards on the Buffalo Wild Wings All-Star Bloggers League site.
I started Trent Edwards in just one league in Week 3 and put Fred Jackson in my lineup for many others. Let's just say that I had plenty of reasons to be frustrated watching the Saints-Buffalo game turn into a defensive showdown while Edwards ran a clinic on failing to live up to expectations.
Some would say it's a good thing that Edwards looks scared to throw the ball more than 10 yards for my fantasy teams stocked with Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch, but I was not too happy with his Week 3 fizzle.
Maybe he'll soon remember that he plays offense, or maybe Buffalo is just doomed. He's one player I wouldn't be too upset about hitting with the Fourth & 1 curse.
Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Wild Wings, Devery Henderson, fantasy football roundtable, Fred Jackson, Kerry Collins, Laurent Robinson, Marshawn Lynch, Percy Harvin, Trent Edwards, Vince Young
Foolish Thoughts: The Brady Bench, Law of Averages and Josh Johnson
Culture, News September 28, 2009 Jacob1 Comment
Since graduating college, I've occasionally had a dream that I was still taking finals. In the dream, I wake up and realize that I have a final that very day, but it's for a class that I didn't know I was taking and haven't attended even one day that semester.
Right about the time that I start to try to cram for the test or figure out a way to drop the class at the last minute, I wake up. I still don't even know what subject it is. I'm going to guess it's something scary like basket weaving.
I like to imagine that dream is exactly how Brady Quinn feels when he hits the field, except for that whole wake up part.
In the preseason, Quinn barely edged out Derek Anderson for the starting job. Since then, he's put on a clinic on how to lose said starting job. His conservative play and quick passes haven't been able to overcome the failings of the Browns as a whole. Without Kellen Winslow, his short-passing ways have neutered the offense of its ability to generate big plays, and in Sunday's brutalization by the Baltimore Ravens, Mangenius had finally had enough to pull Quinn and his 34 passing yards, no touchdowns and one interception for Anderson in the second half.
But Anderson provided little relief for the Browns. He promptly fired three more interceptions into the Baltimore Ravens' defense and called it a day. After this 34-3 loss, the Browns still have no answer at the quarterback position. And, of course, a harbinger of death over Mangini's head for some reason.
Maybe it's not so far-fetched to think that Brett Ratliff, who came over from Mangini's former team when the Jets traded with the Browns in the 2009 NFL draft, could become Mangini's guy in Cleveland.
Fantasy owners have no reason to be involved with this Browns offense right now. It's not going to be pretty, and very few fantasy points are going to go around. Braylon Edwards is the only Brown worth waiting on this season. The rest are simply waiver wire fodder.
Truffle Shuffle in Tampa Bay
Byron Leftwich went from first to worst after Sunday's deflation against the New York Giants. He's now the third quarterback on the depth chart behind rookie and heir to the throne Josh Freeman and newly-named starter Josh Johnson.
So who is Josh Johnson? A bit of a sleeper at the position, Johnson was drafted by Jon Gruden to be Tampa's quarterback of the future — among a pack of quarterbacks during Gruden's time in Tampa Bay. He had a little hype coming out of college as a great athlete with a pass-first mentality, but the Bucs coaching staff felt he needed a little more work on his accuracy.
Fast-forward to this past Sunday, and Johnson was able to triple Byron Leftwich's performance in just the final minutes of play against the Giants, which really only means that he has a pulse and moves without having to use the sonar moans of a whale.
Draftguys TV took a look at Josh Johnson before the 2008 draft to break down all his mechanics.
Henne Replaces Penny — It's finally that time, but don't expect things to get better in Miami. Chad Pennington's good decisions kept the Dolphins from turning the ball over last season, and Chad Henne may not be so lucky against the Dolphins' tougher schedule now that Pennington is no longer an option.
Well, Once in Every 20 Games — The Lions finally defeated that monkey on their back — not Matt Millen, but the 19-game losing streak. Law of averages says it was bound to happen, but for the Redskins, this loss could be the beginning of the end for Jim Zorn.
Rated PG-13 — The 49ers should be without Frank Gore for the next three weeks while he recovers from a high ankle sprain he suffered early in Sunday's game against the Vikings. That gives Glen Coffee a few weeks to shine for those who stashed him on their bench and gave ol' "Silver Fox" just enough to take a victory on Sunday. Also of note, Vernon Davis came alive in this one, but we cannot confirm or deny if he's on the rise. Such is the way of the elusive Vernon.
It Puts the O in T.O. — It won't be long before T.O.'s breaking into other Buffalo Bills' houses to look for all those passes he's not getting. For the first time since 1997, T.O. didn't catch a single pass. I'm pretty sure Trent Edwards forgot that Lee Evans and Terrell Owens are on the team. Someone send that kid a memo.
Is it over? — How bad were most of the early games this week? I found myself wanting to take a nap during Sunday's afternoon games, when most of the players looked like they were down for the count themselves. When not even Drew Brees can save us, there's a problem.
2009 draft, Baltimore Ravens, Brady Quinn, Braylon Edwards, Brett Favre, Brett Ratliff, Buffalo Bills, Byron Leftwich, Chad Henne, Chad Pennington, Cleveland Browns, Derek Anderson, Detroit Lions, Drew Brees, Eric Mangini, Frank Gore, Glen Coffee, Josh Freeman, Josh Johnson, Kellen Winslow, Lee Evans, Miami Dolphins, NFL, NFL draft, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Terrell Owens, Trent Edwards, Vernon Davis, Washington Redskins
Foolish Thoughts: They aren't who we thought they were
Culture, News September 14, 2009 Jacob5 Comments
Oh, Week 1, you cruel, cruel mistress. Just when we think we have it all figured out, the perfect team, the perfect season, you bring us back to reality.
Yes, this week we had football — real NFL football. Football that counted! But we also saw how the offseason, that tricky devil that fills in the gap between the Super Bowl and the next weekend we care about, deceives us. Those positive, uplifting stories melt away when Jake Delhomme throws more picks than Aerosmith, and the St. Louis Rams fail to notch a single point against an NFC West opponent.
It's sobering, if sober is your thing, to see your team come back down to earth. Well, back down to earth if you weren't starting Drew Brees. If you have Brees, you get to look like a genius this week. And we all hate you. Oh, and you too, Adrian Peterson owners. No one liked that you got the first pick anyway, and now, they get to build on that grudge when A.P. blows up in the first week.
There are only a few people who can tell you exactly how they are going to beat you and then do it right before your eyes — Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Steve Jobs come to mind. None of them are football players. At the end of the day, any team could stop one individual player from playing their game in a given week. It just so happens that giving your opponent an entire offseason to prepare tends to really give them a great game plan against your offensive stars.
But such is fantasy football. If knowing what you were doing allowed you to draft a perfect team every time, for every week, the game wouldn't allow trades, and trades are really where you make your name in fantasy football. After Week 1 scores are recorded, the real men — and real women — assess their teams, hedge their offseason bets and acquire some new talent if the opportunity arises. We now know how things have changed, and we're not in hot water just yet.
And yes, I know you're not scared yet if you own Brees or Adrian Peterson, but you'll see other teams catch you unaware if you let a Week 1 victory convince you that your team is perfect. Your bench is rarely perfect, but you can make it better a little bit at a time every week.
Jay Cutler obviously watched too much Jake Delhomme game film this week. He tried to do too much, but I think his picks were more an indication of how well-prepared Green Bay's defense was, even having changed schemes this offseason. The Packers don't look like they're still learning, and they lost the "sleeper defense" tag that some had put on them this preseason.
Aaron Rodgers, for all the offensive success the Packers had this preseason, was also a surprisingly disappointing fantasy start this week. If not for those late game moves, he would have been a killer. But I guess only Carson Palmer, Jay Cutler and Matt Schaub were killers this week.
As a side story to Brees' touchdown-machine performance, Reggie Bush couldn't hold onto the ball against the Lions, even after the most work he's ever done in the offseason. Bad sign for Bush owners.
Steven Jackson had me going for a bit with his whole Web series about how he is the greatest running back ever to touch the ground. Apparently, the camera adds 10 yards, and there were only six cameras on him in the Seattle game. Maybe he'll fare better when he's not facing what some say is "the best linebacking corps in the NFL," but after disliking him this offseason, he isn't helping his case.
There would be no quarterback controversy in Philadelphia as long as Donovan McNabb stayed healthy, but he cracked a rib against Carolina just in time to cause a scare. If he can't get back on the field or gets injured again early this season, the Vick chants in Philadelphia might get louder.
It was almost too predictable that Anthony Gonzalez, the player who might have gathered the most "nice pick" comments in your fantasy draft this season, got injured in his Week 1 start against Jacksonville. He'll sit out at least the next two weeks, but he could miss up to six weeks with his strained knee ligament.
Only two of my fantasy teams ran away with it this Sunday. I have two on the fence going into Monday night, and one that is going to need some overhaul this week. It's good to have you back, football, and now the real fun begins.
Stay tuned for more this week as we'll try to fix your Week 1 woes. Tonight, we get to see the Patriots, Bills, Chargers and Raiders take the field. Best of luck if you're on the Monday night bubble. I'm looking for a nice night for Randy Moss.
Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, Anthony Gonzalez, Buffalo Bills, Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb, Drew Brees, dud, Green Bay Packers, Jake Delhomme, Jay Cutler, Matt Schaub, Michael Vick, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, Randy Moss, Reggie Bush, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Steven Jackson, stud, team management
Guest Post: 2009 NFL preview from a fantasy outsider
Best Bets September 13, 2009 JacobLeave a comment
This guest post comes to Fantasy Football Fools from Eric Amzallag of sports pick site UnlockedSports.com. Rather than stay in our fantasy bubble this season, I thought taking a look at the playoff picks from a relative fantasy outsider would be a nice jump start to the conversation — since, inevitably, my Super Bowl and playoff picks would be largely influenced by what players I have invested in this season.
I think Eric makes some interesting calls that should get us talking, but keep in mind that Eric sent these to us this offseason before much of the news had been made.
Feel free to share your own playoff predictions on this glorious Sunday of football in the comments. We'll give greater cred to those who post before their picks destroy opponents in their opening game this week. Now on with the show…
Now that football season is quickly approaching, fans, poolers and bettors are eager to gather as much information as they can to make some informed sports picks in the upcoming season.
Every single year, we seem to come into the NFL season with all eyes on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots to win it all. There is nothing wrong with that. The Patriots always have a great team surrounding arguably the best quarterback of our time.
But times are a-changing, and this season we will see some new teams in the running for the Lombardi trophy. With a relatively painless offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be looking to repeat and have a good chance to do so.
Don't count out these playoff contenders from the AFC:
Indianapolis Colts: Peyton Manning! With Peyton behind center the Colts will always be contenders.
Oakland Raiders: The AFC West is the worst division in football right now, and the Raiders are the only team with promise and a good, young core of players. This year will be the season they break out of the funk.
Buffalo Bills: Although some people disagree, getting T.O. was huge for the Bills. Not only will their offense be hard to stop with two star receivers, a promising young quarterback and Marshawn Lynch in the backfield, but they are well-coached and poised to have a breakout season.
The NFC is another beast altogether. The Arizona Cardinals will be good but not as good as they were last season. The Dallas Cowboys may have dropped some baggage, but this year will be a make-or-break season for Tony Romo.
In the NFC, watch for these teams to make an impact this season:
Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Roddy White! 'Nuff said.
Dallas Cowboys: Do or die! If the Cowboys are going to stay in the title contender picture they will need to come together. This season will be the one that defines them, and I think they will come through.
San Francisco 49ers: Kind of a sleeper pick here, but I am sticking with it for one reason, Mike Singletary's first full season.
Chicago Bears: Although the defense was suspect last season, this year everything is going to come together for Chicago. Not only will the defense get back to its stingy ways, but with Jay Cutler in the offense, this team could be scary!
So those are Eric's picks, made right around the time of the NFL draft this offseason. Who do you think is going to win it all this year? You can check out more from Eric and UnlockedSports.com.
As always, the comments are yours.
2009 draft, Arizona Cardinals, bets, betting, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, future picks, gambling, Indianapolis Colts, Jay Cutler, Marshawn Lynch, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Mike Singletary, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, Peyton Manning, Pittsburgh Steelers, Roddy White, San Francisco 49ers, sportsbook, Super Bowl, Tom Brady, Tony Romo


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Another Monday, another Real Wedding! I am starting to get back into that blog groove! Since we missed so many weeks with our website hack, it's hard to know if I should start with our most recent, or dig into the 2017 archive to show you some fabulous things from last fall! For now, this gorgeous plantation wedding from May.
I loved working with Cassidy + Will from their Save the Dates all the way to their custom guest book print! The wedding day was just as pretty as these two are… just see for yourself!
Congratulations Cassidy + Will! It's was such an honor to work with you! Also—never been more jealous of a honeymoon ever!


text:
Surface Transportation Innovations Newsletter
Surface Transportation Innovations #65
Topics include: VMT charge vs. VMT tax; PPPs and the stimulus; public sector comparator models; inter-city high-speed rail; California's new PPP legislation; and other news.
Is it a VMT charge or VMT tax?
Good news for PPPs in stimulus bill
The Public Sector Comparator: when to choose PPPs
Inter-city high-speed rail: not so fast
Denver as a model?
California finally gets PPP legislation
News Notes
Finance Commission Recommends VMT Charge-or Tax?
The Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission did an outstanding job in its report, Paying Our Way: A New Framework for Transportation Finance, released on February 26th. As I wrote in my February 2009 column for Public Works Financing, the report not only documents the dire situation of under-investment and mal-investment in highways and transit, but it offers a serious way forward by proposing that this country phase out fuel taxes as the principal highway funding source in favor of charges per vehicle mile traveled (VMT). That reinforces the critically important principle of user-pays, at a time when that principle is in danger of being set aside (examples include the use of general-fund monies for highways and transit via the recent stimulus bill, increasing diversions of highway "user tax" monies to non-highway purposes, and continued calls from state DOTs and others for "tax credit bonds" which also rely on general funds rather than user-generated revenues).
But while praising the Commission's report-especially in contrast with the grandiose and unrealistic Policy & Revenue Commission's majority report last year-I want to raise an important issue that has started to be discussed in transportation circles, such as the Congestion Pricing list-serve (con-pric@lists.umn.edu) and the National Journal transportation blog (http://transportation.nationaljournal.com). That issue is the difference between a VMT charge and a VMT tax.
The Financing Commission report itself referred to it as a VMT charge, and if this new mechanism is actually going to be a real user fee (i.e., a payment for using roadway infrastructure), that is certainly the correct term. Others have begun referring to it as a "VMT tax," either assuming that this is simply a matter of semantics or that "VMT charge" is simply a euphemism for a new form of tax that would replace the previous fuel tax.
This is not a distinction without a difference. Tolls that are proportional to miles driven are an example of a pure VMT charge. They are the price one pays to the infrastructure provider (the toll road agency or company) for use of that infrastructure. The provider uses those revenues just as any other network utility would: for the capital and operating costs of the infrastructure. Different rate structures for different categories of user (industrial, commercial, or residential in the case of electricity) are quite appropriate, as are pricing variations to better manage demand ("peak-shaving") so as to reduce the need for costly capacity needed only to handle peak loads. This kind of user-pays pricing structure also directly generates revenue for those portions of the network needing additional investment to handle demand greater than capacity.
Unfortunately, although I think many of the Commission members would prefer this kind of public utility model for roadway infrastructure, the task they were given by Congress was not to redesign the institutional structure of how we manage roadways. Rather, they were asked to analyze the current and projected adequacy of the federal Highway Trust Fund and its fuel-tax revenue source and to recommend alternative approaches to paying for highways and transit in that context. So while some may see the Commission's recommendations as fairly radical, they are actually quite conservative, in that they do not question the underlying structure of a centralized federal fund disbursing monies at the direction of Congress for both highways and transit. I'm led to the conclusion, therefore, that what the Comm ission has proposed, in fact, can more accurately be described as a VMT tax than a VMT fee.
The counter-argument, put forth by Peter Samuel of tollroadsnews.com, is that even a VMT tax will set in motion forces that make it more like a user fee than the gas tax. For example, it makes no sense to have the VMT tax/fee be the same rate in urban areas as on rural highways; the cost of building and operating urban expressways is much higher than that of rural Interstates, and we know that variable pricing is a very powerful tool for reducing congestion. Thus, charging based on VMT gives us the means to do something more like real road pricing than would ever be possible with fuel taxes-even if the revenues still feed a central fund that gets doled out by politicians.
I think that's correct, and therefore I support the Commission's call for transitioning from fuel taxes to VMT charges/taxes. But we should be clear about what we are and are not getting via this change.
» return to top
Some Good News for PPPs in Stimulus Bill
While I'm not a fan of the $787 billion stimulus bill enacted by Congress last month, the measure does contain two provisions that are positive for public-private partnership transportation projects. The first provision exempts private activity bonds (PABs) such as those used for PPP projects from the alternative minimum tax (AMT), making such bonds fully tax-free. This applies to PABs issued in 2009 and 2010, as well as new PABs issued to refund bonds issued between 2004 and 2009. Unfortunately, the measure did not increase or remove the current $15 billion cap on total highway/intermodal PAB issuance, leaving that still to be addressed in the forthcoming reauthorization bill.
The second provision permits the Secretary of Transportation to use up to $200 million of the $1.5 billion allocation for discretionary grants to support the TIFIA (Transportation Infrastructure Finance & Innovation Act) credit program for transportation projects with their own revenue sources. Since TIFIA has been running short of money at the same time as financing of PPP projects has become more difficult due to the credit crisis, this is a very welcome development-assuming Secretary LaHood takes advantage of it. Nearly two dozen trade associations, companies, and public sector agencies signed a joint letter to the Secretary, coordinated by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, urging him to use the $200 million for this purpose.
In other TIFIA news, the outgoing Bush DOT published a Notice of Proposed Rule-Making on January 21st to make project selection more rigorous by, among other things, requiring a benefit/cost assessment of proposed projects, permitting the interest rates for financings to reflect relative project risk, and allowing the inclusion of up-front concession payments as an allowable project cost, as long as the proceeds were spent on eligible transportation infrastructure. But on February 16th, the new administration withdrew the proposed rules for further study.
The Public Sector Comparator: When to Choose the PPP Approach
During the past two years, former Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and her team encountered criticism from some congressional leaders for allegedly promoting PPP toll roads (i.e., toll roads developed under long-term concession agreements) for "ideological" reasons, rather than because they delivered best value to the public in particular situations. And in Texas, the long-running 2007-2008 controversy over toll concession projects led to interim legislation giving first priority to local toll authorities to develop all new toll projects, with PPP toll roads to be used only as a last resort.
In response to these concerns, two public bodies proposed that rigorous methodologies be put in place to decide whether a PPP approach would be the better choice, on a case-by-case basis. In its February 2008 report to Congress on PPPs in transportation, the Government Accountability Office cited the experience of the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia in using quantitative tests to assess value for money (VfM), in particular the Public Sector Comparator (PSC) methodology. Likewise, Texas's Legislative Study Committee on Private Participation in Toll Projects recommended the use of the PSC methodology to determine, case by case, whether a public-sector toll agency or a PPP concession firm should develop each specific project.
So how does the PSC methodology work? As the GAO's report (GAO-08-44) describes it, "[A] PSC test examines life-cycle project costs, including initial construction costs, maintenance and operation costs, and additional capital improvement costs that will be incurred over the course of the concession term. A PSC can also look at the value of various types of risk transfer to the private sector, whereby the more risk transferred to the private sector, the more value to the public sector." It goes on to explain that the use of a PSC test is required for all PPP projects in the United Kingdom; that is also true for all long-term PPP projects in British Columbia. GAO's report also noted that PSC tools continue to evolve to incorporate lessons learned from experience, citing recent re visions in Australia.
With a number of examples to choose from, I downloaded a detailed guidebook from Partnerships Victoria (Australia) called "Public Sector Comparator: a Technical Note," and spent much of a recent long plane flight going through its 103 pages. (www.partnerships.vic.gov.au). I commend it to your attention, if you want to understand the state of the art of rigorous assessment of whether a proposed PPP approach delivers greater value than a public-sector approach.
As used in Victoria, the PSC consists of four parts, each quantified. Its aim is to reflect the "full and true cost to government" of taking on the project, so that this cost can be compared to private-sector bids. It is based on using the net present value of all cash flows, based on the specified government discount rate over the life of the concession period. The four components of the PSC are as follows:
Raw PSC-the base cost under the public procurement/public ownership method, including all capital and operating costs.
Competitive Neutrality-cost adjustments aimed at accounting for differences between public and private sector, such as the latter's requirement to pay taxes, so as to eliminate resource allocation distortions arising from such factors.
Transferable Risk-the value of those risks transferable to the private sector, but which are retained by the public agency if the traditional approach is pursued.
Retained Risk-the value of those risks which would remain with the public agency in any case.
The guidance document provides a whole chapter on each of these components, as well discussions of how to use the PSC in the procurement process. Helpful quantitative examples are included.
Similar materials are available from Partnerships UK and Partnerships BC. In the course of researching this issue as a member of the Texas Study Committee, I've come to see real value in a rigorous, quantitative procedure like the PSC. Compared to either the arbitrary "first dibs" for public-sector toll agencies favored by some in Texas or the endless wrangling there last year over trying to establish a "market valuation" for the planned SH 161 toll road, the PSC offers a way to de-politicize such questions, discovering where the best value lies on a project-by-project basis.
Inter-City High Speed Rail: Not So Fast
It's unfortunate that President Obama has made inter-city high-speed rail his "signature issue," as noted in Neal Peirce's March 8th syndicated column. The $8 billion inserted into the stimulus bill at the last minute has created expectations for Japanese-style bullet trains on 11 long-planned corridors, but those hopes are likely to go unrealized. Moreover, by promoting expanded passenger rail service in these corridors, this policy may hinder many people's hope of shifting more long-haul freight from truck to rail, as an energy-saving and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction policy.
Let's start with the basics. True high speed rail (HSR) that goes 150-200 mph requires entirely separate rights of way with shallow grades, very broad curves, and no 60 mph freight traffic. That's what Japan, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy are doing, and the taxpayer cost is tens of billions per line. Former Amtrak CEO Alex Kummant, in 2007 House testimony, estimated that an exclusive HSR corridor between New York and Washington would cost $10 billion-exclusive of new right of way (in some of the most expensive urban areas in the country). So it's laughable to think that $8 billion (even if supplemented by the $5 billion more the Administration proposes over the next five years) could provide more than a small down payment on 11 corridors, most of them far longer than the 200+ mile New York to Washingto n one. The proposed California HSR is estimated by its proponent to cost $50.2 billion, but a recent Reason Foundation "due diligence" report put the more likely cost at up to $81.4 billion (see www.reason.org/ps370.pdf).
That's why every serious assessment of the stimulus bill's HSR section has concluded that the $8 billion (plus the possible $5 billion more) will almost certainly be spent not on new bullet-train routes but on upgrades to the existing shared passenger/freight tracks, aiming to get Amtrak trains up to speeds of 90 mph rather than 60 or 70 mph. But that raises the question of getting the best use out of America's railroad infrastructure. While it's possible, with lots of passing sidings and expensive signaling systems, to operate both fast passenger trains and slower (and much longer) freight trains on the same trackage, the performance of both is hindered. U.S. freight railroads still have serious difficulties attracting time-sensitive freight, because it takes so long (an intermodal trip from Tacoma to Col umbus or Cincinnati takes 7 to 12 days) and is so uncertain (e.g., 7 to 12 days). Today's high-tech, just-in-time logistics system cannot operate with either long times or schedule uncertainty, which is why so much freight moves by truck instead of rail.
In contrast with the United States, European countries over the last 50 years have opted to use their railroad networks primarily for passenger service (except for the new, separate HSR lines). If you compare goods-movement in Europe (the 27 EU countries) and the United States, you find that as of 2005, rail carried only 10.3% of all freight ton-miles in Europe, compared with 40.9% in the USA. Trucks in Europe handled 44.8% of ton-miles, compared with 30.5% here. That different mix of goods transport (other categories include pipeline, inland waterway, air freight, and coastwise shipping) has consequences for GHG emissions. In response to my query, Wendell Cox pulled together preliminary estimates of goods-movement GHGs for Europe and the United States and posted them at www.demographia.com/db-euusfreightghgs.pdf. (These are preliminary estimates, and Cox welcomes feedback.) What they show is that the GHG intensity of goods movement in Europe is193 grams/ton-mile compared with 155 grams/ton-mile in the United States. In other words, the current U.S. policy of using its railroad network mostly for freight is "greener" than the European policy of using its network primarily for passenger service.
There are also serious questions of whether any true HSR route (on new, exclusive right of way) could cover its operating and maintenance costs out of passenger fare revenues, even if 100% of its capital costs were met via a vastly bigger national ($200 billion?) tax-funded program. Before this country heads down that route, we need rigorous due-diligence reports on every such proposal, done by parties with no stake in the outcome.
Denver as our Model Community?
I was intrigued by a recent New York Times op-ed by columnist David Brooks titled "I Dream of Denver." That headline introduced Brooks' summary of a recent Pew Research Center study about where Americans would like to live and what kind of lifestyle they would like to have. The results will not please advocates of "smart growth."
For example, only 52% of those living in cities rated their communities as excellent or very good, compared with 68% of those in suburbs and 71% in rural areas. And nearly half said they would like to live in a different type of community than what they now live in. When asked to name the metro area they would like to move to, seven of the top 10 were in the west: Denver, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle. As Brooks interprets the results, "These are places you can imagine yourself leading an active outdoor lifestyle, . . . places with loose social structures and relative social equality, without the Ivy League status system of the Northeast or the star structure of L.A." And, "These places are car-dependent and spread out, but they also have strong cultural identities an d pedestrian meeting places. . . . They are neither traditional urban centers nor atomized suburban sprawl."
Those of us working in transportation policy need to keep such findings in mind. It seems to me our job is not to tell Americans how and where they should live and work, but rather to try to develop transportation systems that help them fulfill their aspirations.
Finally, California Gets PPP Enabling Legislation
Like many of my colleagues, I was beginning to despair that California's dysfunctional political system would ever get its act together to develop a legislative framework under which tolling and public-private partnerships could start addressing that state's massive shortcomings in transportation infrastructure. But apparently, the twin pressures of a massive ($42 billion over 18 months) state budget deficit and the credit markets crunch altered the political calculus. Last month the legislature passed SB 4, which permits increased use of design-build contracts and permits PPP toll roads.
The PPP enabling provisions are mostly a set of amendments to the hopelessly unworkable pilot project legislation enacted in 2005. Besides permitting only four projects, designating them as aimed at goods movement (but not restricting them only to trucks), and permitting only trucks to be tolled, the measure's truly fatal flaw required every negotiated concession agreement to be voted on by the legislature. That would create such political risk that no company or consortium would invest the time and effort to take part in a competition and negotiate a concession agreement, only to have it vetoed after all that time and effort.
By contrast, SB 4 does not limit the number of projects, does not limit projects only to goods movement, permits tolling of cars and trucks, permits both solicited and unsolicited proposals, provides for a limited degree of protection from competing free roads, and creates a Public Infrastructure Advisory Commission, which some see as Gov. Schwarzenegger's hoped-for counterpart of Canada's Partnerships BC. Concession agreements do have to be submitted to the Commission and the Legislature, but only to provide an opportunity for comments; there is no legislative approval step.
Sources who have reviewed the bill so far have not spotted any major flaws, so I'm crossing my fingers that this may, finally, be the real thing.
I don't have space to list all possible transportation conferences of interest; those listed here are only ones that a Reason colleague or I will be speaking at.
5th Annual Public Private Partnerships USA Summit, Washington, DC, March 11-13, 2009, Ronald Reagan Building/International Trade Center. Details at: www.cityandfinancial.com/pfiam5.
7th Annual Preserving the American Dream Conference, Seattle-Bellevue, WA, April 17-19, 2009, Hyatt Regency Bellevue. Details at: http://americandreamcoalition.org/seattleregistrationform.php.
International Transport Forum's Forum 2009, Leipzig, Germany, May 26-29, 2009, Leipzig Conference Center. Details at:
www.internationaltransportforum.org/2009/forum2009.html.
2nd International Symposium on Freeway and Tollway Operations, Honolulu, HI, June 20-24, 2009, Hyatt Regency Waikiki. Details at:
http://2isfo.eng.hawaii.edu/registration.html.
Reason "Gridlock" Video on ABC Special. The popular Reason.TV video in which Drew Carey challenges conventional wisdom on traffic congestion will be among the topics discussed in a John Stossel ABC News 20/20 special, "Bailouts, Big Government, and Bull," scheduled to air on March 13th. Stossel interviews Carey to understand his interest in public policy issues and the resulting Drew Carey Project (DCP) at Reason.TV. Excerpts from "Gridlock" and several other DCP videos will be shown.
Limits of Real-Time Traffic Advice. I've never been a great enthusiast for the touted benefits to drivers of real-time traffic congestion information, for two reasons. First, in most seriously congested urban areas, there are few real alternatives even if you get real-time warnings of severe congestion ahead. Second, the more people who get such information, the more that any actual alternative routes will get jammed with people trying to escape the severe congestion. The latter point has been explored mathematically in "The Price of Anarchy in Transportation Networks," Physical Review Letters (August 7, 2008).
Global Database on HOV Lanes. Those seeking HOV lanes that might be converted to HOT lanes now have a new reference tool. McCormick Rankin Corporation has produced a global database on such lanes, to assist the Transportation Research Board's HOV Committee. The five sections of the database cover the United States, Canada, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, and Other. Go to www.mccormickrankin.com/hov.asp.
Sourcebook on Traffic Incident Management "Quick Clearance." Incidents and work zones are the source of half or more of traffic congestion in large urban areas, with incidents generally accounting for the largest share. In this new report for the Federal Highway Administration, the Texas Transportation Institute provides a guide to Quick Clearance Laws, including their rationale, data on effectiveness, and guidelines on drafting effective language. Go to:
www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09005/quick_clear_laws.pdf.
New Study on Highway Impact on Economic Growth. The National Bureau of Economic Research last month released a new working paper called "The Contribution of Highways to GDP Growth," by Barbara M. Fraumeni. It's available at: www.nber.org/papers/w14736.
Update on ASCE Report Card. In last month's issue of this newsletter, I expressed concerns over the opacity of the American Society of Civil Engineers' "2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure." Perhaps that concern was premature, because the February issue of the Eno Foundation's EnoBrief e-newsletter (www.enotrans.com) tells us that ASCE plans to release a "full detailed report outlining each category's condition, specific policy recommendations, infrastructure information, and a new interactive website in late March." Here's hoping it makes clear the underlying quantitative basis for the Report Card's letter grades.
"I . . . predict that the magnitude of fuel-tax increases necessary to even come close to meeting the formidable needs of transportation investment (which are described in the Policy Commission's report, Transportation for Tomorrow) will be politically impossible for the foreseeable future. But I believe there are at least two other reasons why additional revenues from fuel taxes won't be forthcoming. First, motorists, with some justification, have little confidence that the proceeds from higher fuel taxes will be spent wisely. Once that confidence is lost, it is very difficult to regain. Secondly, the gas tax is a highly regressive tax in the sense that it disproportionately hits the poor."
-Prof. Rick Geddes, member of the Policy & Revenue Commission, in "The Future of Surface Transportation Funding in America," Tollways, Autumn 2008.
"Five percent of the stimulus package is being spent the way President Obama said it would-on infrastructure, roads and bridges. The rest is just a bunch of pork."
-Robert A. Voltmann, president and CEO, Transportation Intermediaries Association, in Traffic World, Feb. 23, 2009.
"With the economy the way it is right now, trying to propose a 10 cent a gallon increase in the gasoline tax is not going to fly anywhere in America, including Washington, DC. . . . There are a lot of ideas out there. We need to be open-minded and think outside the box on this. We need to take everybody's ideas, whether it's tolling a new road, tolling a new bridge, or public-private partnerships. That's the kind of out-of-the-box stuff we need to be thinking about."
-Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Wall Street Journal, March 4, 2009.
Robert Poole is director of transportation policy and Searle Freedom Trust Transportation Fellow at Reason Foundation.
More from Highways, Toll Roads
Michigan Wisely Looks to Tolling to Help Finance Road and Bridge Repairs
Tolling can be used as an effective tool and sustainable revenue source to help meet the state's transportation needs.
By Baruch Feigenbaum
More by Robert Poole
Aviation Policy Newsletter: TSA Quiet Skies Program Critiqued Again, GPS Backup Finally Getting Closer, and More
Plus: When will travel recover? Where should drones be allowed to fly?
Ranking State Highway Systems on Performance and Cost-Effectiveness: North Dakota and Missouri Rank Best, New Jersey and Alaska Rank Last
The 25th Annual Highway Report measures the condition and cost-effectiveness of state-controlled highways in 13 categories, including pavement condition, traffic congestion, fatalities, and spending per mile.
By Baruch Feigenbaum, Spence Purnell and Joe Hillman
10 Best Practices For State Automated Vehicle Policy
This policy brief offers 10 policy recommendations for state policymakers to promote automated vehicle innovation while protecting the public interest.
By Marc Scribner
Why Governments Should Lease Their Toll Roads
The nine states studied here would have significant net proceeds from leasing their toll road systems via long-term public-private partnerships—even after paying off outstanding tax-exempt toll road bonds.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Dershowitz Claims Constitution Gives POTUS More Power Than King
Apparently Alan will say anything to keep a chair warm on Fox News.
By Frances Langum — November 26, 2019
On Monday night, Donald Trump suffered a resounding defeat in federal court, as Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a 120-page ruling requiring Don McGahn to testify in response to a Congressional subpoena.
Specifically, Judge Jackson said no one is above the law, including the (so-called) president and that certainly there was no "absolute immunity" for the White House written into the Constitution.
So true to form, the Ingraham Show was about wailing loudly in nonsensical terms about things that don't exist. (Never forget that "attempted bribery isn't in the constitution!")
And Alan Dershowitz of the Jeffrey Epstein Dershowitz's was there to help:
"[Judge Brown] went nuts, talking about how the president's not the king. Of course, the president's not the king; the president's far more powerful than the king. The president has the power that kings have never had."
"He has a very, very powerful office, and the framers wanted it that way. That's why they required for impeachment very strict criteria to be met."
Yeah, Alan, they mention "bribery" by name, isn't that something!
Alan Dershowitz now thinks presidents have more power than kings. Too bad James "Pinwheel" Madison is too busy spinning in his grave (again) to haunt you, Alan. pic.twitter.com/AdUrRMFAsK
— Frances Langum (@bluegal) November 26, 2019
PS. Whatever happened to the Alan Dershowitz who was so freaked out that Obama had "left a vacuum for Russia" in Syria? (Link goes to conservative website).
Abuse of power, Alan Dershowitz, Kings, The US Constitution
Dershowitz Says The President Has MORE Power Than A King
Dershowitz: COVID Is Worse Than Smallpox
John Amato — Jul 30th, 2021
Alan Dershowitz Flings Theory That Abuse Of Power Is Not Impeachable
Red Painter — Jan 17th, 2020
Alan Dershowitz Will Argue Abuse Of Power Is Not Impeachable
Aliza Worthington — Jan 17th, 2020
Maya Wiley Shreds Dershowitz's Assertion That Abuse Of Power Isn't Impeachable
Jim Jordan Says 'Cancel Culture' Is More Important Than COVID-19
David Edwards — Feb 14th, 2021


text:
import static org.junit.Assert.*;

import org.junit.Test;

import com.google.java.contract.PreconditionError;

public class AccountTest {
	@Test(expected=PreconditionError.class)
	public void testCtrPre() {
		new Account(-10);
	}

	@Test
	public void testCtrPost() {
		Account a = new Account(10);
		assertEquals(10, a.getBalance());
	}

	@Test
	public void testCopyCtrPost() {
		Account a = new Account(10);
		Account b = new Account(a);
		assertEquals(a, b);
	}

	@Test
	public void testGetBalancePost() {
		Account a = new Account(10);
		Account b = new Account(a);
		b.getBalance();
		assertEquals(a,b);
	}

	@Test(expected=PreconditionError.class)
	public void testDepositPre() {
		Account a = new Account(10);
		a.deposit(-5);
	}

	@Test
	public void testDepositPost() {
		Account a = new Account(10);
		a.deposit(5);
		assertEquals(15, a.getBalance());
	}

	@Test(expected=PreconditionError.class)
	public void testWithdrawPre1() {
		Account a = new Account(10);
		a.withdraw(-5);
	}

	@Test(expected=PreconditionError.class)
	public void testWithdrawPre2() {
		Account a = new Account(10);
		a.withdraw(15);
	}

	@Test
	public void testWithdrawPost() {
		Account a = new Account(10);
		a.withdraw(5);
		assertEquals(5, a.getBalance());
	}

	@Test(expected=PreconditionError.class)
	public void testTransferPre1() {
		Account a = new Account(10);
		Account b = new Account(10);
		Account.transfer(a, b, -5);
	}

	@Test(expected=PreconditionError.class)
	public void testTransferPre2() {
		Account a = new Account(10);
		Account b = new Account(10);
		Account.transfer(a, b, 20);
	}

	@Test
	public void testTransferPost() {
		Account a = new Account(10);
		Account b = new Account(5);
		Account.transfer(a, b, 7);
		assertEquals(3, a.getBalance());
		assertEquals(12, b.getBalance());
	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Sadhana is a high-end manual therapy practice located in Santa Monica, California.
I helped them develop their logo and brand, integrating it throughout their website and patient forms. I also worked with the owner on content development, building their website from the ground up and helping them provide information and paperwork to patients in the most beautiful, friendly, and effective manner possible. Healthcare sites require privacy considerations, clinical paperwork, and potentially unpleasant policy statements – Sadhana is a great example of how you can execute a healthcare site with beauty and grace.
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part of this show Comedy Dangal, is Dangal happening on the sets?
and like the show, the entire cast is also very entertaining.
been your experiences of working in a comedy show?
show and we have a great team to work with which makes it more fun.
experience of working with Anu Malik?
it's great to work on a show where you indulge in laughter therapy.
Malik done any planning with you for your team or given any advice?
you have bonded most with on the show?
Anu Malik's team but you are bonding more with Bharti?
make people laugh and bring in the cheer.
elimination round on Comedy Dangal, how is winner going to be declared?
comedy or Skit comedy which is better according to you?
very different style of Stand-up so personally I enjoy that more.
you going to take away from Comedy Dangal?
acts and comedy shows on television.


text:
Sports Jürgen Klinsmann at Hertha BSC Berlin: The main thing...
Jürgen Klinsmann at Hertha BSC Berlin: The main thing is that it doesn't matter anymore!
11, 15, 7, 6, 10, 11: These are not 6 out of 49, not the early lottery numbers from Wednesday, but the six places that Hertha BSC Berlin has occupied in the Bundesliga final table since the last promotion in 2013 , Nimble calculators quickly determine: On average, this results in 10th place.
No football fan can be seriously surprised. With occasional upward swings that resulted in unsuccessful Europa League appearances, the Berliners have been embodying bland Bundesliga mediocrity for quite some time. They would like to be a "Big City Club" in the capital, as Klinsmann formulated the claims when he started.
Whereby: Would you really like that?
Manager Michael Preetz was rather reluctant to speak in the turbulent weeks before the winter break before he remarked a few days ago: "My job may be to put the brakes on here and there a bit." One does not have to imagine that not everyone is rowing in the same direction. But with the ambitious investor Lars Windhorst it should be discussed "that the way to the goal will definitely take a little time."
Jürgen Klinsmann absorbs all attention
Former coach Pal Dardai has largely managed to keep Hertha out of the relegation zone in recent years. This season, Ante Covic, as the successor to solid Hungary, should take the next step in development, but failed after just a few months.
So appearance Klinsmann: The architect of the summer fairy tale is now absorbing all attention in Berlin, which he has always done – at the DFB, at Bavaria, with extremely different results. Only one thing is certain: Negligible reports from the capital, such as those from the coach license that is no longer valid, will be jazzed up nationwide with immediate effect.
As with his other stations, Klinsmann starts with big words that promise a lot: After short-term relegation, the Europa League will be the minimum goal next season, "and hopefully we will be able to continue playing one season later". Obviously, the new maker at Hertha doesn't want to lose time. The motto for the club – and for the 55-year-old himself: The main thing is that it doesn't matter anymore!
Because if you hear Klinsmann talk, you can't avoid the impression that in Berlin – just like Hertha – he personally hopes to step out of the mediocre football style, which with all due respect gnaws at him during his time as head of the US national team should have. This is how Klinsmann's reformer rhetoric comes this time with a very personal note: If he polished Hertha to a high gloss and made Berlin a Champions League metropolis, he would not only have shown it again to all critics of his American methods, he would also be back at the highest level of top international football – after all, the top class, Klinsmann says, is the benchmark by which all national coaches worldwide orientate themselves.
The flip side of the unconditional enthusiasm that the 55-year-old still exudes like few others in the industry is everyday work under a burning glass. As a reaction, superlatives naturally challenge superlatives. And so critics asked after the first game, why there was no coach's plan at all – only to praise Klinsmann shortly afterwards on the occasion of the victory against Leverkusen at the end of the first half of the season, exactly, for his clever plan.
Can Hertha BSC be the "Big City Club" for Berlin?
Some realize that the current Hertha team has about as much potential as the national team at that time, which Klinsmann took over from Rudi Völler in summer 2004. However, there is a big difference: At the DFB he had to get along with the players that were available to him. In Berlin, investor Windhorst is likely to fulfill many a request for reinforcement in the short and medium term – in this respect, the conditions are better.
Investments alone will not save the "Big City Club" project in Berlin from failing. Klinsmann and his helpers walk the fine line between the spirit of optimism and self-parody when, for example, the newly installed "Performance Manager" Arne Friedrich der Hertha decreed "megalomania" in all seriousness. The report of the specialist magazine "Kicker" from the training camp in Florida has been extremely snappy recently, and it does not take much imagination to imagine the media headwind, which should refresh if the failure continues.
No question: Jürgen Klinsmann at Hertha is already one of the great stories of this Bundesliga season. Seldom have the club and coach been able to benefit from each other so much, at least in theory. But both of them also take the similarly high risk of a disaster with this collaboration. Pressure with which Klinsmann is familiar. Hertha, according to the deliberate politics of the past few years, has been less so.
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In September the Home Office gave permission for a year long trial of taser electric shock weapons to non firearm trained police officers.
According to an Associated Press poll in February, the average US citizen believes the Iraqi death toll to be just 9,890.
The global economy - solid as a rock?
The recent ructions in financial markets and the collapse of Northern Rock have a familiar ring.
As town square debates on Hugo Chavez's constitutional amendments rage in Venezuela, Mike Gonzalez considers whether they will deepen democracy or further centralise power.
When workers occupied the Chilavert printshop in Buenos Aires it was threatened with closure. Ernesto Gonzalez, a Chilavert printer, describes running the factory under workers' control.
Anyone who has recently tried to obtain a mortgage or loan will have known Northern Rock long before the current crisis broke - it was a byword for favourable rates.
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text:
In the news today, March 20
Rob MacDonald, who was released last week on supervision from the Atlantic Institution maximum security facility in New Brunswick after a 10-year stint in four facilities, poses outside of a clinic where he is receiving addiction treatment in Halifax on Friday, March 15, 2019. Memories of vomiting, diarrhea and unrelenting stomach pain as he withdrew from opioids in prison had Rob MacDonald repeatedly asking for addiction treatment before he left a maximum-security facility but despite dozens of formal complaints, he says he didn't get any help.	Darren Calabrese / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Four stories in the news for Wednesday, March 20
DRUG TREATMENT LACKING IN PRISON: EX-INMATE
A recently released prisoner from the Atlantic Institution in New Brunswick says he filed 70 complaints to try and get treatment for an opioid addiction because he feared painful withdrawal symptoms and the temptation of more drugs on the outside. Rob MacDonald, 41, says a long wait list meant he didn't get any help, even when one of his complaints was upheld by the commissioner of the prisoner service. MacDonald was released nearly two weeks ago after a decade of incarceration for drug-related offences and robbery. He says Correctional Service Canada linked him to treatment on the opioid substitute Suboxone at a clinic in Halifax, hut he says he should have received the medication when he was in prison.
PAROLE HEARING FOR WOMAN IN SON'S NEGLIGENCE DEATH
A woman convicted in her son's death after she failed to take him to the doctor for a strep infection is to appear before a hearing in Calgary today to seek full parole. Tamara Lovett, who is 50, was found guilty in 2017 of criminal negligence causing death and was sentenced to three years in prison. She was granted day parole last June after serving eight months. The Parole Board of Canada noted at the time that Lovett acknowledged she was to blame for her son's death and had held "extreme and unsupportable" views about conventional medicine. At her trial, court heard that Lovett gave seven-year-old Ryan dandelion tea and oil of oregano when he developed the infection that kept him bedridden in their Calgary home for 10 days in 2013.
POLITICIANS HIT ROAD FOR VOTES IN ALBERTA ELECTION
After firing up supporters at campaign kickoff events, the leaders of Alberta's two main political parties are heading out to stump for votes. NDP Leader Rachel Notley called the election Tuesday morning in Calgary before a crowd of cheering supporters, but is to start today in Edmonton with a campaign announcement. Notley is then to speak at events in Red Deer and Lethbridge. United Conservative Leader Jason Kenney spoke at a rally in Edmonton on Tuesday night, urging supporters to get involved in the campaign by helping spread the party's message. Earlier in the day he told a crowd in Leduc that the UCP platform will focus on jobs, the economy and pipelines.
SASKATCHEWAN TO MAKE ITS RETURN TO THE BLACK
For the first time in years, the Saskatchewan Party government will present a budget that the finance minister has said is balanced. Donna Harpauer is to release the province's 2019-2020 fiscal plan today and she's said the government will keep its promise to return to the black. The plan to balance the books was set in motion three years ago under former premier Brad Wall when the province was spending about $1.3 billion more than it was taking in. The Saskatchewan Party government knocked that figure down by increasing the provincial sales tax and cutting spending. Harpauer says this budget will contain a small surplus, which has been projected to be $6 million in previous budgets.
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text:
Tag Archives: Loyalist paramilitaries
Well, You Could Call It 'Incompetence', But…
Yesterday's revelation that some key documents have either been 'mislaid' or have 'gone missing' from the National Archives would appear, at first glance, to have some plausibility. But the files, which pertain to important events in British political history, such as the notorious Zinoviev Letter, the Falklands War and the plot to undermine the Wilson governments, seem to have vanished at a most opportune moment for the Conservative government.
Ian Cobain writing in The Guardian says:
The disappearances highlight the ease with which government departments can commandeer official papers long after they have been declassified and made available to historians and the public at the archives at Kew, south-west London.
A Freedom of Information Act request in 2014 showed that 9,308 files were returned to government departments in this way in 2011. The following year 7,122 files were loaned out, and 7,468 in 2013. The National Archives says Whitehall departments are strongly encouraged to promptly return them, but they are not under any obligation to do so.
Worrying. Further down, he writes:
Some historians have been particularly distrustful of the Foreign Office since 2013, when the Guardian disclosed that the department had been unlawfully hoarding 1.2m historical files at a high-security compound near Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire.
The hoard came to light during high court proceedings brought by a group of elderly Kenyans who were detained and abused during the Mau Mau insurgency in 1950s Kenya, when the Foreign Office admitted it had withheld thousands of colonial-era files.
A few years earlier, the Ministry of Defence refused to consider a number of files for release under the Freedom of Information Act on the grounds that they may have been exposed to asbestos.
The files concerned such matters as arms sales to Saudi Arabia, UK special forces operations against Indonesia and interrogation techniques. The MoD denied it was using the presence of asbestos in an old archive building as an excuse to suppress the documents.
When all else fails, blame it on asbestos… or foreigners, or gays or something.
Given the secrecy with which the British state operates, and the Conservative Party's past record in undermining political parties and the democratic process, the Cat is inclined to suspect foul play. If government departments are allowed to take documents from the National Archives without being compelled to return them, then this leads one to conclude that items weren't "misplaced", they were taken for a reason and it's fairly easy to work out what that reason was: to destroy them or keep them hidden from public view.
Remember that documents that are held in the National Archives are available to historians, academics and other members of the public on request. It is likely that the Tories, who have attempted to revise history for the seven years they've been in power, want to create a narrative that is, not only favourable to them, but one in which other legitimate political parties are cast in a negative light.
There must be a fully independent public inquiry into the disappearance of these documents. A failure to do so will only increase public suspicion of the Conservative Party and the state.
Ian Cobain's book The History Thieves: Secrets, Lies and the Shaping of a Modern Nation is worth a read.
Filed under censorship, Conservative Party
Tagged as censorship, Falklands War, historical revisionism, Loyalist paramilitaries, National Archives, Northern Ireland, secret state, tories, undermining democracy, Zinoviev Letter
June 9, 2017 · 5:21 pm
The Tory-DUP Pact
Oops! That's another promise broken!
After last night's election losses that saw Theresa May's Tory Party denied an overall majority in the Commons, it was perhaps inevitable that they would turn to the Democratic Unionist Party to prop them up. A reminder: this is not a coalition; it is an arrangement between the party of government and another party. There is no joint programme as there would be between two parties entering a coalition. It is a formal agreement between a smaller party and the larger party to support government policies on an issue by issue basis. The Lib Dems could have chosen this option but decided to opt for government instead. Perhaps fearing a future wipeout by the Ulster Unionist Party, who are the natural allies of the Tories, the DUP picked the least worse option. By the way, there are no UUP MPs in the Commons, so the only Unionist Party that May could turn to was the DUP, who, along with Independent Unionist, Sylvia Hermon, have supported the Tories in the Commons since 2015.
So what do we know about the DUP?
The DUP is a socially conservative political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded by Dr Ian Paisley and Desmond Boal in 1971 from the remains of the Protestant Unionist Party. It was, until recently, in a power-sharing government with their mortal enemies, Sinn Féin. During its time in government, the DUP has opposed equal marriage and abortion, and are climate change deniers. This will make a few socially liberal Tories feel rather uncomfortable. If you think the Tories are stuck in the 19th century, the DUP lives in the 17th century.
As I wrote in this article from 2015, the party has links to Loyalist paramilitaries like the Ulster Defence Association, the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Red Hand Commando. At times, the DUP has been referred to as "political wing of the UDA".
Why does any of this matter?
Throughout the General Election campaign, the Tories and their allies in the media accused Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and, to a lesser extent, Diane Abbott of being "IRA/terrorist sympathizers". Their reasons for doing this were tenuous: Corbyn spoke to representatives of Sinn Féin, and not the IRA, in order to facilitate a peaceful end to the so-called 'Troubles'. The Tories thought that by linking Corbyn et al to the IRA, they could claim he was "soft on terrorism" and put an end to his momentum. Now the Tories are in a working relationship with the DUP, whose links to Loyalist paramilitaries – terrorists, if you will – are well known. The Tories find themselves in a deliciously hypocritical position after spending much of the campaign smearing Corbyn for his "appeasement of Britain's enemies". The Tories can now be cast as 'terrorist sympathizers'.
So what happens now?
We wait and see. Nowhere Towers doesn't think the government will last 12 months. As for May herself, The Cat has heard there are moves afoot to remove her. Tory think-tank, the Bow Group, has called for leadership elections. Watch this space.
Filed under General Election 2017
Tagged as Democratic Unionist Party, Jeremy Corbyn, Loyalism, Loyalist paramilitaries, Northern Ireland, Theresa May
The Rank Hypocrisy Of The DUP Must Be Challenged
The stench of hypocrisy coming from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has been overpowering. In the last few weeks, we've been treated to Peter Robinson flouncing out of Stormont on the grounds that "the IRA continues to be active", while Nigel Dodds, the DUP's leader at Westminster rose to his feet during Prime Minister's Question Time on Wednesday to accuse John McDonnell of being in league with the IRA. Yesterday, Dodds appeared on The Daily Politics to repeat his smear. Andrew Neil, who had earlier interrupted economist, Richard J Murphy, sat there passively while Dodds came out with smear after smear. Not once did Neil mention Dodds's appearance at the funeral of John Bingham, a Loyalist thug. Not once did Neil mention Dodds's leader's involvement with Ulster Resistance, a Loyalist outfit with links to the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Red Hand Commando (RHC). Not once did Neil challenge the DUP's credibility. It was as if none of this mattered. This told The Cat that the BBC and the rest of the mainstream media continues to have a blind spot when it comes to links between the DUP and Loyalist paramilitaries. Some of those paramilitary groups, the UVF especially, acted as death squads for the British state.
Since Jeremy Corbyn entered the Labour leadership election, the mainstream media has constantly sought to discredit him. Once he became leader, those efforts have intensified. Now it's guilt by association. The recent accusation that Corbyn and McDonnell have accommodated 'terrorists' is predicated on two things: first, that talking to the IRA is in itself an indication of support for terrorism and second, the Thatcher government never made any contact with the IRA. Both of these things are untrue. The Thatcher government maintained contacts with the IRA throughout the 1980s. This has been continually overlooked by the likes of Andrew Neil and others.
In 1986, Nigel Dodds attended the funeral of UVF commander, John Bingham. Dodds was quite happy to do this, yet no one at the BBC seems to have spotted it nor brought up the matter in any interviews with him. You can read more about Bingham here (Hat tip to Michael Rosen for the link).
Nigel Dodds was recently pictured with Winston 'Winkie' Irvine, a UVF commander and member of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP). Irvine also claims to be a "community leader". Here's an expose of him produced by BBC Northern Ireland.
Here's Dodds with Irvine (left) pictured outside the PSNI Headquarters in Belfast in 2013. Hypocrisy much, Nige?
The DUP's Peter Robinson on parade with Ulster Resistance. Cat got your tongue, Nige?
Here's Robinson denying the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) are terrorists. Instead he describes them as "counter terrorists".
Last year, the DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson, a former member of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) appeared to speak on behalf of Loyalist paramilitaries. This BBC article says that Donaldson claimed that Loyalists "will take a peaceful approach" when protesting about planned parade restrictions.
Then there are the links between Loyalist paramilitaries and far-right parties like the British National Party and National Front. Britain First was not only inspired by Ulster Loyalism, it is an outgrowth of it. Founded by Jim Dowson, a Christian fundamentalist and Loyalist who ran the BNP's call centre in Dundonald, Britain First has adopted the motifs of Ulster Loyalism right down to its use of military style uniforms and its logo.
If the IRA is still operational as the DUP claims, then so too are the various Loyalist outfits. There's an old saying where I come from. "People in glasshouses shouldn't throw stones". Nigel Dodds, Peter Robinson and Jeffrey Donaldson would do well to learn and remember that.
Filed under Northern Ireland
Tagged as Andrew Neil (Brilllo), BBC, Democratic Unionist Party, hypocrisy, Jeffrey Donaldson, Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell, Loyalist paramilitaries, Nigel Dodds, Peter Robinson, smear campaigns, smears


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