RuntheDamnBall

Well, I've got nothing but respect for the classics. You've got me pegged.

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Actually it's pretty timely. I might even agree with some of your politics but your methods are ridiculous and aren't really serving to create a good argument or discussion.

YOU'RE. A contraction of "You" and "are" YOU'RE=You are. These mean the same thing: 1) You are not free. 2) You're not free. "Your not free" means nothing. As for your question, I do feel less free. Our country survived without surveillance and data mining, etc. But I also feel less free when my name and information and buying preferences can be sold to anyone, and that is more often what this kind of information is used for. I think we are, on the whole, less free than when this nation was founded because there is much more money in allowing corporations to be free to use people and their information. Before anyone goes taking this as a "corporations bad!" post, I don't see it that way 100%. I've entered into most of these contracts to curtail my freedom either knowingly or without reading all the fine print, as it were. I do this because I value the goods and services I'm purchasing enough. But I will say that it's been made much easier for one to lose the freedom to isolate oneself from this system.

Joey Balls=the LSI Cadets of politics.

Lord knows NYC needs more luxury condos. Chrissake.

I'm partial, but I would take the train out of Manhattan to Brooklyn Heights and see the best skyline view of the city at the Promenade. First couple stops on the 2-3 trains to Bklyn get you there and to some of the nicest architecture and prettiest neighborhoods in the city. It's also not a far walk to the River Cafe or the cheaper, but also tasty Five Front. River Cafe is one of the nicest restaurants with one of the best views in the city, right under the Brooklyn Bridge. Just a suggestion to avoid the tourist traps and get a little more of "real" New York. Also, there are tons of free galleries in Chelsea (in the 20s, West Side) with some really interesting art / photography shows cycling through all the time. Check the most recent issue of the New Yorker to get a feel for what's out there. In general they will tell you what's going on currently. Edit: Oh, and, for fun, cheapish touristy stuff, see the Macy's windows -- always pretty neat; and the skating at Bryant Park can be a lot of fun and is right in the heart of the city near the big main library building. It's quite a nice NYC experience.

Great football insights, as usual. I hope Marv and Ralph will do the right thing and make Steinbach an offer he can't refuse.

You can take it to the bank that Willis and the only NY team will be getting 150 against Jersey/B.

Um, we narrowly lost to the Pats in our first game with a new coaching staff, then we did indeed get waxed by them the second time. How is that letting them "beat the crap out of (us) TWICE!"? Ask Tom Brady about how well his team fared in that first game. His ass was black and bluer than usual.

What if you are putting yourself in a good position and there are 3 bad calls in the span of four plays? I'm sorry, it's going to kill momentum, and it did exactly that for the Bills yesterday. If you want to make a real argument, I'll give it to you right here. JP, seeing that his receiver has been interfered with, does tend to appear to throw the ball into that spot thinking that he can draw the PI call. I've seen him look for it right after he throws the ball a couple times. I could live with him doing that a whole lot less.

I think the Bills have been playing the kind of ball that dictates a win on Sunday, but all I'll predict is a close game. It will come down to turnovers.

I'd say jury is out for a bit longer on a DT. I'm not saying at all that I want this guy (knowing nothing about him). But, I'll say that I'd like to see another year of McCargo before we come close to calling him a bust. I'll make the Bill from NYC statement that we absolutely CANNOT afford to spend a first-day pick on the secondary. Especially because I think after weeks of getting picked on McGee has stepped up his game.

KEEP: Gandy (at a low, low price), ATrain, Davis, Kelsay, Lindell, Fletch, Clements (pay him, it's worth it), KThomas, Hargrove GONE: Wire, Tim Anderson (who seems like a cool dude, but just not a great player at all), Greer (Youboty takes his spot, and he genuinely sucks), Shaud, Villarial.

The one that really kills me is roughing the passer, which I've renamed the "Tom Brady special," in that if someone brushes Tom Brady's ankle .2 seconds after a pass, the flag is thrown. If someone levels JP Losman 2 seconds after he's delivered the pass, nothing. This league likes to protect its stars. If you're not one of them, you're not in on the benefits.

I don't think I can handle another Texas OL. Did Tyler play with McCargo? I don't watch any ACC games. I could handle picking Samardzija, though that name would trouble us for a good long while in WNY. Way I see it, we need this kind of talent in the first 4 rounds: strong, pass-catching TE (or a big, tall, physical WR); brusing fullback; OT; run-stuffing DT. If one of those is not available I look for guards or LBs. This kind of draft coupled with the re-signing of Nate and luring Steinbach would make the '07 offseason the best in years.

Mangini's got you guys overachieving and your front office made the important move of addressing the lines this offseason. I fear you might be further ahead in your rebuilding project than we are, though I do have to say, perhaps I'm alone here, but I'm excited about the potential for our QB and think he's going to lead us further than Chad can take you with the wear and tear he's gone through. Always seems to be a good game with the Jets. Hope that we'll come up on the winning end and not get gashed by your run game for once.

Except for did you watch the Giants-Dallas game? Probably the biggest game of the week in terms of national exposure, big-market teams and the zebras couldn't keep the flags in their pockets for all of 5 seconds. It's the wild inconsistencies that are the problem. If the DAL-NY crew was calling the Bills game things might've been entirely different (not necessarily to the benefit of the Bills). And that's a huge problem. It means there is no transparency among officiating crews. Whatever their agenda, they are impacting games. Perhaps that's inevitable. But it's a complete drag.

This is the last time I'll toot my own horn about it but I just finished sound editing on a PBS series about the Supreme Court that'll be airing end of January. What I found from some of the research involved in the project and from dealing with all our material was that the contributions of John Marshall have impacted the country in so many ways that it's hard to envision what this nation would look like without them. Likely, it'd be entirely different. People have their opinions about what the court does right and wrong, but the ability to challenge and review laws and interpret them is what gives them real meaning, and it's been the source of real advancement without which it would be difficult to call ourselves truly free. Marshall took courts that were toothless and turned them into a real viable entity in this country, one that has had a great hand in deciding cases on civil rights, voting rights, property rights and even presidential elections. That's pretty amazing.

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit. If Miami makes the playoffs and God is a Dolphins fan I am going to explore the accomodations downstairs.

Don't forget the "in the grasp" call on Losman's first down to Cieslak. I was fuming about that one.

I am firmly convinced that but for some untimely coaching blunders and some excruciatingly bad officiating, that game was within reach for our Bills. Like the rest of this team, this coaching staff is learning. Next year is going to be a really interesting season with a lot of potential -- especially if we re-sign Clements. To that effect, though, and I'd like to know if this is being coached or if it's a bad instinct from the Gray days, I don't like how much room they were giving the SD receivers yesterday. They have not done enough to earn 10 yards of respect. That said, Gates should have been doubled up on more.

I'd like to see Willis and AT share about half the carries. I'd also like to see a lot more misdirections and off-tackle plays. The up-the-middle sh-- is old and works about 1 out of 10 attempts. The guards are really getting better at pass protection, but they get very little push on the run.

You must have watched the game on the radio. This was by far TKO's best game this season, not counting the torrid start he had in game one.