Thursday, September 11, 2025

An Obligation to Comment

I perceive social media predominately as an outlet for quick takes, so I use this particular platform to address more complex and convoluted issues. (I've had this blog for 20 years. If you just found this, hello, and better late than never.) I've been fairly transparent about some of the personal issues I've had over the last couple of years, but my blog is also where I can give a more articulate response to current events and complicated topics.

Outside of inadvertently irking a couple Republican high school classmates, I haven't said that much of the death of former Trump staffer and conservative pundit Charlie Kirk. I found out about the shooting while glancing on my phone at work. A student asked if I wanted to see the video of the shot; I said no, but he shared it anyway. I put my phone on airplane mode for my weekly chiropractor appointment; when I turned the Wifi back on, Kirk had passed away. When I turned on the car radio, the first song that played was "Dialogue (Parts 1 and 2)" by Chicago, an up-tempo number about political discourse that ends abruptly. I'm still figuring out to interpret that.

This is sad and appalling, but it's hard to mourn this guy. It is perfectly possible to believe that guns are a cancer on America, and that Kirk's rhetoric enabled that. It's not hard to find his opinions on an array of hot button issues, including gun control. I see no need to repeat them here.

I worked at a right-wing AM news/talk station for two years, and I noticed the commodity placed on younger talking heads to counter aging personalities like Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage. I was in the same office space as Guy Benson, and after I was let go, I saw from afar the football get passed from Guy to Milo Yiannopoulos to Tomi Lahren to Ben Shapiro to Kirk. Guy lost favor because he's a moderate conservative; the other four were more extreme, annoying at best and appalling at worst.

To be clear, I'm not celebrating his death. I'm also not trying to give credence to the inevitable conspiracy theories. He was a family man, after all. However, American society is polarized and all this will do is divide us further. 

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Thursday, September 4, 2025

32 Teams, 32 Haiku: My 2025 NFL Preview

 


You know the drill:

*notes wild card

AFC NORTH
1. Ravens (12-5) Elite... until the/playoffs; rookie kicker is/only glaring concern.
2. Bengals* (10-7) Al Golden, new Vic/Fangio? Burrow-led O/can't win ten alone.
3. Steelers (8-9) Mister Rodgers' new/neighborhood; new O faces/contrast steady D.
4. Browns (5-12) Crowded QB room/among other issues; good/D-line stops pass rush.
AFC EAST
1. Bills (11-6) Allen to Kincaid/alone could carry the O/that new look D, though...
2. Dolphins (9-8) Locker room drama/makes Tua's head spin; can they/(Storm) Duck the friction?
3. Patriots (8-9) Vrabel is able/but to get this O going/it's gonna be... Maye.
4. Jets (4-13) Post-Aaron, Woody/is Field-ing a low risk bet/at QB ...for now.
AFC SOUTH
1. Texans (11-6) Low-key contender/if Stroud regains rookie form/and D-line still cooks. 
2. Jaguars (9-8) By-the-book Cats shake/it up with Hunter; patience/for Trevor wears thin.
3. Colts (5-12) Danny Dimes ponies/up; Taylor, Pittman, Warren/all stuck in first gear.
4. Titans (4-13) Stud O-line, Ward of/gifted young QB; Barton/sole vet linebacker.
AFC WEST
1. Chiefs (13-4) Mahomes isn't done/explosive plays needed to/make Worthy worthy.
2. Broncos* (10-7) Nix plays it safe as/top-tier secondary grinds/first downs to a halt.
3. Chargers* (10-7) Justin's pass stats mean/nothing without an O-line/Safety surplus helps.
4. Raiders (7-10) Geno inherits/gobs of weapons; will old Pete/right this motley ship?
NFC NORTH
1. Lions (13-4) New coaches, same Goff/Sonic & Knuckles tag-team/for elusive rings.
2. Packers* (10-7) Trading for Parsons/overshadows weak back end/like (not Love) the O.
3. Vikings (9-8) Recent draft picks aren't/impacting; heat on healthy/JJ, other kids.
4. Bears (8-9) On paper, new look/O could be entertaining/if Caleb makes strides.
NFC EAST
1. Eagles (14-3) High flying O keeps/soaring; Moro Ojomo/low-key sack leader?
2. Commanders* (12-5) Daniels, two-way threat/immediately elite/but old D might fade.
3. Cowboys (8-9) Parsons parses all/trade options; "all in" squad sure/looks like status quo.
4. Giants (5-11) Throwing (Jaxson) Darts/to see what sticks; good D-line/carries Blue burden.
NFC SOUTH
1. Bucs (10-7) Butchered Baker needs/playmakers; no edge pressure/means short playoff run.
2. Falcons (7-10) Young edges carry/patchwork D; Bijan and Drake/go hard for Penix.
3. Panthers (6-11) Which Bryce will show up/anxious ankle-biter, cool/mite or small wonder?
4. Saints (3-14) Bring back the paper/bag "hats," young Tyler isn't/ready for Shough-time.
NFC WEST
1. Niners (12-5) Brock needs receivers/Jauan wants a raise; question/marks on solid squad.
2. Rams* (11-6) McVay props up old/Stafford for another year/with bright young wideouts.
3. Seahawks (8-9) Gallant gulls, frugal/yet bold; Charbonnet becomes/Darnold's fave target.
4. Cardinals (7-10) Marvin is starvin'/to break out; healthy Kyler/makes Redbirds dark horse?

MVP: Jalen Hurts, Eagles
OROY: Ashton Jeanty, Raiders
DROY: Mykel Williams, Niners
First head coach fired: Brian Daboll, Giants
Super Bowl LX: Eagles 27, Bills 20

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