2.0: The Blogmocracy

NCAA D-1 College Football Week 4 2017 Open

by coldwarrior ( 66 Comments › )
Filed under College Football, Open thread at September 23rd, 2017 - 6:00 am

Good Morning All and welcome to the OPEN THREAD and NCAA D1 football post.

So far, i look like a freaking genius! (Yeah…I don’t bet with real money…but I digress) Anyway, after the ass-beating that Trump gave anyone who trades with the Norks this week it’s good to kick back, light a cigar, drink some booze and watch some all American football.

#1 Alabama

Vanderbilt

3:30 PM

CBS

Roll Tide! I don’t think that they are gonna be in the National Championship Game this year, USC will tho. And the Tide is giving 17 on the road at Vandy, I think ‘Bama beats that spread to try to prove a point.

#5 USC

California

3:30 PM

The Trojans, as I have said are teh real deal, their quarterback will be playing for a a long time on Sundays because he is the antithesis of the squirrel brained option-read QB’s like Kapernick and RGIII. ‘SC is giving 17 at Cal. I just don’t see this one either, USC beats that spread.

#17 Mississippi State

#11 Georgia

7:00 PM

This should be a really great game. My Girls are absolutely in love with the University of Georgia because of UGA himself and the cheerleaders. UGA is giving 4 to Mississippi State at home, they beat that spread. (this is part of the ploy to get them to watch college ball with me)

#20 Florida

Kentucky

7:30 PM

Am I missing something here? The Gators are only a 2 point favorite? They beat that spread.

Notre Dame

Michigan State

8:00 PM

The ‘Domers are giving three on the road, home field is worth 3 points. MSU is undefeated, ND is 2-1. I think ND can beat this spread on the road.

66 Comments »

S&P Downgrades China

by coldwarrior ( 90 Comments › )
Filed under China, Economy, Open thread at September 21st, 2017 - 6:31 am

This is long overdue:

S&P Global Ratings cut China’s sovereign credit rating for the first time since 1999, citing the risks from soaring debt, and revised its outlook to stable from negative.

The sovereign rating was cut by one step, to A+ from AA-, the agency said in a statement late Thursday. The analysts also lowered their rating on three foreign banks that primarily operate in China, saying HSBC China, Hang Seng China and DBS Bank China Ltd. are unlikely to avoid default should the nation default on its sovereign debt.

“China’s prolonged period of strong credit growth has increased its economic and financial risks,” S&P said. “Although this credit growth had contributed to strong real GDP growth and higher asset prices, we believe it has also diminished financial stability to some extent.”

The downgrade, the second by a major ratings company this year, represents ebbing international confidence China can strike a balance between maintaining economic growth and cleaning up its financial sector. The move may also be uncomfortable for Communist Party officials, who are just weeks away from their twice-a-decade leadership reshuffle.

The cut will “have a relatively big impact on Chinese enterprises since corporate ratings can’t be higher than the sovereign rating,” said Xia Le, an economist at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA in Hong Kong. “It will affect corporate financing.”

Moody’s Investors Service cut its rating on the world’s second-biggest economy to A1 from Aa3 in May, citing similar concerns over economy-wide debt and effects on state finances.

90 Comments »

ARRRRH!!! Tis International Talk Like A Pirate Day!

by coldwarrior ( 37 Comments › )
Filed under Open thread at September 19th, 2017 - 7:44 am

Prepare to be boarded!

37 Comments »

NFL Week 2!

by Crackerbox Palace ( 41 Comments › )
Filed under Uncategorized at September 17th, 2017 - 12:45 pm

Well, THIS sure isn’t gonna pay the bills…..

Nothing worse than waking up early on a Sunday morning, thinking you’re going to luxuriate, drink some coffee and watch a Columbo rerun and realizing you haven’t put the Sunday column to bed (for afficianados of the detective series, it was the one where William Shatner plays Rush Limbaugh). So this’ll be a quick drive by.

There apparently is some growing concern in the NFL that the stadiums are not as full they should be. Earlier this week, eaglesoars posted a picture of the empty Levi Stadium as the 49ers hosted their home opener. The above is the home opener of the L.A. Rams playing in the Los Angeles Coliseum. Now, in fairness, the Coliseum holds about 100,000 people (which by the way college teams are able to do on a regular basis). It’s a good thing the NFL continues to suspend the blackout rule – otherwise the good people of L.A. would have missed the game.

According to reports, the NFL is rather concerned about the decline in attendance and viewers. So are the three networks that broadcast them. To a growing number of people, Sunday afternoon is no longer “must see TV.” I have a solution. Try to remember that we watch sports to get AWAY from politics – not be a captive audience to nasty little commenters and players. Oh, and since the Stockley trial resulted in a “not guilty” verdict on Friday, expect to see a lot of players pull a Krapperdick today. That’s if you watch at all.

Here are the matchups.

Browns @ Ravens
Bills @ Panthers
Cardinals @ Indianapolis
Titans @ Jaquars
Eagles @ Chiefs
Patriots @ Saints
Vikings @ Steelers
Bears @ Buccaneers
Dolphins @ Chargers
Jets @ Raiders
Cowboys @ Broncos
Redskins @ Rams
49ers @ Seahawks
Packers @ Falcons

Monday’s Game (no one cares – it’s ESPN; sorry, Mack – I feel your pain)
Lions @ Giants

In the MLB, looks like just about everyone is playing today as the season draws down to its last two weeks

Orioles @ Yankees
Red Sox @ Rays
White Sox @ Tigers
Royals @ Indians
Pirates @ Reds
Mets @ Braves
Athletics @ Phillies
Brewers @ Marlins
Mariners @ Astros
Blue Jays @ Twins
Cardinals @ Cubs
Padres @ Rockies
Rangers @ Angels
D-Backs @ Giants
Dodgers @ Nationals

NASCAR begins “the Chase for the Championship” at ChicagoLand Speedway – 3:00 p.m. Eastern

In the PGA, the FedEx Cup playoffs continue with the final round of the BMW Championship. Nice to see Jason Day and Rickie Fowler back at the top of the leaderboard. I’ve gotten Football Savant Offspring interested in golf now, and Rickie’s his guy. I’ve always had a soft spot for Mr. Day myself, especially since when he wins I get to see that adorable little boy of his.

41 Comments »