statsman

NPR article: https://www.npr.org/2024/11/08/nx-s1-5183812/israeli-soccer-fans-attacked-in-amsterdam “seem to show” is doing a lot of work. Do I believe such videos are real? Yes Do I believe they were shared among the assailants? Yes. Do I believe the actions in noted videos occurred at the game and related activities? I think that is worth checking out. It appears news organizations are hedging their bets, with respect to that.

The other day, I was reading the Baylor SicEm365 board, for laughs. Two things they believe: 1. Art Briles was a good man that was scapegoated 2. The B12 can get two, maybe three teams into the CFP. A one loss B12 team is better than a two loss SEC team.

No. But it is ok to bomb Hamas terrorists that are actively trying to kill you. If they imbed among civilians (they do), then their (Hamas) actions lead to innocent civilian deaths and injuries.

I count three people in the picture. Are they the only three that were attacked? Good rule of thumb. It is ok to judge people for what they do. It is not k to judge people for who they are. Attack the three that take down a flag? FAFO. Attack other people for giving indications that they are Jewish, or Israelis? Anti semitic pogrom.

Schools that want to compete have a revenue problem. The SEC makes over twice in media revenue, per school, than the B12, and the B1G makes even more. Then there is game revenue- the price per ticket, the number of tickets, and donations required annually for the best seats; that all favors the B1G and SEC. Where does that revenue go? Right now, SEC and the B1G use that money for large, NFL style scouting and support staffs. The B12 and ACC schools want to compete, but with smaller staffs, have to have their assistants do a lot of that work. We are about to see B12 and ACC coaches jump to the SEC and B1G just as readily as they jump from FCS to FBS, and for more reasons than just money- the life is better. The B12, led by Yormark and Livingston, have already had discussions with PE about cash infusions, to close that competitive gap. FSU has, as well, as it tries to compete with Power 2 programs on a Mid 2 budget. I’m sure the B12 is seeking a structure that will allow them to compete better. I’m also sure the SEC and B1G are working on their own plan.

Is “dismissed” the right term? Are you sure it wasn’t voluntary?

Oops. Yep. I reported to moderators

I’m going to try this again. The truth isn’t always your friend, but you shouldn’t let the truth be your enemy. Here is the truth. Trump is not popular or liked by more than 48% of the electorate, on his best day. That was also true on Tuesday. A few million voters that disliked Trump voted for him. A few million voters that voted against him in 2020 voted for him in 2024. Why? I have a guess. The main Dem argument was that Trump is disqualified, for many reasons, but primarily for what he did on January 6, 2021. That is a really great argument. Does it follow that the opponent must be elected? Yes, to quite a few, but not all. A tiny percent of the electorate (you can play the game of counting the deltas in the swing states and come to a conclusion that their election was swung by a few tenths of one percent of the voters) decided it in Trump’s favor. I contend that the Dem strategy error was not working enough to follow up “Trump is disqualified” with enough “Harris administration will do this and this, and stop that”. Instead, she pointedly refused to separate from the Biden administration in any meaningful way. You can argue that was unnecessary. It was unnecessary, for a huge chunk of voters, but not quite enough. Counterfactual- what would the campaign theme and strategy for the Dems have been if the assassin had been successful and the GOP had put DeSantis at the top of the ticket? It would have been something other than “Trump is a fascist”, right? Where was that policy-based campaign, with Trump as opposition? Isn’t that basic blocking and tackling? Here is what will happen. I am 99.99% sure that the GOP will believe (or act as if they believe) that they have a mandate and start ramming through controversial stuff. That will be an error. They don’t have a mandate. Trump’s “honeymoon” will last as long as that of a retread coach of the NY Jets. None of my conservative friends will listen, but Trump is not popular. His administration will almost certainly overstep (I can not imagine a scenario where he doesn’t). And then the real politics can start up again.

Thanks for the link. Briles used every tool he had available to advocate for his miscreant players and help guide them through the judicial or disciplinary system, with a goal of maximizing talent on his roster. Yes, that makes him an asshole, maybe even a sociopath. However, it could be argued that our system is based on the accused getting a vigorous defense. To me, it’s Baylor University that really looks bad, because the victims were also Baylor students, in most cases. Yes, the accused may deserve a good defense; but providing it shouldn’t come at the expense of the victim, who is actually paying Baylor tuition. Baylor is one fucked up place.

Great points. It is the deceased’s assets; the problem is, it hurts to realize the deceased took better care of his stepchildren than his own children. That isn’t a good memory. Yes, it’s clear how this happens again and again. The later wife genuinely fears for her future. She genuinely cares more for her children than her stepchildren. That brings out the worst in them. Then you get shitty situations where one side is saying, “The bitch froze us out of our dad’s life” and the other side is saying, “It’s a good thing we are here to take care of him because his own children hardly come around”. The key is discussing this before the later marriage, if they’re capable. A lot of people aren’t. Some families discuss money and some just don’t. A good way to broach the subject is, “Dad, I would like for you to be mindful in how you structure your affairs, so we can all have continuing good relationships after you pass. You want that, too, right?”

Not necessarily. You don’t think they fair them flush with a special sealant overcoat?

IT had a report about expected coming changes to NIL. Basically, school media revenue can be used, but limited to a percentage. There are no official news reports, but they say their Texas contacts tell them that the conferences with more media revenue (B1G and SEC) will have larger “caps” (they also say that “organic” NIL- genuine marketing and endorsements- won’t be limited, to the benefit of schools located in vibrant business communities). TheB1G makes more, per school, in media revenue than the SEC. I would expect the SEC to address that with a new contract and a nine game conference schedule.

Forgive me for opining, but to me, what sucks is that your wife would probably like to remember her father as a strong man that loved her (and that is probably what he would like her to think), but instead, she will remember him as the man who let his second wife take control of his life and relationships. Shit like that doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a lot of gradual manipulation

I have a friend, a really kind and good natured guy, with an elderly father and stepmother. My friend and his two siblings are not untouched by life’s misfortunes, but have made the best lives they could, raising families and trying to plan for the future. The step-siblings, not so much. They are funded by his dad, who made some good investments earlier in life. My friend is saddened by the way his stepmother restricts his access to his father (his father shares complicity, and has noted as much), insisting on being present for conversations. Both are becoming frail. My friend knows that if his father dies first, the stepmother (bolstered by the thought, in her mind, that she is doing the right thing, taking care of the neediest) will make sure everything goes to her children. They need it more, see? It wouldn’t take much to allow my friend and his siblings to retire earlier and more soundly, but it’s a coin toss as to whether it will happen. More than anything, he is worried about how this affects his understanding of his family relationships. This kind of story plays out again and again, and for the same reasons. It’s not like a newly remarried man will tell his new bride, “My savings aren’t going to be wasted on subsidizing your lazy ass kids.” (Although, maybe he should)

I think it’s funny how there is a contingent of SMU fans focused on Texas. They haven’t played the Longhorns in almost 30 years, and they still see Texas as the rival that held them down.

Yeah. When you are young and dating, the man’s career prospects are definitely part of the equation, even though the gal never comes out and says it. (Maybe this is why arranged marriages work out so well- that shit is discussed and understood). I’m guessing those discussions aren’t held late in life, either. The olds get remarried, without a discussion of estate plans, and after a few years, “Who will take care of me when you’re gone? I can’t get by on SS alone (true). I’m too old to re-enter the workforce (also true)”. There is crying and to end it, a new will is written leaving everything to the new spouse.

That was Kellen Heard, although Bennett had a hit nearly as bad. How bad? Franchione phones to apologize later.

This guy seems to be doing it right. https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/jonathan-clements-personal-finance-cancer-e30d1396?st=85K72e&reflink=mobilewebshare_permalink Two adult children from a prior marriage. New wife. He has a fatal cancer diagnosis. He is talking with them about his estate’s disposition and making as many moves of accounts as he can, now. One more perspective on the need to sort this out in advance: one of the most valuable things you can leave your heirs is a good relationship with each other. A transparent and upfront disposition of your estate is a good way to lay that foundation.

SMU getting salty

Colorado, after the network calls Yormark and Yormark talks to the officials.

Examples of how money brings out the worst in people. Once they can find enough justification for themself (“I cared for him when I was sick”. “He wanted me to be taken care of. Those step kids won’t do it”.), there really is no limit to their actions. In these cases, is it not possible to leave everything in a trust, where defined income goes to the spouse until she dies, at which point it goes to the children?

You see two types of tales: 1. “My dad died, and my stepmom took everything and put it in her name and is leaving it all to my step-siblings, her children” 2. “My stepchildren were never around and didn’t raise a finger to help, and not that their dad is dead, they come looking for an inheritance”. Why does this matter? Economists say that $80 trillion is to transfer over the next 20 years. There are 350 million Americans. That’s over $200k per American. Figure that 100 million Americans will be bequeathing and not inheriting, and that quite a few Americans won’t inherit anything, and you can see that there are some big stakes decision playing out. (statsman is in line to inherit low to mid six figures, and is in a family that talks openly about the will and its structure. However, I have a cousin who is going to be screwed in favor of her younger “second marriage” step-siblings. Although she has done very well in life, there is a part of it that is hurtful, to have never even been offered the help that her step siblings always had).

This might be the right board for this topic. The WSJ had this article: More American couples are coming together with children from prior relationships. It often goes well until it comes time to read the will. https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/blended-family-estate-planning-352a9788?st=xxgDk9&reflink=share_mobilewebshare It really is worth reading the comments, to see how many stories of blended families sundered by an estate going wholly to one side of a family. Over ten years ago, my wife came home from the neighborhood ladies get together and told me three stories of neighborhood widowers that remarried, and left their estate to their new wife (and eventually, her children) and not the widowers’ children. I laughed and asked if she was trying to tell me something. “Yes, you can’t do that to (our daughter)”! it’s an interesting topic. I saw it in my family’s older generation. My great uncle Curtis had been married to my great Aunt Belle for almost 50 years. They had worked and sacrificed together to build a business. They had no children and doted on my aunts and uncles. Aunt Belle died and in short order, a lonely Uncle Curtis remarried. They were married for about five years when he died, she inherited and had nothing more to do with the family. Clearly, that’s Uncle Curtis’ decision to make (although Aunt Belle would have been truly pissed off had she known). I’m sure his second wife would say that she cared for him in his illness (true) and he would have wanted her cared for (also true). You can see how this happens, again and again. A marriage is broken, by death or divorce. Ex spouses remarry. They plan their estates in good faith, intending to distribute among step siblings. One dies, and the survivor’s step children just don’t come around as much, if at all (their other parent might be a higher priority, or maybe they just don’t feel as welcome). Meanwhile, the surviving spouse’s children are full and active members of their life,perhaps actively caring for them. Over time, the surviving spouse convinces themself that they can revisit the estate plan and make sure it goes to those that they know really need (and deserve) it (their children). Fact of life: no one will ever screw you over like someone that is convinced they’re doing the right thing. Moral? Get that shit planned and written down, locked down as much as the law will let you. I do wonder- these late-in-life second marriages,…how many would still happen if the spouse with savings had their estate willed to a trust and let the new paramour know that the will would not be revised or replaced?

I don’t know. With the leagues so large, multiple teams can put up big records by not playing each other. BYU and ISU are undefeated and not scheduled to play. KSU has one loss (to BYU). Colorado has two (NU and KSU). ISU and KSU play late in the season. If BYU and ISU stay undefeated, they meet in the CCG, and KSU would be the best win for each. There will be CFP controversy