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The deterioration of Nichols was unexpected only in the degree. He was getting worse for the previous couple of seasons but trying to survive behind that porous O-line probably accelerated things.

Black flag: Understanding the Trumpists' latest threatening symbol. Trump zealots have begun flying black U.S. flags, which signal no quarter for enemies. It's a threat of violence It's an old truism that the "real bad men" (and bad women) "move in silence and violence." That's certainly true for the most dangerous and most effective of Donald Trump's allies, henchmen, henchwomen, and other followers. But for Donald Trump himself, and most of his political cult, that rule does not apply. Trump and his followers were loud, exuberant and enthusiastic on Jan. 6. The lethal attack on the Capitol had been publicly announced weeks in advance, and should have come as no surprise. Trump's rallies and gatherings continue to celebrate violence and the prospect of revenge — and specifically of "getting even" with Trump's "enemies." Steve Bannon, Trump's former campaign chairman and White House strategist, has now threatened to recruit Republican-fascist "shock troops" with the apparent goal of undermining the U.S. government, and by implication multiracial democracy, if and when Trump and the Republicans regain control of both Congress and the White House. On a daily basis Fox News and other elements of the right-wing disinformation propaganda machine use stochastic terrorism and other techniques to radicalize their audience into committing acts of political violence. To this point, the Democratic Party and the political and news media class in general have remained in denial, and largely passive in response. In one troubling new development, Trump supporters have begun flying all-black American flags, in an implicit threat to harm or kill their opponents — meaning nonwhite people, "socialist liberals," Muslims, vaccinated people and others deemed to be "enemies" of "real America." As media critic Eric Boehlert recently noted, the liberal opinion site Living Blue in Texas is sounding the alarm about the specific meaning of the black flag and the Republican-fascists support for terrorism and other political violence. That post, "Are Your Republican Neighbors Planning on Killing You?", merits lengthy quotation: It didn't take long to find hundreds of videos where these Trumpers and so-called patriots were hanging black American flags. Black American flags are the flags that mean "no quarter shall be given." They are the opposite of the white flag of surrender. According to the people on TikTok and the Sun (British tabloid), the black American flag originated in the civil war and was flown by the Confederates. It means that they will not surrender, will not take prisoners, and are willing to die for their cause. It means they will execute their enemies. Who are their enemies? Pretty much any non-Conservative. You know, Democrats, Liberals, LGBTQ, BIPOC, and the vaccinated. So, we're the enemy, and they're openly professing to want to execute us. … So, why are they doing this? Covid vaccinations, mostly. They believe that Joe Biden has declared a civil war on them by mandating that employers with over 100 employees and the military have vaccinations. Yes, they say civil war, and they say it's already started. But, unfortunately, many of them also live in states where masks and vaccines are required by state governments, healthcare, and law enforcement. An alarming number of military members have been making Tik Toks talking about how they are being discharged because they refuse the vaccine. It's alarming because there is probably an equal number of guys on there talking about the civil war plans and actively using Tik Tok to recruit these military and ex-military members. The biggest message they have been sending out is, "it's time" or "the time is now." ... Although showing guns on Tik Tok is supposed to be against community guidelines, they show lots of videos of their guns, shooting them, wearing them, or sitting on their bed. They primarily use Tik Tok as a recruiting tool and let others know their willingness to commit violence. Then they tell people to message them or where to find them on Telegram. However you interpret these videos posted by Trump followers and other neofascists — which could be mainly performative — it is clearly true that the American right is increasingly willing to accept or condone violence as a means of expanding and protecting their social and political power. (Salon did not find licensed news photographs of these flags, and has made the editorial decision not to reproduce the images mentioned above, which are easy to find on social media.) Public opinion polls and other research have repeatedly shown that millions of Republican voters and Trump followers would support the use of violence to remove Joe Biden from office because of the "Big Lie" and their belief that that he is not a legitimate president. Similarly, a large proportion of Republicans believe that the rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 were "patriots" whose use of violence was justified. Black flag: Understanding the Trumpists' latest threatening symbol | Salon.com

This falls on whoever made the decision to go with Nichols.

Someone's head is going to be on a plate for this dreadful RedBlack season.

It appears that we have no viable options at the moment.

We're seeing what that sort of attitude and division is doing in southern Manitoba communities, so it would probably a lot worse among teammates who are supposed to have each other's backs.

Epstein Bragged About Gift From Woody Allen Before Raping Russian Model, Lawsuit Says A new lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court paints a disturbing picture of Epstein’s continued pattern of preying on young women even after his sex crimes were exposed. A new accuser has filed a class-action lawsuit against Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, claiming the late sex-trafficker raped and assaulted her numerous times from 2017 through 2019—including at his homes in Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the months leading up to his arrest—after interviewing her on Skype and promising to aid her career. The woman, a Russian national referred to as Jane Doe, also claims Epstein gave her a tour of his Palm Beach mansion and showed off a broken guitar, a gift he claimed was from his longtime friend, the disgraced director Woody Allen. Doe’s complaint, filed in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, also names Epstein’s veteran executive assistant Lesley Groff as a defendant. Groff helped to facilitate Epstein’s sex ring, the suit claims, by “purchasing plane tickets, sending money, making appointments, and sending various communications from New York.” According to the complaint, Doe was in her early twenties and living in Moscow when Epstein targeted her in 2017, and she soon learned she wasn’t alone. The multimillionaire sex-offender also “fraudulently lured dozens and dozens of women from Russia and elsewhere in Europe into his orbit using false promises of career,” the suit alleges. “For the next two years—presumably in the middle of his being investigated by federal law enforcement officials and up until his widely-reported arrest in July 2019—Epstein, with Groff’s assistance, repeatedly trafficked Jane for his personal sexual use and abuse, fraudulently promising her assistance with her work and career to further lure her to Paris, Florida, and the Virgin Islands, including through New York,” the filing states. “Epstein continued to use Jane as an object for his sexual gratification.” Lawyers for Groff, who has denied playing any part in Epstein’s trafficking scheme, told The Daily Beast they’re “confident” the suit will be tossed. “This lawsuit should never have been filed,” Michael Bachner and Jon Whitcomb said in a statement. “It does not contain a single factual allegation that Lesley in any way knowingly engaged in any wrongdoing or was aware of any misconduct committed by Jeffrey Epstein. Jeffrey Epstein Bragged About Gift From Woody Allen Before Raping Russian Model, Lawsuit Says (thedailybeast.com)

Texas schools official tells teachers they must offer 'other perspectives' when teaching the Holocaust A Southlake, Texas school official is under fire after telling teachers if they have a book in the classroom about the Holocaust they must also teach "other perspectives." “Just try to remember the concepts of [House Bill] 3979," Gina Peddy, the executive director of curriculum and instruction for the Carroll Independent School District, said in a training session Friday, as the recording (below) from NBC News shows. “And make sure that if you have a book on the Holocaust, that you have one that has an opposing, that has other perspectives," she told teachers in a training session on the new law. “How do you oppose the Holocaust?" one teacher asked. “Believe me," Peddy said. “That's come up." At issue is a new Texas state ordinance drafted and rushed into law after parents complained about books teaching about racism. "The training came four days after the Carroll school board, responding to a parent's complaint, voted to reprimand a fourth grade teacher who had kept an anti-racism book in her classroom," NBC News reports. “Teachers are literally afraid that we're going to be punished for having books in our classes," one elementary school teacher told NBC News. “There are no children's books that show the 'opposing perspective' of the Holocaust or the 'opposing perspective' of slavery. Are we supposed to get rid of all of the books on those subjects?" Conservatives across the nation have been attacking and threatening school boards over the nearly non-existent teaching of Critical Race Theory, and are demanding all teaching about racism end. LISTEN: Texas schools official tells teachers they must offer 'other perspectives' when teaching the Holocaust - Alternet.org 'Just Looking Out!': Capitol Cop Who Warned Rioter To Scrub Facebook Charged By Feds. Officer Michael Riley told a Jan. 6 rioter that he agreed with his "political stance" but suggested he remove photos taken inside the Capitol building. U.S. Capitol Police Officer Michael Riley, seen here in 2011, faces two charges of obstruction. A veteran Capitol Police officer has been charged by federal authorities with two counts of obstruction after he allegedly warned a Capitol rioter to remove Facebook posts that showed him inside the building. Officer Michael Angelo Riley was on K-9 duty on Jan. 6 and even responded to reports of an explosive device near the Capitol complex, according to authorities. The next day, Riley reached out to a Facebook friend ― one he knew because they were both “avid fishermen and members of fishing-related Facebook groups” ― and warned him to take down posts showing him inside the Capitol. “[I’m] a capitol police officer who agrees with your political stance. Take down the part about being in the building they are currently investigating and everyone who was in the building is going to [get] charged,” Riley wrote. “Just looking out!” 'Just Looking Out!': Capitol Cop Who Warned Rioter To Scrub Facebook Charged By Feds | HuffPost Latest News

The morning after observations: Collaros did not have one of his better games- he was under pressure a lot but he underthrew many passes. The Elks have an anemic offence but a pretty good defence Gray in limited action seemed to do quite well and maybe he ought to get more work at right tackle. Missing Yoshi hurt. A lot, so experience for backups is vital Mourtada was better last night, maybe even good, but still not good enough. That was a weird injury Andrew Harris suffered, but because he is such a critical part of the offence, we ought to be grateful we have #20 , Oliveira picked up very good yardage against a stingy Elk front seven. Last night wasn't a night to give McGuire game experience, but I hope that O'Shea will give him more work soon when the game is in hand. Losing Yoshi hurt but losing Collaros without an experienced backup would be a disaster and render all the dominant games irrelevant. Adams continues to underperform. Why? Is it time to sit him out? Is Meredith ever going to be an option?

An ugly game but a savoury win. goodnight, all.

Everyone has their fantasies.

And Elks' front 7 are tough to run against.

Worth evert penny. Not.

And he can only get better.

If you are referring to your sphincter, I don't want to hear about it.

There's the fumble we've been waiting for.

I counted only one flex tonight.

Gotta feel good to go out and beat up people other than his own team in practice.

If it persists after the game, would that make it an afterburner?

Nichols will live.

Seems to me that as the game got tighter, Cornelius' collar got tighter as well.

Ach! There's the Moutada we remember and loathe,

Gray bulldozed two Elks there.

For his family's sake, I hope he sticks around on the team

Nice return.