Tracker

That Dustin guy who called the game last night was pretty good.

Andrew Lauderdale makes first career start at LT for Riders, draws in for Brett Boyko Photo courtesy: Saskatchewan Roughriders The Saskatchewan Roughriders will start Andrew Lauderdale at left tackle against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Week 2. Saskatoon native Brett Boyko started on Cody Fajardo’s blindside in the Riders Week 1 win against the B.C. Lions. However, according to the league’s injury report, an illness put Boyko on the disabled list. (From a quick look at Lauderdale's shorts, I would say he is feeling very tentative.)

Looks like we get Rod Black calling the game. Dammit.

And more profitable, too.

This Tennessee Republican Nearly Died From COVID. Now He’s Fighting Masks. “I can promise you one thing, I have been so sorry for that,” he says in a recording that surfaced along with the allegations in 2018. “I’ve lived with that and you don’t know how hard it has been for me.” A third student charged that he had attempted to molest her. But Byrd never admitted nor explicitly denied what the three alleged, saying only, “I have done nothing wrong or inappropriate during my term as state representative.” The then speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, Beth Harwell, called on Byrd to resign. He refused and joined many of his fellow Republican representatives in wrongdoing of another kind when the pandemic hit. Byrd was complicit in an effort to minimize the coronavirus threat as no worse than the flu. He opposed such basic mitigation measures as masking and social distancing. He was one of 55 Tennessee Republican representatives who signed a resolution in June of last year alleging that “[the] mainstream media has sensationalized the reporting on COVID-19 in the service of political agendas.” In November, just as Tennessee was reporting a record high number of new COVID-19 cases, Byrd and other members of the House Republican caucus ignored public health recommendations against large gatherings and held a three-day retreat. The event was in the lodge at Pickwick Landing State Park in Byrd’s district. Byrd hosted a big dinner at a nearby restaurant on the first night and of course he was among the many who did not wear a mask. The day before Thanksgiving, Byrd tested positive for COVID-19. He was flown by helicopter from his hometown of Waynesboro to Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville and he issued a plaintive statement on Dec. 7. “Please pray for God’s healing for my lungs, and that He will give me strength and endurance as I battle this virus.” He spent 55 days on a ventilator in the ICU. “My wife and family prayed for a miracle while facing the very real prospect of planning my funeral,” he said in the statement. He was one of the lucky ones who survived after needing to be intubated. But he was initially unable to use his limbs. And he began to suffer liver failure. On June 12, he received a liver transplant. He was still recovering on July 29, when he arrived in a wheelchair at the House chamber. Harwell had stepped down to make an unsuccessful run for governor. Her successor, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, said a prayer for Byrd, who had missed the entire legislative session. Byrd solemnly took a renewed oath of office. “Life is a miraculous gift that I am humbled beyond all odds and explanation to receive a second chance at living,” he said in a statement released later by the caucus. But Byrd made no mention of those who did die after being convinced by pandemic-denying elected officials such as himself that COVID is just like the flu. Byrd uttered not a syllable of apology for having contributed in however small a way to the deaths of hundreds of thousands by hampering our fight against the virus. In failing to voice any concern for the effect his words and deeds as an elected official might have had on others, Byrd initially seemed just a typically monstrous minimizer who has suddenly decided that “COVID is real and it is very dangerous” after it nearly killed him. But Byrd has now outdone himself and proven to be among the lowest of the low. On Wednesday night, Byrd joined all 73 members of the House Republican caucus in petitioning Gov. Bill Lee to call a special session of the legislature to prohibit local mask mandates and keep businesses from barring the unvaccinated. Tennessee Republican David Byrd Nearly Died From COVID. Now He’s Fighting Masks. (thedailybeast.com)

The single biggest factor, IMO, is the PCs smearing themselves with feces at every opportunity and undercutting their own leader.

If the Argos haven't given the Bombers a "safe word", that is on them. Seriously, if the Lions could beat the Stumps, nothing is guaranteed in the CFL Bombers better not get complacent or else.

Welcome to the constant agony and ecstacy forum.

Followed by the traditional backstabbing of the PC leader after the usual wringing of hands by the PC rank and file all the while claiming that they did not see this coming and have no idea how it happened.

Fear not. Everything is going according to plan. Move along. Nothing to see here.

Thank God for free speech! Otherwise, how would we know who the idiots among us are?

Four school teachers in one Florida county die in one day from COVID as DeSantis continues to ban mandates Four school teachers in Broward County, Florida just died from COVID-19 in one day. Three were unvaccinated, CNN reports (video below.) Republican Governor Ron DeSantis continues to refuse to allow any mask or vaccine mandates as coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths explode in his state. “Within a 24-hour span, we had an assistant teacher pass away, a teacher at her school pass away, an elementary teacher pass away and another teacher at a high school," Broward Teachers Union President Anna Fusco told CBS News. Broward County's School Board this week voted to defy DeSantis' ban on masks mandates. Florida recorded 24,869 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, far more than any state in the nation. Less than half of Florida's total population is fully vaccinated. Four school teachers in one Florida county die in one day from COVID as DeSantis continues to ban mandates - Alternet.org

We should expect a lot of flubs and oopsies for the first two or four games.

A brief reprieve for Yamasaki.

No real zing on that pass, but effective nonetheless.

Good lord! If an O-line cannot get less than a yard with two tries with a one yard gap, that is pathetic.

Good stuff by Lions

A lot of damage has already been done, but better late, etc.

Actually, both QBs slinging the ball noticeably better than last week.

Lindell emphatically denies ever having said anything like that, and it is just a vicious rumour spread by Antifa.

That Reilly played at all tells us two things: his injury or injuries are such that a week or two off isn't going to amke any difference and that there is no better alternatives.

In the atmosphere that the GOP under Trump has created, there emerged a dark underbelly that had been careful not come out into the light. The Trump/GOP attitude is that those in power are there because of some sort of divine right to rule with impunity, no matter what travesty they choose to commit.

'We can't live forever': Marjorie Taylor Greene gives bizarre argument against Covid vaccine approval U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has spent the week attacking what will soon be FDA final approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Thursday was no different, with the Georgia Republican falsely denigrating the effectiveness of the vaccine and falsely claiming that hospitals across the country are not overflowing with COVID patients. "We're human, we can't live forever," Greene, a far right wing conspiracy theorist, antisemite, white nationalist, and purveyor of coronavirus disinformation told the far right wing streaming website Real America's Voice. "We are going to catch all kinds of diseases and illnesses," she added, suggesting that vaccine mandates, which have existed since before the United States was founded, would turn the nation into "an authoritarian regime." 'We can't live forever': Marjorie Taylor Greene gives bizarre argument against Covid vaccine approval - Alternet.org

Very, very nice to have options, particularly when those options are going to confuse the spit out of the opposition. I hope that it doesn't confuse our side.

‘Indictment is ready’: Matt Gaetz ‘will face charges’ says former NY prosecutor A former New York State prosecutor say U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) will be prosecuted by federal authorities and insists the "indictment is ready." Tristan Snell, who served as assistant attorney general for New York state and is now the founder and the managing partner of Main Street Law helped lead the prosecution against Trump University that resulted in a $25 million settlement. Snell has been sharing what he says he knows, via Twitter, and on Wednesday laid out the "Gaetzgate" case as he sees it. "What we know," Snell writes, is that the "indictment is coming in the next few weeks, either in August or just after." "Also clear that the US Attorney's Office is taking very strong positions with Gaetz and his counsel and is ready to indict Gaetz and others," Snell claims. "What's really going on is that the feds are applying a lot of pressure on Gaetz to flip and cooperate — if the feds are taking a strong position, it's to get cooperation," he adds. "But what would Gaetz be able to cooperate on?" "Gaetz could cooperate on the existing case they have open in federal court in Orlando — adding to the testimony from Gaetz's buddy Joel Greenberg." Greenberg is the former Florida tax collector who was indicted on 33 federal charges, including theft, sex trafficking of a minor, stalking, and multiple counts of fraud. As part of a plea deal in May Greenberg pleaded guilty to six counts, including sex trafficking. ‘Indictment is ready’: Matt Gaetz ‘will face charges’ says former NY prosecutor - Alternet.org Trump-loving Minnesota GOP strategist arrested for allegedly sex trafficking minors: report. Another Republican has been arrested under suspicion of underage sex trafficking. According to the Daily Beast, wealthy Minnesota GOP strategist Anton Lazzaro was arrested in Minneapolis Thursday morning, the FBI confirmed. Lazzaro, who has appeared on Fox News and was known for showing off his wealthy and lavish lifestyle on social media, was indicted on five counts of sex trafficking of a minor and three counts of obstruction of justice. "U.S. Magistrate Judge Becky R. Thorson ordered that Lazzaro remain jailed until a court hearing next week, after prosecutors claimed six victims had asked for additional protection from Lazzaro," said the report. "It's their strong wish that the United States proceed with a recommendation of detention," said Judge Thorson, referring to the requests of the survivors. The court documents say that Lazzaro is accused of recruiting at least five underage victims for paid sex between May and December of 2020 and attempting to recruit a sixth. The indictment says he then "knowingly and intentionally interfered" with the FBI's investigation as he became aware of it. The indictment accuses Lazzaro of having "recruited" at least five underage victims for paid sex between May and December last year, and trying to entice a sixth. It also says he "knowingly and intentionally interfered" with the investigation as it closed in on him. Lazzaro would appear on Fox to promote former President Donald Trump and other GOP officials. He's been photographed with Trump, Pence, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and former Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA). Trump-loving Minnesota GOP strategist arrested for allegedly sex trafficking minors: report - Alternet.org