The ancient Olympics games came from the Greeks, they were a series of competitions held from representatives from various city-states. Ancient Greek Olympic games were held of Zues. The games were held every four years, or Olympiad. during the celebration of the games an Olympic opponent enacted so that athletes could travel from their countries to the games in safety. The prizes for the victors were wreaths of a group of family leaves. The games became a political tool used by city-states to assure dominance over their enemy. It is up to the world to keep the tradition alive.
The Games were also used to help spread Hellenistic culture throughout the Mediterranean. The Olympics also featured religious celebrations and artistic competitions. A great statue of Zeus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world was constructed in Olympia to be in charge over the Games, and no longer stands in Olympia. Sculptors and poets would assemble each olympiad to display their works of art to would-be a customer.
The ancient Olympics were rather different from the modern Games. There were fewer events, and only free men who spoke Greek could compete. As long as they met the entrance on a standard rule, athletes from any country or city-state were allowed to participate. The Games were always held at Olympia rather than alternating to different locations as is the tradition with the modern Olympic Games. There is one major shared feature between the ancient and modern Games, the victorious athletes are honored, a festival, feast, and praised. Their deeds were a sign that something was about to happen and a related series of events so that future generations could appreciate their accomplishments.
Artistic expression was a major part of the Games. Sculptors, poets and other artisans would come to the Games to display their works in what became an artistic competition. Sculptors created works like Discus Thrower. Their aim was to highlight natural human movement and the shape of muscles and the body. Poets would be commissioned to write an ordinary form of spoken or written language in honor of the Olympic victors. These poems were passed on from generation to generation and many of them have lasted far longer than any other honor made for the same purpose.
This how we get our modern day Olympics, if it wasn't for the Ancient Greeks there wouldn't be a celebration of the athletes accomplishments. s time goes by a part of the Olympics change, new things will be created and old thing will soon go useless. The various city-states represent the rest of the world including America. Its not only political but it helps bring money into the various countries either helping them or putting them in dept. It is up to the world to keep the tradition alive.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
2012 US race likely to be tough
Washington - One year to go until Election Day and the Republican presidential field is deeply unsettled, leaving President Barack Obama only to guess who his opponent will be. But the race's contours are starting to come into view.
It's virtually certain that the campaign will be a close, grinding affair, markedly different from the 2008 race. It will play out amid widespread economic anxiety and heightened public resentment of government and politicians.
Americans who were drawn to the drama of Obama's barrier-breaking primary battle with Hillary Rodham Clinton, and the up-and-down fortunes of the Republican ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin, are likely to see a more partisan contest this time, with Ohio and Florida playing crucial roles as they did in 2000 and 2004.
Failed leader
Republicans have their script; they just need to pick the person to deliver it. It will portray Obama as a failed leader who backs away when challenged and who doesn't understand what it takes to create jobs and spur business investment.
Obama will highlight his opponent's ties to the conservative tea party movement and its priorities of advocating deep spending cuts and opposing tax increases. He will say Republicans are obsessed with protecting millionaires' tax cuts while the federal debt soars and working people struggle.
On several issues, voters will see a more distinct contrast between the nominees than in 2008. Even the most moderate Republican candidates have staked out more rigidly conservative views on immigration, taxes and spending than did Arizona Senator McCain.
Democrats say Obama has little control over the two biggest impediments to his re-election: unemployment and congressional gridlock.
The jobless rate will stand at levels that have not led to a president's re-election since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Largely because of that, Obama will run a much more negative campaign, his aides acknowledge, even if it threatens to demoralise some supporters who were inspired by his 2008 message of hope.
Appeal to independents
The tea party, one of the modern era's most intriguing and effective political movements, will play its first role in a presidential race. After helping Republicans win huge victories in last year's congressional elections, activists may push the Republican presidential contenders so far right that the eventual nominee will struggle to appeal to independents.
"It's going to be extremely different, with much more hand-to-hand combat, from one foxhole to another, targeted to key states," said Chris Lehane, who helped run Democrat Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign.
Republican consultant Terry Holt agreed. "You can expect a very negative campaign," he said. "In 2008, Barack Obama was peddling hope and change. Now he's peddling fear and poverty."
Obama and his aides reject that characterisation, of course. They say the Republican candidates are under the tea party's spell, noting that all of them said they would reject a deficit-reduction plan even if it included $10 in spending cuts for every dollar in new taxes.
Both parties agree that jobs will be the main issue. The White House predicts unemployment will hover around 9% for at least a year, a frighteningly high level for a president seeking a second term.
Raise taxes
Republican lawmakers, who control the House of Representatives and have enough power in the Senate to use procedural manoeuvers to prevent votes on legislation, have blocked Obama's job proposals, mainly because they would raise taxes on the wealthy. The candidates, echoing their Republican colleagues in Congress, say new jobs will follow cuts in taxes, regulation and federal spending.
With the economy struggling and Obama hemmed in legislatively, his advisers sometimes say the election will be a choice between the president and his challenger, rather than a referendum on the administration's performance.
"That's a very genteel way of saying 'Were going to rip your face off,'" said Dan Schnur, a former aide to McCain and other Republicans, and now a politics professor at the University of Southern California. Obama has little choice but to try to portray the Republican alternative as worse than his own disappointing record, Schnur said.
Some Republican candidates would be tougher targets than others. Texas Governor Rick Perry promotes his state's significant job growth, leaving Democrats to grouse that he was a lucky bystander rather than the cause.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney says his years in the private sector make him best suited to lead an economic expansion. But Obama's allies have gathered details of jobs that were eliminated when Bain Capital, a takeover firm that Romney headed, restructured several companies.
Revive the economy
Obama can't fine-tune his strategy until Republicans pick their nominee, and that may take months. So he's spending part of this year travelling to some of the most contested states, telling disappointed liberals he still deserves their strong backing and trying to convince centrists that he can revive the economy.
Obama's overall job-approval rating was 46% in an Associated Press-GfK poll from October. Only 36% of adults approved of his handling of the economy, a worrisome number for any incumbent.
Yet 78% said he's a likeable person, which forces Republicans to be careful. It's possible Obama will run a more cut-throat campaign than will his challenger. For now, anyway, Romney calls Obama "a nice guy" who doesn't know how to lead.
Republican insiders see Romney as their most plausible nominee. He has run the steadiest and best-financed campaign thus far, relying on lessons and friends picked up in his unsuccessful 2008 bid.
But the Republican race has been unpredictable, and Romney has struggled to exceed one-fourth of the support in Republican polls. Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota emerged as his main challenger last summer, only to be supplanted by Perry. A few halting debate performances hurt Perry, and former pizza company executive Herman Cain replaced him at or near the top of the polls, along with Romney.
Political experience
Last week, Cain tried to swat down allegations of sexual harassment from the 1990s. Party activists are waiting for the impact. Some, however, think Cain's lack of political experience and his unorthodox style, which includes largely ignoring Iowa and New Hampshire, the states with the first two nominating contests in January, are more likely to bring him down.
Two schools of thought run through Republican circles. One holds that Romney is the logical nominee and will consolidate the party's somewhat grudging support after conservatives stop flirting with longshots such as Bachmann and Cain. Republicans have a history of nominating the runner-up from previous primaries, and Romney fits that bill.
The competing theory holds that Americans are angrier at government and the two parties than political pros realise, and the tea party is just the start of a potent, long-lasting movement. Under this scenario, Romney can never placate conservative voters because of his establishment ties and the more liberal positions he once held on abortion, gay rights and gun control.
If this view is right, the shifting support for Bachmann, Perry and Cain is more than a flirtation, and someone will emerge as the "non-Romney" who wins the nomination.
Veterans of past presidential campaigns tend to doubt this outcome. But even with Obama's economic woes, plenty of Republican insiders worry that Romney's inconsistency on important issues and voters' doubts about his authenticity could let the president slip away.
Third Bush term
Romney should have put his Republican rivals "in the rear-view mirror" by now, said Mike McKenna, a Republican lobbyist who has tracked focus groups and polls in various states. "The problem is, a huge part of the party views him as a third Bush term."
McKenna said pundits don't realise that the tea party movement was as much a rejection of the high-spending, high-deficit practices of President George W Bush and Republican lawmakers as it was a reaction against Obama's health care reform plan. With his ties to the northeastern New England states and the party establishment, Romney "looks like the lineal descendant of Bush," McKenna said.
He said he fears that a lot of conservatives will sit out the 2012 election if Romney is the nominee.
Plenty of strategists reject that view. They think conservatives' deep antipathy toward Obama will cause them to overcome their misgivings and fully back Romney.
David Axelrod, Obama's top political adviser, points to issues Obama can cite success on, from health care and undermining al-Qaeda to reviving the auto industry and ending the Iraq war.
"We're going to have a very robust debate," he said. "The Republicans say if we just cut taxes and spending and regulations, we will grow. And I think the American people understand it's more complicated than that."
It's virtually certain that the campaign will be a close, grinding affair, markedly different from the 2008 race. It will play out amid widespread economic anxiety and heightened public resentment of government and politicians.
Americans who were drawn to the drama of Obama's barrier-breaking primary battle with Hillary Rodham Clinton, and the up-and-down fortunes of the Republican ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin, are likely to see a more partisan contest this time, with Ohio and Florida playing crucial roles as they did in 2000 and 2004.
Failed leader
Republicans have their script; they just need to pick the person to deliver it. It will portray Obama as a failed leader who backs away when challenged and who doesn't understand what it takes to create jobs and spur business investment.
Obama will highlight his opponent's ties to the conservative tea party movement and its priorities of advocating deep spending cuts and opposing tax increases. He will say Republicans are obsessed with protecting millionaires' tax cuts while the federal debt soars and working people struggle.
On several issues, voters will see a more distinct contrast between the nominees than in 2008. Even the most moderate Republican candidates have staked out more rigidly conservative views on immigration, taxes and spending than did Arizona Senator McCain.
Democrats say Obama has little control over the two biggest impediments to his re-election: unemployment and congressional gridlock.
The jobless rate will stand at levels that have not led to a president's re-election since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Largely because of that, Obama will run a much more negative campaign, his aides acknowledge, even if it threatens to demoralise some supporters who were inspired by his 2008 message of hope.
Appeal to independents
The tea party, one of the modern era's most intriguing and effective political movements, will play its first role in a presidential race. After helping Republicans win huge victories in last year's congressional elections, activists may push the Republican presidential contenders so far right that the eventual nominee will struggle to appeal to independents.
"It's going to be extremely different, with much more hand-to-hand combat, from one foxhole to another, targeted to key states," said Chris Lehane, who helped run Democrat Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign.
Republican consultant Terry Holt agreed. "You can expect a very negative campaign," he said. "In 2008, Barack Obama was peddling hope and change. Now he's peddling fear and poverty."
Obama and his aides reject that characterisation, of course. They say the Republican candidates are under the tea party's spell, noting that all of them said they would reject a deficit-reduction plan even if it included $10 in spending cuts for every dollar in new taxes.
Both parties agree that jobs will be the main issue. The White House predicts unemployment will hover around 9% for at least a year, a frighteningly high level for a president seeking a second term.
Raise taxes
Republican lawmakers, who control the House of Representatives and have enough power in the Senate to use procedural manoeuvers to prevent votes on legislation, have blocked Obama's job proposals, mainly because they would raise taxes on the wealthy. The candidates, echoing their Republican colleagues in Congress, say new jobs will follow cuts in taxes, regulation and federal spending.
With the economy struggling and Obama hemmed in legislatively, his advisers sometimes say the election will be a choice between the president and his challenger, rather than a referendum on the administration's performance.
"That's a very genteel way of saying 'Were going to rip your face off,'" said Dan Schnur, a former aide to McCain and other Republicans, and now a politics professor at the University of Southern California. Obama has little choice but to try to portray the Republican alternative as worse than his own disappointing record, Schnur said.
Some Republican candidates would be tougher targets than others. Texas Governor Rick Perry promotes his state's significant job growth, leaving Democrats to grouse that he was a lucky bystander rather than the cause.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney says his years in the private sector make him best suited to lead an economic expansion. But Obama's allies have gathered details of jobs that were eliminated when Bain Capital, a takeover firm that Romney headed, restructured several companies.
Revive the economy
Obama can't fine-tune his strategy until Republicans pick their nominee, and that may take months. So he's spending part of this year travelling to some of the most contested states, telling disappointed liberals he still deserves their strong backing and trying to convince centrists that he can revive the economy.
Obama's overall job-approval rating was 46% in an Associated Press-GfK poll from October. Only 36% of adults approved of his handling of the economy, a worrisome number for any incumbent.
Yet 78% said he's a likeable person, which forces Republicans to be careful. It's possible Obama will run a more cut-throat campaign than will his challenger. For now, anyway, Romney calls Obama "a nice guy" who doesn't know how to lead.
Republican insiders see Romney as their most plausible nominee. He has run the steadiest and best-financed campaign thus far, relying on lessons and friends picked up in his unsuccessful 2008 bid.
But the Republican race has been unpredictable, and Romney has struggled to exceed one-fourth of the support in Republican polls. Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota emerged as his main challenger last summer, only to be supplanted by Perry. A few halting debate performances hurt Perry, and former pizza company executive Herman Cain replaced him at or near the top of the polls, along with Romney.
Political experience
Last week, Cain tried to swat down allegations of sexual harassment from the 1990s. Party activists are waiting for the impact. Some, however, think Cain's lack of political experience and his unorthodox style, which includes largely ignoring Iowa and New Hampshire, the states with the first two nominating contests in January, are more likely to bring him down.
Two schools of thought run through Republican circles. One holds that Romney is the logical nominee and will consolidate the party's somewhat grudging support after conservatives stop flirting with longshots such as Bachmann and Cain. Republicans have a history of nominating the runner-up from previous primaries, and Romney fits that bill.
The competing theory holds that Americans are angrier at government and the two parties than political pros realise, and the tea party is just the start of a potent, long-lasting movement. Under this scenario, Romney can never placate conservative voters because of his establishment ties and the more liberal positions he once held on abortion, gay rights and gun control.
If this view is right, the shifting support for Bachmann, Perry and Cain is more than a flirtation, and someone will emerge as the "non-Romney" who wins the nomination.
Veterans of past presidential campaigns tend to doubt this outcome. But even with Obama's economic woes, plenty of Republican insiders worry that Romney's inconsistency on important issues and voters' doubts about his authenticity could let the president slip away.
Third Bush term
Romney should have put his Republican rivals "in the rear-view mirror" by now, said Mike McKenna, a Republican lobbyist who has tracked focus groups and polls in various states. "The problem is, a huge part of the party views him as a third Bush term."
McKenna said pundits don't realise that the tea party movement was as much a rejection of the high-spending, high-deficit practices of President George W Bush and Republican lawmakers as it was a reaction against Obama's health care reform plan. With his ties to the northeastern New England states and the party establishment, Romney "looks like the lineal descendant of Bush," McKenna said.
He said he fears that a lot of conservatives will sit out the 2012 election if Romney is the nominee.
Plenty of strategists reject that view. They think conservatives' deep antipathy toward Obama will cause them to overcome their misgivings and fully back Romney.
David Axelrod, Obama's top political adviser, points to issues Obama can cite success on, from health care and undermining al-Qaeda to reviving the auto industry and ending the Iraq war.
"We're going to have a very robust debate," he said. "The Republicans say if we just cut taxes and spending and regulations, we will grow. And I think the American people understand it's more complicated than that."
Licensed jobs hit in new immigration law
Tighter state regulations could delay papers for various professions.
Enforcing a major part of Georgia’s strict new immigration law could delay licenses for tens of thousands accountants, nurses and many other professionals by an additional three to four months, Secretary of State Brian Kemp said Friday.
Part of House Bill 87 requires people applying for public benefits — including professional licenses — to present a “secure and verifiable” form of identification such as a driver’s license or passport.
The aim of HB 87 is to block illegal immigrants from obtaining public benefits to which they are not entitled. That new requirement is set to take effect Jan. 1.
That provision, Kemp said, will force his staff to attach copies of these identification documents to about 256,000 applications for licenses next year.
It now takes his office 25 to 30 days to process new licenses and about two weeks for renewals. The increased paperwork could delay turnaround times by 90 to 120 days, Kemp said.
People applying for the licenses will be allowed to submit copies of their identification electronically, but those who decide to hand-deliver them will need their documents reviewed, scanned and attached to the applicants’ files, a spokesman for Kemp’s office said Friday.
State law requires certain professionals, including dentists and nurses, to obtain licenses before they can perform their jobs in Georgia. For example, about 55,000 nurses must renew their license before Jan. 31, 2012.
Kemp’s office supports 43 professional licensing boards, which issue 200 different licenses, including those for foresters, geologists and used car salvage dealers. He said his office is urging professional organizations to notify their license holders to prepare for the delays.
“The last thing we want to happen is to keep Georgians from working, but it is also our duty to uphold the laws of this state,” Kemp said.
Kyle Jackson, the Georgia state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, called the potential delays troubling. And the Georgia Nurses Association said licensing delays could sideline nurses and affect patient care.
“Anytime a licensed professional is delayed in renewing their license or obtaining a new license, not only is the nurse affected by that delay, but also the employer is affected, patient care delivery is affected and ultimately Georgia’s tax base is affected,” said Deborah Hackman, the association’s CEO.
Kemp said he is working with Gov. Nathan Deal’s office and seeking additional state funding to hire more staff.
On Friday, he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that his office had not yet decided how much additional money and staff it will need. Meanwhile, state officials are looking at ways to prevent the delays through legislation.
Deal signed HB 87 into law in May, hailing it as a victory for state taxpayers who have borne the costs of illegal immigration. The law is partly patterned after a groundbreaking law Arizona enacted last year.
Parts of both Georgia and Arizona’s laws are tied up in federal courts amid legal challenges brought by civil and immigrant rights groups. Both states are appealing. The provision in Georgia’s law that requires people to show certain forms of identification for public benefits has not been placed on hold by the courts.
The author of HB 87 — Republican Rep. Matt Ramsey of Peachtree City — said in an email Friday that he drafted the law to give government agencies “flexibility to develop processes to make the bill’s requirements as efficient as possible for the taxpayers and encourage state and local agencies to do so.”
“We will continue to work with those agencies to ensure that intent is carried out,” Ramsey said.
Enforcing a major part of Georgia’s strict new immigration law could delay licenses for tens of thousands accountants, nurses and many other professionals by an additional three to four months, Secretary of State Brian Kemp said Friday.
Part of House Bill 87 requires people applying for public benefits — including professional licenses — to present a “secure and verifiable” form of identification such as a driver’s license or passport.
The aim of HB 87 is to block illegal immigrants from obtaining public benefits to which they are not entitled. That new requirement is set to take effect Jan. 1.
That provision, Kemp said, will force his staff to attach copies of these identification documents to about 256,000 applications for licenses next year.
It now takes his office 25 to 30 days to process new licenses and about two weeks for renewals. The increased paperwork could delay turnaround times by 90 to 120 days, Kemp said.
People applying for the licenses will be allowed to submit copies of their identification electronically, but those who decide to hand-deliver them will need their documents reviewed, scanned and attached to the applicants’ files, a spokesman for Kemp’s office said Friday.
State law requires certain professionals, including dentists and nurses, to obtain licenses before they can perform their jobs in Georgia. For example, about 55,000 nurses must renew their license before Jan. 31, 2012.
Kemp’s office supports 43 professional licensing boards, which issue 200 different licenses, including those for foresters, geologists and used car salvage dealers. He said his office is urging professional organizations to notify their license holders to prepare for the delays.
“The last thing we want to happen is to keep Georgians from working, but it is also our duty to uphold the laws of this state,” Kemp said.
Kyle Jackson, the Georgia state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, called the potential delays troubling. And the Georgia Nurses Association said licensing delays could sideline nurses and affect patient care.
“Anytime a licensed professional is delayed in renewing their license or obtaining a new license, not only is the nurse affected by that delay, but also the employer is affected, patient care delivery is affected and ultimately Georgia’s tax base is affected,” said Deborah Hackman, the association’s CEO.
Kemp said he is working with Gov. Nathan Deal’s office and seeking additional state funding to hire more staff.
On Friday, he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that his office had not yet decided how much additional money and staff it will need. Meanwhile, state officials are looking at ways to prevent the delays through legislation.
Deal signed HB 87 into law in May, hailing it as a victory for state taxpayers who have borne the costs of illegal immigration. The law is partly patterned after a groundbreaking law Arizona enacted last year.
Parts of both Georgia and Arizona’s laws are tied up in federal courts amid legal challenges brought by civil and immigrant rights groups. Both states are appealing. The provision in Georgia’s law that requires people to show certain forms of identification for public benefits has not been placed on hold by the courts.
The author of HB 87 — Republican Rep. Matt Ramsey of Peachtree City — said in an email Friday that he drafted the law to give government agencies “flexibility to develop processes to make the bill’s requirements as efficient as possible for the taxpayers and encourage state and local agencies to do so.”
“We will continue to work with those agencies to ensure that intent is carried out,” Ramsey said.
Jets look to beat Bills in crucial AFC East matchup
ORCHARD PARK — Welcome to the AFC East playoffs.
The Jets begin a November stretch that includes three divisional games when they face the surprising Bills today. The outcomes of today’s game and next week’s with the Patriots will let us know if the Jets are still contenders in the division, ready to chase the wild card, or on playoff life-support.
Coach Rex Ryan’s crew swears they’ve fixed the problems that plagued them early in the year. Today, we find out. At 4-3, this is a pivotal game. The Bills and Patriots are tied atop the division with 5-2 records. The Jets can’t afford to fall further behind.
FOLLOW BRIAN ON TWITTER
UPDATES FROM OUR JETS BLOG
“I don’t think [the division] is flipped on its head. There’s a lot of football left to be played. We plan on being at the top of the division when it’s all said and done,” Ryan said. “We’re not worried about, ‘Let’s wait until week whatever, 12 or 13.’ We’re ready to make our move right now, and that’s our intention.”
The Jets have won five of the last six meetings with the Bills and have not lost at Ralph Wilson Stadium since 2007. But these are not the same old Bills.
“They’re playing at a high level right now,” Jets safety Jim Leonhard said. “You look and not a whole lot has changed, but they’re making plays, they’re flying around, they’re playing with great energy. Obviously the coaching changes they’ve made have helped the organization out. They’re feeling pretty good about themselves. They’re definitely a team that you can’t look past. They’re beating up on some pretty good teams. You can’t take them for granted.”
Here’s how the The Post sees today’s game breaking down:
MARQUEE MATCHUP
Bills RB Fred Jackson vs. Jets LBs David Harris, Bart Scott and Calvin Pace. Jackson is having a monster season. He has rushed for 100 yards in five games this season, the most in the NFL. Jackson has been as good receiving as he has running. His 1,074 yards from scrimmage are second in the NFL.
The Jets say their run defense is not as bad as the numbers indicate. It’s time for them to show it. The linebackers will be key because Jackson has broken tackles all season. The linebackers can’t let him get into the secondary.
BOUNCEBACK FROM BYE
Ryan’s Jets have been terrible after the bye, losing in both of his seasons as head coach. Ryan still gave the players six consecutive days off. The Jets amped up the speed in practice this week to shake off the rust.
“I feel good about our preparation,” Ryan said. “I feel good about where we are, and obviously, it’s a big challenge going to Buffalo, where they are undefeated and tied for first in our division, so they’re a good football team. This will be a big challenge whether you’re coming off a bye or not, but I feel good about our plan. Obviously, my history is not good.”
TAKE YOUR PICK
Mark Sanchez has cut down on turnovers recently, throwing just one interception in his last three games. He needs to be careful against the Bills. Buffalo has 14 interceptions, the most in the NFL. The Bills take a lot of chances on defense, which the Jets hope could open some things up to take chances downfield.
ROAD WEARY
The Jets are 0-3 away from MetLife Stadium. They point to who they have played on the road as the main reason why they’ve struggled. They also did not have center Nick Mangold for two of those games.
Getting that first road win is not going to be easy today. The Bills are 4-0 at home and averaging 34.3 points a game in their three at Ralph Wilson Stadium (they played one game in Toronto). This game has taken on a playoff-like feel in Buffalo because the Bills have been down for so long. The Bills will wear all-white uniforms at home for the first time in 25 years, and the team has asked fans to wear white to the game.
WILD THING
No one has to tell the Jets what Brad Smith can do. The longtime Jet left for Buffalo over the summer. Now, the Jets have to try to stop him. Smith has seen limited duty in the Wildcat for the Bills, but the Jets expect a heavy dose today.
Even if the Bills don’t run it a ton, Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said the threat of the Wildcat already has taken its toll.
“It might not be that effective, but what effect did it have on the opposing staff and defense?” Pettine said. “Did we have to spend extra meeting time on it? Absolutely. Did we spend extra time gameplanning just for the Wildcat? Absolutely. Will we get two or three plays of it? Maybe. Will we get 10? I don’t know, but that’s something you’ll never know the effect it had because it’s like a body-blow. There is a hidden value to it.”
GO GREENE
The Jets have bullied the Bills over the last few years. Under Ryan the Jets have rushed for 273, 276, 249 and 318 yards against the Bills. If there’s ever a day for Ground and Pound, it is today. Shonn Greene broke the 100-yard barrier against the Chargers. The Jets need him to do it again.
brian.costello@nypost.com
COSTELLO'S CALL
The Jets have had trouble stopping the run this season.
That feeds right into Fred Jackson’s hands. Throw in a rabid crowd at Ralph Wilson Stadium, and the Jets are in trouble.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/playoff_atmosphere_for_divisional_orSjjm9AV7NnBqFSweeDhM#ixzz1cwayEmmw
The Jets begin a November stretch that includes three divisional games when they face the surprising Bills today. The outcomes of today’s game and next week’s with the Patriots will let us know if the Jets are still contenders in the division, ready to chase the wild card, or on playoff life-support.
Coach Rex Ryan’s crew swears they’ve fixed the problems that plagued them early in the year. Today, we find out. At 4-3, this is a pivotal game. The Bills and Patriots are tied atop the division with 5-2 records. The Jets can’t afford to fall further behind.
FOLLOW BRIAN ON TWITTER
UPDATES FROM OUR JETS BLOG
“I don’t think [the division] is flipped on its head. There’s a lot of football left to be played. We plan on being at the top of the division when it’s all said and done,” Ryan said. “We’re not worried about, ‘Let’s wait until week whatever, 12 or 13.’ We’re ready to make our move right now, and that’s our intention.”
The Jets have won five of the last six meetings with the Bills and have not lost at Ralph Wilson Stadium since 2007. But these are not the same old Bills.
“They’re playing at a high level right now,” Jets safety Jim Leonhard said. “You look and not a whole lot has changed, but they’re making plays, they’re flying around, they’re playing with great energy. Obviously the coaching changes they’ve made have helped the organization out. They’re feeling pretty good about themselves. They’re definitely a team that you can’t look past. They’re beating up on some pretty good teams. You can’t take them for granted.”
Here’s how the The Post sees today’s game breaking down:
MARQUEE MATCHUP
Bills RB Fred Jackson vs. Jets LBs David Harris, Bart Scott and Calvin Pace. Jackson is having a monster season. He has rushed for 100 yards in five games this season, the most in the NFL. Jackson has been as good receiving as he has running. His 1,074 yards from scrimmage are second in the NFL.
The Jets say their run defense is not as bad as the numbers indicate. It’s time for them to show it. The linebackers will be key because Jackson has broken tackles all season. The linebackers can’t let him get into the secondary.
BOUNCEBACK FROM BYE
Ryan’s Jets have been terrible after the bye, losing in both of his seasons as head coach. Ryan still gave the players six consecutive days off. The Jets amped up the speed in practice this week to shake off the rust.
“I feel good about our preparation,” Ryan said. “I feel good about where we are, and obviously, it’s a big challenge going to Buffalo, where they are undefeated and tied for first in our division, so they’re a good football team. This will be a big challenge whether you’re coming off a bye or not, but I feel good about our plan. Obviously, my history is not good.”
TAKE YOUR PICK
Mark Sanchez has cut down on turnovers recently, throwing just one interception in his last three games. He needs to be careful against the Bills. Buffalo has 14 interceptions, the most in the NFL. The Bills take a lot of chances on defense, which the Jets hope could open some things up to take chances downfield.
ROAD WEARY
The Jets are 0-3 away from MetLife Stadium. They point to who they have played on the road as the main reason why they’ve struggled. They also did not have center Nick Mangold for two of those games.
Getting that first road win is not going to be easy today. The Bills are 4-0 at home and averaging 34.3 points a game in their three at Ralph Wilson Stadium (they played one game in Toronto). This game has taken on a playoff-like feel in Buffalo because the Bills have been down for so long. The Bills will wear all-white uniforms at home for the first time in 25 years, and the team has asked fans to wear white to the game.
WILD THING
No one has to tell the Jets what Brad Smith can do. The longtime Jet left for Buffalo over the summer. Now, the Jets have to try to stop him. Smith has seen limited duty in the Wildcat for the Bills, but the Jets expect a heavy dose today.
Even if the Bills don’t run it a ton, Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said the threat of the Wildcat already has taken its toll.
“It might not be that effective, but what effect did it have on the opposing staff and defense?” Pettine said. “Did we have to spend extra meeting time on it? Absolutely. Did we spend extra time gameplanning just for the Wildcat? Absolutely. Will we get two or three plays of it? Maybe. Will we get 10? I don’t know, but that’s something you’ll never know the effect it had because it’s like a body-blow. There is a hidden value to it.”
GO GREENE
The Jets have bullied the Bills over the last few years. Under Ryan the Jets have rushed for 273, 276, 249 and 318 yards against the Bills. If there’s ever a day for Ground and Pound, it is today. Shonn Greene broke the 100-yard barrier against the Chargers. The Jets need him to do it again.
brian.costello@nypost.com
COSTELLO'S CALL
The Jets have had trouble stopping the run this season.
That feeds right into Fred Jackson’s hands. Throw in a rabid crowd at Ralph Wilson Stadium, and the Jets are in trouble.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/jets/playoff_atmosphere_for_divisional_orSjjm9AV7NnBqFSweeDhM#ixzz1cwayEmmw
LSU Vs. Alabama Recap: How It Impacts Stanford And BCS Rankings
The No. 1 LSU Tigers won a gritty defensive battle Saturday evening, defeating the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide 9-6 in overtime in Tuscaloosa. Both teams had some opportunities to get some bigger scores, but both defenses absolutely locked down the opposition.
Alabama lost the toss in overtime and started on offense. A quick three and out with a five-yard penalty and a five-yard sack forced the Tide to attempt a 52-yard field goal. Cade Foster missed, setting up LSU for what would prove to be an easy score. The Tigers rushed for 3 yards followed by 15 yards to set up first and goal at the seven yard line. LSU centered the ball and attempted a 25-yard field goal on 3rd and goal. Drew Alleman's kick was true and LSU retained their number one ranking.
LSU is now in the driver's seat for one half of the BCS national title game. They still have to beat No. 7 Arkansas at home and the SEC East winner in the conference title game, so this is no gimme. Nonetheless, they have established themselves as the best team in the country right now.
Alabama's loss leaves the BCS in a tricky situation. This was an incredibly close loss to the best team in the country. It was a home loss, but this was not some random team in the SEC. The question becomes how far the Crimson Tide drop in the Week 11 BCS Rankings. Oklahoma State escaped with a wild 52-45 victory over a ranked Kansas State team. Is it enough to get them past Alabama? It should be, but the voters can be tough to figure out. The computer ratings will also be hard to determine given that this was No. 1 vs. No. 2 and improves Alabama's strength of schedule.
For Stanford and Boise State, they are left waiting to see how much work they have left in front of them. If I had to make a prediction right now, I think Oklahoma State climbs to No. 2 and Alabama drops only one spot to No. 3. The Crimson Tide remain in the thick of the national title race, even though they likely won't win their conference. We could indeed see a rematch of this game in a couple months.
Alabama lost the toss in overtime and started on offense. A quick three and out with a five-yard penalty and a five-yard sack forced the Tide to attempt a 52-yard field goal. Cade Foster missed, setting up LSU for what would prove to be an easy score. The Tigers rushed for 3 yards followed by 15 yards to set up first and goal at the seven yard line. LSU centered the ball and attempted a 25-yard field goal on 3rd and goal. Drew Alleman's kick was true and LSU retained their number one ranking.
LSU is now in the driver's seat for one half of the BCS national title game. They still have to beat No. 7 Arkansas at home and the SEC East winner in the conference title game, so this is no gimme. Nonetheless, they have established themselves as the best team in the country right now.
Alabama's loss leaves the BCS in a tricky situation. This was an incredibly close loss to the best team in the country. It was a home loss, but this was not some random team in the SEC. The question becomes how far the Crimson Tide drop in the Week 11 BCS Rankings. Oklahoma State escaped with a wild 52-45 victory over a ranked Kansas State team. Is it enough to get them past Alabama? It should be, but the voters can be tough to figure out. The computer ratings will also be hard to determine given that this was No. 1 vs. No. 2 and improves Alabama's strength of schedule.
For Stanford and Boise State, they are left waiting to see how much work they have left in front of them. If I had to make a prediction right now, I think Oklahoma State climbs to No. 2 and Alabama drops only one spot to No. 3. The Crimson Tide remain in the thick of the national title race, even though they likely won't win their conference. We could indeed see a rematch of this game in a couple months.
State of Us Eco.
the state of Us economy is worse than it looks. Many are looking to the expansion of factory production, proving once again how the economy is ignorant. "when states experience economic hardship they turn to gambling. Almost all gaming increases are related to the economic downturn.A recent push to build casinos slot parlors at race courses, particularly States whose residents pop over the border to spend, and generally lose their hard-earned gambling cash, are looking to increase betting opportunities in their own backyard to keep the money in state in the Northeast, echoes similar moves elsewhere in the early 1990s when economic recession hit.
The economy is getting to be an annual ritual. Officials in New York, California, Florida and Washington this year have all expressed concerns about the outlook. The problem comes partly from short-term issues, including a weak economy and woozy real estate markets, but more basic problems explain the capacity of states to forecast them accurately. Efforts to drag state tax systems into the modern age are making slow progress against a wave of anti-tax fervor and resistance from businesses. As a result, states are less able to count on sales and corporate tax revenue,(The amount of money that a company actually receives during a specific period), forcing them to rely on personal income taxes, a volatile revenue source.
US employers added fewer workers than expected last month but the latest jobs data provided welcome news for President Barack Obama, as the unemployment rate edged down to its lowest in six months. The unemployment rate edged down to 9% from 9.1% in September and is the lowest since April. It was a small move but should still give some boost to Obama as he battles stubbornly high unemployment. A financial professor cautioned that while employment continued to grow, the pace is still too slow to keep pace with US population growth or to curve back all jobs lost in the downturn. It bodes ill for the high unemployment rate, which has more than doubled since before the global financial crisis.
The American job market improved modestly in October, and economists looking deeper into the numbers found reasons for having hopefulness or at least what counts for optimism in this agonizingly (to make great effort) slow economic recovery. One government survey that tracks the job market by canvassing households found a gain of 277,000 jobs in October and an average of more than 300,000 jobs a month since August. The number of people considered long-term unemployed, meaning they have been looking for work for at least six months, fell by 366,000, to 5.9 million. That is the fewest since April.
The economy will continue to become worse. In order for it to get better it has to fall. people are continuing to lose jobs. We are at a crisis. Some people worry about how they going to survive the next day. People are also depending on unemployment checks, but that can only take them so far. No one wants to live like that. But then too nobody that is suffering like that are not doing things to make it better. We have a say in this, we should start saving more than what we buy. There are various ways to help keep yourself stable. Put yourself on a budget, no one wants to cut out on the spenses they make daily but yet complain. Do something about instead of having to suffer, it only makes things right.
The economy is getting to be an annual ritual. Officials in New York, California, Florida and Washington this year have all expressed concerns about the outlook. The problem comes partly from short-term issues, including a weak economy and woozy real estate markets, but more basic problems explain the capacity of states to forecast them accurately. Efforts to drag state tax systems into the modern age are making slow progress against a wave of anti-tax fervor and resistance from businesses. As a result, states are less able to count on sales and corporate tax revenue,(The amount of money that a company actually receives during a specific period), forcing them to rely on personal income taxes, a volatile revenue source.
US employers added fewer workers than expected last month but the latest jobs data provided welcome news for President Barack Obama, as the unemployment rate edged down to its lowest in six months. The unemployment rate edged down to 9% from 9.1% in September and is the lowest since April. It was a small move but should still give some boost to Obama as he battles stubbornly high unemployment. A financial professor cautioned that while employment continued to grow, the pace is still too slow to keep pace with US population growth or to curve back all jobs lost in the downturn. It bodes ill for the high unemployment rate, which has more than doubled since before the global financial crisis.
The American job market improved modestly in October, and economists looking deeper into the numbers found reasons for having hopefulness or at least what counts for optimism in this agonizingly (to make great effort) slow economic recovery. One government survey that tracks the job market by canvassing households found a gain of 277,000 jobs in October and an average of more than 300,000 jobs a month since August. The number of people considered long-term unemployed, meaning they have been looking for work for at least six months, fell by 366,000, to 5.9 million. That is the fewest since April.
The economy will continue to become worse. In order for it to get better it has to fall. people are continuing to lose jobs. We are at a crisis. Some people worry about how they going to survive the next day. People are also depending on unemployment checks, but that can only take them so far. No one wants to live like that. But then too nobody that is suffering like that are not doing things to make it better. We have a say in this, we should start saving more than what we buy. There are various ways to help keep yourself stable. Put yourself on a budget, no one wants to cut out on the spenses they make daily but yet complain. Do something about instead of having to suffer, it only makes things right.
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