Take It To The Bank - Adam

Banks are places where people put their money when they aren't spending it right? A Bank is a service. So Let me ask you a question then...why are the hours of operation for a bank from 9-5?

9:00am to 5:00pm are you kidding me?! those are the exact same hours everyone works...what does this mean to us? it means that we can't get at our own money!

Solution: I believe banks should be open from 5:00pm to 1:00am.

Think about it shouldn't they adjust for us? Banks are closed for every holiday, they are only open till noon on Saturdays and not even open at all on Sundays... The weekend is the only time America isn't working 9 to 5 and that is the only time the banks are closed.

Let's face it banks are becoming more and more obsolete with online banking, direct deposit, 24/7 ATM and now ATMs are smart enough to take deposits and give you a picture of the check. But I like going to the bank I like talking to humans I don't want banks to go away. But they are shooting themselves in the foot just like the newspaper industry. If you don't wake up and try to make life easier for your clients then we'll find an easier way around you. This isn't Earth shattering change I'm talking about people. I'm merely asking that the banks work around our schedules instead of everyone having to work around theirs.

Speaking of terrible schedules don't EVEN get me started on Doctors, Dentists, and Optometrists. All of these service industry businesses should be open on the weekends its a must. Along with Auto Mechanics.

I'll be honest I'd gladly pay slightly more money and/or drive slightly further to go to a service place that's open on the weekends or evenings instead of having to take time out of my work day and inconvenience myself so that they get to leave at 2pm and only work 3 days a week.

I can't believe a 24/7 bank hasn't been put in wal-mart yet. Why is wal-mart pwning America? Convenience. I can drive there and pick up everything I want in one stop. Anytime any day. Not my fault. I'd like to support the mom and pop shops in the area but hate to break it to you mom and pop are usually in bed by 10pm and they like to have their weekends open to hang with the family. Nothing wrong with that. Can't blame them.

But I'll be at wal-mart while you take a half day off to wait at their door for Monday 9am.

Total QBR - Brian

ESPN has dedicated this year as the Year of the Quarterback, taking a deeper look at the most important position in football - the quarterback.

Along with their deeper analysis of this position, ESPN created the Total Quarterback Rating, or QBR, which throws out the Passer Rating and ushers in a new formula that takes into consideration more factors than just visual stats.

My only question - what took so long?

I have always had a problem with passer rating, as it only takes into consideration yards, completions, attempts, touchdowns, and interceptions. How does that tell the whole story of a QB's success?

If you have ever had the pleasure of listening to me talk endlessly about sports, then you have probably heard me argue for a stat that tracks wide receiver interceptions. I always hated that if a WR dropped a pass or it went through his hands and was intercepted, it still counted against the QB. How does that make sense?

Well now the QBR takes that into account. Thank goodness.

It also analyzes a QB's performance in certain situations. Did the QB throw a touchdown during garbage time, or was it a game winning or game sealing throw? Passer rating just counted a TD as a TD, regardless of how or when it happened. QBR gives more credit to clutch QB's stats than to a QB getting stats during a blowout.

As a stat nerd like myself, I find this all really exciting and much more useful. Interestingly enough, apparently an elite QB in an elite QB regardless of the rating system, as stalwarts such as Peyton Manning and Tom Brady remain at the top of the QBR, just as they did with passer rating.

Kudos to ESPN for spending the time and effort to create a more effective rating, and you can bet I will be using this stat a lot in blogs to come.

Casey Anthony Trial – Adam

First off Brian did an awful job posting for the month of July...
Secondly, yes I am going to post about Casey, Caylee, Cindy and Carmelo Anthony.

Everyone hates Casey Anthony. I think it is a safe to assume if I were to poll the country the results wouldn't come back in her favor. But why? What's the big deal?
Casey was found not guilty of murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated manslaughter of a child.

Why should she be found guilty?
For murdering her child?
But child murder is legal in the United State of America.

In fact the same day that Caylee Anthony died approximately 3,700 other children were killed by their mothers. That same year (2008) 1.21 million children were murdered by their mothers. So where is all the hatred and aggression toward these mothers? Where is all the press coverage and smear campaigns for these women? Why do people only care that Casey Anthony MIGHT have murdered her child when everyday women are blatantly ending the lives of their children for a FACT?

Caylee Anthony was almost three years old when her life ended. Would the media and public have been equally as outraged if Caylee was only two? What about if the same circumstances occurred but Caylee was only one...or not even? What if Caylee Anthony wasn't quite out of the womb yet and her mother decided to end her life?

My question is, if we get so angry and hateful toward Casey because her 3 year old was found dead why don't we feel equally toward mothers who don't even give their children a chance to get to 3?
If the idea of Casey Anthony walking freely around Ohio State's campus makes you sick to your stomach I want to know why you feel that way.
Justice? Is it because you demand justice? If that's the case then you are arguing for the wrong case. Caylee was .00027% of that day's child death toll in America. Justice was tossed out the window awhile ago.

Bottom line is all I'm asking is for some consistency. If you are going to hate moms that kill their children then don't pick and choose which lives you think are more important than others. If you are a murdering mom hater then hate all murdering moms. If you are going to support "choice" then don't pick and choose which moms should and shouldn't get to murder their children. If you are going to be a murdering mom supporter then support all murdering moms.

The Philadelphia Heat? - Brian

Have the Miami Heat invaded the NFL?

Some are suggesting that the Philadelphia Eagles are the Miami Heat of the NFL.

How ridiculous.

People are suggesting this because the Eagles have gathered an impressive group of talent through trades and free agency. They have signed the best corner in the NFL in Nnamdi Asomugha, traded for a top 5 corner in Domonique Rodgers-Cromartie, and signed a pair of top end defensive linemen in Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins. Not to mention they picked up Vince Young as a backup QB.

That is a pretty impressive crop of free agents and acquisitions. No doubt the best group of players added by any team in the NFL. But the Miami Heat?

The Heat added arguably two of the top three players in the NBA, plus a pretty good third wheel in Chris Bosh. That would be the NFL equivalent of getting Tom Brady, Chris Johnson, and a pretty good wide receiver (say, DeSean Jackson). Then you might start having an argument, especially if you couple that with some really good defensive players.

Instead you added a few solid pieces and made yourself a contender, but by no means did you potentially set yourself up for a dynasty.

Nor have the Eagles guaranteed championships or broken a cities hearts.

So no, they are not the Miami Heat.

But they just might be Super Bowl favorites for 2011-12.

And that should be good enough.