Osweiler, Kizer, or Kessler?

August 21, 2017

The hapless Cleveland Browns have been through so many quarterbacks in teh last few years, it's hard to keep track of them all.  Yet, here we are in the summer of 2017 and they still have a quarterback problem.  They didn't want Brock Osweiler, having taken him in order to get a second round draft pick from Houston.  DeShone Kizer is a rookie who, by all accounts isn't ready to take over, and Cody Kessler is a second year guy who lost all eight games he started last year.



You have to feel bad for a team that won only one game last year, but it all starts with the front office.  A few months back, they were going to cut Osweiler as soon as the trade was completed.  A few weeks later they decided to hang onto him and now he's running with the first team starters.  Rumor had it recently that they just wanted to showcase him in order to trade him elsewhere.  So it seems the front office is still not on the same page with each other.. 

Conventional wisdom as of today says that Brock Osweiler starts in week one, but he'll be on a short leash before handing the job over to Kizer eventually.  What makes it fascinating is that Kizer completely outplayed Brock tonight, albeit with the second team.  Hue Jackson could roll the dice and go with DeShone Kizer and hope he can improve rapidly.  Of course, we've seen this rodeo before.  A long list of Cleveland Brown rookie quarterbacks have been thrown into the fire early on and every single one got crushed. 

Hopefully, whoever they pick will be able to swim, not sink.  You never know; some guys just have IT when the lights come on.  Maybe Kizer is one of those guys.

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Anquan Boldin Retires

August 20, 2017

I guess playing in Buffalo is worse than I thought.  Wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who just signed with the Buffalo Bills two weeks ago has decided to retire.  While he may resurface with a different team in a few weeks, he stated that he wanted to work on humanitarian causes and that was more important than playing football; well at least playing for the Bills.



Of course, the Bills are a lot different today than there were when Boldin signed.  They traded away their best wide receiver in Sammy Watkins and their best defensive back in Ronald Derby within hours of each other.  The signal they gave to the entire NFL, and indirectly to Boldin, is that they are tanking and have zero desire to win any games this year.  Anquan is a smart man and didn't want to finish out his Hall of Fame career in a negative environment that is in rebuilding mode.  If he is to return, he's more likely to play for a contender or an NFL team closer to his home in Florida.  If he does stay retired, he can devote his time to his Q81 Foundation, which is focused on helping underpriviledged kids receive a solid education.

For the Bills, I guess it moves them closer to their top three draft goal than they anticipated.  They have now lost their #1 and #2 wide receivers and their offense wasn't that good to begin with.  Presumably, they're just waiting out the Brady / Belichick era and hoping it will end soon so they have a prayer of winning the division.  Of course, the Jets are using the same strategy.

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Nothing to Counter-Protest

August 19, 2017

There was supposed to be a significant Neo-Nazi / Klan rally today in Boston ala the Charlottesville debacle from last week, but the racist right either didn't much show or doesn't exist in any real numbers.  Reportedly, only a hundred white power people showed.  However, 40,000 counter-protesters marched from Roxbury to the Common to thwart the white nationalists.



What is curious is that Boston Police had to arrest 33 people from the so-called peaceful rally, almost all from the counter protesters.  Apparently, some people couldn't resist assaulting and throwing rocks and urine bottles at the police.  Nice, huh?  I know 33 out of a crowd of 40,000 is not that bad, but still.  The entire point is to show that you're above-board and better than white supremacists, which is a really low threshold.  It would help if you don't attack the men in blue that are trying to protect you.  I guess there were too many Colin Kaepernick types in the crowd that don't have respect fo the police.

Regardless, it was mostly a non-event and drastically different than Charlottesville.  Boston is a large city, which comes with a massive police prescence.  They don't have lax gun laws like Virginia and don't allow open carry of firearms.  That minimizes the intimidation factor that the Nazi's used at various gatherings around the country.

Boston handled this correctly and had the resources to take care of any problems.  However, there are many more white supremacy rallies planned this summer and if they take place in a small city, the police could be overwhelemd.  As Senator Ben Sasse sadly (R-NE) mentioned today, he expects more violence in the near future.  I can't say that I disagree.

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T-Shirt of the Week

August 18, 2017

Word on the street is there's a protest scheduled for tomorrow afternoon in Boston, Massachusetts.  Apparently, a bunch of Klan and Neo-Nazi's think it's a good idea to march and spew their hate across Beantown.  Fortunately, unlike what happened in Charlottesville last week, the Boston Police will be out in full force to prevent any melees.



Boston Sweatshirt

The city has had issues with race in the past few decades, but make no mistake, nobody wants theses white supremacists marching down their street.  Police will only allow one hundred white power 'protesters' at a time, but there are reportedly up to ten thousand counter protesters planning to show up to squash any attempt of violence.  We picked these Boston T-Shirts to symbolize the pride in the city and that it's actually grown into a very diverse community with every race, creed, and color represented.  These white nationalists don't know what they're in for trying to march in this town.  Boston is a tough, hard-nosed city that doesn't put up with white hood crap like this.  I fully expect it to be a non-event, in the sense that the Nazi's will disperse very quickly and hide in whatever cesspool they came out of.

These thugs are attempting to organize protests in a number of cities in the coming weeks, but it looks like Boston is first up on their list.  Let's hope it goes so poorly for them that they have second thoughts about doing it anywhere else.  Despite the support of the Neo-Nazi in the White House, the group as a whole has had a horrible week.  Their beloved statues are coming down, they're being outed and fired from jobs, and their hate-speech is getting the boot from Internet hosting companies.  Showing up in Boston will only make it worse for them.

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Magazine of the Week

August 17, 2017

The stock market has quickly recovered from the North Korea threat as KJU backed down from his stand-off with the United States.  Now approaching all-time records, the Dow, S&P 500, and NASDAQ have been going gangbusters since the election in November.  With Republicans in control, the belief is we'll get deep tax cuts and deregulation for corporations.



Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine - 50 issues

Aside from CNBC, the only channel worth watching for financial news is Blooomberg.  While CNBC is more flash and made for television, Bloomberg has more substance and generally stays away from drama and the ongoing White House soap opera.  Their Businessweek magazine follows along those same lines, with detailed stories about the companies that drive the market, the fundamentals behind it, and the global economy.  It is laser-focused on bringing you the most pertinent information and breaking it down in a simple to read style.

Blooomberg Businessweek Magazine is a great resource for any investor, whether you're a day trader or in it for the long-term.  They'll provide advice on what companies are doing well and which ones are in trouble.  They will discuss geopolitical events, but do so in a professional manner as it relates to financial markets and the economy.  Basically, they cut through the muck to bring you the important information you require.

The organization was started by billionaire and former mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg more than thirty five years ago as a financial software package with a specialized keyboard and terminal.  He has since expanded his offerings to include this Businessweek magazine subscriptions  and a 24-hour cable television show.  The TV channel is also available on Apple TV and other streaming devices.

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Calendar of the Week

August 16, 2017

In this time of turmoil across the country, everyone needs your thoughts and prayers for a better tomorrow.  Civil unrest is alive and well in America, with white supremacists wreaking havoc in Virginia and a president that clearly supports their cause.  Perhaps he should look to the Bible and Scripture to remove the hatred that has overtaken what's left of his dark soul.



Blessings 2018 Wall Calendar

Throw in a nuclear showdown with North Korea and it seems like the world is falling apart.  However, there is always a light shining through and we can find it with this Blessing calendar, which takes passages from the Bible and overlays them with scenic images from around this great country.  The combination provides an element of peace and calm as you go through your day.  The phrases help give direction in an otherwise chaotic world.  They clear your head and allow you to focus on what's important;  your family and friends. 

For the religious minded person, these 2018 Blessings calendars are a perfect way to bring the wisdom of the Lord into your home while appreciating the natural beauty and tranquility of the nation.  The Old and New Testament are both referenced and the passages are carefully selected to fit the image and fulfill a purpose.

With more angry protests and rallies scheduled around the U.S., the potential for increased civil unrest is high.  Let us hope that cooler heads prevail and that we all take a moment to reflect on our lives before lashing out violently at others.

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Three CEO's and Counting

August 14, 2017

After President Little Hands failed to condemn his people on Saturday after their Nazi rally and murder in Charlottesville, Virginia, he was rightly criticized by the left and right.  On Monday morning, Ken Frazier, the CEO of Merck, resigned from the president's job council.  Trump proceeded to criticize him inside an hour, while still not speaking out against the white nationalists.  He finally read a statement this afternoon condeming the white supremecists, a full 45 hours after the incident.



The CEO of Merck was followed by the CEO's of Under Armour and Intel Corp, who both resigned this evening from the job council, citing the president's poor response.  They likely compared the speed at which he criticized the black CEO of Merck versus the pathetic and slow response to his Nazi sympathizers.  Hopefully the rest of the CEO's on his committees grow a conscience and walk away from this narcissistic psycho before they destroy their own reputation.

Of course, the reason Trump doesn't criticize racists is because he is one.  Since he came on the political scene about two years ago, he has called Mexicans rapists, he advocated for a ban on Muslims entering the United States, and he thought a judge couldn't be fair because he was Hispanic.  He also spent years trying to convince peopel that Barack Obama was born in Kenya and was not American.  The list goes on and on and the only reasonable conclusion you can draw is that Donald Trump is a racist.  It's not really news, although the media shies away from saying it out loud, but this incident in Charlottesville further confirms what we already knew.  Why would Trump condemn his own people?

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Gruesome Injury to Harper

August 12, 2017

Bryce Harper, one the the best players in all of major league baseball, suffered what looked like a nasty injury while running out a ground ball at first base tonight.  After a lengthy rain delay in the Washington Nationals game verus San Francisco Giants, the conditions was quite wet.  It appeared Harper's left leg slipped off the base and went directly beyond the bag, where his leg hard-planted on the dirt.  He crumpled to the ground in agonizing pain while grabbing his left knee.  He needed two guys to help him to the dugout minutes later where he continued to show extreme angst on his face.



Preliminary tests are unknown at this point, but he will likely have an MRI to determine if the injury is severe.  If he has torn any ligaments in the knee, he would obviously be done for the season and would probably miss time at the beginning of next year.  Recovery from a torn ACL typically takes 6-9 months for someone his age, but most players aren't quite the same right away.  This is pure speculation, but if he does have a torn ACL and is able to come back after nine months, it would be mid-May of 2018, about six weeks into next season.  That said, some people do recover in just six months.  Hopefully though, it's just a sprain and not a full tear.

It's a shame for a potential season-ending injury to happen to a guy having an MVP-caliber season.  Bryce Harper is batting .327 / .427 / .616 with 29 home runs and 87 RBI's and he's still just 24 years old.  If he's not the best hitter in the league, he's definitely in the top three.  He should be able to bounce back from this devastating injury, hopefully sooner rather than later.

UPDATE:  After his MRI, Harper has been diagnosed with a severe bone bruise.  Great news that he was able to escape without ligament damage.  The Nationals put him on the disable list and hope he can make it back this season. 

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T-Shirt of the Week

August 11, 2017

All this bombastic language coming out of two unstable and unhinged men makes me think of the nation's capital.  Even though President Little Hands is hanging out in Bedminster, New Jersey on vacation, the adults are actually in Washington.  I say this because Congress is out of session and on vacation, so the real adults are the aides and staffers of these politicians.



Washington DC - Dark T-Shirt

Nonetheless, we hope cooler heads will prevail and KJU and DJT will shut their pie holes, listen to the more reasonable people around them, and get back to work on their country's actual problems.  In moral support, you can pick up one of these Washington, D.C. t-shirts, which seemed appropriate given the circumstances.  For whatever we think of the folks running the federal government, the city itself is quite remarkable and beautiful. 

If you're planning a trip, you can of course visit the National Mall, the White House, the Memorials, and the Capital, but dig just a smidge deeper and you'll find dozens of historical museums, including the Smithsonian, the National Museum of Art, the Newseum, and the International Spy Museum.  T-Shirts like the Washington, D.C. one above are available at just about every gift shop and convenience store if you happen to be in town.  This one happens to be in black, but it is available in other colors and styles.

As we enter the weekend and the coming week, we look for the saber-rattling to calm down.  Someone will blink first and it will likely be the North Korean leader.  He's so far out of his league in challenging the United States, it's not even funny.  They need a week to prepare to launch four missiles toward Guam, of all places.  They have very limited capability outside the Korean Peninsula and everyone knows it.  Let us hope KJU figures that out before he does something (else) stupid.

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Magazine of the Week

August 10, 2017

The cover of the Economist magazine says it all.  A picture of King Jong-un and Donald Trump in the form of a mushroom cloud blowing up over the land with the caption 'It could happen'.  It only took six months for President Little Hands to threaten nuclear war against another sovereign country and since he reportedly never backs down, war really is possible.



The Economist Magazine - 25 issues

The perspective from this publication is fascinating as it discusses American politics, the global stock market and economy from a British viewpoint.  All too many times in the United States, we get groupthink from the left and right about how a certain issue is perceived, but The Economist magazine turns that upside down and presents facts and opinions that nationalistic Americans rarely hear.  With the United States having the largest economy, stock market, and military in the world, any globally centric magazine would need to address their goverment actions on a regular basis as it effects the world.  The Economist is not shy in expressing their opinions in professional and thought-provoking articles that makes one realize that there is a vast world outside this country.

Aside from the obvious political opinions, business and investment topics are discussed in-depth.  While the magazine isn't necessarily written with the American reader in mind, half the circulation of The Economist goes to the U.S.  The publication has been printed for nearly two hundred years and circulation is roughly 1.5 million.  It was a far different time in 1843 when the company was created by James Wilson, a briliant Scotland born man who also founded a bank that later merged to become what is now Standard Chartered.

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Stocks Slide on Nuclear Talk

August 9, 2017

The Trump red-line has been crossed, but rather than back down, the Tweeter -in-Chief decided early this morning to further up the rhetoric to boast about the nuclear capability of the United States and how he 'hopes' to never need to use it.  The stock market, sensing the heightened tension, started selling off across the board on fear that one or both of these idiots may follow through with their comments about bombing each other's people.



We've yet to hear back from the DPRK on the president's latest Twitter rant, but it won't be long before he throws more inflammatory comments on the fire.  At some point, both men will look utterly stupid for threatening action they'll never take or they'll make it even worse by using their military to start a war with a nuclear power.

Incidentally, the stock market has a way of coaxing powerful politicians into behaving to some extent.  Most presidents and American Senators are very wealthy with vast sums of money in the equity market.  If stocks fall too far, they get hit in the only place that matters to them:  their wallet.  The public will always take a backseat to the almighty dollar.  Trump has more of his wealth tied to real estate, but the rest of Congress is neck deep in the markets.  Plus, it makes for bad politics if you have a falling stock market as much of the country has their 401k's invested.  A couple weeks of pain in stocks will get these politicians to persuade the president to cool it.  It's not much to hope for, but in a world of nuclear chatter, every little bit helps.

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North Korea Threatens Guam?!?

August 8, 2017

What happens when you combine one madman (Kim Jong-un) with another crazed lunatic (Donald Trump), neither of whom backs down from a fight?  You get a constantly escalating war of words that brings the two nations to the edge of nuclear war.  While Donal Trump threatened to bring war to North Korea in a way that the world has never seen, Jong-un responded quickly by considering a military strike on the American military base on the U.S. territory of Guam, well within their range.



Trump made what amounted to an ultimatum today, telling the rogue nation to stop making threats toward the United States or else!  Less than three hours later, Kim Jong-un did, in fact, make another threat.  So what happens now?  Trump drew a line in the sand, implying that he could use nuclear weapons and Jong-un immediately crossed it.  Does Donald now stay true to his word and show them the full power and force of the American military machine?

Not likely, of course.  As we have learned with this President, he is all bluster and bully with very little action.  Jong-un effectively called him on it, knowing there are no good options in dealing the the DPRK.  Every day that transpires is another day closer for North Korea and their goal to be a full-fledged nuclear power.  Who can blame them really?  The U.S. government has been escalating hostilities for decades, running joint military exercises with the South Koreans every year along the border.  Now just imagine the reaction in America if Russia and China decided to run joint military maneuvers off the coast of New York City every year?  I'm thinking they wouldn't bee too happy.

At the end of the day, both 'leaders' need to tamp down their maniacal rhetoric and sit down at the table and talk.  Nothing short of a full-scale war will stop the DPRK from giving up their nuclear ambitions and that is not a viable option.  So unless the U.S. government wants another war, they need to accept that there is another nuclear player in the world.

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City Calendars Updated

August 7, 2017

American cities are all unique and different and we showcase them all with all types of 2018 calendars.  Some of them like Atlanta feature a look at the city how it appeared in the early twentieth century and how it looks today.  Others cities focus on the modern skyline and new attractions, while some are planning datebooks that give you maps to get around town.



Baltimore 2018 Planner

A city in the news lately is the largest one in the State of Maryland.  Baltimore has had some struggles as they deal with unnecessary violence, but it truly is an amazing town with the stunning Inner Harbor which has thriving restaurants and businesses.  Camden Yards, home of the Orioles, and M&T Bank Stadium, where the Ravens play, are just around the corner.

Our Baltimore calendar is an example of a planner, but of course we have spectacular views in full-color pictures with New York City, Philadelphia, and Las Vegas.  Check out the Brooklyn Bridge all lit up at night, view the skyscrapers in Philly from the water, and see the Vegas strip, where you can gamble all day and night.  The strip is so brightly illuminated that you can spot it easily from an airplane flying at forty thousand feet high.  If those listed above are not your all-time favorite cities in the United States, we have more for your persusal, including smaller ones like Albuquerque and Tucson.

If cities in America don't do it for you, we also have a great selection of European and Asian cities that are rich with culture, history, and scenery.  Before you go on holiday or after you return, you can pick up one of these calendars to remind you of the phenomenal time you experienced when you visitied; or perhaps it's your hometown and you want to see all of what your town has to offer.

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Calendar of the Week

August 6, 2017

Keeping your backyard free from animals in the suburbs seems to be a challenge these days, as many species, including black bears and deer have significantly multiplied in numbers and are overtaking parts of neighborhoods.  Of the smaller variety, rabbits are constantly finding their way onto your lawn to eat grass and hang out, usually at dusk or in the morning.



Rabbits Wall Calendar

Just like apps on your smartphone, there is seemingly a calendar for just about everything and rabbits are no exception.  While they may be annoying if they're eating away at your lawn, they are nothing buy adorable and cuddly in these pictures.  We have lovable bunnies, lop-eared rabbits, and multi-colored.  Their lifespan is typically only three years, but they produce lots and lots of babies at an early age to keep their population going gangbusters.  At one point, the country of Australia had a massive problem with the exponential growth of rabbits, which caused massive ecological issues.  It is said that just one farmer introduced them to the country by releasing two dozen into the wild.  Within six years, they had grown to six million!

However, for the most part these animals are considered cute, beautiful, and harmless.  They are appreciated here in these 2018 calendars with one eating a leaf, a couple sitting in a basket, and one smelling the daffodil flowers.  Americans and those in the developed world have domesticated rabbits, which is typically from the European species and can live longer than those in the wild.  Fortunately, most of the domesticated pets are neutered or spayed to prevent rampant proliferation.

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Magazines to Increase Soon

August 4, 2017

While the focus the past few months has been to focus on calendars and making sure we have all your favorites set up, we will shortly look to increase our magazine subscription products.  We currently have business, sports, entertainment, political, men's and women's, but more will be arriving soon, especially with bi g back to school sales on the horizon.

Buying at the newsstand might be a good idea if you're just trying out a new magazine, but if you're a regular reader of any publication, a subscription is the way to go.  The amount of money saved by getting an annual or semi-annual subscription is astounding.  For example, Real Simple Magazine can be bought for five dollars an issue at the newsstand, which translates to $60 per year for the monthly publication.  However, if you get a subscription here, it can be had for less then $24 for the entire year, a savings of a whopping 60%.  It only costs $2 per issue.  Even better, if you know this is your magazine for the long-term, you can get a two-year subscription for barely over $20 per year, which is roughly $1.69 per.  Not a bad deal!

Of course, it doesn't have to be Real Simple Magazine that gets you going.  There are hundreds of different publications from baseball to finance and economics to soap opera digests.  The broader idea is still the same.  Get the subscription and save a ton of cash over inflated newsstand prices nearly every time.

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T-Shirt of the Week

August 3, 2017

The NFL football preseason is officialy under way, with the Hall of Fame Game playing now.  It is also the 40th birthday for the greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady of the New England Patriots.  Now the football t-shirt we have is not really made for a forty year old, but it is a birthday shirt and is perfect for a young boy or girl who is a fan of the American sport.


Boy Birthday Football Personalized Kids T-Shirt

The idea behind this customizable shirt is to put the number of his or her birthday on the front.  Since it's followed by a 'th', it's allows for 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th birthdays.  Those are about the right ages for a youth football t-shirt like this, that also includes personalization for your child's name at the top.  When you are done customizing, it would say something like 'Jacob's 5th Birthday', which makes a great gift from a father, mother, aunt, uncle, or the grandparents.

If only the shirt allowed for two digit numbers, you could use it for 10th, 11th, 12th, and more.  It would even be useful for Tom Brady, although word on the street is that he received five goats (g.o.a.t), all wearing Brady jerseys, to represent each of his Super Bowl wins.  While Tom is winding down his career (possibly?), those getting these t-shirts may be just starting out. 

While footbal gets a lot of attention for concussions and being violent, it continues to become (relatively) safer as the leagues from high school to the professionals police hits to the head.  Athletes that are deemed head-hunters are quickly penalized, fined, and suspended if they don't play the game properly.  Over time, this will help make football a safer game for everyone.

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Baseball Stadiums Added

August 2, 2017

For the baseball fan, traveling around the country to all the ballparks is a great objective and something many participate in doing.  Most years we have a wide selection of calendars that showcase each park and this year is no different as you can check out classics like Fenway and Wrigley along with the new Yankee Stadium, Busch Stadium, and AT&T Park.



Baseball Stadiums 2018 Wall Calendar

If you want a mix of many different parks instead of just one, this calendar will do the trick as it features a dozen of the thirty stadiums in the game.  From Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays to Comerica Park where the Detroit Tigers play, you will see full-color photos of each with details of the team and location.  No detail is missed as each park has unique characteristics, including skyline views, rivers, and waterways.  Everyone knows about the Green Monster at Fenway Park, but do they know about the warehouse over right field at Camden Yards and the story behind it?

Once you take the time to visit these stadiums, each one will stand out for something fascinating.  The architects have done a magnificent job over the years constructing these parks with varying dimensions and pleasing elements that set it apart from the next.  While some still believe Wrigley, home of the Chicago Cubs, is the best, others would argue it is now AT&T Park, where the San Francisco Giants call home.  Others still love PNC Park in Pittsburgh as it was built overlooking the Allegheny River.

What these calendars can do is show you many of the places you might not be able to get to in one year and it'll be followed by a dozen more.  Within three cycles, you'll have seen them all in these Baseball Stadiums 2018 calendars.  Make it a goal to see as many parks as you can, because they all bring something special to the table.

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Magazine of the Week

August 1, 2017

The stock market hit an all-time high today, as measured by the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and everybody's retirement investment accounts bumped up a little higher to kick off the first day of August.  So today we focus on the Kiplinger Retirement Report Magazine, which offers monthly reports on your financial picture as you head off to your golden years.


Kiplinger's Retirement Report Magazine - 12 issues

This is just one in a series of publications from Kiplinger, who also delivers personal finance and a tax letter report.  The man behind the magazine is Willard Monroe Kiplinger, who founded the company that bears his name in 1920, right before the start of the roaring twenties and nearly a decade before the stock market crash.  He lived until 1967 and was followed by his son Austin Kiplinger,  who ran the magazine from 1961 through 1992.  He recently passed, but not before passing the torch again to his son Knight Kiplinger, who is the current head of the financial publication company.

The longevity and independence of the business is remarkable.  Coming up on a century in existence, the media firm based in Washington, D.C. is very well regarded in the industry and helps provide financial advice to the public with their magazines in a non-partisan, unbiased manner.  It makes them stand out from others in the industry who simply push their books of business or have a monetary incentive to recommend one investment over another.

The grandson of the founder, Knight Kiplinger, appears regularly on financial news programs and often pops up on major television programs such as The Today Show to help educate the public on how to manage their financial picture.  Now 69 years old, it's unclear how long Knight wants to continue running the company.  He has three children, but none of them are in the journalism profession.

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Sports Calendars Updated

July 31, 2017

There are far more sports that are played beyond the majors of baseball, football, hockey, and basketball.  There is golf, snowboarding, fishing, NASCAR, and so many more.  Therefore, we categorize those calendars into one big sports category, which we have just expanded to include many more.  Who knew they manufactured a calendar for professional bull riding?



Professional Bull Riders 2018 Wall Calendar

There are now more than 1,200 professionals in this dangerous sport, which involves climbing on a bucking bull and hanging on for dear life.  This 2018 Bull Riders calendars features the fearless men that are at the top of their game and includes many of the past world champions.  Although the sport is most prevalent in the United States, it is also quite popular in South America, as three-time champion Silvano Alves hails from Brazil.

Danger seems to be the name of the game in other 2018 sports calendars we offer.  Rock climbing, Formula 1 racing, and extreme sports are all covered.  If you're not brave enough to race around the track in an open-wheeled car at 200 mph in traffic or climb vertically up a rock with just a rope and some gear (I certainly am not), you can enjoy it from the comfort of your own home and just check out the breathtaking pictures in the calendars from these incredible risk-takers who seemingly have no fear of what would happen in things go south.  Of course, we also have the more 'safe' sports, so whatever captures your interest, we have them here for your viewing pleasure.

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Calendar of the Week

July 30, 2017

With August right around the corner, it's time to start getting ready for some football.  All the players have now reported to training camp for their respective teams and the first preseason game kicks off in just a few days with Hall of Fame Game.  The Dallas Cowboys will play the Arizona Cardinals in Canton, Ohio on Thursday night with more to follow the next week.



New England Patriots Wall Calendar

The defending Super Bowl champions are, of course, the New England Patriots and we have their 2018 calendar ready to roll.  They finished 17-2 last years, with a remarkable comeback in the Super Bowl.  Unfortunately for everyone else, they bring back Tom Brady and Bill Belichick for yet another season and you can see Brady in action in these Patriots 2018 calendars.  Linebacker Dante' Hightower is also featured, who re-signed with the team after testing the free agent waters.

 They've also made themselves even stronger in the offseason by making a series of trades and free agent signings.  They traded for star wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the New Orleans Saints, signed free agent cornerback Stephen Gilmore and restricted free agent running back Mike Gillislee of the Buffalo Bills, and grabbed running back Rex Burkhead of the Bengals.  On paper, they look unbeatable and folks in New England are already dreaming of a 19-0 season, but as we know, the games are not played on paper.  Injuries can change the entire dynamic of a team that looks strong now.  If they lose a few key players in one position, they could easily be beat.  Their offensive line is also looking somewhat vulnerable.

Either way, it should be a great season for all involved.  The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking solid once again in the AFC and the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons cannot be overloooked in the NFC.  Anything can happen and we're just getting started.

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Global Calendars Now Active

July 28, 2017

Thinking of traveling this summer, perhaps overseas?  Well, you can get a glimpse of what the world has to offer with a group of 2018 global calendars that have just been updated for the next year.  You can fly just about anywhere these days, but of all our international calendars, the one that stood out the most for us was the unified nation of Vietnam.



While most Americans like myself think of Vietnam as a war-torn region that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, the country today is dramatically different.  You can see it right on the cover of the 2018 calendar with the incredibly stunning Ha Long Bay.  The country now has incredible, modern skyscapers and has been named one of the fastest growing economies in the emerging wrold.

If Vietnam is not your thing or too far away, you can also check out our Bali, Costa Rica, or Egypt calendars to name a few.  You can also go to Europe, where every country has a culture all its' own.  Whatever your pleasure, you can preview it inside the pages here and follow along all year.  We will continue to add to the product mix as a global city, country or tropical paradise becomes available from the manufacturer.  The more choices we have, the better decision you can make about your favorite destination.

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T-Shirt of the Week

July 27, 2017

After watching a great episode tonight of Seineld with George and the marble rye, I'm reminded of this shirt in our American cities selection that is the only one we have that isn't a real city.  Del Boca Vista is a fictional city and retirement community in Florida from the Seinfeld television show where Jerry's parent's decided to move down from New York City and retire.



Del Boca Vista Light T-Shirt

Everyone who grew up watching Seinfeld is familiar with the marble rye episode I saw and the town.  This Del Boca Vista t-shirt will immediately conjur up memories of the program and the episode as Jerry's father Morty battles to stay on the condo association.  If you've lived in Florida before, you know there are a ton of retirement communities much like the one described in the program.  The largest now is The Villages, which boasts over one hundred thousand residents and is located in north-central Florida near Ocala.  Wear one of these Del Boca Vista t-shirts down there and you'll draw laughter wherever you go; assuming of course that the retired folk were fans of Seinfeld. 

You can get this classic television shirt in a number of colors and styles, if blue isn't your thing or if you live up north and need something warmer.  Either way, it's a fun shirt that brings a stirs up conversation about one of the greatest sitcoms about nothing ever created.

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Jeff Sessions Surviving

July 26, 2017

The drama inside the White House continues non-stop as the President kept up his criticism of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, doing everything he can to make his life miserable and force his resignation.  Sessions had recused himself from the Russian investigation months ago and it appears Trump is still seething.  The recusal from the Attorney General opened the door for Robert Mueller to be appointed to investigate the election, and his financial dealings with the adversarial nation.



Sessions is not without controversy in his own right, but he has been a loyal soldier for the Donald since the beginning.  He has spent the first six months of the administration implementing Trump's agenda, including a crackdown on illegal immigration and s0-called sanctuary cities.  Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) pretty much nailed it today when he said the president appears weak when he criticizes his own AG.  This comes as the Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, appears to be growing tired of all the drama in Washington and is just trying to make it through the year before resigning. 

What we're witnessing is a slow and steady purge of anyone that challenges the president or deviates from his gameplan.  by year-end, Trump will have removed everyone who isn't extremely loyal to him and him alone.  If he fires Jeff Sessions or, better yet, gets him to resign, it will clear the path for him to appoint a loyalist as Attorney General who will then fire Robert Mueller and make this annoying, littel Russia problem go away forever.

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Magazine of the Week

July 25, 2017

The healthcare debate is raging in Congress with a vote expected today.  It can be confusing to separate fact from fiction, but there are some publications that focus on the actual story and help clear it up a bit.  The New Yorker magazine is one such product, as they cut through the partisanship to tell you what's really going on in the healthcare industry and beyond.



The New Yorker Magazine - 25 issues

While it's hard to avoid covering the president without a hardcore bias in one direction or another, The New Yorker magazine does an excellent job of providing candid information and allows you to judge for youself.  While they do have a liberal bent, it pales in comparison to some of the 'news' outlets today.  In a recent article about healthcare, the magazine discusses the blatant abuse of the legislative process that could adversely effect millions of Americans. 

The New Yorker rightly points out that the vote today is a travesty of the democratic process; that nobody other than McConnell even knows which bill is to be debated.  The whole concept is to keep as many people in the dark for as long as possible to give them a better chance to pass the legislation, whatever it happens to be.  The New Yorker magazine goes into detail about the disturbing process and what we need to do to correct it.

Beyond politics, the magazine discusses books, cartoons, current news, culture, humor, and business.  The New Yorker has a substantial online prescence that complements the magazine subscription quite well.  They have a daily cartoon that will make you laugh out loud.  The one today is a fascinating look at the Boy Scouts and their new badges.

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College Football Calendars Expanded

July 24, 2017

Before you know it, summer will be over and the new school year will be starting up, and when school starts, so does college football around the country.  We had a solid lineup of calendars from the best football schools, but now we have added vintage calendars from a number of prominent colleges that harken back to the days when they had powerhouse programs.



Navy Vintage Football Wall Calendar

In the first half of the twentieth century, some of the strongest teams in college football were not who you would consider today.  Army and Navy were at the top of the football universe.  Army won the national championship three years in a row in 1944 thru 1946 and Navy won the title in 1926.  You can see a 1924 program in the 2018 Navy calendar above that reflects the era.  The Iowa State Cyclones wer unstoppable in early 1900's, and Texas Christian captured the AP championship in 1938.  Of course, Notre Dame and Alabama were always near the top, but the make-up of the top teams was markedly different.

These vintage calendars for 2018 pay tribute to the era and teach valuable history at the same time.  Many college football fans look at some of these programs as mid-level teams in major conferences, without knowing the history of the sport and how far it has come.  Fans may not realize that Roger Staubach, one of the great quarterbacks of all-time for the Dallas Cowboys, got his start as Navy's quarterback where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1963.  That would be unheard of today, especially considering the duty to serve following your college career.  However, Staubach served in the Navy from 1965-1969 with a tour of duty in Vietnam before joining the Cowboys afterward.  It was a different time then, but these vintage calendars allow us to celebrate and appreciate that period long ago..

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Calendar of the Week

July 23, 2017

The British Open has just concluded with Jordan Spieth the winner.  He shot an amazing 69 in the final round to seal the victory.  The normal golfers among us don't shoot that low very often, especially not on a PGA golf course.  However, golf is a game you can always improve upon, and these Golf Tips calendars could help you take a few strokes off you game.



Bill Kroen's Golf Tip-a-Day 2018 Desk Calendar

Longtime teaching professional William Kroen's developed this golf calendar and has sold more than a million copies since it began.  Every day you'll get a small piece of advice that can be applied to your drive, your putting, or mid-range game.  Much of golf is a mind game, so if you're able to focus, concentrate, and take away the distractions, thing can improve.  Of course, nothing beats practice, practice, practive.  Most people would say that golf is not a sport you can master unless you put in a massive amount of time and effort.  It does pay off though, and while you're practicing, take a page out of Kroen's Golf Tip 2018 calendars.  It'll let you take the techniques and immediately apply them in action on the course.

Even if you're just a weekend golfer with a day job, these tips could give you the upper hand against your fellow hackers.

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Trade Lebron, Not Kyrie!

July 21, 2017

The Cavaliers had it really good.  Every year they could pencil their names in to the Eastern Conference Finals.  With a weak conference and Lebron James and Kyrie Irving on your side, it was pretty much a done deal.  However, they needed one more significant piece to get over the top and ownership in Cleveland appears unwilling or unable to get it done for another title.



The front office is in turmoil with the General Manager getting canned at the most inopportune time and Lebron has basically expressed a desire to leave for Los Angeles at the end of the year.  So it should come as no surprise that All-Star Kyrie Irving, one of the best players in the league by his own right, has requested a trade from the dysfunctional Cavs.  Reportedly, Lebron James was 'blindsided', but in reality he brought this upon himself.  When the best player in the league keeps dropping hints that he wants out (again), it should not be a shock that Kyrie doesn't want to be left holding the bag.

It's unknown if owner Dan Gilbert will honor Irving's request and trade him away, but what he really ought to do is trade Lebron.  Kyrie Irving is only 25 years old, a full seven years younger than Lebron James and could have ten years left at a high level.  Plus, he is signed for three more years at a very reasonable $20 million per season.  Lebron, on the other hand, has perhaps three great years left in the tank and he's only under contract for one more season at $35.6 million

Lebron does have a full no-trade clause, so they would have to trade him to a team of his liking.  However, if you move him to the Western Conference, he might agree to the Lakers, Clippers, Rockets, or Spurs.  The Lakers might not be able to compete with Golden State right away, but the other three teams have a chance.

Dan Gilbert should see the writing on the wall and move on.  Lebron doesn't want to be there, is nearing the end of his career, and is very high maintenance.  Cleveland would get a king's ransom for Lebron and could build their future around Kyrie Irving.  The Eastern Conference is weak, so if you add a solid All-Star and a few draft picks, they could remain near the upper echelon of the conference.  Maybe Lebron wins another title or two and makes Gilbert look foolish, but he's leaving anyway in less than a year.

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Shirt of the Week

July 20, 2017

The horrible news that John McCain is suffering from brain cancer is tragic, but it reminded me of the historic race between him and Barack Obama to be President, which is shown in the Obama Biden '08 sweatshirt below.  McCain, who ran in 2000 but lost to eventual nominee George Bush, was doing his best to beat, at the time, a transformational candidate in Obama.



Obama - Biden Sweatshirt

That significant period in time was more than eight years ago.  Barack Obama and Joe Biden have since left office after two consecutive terms.  However, their legacy lives on and you can share it with these Barack Obama and Joe Biden 2008 shirts.  It represents their campaign logo and design that lets you harken back to the time when we weren't sure if a black man could win a national elecion in the United States.  Of course, he did win and by a comfortable margin in 2008. 

I'm also reminded of the positive campaigns both he and Senator McCain ran.  It was unlike last year's mudslinging between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, nor was it like the 2000 Republican nomination when George W. Bush tried to smear McCain.  No, these Obama shirts signify not only the historic election, but the classy way in which everything was done.

Joe Biden could've run for President in 2016 at the end of Barack Obama's term, but he deferred to Hillary, who lost in a stunning defeat.  Biden may run for the 2020 election, but he would be 78 years old by the time he took office.  However, there are few prominent Democrats stepping up to run, so perhaps it's his time.  Then we would need a Biden 2020 shirt to match the 2008 version.  I'm sure private citizen and good friend President Barack Obama would lend him a hand.
 
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Magazine of the Week

July 19, 2017

In the news, but for all the wrong reasons is Teen Vogue Magazine.  An offshoot of the more popular and widely read Vogue, this teenager version is normally a trendsetter for fashion, politics, and pop culture, but they came under fire this week for a story about a controversial guide to anal sex, complete with detailed diagrams and a how to.



Teen Vogue Magazine - 8 issues

It was supposed to be a helpful article about what you need to know and what not to do, but conservative news organizations and parents were none too pleased.  After the initial uproar, Teen Vogue Magazine amended the article to include a part about practicing safe sex.  However, they have defended their right to publish and claimed that anyone who criticizes them is homophobic.  That's a bit much.  I doubt these parents would have a problem if the article appeared in the grown-up version of Vogue and not the teenager edition.

The argument has now been drawn along political lines with Christian conservatives on one side and Teen Vogue and liberals on the other.  This should not be surprising.  Many magazines push the boundaries about what is decent and what isn't.  In the past, Cosmo was always being criticized for one inflammatory story or another.  What controversy typically does is sell.  Teen Vogue Magazine is now getting a lot of attention and they're the hot topic of the day.  This usually results in higher sales and more exposure.  Had the groups that oppose sodomy let it go, the story would not be receiving all this media coverage.

I believe the lesson to gleam here is to recognize that Teen Vogue is generally written for an older crowd and not a pre-teen or early teenager.  This article is a clear example, but they have been shifting in that direction for some time with their move into liberal politics, especially since the dawn of the Trump.  In the end, you can make your own decision as to whether you think this magazine is appropriate for yourself or one of your children.

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MLB Trades Heating Up

July 18, 2017

It's a good thing the 2018 baseball calendars don't ship until October, because it looks like a few guys will be changing their uniforms.  With the trade deadline approaching on July 31st, we've seen teams be aggressive in acquiring players they need.



First we saw Chicago White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana move across town to the Cubs and today we have outfielder J.D. Martinez being traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Martinez is a 29-year old slugger who should do well in the National League, especially in the hitter friendly park in Arizona.

The New York Yankees are also making news as they are very close to acquiring relief pitcher David Robertson, third-baseman Todd Frazier, and relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle from the White Sox in exchange for journeyman pitcher Tyler Clippard a number of prospects.  This trade would bolster the Yankees bullpen and the hot corner as they chase the Red Sox for the A.L. East division lead.  For the ChiSox, this trade along with Quintana would signify a complete fire sale as they move into a rebuilding phase.

These are smart moves by Chicago as they have the worst record in the American League and aren't going anywhere without a complete overhaul.  They'll get worse before they get better, but they'll pick up some promising young players.

We're still more than ten days out from the trade deadline, so we're sure to see more moves.  Hopefully when the 2018 calendars are shipped out, they will adjust the rosters for the flurry of moves that we're seeing this month.

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Media Distraught Kaepernick Unsigned

July 17, 2017

If you're a fan of professional football, you know the pathetic story of Colin Kaepernick.  To recap, the American multi-millionaire NFL quarterback was relegated to the bench as a backup at the beginning of the season.  As a result, he did not get the same adulation he was used to.  So in order to get back in the spotlight, he decided to sit for the national anthem.


Yes, the country that allowed him to attain everything he had with fame and fortune was just not good enough to stand up and show respect to the military, veterans, and everyone else that had come before to help protect and serve the nation.  Once Kaepernick got the attention he craved once more, he claimed he was taking a stand against racial injustice of blacks in America.  Yes, the man who had never spoken out once, never tweeted, never made a single comment about racial issues, was suddenly an activist determined to protest police brutality against African-Americans.  The only action he had ever taken prior to sitting on his butt was to wear socks at football practice that showed a police officer as a pig.  Classy, eh?

As the season progressed, the drama died down a little and Kaepernick re-claimed the starting quarterback job for the San Francisco 49ers due to poor play by the original starter.  He ended up starting eleven games, losing ten times and winning just once.  He completed less than sixty percent of his passes (a bare minimum in today's NFL) and threw only 6.8 yards per attempt.  While he threw only four interceptions, he fumbled nine times.  Long story short is that he did nothing on the field to distinguish himself as a starting NFL quarterback.  He is, at best, a back-up quarterback and at worst, not good enough to play in the league.

Despite this, the sports media has determined that he is being blackballed for his "activism" and "controversial" political positions.  Sadly, that couldn't be further from the truth.  The NFL has a long history of keeping wife beaters, murderers, dog killers, and child abusers in the league, so long as they can play.  Michael Vick, Adrian Peterson, Ezekiel Elliot, and Ray Lewis are all despicable human beings that have been allowed to play in the NFL after their crimes.  In fact, some of these guys are even celebrated.  So I think the NFL has room for a guy like Colin Kaepernick, if he was actually any good.

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Calendar of the Week

July 15, 2017

The G-20 summit wrapped up last week in Hamburg, Germany with what was largely an uneventful gathering.  There were some protests and the American president oddly had his daughter sit in for him at one point, but all in all, it was successful.



Hamburg Wall Calendar

The summit did shine a spotlight on the city of Hamburg and we're fortunate enough to offer the 2018 calendars for the incredible city in northern Germany.  You would think that Munich is larger, but Hamburg counts three hundred thousand more people, ranking second only to Berlin in the country.  The population has been holding around 1.7mm for years.

Hamburg is a port city that lies on the Elbe river, which allows for some breathtaking views in these 2018 Hamburg calendars.  Like much of Europe, the city is rich in history, having been established way back in the second century.  In the modern era, the city saw heavy bombings during World War II, which destroyed many parts of Hamburg and the harbor.  It has since recovered and, as you can see in exquisite photograhs in these calendars, the city is stunning.  If you're a fan of history, classic architecture, this 2018 calendar is right up your alley.

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The Gun is Starting to Smoke

July 14, 2017

The much discussed meeting last year betwen Donald Trump Jr. and the Russian government is getting more interesting by the day.  Today we learned that more people were in the meeting that were originally mentioned.  At first, it was 'innocent' meaning between Don Jr. and a Russian government lawyer.  We know that son-in-law Jared Kushner and former campaign manager Paul Manafort were in attendance on the American side.

Now we learn that a Russian counterintelligence agent (i.e. spy) was in the room.  Rinat Akhmetshin is currently a lobbyist in America (how ironic), but has deep ties to the Russian government.  While Don Jr. claims that nothing substantive came of the meeting, the spy has confirmed that the Russians brought documents that showed the illegal flow of money into the Democratic National Committee.  Don Jr. was also thrilled at the prospect of getting opposition research from a foregin government.

While not a smoking gun (yet), Don Jr.'s story has been changing on an almost daily basis.  This meeting was to ilicit dirt on Hillary Clinton and the Democrats from a known government adversary.  What we don't konw yet is whether there was follow-up and continuous conversations between the Russians and the Trump team.  At the very least, it establishes a timeline on when the Trump campaign started talking to the Russians.  It is a piece to the puzzle and the blanks are falling into place.  With all the leaks coming out of Washington, D.C., it's only a matter of time before we discover more info that helps us solidify the timeline about what the President knew and when he knew it.

The Trump Organization has had ties to the Russians for decades from a business perspective.  That's why they have a blind spot when dealing with the rogue country.  The President needs to realize that Vladimir is playing him for the fool.  We are less than 180 days into this reality television presdiency, but it is already falling apart.

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Magazine Summer Sale

July 13, 2017

Since we expanded beyond calendars to offer magazines and t-shirts, we thought we'd bring to your attention a summer tag sale from one of our partners.  For a limited time only, you can now get a staggering sixty to ninety-four percent off the price. 

This incredible offer is only good until August 1st, so you must act fast to take advantage of it.  There are over two hundred titles available and many of the hottest publications.  For example, Time Magazine's latest cover showcases Donald Trump Jr's strange meeting with a Russian government lawyer.  The email exchange is the actual cover photo as the background with Don Jr. front and center caught red-handed.  While not a smoking gun, it establishes a timeline for their interactions with the Russians.  Time Magazine is offered at a whopping 88% off the newstand price in this deal, which allows you to get fifty-two weekly copies for just thirty dollars.

It doesn't end there.  Sports Illustrated, The Economist, and Health Magazine are just a few of the titles available at this steep discount.  You'll be able to keep up with the next greatest athlete in every sport, business and financial news from a European perspective, and health and fitness for women.  Whatever your liking, there is depth in this magazine product sale.

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Updated 2018 MLB Calendars

July 12, 2017

We're only at the All-Star break for Major League Baseball, but that hasn't stopped the 2018 calendars from becoming ready.  While the 2017 rosters are still going strong, we've decided to focus on the new desk calendars that provide a daily fix of trivia questions on the history of each team, along with a number of statistics and factual data on your hometown franchise. 



Milwaukee Brewers 2018 Desk Calendar

These 2018 daily calendars are less dependent on the roster make-up of future teams, so they are available for pre-order and like the NBA and NHL calendars.  They will ship on or after October 13th of this year.  An example of the type of trivia you may get is 'Who led the Red Sox with nine hits in the 1946 World Series?'  The answer will be found in small print upside down at the bottom right of the page.  The facts are fascinating as well.  In the Milwaukee Brewers 2018 calendar, they talk of Tommy Harper and how he stole 73 bases in 1969 for the Seattle Pilots.  While they're now known as the Brewers, they're first season was in Seattle.  They moved to Milwaukee after facing financial difficulties from ownership.

Quick facts and trivia in these 2018 calendars will give you knowledge about America's pastime that you never knew existed.  Even if you weren't around in the early days of your favorite team's history, you'll be able to learn all about them, when the game was simple and legends walked the fields.  All thirty MLB teams are represented with one type of calendar or another.  Most are available in the wall or daily version.  We also have desk pads for a number of teams that will let you follow along all year through.

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T-Shirt of the Week

July 11, 2017

With the MLB All-Star game playing tonight, we thought we'd highlight this 'Happiness is Baseball Season', t-shirt, with all the Peanuts characters displayed from the Charles Shulz animated comic strip, including Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and Linus.



The Peanuts Gang Baseball White T-Shirt

The baseball season is officially half over, but the teams are still jockeying for position, with the Houston Astros holding the best record in the American League at the break and the Los Angeles Dodgers leading the National League.  These Peanuts T-Shirts come in white for $15.95, but are readily available in a fitted style as well as a classic fit and relaxed.  Two Woodstock birds are flying above and Shulz's signature is seen on the bottom left-hand side.  The comic strip was created by Shulz in 1950 and ran for fifty years straight, totaling more than 17,000 unique strips.  It lives on in re-runs and television specials.  Many people grew up reading and watching Peanuts and these t-shirts will help remind us of how much fun they are to watch.  Couple that with baseball and this t-shirt gives you the best of both worlds.

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Magazine of the Week

July 10, 2017

Having just returned from the G-20 summit in Germany, President Little Hands appeared ostracized and isolated among other world leaders.  Perhaps he should brush up on his foreign policy with this magazine subscription, which would actually educate him on world events.  It sure beats hate-watching MSNBC every morning and tweeting about it later.



Foreign Policy Magazine - 6 issues

The President did, however, spend two hours with Russian President Vladimir Putin and came away believing (wink, wink) that Russia had nothing to do with manipulating the American presidential election.  Had he read Foreign Policy Magazine, he might discover that European nations are his allies and the Russian government is still the enemy of America.  The regional power is doing it's best to meddle in elections around the globe, not just in the United States. 

Trump could read about Chancellor Angela Merkel and the policies she has implemented in her long tenure as the German leader, or about Theresa May's rise to power, or Emmanuel Marcon's somewhat surprising ascension to the head of France.  He recently defeated Marine Le Pen, an insurgent candidate likened to none other than Donald Trump.  It's all here in the pages of Foreign Policy Magazine.  It will help you keep up on current global events and how certain outcomes may affect policy in the United States.  With just a few issues, you'll be more than up to speed on the world.

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Pre-Order NHL / NBA 2018 Calendars

July 9, 2017

Just in time for the new season, sports calendars are starting to come on-line and available for pre-order.  A couple days ago we uploaded all the NFL calendars for 2018 and now we have NHL and NBA teams.  With most of the top free agents in both sports already deciding which team they will play for, the rosters are coming together.  The basketball and hockey calendars will ship after October 13th, which gives them plenty of finalize each team so you have the right guys on the right team.



NHL Superstars 2018 Wall Calendar

Our hockey lineup includes star players with their own 2018 calendar.  Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby are ready now, while we're still waiting on Jonathan Toews, Casey Price, Henrik Lundqvist, and rising star Connor McDavid.  In addition to the team calendars, we also have Hockey Heroes and NHL Superstars above.  While most of the teams are ready for pre-order, we are yet to receive the 2018 version of the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, and Ottawa Senators.

On the basketball side, we also have NBA stars Steph Curry and Lebron James with their own personal 2018 calendars and are keeping an eye out for Anthony Davis and Blake Griffin, who both had them last year.  Most of the teams are good to go with the exception of the Hawks, Nuggets, Pelicans and Nets.  We will upload those as soon as they we receive the updates.

The summer NBA basketball league is currently in action in Utah and Las Vegas with rookies and second year players, but the real regular seasons of basketball and hockey season don't start until October.  In the NHL, there will be a new team called the Vegas Golden Knights.  While we don't yet have a 2018 calendar for their inaugural season, if one is created, we will bring it to you here.  The Golden Knights do have a full roster already in place, so it shouldn't be much trouble to get a 2018 calendar for their very first foray into the NHL.  Their entry into the league will also mark the first time the city of Las Vegas has a top-level franchise in any of the major sports.  With gambling so prevalent in sports, many leagues have been hesitant to bring a team to Vegas, despite having two million residents in the metro area.

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Are Celtics Any Better Now?

July 8, 2017

The Boston Celtics signed All-Star Gordon Hayward to a max contract today, but it came at a high cost.  In order to fit his $29.7mm annual salary under the cap, they were forced to trade away Avery Bradley,  a great two-way player who is just entering his prime.  They also needed to let Kelly Olynyk, Tyler Zeller, and Amir Johnson walk, all good, rebounding big men.


In return, they have Hayward, who is a great shooter and defender and Marcus Morris (who is awaiting a criminal trial), another wing player who would likely play the four.  If the Celtics are done wheeling and dealing, I don't believe they have improved at all.  They now don't have any big men on the roster, with the excpetion of rookie Ante Zizic.  They couldn't rebound last year and they're currently significantly worse in that department.  They also take a step back on depth at guard.  Avery Bradley was one of the best perimeter defenders in the game and although Marcus Smart is also great on defense, he can't shoot to save his life.  So at the guard position, they now have one starter who can't play defense at all (Isaiah Thomas) and one who can't play offense (Smart). 

Further, Isaiah now demands a max contract, which is ludicrous for a player who is the worst defender in the league.  His defense is only going to get worse as he approaches thirty years old.  Someone should let Danny Ainge know that no player in the NBA under six feet tall has ever been successful in the NBA past the age of 32.  Nobody.  Thomas has one year left on his contract in what will be his age-29 season, so if they extend him with a max 5-year deal, the Celtics will be paying him through his age-34 season, which is insane.  He will be useless for the last two years of the deal, and probably three.  He also now has hip problems, never a good injury to have as an athlete.  He will get old very, very quickly.  Boston would've been better served trading him and keeping Avery Bradey, who is far better on defense and would cost significantly less.

The good news is that Boston is now incredibly deep at the wing.  Gordon Hayward and Jae Crowder would likely start, with Jaylen Brown, Marcus Morris, and Jayson Tatum backing them up.  Unfortunately, as currently constituted, two of them will be seeing a lot of time riding pine.

I assume Ainge is not done yet, so we'll see if he can acquire a solid big man or two that can rebound and maybe free up the log-jam at wing.  Until he does, the Celts are no better than they were before.

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2018 NFL Calendars Are Here

July 7, 2017

With the preseason only a few weeks away, the 2018 National Football League calendars have finally arrived.  All thirty-two teams have both a wall and desk calendar for sale, including the newly named Los Angeles Chargers who moved up the road after being in San Diego since 1961.  The late arrival is sue to rosters being updated so you can be sure your favorite athlete is on the correct team.



NFL All Team Desk Calendar
 
In football, there tends to be less movement of star players than you see in basektball, but nonetheless to be safe, 2018 the calendars were held back until now.  We even have individual players starring in their own dedicated calendars along with ones for the whole league like the calendar above and All-Stars.  Aaron Rodgers, J.J. Watt, and Russell Wilson all have their very own, so if you are huge fans of one of these guys, you can buy their calendar and check out full-color photographs of in-game action for every month of the year.

Also featured are the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots and runner-up Atlanta Falcons calendars in what was an epic Super Bowl this past February.  Can the Pats repeat or will Atlanta find their way back to the big game and finish what they started, or could it be on of the other thirty teams fighting for supremacy?

While most NFL free agents have landed with their new teams, there are a few marquee players still available.  Anquan Boldin, Robert Griffin III, Darrelle Revis (island), Nick Mangold, and DeAngleo Williams, and Gary Barnridge are all on the outside looking in as of this writing.  However, since the 2018 calendars are coming out in July, we know that wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, cornerbacks Calais Campbell and A.J. Bouye agreed to contracts with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Stephen Gillore moved from the Buffalo Bills to the Patriots.

In addition to the NFL, the college football 2018 calendars are also available for purchase.  When the NBA, MLB, and NHL come on-line for 2018, we will be here to provide the update.

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Germany hosts G-20 Summit

July 6, 2017

Leader of the free world, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is welcoming presidents and prime ministers from the twenty largest countries in the world to an economic summit in Hamburg, Germany.  The buffoon from America is also in attendence and, true to form, has already made random threats about NATO and North Korea.



As usual in these types of global events, thousands of demonstrators took to the street to incite violence.  I'd like to report they were peaceful protesters, but nothing could be further from the truth.  They've already torched cars, started fires, attacked police officers and ambulances by throwing stones and other objects, and are destroying property around them.  They've called their demonstration as 'Welcome to Hell', which should give you an idea of the type of idiots they truly are.

Now I understand if you want to protest Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Tayyip Erdogan for being maniacal dictators, but it really accomplishes nothing if you're violent in turn.  Futher, these leaders are not going to suddenly step down from power or curtail their agenda due to protests.  Putin will continue to be a strongman from a once great nation that has been relegated to a regional power, Donald 'Little Hands' Trump will still be a dumb racist, and Turkey President Erdogan will continue to be a Hitler-esque thug.

These demonstrators would be better served by getting off the street and getting a real job and influence government policy and laws from the other side.  Instead, year after year at G-20, G-7, and other summits they prove to be destructive anarchists, devoid of any discernable objective or philosophy.

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T-Shirt of the Week

July 5, 2017

In honor of Independence Day in America, today we highlight one of the newest t-shirts to our lineup, featuring the USA letters emblazoned on the front in the form of an American flag with the red, white, and blue.  The shirt just exudes patriotism and can be worn all year round, not just on the July 4th holiday.



USA T-Shirt

 It's available for $15.95 as a white tee, but is also available as a sweatshirt, polo, hoodie, tank top, and just about every style you can think of.  It also comes in fourteen solid colors and a few two-tone combinations where the collar and end of the sleeves are a different color.  These t-shirts are a must have for any occassion.  They are made with one hundred percent cotton that is pre-shrunk to provide you with the best fit.  We also have other patriotic t-shirts in our lineup, including one for a proud U.S. Army Dad and another for the United States Marines Corps.

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Hayward Picks Boston

July 4, 2017

After a day of drama about whether he was coming or not, Gordon Hayward decided to sign with the Boston Celtics on a four-year deal.  His decision effectively makes the eastern conference a two-team race between the Celtics and Cavaliers.  Many will argue they're still not as good as Cleveland, but they're a lot closer and they may not be done yet.  The Cavs have not made any moves thus far and their front office is in disarry, having fired their GM a couple weeks back.

Boston still needs to make a number of moves to fit Hayward's salary into their cap number.  They'll probably say goodbye to Jonas Jerakbo, James Young, DeMetrius Jackson, Kelly Olynyk, and Jordan Mickey.  After that, they'll also need to trade either Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, or Marcus Smart.  The early word from the rumor mill is that they are shopping Marus Smart, the 6th overall pick in the 2014 draft. 

Hayward does not solve their rebounding problems, so they'll need an experienced veteran who can bang the boards.  Trading Smart, as painful as that is, could yield a big man they definitely need.

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Calendar of the Week

July 3, 2017

It's amazing how much power NBA stars have.  Three teams tonight are on pins and needles awaiting The Decision by free agent Gordon Hayward on where he will play next season and beyond.  He met with the Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat and will reportedly make his decision known tomorrow.  His current team, the Jazz, saw him today at his home in San Diego.



Utah Jazz Wall Calendar

You can clearly see he is the face of the franchise as he graces the cover of the 2017 Utah Jazz calendar.  In fact, players like him are why the basketball calendars for 2108 get delayed each year.  The manufacturer need to know what team you're playing for before releasing a new calendar.  It wouldn't have made much sense if last year's calendar for the Oklahoma City Thunder had Kevin Durant on the cover.  Coincidentally, it was July 4th last year when Durant decided to take the easy route and sign with Golden State.

The question now is what will Gordon decide.  I don't know the man, but he doesn't appear to be a guy that is playing for the biggest paycheck.  He wants to be relevant and he wants to play for a contender.  Utah won 51 games last year with him, but they're not seriously in the mix to even make the Conference Finals anytime soon.  The West is just too talented and has become even stronger in the last week. 

Hayward seems like a stand-up guy.  If he was going to stay in Utah, he would've told them tonight and he wouldn't have gone through this very public process.  That leaves Miami and Boston.  The Heat won 41 games last year and missed the playoffs.  The Celtics won 53 games, went to the Eastern Conference Finals, have incredible depth on their roster, and future draft picks.  They have picked #3 the last two years, selecting rising star Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.  They will likely select in the top five again next year and might even have two picks in the top five depending on how Brooklyn and the Lakers play.  They even have high-end first round guys stashed overseas coming on the roster this year.

To me, the decision isn't even close.  If Gordon wants to contend for titles in the next five years in a major market with a historic tradition, he chooses the Boston Celtics.  They likely won't win a championship next year, but they are set up incredibly well to win beyond that if Hayward joins them.  If he wants good, but not great, he'll stay with Utah or go to Miami.  Hopefully he decides tomorrow, so the folks making the 2018 calendars can adjust their covers and put him on the right one.

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Magazine of the Week

July 2, 2017

There is fake news and then there are fake covers.  At the center of attention this week was Time Magazine and the phony cover pages that Donald Trump created and plastered all over his golf clubs.  I guess he wanted to look important and pretend he made the cover of the (liberal) magazine.  Of course, with this President, it's all smokescreens and spin.



Time Magazine - 26 issues

The real version is available on a weekly basis and shows actual leaders, not vain, narcissistic, dopey billlionaires begging for attention.  While their bias is slightly left, Time Magazine does not participate in fake news.  They report on real stories, politics, current events, and more.  In a recent issue, the focus was on Bob Mueller, who is ironically the man in charge of leading the investigation against Trump and potential obstruction charges.  He is assembling a formidable team and Time Magazine delves deep into his personality and the difficult task in front of him. 

As the news progresses, whether that's an investigation into the President or a special interest story, Time Magazine will be there to keep you abreast of the latest developments.  You can subscribe for six months, a year, or even two years and you won't be disapppointed.  The publication is coming up on its' 100th anniversary in a few years, a major accomplishment.  Time also has a loyal subscriber base of over three million readers.

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East vs. West

July 1, 2017



NBA free agency is under way, but the real stories in the last couple weeks have been the trades of Paul George and Jimmy Butler.  Unfortunately, both players moved from an Eastern Conference team to the Western Conference.  For those that aren't aware, the Western Conference is significantly better than the East and losing two stars make the disparity even wider.  In free agency, the return thus far has been J.J. Redick, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.  However, he is a far cry from George or Paul.  At the moment, the biggest start that could move from West to East is Gordon Hayward, who is choosing between Miami, Boston, and his current Utah squard.  With George and Butler gone, the Pacers and Bulls are looking at a full rebuild.  Chicago made the playoffs last year as the eight seen and Indiana was the seven.  They are pretty much mailing it in for next year. 

In addition, Cleveland's front office looks a mess, Lebron hasn't committed beyond next year, and is not actively recruiting guys to come.  He's been dropping hints that he could go to Los Angeles after next season.  Perhaps that is just a veiled threat to get the Cavs to surround him with more talent, but he may realize they're about stuck with what they have; a great team, but not one capable of winning it all.  If he goes West next year, the conference will be even further drained.

Free agency still has time to play out and other trades could be made, but at the moment the East is looking pretty pathetic.  It could make for a very unbalanced season when the calendar turns.  Sadly, you'll probably see teams in the East make the playoffs with losing records.  The Wizards, Hawks, Raptors, and Milwaukee Bucks were all in the postseason last year, but they've yet to make significant improvements.

Officially, the West has beaten the East in 17 of the last 18 years.  Before this season even starts, you can be sure to mark that down as 18 out of 19 times.

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