The AFC Championship game is over, the NFC underway. Fresh from punishing Tebow in an act of evil unmatched since the time of Sauron, the New England Patriots, who go by the street name ‘Snake’, used black magic and human sacrifice to cause a Ravens’ missed field goal in the final seconds of the game, thereby sealing their trip to both the Super Bowl, and a much hotter place.

At the time of this post, it’s 10-7 Giants at halftime in the NFC Championship game. I think I speak for all of mankind when I say that if the Giants beat the 49ers, it probably means 2012 really is the apocalypse, and we probably deserve it.

Enjoy it while you can, folks. Football will soon be over, and we’ll enter the dark times known throughout history as The Offseason; and then oh, what benighted souls are we.

OPEN THREAD

The AFC Championship game is over, the NFC underway. Fresh from punishing Tebow in an act of evil unmatched since the time of Sauron, the New England Patriots, who go by the street name ‘Snake’, used black magic and human sacrifice to cause a Ravens’ missed field goal in the final seconds of the game, thereby sealing their trip to both the Super Bowl, and a much hotter place.

At the time of this post, it’s 10-7 Giants at halftime in the NFC Championship game. I think I speak for all of mankind when I say that if the Giants beat the 49ers, it probably means 2012 really is the apocalypse, and we probably deserve it.

Enjoy it while you can, folks. Football will soon be over, and we’ll enter the dark times known throughout history as The Offseason; and then oh, what benighted souls are we.

OPEN THREAD

What a weekend of football this has been so far, with glory and sorrow in equal parts. The painful performance put in last night by Tebow and the Broncos was all the more frustrating for following one of the most exciting post-season games of all time. The New England Patriots, history’s greatest monsters, took the Broncos to the woodshed and beat them about the head, neck, chest, shoulders and arms. Afterward, the Pats took to the streets to burn down the Broncos’ homes, steal their cars, and ritualistically burn them in effigy, before at last settling down for a meal comprised mainly of kittens.

Contrast that with the 49ers victory over the villainous Saints, a game that saw the lead change four times in the final three or so minutes. It was a painful loss for Drew Brees, one hopes. I can picture him now, somewhere on Bourbon street, drinking a Drew Brees (which comes with a lovely little umbrella) and muttering “who dat” hopefully to passers-by.

Today, the Texans take on the Ravens, and Giants v. Packers make us face that eternal question: which really is the lesser of two evils? Post your predictions in the comments if you dare. And in this great land of freedom and football, never forget: if your team doesn’t make the grade, this was a rebuilding year!

OPEN THREAD

What a weekend of football this has been so far, with glory and sorrow in equal parts. The painful performance put in last night by Tebow and the Broncos was all the more frustrating for following one of the most exciting post-season games of all time. The New England Patriots, history’s greatest monsters, took the Broncos to the woodshed and beat them about the head, neck, chest, shoulders and arms. Afterward, the Pats took to the streets to burn down the Broncos’ homes, steal their cars, and ritualistically burn them in effigy, before at last settling down for a meal comprised mainly of kittens.

Contrast that with the 49ers victory over the villainous Saints, a game that saw the lead change four times in the final three or so minutes. It was a painful loss for Drew Brees, one hopes. I can picture him now, somewhere on Bourbon street, drinking a Drew Brees (which comes with a lovely little umbrella) and muttering “who dat” hopefully to passers-by.

Today, the Texans take on the Ravens, and Giants v. Packers make us face that eternal question: which really is the lesser of two evils? Post your predictions in the comments if you dare. And in this great land of freedom and football, never forget: if your team doesn’t make the grade, this was a rebuilding year!

OPEN THREAD

Some bills become unstoppable in the Congress. They pile up cosponsors, get leadership support, and cruise on through to easy passage. Not SOPA, or its original Senate version, PROTECT IP. They’re in trouble. While the left is fighting these bills with blackouts and protesting, our message is simpler: If you back SOPA or PROTECT IP, we will primary you. That matters.

One guy who has clearly heard us, and is responding to our complaints by urging a slowdown on PROTECT IP, is Orrin Hatch. He’s a potential primary target and he knows it, so he’s listening. It’s refreshing, and certainly puts Hatch over many in Congress on this issue.

Yeah, Free Press and the radicals are hypocrites on this, but SOPA really is a bad bill. Lamar Smith is even talking about removing some of the worst provisions, that’s how bad it is. Patrick Leahy is also talking about bending on PROTECT IP. We’re making progress. Keep it up.

Industry is paying attention, the threat of a vote looms. Erick Erickson made it clear he’d even oppose Marsha Blackburn if she helped pass SOPA. This is serious and we need to be loud and committed to action.

Read More →

Some bills become unstoppable in the Congress. They pile up cosponsors, get leadership support, and cruise on through to easy passage. Not SOPA, or its original Senate version, PROTECT IP. They’re in trouble. While the left is fighting these bills with blackouts and protesting, our message is simpler: If you back SOPA or PROTECT IP, we will primary you. That matters.

One guy who has clearly heard us, and is responding to our complaints by urging a slowdown on PROTECT IP, is Orrin Hatch. He’s a potential primary target and he knows it, so he’s listening. It’s refreshing, and certainly puts Hatch over many in Congress on this issue.

Yeah, Free Press and the radicals are hypocrites on this, but SOPA really is a bad bill. Lamar Smith is even talking about removing some of the worst provisions, that’s how bad it is. Patrick Leahy is also talking about bending on PROTECT IP. We’re making progress. Keep it up.

Industry is paying attention, the threat of a vote looms. Erick Erickson made it clear he’d even oppose Marsha Blackburn if she helped pass SOPA. This is serious and we need to be loud and committed to action.

Read More →

Download audio here

Download Podcast | iTunes | Podcast Feed

On today’s edition of Coffee and Markets, Brad Jackson and Ben Domenech are joined by Francis Cianfrocca to discuss the the top stories in politics, the marketplace and sports for 2011.

We’re brought to you as always by BigGovernment and Stephen Clouse and Associates. If you’d like to email us, you can do so at coffee[at]newledger.com. We hope you enjoy the show.

Related Links:

Newt Gingrich on Entitlement Reform, the Federal Reserve and the Eurozone
Jon Huntsman Talks About Entitlement Reform, China and the EPA
Is This the Beginning of the End for the Euro?
NFL, players announce new 10-year labor agreement
NBA players, owners ratify collective bargaining agreement
Tebow Mania: Special On ABC, Tebowing Students Suspended

Follow Brad on Twitter
Follow Ben on Twitter
Follow Francis on Twitter

Subscribe to The Transom

The entire Coffee and Markets family wishes you a merry Christmas and happy new year. We will return to the airwaves on January 2, 2012.

The hosts and guests of Coffee and Markets speak only for ourselves, not any clients or employers.

Download audio here

Download Podcast | iTunes | Podcast Feed

On today’s edition of Coffee and Markets, Brad Jackson and Ben Domenech are joined by Francis Cianfrocca to discuss the the top stories in politics, the marketplace and sports for 2011.

We’re brought to you as always by BigGovernment and Stephen Clouse and Associates. If you’d like to email us, you can do so at coffee[at]newledger.com. We hope you enjoy the show.

Related Links:

Newt Gingrich on Entitlement Reform, the Federal Reserve and the Eurozone
Jon Huntsman Talks About Entitlement Reform, China and the EPA
Is This the Beginning of the End for the Euro?
NFL, players announce new 10-year labor agreement
NBA players, owners ratify collective bargaining agreement
Tebow Mania: Special On ABC, Tebowing Students Suspended

Follow Brad on Twitter
Follow Ben on Twitter
Follow Francis on Twitter

Subscribe to The Transom

The entire Coffee and Markets family wishes you a merry Christmas and happy new year. We will return to the airwaves on January 2, 2012.

The hosts and guests of Coffee and Markets speak only for ourselves, not any clients or employers.