Former Venezuelan President Maduro captured (read: kidnapped). Trump has gone too far this time

 It's never been about drugs, despite Donald Trump's claims to the contrary.

It's been about oil.

President Pampers and his drones are falsely claiming Venezuela stole oil from the US, but, as usual, they don't have evidence to support their claims.

This is not the way to "get it back", though.

Earlier today, US forces, on orders from President Pampers, kidnapped former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his first lady, and are extraditing them to the US as I write.

Trump, Defenseless Secretary Pete Hegseth, and some military officers wasted about an hour of television time to try to justify what is really a breach of international law. As per normal with President Pampers, he refused to clear this action with Congress, likely on the advice of head troll Stephen Miller, though we don't know that for sure.

However, what Trump didn't count on was getting pushback from France, and, his "hero", Russian President Vladimir Putin, who condemned the US action.

France, I can understand. Putin, whom Trump is trying to emulate? Shocking. And I don't think anyone's had the cajones to tell Trump about this. Yet.

The worst case scenario that comes out of this fool's folly is, of course, war. I can just picture it now, thanks to the Marx Brothers.........

Trump and Dumb Bondi are claiming that Maduro will be prosecuted. On what charges? What evidence do you have? (Probably 0)

It's never been about drugs, but rather, oil, and the greedy Trump wants it. He says the US will run Venezuela in the interim until a transition of power takes place to install a new leader, one friendly to the oldest baby on the planet. 

No, what will happen, Dumb Donald, is that Maduro will be returned to Venezuela, and you're going to have to really lawyer up this time, because you strayed too far over the line. This ain't a game, bub, and it's about time you realized it.

Family Fridays: The series premiere of All in The Family (1971)

 In 1971, CBS took a chance on a concept from writer-producer Norman Lear. What resulted was a franchise that changed the sitcom game.

All in The Family was a mid-season replacement, launching 55 years ago this month. Here, then, is the opener, "Meet The Bunkers":

As you can tell, the opening, "Those Were The Days", sung by Carroll O'Connor & Jean Stapleton, was replayed over the closing credits until the instrumental, "Remembering You", co-written by O'Connor, was added soon after.

TNT moves the NHL Winter Classic to primetime. Good idea or bad?

 For only the 4th time since the event was introduced, the NHL's annual Winter Classic, an outdoor game, will be played on the 2nd of January, instead of New Year's Day.

Tonight's game sees the Florida Panthers host the Rangers at LoanDepot Park in Miami. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said that the retractable roof at the stadium will be opened when the game starts at 8 pm ET on TNT.

Ever since the Winter Classic first took place nearly 20 years ago, it'd been a day game. I get that TNT wants the ratings, but with college football postseason bowls airing on ESPN & Fox, the latter of which will have the Holiday Bowl opposite the Winter Classic, this is looking like a fool's folly for TNT.

The other concern is attendance. The Marlins, the stadium's spring-summer tenant, ranks among the weakest in terms of attendance in Major League Baseball. The lighting in the indoor arenas where the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning play can cover up the fact that neither team isn't exactly big box office, and that's despite the teams having about 3-4 Stanley Cups between them as of this season.

But, since the College Football Playoff is now idle until next week, maybe TNT has a chance. 

If anyone's paying attention.

Musical Interlude: How Do You Talk To An Angel? (1992)

 The Heights was a 3 month wonder for Fox in 1992.

The series launched in August, getting a head start on the rest of the schedule, but was gone before Thanksgiving. In between, "How Do You Talk To An Angel", credited to the show's band, with Jamie Walters on vocals, had hit #1 on the Hot 100. As soon as the song fell out of the top spot, Fox pulled the plug.

The above is from the show itself. Here's the version MTV viewers saw:

We'll take a deeper dive into The Heights another day.

Sports this 'n' that

 For years, the Big 10 were characterized as seeing their teams wilt in the postseason. The league has had the last two NCAA national champions (Michigan & Ohio State), and it was thought the stigma of choking in the postseason was over.

Nope, it's back.

On New Year's Eve, Texas' Arch Manning sliced up the Wolverine defense for 4 touchdowns (2 passes, 2 runs), as the Longhorns won the Cheez-It Citrus bowl over Michigan, 41-27. 

Later in the night, Ohio State, the defending champs, and the #2 seed in this year's tournament, fell to Miami, 24-14, at the Cotton Bowl. Keionte Scott had the biggest play of the night when he ran back an interception 72 yards to the end zone. The 10th seeded Hurricanes now await the winner of tonight's Sugar Bowl match between SEC rivals Mississippi & Georgia as they continue their quest to win their first national title since the Jimmy Johnson era of the mid-80's.

Both the Wolverines & Buckeyes had defensive coordinators with NFL experience. RPI grad Matt Patricia (formerly of the Patriots) at Ohio State, and Don "Wink" Martindale (ex-Ravens, Giants) at Michigan. Both were outcoached on Wednesday.

The Dallas Cowboys doubled down on stupid on Tuesday by waiving star defensive back Trevon Diggs.

On Wednesday, Diggs reportedly was claimed by Green Bay, meaning a reunion with good friend Micah Parsons could come as early as Sunday. Diggs had been activated off IR two weeks ago, but now finds himself out of Dallas due to reported issues with coach Brian Schottenheimer. With Dallas already eliminated from the playoffs, playing the Giants may not be the layup they thought it'd be.

Just thought of something. With the addition of the Pop Tarts Bowl, Kellogg's now sponsors three bowls, since they bought Sunshine, the original makers of Cheez-It, a ways back. What's next? The Rice Krispies Bowl?

Chip Kelly's latest foray into the NFL lasted just 1 season, and he's not finishing it.

Kelly was bounced by the Las Vegas Raiders, last in the AFC West, and has since returned to the college ranks, where he'll be the new offensive coordinator at Northwestern, meaning he'll coach against he last college employer, Ohio State, next season. Rumors have head coach Pete Carroll following Kelly out of Vegas, but only because people are looking for something to talk about at this point. We won't know for sure until Monday.

Public golf courses in Washington, DC may be the next casualty of Cheato Narcissus (Donald Trump) and his bid to leave his mark all over Washington.

The World's Worst Golfer says he will declare that the National Links Trust is in default on its 50 year lease with the National Park Service, per Yahoo!. There are those that say that, as usual, Trump is lying because he has 0 proof any default took place, and that he wants to take over the public courses for the benefit of his wealthy friends.

The blatant greed and abuse of power will lead to Trump's downfall, and probably sooner than anyone thinks, given his health issues.

Wild West Wednesdays: The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County (1970)

 It was meant to be a TV-movie, presumably for NBC. However, Universal thought they could score a box office hit with "The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County", a raucous Western comedy about a blacksmith looking to hook up with a mail order bride.

Dan Blocker (Bonanza) has the lead, joined by Jim Backus (ex-Gilligan's Island, Blondie), Mickey Rooney, Jack Cassidy (ex-He & She), Wally Cox (The Hollywood Squares), Nanette Fabray, Henry Jones (ex-Channing), Jack Elam, Noah Beery, Jr., Iron Eyes Cody, Don "Red" Berry, and Stubby Kaye (ex-Shenanigans).

Listen carefully to when Wally Cox speaks. Not exactly the meek milquetoast of Mister Peepers, but more along the heroic timbre of Underdog. Go figure.

No rating. Just a public service.

In 2 weeks: More with The Lone Ranger.

Sports this 'n' that

 By the end of business on Sunday, we will know how this year's NFL playoffs will break down.

Having already been eliminated from the postseason picture, the Atlanta Falcons played spoiler on Monday, defeating the Los Angeles Rams, 27-24, which sets up the top two teams in the NFC West, San Francisco & Seattle, for a division title showdown Saturday (ABC, ESPN, 8 pm). The Rams already have a wild card in hand, but were eliminated from division title contention after the Niners & Seahawks both won on Sunday.

Over in the AFC, the New England Patriots clinched their first AFC East title in 6 years after blowing out the Jests, then watching Philadelphia beat Buffalo. Denver can clinch the West, depending on what happens next weekend, as they still have the Los Angeles Chargers hard on their collective heels.

Nine days after defeating YouTube clout chaser Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua was in an auto accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two friends. Joshua is in the hospital as we write, and we are sending prayers his way.

In stark contrast, UFC fighter Bryce Mitchell must've overdosed on stupid pills, because in an interview he gave, he claimed that Joshua should've let Paul win the fight.

Yeah, right, and pigs will fly.

File photo courtesy Yahoo!.

Mitchell also said what some might think is the quiet part out loud, that Jake & Logan Paul have fixed their fights. With Logan now in WWE, as an arrogant jackass, he hasn't laced on the gloves in a while, but we have to wonder if Mitchell is on crack or something to say stupid things like this. He himself has not had a fight since the summer, so he's looking for attention.