I flipped on "The O'Reilly Factor" and watched a montage of idiots like MSNBC's Chris Matthews fall over themselves to express how sad they are that the human filth (I can't mention his name) that murdered 13 people at Fort Hood is a Muslim.

Matthews went as far to make excuses for that piece of trash by stating contacting Al Qaeda is not a crime.

What!?!

There was some knucklehead at ABC making excuses for the killer by saying there are nutty Christians as well. Excuse me? When a Christian commits a crime, how many news pundits say, "Well, there are crazy Muslims."

Here's the deal. Was the shooter a Muslim? Yes. Does that mean all Muslims are as evil as he is? No. Are all Muslims killers? No. Should there be any retribution to the Islamic community? Of course not. Any negative  actions toward Muslim Americans for the acts of one piece of trash would be reprehensible.

That being stated, we can't avoid the truth. If the Fort Hood killer murdered those people in the name of his religion, then that needs to be stated. We also need to know why the military allowed him to continue to serve when there were signs he was anti-military.

When Tiller the Baby Killer was murdered, MSNBC basically held a day of mourning, gave Tiller sainthood and blamed every Christian, Conservative and FOX News for the death.

Are we to blame MSNBC and Liberals for the Fort Hood tragedy? After all, those on the left have been very anti-military for years. Did the somehow influence that human trash to kill those people?

By the standards they have set, yes, they should share in the blame.

I understand not blaming Islam for the Fort Hood massacre and I don't blame President Obama for asking us to not jump to conclusions until we know the facts. I wish he would have done the same thing a few months ago when he blamed the cops for being racist.

I just find is despicable the media is basically making excuses for that killer. It makes me want to vomit.

Rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford looked good for a quarter, then he started looking like a rookie. The defense started hot, then cooled off. I was very disappointed about the loss. I don't have the energy to dissect the game.

As I was Web surfing and ran across this by Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp. I used to hate Sharp because he seemed so negative, but over the years he grew on me as I read more of his work and listened to him on the radio. He works for WDFN.

I read his column and it home. I love the Lions and Sharp seemed to be writing just for me.

How about a show of hands, Detroit?

How many of you foolishly took the bait, believing that surreal first quarter of Lion excellence on both sides of the ball was proof that not only might the Lions actually win on the road, but dominate as well?

File this latest edition of criminal eye slaughter under the category of “Shouldn’t You Have Known Better?”

The Lions blew this one.

There’s nobody to blame but Matthew Stafford.

Dropped passes or missing offensive weapons weren’t the problem. It was the rookie quarterback misfiring, failing to take advantage of the bountiful opportunities an equally inept Seattle team provided them.

Stafford finished with five interceptions, clearly the worst game of his young professional career.

The Lions teased everybody — once again.

It’s not uncommon.

They took a 17-0 first-quarter lead against Tampa Bay last year, prematurely feeding the optimism that they finally stumbled upon a game they couldn’t lose.

They trailed by halftime and ultimately lost, 38-20.

The Lions actually resembled a NFL operation in the first quarter.

But it certainly helped that the Seahawks looked anything but that.

In fact, the Seahawks borrowed a page from the Lions’ playbook — their first two offensive plays resulted in two turnovers, a Louis Delmas interception and a fumble that former Seahawk linebacker Julian Peterson forced.

It was the Lions’ first 17-0 lead following the first quarter on the road in 27 years. They led Green Bay that day, back in the day when they actually won occasionally in the state of Wisconsin.

But you knew that, despite the Seahawks’ generosity, the Lions would find a way to give back what they got.

As bad as 0-16 looks among the blighted faces of NFL ignominy, it might be even worse that the Lions are now 8-60 on the road since the beginning of the Matt Millen era eight years ago.

This is the bigger embarrassment.

They’ve only won 12% of their road games.

The Seahawks are a troubled franchise — and they’re almost four years removed from their first Super Bowl appearance. They know they’re not that far away from breaking in a new quarterback.

Yet the Lions come to town and they’re the NFL equivalent of Ponce de Leon. They’re pro football’s Fountain of Youth. After seeing the Lions, every team is invigorated with a flush of enthusiasm.

That’s the Lions’ role now in the NFL, especially when they venture away from Ford Field, making teams feel a little better about their respective turmoil because it could always be worse.

They could be Lions.

The Lions’ biggest dilemma is public apathy the remainder of the season.

The team has always maintained that indifference would never be an issue because there always remained a high degree of anger over the team’s disappointment.

But this game might have been the Lions’ last chance of convincing the ticket-buying and television-viewing populace that there’s at least something minuscule worth salvaging from this season.

Nice column, Drew.

Until next time, enjoy Michigan and Goooo Lions!!

Since he was drafted by the Lions, Smith has always been a big talker - but not in a bad way. His talk was about how he wanted to excel and work hard to achieve his goal.

Smith talked about the Lions making the playoffs and people made fun of him. It was a big statement the team wasn't about to back up, but what would you rather him say? How about, "We stink. We have no chance at winning."

I want the players on the teams I root for to have a winning attitude even in the team ins't very good.

While I like Smith, I fear he is not going to be an above-average player. So far, he has shown he is a decent back but lacks breakaway speed and has not been able to carry the team.

Heading into tomorrow's game at Seattle, Smith has played in 23 games, started 19 and has 1,369 yards rushing, 484 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns. I know he was stuck in the miserable Jim Colletto offense last year and hasn't had much of an offensive line in front of him, but Smith has doesn't much to make us think he'll be a game breaker.

If the Lions build a strong O-line then we'll see what Smith can do. I hope I am wrong and he becomes a solid, dependable runner that can take over a game when needed.

If he can't, then the Lions need to find out soon and start looking for a runner that can those things.

My Prediction for the Lions-Seattle game:

The Lions were supposed to beat St. Louis at home, but didn't.

The Lions are bad at home and even worse on the road, so they are supposed to lose to the Seahawks, they won't.

Detroit 23, Seattle 17.

Originally published as the cover for the July 6, 1916, issue of Leslie's Weekly with the title "What Are You Doing for Preparedness?" this portrait of "Uncle Sam" went on to become--according to its creator, James Montgomery Flagg--"the most famous poster in the world." Over four million copies were printed between 1917 and 1918, as the United States entered World War I and began sending troops and matériel into war zones.

Flagg (1877-1960) contributed forty-six works to support the war effort. He was a member of the first Civilian Preparedness Committee organized in New York in 1917 and chaired by Grosvenor Clarkson. He also served as a member of Charles Dana Gibson's Committee of Pictorial Publicity, which was organized under the federal government's Committee on Public Information, headed by George Creel.

Because of its overwhelming popularity, the image was later adapted for use in World War II. Upon presenting President Franklin Delano Roosevelt a copy of the poster, Flagg remarked that he had been his own model for Uncle Sam to save the modeling fee. Roosevelt was impressed and replied: "I congratulate you on your resourcefulness in saving model hire. Your method suggests Yankee forebears."

Uncle Sam is one of the most popular personifications of the United States. However, the term "Uncle Sam" is of somewhat obscure derivation. Historical sources attribute the name to a meat packer who supplied meat to the army during the War of 1812--Samuel (Uncle Sam) Wilson (1766-1854). "Uncle Sam" Wilson was a man of great fairness, reliability, and honesty, who was devoted to his country--qualities now associated with "our" Uncle Sam. James Montgomery Flagg (1877-1960)

With the storm of war brewing behind her, a personification of America sleeps. She wears a Phrygian cap, a symbol of liberty since Roman times. This poster tells all of America to wake up and do their part for the war effort.

I like Uncle Sam. He is a part of this country's great heritage. Just the sight of the famous poster sparks some feelings of patriotism. We could use more of those feelinsg today.

God Bless America!

12 dead and 31 wounded. The news reports said Major Nidal Hasan, a psychiatrist, was responsible.

There was some talk about Hasan being a Muslim. That saddens me because there is no evidence this was the result of some sort of jihad or revenge against the Great Satan, the United States. Let the authorities take time and investigate before we cast blame. Every time someone who is Christian does something wrong the media rushes to paint Christianity as a bad thing and that makes me angry, so I don't agree when other religions a judged with no proof.

But I don't want to get into a discussion of why. I want to write about the danger the men and women of our military face every day because they have the courage to wear a uniform that represents the United States of America.

I am glad they have that courage because I don't think I could do what they do. In fact, I know I couldn't. I can't imagine how frightening it would be to be in the middle of a battle. I've been very fortunate, along with millions and millions of other Americans, that we've had men and women sign up to defend our freedom.

It's easy for us civilians to think we understand the dangers of military service because we watch movies like "Saving Private Ryan" or check out the news reports about the war in Iraq. Until you are on the front lines, you have no idea what it is like. And, I am glad there are Americans willing to put themselves in the line of fire for their country.

What happened at Fort Hood will be discussed, picked apart and debated for a while, but what can't be forgotten is the people killed and how they were there to serve this great country.

May God bless our service men and women and God bless America!

The previews for "V" talk about Visitors that offer hope, change, a better world and only ask the Earth to follow their orders and demand the media not ask questions that will portray the Visitors in a bad light. What the people of Earth don't realize is the Visitors are hiding their real agenda.

Hmmm...where did I hear that before? They didn't do that during the "V" run in the 1980s. No, it was something more recent. Something more political. I know! It was President Obama's campaign run. He offered hope, change and a new world - and the media was and is more than happy to not bother asking those pesky questions that may make the president look bad. And I suspect the Obama Administration is not being 100% honest with all of its motives.

That was a cheap shot, but it has you thinking. Doesn't it?

Jane Badler was the most beautiful alien on TV in the 1980s.

Back to "V". I am extremely excited for this show. I loved the original and was glued to every episode. I was 12 or 13 when "V" debuted and I had a mega crush on Jane Badler, who was the leader of the Visitors.

The Syfy Network has been showing the old "V" miniseries and television show and I caught a few hours over the weekend. I learned two things. The original "V" doesn't hold up too well when compared to the special effects avaliable today and Jane Badler is as beautiful as I remember. (Sigh, a romance that was never meant to be.)

I just hope this new version of "V" is fun for the kids and spark their imaginations like the original did for me. Morena Baccarin is the new leader of the visitors so I know the teenage boy demographic will enjoy her role on the show.

There are few things that bother me about the new "V". First, I read that they won't be calling the Visitors aliens because that would be offensive for some people. If that is true, that is ridiculous.

The other thing is the show might become a long, drawn out series that gets too bogged down with long story arcs that are hard to follow. I hope the show has action and keeps the viewers interested with stand alone stories and good writing. I don't want to see gimmicks and cliffhangers.

A successful television series is simple: Good writing and good acting.

I hope the new "V" can pull that off.

Strong demand for cars and crossovers lifted Ford's U.S. sales 3 percent in October, a positive sign for automakers who are hoping a healthier economy will draw buyers back to showrooms.

Ford said its sales rose 21 percent from September to 118,735 vehicles, when auto sales were still in a hangover after the Cash for Clunkers program boosted sales this summer. Automakers had said October would be a test of how strong the market is without any effect from clunkers.

Ford's overall car sales rose 11 percent over last October, while crossovers climbed 23 percent, Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday. Truck sales fell 10 percent. New products like the Ford Taurus sedan and Lincoln MKT crossover sold well. More than 80 percent of last month's sales came from new 2010 models.

UAW membership has spoken loudly, won't renegotiate with Ford

Members resoundingly rejected a new contract with Ford last week, as 70 percent of production workers and 75 percent of skilled workers voted against concessions that would have made their contracts competitive with workers at General Motors and Chrysler.

"We have a political process. It's called ratification," Gettelfinger told Paul W. Smith this morning on WJR AM-760. "We all are disappointed, but the membership has spoken."

In addition to concerns over the "no-strike" clause and reduced compensation for new hires, Gettelfinger said Ford's string of recent success may have influenced member voting.

Four businessmen gave ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick $240k before he signed loans

It appears four major players in the Detroit business community gave former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick a total of $240,000 months before finalizing a repayment plan, raising the question of whether the money originally was intended as a gift, not a loan.

The signed loan agreement required Kilpatrick to repay $60,000 each to Compuware CEO Peter Karmanos, racing team owner Roger Penske, chemical company executive Jim Nicholson and Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert.

Kilpatrick, who owes the city of Detroit $914,000, has argued he cannot afford his monthly restitution payments and unilaterally halved his payments to $3,000 earlier this year.

Judge throws out 2001 Detroit murder conviction after U-M law students discover evidence

A judge has thrown out the 2001 murder conviction of Dwayne Provience, of Detroit, after law students discovered evidence that wasn't shared with him at trial.

Students from the University of Michigan Law School interviewed people who knew about the drug-related murder of Rene Hunter of Detroit in 2000. The key piece of new evidence was a police report that suggested others were responsible for the fatal shooting. It was never shared with Provience at the time of his trial.

Questions raised about conduct of Wayne County Prosecutor's Office

"It's awfully distressing that nobody in the Prosecutor's Office apparently went back and asked, ‘What happened in this first murder while we're prosecuting the second?' and saw, ‘Hey. We argued something different,'" says David Moran, co-director of the Innocence Clinic at University of Michigan Law School who now represents Provience. "I would hope that if that had been done they would have thought to contact Provience's lawyers and say, ‘We think we have some different information.' You would hope that would've happened."

But it didn't.

And this year, thanks to the mother of the convicted shooter in that second case, Provience's attorneys have obtained Detroit police records showing that, within weeks of the killing, investigators suspected other men in Hunter's death.

These records were not provided to Provience's defense attorney during the discovery phase of his trial, according to court filings.

During the past few weeks, I've been a bit stressed with work, politics, car troubles, money, and all kinds of things. I've been kinda worked up and found myself struggling to have some fun. I didn't notice any changes because it happened gradually. I spent too many evenings watching talking heads bash President Obama or bash FOX News, the only TV news outlet that dares to challenge the president.

I believe this country is in for some big trouble if we don't get some jobs created soon and the government decides money does not come from a magic hole in the ground, but I can't stress over it every day. I can't keep looking at the rising jobless rates because they depress me. I can't keep thinking about how Gov. Jennifer Granholm it driving Michigan into the ground. It makes me weep.

Anyway, on Halloween Night, I realized I wasn't having much fun lately. After the trick-or-treaters were in for the night, I grabbed the remote control and settled in for a night of sports on TV. I was watching the Red Wings, Pistons, Spartans, the World Series, Oregon/USC, and Texas/Oklahoma State.

While I was trying to keep with all those games - as well as a few peeks at the Notre Dame game - I found myself having fun. Real fun for the first time in weeks. I think it was because I was truly relaxed and wasn't focused on the negative.

If you have been feeling stressed out here are a few things that may help you have some fun.

• Start your Christmas shopping early. Head out to the mall and see how many stores have already put up their Christmas decorations. While you are driving to mall, see if you can find some Christmas songs on the radio.
• Download some cartoons on your iPod or check out YouTube to find some of the shows you enjoyed as a kid.
• Build a huge pile of leaves and jump in it.
• Find an older person - a grandparent, an old neighbor or relative - and take them to lunch. Ask them about the past. Who knows, you might find them interesting.
• Take your young child, niece or nephew, or a friend's kid to see "Astro Boy" or some other kid movie.
• Bundle up and take a long walk in the cold.
• Go buy an Archie comic and see if Betty and Veronica are still hot.
• Watch "Planes, Trains and Automobiles", "The Three Amigos," "Airplane", "The Nutty Professor", or some other older comedy you thought was funny when you first watched it.

If you find yourself a bit wound up, try to find something to put your mind at ease and make yourself laugh.

Until next time, enjoy Michigan...and have some fun.

The NFL enacted the rule to motivate people to buy tickets. That rule made sense back in the 1970s and 1980s and maybe the 1990s but things are different today.

The television revenue the NFL receives is more than enough to make every franchise profitable before one ticket is sold or $9 stadium beer is chugged.

What the NFL needs to do is televise every local game. It is like a three-hour commercial. Also, it will ensure young fans who do not attend many games will see their local teams and grow to love them.

When I was a kid, we watched as many games involving teams other than the Lions so most of my friends developed a connection with other teams.

Young people today are bombarded with instant information and entertainment. With each Lions game blacked out, it is an opportunity for some other form of distraction to steal away a football fan.

I am not even going to get into the price of attending a game, which keeps many familes away. When I go to a Lions game, I go with friends and I only pay for myself.

The ticket is between $40 and $60. My share of parking is usually $5 (we always split it.) A diet soda and some sort of snack puts my bill for the game somewhere between $60 and $80. I couldn't imagine taking three other people with me.

Many people can't afford the cost so they never get to see a game in person. It makes good sense to put as many games on TV as possible and get the ratings as high as they can. That will bring more money in TV revenue to the NFL.

Other sports do not have blackouts and they do just fine. It's true, Major League Baseball, the NBA and NHL have many more games than the NFL but the football would not just survive it would thrive with no blackouts.

Hopefully, the NFL will change its rule. Until then - or the Lions get much better - we will be listening to many more games on the radio.

Until next time, enjoy Michigan and Goooo LIONS!!! Even if we can't see you.

I only caught the first quarter of the game, which the Pistons lost to Oklahoma City, and I didn't see Big Ben play, but it was fun to hear the familiar "Big Ben Bell" chime during his intro.

When Ben left Detroit and headed to the Chicago Bulls for more money, I wasn't terribly upset. I thought Ben's legs were getting tired and he lost some of the defensive tenacity that made him a fan favorite.

I don't remember how much he got from the Bulls and how much Joe Dumars offered to keep him here, but at that time, I thought Detroit's offer was more than fair and Chicago's was a bit too much.

I did miss Ben because he was cool and he worked very hard. However, I didn't think he offered enough as a player to justify the extra bucks he got in Chicago.

Since he left, niether Ben nor the Pistons won a championship and I doubt the Pistons would have won another title if he stayed here.

After being gone four years, Ben has not gotten younger or better, but he is only making about $1.5 million - not much by NBA standards - so having him back on the bench is OK by me. If he plays 20 minutes a game and can provide some rebounds and defense in small doses, Ben will be worth the money.

Hopefully, he will be a good role model for the younger players and be at least a small piece in the rebuilding project.

I've lived through two great eras of NBA basketball in Detroit: The Bad Boys and the Going to Work guys. I have more love for the Bad Boys because they were the first to win big, but I love and respect what Big Ben, Sheed, Rip, Tay and Billups have done here.

With Ben back, we have three of the "Going to Work" pieces but this is a new team and new era for the Detroit Pistons. It will be fun to see this team grow and create its own persona. Hopefully, more championships will follow.

As for Big Ben, I am glad he's back and I wish him the best. If he helps add some fans to the seats, create more interest in the team overall, helps add a few more wins, and brings back some fond memories, that will be more than anyone can ask from the man.

Ben Wallace may not be the most talented Piston in team history, but he was/is one of the most popular, and he was the leader of the Going to Work group. I am not going to knock him if he is not the same player he was. I am going to enjoy the fact Big Ben is a Piston once again.

A prediction: I think the best this team will do is make the playoffs as a seventh or eighth seed. Anything beyond that will be a bonus.

Until next time, enjoy Michigan and Goooo PISTONS!!