This week's Amato and Armando Show November 8, a discussion of the "NFL Culture" plus our picks:

The picks (disagreement in BOLD, J for John, A for Armando): GIANTS -7 1/2 over the Raiders, BENGALS -1 (J), RAVENS +1 (A), RAMS +10 (A), COLTS -10 (J), TAMPA BAY +3 over Dolphins, EAGLES +1 over Packers , BEARS Pick (A), LIONS Pick (J), STEELERS -3 over Bills, TITANS -13 (J), JAGUARS +13 (A), SEAHAWKS -4 over Falcons, PANTHERS +6 (J), NINERS -6 (A), CARDINALS -3 over Texans, BRONCOS -7 (J), CHARGERS +7 (A), SAINTS -7 over Cowboys.

Open Thread.

The picks (2 units unless otherwise indicated): LSU +13 over Alabama, San Diego State +7 over San Jose State, Arizona -1½ over UCLA, Fresno State -9 over Wyoming, Army +6 over Western Kentucky, Kansas State +3 over Texas Tech, Texas -6 over West Virginia, Pittsburgh +4 over Notre Dame, Virginia Tech +7 over Miami (Florida), USC -17 3 units over California, Nebraska +7 over Michigan, Missouri -14 3 units over Kentucky, Navy -17 over Hawaii, Texas A&M -19½ 3 units over Mississippi State, Wake Forest +35 over Florida State, Utah State -14 over UNLV, Tulsa +17 over East Carolina, Wisconsin -8 over BYU, Minnesota -3 over Penn State, Auburn -8 4 units over Tennessee, North Carolina State +10 over Duke.

This week's Amato and Armando Show:

Go Gators!

Open Thread.

It's a jail day for me. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

Did politics and the DEA get to the Mexico Supreme Court? The Court has overturned the August order of an appeals court releasing Rafael Caro-Quintero (background here.) Caro-Quintero served 28 years before an appeals court reversed his conviction, finding the federal court in Mexico lacked jurisdiction because since DEA Agent Camerena was not a consulate official or diplomat, Caro-Quintero should have been tried in state court.

After a meeting in Washington in September, Mexican Attorney General Jesús Murillo Karam promised that authorities in his country would reapprehend Caro Quintero.

The U.S. is now offering a $5 million reward for Caro-Quintero's arrest. His whereabouts are unknown.

Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

The Supreme Court issued an opinion today in a prominent Michigan murder case, Burt v. Titlow. Details here. Shorter version: There is no constitutional right to an ethical lawyer. If your lawyer violates ethics rules in advising you or preparing your case, tough luck. Andrew Cohen has more.

The opinion is here. No surprise it was written by Justice Alito. Andrew says: [More...]

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is challenging the restrictive prison SAMS (special administrative measures) BOP imposed on his prison communications, including those with his attorneys. The ACLU filed this Amicus Brief today.

Among the restrictions: Defense attorneys have to pre-clear any documents they want to show Jahar with the Government. The Boston Herald reports:

In an affidavit attached to the filing, one of Tsarnaev’s lawyers stated that during a prison visit he was forbidden to show Tsarnaev photographs related to preparing his defense because they contained images of family members, which he is barred from seeing.

[More....]

I've got court today. Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

Here's an interesting take on the removal of Judge Schira Scheindlin from the stop and frisk case by the Second Circuit.

Open Thread.

The Amato (John Amato of Crooks and Liars) and Armando Show for this NFL Sunday.

Our picks (disagreements in BOLD) Kansas City Chiefs -4 over Buffalo Bills, St. Louis Rams +3 (A),Tennessee Titans +4 (J), Seattle Seahawks -17 over Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers -11 over Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns +3 over Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers +7 over New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers -1 over Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys -10 over Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints -6 (J), New York Jets +6 (A), Philadelphia Eagles +3 (A), Oakland Raiders -3 (J), Carolina Panthers -7½ over Atlanta Falcons, Indy Colts -3 (J), Houston Texans +3 (A).

Open Thread.

The picks (2 units unless otherwise indicated) Oklahoma State +1½ over Texas Tech, Michigan State -5 (3 units) over Michigan, Navy +16 over Notre Dame, Iowa State +17 over Kansas State, Boise State -7 over Colorado State, Nebraska -6 over Northwestern, Ohio State -32 over Purdue, Auburn -7 (4 units) over Arkansas, Wisconsin -10 over Iowa, TCU -13 over West Virginia, Virginia Tech -5 over Boston College, Florida State -21 over Miami (Florida), Georgia Tech -10 over Pittsburgh, Nevada +21 over Fresno State.

Go Gators!

You can see this week's Amato and Armando Show here:

Open Thread.

The view from my new balcony.

In the news: Edward Snowden writes Washington seeking clemency. His letter is here.

Tech companies say they are fighting back harder against Government snooping.

[More...]