Pope - political puppeteer?

Here's a very interesting take on the Pope's recent, controversial speech:
http://www.stratfor.com/products/premium/read_article.php?id=275704 (This google link avoids registration. Alternatively, you could try BugMeNot.)

The article presents the pope as a very astute political player, whose words were chosen not only to shore up support from the Catholic base in Europe and the US, but also draw out a positive response from Islamic leadership towards rationalism instead of extremism, after the expected Muslim backlash.

5 for fighting

I totally forgot about the 3-fights rule:

This was back when the NHL had one of my favorite rules – three fights and you are ejected.

Not one – totally acceptable. Not two – probably stretching it, but circumstance could merit that in two unrelated incidents a player might need to try to beat the hell out of someone during the course of a game.

But three? Well, now, you miscreant, now you've crossed the line.

from yahoo sports.