Foggy Bottom

Cloudy and foggy on Saturday morning at Candler Park. The vet played with me. Mostly played one ball, sometimes two. Just wish I could better follow the flight of my shots. Would make golf a lot more enjoyable. I think.

1. Hit two good hybrids off the tee. Decent distance for me. Approach landed in the front bunker. Decent chip across the green. Good chip back onto the green. Good lag. Double.

2. Tee shot felt good, but didn’t travel as far as I’d hoped. Must’ve popped it up. Chip went right. Chip went past the green. Better chip back. Two putt. Triple.

3. Hit a good 8 iron off the tee, but pulled it left. Chip didn’t make it up the hill to the green. Better chip. Sank the putt for a bogey.

4. Tee shot faded left into the greenside rough. Mulligan didn’t go as far, but I played it from the fairway. Bad chip followed by a better chip. These recaps are painful, aren’t they? It’s just nice to be outside playing golf.

5. Six iron faded left again, but got knocked down by a branch before going into the woods. Bad chip but mulligan was better. Two putt for a “bogey”, if memory serves.

6. Great drive with my hybrid, past the 150 yard marker. Great 6 iron to the front left fringe. Hit an okay chip, then the mulligan was great. Two putted my first ball for a good bogey, and tapped in the second for a “par”.

7. Another good tee shot with my hybrid, a decent ways up the hill. Okay 6 iron stopped under the tree branches. I wasn’t that far from the green, but I poked a 5 iron to the fringe. Good lag putt, and sank the putt for a good bogey.

8. Okay drive, that got a good roll. Decent 9 iron. Decent chip. Sank the putt for a par. There's a dude living in a tent between the 8th green and 9th tee box, under the ivy.

9. Pulled my hybrid left off the tee. Pretty good chip up to the back of the green. Great lag putt. Sank the short putt for a closing bogey.

Sunday sermon was directed at the youth, who were finishing up what used to be called Walking Wisely Weekend. But applicable for everyone. Standing room only in the JFBC gym. We were lucky to find a spot in the back of the walking track, which was also packed. Might’ve been violating some building codes. Only 16 in Sunday School to hear a young lady on furlough from her mission work.

After church I drove over to Truist Park for the A List Play Day. Lunch wasn’t the greatest: bugers, dogs, chicken tenders, curly fries, and salad. Saw Tim Hudson and Paul Byrd. Team store was 50% off but I didn’t get anything. Saw coworker Ginger and her husband Scott. Scott is a big bobblehead collector and dealer. First time parking was open next door at the brand new Truist building, and there was a line of cars to get in there. I parked at the Delta deck, and got a close up spot. Also dipped my arm in an ice bath, in an effort to win an annual pass.

DENISON: 96% of Jews from 13 European countries said they had encountered antisemitism even before the war in Gaza. They worry for their own (53%) and their family’s (60%) safety and security. Europe’s Jewish population has dropped 60% in the last 50 years. This is happening in America as well. According to a new report antisemitic incidents in the US reached a record high since last year’s Hamas attack in Israel. More than 10,000 incidents were reported in the last 12 months, a more than 200% increase compared to the same period a year earlier. This is the highest level of antisemitism since the ADL began tracking incidents in 1979. Calls for “Jew Hunt” preceded attacks in Amsterdam last week

TONY LAZZERI [SABR Bio] was the first player to appear with teams in different leagues in consecutive World Series. Lazzeri played for NYY in 1937 and against them in 1938, playing for CHC. Lazzeri was released by the Yankees on 15-Oct-1927 then signed by the Cubs on 28-Oct-1927. Lazzeri’ hit for the cycle on 03-Jun-1932 with a grand slam home run, but teammate Lou Gehrig hit four (4!) home runs in that same game. Playing for the Bees in the Pacific Coast League in 1925, Lazzeri needed all 197 games to hit 60 home runs. Babe Ruth hit his 60 HR in 1927. Lazzeri’s 60 marked the first time that total had been reached in organized baseball. Salt Lake City’s altitude of 4,200+ feet likely contributed at least some. Lazzeri was plagued by epileptic seizures. Coaches and management knew, but it was hidden from the fans and it never affected Lazzeri’s play on the field. In 1946, after he retired, Lazzeri tragically passed away due to a seizure-related fall.

Fruits of the Spirit vs Works of the Flesh

Clay Smith JFBC

Freedom

Galatians 5:16-18

Sunday Nov 10th 11:30 am

Quote: "With great power comes great responsibility", said Peter Parker's uncle in Spiderman. We don't have superhero power, but we do have the power of the Holy Spirit. There's a movement in American Christianity emphasizes God's grace but downplays that we need to be holy, grieving our sin. Not good.

Now that we are believers need to rely on the Holy Spirit. It teaches guides us helps us understand scripture, prays for us, sanctifies us, gives us our spiritual gift, sets us apart to be holy, etc.

Three central truths in Galatians 5

1. The Requirement: to walk by the spirit of God v 16. To hike we look 6 feet ahead of us nothing but roots and rocks, similar to our daily life. Our pet sins are fun, but will grow and destroy our lives.

2. The Reason v 17 - our culture tells us to do whatever we want…the desires of our flesh. There is a spiritual war going on for our hearts and our souls. Why we need to walk by the Spirit.

v 19-21: The works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

3. The Result v 18 if you are led by the Spirit then you are not under the Law. If under the law, your decisions are because of the Law.

Galatians 5:22-23: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness self-control: against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.

A daily prayer: God: show me, fill me, use me.

Daniel 9:21 spiritual warfare going on during prayer. Some of our missionaries are seeing this among newly converted Christians from the Muslim religion, pulling them back into darkness.

Friday night Nov 8th I wrote the following, during a Sunday School prayer meeting. Dovetails nicely with Clay's message on Sunday.

ME: I won't judge and call someone a false Christian. A Christian's relationship with God is evident by their speech, their actions, and their fruit. This certainly humbles and challenges me personally, to walk all the more closely with Jesus every day. I pray this for all of us, that we wouldn't be blinded by sin and Satan, that we wouldn't be fooled. There's so much confusion and division in the world today. I pray that God would continuously reveal His truth and His will for our lives, as God has already done through His Word.

Lord, help me to run and not grow weary. Help me to give over my thoughts to You, O Lord, for you to hold captive. What I share and think and say might not always be holy and Godly. It's my struggle to seek and find and follow God, all the days of my life.

Small group passage Luke 7:36-50

DENISON: On this Veterans' Day, we give thanks for the men and women who served our nation and defended our freedoms. But the cause for which they served and many died is a cause that must be served by every generation. As Ronald Reagan warned in his 1967 Inaugural Address as governor of California, "Freedom is a fragile thing and it's never more than one generation away from extinction. It is inconceivable to me that anyone could accept this authority without asking God's help. I pray that we of the legislature and the administration can be granted the wisdom and the strength beyond our own limited powers. That with divine guidance we can avoid easy expedience." More than 90% of US counties shifted in favor of Trump

Jackets Upset Hurricanes

Great win for the Jackets. Great game plan, especially with Haynes King limited in what he could do. Great game for true freshman Philo, a future star. Great game by the Tech defense. Great win for GT head coach Brent Key.

Ugly uniforms. A new low for Tech. So many fashion plate sports fans will thing anything their team puts on is the greatest thing ever. What do they know? I do like the stripes on the navy pants, but navy pants with white jerseys are what most of the high schools in the country are wearing. But the white face masks on the gold helmets are even worse. More high school crap. And the white outline GT logo simply does not stand out. Can't see the GT from the stands, or on TV. Overall grade = F. But if Tech wins, they can wear whatever lame-o uniform they want. 

Sure Miami was undefeated, thanks to at least three horrific calls by officials. The Canes hadn't impressed me. I was expecting them to lose somewhere along the way. Did not surprise me at all that Tech beat them. I was not impressed with the Miami QB, a supposed Heisman candidate. Looked like an overweight Vince Young playing in the NFL.

Above photo reminded me of several old timey photos from back in the glory days of both Tech and UGA.

Not sure the win warranted tearing down the goalposts. Students saw Vandy do it, and wanted to be like them. I did love the video of the poor Tech coed who got knocked to the ground trying to help carry the post.

Dawgs couldn't get it going offensively, against a tough Rebel defense. Georgia had at least 5 dropped passes. Only interception came on a tipped pass. As I often say, the Dawgs should've run the ball more.

Tough loss for UGA. Next week the schedule doesn't get any easier, with Tennessee coming to town. ESPN College GameDay will be on the quad in Athens.

After a slow start, Clemson came back to beat the Hokies in Blacksburg. Clemson in white jerseys pants cocks shoes (their regular road uni) against Virginia Tech in head to toe burgundy.

Colorado won again. Some say they are contending for a spot in the playoff. What's their strength of schedule? Buffalos won't get in ahead of UGA who has played the hardest schedule in the country.

SC beats Vandy in Nashville. Commodore QB got hurt.

Mercer rocking some decent uniforms.

The Falcons laid an egg in New Orleans, losing to the 3-6 Saints, The defense played well, with 6 of 7 Saints second half possessions going 3 & out. Bijan Robinson went for over 100 yards rushing, with 2 TDs. Another game with one team wearing white jerseys pants socks shoes playing an opponent wearing black jerseys pants socks shoes. You see it so often these days.

Since Maury Wills more than 60 years ago, RONALD ACUNA [B-R Bio] is the only MVP to steal more than 70 bases in his season. Acuna had 73 SB in 2023 & was NL MVP. Maury Wills stole 104 bases in 1962 & was voted NL MVP. Acuna had joined the Braves in 2018. In 2021, Ronald Acuna tore his ACL and missed the second half of the season, including the playoffs.

Rookie of the Year winners who also won a league MVP and never played for another team in the majors

Player                 Team     ROY   MVP MLB Years WAR

Ronald Acuna.......ATL.....2018...2023..............7....79.9

Jeff Bagwell......... HOU...1991...1994.............15....79.9

Johnny Bench.......CIN.....1968...1970, 1972...17...75.1

Ryan Braun.......... MIL.....2007...2011.............14...47.1

Aaron Judge......... NYY...2017...2022, 2024.....9...52.2

Thurman Munson..NYY...1970...1976.............11...46.1

Buster Posey.........SFO...2010...2012.............12...44.8

Cal Ripken............BAL....1982...1983, 1991...21...95.9

Jackie Robinson...BRO...1947...1949.............11...63.9

Mike Trout.....LAA....2012...2014 2016 2019...14...86.2

 

Confederacy of Dunces

Listening to the Pulitzer Prize winning novel "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole. Saw on Goodreads that Bert Norton had read it, so I knew it had to be good. It is.

Small group is good, if I can ever make it back. Our leader is a spiritual machine. So much insight. Co-teacher of our class. Good guy. Another group member is my former small group leader. Was at Tech when I was there. Back when Ceil was working before we had kids, they had crossed paths in the architecture world. Low key but a good guy. Former SPdL member Dan Arnold also in the group. Also Dave, an engineer who is a tireless servant. So our group is made up of two Dan’s, two Johns, and two Daves.

Plotting out church growth is super hard. JFBC pastor Clay Smith is all about it, though. Did I tell you that JFBC is looking into a building expansion because of the growth in the church? Not expanding the traditional worship though, sadly.

Proud of my work performance this week. I have to enter orders to cut big 4 foot wide coils of steel into smaller width coils. I know going in how much of each width I need, and try to take enough cuts of each width to get close to that size. I needed three widths, and used one big coil to come close on all three sizes. You want to have less than 3% scrap, and my setup had less than 2-1/2 (usually I’m well under 3%). Of course, I’m usually pretty good, but this was extra good. Then this afternoon I entered a particularly complicated order, which in SAP is an achievement.

Need Produced Width

20000 20081 3.500

14000 13985 4.875

10000 09811 5.130

44000 43877 total

I love to get the Costco $1.50 hot dog and drink combo. They’ve vowed to never change the price. Supposedly the dog has not gotten smaller, but I’m not so sure. But the dog, and most of the other items on the snack bar, are quite unhealthy. Imagine that.

Australia proposes 'world-leading' ban on social media for children under 16. They should. Studies show all the negative effects social media has on young teens.

JAY BUHNER   [SABR Bio] was the last American League right fielder to start a triple play, in the 5th inning on 30Aug-1992. Baltimore’s Mike Devereaux hit a deep fly ball to right-center. RF Buhner made a running catch near the wall for the first out. Baserunners Brady Anderson and Randy Milligan had begun running, thinking the ball would drop. From his knees, Buhner threw to 2nd-baseman Bret Boone, who stepped on 2nd to double off Milligan. Boone then relayed the ball to Tino Martinez at first to retire Anderson.  It was the 8th triple play in Mariners' franchise history.  It was the 3rd time the Orioles were involved in a triple play that month.  They hit into one on 07-Aug vs. Cleveland, and turned one on 25-Aug vs. the Angels. The NL’s RF J.D. Drew started a triple play on 01-Aug-2022. Buhner hit 40 home runs in 3 consecutive seasons: 1995 = 40 HR; 1996 = 44; and 1997 = 40, all for Seattle. He was once memorialized in an episode of “Seinfeld”. On 21-Jul-1988, Buhner was traded by the Yankees with Rick Balabon and a player to be named later to SEA for Ken Phelps. Buhner thrived in Seattle and is still a popular presence in the city, more than 3 decades later. Phelps never reached his potential. {Snip of “Seinfeld” episode.}

This Day in History

On this day in 1981 QB Terry Bradshaw threw the then longest pass in Steeler history – a 90 yard TD to backup QB Mark Malone, who had split out wide right.

GT QB Haynes King will be one of the team captains tomorrow for homecoming. Hopefully that means he will play. Tech was a shoo-in for a bowl game before QB Haynes King got hurt. Not sure when he will return. Record is 5-4 so only need to win one more. They play unbeaten Miami on Saturday. I still say the Canes are beatable. Then NC State before UGA. Wolfpack is also 5-4 but 2-3 in the ACC. That is the must win game for Tech.

I’d like to see Miami knocked off before the end of the season. Many say the Miami QB will win the Heisman. Others say the Boise State RB or the two way player at Colorado.

Ceil has about given up on Clemson, after they played so poorly last week. This year the Gamecocks will probably beat Clemson.

Falcons have a tough schedule, but second place Tampa isn’t keeping pace. Hopefully Kirk Cousins can get Atlanta to the playoffs. Are the Falcons really the tenth best team in the league?

Getting enough protein? Ever drink any of those protein shakes like Ensure? I would, but they are so expensive, even the store brands.

Thursday: worked until 6 pm. Got home just as C was leaving to spend the night with the girls. MC is in Richmond for work, and Will had to work. I fixed quesadillas for sup and crashed on the couch. Watched Georgie & Mandy and played on my laptop, then went to bed early.

Was late getting out to the gym this morning so I just came in to work 30 minutes early. Started the day with 26 emails, but still a ton of work to do. I’ll take vacation when we run out of material because purchasing didn’t order it. Highlight of the day: facetiming with Millie.

After Babe Ruth, JIMMIE FOXX [SABR Bio] is second on the career home run list for players born in Maryland, with 534 compared to Cal Ripken’s 431. Here are the rest with at least 96. Foxx hit 30 home runs 12 straight years, from 1929-1940. He holds the American League record for most RBI in his home park in a season. In 1938, Foxx had 104 RBI in Fenway Park. He had 175 RBI overall for the year. Also in 1938, he led the majors with 119 walks and 398 total bases.

I know people joke around on social media, but there is some truth in the humor. Like the reply to: “Cutting off friends or placing terms and conditions on friendships because of political opinion has to be the pettiest and immature thing ever. Don’t be part of the divide, be a part of the solution” – with the response “I am so into diversity that I want everyone to think exactly like I do and believe in all the things I do.” So sad that I keep seeing real life examples of this.

DENISON: in the wake of Tuesday’s election, the Democratic Party has been trying to explain why Kamala lost and Trump won. One explanation: “America is racist and sexist.” Some urge Democratic leaders to take a step back and be a bit more introspective. Brett Stephens assigns blame to “three larger mistakes of worldview”: “(1) the conviction among liberals that things were fine, if not great, in Biden’s America — and that anyone who didn’t think that way was either a right-wing misinformer or a dupe. (2) the refusal to see how profoundly distasteful modern liberalism has become to so much of America. (3) the insistence that the only appropriate form of politics when it comes to Trump is the politics of Resistance.” Why our culture is facing “A crisis of respect”

Ceil's Birthday

We left at 520 to meet the kids at Taqueria on the Westside. Anna & Caleb and Matthew. Had a good time. I saw the crab fritters on the menu that Reid had mentioned and was tempted. But got my usual enchilada. All his life Matthew could rarely finish a meal, but now he has a huge appetite. Looked like he ordered two meals, but he took some home. Then he ate most all of a big ice cream cone. One of the employees complimented Matthew on his fashionable baggy pants. Anna was also wearing baggy pants.

While we ate, we talked about the various off-menu items that can be ordered at Taqueria. Everyone was familiar with The George. Speaking of George, Anna was saying how much George liked Caleb. Matthew said that his friend that had used to work at the Cheshire Bridge Taqueria had known George for like 20 years.

After Taqueria we had Jeni’s ice cream. One of the ice cream flavors that I got at Jeni’s ice cream was this chocolate ice cream that had 7 different ingredients – including a hint of coffee. It was good. Tried on some new glasses at Warby Parker.

There was a lot of talk last night about a return visit to Kimball House, to eat with Matthew.

Up early to lift weights at the gym. Worked 1-1/2 hours researching a project about old material. Usually little comes from that project, and I’ll have to do it all over again in 6 months. If I don’t retire first.

1200 Miami @ GT

330 UGA @ Ole Miss

330 Clemson @ Virginia Tech

330 Georgia State @ James Madison

415 South Carolina @ Vandy

730 Bama@LSU

730 FSU @ Notre Dame

100 Falcons @ Saints Sunday

200 Braves A List Play Day

Several immediate repercussions from the Trump victory. The stock market set a new record high. The CEO of Moderna is stepping down.  Hamas calls for 'IMMEDIATE' End to War following Trump election win. Trump's win is inspiring liberal women to remain chaste until they find men who align with their values and commit to them…inadvertently returning America toward its core values.

DENISON: The best analysis of Donald Trump’s victory I’ve seen. Analysts are citing the economy in general, inflation in particular, President Biden’s ego, Kamala Harris as a candidate, her failure to distinguish herself from Mr. Biden, vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, the Democratic Party, the media, and the American electorate. Daniel McCarthy is the editor of Modern Age: A Conservative Review. He published a guest essay in the New York Times titled, “This Is Why Trump Won.” McCarthy wrote: “To his supporters, a vote for Trump meant a vote to evict a failed leadership class from power and recreate the nation’s institutions under a new set of standards that would better serve American citizens”.

BILL TERRY [SABR Bio] was the last National Leaguer to hit .400. Terry hit .401 in 1930 playing 1B for the New York Giants. Terry was the manager when the Giants won the WS in 1933, and the NL pennants in 1936 and 1937. He also played in 1933 and 1936. He was the first player to hit a grand slam on Opening Day in the Modern Era. Three of the four runners who scored on that hit are now in the Hall of Fame. In Philadelphia on 12-Apr-1927, Terry homered in the 5th inning off Phillie starter Hal Carlson with Ty Tyson, Edd Roush Scores, and Rogers Hornsby on base.

The Most Unique Hotel in Every State, From Potatoes to Museums. Georgia’s doesn’t appear to be THAT unique.