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.

Democracy In Action

Charles Spurgeon stated: “I often hear it said, ‘Do not bring religion into politics.’ This is precisely where it ought to be brought.”

DENISON: Donald Trump has been elected the 47th president of the US. The New York Times estimates he will win the Electoral College 312–226. At this writing, he is leading the popular vote 51% to 47%. Republicans are projected to take back the US Senate and posted early gains as they seek to retain control of the House of Representatives. Of the US counties with nearly complete results, more than 90% shifted in favor of Mr. Trump. The growing secularization, materialism, and commercialization of our post-Christian society. In a brilliant essay analyzing our cultural moment, Walter Russell Mead warns: “The cult of happiness, by a society organized around the excitation and satisfaction of demand in a consumer economy, is one of the most destructive features of the contemporary world”.

Based on Trump’s previous term in office and his campaign speeches, what makes so many people think he is such a threat to democracy?

‘The View’ co-host Sunny Hostin blames ‘uneducated white women’ for Trump’s victory.

“How disgraceful that Kamala did not appear to address her supporters…Hillary did the same 8 years ago. These people think that civility and graciousness are for chumps and suckers”….Eric Metaxas.

“Last night was a rebuke of the past 4 years of sky-high inflation, open borders, out of control crime, and disastrous foreign policy. And calling half the country garbage didn’t help”…Mallory Blount.

Why don’t people supporting “reproductive healthcare” call it by what is really is? People are mad at Trump for “stacking the Supreme Court” - who followed the Constitution of the United States and let the states decide things themselves. Last night Florida rejected both expanded abortion rights and recreational marijuana.

All the more questions on how Biden received 81 million votes (compared to 67 million for Kamala). Proof of election fraud continues to be reported, this time in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Lots of emotional reactions on social media. Some may have calmed down over the course of the day, but i was shocked at so much hate speech: “I am just sick” with a reply “The people have spoken” … “I am not ok” …”Any thoughts on how I can move to the UK” (as if things weren’t worse there)…”crying myself back to sleep”…”God Bless America!”…Trump will not fight for your right to disagree with him….”when are we moving?” (this same person said this in 2016)…”I’m planning on planning a resistance”…”He will be assassinated.You know that right? I don’t think it’ll take too long before somebody does it”...”Vance is even scarier than Trump”…”tomorrow we start planning our WWII style resistance”.

Rick Statham: “no matter the result we would get up and continue to follow the Lord, love people with whom we agree and disagree, and pray for those in authority over us. The Lord has guided and card for us no matter who the president and other politicians have been”.

I’m not trying to rub anything in, or gloat. I've never questioned anyone's relationship with God because of who they voted for. Haven't heard any of my friends do so, nor any of the pastors that I respect and follow. Either outcome I wasn’t going to “contest the election” or protest or rebel. Never have.

Double Bogeys

Monday: worked through lunch and until 6 pm. Not fun driving home in the dark.

Tuesday: up early to golf. Made it to Candler Park at 6:45 and there was plenty of light, despite the clouds. Should’ve arrived earlier. I teed off, then saw that the professor had pulled up, so I waited on him. For the most part I only played one ball.

1. Good tee shot, but also a worm burner. Decent 6 iron left of the green. Decent chip to the fringe. Okay lag putt. Bogey.

2. Popped up my tee shot. Pulled my chip left of the green. Okay chip. Two putt for a double.

3. Pulled my tee shot way left. Decent chip up to the fringe. Poor chip but better mulligan. Two putt for another double.

4. Okay 7 iron to the fringe. Two poor lag putts. Two more putts for another double.

5. Poor 6 iron off the tee, that rolled into the leaves. Couldn’t find it, but found another. Poor chip went right of the green. Flubbed one chip but mulligan was better. Two putts for another “double”. The guy playing behind us was waiting on the tee box, so we vowed to let him play through – though he had trouble on the 5th hole.

6. We went ahead and teed off while we were waiting on the guy to finish on five. I hit one worm burner but then a good straight hybrid. The professor hit two right, and two left into the brush. After the guy teed off on 6 and went off ahead of us, GT and I had time to look for his yellow golf balls. I found a couple of white balls, then realized the brush wasn’t quite as thick as it had been during the summer. I spotted a ball a few feet into the brush, and once I got it, I saw another just a little deeper. I kept finding balls deeper and deeper, and filled my pockets. Then I looked down – the pants I’d planned on wearing to work were covered in briars! Plus I wasn’t sure that I could find my way back out of the brush.

Hit a 6 iron right, then poked a 5 iron from under a tree back on the fairway. Made a good chip onto the green and 2 putted. Double.

7. Worm burner off the tee, then hit a great mulligan. Pulled a 6 iron left. Then a great 9 iron onto the green. Two putt for bogey.

8. Hit my tee shot into the trees, but a dent mulligan. Hit a nice approach with a 9 iron, and a good chip. Two putt for a bogey.

9. Great tee shot up the hill. Chipped low, past the green. Managed a decent chip back. Two putt for – you guessed it, another double.

Emailed that picture I’d taken of my pants to Angie and Rachel at work. Might not have been the smartest thing. At least they didn’t report me to Human Resources. The round took much longer than I’d expected, then the commute routed me through traffic as well. Didn’t clock in until after 930.

NAP LAJOIE [SABR Bio] owns the highest single season batting average in the Modern Era, hitting .426 in 1901 for PHA. He both played and managed Cleveland from 1905-09. He was the first player in the 20th century to receive an intentional walk with the bases loaded, on 23-May-1901 in the 9th inning. Hall of Fame manager Clark Griffith, player-manager of the White Sox, intentionally walked Lajoie with the bases loaded as a strategic move to minimize the damage Lajoie could do. Griffith’s strategy worked. The White Sox won the game 11-9.

DENISON: cultural commentator Andrew Sullivan writes that the “oldest and greatest bulwark” of a culture that promotes a peaceful and collegial society has been Christianity. However, with its stark decline in our secularized society, “The deep belief that we are all equal in the eyes of God and all equally flawed and forgivable gave way to a fundamentalist hubris on the right that saw liberals as enemies who had to be destroyed. And on the left, Trump supporters became viewed as alien, anathema, unfathomable, deplorable—bigots for whom forgiveness was unthinkable”.

Falcons Beat Cowboys

Falcons win again. Beat the Cowboys, who left RB Elliott at home and made numerous mistakes. Falcons remain in first place with a 6-3 record, ahead of the Bucs at 4-4. Birds own the tiebreaker, having beat Tampa both times. I may be an old white guy, but I swear the difference is Kirk Cousins. Last year Atlanta lost several close games. This year they’re winning them . Cousins is the difference.

Games remaining: at the Saints, Broncos, Vikings, Raiders, and Commanders, and home against the Chargers, Giants, and Panthers.

Dr. Pepper Fansville has finally jumped the shark. The self-depreciating commercial featuring the Aflac Duck is a little over the top.

Sunday: worked from 940 am to 220 pm. Drove to the office where I could really buckle down and work. Got a lot done, but just created more work for myself. And Monday has been so busy that I haven’t been able to keep working on what I had worked on yesterday.

After work yesterday I cashed in a deal for a free order of cheese curds from Freddy’s, a drive in type place. Ate the whole thing and thought I was gonna have a heart attack.

Stopped by two thrift stores on the way home and bought a cool pair of sneakers. More info on the Nike Air Speed Turf sneakers that I bought yesterday. I have a similar pair that’s a size 12 that’s kinda tight. This “new” pair is a 13 and fits good. But they look bigger on my feet. Worn by Barry Sanders and Dan Marino and Brett Farve.

Ceil had a birthday lunch at the Roswell Country Club. I should’ve raked leaves but didn’t. Caught up on the final two episodes of Only Murders iin the Building. Good stuff. Ron Howard and Tea Leoni made guest appearances.

Up early this AM to lift weights at the gym. Facetimed with Millie. She doesn't say much, but sure knows the word "Bobble". I’ve eaten too many donuts and candy today. We ate eat leftovers tonight.

Interesting article about the Christian couple who started the support group for parents of LGBT children, after their son came out. The article may not be from a Christian point of view, but does detail all the turmoil that the couple went through after their son came out, as well as when the mom had breast cancer. The couple organized the parenting seminar hosted by North Point Community Church that stirred up so much controversy. This prompted Andy Stanley to explain his support of the seminar to his detractors. Good to read the entire long article before making any judgements.

AARON JUDGE [B-R Bio] had played for the Fresno State Bulldogs and homered in his first college at bat, on 13-Aug-2016. The previous batter, Tyler Austin, had also homered. Judge also homered in his first MLB at bat. He regularly shares Bible verses and faith-based reflections, crediting his values and faith for his approach to life and baseball. Judge uses his faith to stay positive without ever being overbearing to his interlocutors. Judge wears  uniform #99, the number worn by hockey great, Wayne Gretzky.

Dawgs Beat Gators

Watched UGA@Florida and Louisville@Clemson. Gators played well, despite having to play a walkon QB after the starter got hurt. Three Gator defenders got hurt on one UGA possession.

UGA RB Travis ETN missed the second half with an injury, but freshman RB #3 picked up the slack.

UGA QB Carson Beck looks lost. Threw three interceptions, then got hesitant.

Next up the Dawgs face Ole Miss and Tennessee. Rebels just hung 63 on Arkansas.

Down three scores, there was no urgency from the Clemson offense. When they scored they needed to go for two, but inexplicably kicked the PAT instead. Tiger RB Mafah takes the handoff and gets up a head of steam running the sweep – but has too much momentum to cut upfield for a bigger gain – instead continuing to run in the same direction – straight out of bounds. Pretty much eliminated Clemson’s slim national championship hopes. Louisville's uniforms are among the ugliest in the nation.

South Carolina upset Texas A&M. Ceil's 66 year old friend Jackie stormed the field after the game, causing a $100,000 fine for the Gamecocks.

Penn State lost to Ohio State – again. Neither team looked good, but both will probably sneak into the playoff. Oregon looked strong, beating Michigan. USC lost again. Undefeateds Indiana and Army both won. Iowa State lost.

Trailing at halftime, the Vols outscored Kentucky 21-8 in the second half. Vandy beat Auburn to become bowl eligible.

CAL RIPKEN, Jr. [SABR Bio] was the first AL shortstop to hit .300 with 30 home runs and 100 RBI, in 1991, the year he won his second MVP. He hit .323, had 34 HR, & 114 RBI. Only Ernie Banks had achieved these levels previously. He was the last American League player in the 20th century to collect six hits in one game. On 13-Jun-1999 in Atlanta, 38-year-old Cal slugged two home runs, doubled, and 3 singles off 5 different Braves pitchers in a 22-1 victory. A very good day. Cal’s father, Cal Ripken, Sr. came to manage Baltimore in 1987 after having managed & won only one single game for them in 1985.

Friday: worked til 6 pm, and discovered more trouble at work. So worrisome that I couldn’t sleep on Friday night. So worrisome that I skipped church to work on Sunday morning.

Ceil made homemade pizza on Friday night.

Up early to golf in the fog on Saturday morning. Couldn’t see well enough to tee off until almost 740.  Played alone, hitting 3 or 4 shots. Did better than last week.

1. Hit two decent hybrids off the tee. Two decent 7 irons just short of the green. Three passable chips. Great lag putt. “Bogey”.

2. Popped up two 7 irons off the tee. Several not so great chips. “Double”.

3. Two okay 8 irons off the tee – one to the front fringe. Two putt for a “par”.

4. Three 7 irons off the tee, none great, but straighter than I had been hitting them. Chip shots weren’t great. “Double”.

5. Two halfway decent 6 irons off tee, both relatively straight. Three decent chips. “Bogey”.

6. Two good hybrids off the tee – one all the way to the 150 yard marker in the middle of the fairway. Hit 2 of three 6 irons okay but short. Two of 3 chips were okay. “Bogey”.

7. Three poor drives off tee, though one got a good roll up hill. Neither fairway shot was good. Hit four terrible approach shots. Only one of 3 chips was fair. Good lag putt. “Double”.

8. Thought I’d hit a good drive off the tee, but never found it. Hit three approach shots: one went left, one right, and one short. “Bogey” on the short, downhill par 4.

9. Popped up a hybrid, but it was straight and of decent distance. One of two chips was decent. One of 2 lags was fair. Two putt for a closing “double”. Finished at 905 am.

Stopped by Kimball House in Decatur to give Matthew a few items. Topped off the air in my tires on the way home. Ate leftover meatloaf for “brunch”. Walked 2 miles with Ceil and Winnie. Housework.

Wendy's to close 140 restaurants by end of year. Applebee's files for bankruptcy, and 8 locations abruptly close. TGIF shuts down 50 stores. I’m sure all those newly unemployed American citizens think the US economy is great.

Biden threatens to cut off military aid to Israel one week after US election. Kamala is running anti-Israel ads in Michigan.