The Second Mountain

Reading the book: The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life. The first mountain is the climb up the corporate ladder, the route taken by many only to learn it doesn’t bring true satisfaction and fulfillment. Some seek to climb the second mountain which leads to a life of giving and focus on others instead of yourself. An okay book, though its not from a Christian perspective. Frank Tait read it, so it can’t be all bad.

There are two trips to NYC this fall that look appealing to me, particularly the Queens trip at the end of October. Both are working with new churches started up by JFBC. JFBC is always sending members on mission trips, both local, domestic, and overseas. In fact our friends Rob and Nancy just left this week on a trip, landing in Spain and crossing over into Africa. Jamie and Elise also left this week on a three month mission to Spain, across from Morocco I think, to work with refugees. They hope to become full time missionaries there, but have to return to renew their visa. Saturday we have a zoom call with other class members who are overseas.

Loyalty, excellence, and integrity are characteristics I strive for every day. At my company it helps to have leadership above and around me who exhibit these traits – hardworking but also devoted to their families. At my 35th anniversary celebration coworker Steve, who runs the office but isn’t my boss, made a short impromptu speech about me, and said some nice things that mentioned loyalty, excellence, and integrity.  His speech made my day. My prepared speech included several jokes about Steve.

Fried was due for a bad start, and still the Braves were in the game. Kyle Wright is tied for the NL lead with a whopping 16 wins. With a strong finish he could be a 20 game winner. Wright. Fried. Morton. Soroka. Need Ian Anderson to get over his struggles. After winning like 8 straight series and being the hottest team in baseball the past two months, everyone is mad at the Braves for losing three straight. Meanwhile Ozzie Albies is joining Mike Soroka out in Gwinnett to rehab. The Braves have a big lead in the wild card, though I still expect them to overtake the Mets to win the division again. Caleb was at last night’s game. Not sure about Anna.

I had bragged on the McDonalds app so what happens? Before lunch I checked the app, and the Braves double deal showed up. So I went out to pick up McDonalds. When I got there the Braves deal didn’t show up. I switched to the free McFrappe deal but read it wrong – I needed a $3 purchase, not a $1 purchase. So I ordered two McChickens and a Coke Zero. When I got back to the office I checked the app again, and the Braves deal had reappeared. Crazy. Diet starts next Tuesday.

Tomorrow the boss is taking me and Angie out for lunch, probably to the Medlock Tavern. Better food than the Duluth Diner, another of the usual spots. I'm going to buckle down after Labor Day. I’m through with most all of my birthday meal deals after last night’s ten free wings. And…I have been entering a Ruby Tuesday sweepstakes where you spin the wheel every day on their website. So far I’ve won a chicken sandwich and burger and appetizer, so I’ll be eating at Ruby Tuesday the next few Tuesday nights, since C doesn’t like to go there.

I don’t drink nearly as many soft drinks as I used to, usually at most 12 ounces per day if I don’t eat at a restaurant. I will mix my mtn dew in with my cherry koolade to make it last longer. Lately I’ve been pouring whatever I have into my tumbler, mixing together cherry, orange, and even cola.

Monday at the gym I knew I didn’t have much time, but when I got my favorite treadmill going the clock on the treadmill said I had more time than I thought. Then when I got in my car I realized the clock on the treadmill was almost ten minutes slow. I confirmed it this morning. Running without my glasses, my watch on stopwatch mode, and my phone on audiobook mode, its hard to keep up with the time as well. Ran both miles super fast this morning. The second mile again faster then the first.

Left work about 5:20 yesterday afternoon and fought traffic over to Gwinnett Place to eat boneless wings. Very good. Got home after seven. Walked in the door and Matthew had the music blaring while he was in the kitchen. Winnie was on the couch watching M, her back to the door – so I was able to surprise her, instead of her attacking me when I walked in the door.

DENISON: Gorbachev was despised in Russia but praised elsewhere. The opposite is true of Putin.

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/last-soviet-leader-mikhail-gorbachev-dies-at-91-a-surprising-part-of-his-historic-story/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Last+Soviet+leader+Mikhail+Gorbachev+dies+at+91&utm_campaign=08-31-22+Last+Soviet+leader+Mikhail+Gorbachev+dies+at+91

Before Jose Altuve, KIRBY PUCKETT  [SABR Bio] was the last player in the 20th century to lead his league in hits for three straight seasons. Puckett led the AL in hits 1987 (207), 1988 (234) & 1989 (215). At the time of his retirement, Kirby’s career batting average was the highest by any right-handed American Leaguer since Joe DiMaggio. Puckett retired after the 1995 season with an average of .318.  DiMaggio retired at .325. Like The Yankee Clipper, he only played for one team in the majors: the Twins from 1984-1995. Kirby once homered on the first pitch of a game in back-to-back games, off Detroit’s Jack Morris 02-May- then off Walt Terrell 03-My-1986.

Expert Picker?

On Saturday's ESPN College GameDay Desmond Howard didn't even try to come up with an accurate final four, leaving out Bama , UGA, and Ohio State. Instead Howard opted for Texas A&M, Pitt, Michigan, and Baylor. Howard also picked Kentucky as the SEC East winner, saying UGA was due for a letdown. Considering no national champion has not repeated in years and years, Desmond really isn't going out on a limb. Also on GameDay, expert picker Bear listed Georgia Tech as a team who would probably not win three games.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2022/08/27/desmond-howard-college-football-playoff-prediction-gameday-viral__;!!AE29DT8V!Q53jqicdkz5s-w0ZwqakbU1KC1Za7eWpIN6jhmmWAsGA3L31tkROoKJN4vjNwwdeWX7VqZRCWjCPZdNdNiI$ 

McDonalds: I read somewhere that the buns are scientifically engineered to be cheaper and last longer, with no regard for taste. People have found discarded McDonalds food weeks and months old left exposed to the elements, with no sign of mold or decay. Ants won't go near the stuff. Same with the skinny fries, whose taste comes from the salt and oil, which includes sugar for taste. McNuggets, McChicken, and even the high end Chickfila-type sandwich are frozen, created in laboratories like the buns. You don't want to watch the videos of how that material is manufactured.

What McDonalds does do right is the app, with various specials and deals that are hard to resist. Saturday morning I stopped off for a chicken biscuit and free large caramel frappe, and later stopped back for the Braves double special: free large fries and large soft drink with any purchase (McChicken).

I got a decent amount of sleep for 3 of the past 4 nights., according to my phone. Actually on the fourth night my watch was charging downstairs, so maybe I am 4 for 4.

Busy Monday at work. Thought I didn't need to work late, but wound up finishing things up until 5:50 pm. Then I stopped by the Stinky Kroger to get beef stock for Ceil's stew (above). Had a quick chat with the chief, the guy who for years wore his Indian outfit to every Braves game. I happened to ask him if he still wore the outfit, and he said he didn't "because of the protests". Sad. Then I told him about how years ago he had become a topic of debate on Uni watch. Mets fan Paul Lukas said "someone needs to tell him wearing the Indian costume is wrong". Others argued with Paul, but I stayed out of it.

Bad news: the CookOut in Macon has discontinued their dollar milkshake special.

Good news: our CEO in Chicago has degreed that employees can only work remote one day a week, so communication and teamwork will improve. I had worked from home a bunch in July for various reasons, but August has been so busy that I've been in the office all month (except our vacation). I'd been thinking about working again every now and then. Rodney and Angie will probably work from home on Friday. Brad on Monday. I might stay home on Wednesdays so Winnie won't be alone while C is at school.

DENISON: the more we experience God's power, the more we are transformed by gratitude for his grace. As A. W. Tozer paraphrased St. Bernard of Clairvaux: "The blacker the iniquity, the deeper the fall, the sweeter is the mercy of God who pardoned all."

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/student-raises-funds-to-help-him-adopt-baby-he-found-in-trash-can/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Student+raises+funds+to+help+him+adopt+baby+he+found+in+trash+can&utm_campaign=08-30-22+Student+raises+funds+to+help+him+adopt+baby+he+found+in+trash+can

Hard things you can do to gain 'unfair' leverage in life.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://iamalexmathers.medium.com/25-hard-things-you-can-do-to-gain-unfair-leverage-in-life-73e7d9577f40__;!!AE29DT8V!QGQCWZY9szdWfPUhC5rTJg5a783BqPELVMlxwMebOm_w0FogvdODX1heGkY9aiY-2-tefoBbOCRa5Np73Fs$ 

Some people I encounter these days seem to go through life with a sense of entitlement. They appear to think they are better than other people, the way they carry themselves and interact with people. When I was growing up I rarely knew people like that. People were more humble and down to earth. Not sure what has changed in the world.

ED SPRAGUE  [Wiki Bio] is the only player to win consecutive World Series championships after winning consecutive NCAA baseball championships. He played for TOR on their two WS (1992-93). Won with Stanford when they topped the NCAAs in 1987-88. He was the first American League player to pinch-hit a home run in his first World Series at-bat, in G 2 1992 WS, in the 9th inning off Atlanta's Jeff Reardon. Sprague's father played on a team that won a National League pennant and his wife brought some hardware home from the Olympics. Ed Sprague, Sr. played eight years in MLB, including on NL champs CIN in 1972.  Kristen‑Babb Sprague, his wife, was an Olympic Gold Medal winner in synchronized swimming in Barcelona in 1992. The US basketball team had the edge in media attention at those Games. Sprague Jr. was on the gold-medal winning USA baseball team in Seoul in 1988.

Blooper at Dodger Stadium, wearing the regular home cap with the throwback jersey. Maybe he left his throwback cap back in Atlanta.

R.I.P. Ricky Kurtz

 

Ricky Kurtz had been a friend in high school, a teammate on my high school football team. I’d seen him at his 40th year reunion (#66 above), and have kept in touch with his brother Tim (#30). Over eighty in attendance at the graveside service. Fittingly a recording was played of Willie Nelson singing Amazing Grace. Teammate Tom Whatley (#14)  was there with his wife. Tom had been a lawyer in Savannah, but recently closed his practice and became a Methodist minister, pastoring two small country conregations near Savannah. Also there were family friends Tom Wilson and Devan Mueller. Devan had been on my first Little League team in Macon, and worked with Tim out at the base.

Whatley told the story from the first Northside game in 1975 The first half ended with a Northside goal line stand. We went into the tiny Porter Field locker room dejected. We looked around but couldn’t spot Ricky. We found him lying on the goal line dazed and confused, having been kicked in the head during the last play of the half. Ricky said he’d been in a fog the next week. The game would be our lone regular season loss, avenged 21-19 in the climatic playoff re-match the night before Thanksgiving – with my three PATs the difference in the game. Oh, and Georgia State Player of the Year QB Mike Jolly's dramatic conversion of a 4th & 20 and his ensuing game-winning QB sneak TD may have helped as well.

A sophomore that season, Ricky was the starting offensive tackle. I had inherited the kicking duties from graduating senior / high school All American David Taylor, who went on to kick the longest field goal in BYU history. In the 1975 preseason Ricky booted one practice kickoff one yard deep into the end zone, so he was awarded the kickoff duties in the opener against Griffin (and their star Willie Gault). But the grind in the trenches would wear Ricky down during games, and the quality of his kickoffs suffered. By game three I was handling all the kickoff duties. Ricky didn’t seem to mind.

Ricky was 64. He left three daughters, two sons, ten grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. An Eagle Scout, 4-H volunteer leader, member of Twiggs County Leadership, and member of the President's Club at Fred's Inc.

I’m starting to lose count of how many teammates have passed away. CB Earl Wingfield. WR/CB Stan Putnal. G/LB Danny Kurtz. G Jeff Stewart. FB/LB Randy Rutherford. And now Ricky. 

Above L-R: LS David Cape, OLB Roger Jackson, OT Ricky Kurtz, QB Tom Whatley, OC Roy McWilliams, P Johnny Crawford, WR Tim Kurtz, G Jeff Stewart at Danny's funeral. 

The Baptist church in Jeffersonville provided a pot luck lunch complete with fried chicken. I sampled the potato salad and ice box pie before heading home. Got to chat with Tim’s wife Wendy and two sons, and Ricky’s wife and daughter.

On the way home I swung by Capricorn Records in downtown Macon to say hello to high school classmate Tim Griggs, who’d been a music lawyer and professor in LA and Nashville.        

https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.reecefuneralhomeinc.com/obituaries/Claude-Richard-Rick-Kurtz?obId=25698663**AcelebrationWall__;Iy8!!AE29DT8V!X1zUyIHPgDbnT1NnpX3sAx5gPiBIYzLN5v9RcIhXNM4AfwllKbjDiX27hkDWlkFhYmlBVfMU3HShTrRP5V4$

Friday afternoon I left work around 5:30. C had been at Shivonne’s all day, so we dined on leftover spaghetti. Watched a Netflix movie.

Saturday morning golf has been talking longer these days, with the sun not rising until after seven. Also playing with a guy who’s at my same skill level. Finished around 8:25. Then I drove down to attend a funeral south of Macon, in Jeffersonville. Northbound traffic wasn’t bad, and I got home in time to see MC and Shivonne before they left.

 

MC had been helping Ceil organize. Shivonne pretended to lick like Winnie. She also waved and wanted to high five. Later C went to the store so I took a nap. 

Went to Pizzaria Lucca on the Roswell Square for supper, then home to watch the Braves.

Sunday school and worship. Stopped Ceil by Whole Foods for a baked chicken for lunch (above). Took a quick nap in the parking lot. Anna and Caleb went to East Lake for the final round of the Tour Championship. They following McElroy and Sheffler. We watched on TV. I also mowed the lawn. For supper I ate leftover lemon chicken. M brought home his cinnamon roll pizza, which I sampled.

Forgot to set my alarm this morning, so I was only able to run two miles at the gym. I tried to make them fast.

DENSION: pastors are under attack. Anglican minister Tish Harrison Warren noted in her New York Times newsletter yesterday, pastors that are facing burnout and discouragement at epidemic levels. She cites a Barna study showing that 42% of pastors have considered quitting full-time ministry within the past year. Stress, isolation, political division, coping with death and grief from the coronavirus pandemic, and the "relentless pace of issues" are all factors. Satan’s attack on Peter mirrors his hatred for all Christian leaders today (Luke 22:31).

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/matt-chandler-placed-on-leave-from-the-village-church/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Matt+Chandler+placed+on+leave+from+The+Village+Church&utm_campaign=08-29-22+Matt+Chandler+placed+on+leave+from+The+Village+Church

ME: hey, it’s not just pastors facing burnout. Not just first responders. Not just young people facing fewer opportunities and skyrocketing living expenses. Not just teachers, dubbed America’s heroes for dealing with covid, armed gunmen, critics criticizing schools for their increasingly liberal agendas and falling test scores, and lobbying the federal government through their influential teacher’s union. Even those of us tortured souls slaving away for the allegedly profit hungry corporations who are destroying the planet by causing global warming and not paying enough taxes – life ain’t exactly a bowl of cherries for us either. Long hours, pressure to provide solutions to transportation bottlenecks and worker shortages, battling inflation at both work and home.

Burnout is an issue for just about everyone these days (except politicians, who thrive on the power so they never retire). What has changed? Why is life so much more stressful than before? Is it the faster pace of living with computers and instant communication and news feeds? Social media presenting unrealistic expectations? Media presenting biased / one sided viewpoint of the news? Skyrocketing taxes and inflation?       

Tour Championship

Anna and Caleb attending today's final round of the Tour Championship, at East Lake in Decatur. That usually means parking at the World Congress Center downtown and riding a shuttle bus to the course in East Atlanta.

They followed the leaders, Scottie Scheffler (above) and Rory McElroy (below).

Below: Justin Thomas.

Rory early in his round. He would go on to win the championship, becoming the first three-time winner.

Sermon notes: Where is God when I doubt He's real?

Clay Smith @ JFBC

Is it okay to doubt God? Most go through seasons of doubt

Mark 9:14-29 has layers of meaning. Jesus can cast out demons. The disciples needed to learn. The father needed help with his unbelief. As do we all.

Matt 28:17 and Jude 1:22

We live in a culture of doubt. We tear down what language means. We live in fear and pessimism. We inhale pessimism from others who deconstruct faith. Rhett and Link on YouTube used to be on Campus Crusade staff but no longer believe.

Doubt can derail our faith. Is this real? Alissa Childers on progressive Christianity. More people should examine their faith. Don't let doubt become a badge of honor to bask in. Don't glorify your doubt. Instead consider doubt a burden to overcome.

Contributing factors to doubt

1. Human failure. The boy has a demon. The father goes to the disciples, The story is about managing expectations but the disciples can't deliver. People are disinchantef with the failure of others to deliver. Happens over and over. We try to imitate Jesus but often fail. People will fail you. Focus on Jesus instead.

2. Natural unbelief. No one is born a Christian. We have a disposition not to believe. B 19 Jesus asks how will be

Sin is a lack .of trust in God.

ROM 1 we suppress the truth. We battle with our sinful nature. All things are possible for those who belief. Jesus asks for strong faith.

HEB 11 we have everything we need to know we don't have everything there is to know. 

He is dead! The crowd is often wrong. Podcasts tweets and messages individuals are often wrong. Am I seeking to conform to God, or I working to conform to God? Thomas Jefferson cut out the parts of the Bible he didn't like. Am I like that?

Our culture wrestles with

A. the authority of the Bible

B. do we believe God allows people to go to hell

C. Gods plan concerning sex and gender

3. Immediate gratification. Instead Jesus is advocating for a long obedience over time. Getting harder and harder. Thomas Oden book A Change of Heart. Oden changed and dug deep into classical Christianity changing from shallowness. 

Questions to ask:

1. Have you put in the work to pursue truth? Really? God wants us to ask questions?

2. is our group a safe place to discuss our doubts?

Christianity is less about me holding on to God and more about God holding on to me. My love is often cold, but God will still hold me close.

Sunday School: Brian: I realized it wasn't her who had the problem but me. Not my coworkers not others but me. Hard to get to this because I had been so self reliant instead of relying on God. 

Early AM golf yesterday at Candler Park, with Gulf War vet Paul. Our third time playing.

1. Two decent tee shots out of three. A flub, then a nice 5 iron to the fringe. Two putt for bogey.

2. Never saw where my tee shot went, but it felt good.

3. Flubbed several shots. Had two good chip shots.

4. Good tee shot to just short of the green.

5. Decent chip shot.

6. Great drive off the tee, long and straight to the middle of the fairway. Didn't think it was my ball. Flubbed one, then hit an okay 7 iron just short of green. Good chip up close to the hole.

7. Cruddy drive. Good punch out, fairway shot, and chip.

8. Okay mulligan off tee. Hit two good approach shots.

9. Okay tee shot. Didn't finish until like 8:25.

Movie Classics

The storyline of An Affair to Remember is heavily discussed in the Tom Hanks / Meg Ryan movie Sleepless in Seattle, one of my all time favorites. Anna was watching Sleepless in Seattle recently. She’s also a big fan of You’ve Got Mail, the other Hanks/Ryan classic. You’ve Got Mail is a remake of The Shop Around the Corner, the 1940 Jimmy Stewart movie.

I’ve probably told you about how You’ve Got Mail used to be on TV all the time, and many times I would watch it. That was back when we had Barney, who watched You’ve Got Mail so much that he knew which scenes Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) dog Brinkley was in. Whenever Brinkley was about to appear, Barney would jump up in front of the TV and bark. They don’t make movies like they used to.

Last night we Netflixed a movie featuring actress Victoria Justice, who had gained "fame" in the show "Victorious".

Might be good that August is almost over. McDonalds has a deal in their app that when the Braves hit a double you get free large fries and drink with any purchase. I’ve gotten it every day since Monday, including last night on the way home and Tuesday for lunch. I shouldn’t have skipped the gym Thursday morning.

Wednesday night Ceil was in a meeting at church, for a new committee she’s on.

My cap collection is getting too big. “Favorite” are the ones I wear. Others I wear to match a jersey or tee. 

1. Braves home fitted new favorite ballpark

2. Braves home stretch put in car thrift

3. Braves road navy fitted ballpark

4. Braves road stretch favorite ballpark

5. Braves black adjustable favorite thrift

6. Braves 72 fitted thrift

7. Braves 82 fitted thrift

8. Braves Boston fitted favorite CoolRay

9. Braves spring training fitted favorite thrift

10. Braves BP tomahawk fitted favorite ballpark

11. Greenville Braves adjustable thrift

12. Gwinnett Braves adjustable thrift

13. Gwinnett white front adjustable thrift

14. Gwinnett grey flag cap sell thrift

15. Stripers stretch favorite CoolRay

16. Xolos black adjustable favorite Schuch

17. Crackers fitted new favorite Coolray

18. Macon Bacon adjustable black LW

19. Macon Bacon adjustable burgundy LW

20. BBQ cap adjustable black give away MMM

21. Ebbets Field Flannels NY Yacht Club thrift

22. Black winter cap with flaps SC

23. Clemson tiger paw cap fitted SC

24. Clemson C cap SC

25. CLEMSON cap orange SC

26. PING golf cap plaid SC

30. TaylorMade cap black fitted thrift

31. Bubba Gump cap SC

32. Braves trucker cap red for sale gift

33. Braves trucker cap feather for sale gift

34. Braves trucker cap tomahawk grey blue for sale thrift

35. Braves trucker cap diamond navy for sale thrift

36. Yankees 8 panel cap too small mail

37. Brooklyn cap too small mail

38. St. Louis Browns felt cap favorite mail

39. ATL NYY 98 world series adj for sale thrift

40. Masters cap stolen from Anna 

41. Green Gwinnett Braves cap CoolRay

42. Boston Braves grey cap Marshalls

43. Macon Braves cap.

At halftime of today's Falcons game, Blooper ran over several of opposing defenders: a peewee football team. Not the first time a mascot has done this.

I am a Scientist

I think I am going to start referring to myself as a scientist. These days scientists are greatly respected and admired, their words rarely questioned. Millions just assume a scientist is qualified because of their title. What degrees do they have? How much experience do they have? Does the scientist let their personal beliefs and biases effect their research?

I’ve taken several science classes at Georgia Tech, a highly respected scientific institution. Actually graduated from the place, unlike many who list GT on their bios. I’ve attended numerous weeklong scientific expeditions with Living Science Home Studies. In depth studies about evolution, climate change, nature, and outer space. And those are just the ones I can remember right now. Science. I am well versed in many things science, as well as the scientific method. Not sure many posting half the crap on social media are familiar with the topic. I got vaccinated, wore a mask, and washed my hands. Well, most of the time, anyway. I own a pair of safety glasses. I watch Young Sheldon and The Big Bang Theory. Science. Maybe I can replace Fauci. I always wanted to throw out the first pitch at a baseball game.

I am trying to wean myself off of diet mtn dew so maybe I will sleep a little better. Science.

Will listed his old golf bag for sale on Facebook marketplace, and former SPdL member Herb McCoy bought it. They had never met before, but had a good chat.

Ceil cooked spaghetti for supper. We are kinda in between things to watch right now. Saw the end of Jeopardy. Then more of The Captain, about Derek Jeter.

Work is rough, for our entire team. Plus the CEO was in town. Gonna be rough next week. My job is not very fun these days. My boss knows it. Like jumping in the deep end of a pool every day at 7:30 every morning and wildly thrashing around trying to tread water until like 6 pm. Even when it slows does on Fridays it’s a mad dash to catch up. And the company wants to know how they can better retain employees. They’re asking the wrong guy.

UFO over Burbank. Business as usual in southern California?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/burbank-porch-camera-caught-a-ufo-mid-flight/ar-AA116DOq?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=337d3b0449c3d9845bf4c22c3d9a813f

Scientists say watching TV can lead to dementia. If a scientist said it, it must be true.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/scientists-link-tv-watching-to-developing-dementia/ar-AA115H7z?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=c9ff3c402cbcdb810772b06de7e2973d

Add taco seasoning to spaghetti?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/recipes/the-unexpected-ingredient-that-will-majorly-upgrade-spaghetti/ar-AA115JuB?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=c9ff3c402cbcdb810772b06de7e2973d

Words never used by the royal family: Not the best article, as it turned out. Guess I should stick to science. But now you know.

Dad – instead daddy or mummy

Posh – instead smart

high tea – instead supper

dinner – instead supper

function – instead party

couch – instead sofa

living room – instead drawing room

patio – instead terrace

refreshment – instead food and drink

portion – instead helping

dessert – instead pudding

nice seeing you – instead simply goodbye

cheers – instead a formal toast

not toilet or bathroom – instead lavoratory

not perfume – instead scent

not sorry or pardon – instead what?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/weddings/16-words-the-royal-family-never-uses/ss-BB1epYN4?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=cc52e6579a50f5582007649d5331d2ab#image=2

DENISON: Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks writes in the Atlantic: changing people’s minds is extremely difficult, especially through arguing and attacking the beliefs of others. “…this can feel like a threat to your identity, leading you to lash out, which won’t convince anyone who disagrees with you" Instead offer our values "with love, not insults and hatred." Research shows "listening and asking questions almost always has a more beneficial effect than talking."

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/it-had-to-be-god-bus-driver-helps-save-kids-from-floodwater/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=%22It+had+to+be+God%22&utm_campaign=08-26-22+%22It+had+to+be+God%22%3A+Bus+driver+helps+save+kids+from+floodwater

Little Green Men

 

Zillionaire Richard Branson loves April Fools jokes. When you got that much time and money, I guess so. One time he had a hot air balloon made in the shape of a UFO, with blinking lights and such, and flew it over England on April first – with a dwarf on board dressed in a green outfit. People were calling the police and the army, who met the balloon when it finally landed. A policeman approached the balloon, but ran away when the little green man came out. They almost put Branson in jail.

The sections of Richard Branson’s book on leadership: Listen, Laugh, Learn, and Lead. The four L’s.

Hadn’t realized Branson’s billionaire pal Sara Blakely married millionaire entrepreneur author rapper Jesse Itzler (aka Jesse Jaymes) founder of Marquis Jet. The couple are minority owners of the Hawks, and live on the Chattahoochee. Itzler often wears a Braves cap, so he can’t be all bad.

I was listening to the Braves radio pregame show Sunday after church. Then Braves were on pace to win 100 games. Since then they’ve gone 3-1…5-1 since Astros came to town and 8-2 since Mets came to town. Fangraphs said the Braves had a 100% probability of making the playoffs. Plus the Braves will be adding two All Stars to their active roster in September…Mike Soroka.and Ozzie Albies. Hopefully Ian Anderson can get his groove back. He’s been lights out in the playoffs the past 2 years.

This weekend the Braves play in St. Louis, so we get to watch Pujols.

Last night Bryce Harper hit 2 home runs – against the Gwinnett Stripers.

Every time Austin Riley does something good, Dale Murphy tweets out “Riles…” These days Mets fans are deluging Braves Twitter with nasty tweet after nasty tweet. Get a life, I say. At least stick to Mets Twitter.

Tip: never refer to California as “Cali”. Or call it HOTlanta. Evidently you’re not supposed to call it “San Fran”.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/san-franciscans-up-in-arms-over-giants-merch-with-hated-nickname-on-it/ar-AA113lxw?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=088ab52d2cb62e7618e9f4e94f76a880

Hall of Fame pitcher JIM KAAT  [SABR Bio] admired Bobby Shantz because both threw from the left side and were (at the time) of similar height. Shantz measured 5’6” and was 1953 AL MVP. Kaat had a rapid growth spurt that had him at 6’4” by the time he finished high school. Kaat and Shantz were the first two pitchers to win Gold Gloves in each league. Kaat won in the AL 1962-75 and in the NL 1976-77. Shantz won in the AL 1958-1960 and the NL 1961-64. Kaat had copied Shantz’s fielding methods since he was a young boy. Kaat was the last active player from the original (20th century) Washington Senators. Kaat debuted in the majors with WSH in 1959 and played his last game in 1983, then w/STL.

DENISON: Biden announced he would cancel $10,000 in student loan debt for Americans earning less than $125,000 or households earning less than $250,000. On its face, according to the New York Times, this will cost taxpayers $300 billion or more in money they lent but will never be repaid. However, much of that debt was unlikely ever to be repaid: more than eight million—1 in 5 with a payment due—had already defaulted on their loans. Many are questioning the legality of the president’s decision. The Office of the General Counsel of the US Department of Education determined a president "does not have the authority to forgive student loan balances." Pelosi stated the president lacks the authority as well, and noted Americans would be "paying taxes to forgive somebody else’s obligations." The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget warns that canceling student debt will add to inflation and undermine the Inflation Reduction Act. Critics claim the action is unfair to those who many.

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/president-biden-cancels-10000-in-student-loan-debt-pros-and-cons/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Biden+cancels+%2410%2C000+in+student+loan+debt&utm_campaign=08-25-22+President+Biden+cancels+%2410%2C000+in+student+loan+debt%3A+Pros+and+cons

Saw someone on social media say “A positive thing happening for someone takes nothing away from me”. What about the additional taxes they have to pay?