Golf With the Professor

Up early to play nine holes of golf this morning. Was cloudy so I had to wait to tee off. Then co-early bird Mr. Gee Tee arrived, so we played the first six holes together. He’s a Georgia State professor who lives in Brookhaven. Sometimes he plays at Chastain.

1. Good drive. Good 7 iron. Decent chip shots, but if there’s more than one on a hole, they weren’t that good.

2. Good chip.

3. Good 7 iron. Good chip.

4. Good 9 iron. Double bogey. Even though he aimed way right, GT hit his tee shot onto the green (above).

5. Great 3 wood to the fringe. Just missed the birdie putt.

6. Not a great drive (below). Good long 5 iron. Great 7 iron to the green. Missed the “par” putt. Still a good “bogey”.

7. Hit three tee shots: two bad but one good. Decent 5 iron, then a great 6 iron onto the green. Par putt just missed. Another good bogey.

8. Good tee shot. Decent 6 iron. Okay chip, Missed the par putt. Bd straight bogey.

9. Tee shots went right. One bounced back into the fairway. Okay approach. Decent chip, then a better chip. Double bogey on a tough long uphill par three. A good round for me, though I did mix in a few flubbed shots. Candler is just a stone's throw from my 1982 apartment on Goldsboro.

Since Ceil was at her ministry last night, I stopped off to cash in my birthday deal for ten free boneless wings in Roswell. I ate there at the restaurant. While there I was going through my in box, and saw an email for a free burger at Cheeseburger Bobbys – good that day only. I hadn’t ordered anything except the wings and a soft drink, so I went crazy and drove down to Sandy Springs for the free burger. Both were good. Today I diet.

Then home to watch the season 2 finale of Only Murders in the Building, to see who killed Bunny. Good stuff. Poppy did it. The episode also set up the next season: who killed Paul Rudd?

Tiger and Rory team up to produce high-tech one day stadium golf events that will complement the PGA Tour schedule.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/golf/golf-world-reacts-to-major-tiger-woods-news/ar-AA110uHA?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=bca0254b13ac4b4397ee98f83dffdda5

A Hank Aaron rookie card was sold for a record price.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.insidehook.com/daily_brief/sports/hank-aaron-rookie-card-auction-record__;!!AE29DT8V!VPoN53QBIFzr90FltA_qhVzlmrdxOvZpZcy40ipaXnmGLBCBuuF2GW-ODsewbw1x8PcXUVyMrmnm2ro5oOo$ 

I only listened to the hour long summary of the Heaven book, but the author made a point of saying how everything was backed by scripture. He mentioned the verses on most of the points he was making. There were a few things where the author took the verse, then said “from this we can infer that…” I had stumbled across the book after our Sunday School teacher / JFBC staff member had mentioned a different book by the same author. I couldn’t find that book, but found the one about heaven.

DENISON: how did Christians become cultural pariahs almost overnight? In his 2017 book, Strangers in a Strange Land, Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput analyzes this, listing various Christian "convictions about the dignity of life and human sexuality" such as "abortion, gender identity, marriage, and family," noting they are "rooted not just in biblical revelation, but in reason and natural law." Then he notes: "Critics of the Church reduce these moral convictions into an expression of subjective religious beliefs. And if they’re purely religious beliefs, then—so the critics argue—they can’t be rationally defended. And because they’re rationally indefensible, they should be treated as a form of prejudice." "Thus 2000 years of moral truth and religious principle become mere bias - then the identity of ministries has no public value.”

"Insufficiently ‘progressive’ moral teaching and religious belief gets reclassified as hate speech." "God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (Romans 1:24–25). Don’t think you and I are less susceptible to lies we want to believe. This is why we should submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), by seeking to have our "powers of discernment trained to distinguish good from evil" (Hebrews 5:14).

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/the-surprising-result-if-liz-cheney-runs-for-president/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=The+surprising+result+if+Liz+Cheney+runs+for+president&utm_campaign=08-24-22+The+surprising+result+if+Liz+Cheney+runs+for+president

Saw a cartoon once where the point was the older you get, the easier it is to wait. For a 4 year old, 4 minutes is a lifetime. Now I don’t mind as much getting somewhere early then waiting for an hour. But when the appointment time passes, that’s when I get antsy.

Been buying too much stuff lately. Stripers jersey. Crackers cap. Stripers cup. Hubcaps. Avengers shirt. Montana jersey. Braves shorts. Ons Cloud Monster running shoes. Been using money from focus groups and bobblehead sales and various discounts. Skipping three upcoming bobblehead nights but will probably go to the Ron Washington bobblehead game in September. Need to sell more bobbleheads and that oversized cooler (sorry kids).

The Seven Churches

In Sunday School we’ve been studying the seven churches in Revelation: their characteristics of Christ, how each was commended, rebuked, exhorted, and rewarded. Memorable was the lukewarm church at Laodicea, which was applicable to them because the aquaducts coming in from the mountains delivered lukewarm water. Comparing the churches, at the end our teacher encouraged us to remember the rewards, which is what we have to look forward to at the end of our journey: eating from the tree of life, which is in God’s paradise. The crown of life, no second death. Justice (applicable in the world today). Rightstanding with God. Have my name written in the book of life. Eternal security. Sitting with God and Jesus.

Also I just read the summary of the Book Heaven, by Randy Alcorn. How heaven will be the new Earth, where we will work and play and not grow weary. Where we will be able to meet and talk to any other resident of heaven that we wish. Wide open places as well as places to retire to. Everyone’s “mansion” will be different, made by God to delight each individual. No marriage in haven to others, though each will commune and interact with spouses and family. All Biblically referenced.

I had bought an Atlanta Black Crackers cap at the Stripers game Saturday, but it was too big. Today I traded it for a slightly smaller size. Not sure I am crazy about the fit of the New Era 5950 – brim stays too flat, and the front at a 90 degree angle instead of slightly slouched. I already have a Stripers cap. Could get one with the jersey fish. We’ll see. It would make me look even older, but I'd like a $56 Ebbets Field Flannels 1956 Crackers cap (below). And a $600 Braves jacket. 

HANK AARON [SABR Bio] amassed more total bases than any other player ever: 6,856 in his 23-year career. Albert Pujols.just passed Stan Musial for second place, more than 700 behind Hank. Aaron received MVP votes in 19 consecutive seasons, finishing in the top ten 13 times, and eight times in the top five. He won in 1957; Had MVP votes from 1955-1973. His ironic nickname people used to love to use for him was “Bad Henry”.

Sleep: I’ve been getting up early every day. Napped this weekend. Last night I really slept hard, which was good.

Monday: not much going on. Left work about 5:15 and made a couple of stops on the way home. Our new shutters were delivered, so they’ll be going up next week.

C had gone to the grocery, and cooked boneless chicken in a lemon cream sauce, with rice and tossed salad.  M ate with us. He’s working to develop a dessert for his restaurant. Decided to take pictures of my meals like Haley does.

I need to get a bunch done at work this week, because next week will be busy. Down to six emails. Will eat out tonight, then go home to watch the season finale of Only Murders In The Building, to find out who killed Bunny (POPPY DID IT!).

Ran three miles at the gym this morning. Will probably play golf tomorrow morning.

Rory threw a remote controlled golf ball into a lake Saturday. I don’t blame him.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/golf/rory-mcilroy-throws-fan-s-remote-controlled-ball-into-water-at-bmw-championship/ar-AA10WvWk?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=49b756066a4f442aaf47609658257ea7

DENISON: I made the claim that civility is vital to a healthy democracy (didn’t Washington and Adams say the same thing?), and an attribute especially should be evident among Christians. As I note in The Coming Tsunami, secularists consider religion outdated and irrelevant and dangerous to society. During hearings on the so-called Equality Act, some senators compared opposition on religious grounds to the KKK’s burning crosses and the Confederacy’s biblical justifications for slavery. On the other side, Sohrab Ahmari wrote in First Things: "Progressives understand culture war means discrediting opponents and weakening or destroying their institutions. Conservatives should approach the culture war with a similar realism. Civility and decency are secondary. We should use these values to enforce our order and our orthodoxy." This approach to the culture wars is clearly winning: the majority of 2nd-year college students said they would not date someone who supported a different presidential candidate. Half said they would not room with someone who voted differently; 2/3 said they would not marry someone who backed a different political candidate. 

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/dr-fauci-announces-his-retirement-response-is-what-youd-expect/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Dr++Fauci+announces+his+retirement%2C+response+is+what+you+d+expect&utm_campaign=08-23-22+Dr++Fauci+announces+his+retirement%2C+response+is+what+you+d+expect

Branson on Leadership

I’m reading Richard Branson’s book on leadership. He dedicates the first section to listening, note taking, and not interrupting. Smarter to write a question down and ask only if the answer isn’t covered than to stop the speaker to ask immediately. Listen not only to what is said, but also to what isn’t said. There could be a reason. Leaders should be able to delegate both work and credit.

Left work Friday right at five. Stopped by Moes for a burrito, and Dollar Tree for staples. Did some laundry Friday night while watching TV. Watched several episodes of The Captain, about Derek Jeter. Also Martin Short and Neil Patrick Harris on The Tonight Show. Harris publishes a weekly email with items of interest: recipes, fun facts, etc. I got him by six days. Right? 

Up early Saturday to golf, then home to nap and eat quesadillas. Drove to Buford for the Stripers game. Took 400 / 285 / 85 and hated the traffic. Took surface streets on the way home. Much calmer. Grabbed a Chicken Philly from Jersey Mikes. Good, but not exactly brimming with chicken / peppers / onions.

Up early Sunday to golf. Hit it well off the tee on all but the first hole. Bogey on three. Hit my tee shot on four to eleven feet. Par. On five I hit my tee shot pin high. “Birdie”. Must’ve been the ball that I had found on the second hole, which I promptly lost on six. My longest drive ever on seven and nine. Made several decent chip shots as well.

I rewarded myself with a chicken biscuit from McDonalds. Not as good as Chickfila. Ordered at the speaker and drove around to the first window - where the order taker had gone to sleep - after taking the order of the car behind me. I had to bang on the window with my credit card.

We had 29 in Sunday School. Lunch at Ruby Tuesday. Followed my new mantra and ate inside instead of takeout. Ate the salad bar instead of a burger. The normal salad stuff was okay. Potatoes in the potato salad were too big, as was the broccoli in the broccoli salad. Cole slaw was tasteless. Not the best. I gotta start eating at nicer places.

Took it easy Sunday afternoon. Nap. TV. Caught up on emails. A little housework. Quesadillas for supper. C got home at 9:45.

Lifted weights this morning at the Y. Put off my run until tomorrow, after hiking up Candler’s hills all weekend. My 8th straight day to work out. Should go 5 more days this week before possibly taking a break next Sunday. My streak of eating out could end tomorrow after 8 days.

Scientists Say The Big Bang Theory Has Been Debunked.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-big-bang-theory-has-been-debunked/ar-AA10SJTD?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=786c73407f0e403b82d1fbd4ff9f313b

Things Every Guy Should Own. Matthew is well on his way.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://coolmaterial.com/feature/50-things-every-man-should-own-3/__;!!AE29DT8V!RkxuXqEqxooVoLIBZCbpjR_P3a8IC4rPejH0sX5XrWrf9emj2mUP1CuaXhjh2VcVBP0WM6xvtGYgCejvYi8$ 

Do things the locals do in Paris – though most Americans don’t have enough time to hit all the big sites. Spending hours at a café or attending a soccer game would be nice, but most tourists don’t have that kind of time.

https://www.insider.com/paris-things-you-should-never-do-according-to-local-2022-8#give-yourself-enough-time-to-stroll-through-the-parks-before-they-close-12

GATES BROWN  [SABR Bio] successfully hit with a ketchup-slathered hot dog stuffed inside his uniform, on 07-Aug-1968, finishing a suspended game from the day before. Brown manged the Orlando Juice in the Senior Professional Baseball Association. A catcher on that team was Bruce Bochy. Brown holds the AL record for the most career pinch-hit at bats, with 414.

DENISON: the former CIA director claimed the modern-day Republican Party is the most "dangerous" political force he has ever seen. With Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s ambitions for global dominance, Iran’s growing power in the Middle East, and North Korea’s nuclear threats, this is quite a statement. Vanity Fair published the article "Republicans appear to be realizing all their candidates are dangerous weirdos." James Carville is condemning the media for covering "both sides" equally when Democrats are "just silly" but Republicans are "evil." A candidate for the House of Representatives told an audience, "It’s no longer Democrat versus Republican. This is all about control versus freedom. It’s good versus evil. It’s a spiritual battle." Paul instructed Titus to "remind" Christians "to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people" (Titus 3:1-2). "For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another" (v. 3). 

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/former-cia-director-calls-gop-the-most-dangerous-political-force-in-the-world/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Is+the+GOP+the+most+%22dangerous%22+political+force+in+the+world%3F&utm_campaign=08-22-22+Former+CIA+director+calls+GOP+the+most+%22dangerous%22+political+force+in+the+world

Braves are on track to win 100 games. Fangraphs says their chances of making the postseason are 100%. And Mike Soroka will join the team in September.

Sunday

Top rated college QB's in 1979, according to Brent Musburger:

1. Marc Wilson BYU

2. Art Schleister Ohio State

3. Mark Malone Arizona State

4. Mark Herrman Purdue

5. Paul McDonald USC

6. Dan Marino Pitt freshman

None won a national championship. Wilson and Malone had decent pro careers. Marino was the only hall of famer. Not mentioned: Buck Belue, who led UGA to the 1980 national championship.

Maxie Baughan (#55, below) was inducted into the college football hall of fame after his time at Georgia Tech. Later as defensive coordinator of Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain defense, Baughan wore a railroad engineer's cap popular on The Flats at the time. 

How the movie classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail was made. It all started with the two halves of coconuts. When we watched the movie at the old Electrical Engineering lecture hall on a Friday night, an industrious Tech student had brought two coconut halves and clomped them together at the beginning of the movie.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/the-joke-that-inspired-monty-python-and-the-holy-grail/ar-AA10OhMN?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=133a91feb8144710bc70da14a0f3b11e

Will had just got a haircut. Matthew wasn’t there, but he’s cut his hair shorter than it had been. He’s been pulling it back from his face. He’s been working long hours. Will is always talking about his fantasy baseball team.

Anna only worked half a day yesterday, then Ceil took her shopping. I have yet to see baby Shivonne in a bad mood. W&MC keep her on the go, and she is a trooper. Anna’s roommate Ashley that arrived late.

I ran three miles Friday morning at the gym. I listen to my book as I run (but not when I lift weights). When I am on the treadmill I also have been turning on ESPN SportsCenter to get the highlights, and Pujols was on there again this morning. Yes glad that Pujols has been on a tear as of late. Would be good if he could get to 700 HR. First ballot HOF. This guy below belongs in Cooperstown as well.

Stripers Redbirds

 

Was gifted the John Schuch box seats for tonight's Stripers / Redbirds 6:05 start.

Thought about wearing a Grizzlies shirt since the seats were next to the visitors dugout, but stuck with Stripers gear. The national anthem was performed by the Duluth High School marching band.

Gwinnett's first base coach was wearing Nike Dunks.

Tonight's giveaway: Declaration of Independence Button Gwinnett signature replica jerseys.

Before the game I continued my habit of walking around the ballpark.

A relatively quick game, over in less than 2-1/2 hours. Grabbed Jersey Mikes on the way home.

First Bite: Goldberg's Deli

Ate at Goldbergs Deli before the game last night. As usual The Battery was filled with people. We were looking for a place to eat and just kinda decided on Goldbergs. Lucky for us it was just being reopened after a fire alarm had cleared out the place, so there was hardly any wait. My friend got the reuben and I got the bacon cheeseburger topped with a fried egg. Also some good onion rings. We ate at the bar, which looked out at all the fans streaming past toward the game.

Second straight day I’d ordered the “breakfast burger”. The Goldbergs version was much better than from Red Robin. Both the meat and the bread was tastier. Good stuff.

Our seats were behind the Braves dugout – just under the overhang, which came in handy when it started raining. During the rain delay I noticed Haley Hurt was at the game, so I texted to see where she was. Got to meet up with her and David for a quick chat before the game resumed. They are in full planning mode for Margaret’s wedding.

While at the ballpark I picked up the two ring sets given out to season ticketholders – replica rings from the four Braves World Series championships – 1914, 1957, 1995, and 2021. 

Super nice. Too bad I had to fork them over to Shane and Eric at work. Doubtful, but I’ll be on the lookout for them at a thrift store. Those bad boys are selling over $200.00 online.

Stayed up later than usual but still made it to the gym Thursday morning to lift weights. Super busy at work again. Friday was slower.

Every time I post a tweet or meme, like the one below, its posted for a reason. May be passive aggressive, but so be it. Its good information. Soak it in.

In only his second career at-bat, pinch-hitting for future Hall of Famer pitcher Jim Bunning, WILLIE HORTON  [SABR Bio], homered off the opponent’s future Hall of Fame pitcher, Baltimore’s Robin Roberts on 14-Sep-1963. Born in tiny Amo, Virginia, Horton played 33 games for Toronto in 1978. He graduated from Northwestern HS in Detroit. Horton played in 162 games in 1979 for Seattle, tying him with teammate Rupert Jones that year. Raul Ibanez and Ichiro Suzuki later tied the mark. Following an outfield collision of two teammates during a game, his quick action likely saved his teammate’s life. In the Tigers’ game on 30-May-1970, rightfielder Al Kaline collided with centerfielder Jim Northrup chasing a fly ball. Kaline lay motionless as help arrived from the benches, but it was Horton who had the strength to unblock Kaline’s air passage. Details here.

Anna's Birthday

We celebrated Anna's birthday tonight.

For the occasion I stole several of Caleb's photos.

More on Anna's birthday tomorrow or Saturday.

Met together to eat at her favorite hangout: the Taqueria on Cheshire Bridge. Anna, Caleb, W&MC, Shivonne, Ceil, Edie, Reid, roomate Ashley, and me. 

BILL FREEHAN  [SABR Bio] finished the highest in the American League MVP voting for non-pitchers in the “Year of the Pitcher”. Freehan finished second behind battery mate Denny McClain in the AL MVP vote in ’68. Also finished just ahead of teammate Willie Horton. Freehan is a native Detroit, the city whose major league team he played for every season of his 15-year career. Born 29-Nov1941. He says his career highlight was catching the last out of a World Series when he caught Tim McCarver’s foul popup of a pitch thrown by Mickey Lolich to end the 1968 Fall Classic (Indeed, it was a classic!).

Tournament of Champions returning on Jeopardy, including Meghan Wachespress.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/controversial-jeopardy-winner-set-to-return-for-the-tournament-of-champions/ar-AA10M7Nk?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=264a98e22d9f4f90be917f967eb19b42

DENISON: the CDC says their covid response failed to meet their own expectations.

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/cdc-director-admits-covid-19-response-did-not-reliably-meet-expectations/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=CDC+director+admits+COVID-19+response+%22did+not+reliably+meet+expectations%22&utm_campaign=08-18-22+CDC+director+admits+COVID-19+response+%22did+not+reliably+meet+expectations%22