August 31, 2004
World Cup of Hockey
It's a huge game this evening as the United States takes on Canada in the opening game of the North American pool of the World Cup of Hockey. Whoever wins this game will be off to a great advantage, while the loser is going to have a huge uphill battle probably needing victories over both Slovakia and Russia in order to advance to the medal round.
Posted by Judd at 03:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Is the convention anti-climactic?
Last night Shelly and I went to the fair for the second time and thus missed much of the convention. I did record some of the evening stuff so I could watch Guiliani's and McCain's speeches, and I'm sure I will, but I wasn't that anxious to. Why? I think it's a little anti-climactic at this point. First of all, the real excitement will be November 2nd. Secondly, Bush is taking control.
I think had Bush not had such a great week or two in the polls I would have been anxious to watch. It's now apparent that he didn't need the convention, and I only hope the GOPers don't do something stupid to stop this roll he is on.
You can partially credit the Swift Boat Veterans (right or wrong), but you can also put much of the blame on Kerry. Bush hasn't done anything terribly noteworthy. He's been busy running our country while Kerry tries to find something to stand for (he's still searching, by the way). I must admit I was a little nervous for a while, but I'm now convinced that without a miracle Bush has this thing in hand.
Watch closely as the Bush-haters move closer to desperation!
Posted by Judd at 08:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 30, 2004
You gotta love Lew
Ron Gardenhire wound up eating dinner at the same place as Lew Ford. Ford's company was a couple of guys who Gardenhire thought were former teammates. Instead, it was a couple of guys Ford met on the internet playing "Doom."
Posted by Judd at 02:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Twins have what they need
It cracks me up that Mientkiewicz can't let it go. There really must be something about the Twins that won't let their former players get over it, because Pierzynski was the same way.
Hopefully Mientkiewicz didn't get hit with the door on the way out. We wouldn't have wanted him to wake up Morneau, our first baseman for many years, during his afternoon nap.
If Gardenhire was the one to see the truth about Mientkiewicz, God bless him. I was so tired of hearing Mientkiewicz complaining about everything, from the loss of Guardado (another "Thank God") to the new field turf. We don't need those kinds of people. Let the White Sox and other such teams have those kinds of guys.
UPDATE:
Oh, and I like this quote from LaTroy Hawkins: 'What the hell's going on over there? They don't realize when they have winners.'
Who does LaTroy think he is? He's good now, but he never was until Gardenhire took over (and brought Rick Anderson on board as pitching coach). Hawkins was never a winner until then. We don't need him, either.
Posted by Judd at 02:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Kerry and Truth are opposites indeed
I was just saying talking about the truth and no such thing arguments on issues, and I find this article. Speak of the devil!
Posted by Judd at 10:45 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack
World Cup of Hockey
I was just looking at the schedule for the World Cup of Hockey, which takes place in four different countries over the next two weeks. This has got to be one of the craziest setups ever. How do the US, Russia, Slovakia and Canada wind up in the same pool?
I'll be in attendance for the games Thursday and Friday night, which I'm really looking forward to. This is kind of a once in a lifetime thing, being able to see international hockey of this caliber. Hopefully the United States team can win a couple games and make the medal round.
Posted by Judd at 09:35 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Truth or no such thing
I was just thinking that it seems when it comes to abortion or gay marriage rights (and those types of issues) the main argument against those things is that there is a certain truth as to it being right or wrong (both wrong in this case). The argument for those things is always that there is no truth, not anything necessarily relating to the issues.
There is a matter of truth in ALL things. I would hate to be one of the people who can't accept this idea simply so they can live with themselves while supporting abortion and gay marriage rights.
Just an observation.
From the Catholic Catechism:
2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae," "by the very commission of the offense," and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law. The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.
Formal cooperation = voting pro-abortion when there is a pro-life alternative
I didn't say it -- the Catechism of the Catholic Church did.
Posted by Judd at 08:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 29, 2004
Comments and this blog
I think one of the coolest things about blogs are the comment sections or other ways that people can freely express ideas. I had comments on an earlier blog and it got to be too much of a hassle, though I later figured out how to ban IP addresses. There are going to be some people who comment only to irritate me or other people who read the blog, comment on it, etc. Those people will not be allowed to comment. I don't care if you want to call it censorship or whatever. People who can refrain from personal attacks on people, even with a differing view, will be allowed to comment. I feel bad for people who are wrong, but I don't mind allowing their comments on the board. Truth has a way of showing through, and so it's not like I'm out to hide the fact that there are people in the world who are wrong. Adam took a bite of the apple -- you know?
Please keep things civil here. If not I will do away with comments. There are other ways people can reply to the posts whether it's a direct email to me or on their own blog. If it comes to that I'll address it then.
All of that said, let me ask one question of everyone (who agrees with me or not):
Where do you get your rights?
There are many people who seem to suggest that just because we have free will the nation shouldn't have a say in our personal choices. Well, in that case we shouldn't have a single law imposed on us by any political nation. And much of these many people reside in a country that determined their rights based on the idea of a god.
And so, I'd just like to know the answer to that question so as to better understand why people don't understand, themselves, the reason why this election and every other election (until there are two pro-life candidates, or heaven forbid two pro-choice candidates) should be about abortion, and other things directly relating (such as stem cell research, etc.). It is THE fundamental idea at the beginning of all human rights abuses. Innocent, voiceless people are the ones we are supposed to defend.
Posted by Judd at 11:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 27, 2004
It's official
It's officially time to stop using NBAers for the olympic basketball team. A group of college all-stars could have done at least this much.
Posted by Judd at 02:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
It is amazing when you think about it
Everything you do in a day can be a prayer to God, and thus grace-giving. Check out this post by JAM.
Posted by Judd at 11:10 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
What a crock
Gymnastics officials are encouraging Paul Hamm to return the gold medal he earned in the all-around competition last week. What do I have to say about it: What a crock! It is widely known that every gymnastics competition has judgment mistakes made on many levels. If they had reviewed the tape they would have likely found many scoring errors that applied to every contestant in the competition.
If I'm Paul Hamm I'm keeping the medal I was awarded. Let the rest of the duke it out to determine whether or not another gold medal should be awarded. (it shouldn't, but Hamm certainly doesn't deserve to lose his)
You gotta feel for the guy. His life would probably be better had he won silver.
Sports Illustrated's E.M. Swift:
So why not a second gold medal? Why not accommodate the upset Koreans and send everyone home happy? Well for one thing, you can make a pretty good case that, if you're going to go to the videotape, Yang shouldn't have won.
Yes, the videotape of the parallel bars showed the judges erred by assigning a 9.9 start value. But it showed something else, too. In the course of his routine, Yang had four holds on the bar, when the rules allow for a maximum of three. The deduction for that mistake? Two-tenths of a point.
The judges missed it.
It is not enough to say Paul Hamm should keep his gold medal. He's a deserving champion. Period.
Posted by Judd at 10:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 25, 2004
George Bush is pro-life
There are some people who insist that George Bush isn't pro-life. I guess they have a point when it comes to the death penalty, but for pretty much everything else he is definitely pro-life. Here is a long list of things that prove that our president is pro-life (and, for that matter, a list of reasons why you should vote for him in November).
The list is posted on a blog by Josh LeBlanc. It is a blog worth adding to your bookmarks.
Posted by Judd at 02:56 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Young Conservatives
Check out this site, done by college students across the country. Great articles.
Posted by Judd at 02:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Politics of Convenience
It's really too bad that Dick Cheney is going the route of supporting gay marriages. President Bush is against them because they are wrong. Cheney is for them because he has a gay daughter. Politics and morality cannot be changed for convenience. What is wrong is wrong. I'm only glad that Cheney understands that Bush is the determiner of White House policy.
Posted by Judd at 10:06 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Mr. Minority
Mr. Minority has a site that gives the views of the most hated group in America -- He's a Conservative College Educated Christian Middle Aged Middle Income White Guy Who Owns Guns and a SUV. Check it out. This guy is good.
Posted by Judd at 09:05 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 24, 2004
My War
Here is a very interesting blog to read. There is some strong language, so be advised. However, I talked to Nick and he says this is a very legitimate account of things over in Iraq. It's worth a read...
Posted by Judd at 10:46 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Look who's talking
So today the LA Times comes out with an article on how the "conservative media" has been a case study in bias during the whole Swift Boat situation. The LA Times! ??? They must be kidding.
It never ceases to amaze me how the liberal media finds what they consider a conservative bias so offensive when they are just that, a liberal media. It must be because the norm has been pushed so far to the left that something towards fairness and balance appears to be radically conservative. The funny thing is that even the media knows that the media is biased.
Apparently the Times didn't get the memo...
Posted by Judd at 08:02 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 23, 2004
Multi-sport
There is an interesting article in today's issue of USA Today about the pressure on kids to become one-sport athletes. It raises a lot of great points.
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play many sports as a kid, and it included traveling or "all-star" teams fairly often. I played hockey, baseball, fastpitch softball, bandy, soccer, football, and I even speed-skated for about 6 or 7 years. I, for one, would not have had the drive to be that active for one cause. Even today, when fastpitch softball is what I keep doing, I don't like to give every last minute to that sport. There is too much going on to spend every free moment working on my game.
Playing multiple sports is the best thing for kids to keep things in perspective. It is alright, and actually beneficial to be better at one sport than another. It is not necessary to be the best at every sport you play. With that, it is also dangerous to put all of your talents into one thing. Sometimes we find out that we aren't as good as we'd like to be, and we aren't going to be as good as we once thought we would be. I've had so many friends crushed by the realization that they were done playing for traveling teams or weren't going to make the varsity team.
Lastly, it's not even that important to be on the travelling teams. I wouldn't advocate doing anything with less than full effort, but if a kid makes that full effort and isn't good enough to make the team, big deal. Very few people ever go on to play at a notably high level, and why wouldn't you want your kid to play at his or her level (instead of being a very weak player on a good team)?. So, in the end, most everyone is left without recollection of who made what team in what year. Also, these things have become very political among parents. I would wager a guess that at least 1/4 of selections for these teams (and maybe as high as 1/2) are of a political nature. Coach A doesn't get along with Parent B. Parent B is close friends with Parent C and so Kid C doesn't get to be on the team. Many times it comes down to the parents, and not the abilities or skill level of the kids.
Encourage kids to play a variety of sports. Encourage them to do their best at whatever they do, and if they don't want to do their best to pick something else that they would like to put their effort towards. Encourage them whether they are playing in an in-house program or on the traveling all-star team. As someone who once regarded making these teams as somewhat "life and death," I realize years later that it wasn't that important. Only that I had fun and gave everything to win.
Posted by Judd at 08:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 18, 2004
I hate to correct CNN, but...
I was reading an article on the liberal diaper called CNN this afternoon about the Laci Peterson and child thing. In the article is the following line:
Laci Peterson's body and that of her fetus washed up on the San Francisco Bay in April 2003.
Ummm...it wasn't Laci's fetus. It was Laci's child. Even the law protects the child by calling the crime a double-murder. Please, call a spade a spade. Laci and her unborn child were murdered.
Posted by Judd at 01:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 14, 2004
World Tournament
Shelly, my dad, Dave, and I are enjoying our time at the ISC World Tournament in Fargo, ND. Dave's playing the Frankenmuth, Michigan, team. We are closely following Fargo's IS Knights and Midland, Michigan's Explorers.
The ISC Tournament is outstanding. It is usually held somewhere in the Midwest or central Canada. Anyone in that area who has a chance should check it out. If I get some decent pix I'll post them later in the week or next week.
Posted by Judd at 11:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 12, 2004
Hilarious
Check out MoveOnPlease.org for some great humor. It's the official site of "Democratic Inaction." It's a good read...
Posted by Judd at 09:12 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 11, 2004
Volunteer for or Donate to President Bush's Campaign
Today would be a good day to donate or start volunteering for President Bush's re-election campaign. Make sure we keep a pro-lifer in office! This is going to be a critical Presidency for the safety of our country. Our next President may also be responsible for nominating Supreme Court Justices that will go one way or another on key life issues such as abortion and stem cell research.
Posted by Judd at 08:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 10, 2004
The 9.11 Commission
I'm not sure I understood this in the first place, but when is the 9.11 commission going to go away? They've put out a very lengthy report and everyone is very happy about it. Isn't it due time for them to go away? Haven't they made their suggestions? I think everyone is bored with them by now.
Posted by Judd at 10:24 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 09, 2004
Designated Hitters and the HOF
I saw an interesting debate on Baseball Tonight this evening on whether Edgar Martinez should be a Hall of Famer. There are two things to consider in his case:
1) If he were an average fielder, would his numbers be good enough to be an HOFer?
2) Should a DH be considered at all?
The first question seems to be an obvious yes. He's a .300, .300, .400 guy, which puts him in very elite company. While his home run total is fairly low, these other numbers are plenty to get him through as an average fielder.
The second question can be answered with a resounding "yes." Major League Baseball added a DH in an effort to bring more offense to the game. It does not discrimate against the fielder in any way. The Seattle Mariners have not discriminated in any way, paying Martinez more than most of their players despite him only playing "half" of the game (offense). His value to the team over the years is arguably greater than most of the players who did play both ways. But the most important thing is that the rules allow for a DH.
I hate the DH. I think it should be abolished immediately. I'm certain it would solve a lot of the bean ball war problems that baseball has because a pitcher wouldn't be so inclined to peg off an opposing batter should he have to step up to the plate himself. I also think it's part of the strategy of the game, for which many American League fans do not appreciate. The position is there, however, and until it isn't any longer the players have to be treated the same as any other position.
They are certainly paid according to that ideology...
Posted by Judd at 10:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
A Gardenhire goof...
In the top of the 18th inning the Twins found themselves in a bit of trouble yesterday afternoon when Oakland put runners on first and third with one out and Jermaine Dye coming to the plate. But instead of walking Dye to set up a possible double play, and allowing Terry Mulholland the chance to fast two left-handed hitters, they pitched to Dye and it resulted in a long 3-run inning that put the game virtually out of reach. Morneau blasted a two-run bomb in the bottom half, but the Twins fell 6-5.
All of that shouldn't have happened at all, but was made possible by a completely mysterious baserunning decision by Lew Ford in an earlier inning when he rounded 2nd by about 15 feet despite the centerfielder holding ball in hand about 100 feet beyond Ford. If he stays put it's first and second, one out, with Torii Hunter up.
Still, Gardenhire needs to put the Twins in a position to win and walking Dye was the best chance they had.
Posted by Judd at 09:15 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 07, 2004
Two-faced arguments
Thank God for this weekend. It was a long week and I was ready for an extra couple hours of sleep.
I woke up to check out some of the editorials< and found plenty of people saying that we didn't have the right to criticize John Kerry's military service. These, the same people who criticize President Bush's military service (when equally unverifiable), and also his protection of the United States during this time of rampant terrorism. You can't have your cake and eat it, too, people. Never has it been proven that Bush didn't serve the necessary military time required of him after enlisting. Never has it been proven that Bush lied to the American people, and in fact the very partisan and political 9/11 Commission blatantly said that he did NOT mislead Americans.
Now, I personally don't care to comment on John Kerry's military service because I think, like Bush's, it was a very noble deed. Until we have factual evidence of impropriety, I have nothing to say to demean people who did something that I did not. Let's just be consistent.
Posted by Judd at 05:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 06, 2004
Good thing Kerry wasn't President
It appears that John Kerry couldn't think for 40 minutes after seeing the planes crash into the WTC.
Posted by Judd at 01:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Legacy is wrong
Americans like to think they live in the place where everyone's dreams can come true. Each generation is always striving to do one better than the previous generation. Parents are looking to give their children a little bit more than what they had. Yet, there are some things that are so unfair in our country as to go against this very belief.
Today, President Bush spoke out against Legacy programs, which give priority to people who have some kind of favorable family history at the given University. I couldn't agree more. Universities should be looking for the very best and brightest students they can admit based on their own history (albeit short) to allow for the most driven students to reach their dreams. Those who work endlessly toward their goals should reap the greatest rewards, not those whose siblings, parents, or grandparents worked endlessly to reach theirs. As President Bush says, admission should be based "on merit."
Posted by Judd at 01:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Roger Clemens gets apology
I don't understand how two vastly different stories were told regarding the incident at the under-10 baseball game that Roger Clemens was ejected from. Now he has received an apology, and witnesses say Clemens never said a word and that it would have been practically impossible for Clemens to spit a seed at the official from where he was (it sounds a lot like a Seinfeld episode, doesn't it?).
In any case, if Clemens really didn't say anything I think parents worldwide should take a look at it. Let 10-year-old kids play ball. Feed their enthusiasm, but let them have some fun without believing they are always getting the worst deal. It has long-term effects in all walks of life.
Posted by Judd at 08:49 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Supporting Kerry is Faith-based
From daybydaycartoons:
Posted by Judd at 07:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 05, 2004
People to disregard
Here's a list of people I will never give another cent to (if I have given one already):
Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, Bonnie Raitt, Dave Matthews Band, Dixie Chicks, Jackson Browne, John Mellencamp, Ben Harper, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Pearl Jam, R.E.M
They have a right to do what they want, and I don't dispute that. But, at least when it comes to one person, they will feel a (very small) consequence.
Posted by Judd at 09:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Abortion is science's grim story
Check out this article in the Fairfax Digital (Australian publication).
"You can not simultaneously be for and against something unless you use Orwellian doublethink."
Kinda sounds like it's describing someone we know, doesn't it?
Posted by Judd at 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 04, 2004
James Taylor
James Taylor is the first induction into the Just Shut UP category of this new blog. Taylor, looking like he's back on drugs, is joining the ACT vote for change concert series that takes place over several battleground states. I saw James Taylor in the last year at the Xcel Energy Center. It was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. It's slowly being ruined, and all of his great music is now being prostituted for a (faulty) political view.
James Taylor: Just Shut UP!
Posted by Judd at 03:25 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Fastpitch Dealings
Check out my other blog, "Fastpitch Dealings," for updates on fastpitch softball as I see it, as I play it, and as I experience it.
Posted by Judd at 10:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 03, 2004
Trying to get this thing to work
I've seen MT sites and they're cool. Let me try this thing out...
Posted by Judd at 09:58 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack