Seems Toronto's Year

It is not over until one team wins four games, but it sure looks like that will be the Blue Jays. Los Angeles will not quit, but they are facing superior hitting and pitching, which makes it awful difficult to prevail. The Dodgers almost need a miracle to pull out a victory in this series,but remember one well-placed pitch or clutch hit could still turn the outcome. 

Some Potent Bats

Even without George Springer, the Blue Jays are great and timely hitters. The Dodgers pitching has been less than stellar, but great hitting spoils solid pitching and takes advantage of small mistakes by pitchers that average hitting does not. I am still rooting for Los Angeles buy my hat is off to Toronto, as I know powerful hitting when I see it. 

May Survive Shutdown

The partial shutdown of the Federal government has undeniably hurt some people, particularly those not receiving their pay, but on balance, it has not yet caused harm to most Americans. Continuity in many government programs is important, but most of us will make it through until government fully reopens. 

Vanderbilt in Playoffs

If the event started today, my home town Vanderbilt Commodores would be in the final twelve. The schedule ahead is not easy, but the 'Dores could be in the midst of a history making season. Arch-rival Tennessee looms ahead, and that will be a war, but the winner of that contest has the inside track on a playoff spot. 

A Worse Game

The Titans are abysmal. They are well on the way to their second first draft pick two seasons in a row. Tennessee used to be somewhat competitive against the Colts. Now, they are a doormat to Indianapolis. If they had another first draft choice on the field today, the Colts might have only won 35 to 21, rather than 38 to 14.

A Lousy Game

The first contest in this season's World Series was a dud unless you are a Toronto fan. The Dodgers' pitching failed them. That and/or the Blue Jays bats caught fire. A drubbing is not entertaining to most casual or even devoted fans. 

Fearless Series Prediction

I am certain that a baseball team from the United States or Canada will prevail in the World Series. I am sure it will last somewhere between four and seven games. I am firmly convicted that the pitches will often travel at over ninety miles per hour. I believe at some point someone will be angry at an umpire. You should count on my unsurpassed ability to see into the future of at least four contests broadcast on FOX. 

Perking Up Some

Mom ate as much as she has been able to in a couple of weeks. The IV hydration and antibiotic may be helping. Please keep up those prayers for Sherry G in Tennessee.

Asking for Prayers

My mother could use some prayers now. She is a good and decent lady. I want her to have more time to enjoy with her granddaughter. Sherry Gilbert Goodman, I would not trade you for any Mom on earth. Try to stay here awhile. 

White House Ballroom

Donald Trump has not used a cent of taxpayer money to improve the White House. Every dollar was from private sources. Trump is a builder, not merely of edifices but of a Nation! 

A Warped Press

Much of the world's media reported that Israel broke the ceasefire in Gaza. They deliberately ignored the Hamas attack that forced the IDF to respond. Their reportage was more than propaganda,. It was incitement to harm Jews everywhere. 

That Was Quick

Hamas broke the ceasefire and attacked IDF vehicles and personnel. This should not be a surprise. Terrorists are going to "terrorist". It is in their nature, just like a cat eating a mouse. Israel responding and defending itself should not shock either. I am not sure if the renewed fighting will finish quickly or result in the ultimate liquidation of the jihadists in Gaza. 

Close Not Enough

The University of North Carolina football team fought hard and kept the game close at California, but ultimately fell yet again. Bill Belichick had the boys tuned up and more competitive but came up short. Give him Tom Brady in his prime at quarterback and the Tar Heels would have prevailed.  

Toronto Evens Series

I thought Toronto, who I will never cheer for playing the "most American game", would compete hard. They have against Seattle, a franchise that is yet to take the crown, and possibly, to my consternation dethrone the Dodgers, of Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax, that most American team that has fulfilled the aspiration of "out of many- one". The Mariners might fight back and secure their first World Series appearance, but clearly, the Blue Jays have regained confidence now that they are firmly on the path to victory. 

Toronto Strikes Back

The Blue Jays demonstrated conclusively that they will not lay down for Seattle. The powerful bats of the Canadians erupted with fury, as the Mariners just did not have pitching that would not concede home runs. Maybe, Toronto shot their wad with the power hitting explosion, but it will be up to Seattle's pitching staff to prove that. 

Baseball's Repeat Champion?

The Dodgers look formidable to say the least in the National League Championship Series. Of course, they have enjoyed some timely hitting, but is is their starting pitching staff that is virtually unhittable. Each game is different and has its own momentum, but I do not see a team taking four from Los Angeles. 

Polemicists Pow Wow

The disgusting conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was just interviewed by the new Father Coughlin, Tucker Carlson. Jones is most notorious as a denier of the massacre of children at Newtown, Connecticut. Tucker has turned into a Jew-bashing propagandist, who would make Goebbels proud. These two deserve each other, sort of an Abbot and Costello of right wing hatred, who I will NOT be watching. 

For Peace Sake

Will any of today's events negate the Koranic admonition to kill Jews? Israel and Jews did not go hunting Gazans on October 7, 2023. Terrorists and civilians from Gaza entered Israel to slaughter in the worst ways possible, loot, and rape. Until Islam reforms away from conversion by the sword and slave taking in war, including sex slavery of infidels, peace with Muslims will remain illusory. It is a blessing that the captives of Israel have been redeemed, but the prospect of a conflict-free Middle East is NOT foreseeable. 

Really No Choice

My great grandmother talked about walking across the tundra as a Jew fleeing the Czar and his pogroms. She always said of this but really in all contexts, "you need to make the best of things". This becomes a philosophy in dealing with everything in life. 

Fighting Mister Murphy

Just about everything at my house decided to break just in time for my elementary school age daughter's first visit since this summer. Water heater down, dead bolt lock jammed in place blocking door from working, leak of undetermined origin, and all this happens right when my little girl is picked up. Maybe, we should just have checked into the Ritz before everything went on the fritz. 

A Venezuelan Won!

In a great up-yours to the Golden Ego, Mr. Peacemaker was NOT awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. It went to someone from the nation I mentioned yesterday- Venezuela! Sure, one percent of the world had even heard of her before the Prize, and only a very small portion of the globe is affected by her activism, but at least Trump did not receive an accolade meant for folks that actually have souls. 

Your Own Conclusion

There are two ways to read Donald Trump. Either he loves all humanity and genuinely wants peace, or he is the ultimate self-aggrandizer and needs a Nobel Peace Prize to cross off his accomplishment list. When I see him gleefully blowing up boats with people on them off Venezuela, I do not see Trump as the ultimate humanitarian. 

Canada Needed America

If the United States did not exist, Canada would be part of Russia. It has only been America with the great buffer of Alaska that kept the former USSR from conquering our ungrateful neighbor to the North. 

The Tragic Anniversary

This is NOT a happy anniversary baby, as babies were callously butchered by Palestinian fanatics two years ago today. Nearly every Israeli casualty since then has been caused by the IDF trying to protect the so-called noncombatants of Gaza who all too often are willing human shield for Hamas. Israel should have reduced Gaza to rubble on October 8, 2023. Not a single Israeli soldier had to die there to rid the strip of terrorists forever, but the ethical doctrine of the Israeli military of "purity of arms" meant risking and losing primarily Jewish and Druze lives along with some Christian and Muslim IDF volunteers to protect folks that would gladly murder every non-Sunni baby they could find, just as hey did in the pogrom two years ago today. Israel should have carpet bombed Gaza. Yes, hostages would have been lost, but no nation or non-state actor would ever have messed with the Jews again and all the troops lost in Gaza would have come home alive to their families. 

Quality Over Quantity

It is not the years in your life that matter but the life in your years. I would rather have a short period of unbridled joy than a long life of lingering ennui. 

What a Relief!

My home town Tennessee Titans might not be the worst team in professional football after all. They are undeniably bad but somehow managed to secure a road victory over the Arizona Cardinals, who are obviously woeful as well. Also, after watching Arch Manning play twice this season, I believe he is at best another Chris Simms in the making. He is no future professional star, and will be lucky to linger as a backup quarterback in the NFL for a few seasons. 

Drop Out Curtis

Cuomo could defeat the Marxist Muslim running for mayor of New York if it was a simple binary choice between the two candidates and their competing philosophies. He can't win though with the founder of the Guardian Angels drawing around twenty percent of the anti-Mamdani vote. Sliwa has a cap of voters he will never surpass, nowhere near a winning number but just enough to deny the former governor victory. If Curtis loves his city, he will exit the race. 

Gaza Victory Defined

The lives of the hostages held in Gaza are not worth the ultimate destruction of the Jewish People. Twenty souls should not be allowed to outweigh the fate of fifteen million or so Jews not being held captive. What was needed to dissuade future attacks on Jews was a victory like Rome enjoyed over Carthage where every field was burned and each well salted, so that what used to be Rome's rival could not sustain life for thousands of years. That is the only sort of triumph that would have restored deterrence and protected Israel and more broadly, world Jewry. 

Republican Funding Priority

The President and Republicans really want to make sure American citizens are provided for and protected with a secure border. They really want the alien criminals Biden admitted sent back to their countries of origin, so they are not in a position to harm you and your children. They actually want to ensure deadly narcotics never reach our shores. What Trump wants and the Republican Congress are being blocked by DemocRATS from delivering is a safe and prosperous America. 

DemocRAT Funding Priorities

DemocRAT leadership does not care if your child is killed by an illegal alien on the street. They do very much care that those illegals all have access to healthcare here in America at taxpayer (your) expense. They are in fact so concerned that they have shut down the government over it. 

Government Shut Down

America is in crisis, or perhaps not so much, as we experience a shut down of the Federal government caused by DemocRAT obstruction. The sun will still come up. Birds will fly. Businesses will open their doors (as we are a capitalist country). Would we have preferred the DemocRAT Party be less obstinate and be willing to compromise with the President and the Republicans who hold more seats in Congress? Yes, absolutely, but at the moment one faction is comprised of arsonists who have taken over the fire brigade and that side is NOT the GOP.