potpourri

Played volleyball last week without damaging any major body parts. Only some of you have any idea how momentous that is. My brother and I were talking about how sad it is that our physical peak was, like, age 18-21. Not that we're professional athletes, but that seems way too small of a window.

If you ever had any doubt, don't ever, ever mess with the Madden Curse. As videogame savvy as most football players are, you'd think they'd eventually refuse to be on the cover. They can't MAKE you be on the cover of anything, can they?

I really like Canadian trance nerds the Junior Boys. I also really like the aptly named, Jet-but-better-guilty-pleasure Dirty Pretty Things. They make driving to and from work much easier to bear. And I am entranced by the soothing lilt of Priscilla Ahn, whose last name allows me to indulge in the idle fantasy of being married to a singer/songwriter, you know, the one who'll put you in the liner notes in the part where she thanks everyone, writing a cryptic line like "Thanks for warning me about the purple alligators" and only you know what the heck that means in the first place.

I've tried bringing in music to class, but the speakers are limited to small ones connected to the teacher's computer, and most of the kids bring their music players anyway. I'm curious as to what they listen to.

what's with the funny hat?

Happy feast day of St. Andrew Kim Taegon (left) and St. Paul Chong Hasang + companions. Sts. Andrew and Paul were among the Korean martyrs who were executed over a period spanning 1839-1867, back when Korea still had minimal contact with the outside world.

My favorite part of this rather grisly martyrdom story is that Christianity was planted on the soil not by missionaries, but by several books on Christianity that they had obtained on trips to the foreign embassy in Beijing. A group of people immediately converted and a community of the faithful flourished underground, so when French missionaries finally arrived in 1836, they found a community in the thousands who'd never seen a priest before. John Paul II canonized St. Andrew (the first native Korean priest), St. Paul, and the martyrs on May 6, 1984. I'd like to think that it's no coincidence that my brother was born in the same month and year.

"Even though the Christians in the first half century had only two priests from China to assist them, and these only for a time, they deepened their unity in Christ through prayer and fraternal love; they disregarded social classes and encouraged religious vocations. And they sought ever closer union with their Bishop in Peking and the Pope in faraway Rome...

The splendid flowering of the Church in Korea today is indeed the fruit of the heroic witness of the Martyrs. Even today, their undying spirit sustains the Christians in the Church of silence in the North of this tragically divided land...

The Korean Martyrs have borne witness to the crucified and risen Christ. Through the sacrifice of their own lives they have become like Christ in a very special way. The words of Saint Paul the Apostle could truly have been spoken by them: We are "always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies . . . We are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh".

The death of the martyrs is similar to the death of Christ on the Cross, because like his, theirs has become the beginning of new life. This new life was manifested not only in themselves - in those who underwent death for Christ - but it was also extended to others. It became the leaven of the Church as the living community of disciples and witnesses to Jesus Christ. "The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians": this phrase from the first centuries of Christianity is confirmed before our eyes." -- Pope John Paul II, Seoul, May 6, 1984.

Like my brother said, "Dude. It's OUR day." Sts. Andrew and Paul, pray for us.

Godspeed

Typical 2006 White Sox game:

Fall behind early in the game? Check.

Junkball pitcher with average changeup dominates? Check.

Lefthanded opposing pitcher dominates? Check.

Horrendous Mackowiak error? Check.

One crappy relief performance (minimum)? Check.

Ozzie leaves in starter too long? Check.
Offense wholly consisted of home runs? Check.

Choke with runners in scoring position? 13 left on base. Check.

Thanks for 2005.

good tidings, good innings

A sea change for the Palehose Six? Starters in their last few outings:

Garland's last 6 starts
43.7 IP, 25 Ks, 1.44 ERA, 0.98 WHIP

The Count's last 3 starts
21 IP, 23 Ks, 1.71 ERA, 1.00 WHIP

Fifth Inning Javy's last 3 starts
26.7 IP, 24 Ks, 2.36 ERA, 1.01 WHIP

First Inning Freddy's last 2 starts
14.1 IP, 11 Ks, 1.28 ERA, 0.78 WHIP

Buehrle's last 4 starts
24.3 IP, 13 Ks, 4.07 ERA, 1.60 WHIP (ugh)

Vazquez's and Contreras' showings are particularly encouraging. Yet, despite the resurgence of the starters, Sox are only 11-8 in this span, including 0-3 for Vazquez starts. Buehrle still sucks, but at least he's league average.

Sox continue to sputter, however. The negatives:

• Sox still have to face Oakland, Detroit, Seattle and Minnesota, by far the most difficult stretch left out of the 3 Central leaders. (Detroit faces Bal, the Sox, KC twice and Tor, while Minny gets Cle, a depleted Boston, Bal, KC, and the Sox.)
• Ozzie keeps doing stupid things out of arrogance or loyal machismo, like continuing to waste leadoff ABs for Podsednik, despite the fact that Scotty refuses to even *run* well, let alone, hit, field, bunt, etc. He needs to hit 9th, and start packing his bags, thanks for 2005, cuz he won't be here next year.
• Ozzie keeps using Jenks despite Bubba giving up runs in his last 4 outings (2 blown saves and a loss). He's hurt and his velocity's down, and Ozzie keeps rolling him out there. Part of it is not having a reliable reliever outside of Thornton, but when every win is precious, call me crazy, you don't go with your injured closer.
• Ozzie also keeps trotting out Rob Mackowiak's carcass out in CF, despite Brian Anderson hitting like a real major leaguer since the AS break. He even has new hotness Ryan Sweeney who can play center, but he gets no use, cuz apparently Ozzie is willing to sacrifice wins for getting Rob regular ABs. Sweeney's played CF and LF throughout his professional career. Mackowiak never played center until this year. I need to go lie down.
• Sick of Sox hitters flailing away early in the count, Pierzynski and Uribe being the worst culprits. Maybe they're buying into the fact that the Sox can't seem to score unless they hit home runs.

However, circumstances are setting up for the Sox to make a run, ever since Black Jack McDowell has brought good mojo by sitting in for Hawk on the TV call on Saturday (9/9).

• Minnesota got Liriano back, but looks like they've lost him to injury in his first start back.
• Detroit 's won 3 out of their last 10, and got a particularly good thrashing by the Twins.
• Sox have taken 2 of 3 so far on the dreaded West Coast Roadtrip (TM), including a one-hitter from Hash Pipe Freddy.

The verdict? They've gotten a lot of breaks, but these are meaningless unless they take advantage of them. But a playoff spot is still there for the taking.

memory

On another sabbath he went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.

But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up and stand before us." And he rose and stood there.

Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" Looking around at them all, he then said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so and his hand was restored.

But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

--Luke 6:6-11

"Sometimes it seems to us that God is not governing the world very attentively. We wonder why he does not with one nod of his head crush and grind to dust all [his enemies]... That's the way our narrow, finite minds think. But God in his eternal wisdom judges otherwise. He sees that persecutions purify souls as fire cleanses gold... Inscrutable and most wise always are the ways of God!

Nevertheless, this in no way means we are to fold our hands and allow the enemy to play around with the souls of men. Not in the least! On the other hand, we must in no way try to correct God's Infinite Wisdom, or tell the Holy Spirit what to do. Rather we must allow him to lead us.

Let us imagine therefore, that we are brushes in the hands of an infinitely perfect artist. What must the brush do to make the picture perfectly beautiful? It must allow itself to be used in a perfect way. A brush could, of course, aspire to correct an earthly, finite, erring artist, but when Eternal Wisdom, God, uses us as instruments, then our activity will be most consistently perfect when we allow ourselves to be led completely and wholly by him.

-- St. Maximillian Kolbe, 1932

"The world needs God. We need God, but what God? The definitive explanation is to be found in the one who died on the Cross: in Jesus, the Son of God incarnate ... love to the end."

"This is the God we need. We do not fail to show respect for other religions and cultures, profound respect for their faith, when we proclaim clearly and uncompromisingly the God who encounters violence with his own suffering; who in the face of the power of evil exalts his mercy, in order that evil may be limited and overcome."

-- Pope Benedict XVI, 9/10/06, Munich

laboring

Neuroscientists say that visual art, such as Wassily Kandinsky's paintings, can be heard as well as seen.


Kandinsky's "Composition VIII," 1923. It makes sense to me that sound could be represented this way, but I'm curious to see if someone would perceive it as something more visually realistic. Maybe that doesn't make any sense.

American military deaths in Iraq have gone over 2,600 since March 2003. Ugh.

Over the weekend, a friend told me about a website (some additional media coverage) that allows for teachers to sell and pay for lesson plans made by other teachers. Personally, I think I'd have to be in a pretty desperate place to use plans from someone that I don't know, but I could see it working for something universal, like grammar or particular types of writing. In theory, it's no different than the shiny catalogs teachers get in the mail all the time touting brand new curricula, and you don't have any more guarantee of classroom success. It's a pretty good idea, actually, if done right. I kind of wish I knew about this earlier because, despite my short life in the profession, I have a whole bunch of handouts, lessons, and unit plans that were just sitting on my computer. It would've been nice to have some pocket money while looking for work, and offer something of value to somebody at the same time.

It does kind of violate the ethos of sharing teaching materials, since most teachers share for free with coworkers, but I suppose you can justify the cost if it's low enough (educators not being the richest people in the world). There are open source educational material projects out there. In theory, if a teacher is up late planning one night, and can't seem to come up with something, would paying a couple of dollars (the sellers can set their prices) for a grammar handout be worth it? It might be, for the convenience and the time saved. Another "macro" issue would be copyright; there's some contention as to whether teacher-produced materials belong to the author(s), or the school, or the district.

I've been following English Premier League soccer regularly, helped by a new laptop (which has been the bane of my productivity). The latest story involves defender William Gallas (shipped to Arsenal after a nasty spat with Chelsea) and how Chelsea alleges that he'd start kicking the ball into his own net if he didn't get transferred to another club. I love how ridiculous this is, if it's true. I can't even think of an equal counterpart in American sports. Euro soccer players pout like no other.

fantasy football draft day is like christmas

Some people wake up on a glorious late summer/early autumn Saturday morning and sip in the sunshine from mowing the lawn, wiping the last suds from the hood of the car, or leisurely leafing through the paper on the patio.

Not me. I rolled out of bed, landed on the "power" button of my laptop, and drafted my customary random league football team. Who needs a girlfriend/hobby/breakfast?

I've already drafted in my keeper leagues, which have been, conservatively speaking, Hindenburg level disasters. How does this happen? 1) You don't make it to one of the drafts because you're picking up your little priest brother from the airport, leaving you to the fickle whims of Fraulein Auto Pick and 2) keeper leagues horde running backs the way third world dictators collect weapons grade plutonium. I'm pretty sure right now there's a waiver claim for Shaun Alexander's 2 yr old daughter. It's crazy. My off-time happiness shouldn't have to depend on the performance of Wali Lundy, or how gimpy Corey Dillon is feeling.

Sticking myself in a random redraft league of complete strangers gives me the chance to start afresh, unburdened by the failures/legacies of the previous year, and to (hopefully) whoop up on 5th graders and old ladies. Hey it's still competition; if they don't want to get BEAT, they should STAY HOME and play Risk. Picking 5th in a 10 team league.

1. Ronnie Brown, RB, Mia - didn't want Edge (crappy OL), Portis (bum shoulder). Maybe should've taken Rudi? Argh. Fantasy sports always seduces you with potential.
2. Lamont Jordan, RB, Oak - decent pick, but I don't like how he faded at the end last year, and the Raiders always seem to bring out the underachiever in everyone. In other news, somebody takes the Chicago defense in this round. This is going well.
3. Chris Chambers, WR, Mia - ready to make the leap, with a real QB throwing to him finally.
4. Roy Williams, WR, Det - nervous about this one cuz he gets hurts, but still banking on the Lions' new Rams offense to put up numbers.
5. Donald Driver, WR, GB - Favre doesn't throw to anyone else.
6. Willie Parker, RB, Pit - was looking to take one QB out of Brady, McNabb and Bulger, but lo and behold all 3 get taken right before. Parker's a good value, but I'm going to be mixing and matching QBs all year.
7. Kurt Warner, QB, Ari - Ugh. Too bad this isn't 1999. I'm still tailspinning from not getting a QB last round and how many good RBs are still left on the board. I still need to brush my teeth.
8. Chris Cooley, TE, Was - Never mind that an Asian guy is drafting a "Cooley."
9. Lawrence Maroney, RB, NE - this year's LJ. On the other hand, what I am doing taking my 4th RB in the 9th round.
10. Matt Jones, WR, Jax - Secret weapon #2, after Maroney. Could wrest away the "Best White Wide Receiver" title away from Joe Jurevicious.
11. Chris Simms, QB, TB - Is Kurt Warner 5 picks better than Simms? No. I'm an idiot.
12. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Car - My fav sleeper pick. I can't help myself from picking these; I'm like the guy that takes four too many free samples at the grocery store. By the way, I can only start 2 out of 37 running backs that I now have.
13. Kevin Curtis, WR, StL - Might vie for "Best White Wide Receiver" in a few years. Joe Addai, another sleeper RB, gets taken right afterward. I feel sad.
14. Washington defense
15. David Akers, K, Phi

I need to trade some of my RBs for a better QB. Carson Palmer, I'm looking at you, boyeee.