This On That

 

 

You might have noticed that I've entered the "This Week's Picks" season of my blog.

This means that sometimes I don't write on a general topic, but instead give my goofy football picks. 

I missed writing about the recent unpleasantness, that is, the assassination of Charlie Kirk and its aftermath. 

I am a sixty-six-year-old man, and I knew of Charlie Kirk, but I hadn't watched any of his videos in which he debated our glorious generation of college students. I knew he was associated with Trump, but I didn't think too much of it and had no idea he was younger than my son.

Today's college students are bangers on iPhones, not so much on common sense. But college is a time when kids are exposed to "new ideas," and they don't want to hear any of the old ideas that have kept the world running for centuries, like marriage and having babies. 

Charlie Kirk was holding one of his campus "Prove Me Wrong" forums at Utah Valley University.  There was a crack of gunfire, and Kirk was gone.

I'm sure you saw a tape of the shooting.  It was gross and sickening.  

The sane response to this incident would be to recoil in horror. For the most part, people did. However, there is this insane portion of our society that feels it is their responsibility to Address The Nation via their favorite social media platform.

Really ugly X (Twitter) posts (Tweets) popped up, calling him all sorts of names without citing sources or giving context. 

My least favorite ones were on TikTok in which people who are slurping on an iced coffee in the front seat of their car letting you know Charlie Kirk was a (misogynist, racist, or any other "ist" promoting a sin ) and that he got what he deserved.

These social media posts was mean and nasty. They ought to be ashamed of themselves and maybe one day this will be.

The alleged killer was quickly found. It turns out he was living with his "lover," who is transitioning to becoming a female. His reasons for killing Kirk: "I had enough of his hatred. "Some hate can't be negotiated out."

So there you go.

This explanation from the killer has really bumfuzzled some people, particularly Jimmy Kimmel, who thought it was someone from the MAGA side of town. 

Kimmel said in his monologue (note: imagine Johnny Carson or Merv Griffin saying anything close to this in a monologue), "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterize this kid who killed Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it."
 

That's a mighty rich sentence considering "the new lows" of characterizing the kid was a part of the MAGA gang was simply factual wrong. There's no indication he was a "groyper" (a really strange white supremacy group) and any other right wing faction.

Then Kimmel tried to score some political points of his own by showing some clips of Trump acting goofy when asked about the killing. Finally, Kimmel said, "This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish. Okay?”

I know Kimmel was trying to bust Trump's chops because let's face it, busting Trump's chops is fun.  But who is the goldfish in this analogy?  A living, breathing thirty-one-year-old man who was doing something controversial like talking into a microphone?

Unfortunately, Kimmel was suspended for this. I say unfortunately, because we have the First Amendment in this country, which protects the freedom of speech for all people, even the stupid ones like Jimmy Kimmel. This made Kimmel the poster boy for free speech, which is like making Chris Christie the poster boy for the President's Physical Fitness Test. 

Kimmel was allowed to do his show again. He came out and cried, which is his go-to emotion besides smugness. 

The Kimmel mess took our eye off the ball. We need to have a national conversation, and soon, about the way we treat our fellow man when they have a different point of view. If not, the next time will be worse. 
 

 

 

This Week's Picks Week Six

 

 

 

 

 

Jawja vs Kenyucky:  Last week was pretty bad for the Dawgs. They lost, once again, to their heathen kin from the west, Alabama.  Kentucky is 2-2, beating Toledo and Eastern Michigan. This ain't basketball. Georgia wins. 

 

Wesskhansin vs Meechigan. I didn't know this but Wisconsin is "the No. 1 rushing defense in college football. Through four games, they're giving up an average of 50 rushing yards and just 2.11 yards per carry, and two of their games have come against Maryland (61 yards on 23 carries) and Alabama (72 yards on 22 carries)".  See, I can do a little research. Maybe it is the hype, but I never see Wisconsin ever do anything big like beat Michigan.  But I like the chicken dance they do. Michigan wins.

 

Myamme vs Flerida State:  Miami is off to a great start. I just don't see FSU winning this game.  Miami wins.

 

Vandy vs Bamy:  Last year, the Lord blessed us with a Vanderbilt victory over Alabama, which I checked the Scripture and it was not foretold in the Book of Revelation, even in the Greek. It was a tremendous time.  Since then, we have learned that it wasn't a fluke, but The Commodoors actually had a good team, led by an insane forty year old quarterback. I've checked the good book again, but there is no mention of this game. Would it be too much to ask, Lord, for another Vanderbilt victory? Probably.  Alabama wins. 

 

Longherns vs Lizards: Texas travel to Gainesville, Florida to start their SEC play.  You really don't have a good handle on Texas. 3-1 record, but they lost to the only good team on their schedule.  Meanwhile, Florida is having one of those years that sees the Head Coach's contract being bought out.  Texas wins.  

This Week's Picks: Week Five

 

 

 

 

Jawja vs Bammy:  This is always a big game. Alabama is not the Alabama of the days of yore, but you can't fall asleep on them. But, always give me Kirby Smart and a team with a week's rest. Georgia wins.

 

Bees vs Backslidden Deacons: The Bees are having a surprising year if you haven't been following them. All they do is win. And they will again. Georgia Tech wins. 

 

 Our Lady vs. Bacon: At first look, this would be a no brainer. Especially since Arkansas has lost the past two games. However, they have "a potent offense that ranks 15th nationally in passing output behind quarterback Taylen Green and is 18th in FBS averaging nearly 44 points per game." (Whoa, research!) So, Arkansas could, possibly, maybe win this game. Naw.  Notre Dame wins. 

 

 Ellessyou vs Ole Mess:  I know LSU hasn't lost a game, but they don't have much of an offense for a 4-0 team. Their defense is a BEAR.  Ole Miss could surprise people and win this game, which used to be a big deal because the Mississippi people were so snooty. If LSU can get their offense going, they should win this game with no problem. I'm just not a fan of Coach Kelly or Lane Kiffin. LSU wins, but don't be shocked if they don't. 

 

Quacks vs Lions of Nittany: Number 6 versus Number 3. Oregon brings one of their 1400 uniform combinations to Happy Valley for an early season showdown. Some show Oregon as a half a point favorite with others showing Penn State a 3.5 point favorite.  When was the last time you saw someone score a half a point in football?  Both have a 3-0 record, but both haven't played any tough teams, yet. Oregon always seem so fast, so I'm going with them. Oregon wins. 

 

 

Beloved Owls vs Middle Tennessee State:  Well, look who has a two game win streak!  Coach Mack has equaled last year's record and now they start playing their Conference USA schedule.  MTSU has won only one game, but they have been at the football game longer than Kennesaw State.  Let's make it three in a row Hooty Owls. Kennesaw State wins.

This Week's Picks: Week Four

 

 

Last week was a good week.

Georgia Tech won in the last seconds in the claim against Clemson.

Georgia looked like it was down for the count against Tennessee when the Tennessee kicker pushed a field goal attempt wide right. The Dogs won the game in overtime. 

And my Beloved Owls won their first game of the Jerry Mack era. 

Even the Braves won. 

Dang, what is going on here? 

 

 

 

The Mighty Bees vs The Other Owls: Georgia Tech bring a whole lot of Big Mo into their game against Temple (fun fact: the alma mater of Bill Cosby).  Tech has been doing a lot of thing right, so far, this year. As much as the Larry Lightbulb Tech Alums think I bring bad juju, I have to post what I think: Tech wins. 

 

The Other Tech vs Uters: This is a game that pits number 16 (Utah) versus number 17 (Texas Tech). Like all great football predictors, I flipped a coin on this one. Texas Tech wins. 

 

 

The WarTigers vs Okies:  Auburn is 3-0 but is ranked lower than Alabama. That's about par for the course at Toomer's Corner.  Meanwhile, Oklahoma is playing better. I'm going with where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain. Oklahoma wins. 

 

Lizards vs Myammee:  Okay, I'm sorry I called Carson Beck "Goat Boy". It was insulting to all goats everywhere. However, he's played well at Miami. Meanwhile, Florida is 1-2 winning only the opening game against Long Island University.  Miami is strong, Florida is not. Miami wins.

 

Beloved Owls vs Arkansas State:  Yes, last week Kennesaw State beat Merrimack while Arkansas State had to play Iowa State. I know absolutely nothing about Arkansas State except the team nickname is the "Red Wolves" which makes more sense than the Razorbacks.  I'm going out on a limb. Kennesaw State wins. 

Vacation In DC, Part Two: The Other Stuff

 

 

Of course, there are other things to see in Washington, DC, besides the White House.

Ford's Theater, for example. 

Just in case you slept through history class, Ford's Theater was where John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln during the play "Momma Mia". 

Sorry, just a joke. The play Lincoln was watching was called "Our American Cousin."  It is about a high school senior who gets bitten by a radioactive spider and develops spider-like powers. 

Sorry, another joke. "Our American Cousin" is "a farce featuring awkward, boorish American Asa Trenchard, who is introduced to his aristocratic English relatives when he goes to England to claim the family estate." It is a 19th century version of the John Goodman movie, "King Ralph".

You have to remember, they didn't have Netflix back then.

Ford's Theatre is a neat little place, and you see where Lincoln was seated when he met his fate.  There's a neat little museum in the basement, with some Lincoln stuff like his suit (Brooks Brothers!) and the pillow they laid his head on when they carried him across the street to the rooming house where he died.  It is kind of gross. (The pillow, not the suit.)

Between Capitol Hill and the Washington Monument is the area called "The National Mall".   There you will find your Smithsonian Museums, like the Air and Space Museum.

We didn't go to the Air and Space Museum this time.  We've been a couple of times before. You see "The Spirit of St.Louis", the Apollo 11 command module, and the model for the Star Trek Enterprise.  In the 90s, they had a moon rock you could touch (it felt like a rock). 

However, we did go to the Smithsonian Museum of American History. We went for one reason: to see the flag that flew over Fort McHenry which inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star Spangled Banner".

They won't let you take pictures of the flag. That's okay. If seeing this flag doesn't inspire you, you have hairy thighs and don't love the Lord.

The rest of the museum is okay.  You see Archie and Edith Bunker's chairs. You see one of Prince's guitars.  Of course, you see Dorothy's shoes.  Just for your information, they no longer display Ted Baxter's WJM jacket. Time marches on, even in a history museum. 

There is one place you must go: The National Archives.

The National Archives has the original Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. 

The Archives open at 10:00 in the morning.  If you go during non-peak vacation times like we did, just get to the Archives as soon as it opens. You will not have to wait in line. You will have to go through security and remove your belt. 

Like seeing the Fort McHenry Flag, it is breathtaking to see these documents. If that doesn't fill you with awe, I'm not sure what will.

The only place to catch your breath after seeing the original Declaration of Independence is the National Archives gift shop.

Of all of the gift shops in DC, the Archives has to be one of the best.  I had to buy these bad boys:

Yes, socks commemorating the famous Nixon-Elvis summit on December 21, 1970.  The historian in me will note that this was fourteen months before Nixon went to China.

Elvis wrote Nixon a letter suggesting that he (Elvis, not Nixon) be appointed as a Special Federal Agent of Burning Love and Nixon thought, "Sure, why not?" Elvis came to the White House and got his picture taken with Nixon. Nixon gave him a badge and Elvis said, "Thank you. Thank you for much."  Soon Elvis left the building. 

 
 

 

This Week's Picks: Week Three

 

 

To me, Week Three of the College Football season is when things really get rolling. The match-ups are better. You can get a better grip on how well your favorite teams is going to do.  Plus, there's only so many Georgia vs Austin Peay games you can watch.

 

 

 

Jawja vs Tennysee: The first REALLY big game for both teams. You have to give the edge to Tennessee because they played Syracuse and, they crushed East Tennessee while Georgia played Marshall and beat Austin Peay but it was not overpowering, to say the least. A little entertainment advice: after Georgia plays lacksy-daisy always turn on "The Bulldog Hotline" the next day. It is incredible. You would think it is the end of the world, if the end of the world was ever punctuated with "Go Dawgs".  There's nothing Tennessee would rather do than beat Georgia this year. But I always try to go with Kirby in games like these. Georgia wins....barely. 

 

Bees vs Tygers:  Like their pals in Athens, Tech has played some lesser teams in the first two games of the season. The Tigers had that bummer of a first game with LSU. Although Tech is better this year, Clemson is better, too.  Clemson wins. 

 

Lizards vs Ellessyou: Oh well, another September, another story about how Billy Napier is on the hot seat. LSU is looking pretty strong this year. They will make alligator shoes out of Florida this Saturday. LSU wins. 

 

 

Ags vs Our Lady:  Texas A&M is a good team. Notre Dame is Notre Dame.  I think the Aggies will win. I can't say why.  Texas A&M wins. 

 

 

Pigs vs Ole Mess:  Arky is Arky. Kind of good, kind of bad.  Ole Miss looks like they don't miss Jaxson Dart that much. Ole Miss is the better team. Ole Miss wins. 

 

Beloved Owls vs Merrimack: Well (it is a deep subject), Kennesaw State played against some historical programs for the first two games of the season.  Merrimack is "One of the fastest-growing educational institutions in the country, Merrimack College is a selective, top-tier college in a beautiful, residential setting — just minutes from Boston, Massachusetts," per their website. Their football team has won a game.  I think Coach Mack will get his first win as the Owls head coach.  Owls win. 

 

 

This Week's Picks: WeekTwo

 

 

 

The season started with a farewell to Coach Corso and to whatever Heisman hopes Arch Manning had.

Florida State looks like they are back. Alabama looks like they have a rough row to hoe. 

The next North Carolina head coach will not have a 24 year old girl friend.

I may have been a little harsh on Goatboy Carson Beck last week. 

 

 

Jawja vs Austin P: According to the school's website, Austin Peay (pronounced "P")  was Tennessee's governor from 1923-1927 and a favorite son of Clarksville, which everybody took the last train to. Peay signed a law establishing Austin Peay Normal School on April 26, 1927. Their cheer is "Let's go Pea".  You won't hear that a lot on Saturday. Dawgs win. 

 

Bee vs Baptist Bulldogs:  Guess what, The Bees will beat the Bulldogs this year.  Tech wins

 

Meechigan vs Okie:  In the past, this would have been a very big game. It still is, but not as big as in the olden days. Oklahoma is in the SEC. Michigan is not. I think the Sooners are just a little big better.  Oklahoma wins. 

 

The Commode Doors vs The Gobblers:  Last year Vanderbilt started their (for them) Cinderella season by defeating Virginia Tech. This year, Virginia Tech wants revenge, which I think is the first time I ever heard anybody wanting revenge on Vanderbilt. It will be interesting to see how Vanderbilt plays. Vanderbilt wins.

 

My Beloved Owls vs Indiana Wants Me, Lord I Can't Go Back There:  The Jerry Mack era began last week and they just came up a little bit short against Wake Forest.  I watched the game and was impressed by the Owl defense and the offense looks pretty fast. So good times are ahead. They just may not be ahead this Saturday. Indiana just has too much.  Indiana wins.