Hurricane effects on economy

What do you think the long term effects of Hurricane Katrina will be on our national economy?

Puzzle

I know some people like puzzles so here's one. I'll be honest. I stunk the place up. The goal is to find 9 hidden people. I got 7 or 8. I don't remember now because I've seen the solution.

Hurricane

Everytime a major hurricane hits the U.S. I have a strong urge to go and experience it. I wish I was in Louisiana or Mississippi right now. Unfortunately, my wife has just as strong a desire for me to not go and experience it. Someday, I may try and ride one out.

Finished another book

I just finished a book. "A new kind of Christian" It's a very interesting book. I don't agree with everything in it, but surprisingly I agree with some of it. The book is a fiction book that tries to teach a nonfiction idea. The idea is how the church and Christians should function in a postmodern world. I plan on reading it again soon and I'll give you more thoughts on it then. I had to interrupt it for the bronchitis. I didn't feel comfortable reading it with a fever, I tend to be more emotional when I have a fever. This book tends to generate some emotional responses. A pastor up here read it and decided to resign and go start a church in Arkansas.

Hey 98.6 it's good to have you back again

The fever is gone. The cough is not. I went golfing yesterday anyways. Shot a 46. I think it's my best ever. That's with an 8 on the 9th hole. I'll get this game figured out just in time for winter and then forget it all next year.

Bronchitis

I'm recovering from a good old fashioned case of bronchitis. So maybe some day I'll go back to posting more. But read my thoughts on the NCAA and NIT.

NCAA NIT thoughts

In case you missed it. The NCAA bought the NIT basketball tournaments. This is a big deal for me. Here's a little background. The NIT was suing because the NCAA was doing what every good monopoly should do and that's put the competition out of business. The NIT is the longest running basketball tournament. However, the NCAA had a rule that if a college was given an invite to the NCAA tournament; it could not turn that invitation down and instead play in the NIT tournament. The NIT was suing the NCAA because of this rule and it appeared that they were going to win the case. The NCAA then did what any self respecting monopoly would do and that was buy the competition. Now here is why this is a big deal. If the NCAA had not bought the NIT, the NIT probably would have won the case. Now an NCAA team would have the choice which tournament to play in. Not normally a big deal. Who wouldn't choose the NCAA tournament over the NIT? How about a team with an Indian mascot? You remember the ruling about mascots and the NCAA? If not look at the Myles Brand post.

Why is this such a big deal? Let's take Illinois as an example. Last year Illinois had an incredible season. They went 32-1. This year it's reasonable to expect them to have a chance to win the Big Ten again. Let's say they go to the Big Ten Championship game and win securing the automatic bid in the NCAA tournament. Then, angry about the Chief Illiniwek ban, use their new option and choose the NIT tournament. The NCAA selection committee releases the brackets less than two hours after the end of the Big Ten Championship. This would have caused a huge mess for the NCAA. Then what if FSU, CMU, or Utah, all teams that have been in the NCAA tournament in the past had made the same decision. Bedlam. I only wish we could have seen it happen.

Fantasy Football

One of my leagues had it's draft. This league uses return yards and they are very valuable. For example, last year Wesley Welker scored more fantasy points than any other WR besides Dante Hall. So my strategy for this league was to get very good RBs and QBs and just use return guys for my WRs. We'll see if this works. Here's my team in the order that I drafted them.
1. LaDainian Tomlinson
2. Curtis Martin
3. Brett Favre
4. Marc Bulger
5. Dante Hall
6. Carnell Williams
7. Buffalo D
8. David Akers
9. Ronnie Brown
10. Jeb Putzier
11. Doug Gabriel
12. Antwaan Randle El
13. Tim Dwight
14. BJ Sams
15. Marcus Pollard

Finally

I finally finished Booker T. Washington's autobiography Up From Slavery: An Autobiography. I wasn't sure I would.

Interesting Article about Bono and Christianity

It's a good read even if you don't like U2.

Myles Brand

I was going to write a huge post tearing apart Myles Brand the president of the NCAA. Instead I'll just ask a couple of questions.

1. Should the head of the National Collegiate Athletic Association be a man who has had no experience in Athletics?

2. Why make rulings on mascots and the eligibility of endorsed athletes and ignore big issues?

3. Should a guy who preaches that college sports aren't a business get paid more than $800,000 to be president of a collegiate athletic association?

Jr. High Camping Trip

I've been gone the past 3 days on a camping trip with our Jr. Highers in the Upper Peninsula. Besides the girl that cried countless times and the black flies it wasn't too bad. Here are some pictures.



Lighthouse at Mackinaw City

Miners Castle at Pictured Rocks

Miners Falls

Black Biting flies