How I Play Golf

I am terrible at Golf, but I still enjoy it.  But to help me enjoy golf more I've come up with a new way to play.  I have 3 goals for each hole.

1.  Tee Off

When I'm driving off the tee my goal is to keep the ball in the fairway.  If I accomplish this, then I've got 1 win.  If I hit the ball and it isn't in the fairway, then I lost.

2.  Next Shot

If I am on a Par 3 my goal is to get the ball on the green on my next Shot.  If I'm on a Par 4 or 5 my goal is to get the ball on the green in 2 shots or less.  If I do this, then I win.  If on a Par 3, it takes more than 1 shot to get on the green or on a Par 4 or 5, it takes more than 2 shots to get on the green, I lose.

3.  Putting

Once I'm on the Green my goal is to 2 putt the hole.  If I can get it in the hole in 2 putts I win.  If I don't get the ball in the hole in 2 putts, I stop putting and I lose.

4.  If I lose a ball, then I lose the entire hole.  I will still take a drop finish the hole, but the hole is lost. 

How do I score the hole?

1.  If I won on all 3 of the above goals, then I count that as a Eagle.  On my scorecard I'd write E.

2.  If I win 2 of the above goals, then I count that as a Birdie.  On my scorecard I'd write B.

3.  If I win 1 of the above goals, then I count that as a Par.  On my scorecard I'd write P.

4.  If I don't make any goals or lose a ball then, I count that as a Bogey.  On my scorecard I'd write X.

How do I score a round of golf.

I give myself 2 points for each Eagle, 1 point for each Birdie, and 0 points for Par.  I add those up, then subtract 1 point for each Bogey.

A round of 18.

1.  If my point total is between 25 and 36, then that is an Eagle day.

2.  If my point total is between 13 and 24, then that is a Birdie day.

3.  If my point total is between 0 and 12, that is a Par day.

4.  If my point total is in the negative, then that is a Bogey day.

A round of 9

1.  Eagle:  13-18

2.  Birdie:  7-12

3.  Par:  0-6

4.  Bogey:  Negative 

By playing this way I have 3 chances to get a win on a single hole.  So I get to feel good more often on a hole and if I have a bad shot or 2, I can just move on and forget it.  I also get to enjoy each hole more.  The overall game is about making good shots, enjoying little wins, and just improving on each aspect of the game.  Improving on driving, mid range shots, chipping, and putting.   I basically just do this playing alone as I know people won't go along with my strategy.  But playing this way has playing a lot more fun.

What I Want for Trump 2.0

Here is what we know. Trump has won the Electoral College and will be the 47th President. He will win the popular vote. He will win all the swing states. The Republicans have won the Senate and will have at least 52 seats and possibly up to 54 seats. The House is still going to be very tight, but right now the Republicans have gained 1 seat and should remain in control of the House. Trump is likely to replace at least 2 Supreme Court Judges and possibly a 3rd.

What I don't want to see from Republicans this time is any BS. In 2016, Republicans fought Trump on a lot of issues and it cost them the House, Senate, and WH. I want a Wall. Close the border. Deport criminal illegal immigrants now. Process other illegal immigrants to determine if they stay or go. Stop all wealfare spending on illegal immigrants. I want the Trump tax cuts to be permanent and new tax cuts. I want corporate taxes rates brought down. I want to see competition in healthcare, so health insurance and prices drop. I want voter ID laws passed and we need every state to follow the voting model in Florida. I want Title IX fixed and we protect women in sports. I want the Department of Education closed and we give the money we spend sent back to the states. I want to see major overhaul in the CIA and FBI. I want to see cuts in overall government spending. This can all be done if Republicans work together and Make America Great Again.

An Election of Moments

In 2016, Hillary Clinton lost the election more than Trump won it.  In 2020, Trump lost the election more than Biden won it.  In 2024, Trump won the election.   

The 2024 election was an election of 8 moments.  

 

1.  Before the Trump/Biden debate, Biden was likely to win.  He likely wouldn't win by as big of a margin, but he would win the rust belt states and maybe 1 or 2 sun belt swing states. But after the debate the race became a toss up.  Biden showed he wasn't fit to serve.  

2.  When Trump was shot the election moved into his favor.  Trump looked like a badass.  If Biden would have stayed in the race Trump would likely win, but in a close race.

3.  Once Biden pulled out of the race everything changed again.  Harris pulled the race back into a toss up.  

4.  After the Harris/Trump debate, Harris took the lead.  Harris did just good enough and Trump struggled.   At this point it looked like Harris would win the rust belt and a close race.

5.  The VP debate with Vance/Waltz turned the race back to a toss up and maybe even gave Trump a slight edge.  Vance did such an amazing job that the race changed to Trump and never went back.

6.  Trump goes to McDonald's while Harris falls apart in her Fox News interview with Brett Bier.   Harris looked weak, incompetent, and unlikeable.  Trump on the other hand connected with people and looked likeable going to McDonald's.  Trump turned this into a lead and looked like he would win all the sun belt swing states and at least 1 rust belt state to win the election. 

7.  Trump goes on Joe Rogan for 3 hours while Harris refuses to do the same.  Trump won the Electoral College at this point.  He was going to win all the Sun belt swing states and would definitely win one or all of the rust belt swing states.

8.  Biden calls half the country garbage and Trump rids in a garbage truck.  This won Trump the popular vote.  

I will say Trump being shot changed the race the most.  When he got up and said, Fight, Fight, Fight" it was an iconic moment.  And it changed Trump too.  I'm not sure Trump would have done McDonald's or the garbage truck stunts.  I'm not sure he would have done all the podcasts.  He did a bunch of long form podcast besides just Joe Rogan.  Those podcasts let people really get to see him and he was a different man.  This was the greatest political comeback of all time.

How I Voted in Election 2024

I just voted.  I always share how I'm voting, because I usually get a few people asking me.  And I'm proud to cast my vote and show my support to those I want to hold office.  

Question: Should Indiana Remove Superintendent of Public Instruction from Gubernatorial Line of Succession? YES

Federal

President:  Donald Trump and JD Vance

US Senate:  Jim Banks

US Congress:  Did not vote

State

Governor: Mike Braun and Micah Beckwith

Attorney General: Todd Rokita

House:  Ryan Lauer

Local:  Bartholomew County

County Commissioners:  Larry Kleinhenz, Tony London, Michael Bell, Kim Bennett, Marcus Speer

School Board:  Tom Glick, Samantha Ison, David Theile

I recommend voting early to protect your voting power.  If you wait until election day you run the risk that there might be bad weather keeping you from the polls.  There could be problems at your polling place that will not allow you to vote.  You could be sick on election day.  Vote early to make sure your voice is heard.

Your Name.

Your Name is an Anime that in my opinion is not only the best Anime film I've seen, but also for me a top ten movie all time.  This movie is better than anything coming from Disney.  The story is fun, unique, and beautiful.  You will laugh, cry, and be on the edge of your seat.  The visuals are absolutely wonderful and amazing.  You will not feel you are watching an animated movie.  If you have never watched an Anime, this is the perfect first movie. I honestly can't recommend this movie more and wish for anyone to enjoy it.

Suzume

Suzume comes from the creator of Your Name. This is a beautiful Anime with a brilliant story, the visuals are better than most CGI movies, and the voice acting is top notch.  The movie is heartfelt and so emotional.  The action is really cool and it is funny when needed.  This is a great movie for those that love Anime and those that have never seen an Anime.  I highly recommend.

Am I Racist?

Am I Racist? Is the new comedy documentary by Matt Walsh and the DailyWire.  This movie is both funny and serious.  The topic is a serious one and it deals with those who use race, racism, and white guilt to grift people.  Matt does a great job of tolling these people, by allowing them to say what they believe.  Matt also has the ability to remaining in character of a DEI expert, even when these people are saying outrageous stuff.  Honestly this was one of the funniest movies I've seen in some time.  But there were also really important moments that remind us that while we look different we are all the same.  We are all humans and if we truly want to end racism we just need more love.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

This movie was a complete mess.  The story was all over the place and it was trying too hard to get everyone screen time.  There were characters that weren't even needed and side storied that were dumb.  And what was most weird is that they overused Beetlejuice. His entrance was underwhelming and most of his screen time was wasted. I've never watched a movie and thought, "I miss Alec Baldwin." The movie was also not funny.  There were only a few jokes that landed.  The movie also used CGI too much and tried too hard to be gross.  Overall a very poor movie that wasn't needed at all.

Whiskey I've Owned and My Infinity Bottle

Ranking Whiskey I've Owned:

1.  Travellers Whiskey

2.  Larceny Small Batch Bourbon

3.  Eagle Rare Aged 10 Years Bourbon 

4.  Angel's Envy Straight Bourbon

5.  Blanton's Single Barrell Bourbon 

6.  King's Creek Black Label Whiskey

7.  Buffalo Trace Straight Bourbon

8.  Nelson's Green Brier Whiskey

9.  Angel's Envy Single Barrell

10.  Old Forester Straight Bourbon 

11.  Bear Wallow Indiana 46

12.  Weller Special Reserve

13.  Nelson's Bros Reserve Bourbon

14.  Kaigan Japanese Whisky

15.  Toki Suntory Whisky

16.  Bear Wallow Gnaw Bone Bourbon

17.  Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye

18.  Benchmark Full Proof

19.  Rossville Union Straight Rye

20.  Tradewater Kentucky Straight Bourbon

21.  Jim Beam Bourbon

22.  Liar's Bench Straight Rye Whiskey

23.  Kanekou Okinawa Whisky

This is my Infinity Bottle:

Buffalo Trace Straight Bourbon 

Larceny Small Batch Bourbon 

Bear Wallow Gnaw Bone Bourbon 

Nelson's Green Brier Whiskey 

Toki Suntory Whiskey

Angel's Envy Straight Bourbon 

Benchmark Full Proof

Old Forester Straight Bourbon 

King's Creek Black Label Whiskey 

Rossville Union Straight Rye

Jim Beam Bourbon

Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye

Travellers Whiskey

Over The Top Double Elimination

The Stallone movie Over The Top is a fun movie about Arm Wrestling.  In the movie there is an Arm Wrestling tournament that takes place in Las Vegas.  The tournament is a double elimination tournament and for some reason people are confused how it works.  SPOILER Alert in the final match Stalllone's character Hawk beats Bull.  Hawk had lost one match, but Bull hadn't lost a match.  His only loss was the final match against Hawk.  People think Hawk should have to beat Bull twice to win.  But that isn't how all double elimination tournaments work.  

A double elimination tournament can mean you have to lose 2 times before the final rounds to be out of the tournament. Usually, once you get to the semi finals or finals, it is one and done. The reason you do a tournament this way is so the tournament isn't over after just a few rounds. Plus, you got guys coming from all over the world. Who wants to have 1 match, lose, and then it is over.  Instead it gives guys the chance to at least have 2 matches.  By changing to a single elimination in the final round or rounds it creates even more excitement and you don't have a situation where one guy has to win two times in a row while the other only has to win once.

I was a wrestler in high school, and we had double elimination tournaments. So you keep wrestling until you lost twice, then when you got down to the last 4 guys (which I believe is the same case in the movie), it became 1 and done. A winner takes all final. It can get complicated to know who you match against after each round, but there is a crew that is keeping it organized and telling everyone who goes against who. Sometimes, if you won your first couple matches, you'd get a bye, so you get to skip a round because you haven't lost.  When I was a wrestler in high school, if I got to the championship match and had one lose and the other guy was undefeated, I didn't have to beat him twice. It was a winner take all in the last match. 

The format in Over The Top and the final match makes perfect sense if you understand the rules of a tournament. Even if in most arm wrestling tournaments today in their double elimination tournament, Hawk would have to best Bull twice, that doesn't mean all double elimination tournaments work that way.

The movie can set any rules and tournament style it wants. Clearly, the rules of the tournament made it one and done at the end. Even if we, as the audience, didn't hear them say it, the outcome tells us it is true. Because the tournament organizers and Bull all recognize Hawk as the winner. It is a 90-minute movie, and they aren't going to explain in detail the tournament format. They tell you double elimination for the story. They need Hawk to lose one match to create drama.  

So again, I'm not sure of the confusion. It's a movie, not a documentary. A double elimination tournament where the finial round or rounds become single elimination is not only possible but also used in many tournaments.