If only politics was the issue...

Many people with whom I associate run on polar opposites of the spectrum. There are those whose belief in a non plausible concept dominate their life including one who has been in service for over a half century and those who can identify with multiple letters used to describe people whose identity and preferences do not conform with standards that were set a long time ago and are no longer necessary to ensure the human race. 

Generally I fall in between either end as my realization of the non plausible concepts of a spiritual deity and eternal salvation puts me at odds with one end while lacking courage to explore opportunities to experience the full spectrum of life (even though I have been told that not having an uvula would provide me with the advantage of no gag reflex) and then shutting myself from them after realizing there is no physical desire to do so.

Having undergone a significant change in my ideals in the second half of my life has also put me in the middle and my learned ideals still occasionally come to the front even though the current version of me knows it is wrong.

Many of my ideas could offend bother sides of the spectrum and occasionally releasing them to public has done that.

What I publish and what I believe are significantly different. There are things that I want to slap myself for thinking. A former coworker who knows my filter is skewed has correctly guessed that there are things that I have realized would do nothing but upset people and I have learned to keep them under wraps.

Anyway, my sister made a post listing the political parties of two of my uncles and stated that in spite of their political differences that you can disagree and still love and care for one another and share a beer together.

Maybe in the 1970s when topics like inflation, unemployment, and the Soviet Union were the arguing points, yes.

After initially posting a picture explaining things then deleted to avoid an argument, my reply was "If only politics was the issue..." My sister sent angry text messages to me about that reply and I initially thought it was the picture I initially posted then deleted. It was the words. Realizing she was bowling in a league at the time and knowing how pissed I was when I got a text from her husband with two holes remaining in a tournament where I was battling for a title, I changed the wording to her satisfaction. :P

Today, no. The issue has no longer become one of politics. It has become one of respecting human rights, of ensuring that the human race will have a viable place to live in 50 or even 25 years (long after I expect to die). It has become an issue of a small group of radicals attempting to overthrow the checks and balances established on the US Constitution and turning the United States into the Christian version of the Sharia Law countries they claim the other side wants to establish even though the person running for president is more of a Christian.

I do feel proud that when my other sister who is as ignorant as my Michigan cousins posted a picture, I replied with an appropriate line Joe Biden said in a commercial aired during a Chicago Bears game immediately after it aired as a reply which she liked.

When thinking about it, since one of those running for president has not been a politician the majority of their adult life, it by definition is NOT about politics in the first place anyway.

Going aginst long time desires

There are many reasons to find Joe Biden to not be the ideal person to be the president.

Age.

Knowing that some businesses would have not donated had a progressive candidate been the nominee.

His family's dealings.

His actions around other people. (There is a reason someone created a parody titled "I Sniffed a Girl".)

He believes in the non plausible concept of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

His VP choice and knowing what happened with Obama (and is still happening) wondering what would happen if she would need to take office. The US is currently in its longest streak without having a VP take over and especially considering Biden's age, his VP choice is important.

There are other reasons I have seen multiple people post over the past couple of months. Some are true while others are not.

However, I find one overwhelming reason to want Joe Biden to win the upcoming election:

He is NOT Donald Trump

I do not like the idea rooting for the lesser of two evils but this case is one obvious exception. Even without including the estimated 300,000 additional people who have died this year much of which can be directly attributed to the way the country has dealt with the pandemic, many actions and decisions which infringe on human rights and hurt the country and environment while boosting corporate profits (while gathered around those who have profitted from babbling about the non plausible concepts of Jesus Christ and eternal salvation) make him undesirable for four more years.

Though I was advised against joining the armed reserves, I could not imagine how any veteran could support someone who uses the word sucker to describe the choice to serve or loser to those who lost their lives in service.

Some might suggest an alternative candidate. Even if one of them would provide all the ideas that I would like to see (and from what I have seen, that is not the case), it is obvious that any vote towards one would be wasted.

Yes, if all those who prefer an alternate candidate would cast their vote that way, it could make a difference but right now, that idea would do way more harm than good.

Being an Illinois resident, my vote for president won't make a difference though there are other things on the ballot that will. I am hoping those in the states that will decide the presidential election (due to the antiqued way of determining the winner) will cast their ballot for the least worst of the two who have a legitimate chance to win.

Tree Fiddy

After the PDGA stated points requirements for 2021 worlds events will be reduced to 70% due to COVID, I realized my requirement is now 350.

I generally say that number the same way Chef's father said it in an old South Park episode even though it meant $3.50.

As I dropped in a birdie on the final hole of the event on a cold, rainy October 19th at 50 Acre Park drained to the point where throws were going 20% shorter, would have declined to be in a playoff, and realized that the right arm was done, I reached that goal. This is how it happened:

Other than the Illinois State Championship where due to the luck of the draw I threw the first shot and the Illinois Open Series where I missed winning the MA50+ series title by three shots, I registered for the division based on ability as opposed to age since there were more opponents and opportunity to gain points. I also realized that playing some Sunday league rounds will be necessary as well.

I was criticized for doing both of them and for not playing in an unrated club. Due to arm fatigue/pain and the need to make money delivering food, I had to select when and where to play. That included not playing in two events I played last year both of which had novice players lumped into the division I would play.

Except for the round I played one year to the date I got divorced (and will likely make an annual event), every time since that announcement that I drove more than 15 minutes from where I was (home or on delivery) to play disc golf was either a rated club round, a tournament, or to practice for an upcoming tournament.

Had I played in the unrated club instead of a rated league and joined age specific divisions for every event, I would have likely not been able to qualify as my arm would have given out earlier.

Unless there is a significant change on my financial situation, will not be playing at the world's in Orlando focusing on points for the 2022 Masters world's in Peoria.

Though I want another shot at the world's after what happened in 2019, the main reason I wanted to qualify is to have a choice.

As I finished this post the day after physically exhausted and in pain, I realized it is best to give the body and especially the dead right arm much needed rest now since I want to earn points in league play in January.

White A player

For my second round last Sunday, this is how the 18 holes played to me:

4 mid range par 4

3 driver par 3

2 full approach par 3

9 trap par 3

What I mean by a trap hole is that a good drive will leave a player between 50 and 100 feet requiring a less than full approach to get par but to get closer will require extra which can cause an off line shot leading to bogey.

Though I knew better, twice I tried to get extra on a trap hole. Once I got away with it after needing close to the 3 minutes allowed to find a disc. The other time ended up with a double bogey and a bloody leg due to thorns.

The other players in my group had the same issue. Six times our foursome ended up with all 3s.

For disc golf that is boring as holes that can produce a 2,3, or 4 equally are the good ones. The disc golf pro tour a few years ago realized that ladies playing the men's tees create a whole lot of trap holes and will have them play different tees, baskets, or in some cases, completely different holes from the men. A couple of them per round is fine but half a course is not.

What constitutes a trap hole varies by player. A good hole for a player of my ability is not one for a pro and vice versa.

Dellwood Canyons is one of the top rated courses in the world and the staff there are consistently improving the course. They recently announced a new long tee and basket for #11 which makes that a longer and narrower hole than the initial one.

As a reply, I expressed a desire to appreciate the full course and improvements as I lack the ability to do so. Though I can play the full version, it would be a waste of my time.

Most holes there now have a blue tee that is longer than the white one along with a B pin which can add distance as well and in some cases, it makes many holes a trap for me.

For example #3 from the white to A pin: Throw a drive right of the tree in the middle and left of the pavilion. Find a path through trees and a light pole on shot two to get a putt for a birdie 3.

#3 from blue to B pin: Throw driver trying to miss trees and keep it in bounds. Throw another driver up the hill trying to miss trees. Throw a third driver towards the basket to give myself a putt for a par 4.

For one hole that is ok. Doing that for 18 turns into a grind. For a pro, the full course is a good challenge. For me white tees to A pins is one for me.