Up in flames

After the video of George Floyd became public, a tipping point was reached and some people were no longer satisfied with protests or marches. After a few people decided to break windows, many joined either seeking reparations or just "free stuff" believing that is why businesses have insurance.

However, many businesses won't rebuild either not wanting to or not having enough insurance and no doubt the rates will go up as the risk has now increased since people have now decided that when a person is wronged by police, the only way their anger will be understood is by destroying and stealing.

At least the professional athletes that chose to not play are not destroying property but are just hurting the feelings of many ignorant people.

I live in an apartment building that is 3/4 miles west of the edge of a runway at O'Hare Airport. On one side of the building ground floor is an insurance agent and a couple shops.

I realized today that if an officer injured or killed someone in error, my building would be at risk for looting and arson. 

More force is not the answer. Threatening to shoot looters is not the answer. The only viable solution that I see is to hold all lives responsible for their actions.

Toughing it out

In February, 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions while addressing the opoid epedemic suggested that people should take aspirin and tough it out. I realized that is what my father did for decades and that would explain why there was always a bottle of Excedrin in my parents' bedroom.

I also realized that this "Republican method of pain management" was detrimental to my father. Even though the aspirin helped the pain, the fact that it further thins someone with thin blood and overactive white blood cells (which is why there was an issue in the first place) did more harm than good.

I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in 2014 and had been taking medication which though initially created for chemotherapy, is now also used to slow white blood cells. When COVID-19 became an issue, I decided to stop taking this medication since it leaves me immune compromised (and have on a couple occasions ended up real sick) and did not want to increase my chances of dying or ending up with permanent damage from a virus that has no vaccine or cure.

There have been moments where it became difficult to function properly since the pain medication I take is something I do not feel comfortable being on while driving a 6 ton fork truck and the over the counter items create digestive issues.

Last Saturday after practicing, I was at my mom's house and after sitting on a couch for a half hour, I could barely walk. Unlike the previous decades where I would hear phrases like "stop faking", "you're just out of shape", "this is funny", or as said by a doctor in 1991 "man up", there was actual concern. I realized I was in no shape to deliver food as well.

The Monday after, had the same problem after driving a fork truck and realized that I am approaching the point where being able to function is a concern. That evening, for the first time in 5 1/2 months, I took my arthritis medication. The following day, the static pain is less though I am not sure is that is from the medicine as it takes multiple doses for the full effect to be realized.

I also noticed there were three doses left and I need to get more through the mail... crap. At least I can get it refilled at my pharmacy.

IRL experience

Had a pickup at Twin Peaks today. Their slogan is eats, drinks, scenic views.

One manager was explaining to the staff (all less than half my age) how pickups work and there were "ten peaks" to view. I realized that it had been a while since I have noticed anyone like that without looking at a screen and it felt weird.

The fact that they were so significantly younger than me, it really did not create the same reaction that the franchise tries to do.

I wanted to compliment them on their appearance but realized it could not be done without making it weird. The last time I was at that franchise years ago, the staff seemed normal but not today.

It seemed as awkward as my experience last summer involving cash for companionship when I was asking permission to do anything rather than reacting instinctively.

Makes me glad I am not longer interested.

Multi discing

Occasionally when playing or babbling about disc golf will encounter someone who does not understand why I use multiple discs ranging from those curious to one person who could not understand why I would not let his son keep one of my discs that he took from the middle of a fairway. ( I needed to threaten to call the police before he gave it back.)

Last weekend was a great example. I played a tournament on two different days on two different layouts at the same location the second day was windier than the first. For the event, 19 holes were used in each round.

For the championship layout that was used for round one, I used 13 different discs for my first shot. 14 times I needed a fairway shot designed to advance the disc and used 10 different discs for that and used 5 discs 13 times for an approach shot. 18 total discs were used.

Since the second layout was easier and the wind was up, there were a couple discs I took out of the bag and replaced with ones designed for higher winds. Since many holes on the easier course are less than a full shot, I used 14 different discs (including my putter) to tee off on a hole. There was only one time I needed a fairway shot and used 5 discs for the nine approach shots and those shots used a disc that was also used off the tee so there were 14 total used including three that were not used for round one..

Between both days, I used 21 different discs for the event.

Turning the tables

When I bowled in the early 1990s, was among the top ten percent in average (about 190) while being one of the youngest in the league.

A couple of times I had a game in the 220s thinking it was good enough to win a handicap pot only to lose to an "old man" who averages 150 and feeling better than normal shot a 200 game.

There is a handicap league I play in disc golf. The person who runs it is a high end elite pro in his late 20s who has played high end events.

Similar to bowling leagues, this league favors high end players due to the maximum adjustments that can be made on both ends.

As I write this, the rating of the top player is 141 points better than me which means on an average course on an average day for him and I, he would beat me by 14 shots. In the league the handicaps range from +4 to -6 so the most shots I could have against him for handicap would be ten.

I realized last year the only real chance to win in the league was in my second event of the season making sure my first event was on a difficult course where shooting 6 over (league maximum) or worse would not be considered sandbagging then playing the second round on an easier course.

Last year, I lost a playoff for second place in my second event after my body stiffened after waiting for results.

The first league round this year caused havoc on my body due to three long breaks and I was defaulted to +6 even though I shot +13. Had I shot what was expected, I would have finished +7 so my handicap would have been the max anyway.

For my second league round was the first player to arrive at the course an hour before necessary and that time was used to relax, practice, and get loose. While cards were handed out, I was away from the others keeping loose as opposed to those sitting and or enjoying a product made legal in Illinois in 2020.

My first shot had a lot on it and multiple times in the round realized that in five years of playing that course had my longest drive on a hole even having birdie putts on two holes I never had one before.

My putting was not great and my only birdies of the round were on three of the five holes I can regularly get but my long accurate  drives made approach shots seem easy and par on difficult holes for me stress free.

Finally was able to make two decent putts at the end to equal my personal best on that course (52) and as scores were tabulated, kept loose in case there was a playoff.

The top pro (who the day before on a 19 hole course I try to shoot 60 shot 42) was 11 under 43 and with handicaps, I beat him by one. I still tied for first and was in a playoff with someone who stood around.

My drive on the hole ended up ten feet away while his went 35 past. His putt just missed and I made mine to win.

Since my handicap now drops to -2, I would now need to shoot a career best round to win or even cash for the rest of the year unless I get an ace.

0 for 31

Since NASCAR decided to join the 21st century and ban the display a flag from a defeated uprising which was created to promote enslaving other human beings, a part time driver in the NASCAR truck series decided to retire.

People have joked about the fact that he has not won a race in 31 tries but that joke falls flat and this is why:

First of all, any part time driver in NASCAR competes at a significant disadvantage due to funds and teamwork. The top drivers also have the top teams and are often part of a group of cars which by sharing the same owner can share knowledge and information about the best way to set up their vehicle for the track based on conditions. In many of his 31 failed attempts, he was unable to even qualify for the race itself and no doubt the car was as much as factor as anything.

Also, most races have 40 entries so any driver not winning happens 39 out of 40 times or .975. For 31 failed attempts of winning, the mathematical odds of that happening are 6/5 so if someone rolls 31 D20 dice and flips a coin on the ones, 5 times out of 11, there will not be a one followed by a head.

FYI: In the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series, 33 drivers raced at least 32 times and 21 on them failed to win.

Now if you really want to comment on a bad NASCAR driver that failed to win a race, I have one to show. How about 252 events in NASCAR without a win and all but one driving for a top team? The chance of that happening are .975 to the 61st power for the Xfinity Series and .977 to the 191st power for the Cup series.

The odds of that happening are 400-1. For comparison, the odds of the Chicago Cubs going from 1909 through 2015 without winning the World Series was 238-1.

Who is the failed driver? Danica Patrick.

Granted she did win a race in Indy car in 116 attempts all for a top team where being lighter was an advantage unlike NASCAR where the weight requirement includes the driver.

The retiring truck series driver needs to be mocked for his ignorance but not his record.

Pain over fear

My phone rings:

Nurse: I'm making a follow up call on how you are doing with your recent eye infection.

Me: Though I was tempted to sell the azithromycin to someone stupid enough to take medical advice from President Trump, I took it and it was better a few days later.

N: Any other issues?

M: Medical, no. Just am in a lot of pain.

N: Where?

M: Everywhere.

N: What do you mean everywhere?

M: Right toe, both knees, left hip, back, right shoulder, right elbow, both hands. Just about everywhere.

N: Did you fall? What happened?

M: I decided to not take my arthritis medication since it leaves me immune compromised and would rather live in pain than fear.

N: Did you talk to your rheumatologist about this?

M: No. I did not talk to Dr. ***

N: Ok. Thank you

A half hour later the phone rings.

Doctor: Why did you stop taking your medication?

M: Explains same thing I did to the nurse.

D: You should keep taking it.

M: Since I am working, I don't feel comfortable being immune compromised.

D: You are still working? What do you do?

M: *Explains what I do and mentions note given to me by director of operations*

D: You should not be working. I will send you a note to give to your boss. I want you to take your medication even if that means you have to be sheltered at home.

M: ok

At least unlike the other doctor notes I have been given allowing me to stay home from work that I have ignored, this one does not waste any paper.

I realized my error was initially telling the nurse that I am in a lot of pain.