Truth Can Be Hell

Shopping With The President

I realize that it has taken me awhile to get around to this one, but in fairness this blog wasn't around at the time of the statement, and since the blog started I've been working through a backlog of items I wanted to talk about. Anyway...

"Would I say something that isn't true? Does a chicken have lips?"

At a town hall meeting in Columbia, South Carolina back in March, President Obama actually said that it is easier to buy a gun than it is to buy a book or some fresh vegetables.





Now, in fairness, the President might have meant that you can easily get a gun in neighborhoods where there is no Barnes & Noble or Whole Foods.

That's not how his remark was interpreted, of course. Progressives who will stoop to telling any lie in service of their anti-gun agenda began repeating this canard endlessly, as if it were true in every neighborhood. And now, there are tens of millions of people who appear to sincerely believe that it is easier to get one of these...

Sig Sauer P226 Elite Stainless

...than it is one of these...

David Freddoso's latest book

...or one of these...

A delicious, nutritious vegetable

"Actually, a tomato is a fruit, not a vegetable."

Nobody likes a pedantic quadruped...

Anyway, as I have said countless times, people who say such things are simply not to be taken seriously. Yes, by all means, let's have a reasoned discussion about the subject of guns and gun violence. But can we please stick to facts, and not just-so stories and absurd hyperbole? Please?

If you have some time, you really ought to read this article, which focuses on the biggest, most common lies that dominate the public discussion of the issue in this country. If you have rational responses to any or all of the arguments the author puts forth, I'm happy to discuss them with you. If you prefer to keep telling the Big Lies, as President Obama and virtually all of the progressive left do...

Oh Hell Yes!

Promotional poster for Season 11

Speaking of going to hell, tonight is the Season 11 premiere of one of my favorite TV shows, Supernatural. This is one of those shows I never would have watched in the first place if it hadn't been for my students constantly talking about it. I'm glad they led me to it, as it is a wonderful blend of supernatural drama, humor (especially of the sarcastic variety I so love), and rock and roll.

As is the usual practice for TV dramas these days, Season 10 ended with quite a cliffhanger. Can't wait to see how Sam and Dean decide to deal with what comes next...

Things That Make Me Happy: Old Grudges Edition

So now we know that my beloved Kansas City Royals will be taking on the Houston Astros in the ALDS, which begins Thursday night in Kauffman Stadium.

Needless to say, I am hopeful that the Royals will prevail, but I must say it didn't hurt my feelings to see the Astros beat the Yankees 3-0 in the Wild Card game. The Royals have a bad history with the Yankees in the playoffs, and I really didn't want to listen to the announcers revisiting all of those old, painful memories.

All-Star Game starter Dallas Keuchel (20-8, 2.48 ERA) kept that from happening by completely dominating the Yankees in his six innings of work, on just three days' rest
(3 hits, no runs, 7 strikeouts).

"See you in Houston for ALDS Game 3, Royals."

The Astros, like the Royals, are a team that has known adversity recently, and they richly deserve the success they have enjoyed this year. Only a late-season slump
(11-16 in September, barely better than the Royals' own 10-17 September Slump) and
an incredible push by the Texas Rangers (38-22 after August 1) kept the Astros from winning the American League West.

The Royals will have their hands full in this series, to say the least.

The starting pitcher for Houston in Game 1 will be Collin McHugh (19-7, 3.92 ERA), who made 31 starts this season but none against the Royals. KC will counter with Yordano Ventura (13-8, 4.08). Yordano pitched once against the Astros this season, beating them 5-1 on July 26 at Kauffman Stadium. In that game, Yordano went seven innings and allowed six hits but only a single run; he struck out five and didn't walk a batter.

The Astros won the season series between the two teams 4 games to 2, including a 3-0 sweep in Houston, but of course none of that will matter now. Everyone starts with a clean slate in the playoffs, as the Royals and Giants proved last season.

One thing for sure: It will be nice not to have to visit this house of horrors again until May 9-12, 2016...

"You're really superstitious, did you know that?"

I have no idea what you're talking about...

Duty Calls

From the marvelous webcomic xkcd, by Randall Munroe, which you should read every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, as I do.

Until Next Time...

Today's send-off is a music video by one of Dean Winchester's favorite bands, AC/DC, performing their iconic hit "Hell's Bells," released nearly 35 years ago (October 30, 1980). Enjoy...