I'll be rooting for Gonzaga against Utah in the round of 32, hoping the West Coast Conference will further show that it was disrespected by the NCAA tournament selectors. But, it is not the committee, alone, that sold the conference short, many of the fans agreeing the WCC only deserved one seed.
The first rounds on the NCAA and NIT already make a strong argument that the conference was disrespected. The three WCC teams took the post-season competition they were given, and each won. St. Mary's defeated New Mexico State and BYU shattered Alabama Birmingham in the NIT. Mind you, UAB came in with what must have been one of the best records of the NIT teams, 26-6, so they were not a slouch opponent.
Then, Gonzaga, which the NCAA committee felt deserved but an 11 seed this year, "upset" four-seed Seton Hall. Call it an upset, if you will, but Gonzaga is a strong enough team, it should have been considered the favorite.
Going no further than the first round of the two tournaments, the WCC already has shown it was not given due respect. All three of its top teams deserved NCAA invitations.
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Make it a Real Rendezvous, a Gathering Place for Budding Singers
How about the Cache Valley Cowboy Rendezvous? I mean, as an event worth hyping, hoping to attract people from across the nation. I've never been to this event in Hyrum, (this year it was March 4-5), so I don't know how good it is.
Cowboy poets, music and artisans.
I suppose, to attract a nationwide audience, you'd need to be able to say you've got as good of cowboy poets and music and artisans as there is to be found. I wonder how close the Cache Valley Rendezvous makes it, in those terms.
Another way to go for a national audience would be to invite all the western singers, or as many as you could fit in. You are already hailing it as a reunion of cowboy music, poets and artisans, so make it so anyone who can carry a good tune, can come and perform. Throw away the amplifiers, stick them each in rooms far enough apart, and let them play simultaneously. The concert-goers poke their heads in room after room, staying just long enough, perhaps, to see if they like the performers.
You issue all kind of awards.
It becomes a place where western singers come to to get a break in the industry. You issue CDs featuring the best performances of the year. It becomes a star search event. It becomes the biggest and best gathering of cowboy singers, bar none.
Frankly, I think it would work.
Cowboy poets, music and artisans.
I suppose, to attract a nationwide audience, you'd need to be able to say you've got as good of cowboy poets and music and artisans as there is to be found. I wonder how close the Cache Valley Rendezvous makes it, in those terms.
Another way to go for a national audience would be to invite all the western singers, or as many as you could fit in. You are already hailing it as a reunion of cowboy music, poets and artisans, so make it so anyone who can carry a good tune, can come and perform. Throw away the amplifiers, stick them each in rooms far enough apart, and let them play simultaneously. The concert-goers poke their heads in room after room, staying just long enough, perhaps, to see if they like the performers.
You issue all kind of awards.
It becomes a place where western singers come to to get a break in the industry. You issue CDs featuring the best performances of the year. It becomes a star search event. It becomes the biggest and best gathering of cowboy singers, bar none.
Frankly, I think it would work.
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Charity Makes Neighbors Out of the Needy Wherever They are Found
Some suggest we should help veterans before immigrants, and starving American children before refugees. I am drawn to ask, can we pick and choose when it comes to the needy? Can we say, we have not time nor resources to help them all, so let's just help our own?
Who are our own? I think of the lawyer who was told to love his neighbor, and he responded by asking who his neighbor was. In answer, the lawyer was then given the story of the good Samaritan, a story that ends, "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?"
Though the person be a stranger from another land, as was the case in that story, he can be our neighbor, if we will allow him. Even so, perhaps we should befriend and help everyone we can, making "our own" out of as many as we can.
I think of another story, the one about the man found picking up starfish off the beach and tossing them back into sea, and being laughed at because he could not save them all. Even so, we cannot help all the needy. Still, it is good to help those we can. We cannot help every refugee, nor every veteran, nor every starving American child, but, we can help. We can donate a little to various causes, whether they be causes that help refugees or causes that help American veterans.
Love of all is not a matter of picking and choosing. If you love everyone, you love everyone. Charity need not exclude, but can reach out to all it can find, all those it can help. I suggest we not pit refugees against veterans, and children against immigrants, but seek to help all those we can.
Who are our own? I think of the lawyer who was told to love his neighbor, and he responded by asking who his neighbor was. In answer, the lawyer was then given the story of the good Samaritan, a story that ends, "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?"
Though the person be a stranger from another land, as was the case in that story, he can be our neighbor, if we will allow him. Even so, perhaps we should befriend and help everyone we can, making "our own" out of as many as we can.
I think of another story, the one about the man found picking up starfish off the beach and tossing them back into sea, and being laughed at because he could not save them all. Even so, we cannot help all the needy. Still, it is good to help those we can. We cannot help every refugee, nor every veteran, nor every starving American child, but, we can help. We can donate a little to various causes, whether they be causes that help refugees or causes that help American veterans.
Love of all is not a matter of picking and choosing. If you love everyone, you love everyone. Charity need not exclude, but can reach out to all it can find, all those it can help. I suggest we not pit refugees against veterans, and children against immigrants, but seek to help all those we can.
Monday, March 14, 2016
High Court Judges Should not be Wearing Tinted Glasses
As much as anything, the ongoing dispute over President Obama's Supreme Court nominee should serve us notice as to how divided our nation has become. Before a person is even selected, he or she is opposed? Now, mind you, court nominees don't wear party colors.
Officially.
But, we know which are the conservatives and the liberals. I wonder at that. All you are ruling on is what the Constitution says on a matter. Shouldn't that be simply a matter of reading the Constitution, not a matter of reading conservative or liberal into it?
And, now to swear that you are going to oppose a nominee before he or she has even been named, simply because it is a Democrat who is naming the person?
If we do not see something wrong with such partisanship, if we cannot see this is not good, what will it ever take?
Courts should be about justice, not about politics. Judges should be guided by a desire to be fair and unbiased and right and true, alone. They should not be wearing glasses tinted to be conservative or liberal.
Officially.
But, we know which are the conservatives and the liberals. I wonder at that. All you are ruling on is what the Constitution says on a matter. Shouldn't that be simply a matter of reading the Constitution, not a matter of reading conservative or liberal into it?
And, now to swear that you are going to oppose a nominee before he or she has even been named, simply because it is a Democrat who is naming the person?
If we do not see something wrong with such partisanship, if we cannot see this is not good, what will it ever take?
Courts should be about justice, not about politics. Judges should be guided by a desire to be fair and unbiased and right and true, alone. They should not be wearing glasses tinted to be conservative or liberal.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Love Seeks Change in Others, While Hate Endeavor to Diminish Them
An unjust person judges only to condemn, while the goodly look to fix the faults they find in others. By this rule, we can judge ourselves, to determine if we are being wicked or righteous in our judgments.
What do we seek? Are we looking to scorn others? Do we scorn them when we spot a fault? Do we speak in derision of those in whom we find faults? Or, do we wonder what we can do to lead them from their errant ways?
Hate speaks in the tongue of contempt. If we hold another person in contempt, we should question ourselves, for usually it means we are acting out of hate, and not out of love. Love seeks to bring about change in others. Hate endeavors only to diminish them.
What do we seek? Are we looking to scorn others? Do we scorn them when we spot a fault? Do we speak in derision of those in whom we find faults? Or, do we wonder what we can do to lead them from their errant ways?
Hate speaks in the tongue of contempt. If we hold another person in contempt, we should question ourselves, for usually it means we are acting out of hate, and not out of love. Love seeks to bring about change in others. Hate endeavors only to diminish them.
If You Attack, Expect to Find Yourself Under Attack
On first take, it seemed a little much to me to blame Donald Trump for the rioting in Chicago between his supporters and those opposed to him. For one thing, he wasn't in the fight. For a second thing, no, he did not ask people to fight. For a third thing, there were two sides in the fight, so why not blame both sides, not just the Trumpers.
Then, someone rushed him on the stage. And, who gets blamed? I see a news reporter say Trump is not accepting any culpability. What? Someone rushes his stage, and he is to blame?
But, there is a principle at play: Opposition begets opposition. If you sow hatred, you will come to know hatred. If you attack others -- even if just verbally -- expect to find yourself under attack. Foment violence, and you will have it.
It is true, that those who fought are responsible for their own actions -- on both sides. But, those who tear at others should expect those they tear at to respond back.
Then, someone rushed him on the stage. And, who gets blamed? I see a news reporter say Trump is not accepting any culpability. What? Someone rushes his stage, and he is to blame?
But, there is a principle at play: Opposition begets opposition. If you sow hatred, you will come to know hatred. If you attack others -- even if just verbally -- expect to find yourself under attack. Foment violence, and you will have it.
It is true, that those who fought are responsible for their own actions -- on both sides. But, those who tear at others should expect those they tear at to respond back.
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Quick Thoughts on Donald Trump
1. Wish Mitt Romney would continue to campaign against Donald Trump. I would that he would that he steer away from labels, but it is good to point out reasons for the man not being a good fit for president. I don't know of any of the GOP candidates that can stare down Trump as well as Romney can.
2. How is it that Trump's spending only his own money is a plus? All that proves, is he can buy the presidency. He has enough money that he can do it without someone else's money.
3. Please don't tell me Carson endorsed Trump.
4. Didn't catch what it was, but I understand Marco Rubio apologized for something he said about Trump. Based on what I do know, I swing my support to Rubio. That he should care about being civil and care about treating Trump fairly goes a long ways with me. I want a candidate who is moral and upright, and it seems to me, Rubio is that.
2. How is it that Trump's spending only his own money is a plus? All that proves, is he can buy the presidency. He has enough money that he can do it without someone else's money.
3. Please don't tell me Carson endorsed Trump.
4. Didn't catch what it was, but I understand Marco Rubio apologized for something he said about Trump. Based on what I do know, I swing my support to Rubio. That he should care about being civil and care about treating Trump fairly goes a long ways with me. I want a candidate who is moral and upright, and it seems to me, Rubio is that.
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