Superior Rating At States

Though the final home football game is in two weeks, officially the marching band season, which started the first week of August, is now over. Late Saturday Josh’s band went to the State’s Marching Band competition. This is the first of two steps necessary for a band must go through to achieve a “State Honor Band” ranking.

The two elements are, the marching band achieving a superior grade, and have the top concert band in the spring achieve a superior grade at Concert Band Festival. Achieving two superior grades is a challenge with less than one out of twenty high schools achieving Honor Band in a given year….only a handful of schools have earned the Honor Band rank for more than four consecutive years.

Oakton has been an Honor Band thirteen in the last sixteen years (they earned their 10th during Jonathan's senior year). Last year was not one of them as its marking as the marching band fell short of the superior grade by one point from one of the five judges.

This year Oakton (classed at States as a class 5A band) has taken the first step to return to the Honor Band status by earning early Saturday evening a superior rating. Eight bands achieved that rating in the northern Virginia competition (one 2A, two 3As, three 4As, three 5As….class is by size of the bands). As you will see from the pics, the competition was held on the marching field but on the driver’s education track. As it had rained all day Friday and into the early hours the morning it was felt that the field could not stand up to having thirty-two bands upon it in one day. Sustained winds of 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph increased the challenge…keeping hats on and for the guard flag drills. Due to the wind the guard had to forgo tossing the flags and drawing out the giant baseball flag (20’ by 40’).

The first pic from early in the show is the front end of the baseball diamond formation. The second pic is of seventh inning stretch where the band and audience sings “Take Me Out To the Ball Game” (Josh is in the five player ensemble in the center of the field).

Yes, in the third pic, that is fireworks going off from the scoreboard following the shooting of a cannon (placed behind the scoreboard). Throughout the performance, the score on the scoreboard changes. Also, on the scoreboard you will see the clock is set to the time of the performance…something that I did for the first competition in Winchester and the back crew continued doing throughout the season. The last pic shows Josh as a backfield conductor as the band moves away from the drum majors at the end of the show. You will also notice due to the wind three parents behind Josh holding the fence.

Other pics from the State Competition should be posted on Oakton’s web page later this week and join the other pics Evie and I have taken throughout the season.

You Make the Call - Rulings

1. Can a batter strike out on foul ball? If you think it is possible, give an example.
Ruling – we often hear announcers talk about a batter striking out on “a foul tip”. In the rules there is no such thing as a foul tip. It is a strike. That said, there is a situation where a batter can strike out on a foul ball, and only one situation….bunting with two strikes and the bunt goes foul.


2. A runner on first (runner 2) gets a great lead and runs hard. He sees that the hit is going to fall between two fielders and keeps running. The runner on second (runner 1) runs part way to make sure that the ball falls in safely before he starts running (just in case he has to return to second if the ball is caught). Runner two passes runner one just before third base and actually steps on third before runner 1. They both make it home safely with runner one crossing the plate before runner 2. What call do you make?
Ruling – runner 1 is called out. A passing is not complete until a base is touched. As third was touched first by the following runner, he has passed runner one and put the first runner in an out position at the end of the play unless they undo the action of the pass. The only way both runners could be safe is if they both go back over third with runner 1 and then runner 2. Then runner 1 crosses third followed by runner 2 to undo the action of the passing.
If there were two outs, runner 2’s score would not count.


3. If while swinging at a pitch, the bat touches the catcher's glove. What call do you make? Does it make a difference if the batter hits a single? Or a double?
Ruling - The batter is awarded first on catcher’s interference. All runners advance if forced.
If the batter hits safely, and all other runners advance safely, it is deemed that there is no interference on the play.
If there are is a runner on base when the batter is interfered with, and the batter hits the ball but either the batter or a runner is out, the offensive manager has the option to accept either the catcher’s interference or the results of the play. If a runner was on third and it was the bottom of the 9th and the batter was out at 1st for the second out while runner scored to give offensive team the lead, the manager should take the results of the play.


4. An outfielder in fair territory positions under a deep fly ball. The outfielder catches the ball just before he hits the fence. As he hits the fence, the ball pops out of the glove and goes over the fence. What is the call?
Ruling - Home run.


5. While moving to take a ground ball, the shortstop runs in front of the runner going from second to third (not a forced play). There is no contact, but the runner had to stop before continuing. The runner gets thrown out at third in a bang-bang play. If the runner had not stopped the runner would have easily reached third safely. The runner feels that he was impeded. What is the call? Is the runner safe on interference or is the runner out?
Ruling - If there is no contact, there is no interference. If fielder is moving forward in the process of making a play and there is contact, and the fielder does not make the play, the runner is out for interference. If on the other hand fielder makes contact while not in the immediate and legitimate process of making a play, the fielder has impeded the runner and the umpire places the runner where in the umpire’s judgment the runner would have been safe.

In this case he would be deemed to be safe at third. If he had arrived safe at third and was thrown out at home, and it was not a close play, then the runner is not protected by the fielder’s interference and he is out.


6. Runners on first and third, the pitcher balks as the runner on first goes in motion. The pitcher still pitches the ball, the batter swings, the catcher interferes with the swing and the batter gets thrown out at 1st while runner from third scores and the runner from first ends up on third. What happens?
Ruling - This situation was on my level three certification exam. Here the offensive manager makes the determination. The manager has three options: a) accept the result of the play that gives him a run, b) accept the bulk and have a run with a runner on second, or b) accept the catcher’s interference and have the bases loaded. Option a) is not wise as accepting the bulk gives the team a run without an out. Depending on the score and where you are in the line-up should influence whether to take either b or c as options.

Fall Colors

I have just returned from a trip down the valley and into the Piedmont area of the state. This time of year the trip is a rich pallet of color. Below are few pictures taken as we crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains on I 64 between Charlottesville and Waynesboro.

The return trip back from Danville was full of color but it beauty was for the most lost as it was raining the whole five hours.

Chev HHR

Chevrolet has just introduced the HHR. During my trip to Atlanta I rented a vehicle and was given a brand new HHR….it only had 6 miles on it. As you can see from the pics, the HHR (first pic, white vehicle) look very much like Chrysler’s PT Cruiser (second pic, grey vehicle), a car that I did not like but which has found a following.

Here are my thoughts about the HH2. Be mindful that I did not put it through the rigors that do the testers of Road and Track or the Consumers Report. These are just thoughts of a person who drove one briefly for average driving.

Positives: High head clearance and the seat moved upward to allow one to be at a sofa level in elevation; good cargo space for a small vehicle; outstanding turning radius; an automatically adjusting day/nigh mirror with compass; simple and effective radio design; two glove boxes; back window has its owner wiper and washer; an electronic system via one button on the steering which that tracks mileage, gas consumption, oil condition and engine temperature; window buttons position between the two front seats.

It has adequate pick-up speed. As for padding, the seats are of adequate comfort.

Negatives: A large front blind spot created by the mirror due to the low front window. When going down a hill or around a curve, anything more than 200 yards out to the right goes into a significant blind spot; low front window means that one can not see light changes in the normal seating position if one is the first car in line; hard plastic dash; arm rest between the two front passengers is only 1.5” wide when spacing allows for 2.5”; the arm rests between the two front seats are 1.5 to 2” too short for the average person; the front cup-holders are beneath the arm rests; only one cup-holder for backseat occupants.

Overall, the Chevy HHR is a car with potential that comes up short. Just for the blind spot issues, I give the HHR a failing grade. The vehicle runs nice and may look sharp if you like that look, but if compromises safety, why purchase a vehicle that has a serious forward blind spot for anyone over 5’4”. I am sure others will notice the same and GM apologists will try to explain it all away. I drove it, I will not do so again.

That is my initial thoughts on the HHR.

Musical Darwinism

At Oakton High, as at many schools with strong music programs and colleges, band members are placed and seated each year after an audition. Other than section leaders, once seated, each player can issue a challenge to the person in the seat ahead of them. The two players go back through auditions with the winner taking the higher seat.

As Josh was the trombone section leader of Concert Band II and of Jazz II he issued no challenges. He did not receive any challenges to be unseated. Last year as lead trombone of Concert I he received no challenges. Last year in Jazz I he issued a challenge and won the challenge…after winning that challenge he issued another challenge to move up one more chair but the challenge did not go forward as challenges had been suspended.

This year he is in the top band. Symphonic Band plays only college level music. Symphonic seating is completive with challenges taking place throughout the year. When seating was announced, there were a range of challenges across the band. Two challenges took place in the trombone section…4th chair challenging 3rd chair and Stephanie, the 2nd chair challenging Josh. The 5th chair trombone was just happy to have made the band.

Stephanie is an excellent player and co-section of trombones for the marching band. As there was no clear winner after the challenge, Josh remains the section leader. In two weeks she can challenge him again. She also could be challenged by then by the 3rd chair (not likely, but possible). Eventually, challenges for the most part peter out by mid-winter.

The challenges are a variation of the king of the mountain, or Darwin’s survival of the fittest. It keeps better players from being content and pushes them to hone their skills. Whether Josh will remain section leader for a whole season is unknown…if he gets unseated, no doubt he will challenge with an eye to regain the top seat.

Marching Cougars

Here is a picture of Josh's band, the Marching Oakton Cougars. This shot was taken last night around 10:30 and following the Oakton Classic. There were fifteen bands that competed. The bands ranged from 32 marchers to 195 marchers in size. Besides all going for grand champion, each competes by class size for various awards in their class.

Josh is somewhere in the crowd.

You Make the Call - Part Two

Here are two more baseball situations.


4. An outfielder in fair territory positions under a deep fly ball. The outfielder catches the ball just before he hits the fence. As he hits the fence, the ball pops out of the glove and goes over the fence. What is the call?


5. While moving to take a ground ball, the shortstop runs in front of the runner going from second to third (not a forced play). There is no contact, but the runner had to stop before continuing. The runner gets thrown out at third in a bang-bang play. If the runner had not stopped the runner would have easily reached third safely. The runner feels that he was impeded. What is the call? Is the runner safe on interference or is the runner out?

You Make the Call

As many of you know while in Winnipeg and Iowa City I umpired baseball. Now that we are into the playoffs, I thought I would post situations and ask you to make the call. The first few will be easy. After posting several sets over the coming days I will announce the proper ruling. Give your call in a comment.


1. Can a batter strike out on foul ball? If you think it is possible, give an example.

2. A runner on first (runner 2) gets a great lead and runs hard. He sees that the hit is going to fall between two fielders and keeps running. The runner on second (runner 1) runs part way to make sure that the ball falls in safely before he starts running (just in case he has to return to second if the ball is caught). Runner two passes runner one just before third base and actually steps on third before runner 1. They both make it home safely with runner one crossing the plate before runner 2. What call do you make?

3. If while swinging at a pitch, the bat touches the catcher's glove. What call do you make? Does it make a difference if the batter hits a single? Or a double?

Stone Mountain - Part 2

Below are pics taken of an old plantation at Stone Mountain. As you will see the main house is grand and luxurious for the age. The kitchen is located in another building about 40 yards away from the main house. Locating the kitchen in a seperate building kept the heat and noise of the kitchen from impacting the main house.

As you can see the main house and its rooms seem so romantic, and they would be if it were not for two important buildings in the complex.

The two buildings are in the last two pictures. They are slave quarters for slaves who served in the house, looked after the horses or worked in the kitchen. The less luxurious buildings that housed field slaves were located near the fields. The two slave quarterss bring balance and remove the romanticism of the grand houses with their luxurious rooms. I appreciate that they have been maintained as they remind the visitors of that deplorable system of abuse.

Stone Mountain - Part One

Below are pics taken of the carvings done into the granite face of Stone Mountain. My room which is located just across the road faces the carvings. These pics were taken Saturday afternoon just before I checked in.

Stone Mountain is located just east of Atlanta and is now part of a State Park. The carvings which started in the 1920s were not completed until 1970….two interruptions over the years due to funding.

The carvings are of General Robert E. Lee (main character in the center), Confederate President Jefferson Davis (back and front of Lee) and General Stonewall Jackson. I found to design of these grand figures to be interesting. The three characters are celebrated as heroic figures. With their hats over their hearts these three figures are viewed as the embodiment of a valiant righteous cause.

It is the latter, the righteous cause, for which I have the greatest difficulty. There is little doubt that Lee was a brilliant General and a gracious man. There is little doubt that Davis was a man of passion. And there is little doubt that Jackson was an endocentric general who knew how to get things done (he was a good tactician but I do not see him as the brilliant tactician as many others see him). But the embodiment of righteousness is where I say “lets get a life and stop romanticizing the cause of the South.”

The South argued that they were fighting for States rights. States rights was the presenting issue, the issue politely noted in conversations and put forth in publications. Let us never forget that when we cut through the high rhetoric of States rights, it was the code language for people justifying the ability to abuse and enslave other human beings and finding ways to dehumanize them in spirit, action and function. It was the grounds trying to keep others from exposing an evil system.

While we would wish to root out evil peacefully, evil has a way of bring destruction upon the innocent when righteousness and goodness respond to address and eradicate the evil. We see the suffering of innocents when one looks at the human and economic toll extracted to free tens of thousands from the evil clutches of a few thousand people with economic and political influence.

States rights was neither valiant, nor righteous. Let us recognize that these men who are celebrated upon the mountain face were defenders of not of a righteous cause but of an unrighteous one.

Pumpkin Tree

Barb has issued a challenge on photos....here is my submission...the extremely rare and hard to grow "pumpkin tree."

Herding and Boxes

Yesterday I flew to Atlanta for a series of meetings. The airport experience was just that, “an experience.” You go from one line to another. At the ticketing counter, one guy whose flight was leaving in 45 minutes was moved by a screener to the front of the ticket line to see an agent. As he reached across to give his identification his arm with a tennis racket accidentally hit a man in the back. The man was being served by another agent.

These things happen. When the man saw this guy who had been moved to the front standing between him and his wife he turned and pushed a man who he saw as a rude interloper. When he pushed this guy, he stumbled and as he tried to regain his balance he hit the wife and knocked her over some luggage and onto her back. The husband thinking that this man had intentionally pushed his wife pushed this guy a second time. A fight was about to take place until three agents shouted.

What complicated the matter is that the agent who had moved the man to the head of the line to a specified agent had moved on. She was the only one who knew why he was there. Fortunately cooler heads prevailed and an agent got the matter settled quickly with two policeman standing ten feet away.

From there I through a long security line….I prefer flying out of National because the even with long lines you can get through in about 15 minutes, and from there you are less than 3 minutes to the gates. Having to use the restroom I discovered that one of the two restrooms was closed and again stood in line 10 minutes.

Following that there was the maneuvering through the crowd in the narrow hallway, standing in line 5 minutes to get something to eat, maneuvering though a small store and then standing in line 4 minutes there to purchase a pack of gum, searching to find an empty seat at the gate, and then the line to get onto the plane. When I finally got to my seat in a crowded 60 seat jet I felt like was just being herded around like cattle.

Oh, the joy of flying. Since coming to Washington I have taken more flights than all the prior years. In that same time I have stayed nearly 3 times as many hotel rooms as all the prior years.

Thinking about all this as the plane bumped its way through a thunderstorm, again I felt like a cow in the midst of a herd. Then I recalled the old pictures of railway stations in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There were long lines there to ride over crowded rail cars for half days or more. They had crowded hot stuffy stations and long lines to check and claim their baggage, and to purchase their tickets. They had their limited restroom facilities and poor food, if food could even be found in stations or on the trains.

The old sailing and steam ships that traveled the Atlantic were full of people…close quarters for all but the first class passengers, and long lines to get on and off, and long waits to reclaim baggage. They hand their long lines to get through inspections and immigration officials. River steamers were not any better and may have been worse when you noted that many of them also carried shipments of other material including horses and other livestock. Then add the business and in sundry aromas of the livestock to the mix without air conditioning and good ventilation.

Mass travel has always been just that “mass”….taking the masses in small boxes from one place to another. How the boxes are moved from point A to point B may have changed, but in all generations the boxes have been crowded. We just have to tolerate the box and herding process. While I do not enjoy flying and view it as a means to an end, I am now thankful that I only have to be in a box for a few hours compared to days or weeks. I also will be more patient with the herding processes associated with the moving of the boxes and its contents from one point to another.

Gems - Part 7

Mary Ann Austin: As Mary Ann served as the Assistant Dean of Students for four years at William and Catherine Booth College, I had the privilege to get to know her and see her work. This people oriented lady is very passionate about her work and faith. Her attention to student issues and issues was a commendable and valued asset.

One of the things I valued about working with Mary Ann is that I she presented well reasoned ideas in a cogent manner. I enjoyed raising objections to see how she would respond and often found elements to use to raise with the President and seeds to plant for future watering. Her reasoning was solid and sound.

In other ways she acted as my foil. To my more global and conceptual thinking she thought through the details. I could confidently rely upon her to work out the details and hone matters with grace and dignity. Her assistance in revamping the discipline approach and process to be less punitive and more redemptive was invaluable.

I tried to encourage students to live out the Wesleyan principal of agreeing to disagree in an agreeable manner. In Mary Ann, the students saw that principal gracefully lived out.


Marc Archambeaux: This gentleman was my district Umpire-in-Chief for five years in Winnipeg. We worked together at least twice a week on games. Marc helped hone my umpiring skill sets and knowledge of the rules.

Even though he is not a Christian I have come to view him as a divine gem because of one comment that impacted me. For four years we had come to know each other well and I would from time to time share about my faith and encourage him to look to Christ. One late Saturday afternoon after doing our second play-off game and getting relaxing before doing a third, Mac looked at me and said, “Dave your trying to give me answers to questions that I am not asking and I consider irrelevant.” Marc was right. Too often Christians marginalize themselves by addressing questions that those who we attempt to connect with in the world view as irrelevant. I took stock of the significance of what he said and it became an “aha” moment.

While I started to work out the significance of what he said, it was not until I was in Iowa City that I had the chance to work through the change in my thinking in a more functional manner. In IC I worked with the Board, clients and work from their issues, accept their doubts and to build relationships based upon their issues and questions. For that “aha” moment Marc became unknowingly a divine gem.


Jim Read and Don Burke: These two godly men are truly divine gems. It was a honor to get to know them while Evie and I were at the college in Winnipeg. They have given themselves of service to Christ and The Salvation Army in the classroom. Their critical mind and the quality of their scholarship is a great asset to the Army…I regret that the Army at large has not recognized the asset they have in these two men.

Each has a clearly different personality but in each I saw scholarly men living out their faith in a spirit of joy and quietude. They are encouragers of others and are quick to see the best in others while being slow to anger or disappointment. They seek to be generous in the face of negative news while still working actively to bring positive resolution. It is in their handling of disappointments in a positive manner that has helped to impact my thinking and patience.