Friday, October 9, 2009

“Bob Ford: Manuel on using Blanton, Happ: 'Trying to win' - Philadelphia Daily News” plus 4 more

“Bob Ford: Manuel on using Blanton, Happ: 'Trying to win' - Philadelphia Daily News” plus 4 more

Bob Ford: Manuel on using Blanton, Happ: 'Trying to win' - Philadelphia Daily News

Posted: 09 Oct 2009 02:36 AM PDT

The fire drill began early in the Phillies' bullpen yesterday and the phone out there might still be ringing just from habit.

"Kitchen sink," Chad Durbin said, describing the relief pitching philosophy pursued by Charlie Manuel as he tried to keep his team close in what eventually became a 5-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies.

The NL division series is tied at one game apiece now as it shifts to Denver, and the real fallout from yesterday's frantic machinations won't be known until the teams resume the festivities in Coors Field tomorrow night in a game as cold as the Rockies.

The mountains, that is.

Before the afternoon had slipped into early evening yesterday, the Phillies used six relievers, including two pitchers who were among the possibilities to start Game 3.

Joe Blanton threw 19 pitches and said he can still start tomorrow night. J.A. Happ threw just four pitches, took a hard shot off the left shin, and also said he can take the start. Pedro Martinez, the third option, didn't pitch yesterday and said he expects the next start to be given to him.

Other than that, there's no confusion at all.

"We concentrated on this one, and when we get to Saturday, we'll concentrate on Saturday," said Durbin, who answered the first bell yesterday, getting up in the top of the fifth as starter Cole Hamels struggled through what would be his final inning of work.

By the end, Durbin warmed up "three and a half" times by his own count but didn't enter the game. Neither did regular relievers Kyle Kendrick or Brad Lidge, but Manuel made use of everyone else who was available.

"Sometimes those are the chances you have to take," Manuel said. "I was making moves out there that if I could have picked some other things to do, I would have probably did it."

The Phillies set themselves up for this possibility when they put Happ and Blanton, who have been arguably the team's most effective starters in the last month, in the bullpen for the first two games of this series and perhaps beyond.

They ran the risk that one or both could get into a game and pitch themselves out of a potential start down the line. Manuel appeared ready to do that with Happ yesterday. He brought him into the game with one out in the seventh inning and made a double switch to protect him in the batting order, meaning Manuel intended to pitch Happ in the eighth inning as well.

Blanton had already pitched his stint, and whether he is still a viable starter for tomorrow night depends on how he recovers from warming up and coming into the game for those 19 pitches. As the Phillies boarded their charter to Denver last night, they still didn't know.

"We were kind of taken aback a little bit when both starters got used," said lefthander Scott Eyre, who took over when Happ was injured and had to leave the game. "That just means that Pedro's starting Game 3, I guess. Or Blanton could come back. Or Happ got hit on the shin; he could come back. You just don't know."

In a way, this is the nature of the postseason, but it is also playing fast and loose with the rotation, which is the bedrock of winning baseball any time of the year. If Blanton isn't as effective as he might have been, if Martinez gets the start by default and continues his recent struggles, if Happ is bothered by the knot on his push-off leg, then the risks weren't worth it. The Phillies managed this game as if they were behind in the series instead of ahead, lost anyway, and now the repercussions of it put them in a perilous spot.

"I was trying to win the game," Manuel said, "and I felt like we definitely had a run left in us. If things had worked out like [pitching coach] Rich Dubee and I had them planned. . . . Happ might have stayed longer than Blanton. At the same time, Blanton worked and he'll be fine. He definitely could be ready on Saturday if that's what we choose. Of course, with Happ injured, I'll just have to wait and see where he's at."

If Happ had not been in the bullpen, where he would certainly be is on the mound tomorrow night, another effective lefthander to throw at Colorado's lefty-averse lineup. Instead, it might be a slightly arm-weary Blanton or an aging pitcher with a sore neck and no good starts for a month.

"That's how you've got to play it sometimes," Manuel said.

Perhaps, but not with a series lead, and not with a team built to make a deep run in the playoffs. Sometimes you have to play it that way, but this wasn't one of those times.

 

Contact columnist Bob Ford

at 215-854-5842

or bford@phillynews.com.

Read his blog

at http://philly.com/postpatterns.

 

In Search of the Soul: An exercise in theological methodology - Christian Post

Posted: 09 Oct 2009 01:56 PM PDT

Atheists typically are not up on how a theologian reasons to a certain conclusion. Clearly Consersational Atheist is among these. But I'll give him credit. Rather than dismiss theology as bunkum, he has politiely asked for me to explain how a theologian reasons to a particular conclusion. He lists a bunch of doctrines and then states: "choose from these any ONE that you believe and can present a methodology."

Being the pleasant fellow that I am, I will happily oblige the request. I'll discuss here #2 "that souls exist". The point is not to mount a full case but to provide a very brief outline to explain how a theologian reasons.

Tradition

Tradition is a dirty word in some parts, but not in thoughtful theology. Actually it is not a dirty word in sensible science either. In science all taking tradition seriously means is getting up to speed on the legacy of informed and relevant opinions on a given subject matter. Same goes in theology, although in this case, as in philosophy, informed and relevant opinions may stretch back much longer than the last few decades.

When one does a survey of informed opinions in theology one finds historically a substantial consensus in favor of substance dualism, the view that human persons are composites of material body and immaterial soul. There actually are two different main theories of dualism, the Augustinian and Thomistic, but they agree on the main point that an immaterial substance exists after the demise of the body.

Interestingly, this consensus among theologians has dissolved in the last few decades. Of note, a number of theologians have recently adopted physicalist views of the human person.

To sum up, a survey of the most informed opinions of various theologians would provide various grounds to stake one or another position but we'll continue on in our brief survey.

Scripture

Next, we turn to scripture itself which, as I have noted, Christians take to be revelatory. One of the reasons that Christians have been historically dualistic is because of scripture. A number of passages suggest that the soul is distinct from the body and can survive the demise of the body.

Interestingly, a number of the physicalist theologians that have appeared of late have taken issue with this reading of the Hebrew nephesh and Greek psyche. They contend that scripture is more congruent with physicalism.

Science

Ever since Phineus Gage literally took it in the chin, scientists have explored in increasing detail the intimate relationship of mind and brain. In the minds of many philosophers and theologians, this has yielded powerful evidence that the mind simply is the brain (e.g. anomalous monism) or perhaps that it consists of non-physical properties that are supervenient on but irreducible to physical properties. Such views offer different shades of physicalism.

Others find that the intimate correlation between mind and brain that is amply established in neuroscience does not force any conclusion as to the identity of the former with the latter.

Philosophy

There are many philosophical considerations that come into play. For instance: philosophy of mind offers various theories of consciousness, some dualistic (property or substance) and others non-dualistic (e.g. physicalist). One must also weigh other arguments such as whether physicalism can sustain a concept of agency, free will and identity through time. Meanwhile the substance dualist wrestles with the issue of dualist interaction.

Finally, we should also throw in the fascinating and suggestive evidence for OBEs that has been collected by cardiologist Michael Sabom, philosopher Gary Habermas and others. If these cases can be sustained, then right there one would have evidence for the possiblity of continued existence apart from one's body. And that supports dualism.

Conclusions

So are human beings physical objects or ensouled composites? The theologian seeks to draw together all the information at hand from the best traditional and contemporary sources, along with his or her own reading of scripture, and the best information from science and philosophy. At the end of the day he or she then renders an informed opinion for the Christian community, but one which is subject to ongoing critical review, testing, reflection, development, possible refutation, et cetera.

So the next time somebody tells you "The philosopher asks questions that can never be answered. The theologian gives answers that can never be questioned" you may politely reply "Baloney."

The Secret Process For Picking Nobel Peace Laureates - NPR News

Posted: 09 Oct 2009 02:46 PM PDT

The Norwegian Nobel Committee's surprise decision to award this year's peace prize to President Obama has once again thrown a spotlight on how such selections are made. It's a process famously shrouded in mystery.

Names of nominees are kept secret for 50 years, so it will be a long, long time before outsiders know for sure who else was among the record 205 people nominated for this year's prize. That secrecy, of course, helps fuel the vigorous guessing game sparked each October before the announcement.

There were no clear favorites this year, and Obama's selection came as a shock to most. After all, the deadline for submitting nominees to the committee was Feb. 1 — less than two weeks after Obama's inauguration.

Other Possible Nobel Peace Prize Contenders

Names of Nobel Peace Prize nominees are kept secret, but there was plenty of speculation about who the front-runners might be. Below, some of the most-discussed contenders for the award.

[Interactive:Other Possible Nobel Peace Prize Contenders]

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So who has the power to nominate a laureate? The group has been broadened in recent years to include former Nobel laureates; current and former members of the Nobel Committee; members of national assemblies and governments from around the world; university professors of history, political science, philosophy, law, and theology; and members of international courts of law.

The wide range of potential nominators makes for some unlikely choices annually. Among the ranks of those whose names were reportedly dropped in the hat this year: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Cuban leader Fidel Castro. (Past nominees have included dictators Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin.)

After the nominating deadline passes, the Nobel Committee, which consists of five members appointed by the Norwegian Parliament, winnows the candidates down to a short list, sometimes adding its own nominees. The Nobel Institute's permanent advisers spend several months preparing in-depth research reports on each candidate that form the basis for the committee's deliberations.

As committee members continued to meet to discuss the possible winner in the weeks leading up to this year's announcement, there was, as usual, plenty of speculation. Norwegian television reported that Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai appeared to be the front-runner.

Other rumors pointed to Chinese dissidents, a move that would have been poignant, coming 20 years after the massacre at Tiananmen Square and 60 years after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Irish oddsmakers also ranked the Chinese dissidents among the favorites, while giving low odds to Obama.

The respected Nobel-watchers at Norway's International Peace Research Institute offered their top predictions: Piedad Cordoba, a Colombian senator and peace activist who has helped negotiate the release of kidnapped hostages; Ghazi bin Muhammad, a Jordanian philosophy professor who advocates interfaith dialogue; and Sima Samar, an Afghan human-rights activist and medical doctor by training.

The final decision apparently came at the last minute. As late as last week, the committee's nonvoting secretary, Geir Lundestad, was telling reporters that the committee was still undecided.

It seems Obama's message of hope, so central to his presidential campaign last fall, also proved persuasive to the Nobel Committee.

In announcing the winner in Oslo on Friday, Committee Chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said: "Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future."

French firm wins bidding war for Gandhi house - The Guardian

Posted: 09 Oct 2009 01:35 PM PDT

The house in Johannesburg where Gandhi lived for three years

Inside the house in South Africa where Gandhi lived for three years Photograph: Greg Marinovich

A former home of Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa has been bought by a French tourism company, causing bitter disappointment in his birthplace, India.

The Kraal, in a quiet suburb of Johannesburg, was home to Gandhi for three years when he was a young lawyer formulating his philosophy of non-violent resistance.

Its owners of 28 years, Jarrod and Nancy Ball, struggled to attract interest in the property until its availability was reported in a South African newspaper, sparking a worldwide bidding war.

Voyageurs du Monde is believed to have paid in the region of $500,000 (£315,000) for the house. It plans to turn it into a Gandhi museum "in line with its philosophy of investing in heritage properties worldwide".

The Indian government expressed disappointment and said it was not giving up on the house. Sriprakash Jaiswal, the coal minister, was quoted as saying: "The matter concerns national sentiment and I will leave no stone unturned to acquire the historic property and declare it a national monument."

The Balls, who are moving to Cape Town, said they chose Voyageurs du Monde because of its commitment to preserving the rich heritage of the thatched-roof rondavel-style house.

Nancy Ball, a US-born artist, said: "I know India has responded not too happily but we think it went to the right people and we're delighted. One of our end-use conditions was that something be done to protect the heritage."

She said they had been "more than surprised" by the global interest. "It was kind of mindboggling, especially as we had been trying to sell it for more than a year. All of a sudden the time was just right."

Ball said they received four firm bids, and declined to reveal the final sale price. "It will be hard to say goodbye but I'm very much at peace with the next custodian of this property and that's the best way to look at it."

Gandhi lived in South Africa for 21 years, working as a lawyer and activist who fought for the right of Indians in the country to be treated as citizens. He said in his autobiography that he would "always be a South African Indian".

8 of 10 BOE candidates want Martin gone - Mansfield News Journal

Posted: 09 Oct 2009 01:56 PM PDT

MANSFIELD -- During his closing statement Thursday at a Mansfield school board candidates' debate, one candidate surveyed the field.

"Four years ago, candidates ran virtually unopposed," Chris Elswick said. "This year 10 are running. That should tell you something about the state of the schools."

Eight of 10 Thursday were largely in agreement about what needed to be done to fix Mansfield City Schools. Each concluded Superintendent Lloyd Martin, who did not attend the event, should be removed from office.

"I give him a big, fat 'F,' " Suzanne Banko said when asked to grade Martin's performance.

Robert Little, another candidate, did his best to one-up her.

"I give him an 'F-minus,' " Little said. "I believe he is a megalomaniac."

Ilhamy William, a former technology director for the district, was more nuanced.

"There's things that are 'B,' 'C,' and there's things that are 'D,' or 'F,'" William said.

Only current board members Dale Musilli and Domenick Danza avoided blaming Martin. Both said Martin wasn't perfect, but said things they had done since being appointed several months ago were steps in the right direction.

"Our 10th- and 11th-graders are actually outperforming students in other, similar districts," Musilli said, before allowing that "the past nine months have been real on-the-job training."

Danza, who was appointed in January, cited a long record of education experience in Chicago, New York City and Cleveland. He also conceded his eight months on the board had been "a very steep learning curve."

The night was structured as a two-hour debate, with each of the 10 candidates given 60 seconds to answer each of five questions, which ranged from grading Martin to evaluating special programs in the district.

Several candidates accusing the board of constructing barriers for people who want to bring concerns directly to board members.

"There are 24,000 registered voters in the district," said candidate Lowell Smith, a former Ashland University administrator. "To exclude them is ridiculous."

Rudy Flores said, "it seems like everything they do is a big secret. That doesn't go over well."

For a district that spends $2,000 more per student, on average, than similar districts such as Lima City Schools, questions about Martin's fiscal leadership were another common theme. Danza and Musilli said the Fiscal Accountability Committee, a citizens' watchdog group, is expected to issue a public evaluation of district finances in November. Many of the other eight lamented what they saw as a basic lack of accountability.

"It's a top-down philosophy," John Rutledge said.

The 10 candidates are running for three seats on the board -- Musilli's, Danza's and that of retiring member Sondra Asher.

Candidate Dina Davis, who said she almost pulled her son out of Malabar Middle School because of violence there, argued for a wholesale reshuffling of the deck.

"I don't think this district can survive this train wreck without three new voices on board," Davis said. "The three-ring circus needs to stop."

eshilling@nncogannett.com
419-521-7205
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