Author Archives: RJ Hamster

I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis. I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God. I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons. I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA. While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon.. In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987). From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting. Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982. I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects. In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston. In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018. Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia. In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey. As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova. Love and God Bless, Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi

Could he be the Deadline blockbuster … again?!

Thursday, July 09

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A photo illustration of a jogging Mason Miller and an exit door that says Trade Deadline

There’s no way the Padres would actually trade Miller … right??

San Diego gave up plenty to acquire Mason Miller at last year’s Trade Deadline. He’s been great, but the Friars have disappointed in ’26. We asked execs from around MLB if there’s a chance the closer could be dealt.

‘Never doubt him’: Trout homers in 1st game back from IL with ASG in sight

Classic dominance helped propel E-Rod to 1st career All-Star selection

PCA’s tear continues with 2 more homers as he again reaches 20-20

Cease comes 3 outs from ending 36-year no-no drought, then asks: ‘How many K’s did I have?’

Here is the top Draft prospect for every state

Bart stings former club with decisive HR after Braves break up perfecto in 7th

Streaking Marlins acing test against a defending division champ

Roki hangs tough before Betts breaks through late for LA

McClanahan holds Yankees scoreless in his longest start since 2023

If the guy starting for the Cards is celebrating a birthday, they’re probably going to win

Back-to-back-to-back … plus 1?! Reds’ 4-homer inning features 3 straight blasts

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Longest Home Run

Alec Burleson

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Jared Jones

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Dylan Cease

Career-high 118 pitches in no-hit bid; 2nd straight scoreless start

Jared Jones

Retired all 18 batters faced, including 6 K’s

Jake Bennett

7 scoreless IP; 1.39 ERA in last 5 starts

Jo Adell

2 HR in 1st career 5-RBI game

Tyler O’Neill

2 HRs after entering in 7th inning

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Daulton Varsho went all-out to keep Dylan Cease’s no-hitter alive in the eighth inning.

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Shohei Ohtani has 300 home runs. Can he match all-time sluggers like Jeff Bagwell (400), Willie McCovey (500) or Jim Thome (600)?

When you’re Shohei Ohtani, 300 home runs is just the start

We expect Shohei Ohtani to exceed expectations at this point, but how many homers will the four-time MVP hit in his big league career? Can he get to 500 home runs? Or … dare we say it … 600?

A power surge is reflected in the Hitter Power Rankings

Junior Caminero came roaring back onto our poll of the top hitters in the game at the moment.

Yordan Alvarez, Junior Caminero and Shohei Ohtani

Is an October repeat out of the question?

Five of last year’s playoff teams are on the outside — way outside — looking in at the moment. Can any of them claw their way back into contention?

Mason Miller, Roman Anthony, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Riley Greene and Sal Stewart

The moments that defined Verlander’s career

With the news that 10-time All-Star Justin Verlander will retire after the season, let’s look back on what is sure to be a Hall of Fame career.

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Thursday action on MLB Network

It’s the Yankees vs. Rays at 1 p.m. ET (or Braves vs. Pirates at 12:30), Phillies vs. Reds at 7 (or Mariners vs. Marlins at 6:30) followed by D-backs vs. Padres.

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TOR 10
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CHC 9
BAL 7

ATH 1
DET 6

ATL 3
PIT 0

SEA 0
MIA 2

NYY 0
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KC 2
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PHI 5
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MIN 6

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Psalm 73:12-14 – Psalm 73: Understanding God’s Mercy Over Judgment in Times of Doubt

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Psalm 73:12-14

(12) Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches.
(13) Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.
(14) For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning.
New King James Version Change email Bible version

Psalm 73:12-14 shows the anguished complaint of the righteous man:

Look at these men of arrogance; they never have to lift a finger—theirs is a life of ease; and all the time their riches multiply. Have I been wasting my time? Why take the trouble to be pure? All I get out of it is trouble and woe—every day and all day long. (The Living Bible)

The author’s distress is evident. At this point, he was clearly puzzled too. How quickly he seemed to have forgotten earlier outpourings of God’s benefits. Did he allow his anguish to lead him into believing that he was being picked on unfairly? In this state of mind, a person can easily come to a wrong judgment about how he should respond.

Why would a righteous person believe God was punishing him? In one sense, it is easy to reach such a conclusion because in our calling we are educated to see sin in ourselves. Why? If we do not first see our sins, how can we repent of them? And, if we are not overcoming our sins, how can God be glorified in us?

In addition, at the same time we are also being educated about the holiness of God. Together, the two of them serve to emphasize how wide the contrast is between Him and us, sharpening our awareness of our sinfulness. How can we possibly live up to that standard? We conclude, then, that we are being punished. The apostle Paul’s statement in Romans 7:24 about his own sinfulness seems to confirm our conclusion: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

However, this is not the end of the story on making this judgment, for it is indisputably unbalanced. We must emphasize and believe another characteristic of God’s nature more profoundly. Exodus 34:4-9 records an episode following the Israelites’ rebellion after receiving the law at Mount Sinai. Moses returned to the mountain and asked to see God, that is, literally see Him in person with his own eyes. God granted His request, permitting him to see His back. When God passed by, He proclaimed:

The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.

God emphasizes His mercy, patience, goodness, truth, and forgiveness. Why do we not think first of His grace and run to Him, rather than fear His justice, accuse Him, and run from Him? He is our help. He gives us salvation. He provides us with a Savior. He called us and gives us His Holy Spirit, empowering us to learn and grow. He is creating us in His image.

The author of Psalm 73 used this positive insight to come to a better solution. He went to the sanctuary and prayed, and God gave him a balanced, quiet, faithful spirit. The accusations stopped and praise for God began because he could now understand the entire picture in a more sound-minded, less self-centered way.

— John W. Ritenbaugh

To learn more, see:
Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Eleven): Paradox, Continued