WHAT CAN I SAY?

I FORGOT THAT I DIDN'T WRITE ANYTHING FOR FRIDAY THE 17TH.  REALLY, I FORGOT.  BE NICE TO ME.  I'M OLD.  STOP THAT TSK, TSKING.  I'M SORRY.  I WON'T LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN. 

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

Charles Darwin (father of evolutionary theory) - "I am not the least afraid to die."

Karl Marx (author of The Communist Manifesto" - "Last words are for fools who haven't said enough."

Leonardo da Vinci - "I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have."

Voltaire (18th c French writer, wit) when asked to renounce Satan on his deathbed, "Now, now, my good man, this is no time for making enemies."

MIDWEEK PRAYERS

 This coming Sunday we will remember the first miracle that Jesus performed. 

He changed water to wine.

He did it at his mother's request/insistence.   

He did it at a wedding feast.

He promoted celebration.

He promoted motherhood.

He promoted marriage.

Lord, we pray today for all those who are married - give them patience, understanding and strength to live as one and to share all that they do in true love. Lord, we also pray today for all those yet to be married - guide them to an eternal partner with whom they may share your blessings and receive your blessings with joyous hearts.  

Amen

MYSTERIES

 This is an aviation mystery I thought worth retelling if you haven't heard it before.  I always wondered if you could do this.

On May 25, 2003, a Boeing 727 aircraft was stolen from an airport in Angola, Africa.  The plane had been sitting at the airport for some time because some fees had not been paid.  An American named Ben Padilla and a Congolese man had been hired as mechanics to get the plane back into operational status.  

The two evidently had the plane gassed up and fit as it needed to be.  Ben was a pilot of small planes and his friend was not a pilot at all.  Neither was certified to fly the 727.  They got into the pilot and copilot seats, had the transponder turned off and taxied to a runway ignoring the towers orders.  Witnesses say the takeoff was rather erratic but they made it.  Out they flew, over the Atlantic Ocean.  

The FBI, CIA, Interpol and Angola police searched the ocean but have come up with nothing.  Neither the plane nor thieves have been seen or heard from since.  Law enforcement people believe that it either crashed at sea, was involved in insurance fraud by it's owner, was to be used in smuggling or such, or was intended to be used by terrorists.  It is a cold case that may never be solved.

WONDERING

 Children are inquisitive.   It's great - it's how they learn.  

 As a parent, it's sometimes difficult to listen to all the questions but it is imperative that we do -  and answer them as best we can on a level that the child can understand.  

Here's your chance.  I came across this one the other day that I wish I would have asked - I also wish I knew the answer.

 No matter that he lives in a garbage can, this is the real stumper.  "Why is it that Popeye only goes swimmin' with bowlegged women?" 

Please tell me.

SON DAY

 Today we remember the Baptism of Jesus - in the Jordan River - by John the Baptist.  He did not need baptism but chose to do this as a sign to all that it is right.

 If you are baptized, it's time to remember it.  Think about your baptism - your children's baptism - and what it means. Your parents may have chosen baptism for you and you for your children.  In either case, Baptism is a commitment, a promise, a walk through a doorway to a different life.  Live your baptism.    

NEWS OF THE WEEK

 SNOW

The Bengals won and then lost.  The 2024 season - done!.  And then four coaches lost their jobs.  

Mike Johnson was re-elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives.  

SNOW

The Surgeon General wants cancer warnings put on alcoholic beverages.  

I'm told the Golden Globe awards were handed out.  I looked at the list of winners and heard of almost none of them.  I was surprised to find out that Demi Moore is still acting.  

SNOW SNOW

New York City has set up toll booths on roadways and bridges into congested areas in an attempt at encouraging drivers to use the subways and buses.  The fee is $9 during peak hours.

President Biden is handing out Presidential Medal of Freedom awards left and right - mostly to his friends and sponsors and sports stars.  They include Hillary Clinton, George Soros, Michael J. Fox, Denzel Washington, Lionel Messi, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy, Ashton Carter, George Romney, Jose Andres (chef), Bono (U2), Ralph Lauren, "Bill" Nye (the science guy), and a half dozen more.

SNOW SNOW SNOW

The President-Elect bounced the following off the wall in Mar-a-Lago; change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, take back the Panama Canal, accept Canada as the 51st state, and claim Greenland as our own (Denmark's claim to it is weak) . . . and don't forget, if the hostages are not set free by January 20th by Hamas, ALL HELL WILL BREAK LOOSE!.  

President Jimmy Carter's body was lain in state at the U.S. Capitol.  Later in the week, a beautiful funeral service was held. RIP

SNOW SNOW

Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, announced he would resign from office when his replacement could be elected in October.  He could have been the governor of the 51st state.

Abbie Stockard beat out Annette Addo-Yobo for the Miss America Crown.  Did you know they were still doing that?

SNOW

Hi-Tech golf  league (TGL) founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy began play this week.  More sports to watch. 

In the greatest weather-related American tragedy of my lifetime, the Santa Anna winds blew into the Los Angeles area from the desert with hurricane force velocity, sparking fires.  That Devil Wind struck the City of Angels with such force that thousands of homes, businesses, and other structures were burnt to a crisp.  Loss of life accompanied the fires.  They still rage in some areas.  All that is left is the finger pointing at public officials for lack of preparedness.  

Oh yes, a little more snow.

Ohio State and Notre Dame survived the semi-finals of the college football playoffs and will meet a week from Monday for the National Championship. 

It was a down week for UC and XU basketball, . . . again.

GREAT THOUGHTS

LIFE IS LIKE A BICYCLE.  

THE ONLY WAY TO BALANCE YOURSELF ON IT IS TO KEEP MOVING.  

If you're not on the move, doing something or working on something, you're not leading a balanced life.  Get up and go!

- - - thought by Albert Einstein and me

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

Famous last words

Marie Antoinette as she accidentally stepped on the executioner's foot as she was walking to the guillotine to have her head removed - "Pardon me, Sir.  I meant not to do it."

Nathan Hale as he was being executed by the British as a spy for the American Army during the Revolutionary War - "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

Winston Churchill as he lay dying - "I'm bored with it all."

Steve Jobs, who once told his workers that they needed to produce products that made the customers say "Wow", reportedly said as he lay dying - "Oh Wow, Oh Wow, Oh Wow!"  

No one I know but someone - "Watch this."

MIDWEEK PRAYER

 Lord, did you take into account that the parents of all those youngsters who were praying for snow were not hoping for quite so much.  It should be a good lesson to parents.  Pray more.

Last Sunday, we celebrated the Epiphany.  An event where gifts were given to Jesus, Mary and Joseph by strangers.  These gifts were given by people who traveled a great distance, not by friends or neighbors. Though our Nativity scenes usually include the three wise men, it is likely they never arrived in Bethlehem for about a year after the child's birth.  The Romans had all baby boys under the age of two in that town murdered just to be sure they got him.  They didn't - the family fled to Egypt.  

So what did we learn or of what are we reminded?  It is good to give of your wealth - even to those you don't know.  The spirit of Christmas-giving stems not from people who would not allow a young couple expecting a child to stay in their home but from strangers, who traveled far, to present their gifts to that family. 

Let us pray: 

 Lord, I pray that I may always be willing

 to share the gifts you have given me

 with others, near and far. 

Amen  

RELIGION IN THE USA

 Here are some current facts I found interesting.  They were put together by the PEW Research Center.

Among all adults in the country, there are 62% Christians, 2% Jewish, 1% Muslim, 1% Hindu,  1% Buddhist, 5% other, don't know or refused and 28% unaffiliated.  Of the Christians, 64% are Protestant and 36% are Catholic.

The new Congress, Senators and Representatives, which has just been convened is made up of 87% Christians, 6% Jewish,  <1% Muslim, <1% Hindu, <1% Buddhist, 4% other, don't know or refused, <1% unaffiliated.  Of the Christians in the Congress, 66% are Protestant and 34% are Catholic.

These statistics are rounded for clarity.  They do not include three members of Congress who are being replaced; two because of resignation and Senator J.D. Vance moving to the Executive Branch.

Notice that both Christians and Jews are over-represented in Congress compared to the whole population. Notice also, that the politicians do not choose to claim "unaffiliated" status.  

  

GREAT JOBS

 Everyone hopes to have a great job.  One they enjoy, that is satisfying and rewarding.  I went through a whole host of dreams when I was young - mostly work having to do with sports.  Being a player seems awesome.  If you're not an elite athlete, you might hope for coaching.  If that doesn't work out, how about sportscasting.  That would have suited me immensely but . . . let's don't cry over spilled milk.  I figured out how someone could get on the track to becoming a sportscaster much too late in life.   So, for any of my readers still in formative posture, here is an almost surefire method.  It is amazing.

I offer a list of graduates from Syracuse University - these folks went through what is now the broadcast and digital journalism program in the Newhouse School; specifically in the Sports Media and communications track.  Enough, you'll see what I mean.

Marv Albert -  he's worked for most of the networks

Bob Costas - noted for MLB Network and NBC Sports

Mike Tirico - you see him everywhere, currently with NBC Sports

Dick Stockton - Fox Sports and Turner Sports

Sean McDonough - mostly ESPN work

Ian Eagle - CBS Sports NFL

Len Berman - retired of NBC Sports

Beth Mowins - a female original with ESPN

Dave Pasch - ESPN, NBA, Arizona Cardinals 

Andrew Catalon - CBS Sports, PGA, March Madness

Dave O'Brien - ESPN, ACC Network, Boston Red Sox 

Anish Shroff - ESPN and Carolina Panthers radio

Andrew Siciliano - currently NFL Network

Adam Zucker - CBS Sports Channel anchor

Ryan Burr - ESPN and Golf Channel

Michael Cole -  WWE, Smackdown 

Joe Castiglione - Boston Red Sox Radio

Greg Papa - Oakland Raiders Radio

Dave Flemming - ESPN, San Francisco Giants Radio

Todd Kalas - Houston Astros Radio

Dave Jageler - Washington Nationals Radio

Dan Hoard - Cincinnati Bengals Radio, UC Bearcats football and basketball

Jason Benetti - Detroit Tigers Radio and Bally sports

Ed Coleman - WFAN Radio covering NY Mets

Michael Barkann - NBC Sports Philidelphia and Mike & Ike show, Olympics

Okay, I found dozens more but I'm tired of typing.  You get the point.  Syracuse is the cradle of sportscasters.

Enjoy the snow in SW Ohio!

SON DAY

 Just a reminder - today is Sonday.  

NEWS OF THE WEEK

 This week got off to a good start (I start on Saturday) with the Bengals edging the Denver Broncos and keeping their slim hopes alive for a playoff spot.  Today, the must beat the nasty Pittsburgh Steelers and tomorrow, the Broncos and Miami Dolphins must lose.  That's asking a lot.

The federal government reported that more people have experienced homelessness in the U.S. this year  than ever recorded since they started keep track of these things twenty years ago.  Places to live everywhere but who can afford them?  

New Years Day came and went with more bust than boom.  A man killed 14 people in the French Quarter in New Orleans with a speeding truck.  Another blew up himself in Las Vegas evidently trying to make a statement.  A family was decimated in Hawaii by their own fireworks stash.  A man shot several outside a club in the borough of Queens, New York.  West Chester, Ohio was very quiet, calm and reserved. PTL

The celebration got so crazy in Puerto Rico that the electricity went out on the whole island.  I think it's happened before.

In the quarter finals of the NCAA football playoffs, Penn State pounded Boise State, Texas edged Arizona State, Ohio State pummeled Oregon and Notre Dame shocked Georgia.  The semi-finals pits Notre Dame against Penn State on January 9th and, the next day, Ohio State against Texas.  This is fun.

President Jimmy Carter, (James Earl Carter Jr) passed away at his home at the age of 100.  Amazing. And now we have so many people allergic to peanuts.  Also amazing.

A plane crashed in South Korea killing at least 179.  Of course, it was a Boeing 737.

Jeff Bezos-owned Blue Origin is trying to catch up to SpaceX.  Competition is the key to advancement!

The CDC reports that norovirus cases have exploded in the U.S.  Keep your Zicam handy.

The National Weather Service is predicting a huge storm event coming across the center of the country.  We should have a bunch of snow or something by Monday or maybe not.

The stock market ended the year on a down note but, overall, it was way up for the year.  

Happy New Year!