FUN AND GAMES

Last Friday, I asked in what song do you find the line "...don't spit into the wind..."  Why, of course, its "Don't Mess Around With Jim" by Jim Croce.  I love that song.

https://youtu.be/odkIEDi2x0g?si=KH_BMGikNAxsRTxP

This week I want you to tell me where to find a picture of Maria Tallchief.  "Who is she?", you ask.  Well, you should know that she is about the most famous dancer of her kind in our country's history.  Go ahead, "read up" on her.  You might come across the place where we can see her image.  Then, show me how smart your are in a comment - include your name or intials or some clue to who you are.  If you're real lazy, you can wait until next Friday for the answer.  

BENGAL BRIEFS

Okay, everyone is excited now.  The boys put on a real show in the second half of last Sunday's game.  I'm reminded to keep a level head.  Don't get too depressed things look bad and don't get too excited when things look great.  They managed to get on a real roll against the Ravens and couldn't be stopped.  Remember, it is the same team that played in the first half.  

This week Cincinnati goes up against the Tennessee Titans.  They've only won one game so far; they edged the Colts two weeks ago.  The Browns beat them by three last week.  Sounds like an easy mark for the Bengals we saw in the second half against Baltimore.  It won't be that easy.  The odds-makers have spotted the Titans 10.5 points this week.  It won't be that easy.  Their roster is dotted with first round draft choices.  It won't be that easy.  Their young quarterback, Cam Ward, was a Heisman Trophy candidate.  It won't be that easy.  Keep your eye on Carnell Tate, wide receiver.  It won't be that easy.  

All that said, it should be easy for the Bengals this Sunday.  

MIDWEEK PRAYER

Don't worry so much about all the rules and regulations.  Do what Jesus tells you to do:  "Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself."  There is much contained in that one line.  For sure, you must know what "Love" is.  Here is a short prayer for you.

Lord, help me to know what love looks like.  Grant me the wisdom to see the differenece between being tolerant and being loving - between being enabling and empowering - so that I may truly will the good of my fellow man.  Amen

ALASKA

Do you know what's going on in Alaska besides cold weather?  Here's what I know.

Dan Sullivan is a current U.S. Senator from Alaska.  He is running for re-election.  He is a Republican.  Mary Peltola, a former U.S. Representative, is running against him. No problem. so far.  

A third person has gotten himself put on the ballot.  It is Daniel J. Sullivan (not the Senator) who claims to be a Republican.  Two Dan Sullivans is bound to confuse some people.    

Pre-election polling puts the race as a toss-up.  One Senator of the fifty being elected could trip the balance of power in the Senate.  

The State of Alaska has printed ballots with Dan S. Sullivan noting republican incumbent and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr without party affiliation.  

If Dan Sullivan doesn't get elected, the U.S. Government's Justice Department intends to sue the State.  This could be fun to watch.

FRANK HAYES

Frank Hayes; what a common name.  It sounds like someone you should know but you can't place him.  This Frank was a stableman, race horse trainer and a jockey.  He was born in 1901 and died in 1923.  Hayes was born in Ireland which attracted me to him.  

Frank always wanted to be a jockey but he was too large a man.  He weighed 142 pounds when he was offered a ride, if he could make the weight, on a horse he was training at Belmont Park in New York.  It was a steeplechase race and he needed to weigh no more than 130 pounds.  Steeple chase races, you know, include not only racing distances but jumping fences and slogging through water in ditches like a countryside ride.  

The young man went on a diet, to say the least.   He starved himself and got down to the needed weight in just a few days.  His horse was named Sweet Kiss.  He rode her like the wind and crossed the finish line ahead of all others.  The horse slowed to a stop about a 100 yards from the finish and Frank slipped slowly off and landed face down.  He died sometime during the race of a heart attack probably because of his forced severe dieting.  

It was his first and last race as a jockey and he was the winner because his horse crossed the finish line with his body on it.  Sweet Kiss never raced again.  The Irish will not be deterred.    

FUN AND GAMES

Concerning last weeks Fun and Games, this refrain, is from the Broadway play Hair.  

🎶🎶

Gliddy glup gloopy

Nibby nabby noopy la la la lo lo

Sabba sibby sabba

Nooby abba nabba le le lo lo

Tooby ooby walla nooby abba nabba

xxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx song. 

 🎶

The last line is "Early morning singing song."  I thought including that would make it too easy.

The song title is "Good Morning Starshine". 

***

This week I want you to tell me the title of the song that includes the line  "...you don't spit into the wind..."  (That's good advice)

BENGAL BRIEFS

No game last week.  Hopefully, the Bengals are well rested and ready to play at their peak.  They will need to be this week; facing the Baltimore Ravens.  The Ravens are 4-2 and leading our division.  This match-up will be played in Baltimore at 1:00 pm.

What do we know about the Ravens. Most everyone considers them the greatest obsticle to the Bengals making the playoffs. 

Their quarterback is Lamar Jackson - a dangerous runner as well as passer.  He has been injured and may not play.  Tyler Huntly is the back-up.   

Derrick Henry is their bulldozing running back.  We'll need to tackle him before he gets going.  The little guys in our defensive backfield don't want to tackle him all day. 

They have a new edge rusher you may know, Trey Hendrickson.  He didn't want to be here so he left.  He'd like nothing more than sacking Joey B.  

If Burrow gets time to throw, he should be able to pick apart their pass defense   Ja'Marr Chase has had his best games against the Ravens.  

MIDWEEK PRAYER

Pray with me.  

Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with the fire of your love.  Give us the wisdom to know what is best.  Bless us with the understanding of the mysteries of life.  Counsel us in our decision making.  Bolster us with fortitude and strength to withstand the evil attractions of the world. Implant the knowledge of God in our hearts.  Let us be meek and pius in our dealings with our fellow man and in our reverence of God. Never let us forget that we are here by the will of God and must never be separated from Him. 

We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen   

QUOTATIONS

First an explanation:  This was said in 1816 by Thomas Jefferson, our third President and a Founding Father of our country.  He served as President from 1801 to 1809 so it comes after his second term.  The reference to "economy" is about the wise use of one's money.  

"I place economy among the first and most important virtues and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared."

There is so much going on during the campaign season that we might forget the national debt or lose it in the fog of issues.  I seldom hear anyone in Washington talk about it.  It will not break our country during my lifetime or maybe even yours but it will ruin this country some day.  Politicians without term limits will never solve the problem.  We need that and to give line-item veto to the President.  

WALTER LIPPMANN

Have you heard of Walter Lippmann?  He was a journalist, media critic and philosopher of the early and middle twentieth century.  Lippman was a captain in the US Army during World War I and served as an intelligence officer in France.  He was put on the negotiating team to settle the war.  

Walter was a founding editor of the magazine The New Republic.  In 1947, Lippmann was the first to describe the "cold war" and he actually coined the term "stereotype".  He wrote syndicated columns for the New York Times and The Washington Post.  He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1958 and another in 1961.  He won a Peabody award for journalism on CBS Reports about his interview with the Soviet Premier.  Of course he was a huge "free speech" advocate.  His work was called to bare in the defense of the communist party at a trial in 1983.  The Walter Lippmann House at Harvard University houses the School of Journalism.  

 Anyway, he was an important person of his time.  He was an "old time liberal". He authored over 20 books containing his philosophy about our country, its politics and the world. 

He gave a speech in 1940 at the 30th reunion party of his Harvard class of 1910.  World War II was already raging in Europe but the U.S. had not yet entered.  I will paraphrase some of his remarks that I think are significant.  "For every right that you cherish, you have a duty you must fulfill.  For every hope you entertain, there is a task you must perform.  For every good you want to preserve, there is a comfort you must be willing to sacrifice."  

So True! 

It is easy to live in bondage compared to the difficulty to live in liberty.  Do not take the easy way out. 

FUN AND GAMES

I ran across this and just had to share it.  Okay, I've made a quiz out of it because I think you like quizzes.  Tell me, by comment, the hit song this refrain comes from and admit if you used AI or not.  

🎶🎶

Gliddy glup gloopy

Nibby nabby noopy la la la lo lo

Sabba sibby sabba

Nooby abba nabba le le lo lo

Tooby ooby walla nooby abba nabba

xxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx song. 

 🎶

Never make fun of current music; this was published in 1967 as part of a Broadway play.  It made it to number 3 in the US, number 6 in the UK and number 1 in Canada in 1969.   They just don't write beautiful lyrics like this anymore.  

BENGAL BRIEFS

Last Sunday the Bengals brought their record to 3-2 with a 31-24 win over the Dolphins in the extreme heat of Miami, Florida.  That 3-2 record is the same as the Steelers and Browns in their division and a game behind the Ravens who won despite playing with their second-string quarterback.  Ja'Marr Chase made his usual eye-popping touchdown catch, Mike Gesicki made yet another TD grab and Semaje Perine showed his value as a running back with most of the carries in the second half.  They still don't look like a championship team but it is early.  One year the Patriots started the season 2-2 and finished 13-3 and in the Super Bowl.  

Players with homes out of town have gone home and those housed locally have fallen into the easy chair after their sauna.  No game next week for Cincinnati.  Time to get healthy, rested and recharged.  Just like the players, all fans get a week off to spend with their families.  

  

MIDWEEK PRAYER

I think it will be alright for you Christians to say the following prayer.

As you pray in the name of God, the Compasionate, the Merciful say:

"It is God, the one and only, the ultimate. nothing is higher. 

God cannot be reproduced and there is nothing equivalent to God."

Think about what you have said.  It is a declaration of faith.  This is a  translation of the Quran chapter 112 verses 1-4. 

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Are you in the market for a new car?  Are you at least slightly interested in trying an all-electric vehicle?  Beware!  I hear they don't have a gas pedal.  Would you buy a car without a gas pedal?  The next thing you know they'll be selling cars without a gas tank or a crank or a full size spare tire or CD player or tape deck or hub caps.  Disgraceful!