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!

LISTS

The S&P 500 is the most widely followed stock market index in the world.  A committee at Dow Jones selects 500 of the largest U.S. publicly traded companies and their value is followed live.  These 500 make up about 80% of the total market capitalization.  Market capitalization is just the total value of all the stocks traded for an individual company.  Currently 12 U.S. companies have a market cap over $1 trillion.  Here they are in descending order and the market sector to which they belong.

1.  NVDIA Corp      Semiconductors

2.  Apple Inc.              Technology

3.  Alphabet Inc.- Class C           Media

4.  Alphabet Inc          Media

5.  Microsoft Corp           Technology

6.  Amazon.com Inc                Retail

7.  Meta Platforms Inc.                Media

8.  Broadcom Inc             Semiconductors

9.  Tesla Inc                 Automobiles

10. Micron Technology Inc                 Semiconductors

11. Eli Lilly and Co                Pharmaceuticals

12. Advanced Micro Devices Inc             Semiconductors  

Here are the next largest up to #20

13.  Berkshire Hathaway Inc              Financial Services

14.  JPMorgan Chase & Co               Banking

15.  Walmart Inc                     Retail

16.  Visa Inc                        Financial Services   

17.  Exon Mobile Inc                Energy

18.  Intel Corp                    Semiconductors

19.  Johnson & Johnson                    Pharmaceuticals

20.  Mastercard Inc                Financial Services    

A note about Alphabet above.  They have two classes of stocks (voting and non-voting) which are separate but trade at about the same price.  Both are high on the list.

NUGGETS

WISDOM THAT BEFITS ME  

(Also, things I learn from my children.)  

The older you get . . . 

The days last longer but the years go faster. 

Enjoy the day!

EXTRA! - EXTRA!

The Draconid Meteor Shower is heading toward Earth.  It is made up of a broken comet.  Pieces will bombard our atmosphere for three or four days but the peak should be visible in our area this evening, Thursday October 8.  The top time to see a "shooting star" is about 9 pm EDT.  Normaly this group of debris will produce about five to ten meteors per hour.  What a great time to wish upon a shooting star.  Hope for clear skys - dress for cool weather.  

Your friendly astronomer.   

BENGAL BRIEFS

 After winning the first two this year, I never expected to be 2-2 after four games.  I certainly never expected the Browns to be 3-1.  The Ravens are 3-1 also but may have an injured quarterback.  The Steelers only looked good against the Bengals and are also 2-2.  We thought the teams we beat were very good teams but maybe not:  the Buccaneers and the Texans are both 0-4. 

The clash with the Jaguars last weekend was a tight one.  It wouldn't have taken much more for the Bengals to win - and it wouldn't have taken much for the Bengals to lose by a bunch.

The receiving group is a mess.  We lost our top receiver in the first half to a concussion and our number two in the fourth quarter to a groin strain.  Our rookie receiver, Colby Young, was held out from the beginning with an injury. Andrei Iosivas is on the Reserve/Injured list for a few more weeks after hand surgery.  We've got Dohnte Meyers pretty healthy but he's basically a rookie.  We picked Mitch Tinsley off Houston's practice squad on Tuesday - he knows some of the plays.  What a mess!  

On top of that, our top safety and defensive play caller, Bryan Cook was out hurt and a guy named Yeast who we brought off of the practice squad for this game had to play a lot.  

Enough belly-aching.  Every team has injury problems.  We had our whole offensive line and our two running backs but managed to almost set an all-time record for running futility.  Somethings got to be done.  Joey B had a pass tipped and intercepted and another that no pro-QB should have thrown.  The refs called so many penalties that the game had little continuity.

This coming Sunday the Bengals are in Miami to play the winless Dolfins.  Barring a deluge by the coming tropical storm - things should look better.  Let's hope, anyway.  

MIDWEEK PRAYER

 A truth to remember concerning the human race:  Every heart that we recognize as being full of goodness and kindness has at least a little pinch of evil within it - so be aware - and every heart that we are sure is full of evil and hardness has at least a pinch of redeemable goodness within it - so do not judge too harshly and do not give up on them.  

Dear Lord Jesus, you came to Earth to show everyone the way to your Father.  In metaphor, you described yourself as the Good Shepherd who would leave the flock to recover the one lost lamb.  You explained that, like a doctor, you came not for the healthy but to heal the sick. Show us the way to find and help the lost lambs and to recognize and care for the sick.  Remind us that it is our duty in this life.  Amen

WATCH OUT

I always think I know what's going on around here but I didn't know until recently that there is a Cincinnati Watch Company.  It has been making specialty watches here for 8 years now.

Founded by locals Rick Bell and Mark Stegman, they sell uniquely-designed high-end watches.  Precision watches designed and assembled right here in town.  The watchmaker is Jordan Fricklin.  He is a certified fine horologist. 

Looking for a special Christmas present for a special person?  Go to www.cincinnatiwatch.com 

LISTS

 That's right - my lists will never stop.  Since we are now deep into the college football season and the NIL (Name Image and Likeness) debacle will not go away, here is the sports worlds' (The Athletic megazine) estimate of money supporting the top programs.  I think it's shocking!  Each estimate given had a 3-5 million dollar range - I've just used the top end.  I've taken some minor liberties with my groupings and dollars.

Ohio State, Oregon, Texas   $55 million

LSU, Texas A&M, Miami   $50 million

Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas Tech   $42-48 million

USC, Indiana, Michigan, Florida   $41 million

South Carolina, Auburn, Nebraska   $35 million

Georgia, Oklahoma   $34 million

Clemson, Penn State, Wisconsin,   $32 million

Missouri, UCLA, Mississippi St.,Virginia Tech, Florida St.   $30 million

Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, NC State   $28 million

Ark, Lousiville, TCU, Maryland, Mich St., Northwestern, Wash, BYU, NC   $25 million

Cal, Virginia, SMU, Baylor, Rutgers, Arizona St., Illinois   $24 million

Kansas St., Minnesota, Utah, W. Va., Syracuse  $22 million

Colorada, Iowa   $21 million

Pitt, Purdue, Stanford, Wake Forest, UCF   $20 million

Houston, Oklahoma St., Kansas, Arizona, Iowa St.   $18 million

Cincinnati, Duke, Boston College   $13 - 16 million

Think about it now.  That's how much money these schools are giving to their players.  It blows my mind.  Some get more bang for their buck than others.  I think it's disgraceful.  How low can higher education go?  They already put out generally ill-prepared graduates and now boost their sports teams with cash to draw more suckers.  

NUGGETS

WISDOM THAT BEFITS ME

Don't put off until tomorrow what you can put off until the day after tomorrow.  And, always remember to smile when you do it.  

😀

BENGAL BRIEFS

I don't hate anyone.  I really try to keep that in my mind.  If I don't like someone, I'll just stay away from them.  But, I do allow myself to hate other things as long as they are not indiviuals.  Here goes:  I hate the Pittsburgh Steelers.  It make me puke to say the words.  

Now, the game:  The Bengals did a lot of stupid things last Sunday.  They did a few amazing things, too.  I have no idea why we didn't put more pressure on that aged quarterback throughout the game.  It did come to light that our new safety, Bryan Cook, missed most of the game.  He is the quarterback of the defense.  Also, he's not afraid to tackle a tight end like some of our DBs.  The decision to go for the block of the punt has become one to argue about.  The punt receiver, Ke'Shawn Williams, got his head in the way.  Not sure he was the best option we had.  The last few years, the Bengals have been one of the least penalized teams in the league - not this year.  Why?  With all that, we had a great chance to win or go into overtime in the end except Joey B had to go for the hero play.  Oh well, they weren't going to win them all anyway.

Next up is the Jacksonville Jaguars.  These are not the Jags we used to laugh at.  This group won 13 games last year.  They are 2-1 right now and sit atop the AFC South.  Trevor Lawrence still has the hair streaming out of his helmet but he's looking better than ever.  They whipped the AFC champ N.E. Patriots last week 35-6.  The gamblers have made the Bengals a 2.5 point favorite.  Because the game is played here, that means it's a toss-up.  Keep your eye on Travis Hunter who should be playing DB for the Jags.  He came into the league as a two-way threat and was picked second overall in the draft.  He's quite an athlete.  

MIDWEEK PRAYER

This is the last day of September, 2026.  It is my son's birthdate.  Why do we say "happy birthday" instead of "happy birthdate"?  Birthdate has to be more correct.  Oh well.  Thinking of him, I want my prayer today to be one of thanks.  Of all the wonderful gifts I have been given, he is a special one.  (His sisters were pretty good too)

Jesus Christ, my Lord and God, I give thanks for your loving-kindness and all the blessings You have richly bestowed upon me. I fall down in worship and adoration before You, the King of Glory.

I praise You, I glorify You, I bless You and I give thanks to You for Your great goodness and tender mercy. To You I come, my sweet Lord and loving Master.

Shine in my heart the light of Your grace. Enlighten my mind, that I may walk uprightly all my life by keeping Your commandments. Glorified and exalted is Your holy name, now and forever. Amen.

HAIR LOSS

I'm looking into human hair loss. Not because I hope to regain my lost mane but just to inform you, my curious readers.  "Curious minds need to know" ya know.  Who said that?

Head-hair loss is called alopecia to us medical paraprofessionals. Here's some facts. Losing 50 to 100 strands of hair per day is considered normal. You were born with all the hair follicles you'll ever have.  Hair grows at about 1 centimeter per month.  (I've been alive about 975 months so my hair could be 975 centimeters long.  For you unmetricized individuals, that is about 32 feet long.  Somehow, I doubt that.)

Rogaine (Minoxidil) is a FDA-approved medicine that can be prescribed to stimulate hair growth.  It is not FDA-approved for women (except, maybe, the bearded lady in the circus.)  Other meds are in the testing process for men and women.

My mom thought my wearing a ball cap all the time caused my early hair loss.  Later, she said she thought the war caused it.  Why didn't she notice that her dad was totally bald?  

Real causes of excessive early head-hair loss include genetics, of course, and hormones and environment.  Temporary hair loss can be caused by stress, medication, illness and body changes such as childbirth. Some autoimmune desease sufferers, like those with rheumatoid arthritis, have been able to regrow hair with the medications they take.  This is being studied now. On the other hand, everyone knows that most chemotherepy meds will cause temporary head-hair loss.

To conclude, bald people do not like to be called "Chrome Dome", "Cue Ball", "Mr. Clean", "Baldilocks" or even, just plain "Baldy".    

I wouldn't mind  "Baldilicious" or "Smooth operator."

LISTS

 Here I go again.  More lists.  

You're going to love this one.  This is a list of the most often used cuss words in non-English speaking European countries plus Ireland and Russia.  So, you want to be multi-lingual?

Ireland   "Feck"                                Poland   "Kurwa"

Iceland   "Fokk"                               Belarus   "Pizdec"

Portugal   "Caralho"                         Ukraine   "Suka"

Spain   "Joder"                                 Russia   "Blyat"

France   "Putain"                              Greece   "Malaka"

Netherlands   "Tyfus"                       Romania   "Pula"

Denmark   "For helvede"                  Bulgaria   "Kur"

Norway   "Faen"                               Turkey   "Siktir"

Sweden   "Javlar"                              Italy   "Cazzo"

Finland   "Perkele"                            Switzerland   "Scheisse"

Estonia   "Kurat"                               Luxemburg   "Putain"                           

Latvia   "Dirsa"                                 Belgium   "Putain"

Lithuania   "Pzda"                             Germany   "ScheiBe"

Hungary   "Kurva"                            Cyprus   "Malaka"

Austria   "Oida"                                Malta   "Qafca"

Croatia   "Jebote"                              Albania   "Qifsha"

Serbia   "Jebiga"                               Czechia   "Kurva"

Moldova   "Pizda"

Now, guess what they mean.