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!

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.  

😀