Monday Musings - September 23, 2024

1. Happy Autumn! In case you missed it, Autumn began yesterday. Today is the 4th Monday of September. Next week will mark the last of five September Mondays. There are 14 Mondays remaining in 2024. 

Finn Watching the Cowboys-Ravens Game
Tequesta, FL
September 22, 2024

2. Family NFL Report. Family teams went 3-2 with Commanders to play tonight. The Steelers and Chiefs remain the only undefeated family teams, while the struggling Ravens achieved their first win even while being outscored 19-0 during the 4th quarter. 

Ravens (1-2) held on against Cowboys (1-2), 28-25 

Steelers (3-0) defeated Chargers (2-1), 20-10

Commanders (1-1) play Bengals (0-2), Tonight

Dolphins (1-2) lost to Seahawks (3-0), 3-24

Chiefs (3-0) comeback against Falcons (1-2), 22-17 

3. The Orioles continue their September slide. Fortunately, it appears that all of the teams they are in competition with are also playing poorly. They are 8-11 in September, yet still in contention for the first wild card position.  

4. Trump lies. At an event held by a conservative group in late August, Trump claimed that schools are sending children for gender-affirming surgeries without their parents’ knowledge. He said, “The transgender thing is incredible. Think of it. Your kid goes to school and comes home a few days later with an operation. The school decides what’s going to happen with your child.” (CNN)

5. Fact for the week:

Approximately 10% of people are left-handed.

6.  If they are complaining about it, they are probably doing it. 

7. Today in History. On September 23, 1875, Billy the Kid is arrested for the first time after stealing a basket of laundry. He later broke out of jail and roamed the American West, eventually earning a reputation as an outlaw and murderer and a rap sheet that allegedly included 21 murders.

The exact details of Billy the Kid’s birth are unknown, other than his name, William Henry McCarty. He was probably born sometime between 1859 and 1861, in Indiana or New York. As a child, he had no relationship with his father and moved around with his family, living in Indiana, Kansas, Colorado and Silver City, New Mexico. His mother died in 1874 and Billy the Kid—who went by a variety of names throughout his life, including Kid Antrim and William Bonney—turned to crime soon afterward.

Delays in counting mail-in ballots could make it unlikely to know on election night who won battleground states - CNN

The Middle East is closer to the brink of a catastrophic war - CNN

Trump’s false claims haven’t just triggered a string of bomb threats in Springfield — they’re also draining funds - CNN

Israel says operations in Lebanon will continue until safe for evacuees to return - Reuters

Sri Lankans elect Marxist-leaning Dissanayake as president to fix economy - Reuters

Russian strike on apartment block in Kharkiv injures 21 - Reuters

Bipartisan Spending Deal Would Avert Shutdown, Aid Secret Service - The Wall Street Journal

Harris Makes Undercover Push to Win Over Corporate America - The Wall Street Journal

Congressional leaders reach deal to avert shutdown, boost Secret Service funds - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL