Monday Musings - October 14, 2024

 

1. The second Monday of October is upon us and the year is drawing to a rapid close. Believe it or not, there are but 11 Mondays remaining in 2024. 

2. Family NFL Report. Family teams went 2-2 with Chiefs and Dolphins getting a week off. The Cowboys failed to show up for their game.

Cowboys (3-3) were run out of town by Lions (4-1), 9-47

Steelers (4-2) stifled Raiders (2-4), 32-13  

Ravens (4-2) won a hard fought victory over 

Commanders (4-2), 30-23

Dolphins (2-3) and Chiefs (5-0) were on a bye.

3.  For the first time since 1960, both Army and Navy are nationally ranked college football teams in the same week.

4. Trump’s message in Aurora, a city that has become a central part of his campaign speeches in the final stretch to Election Day, marks another example of how the former president has escalated his xenophobic and racist rhetoric against migrants and minority groups he says are genetically predisposed to commit crimes. The supposed threat migrants pose is the core part of the former president’s closing argument, as he promises his base that he’s the one who can save the country from a group of people he calls “animals,” “stone cold killers,” the “worst people,” and the “enemy from within.” (Politico)

Fire Pit
Tequesta, FL
October 13, 2024

5. Last evening Chris and I enjoyed some wine around our portable fire pit. It was finally cool enough in the evening for us to light the fire pit and enjoy the ethanol fueled flame. We used the calming effect to get over the lopsided loss suffered by the impotent Cowboys. It was a very difficult game to watch and we tuned out during the 4th quarter when it became apparent that the Cowboys had gotten lost on their way to the stadium and another team was substituted for them.

6. Today in History. October 14, 1947. U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager becomes the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound.

Yeager, born in Myra, West Virginia, in 1923, was a combat fighter during World War II and flew 64 missions over Europe. He shot down 13 German planes and was himself shot down over France, but he escaped capture with the assistance of the French Underground. After the war, he was among several volunteers chosen to test-fly the experimental X-1 rocket plane, built by the Bell Aircraft Company to explore the possibility of supersonic flight.

The US will send an advanced anti-missile system — and troops to operate it — to Israel - CNN

‘I talk about moving daily’: Florida residents weigh whether to leave after destructive storms - CNN

The largest spacecraft NASA has ever built for a planetary mission is set to launch today - CNN

Israeli minister denounces UN peacekeepers as fighting rages - Reuters

SpaceX catches giant Starship booster in fifth flight test - Reuters

Oil falls over 2% as China demand woes erase last week's gains - Reuters

Scale of Chinese Spying Overwhelms Western Governments - The Wall Street Journal

Worldwide Efforts to Reverse the Baby Shortage Are Falling Flat - The Wall Street Journal

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I rode 20.31 miles yesterday. Thus far, I have logged a total of 165.43 miles. I expect to ride today. I have 134.57 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL