WINE

I thought the following excerpt might be helpful for The Sisters to keep in mind, as we look ahead to the Sibling Reunion in Sedona, AZ. The source is Dr. Keith Roach's regular column in the Norfolk Daily News.

"Dear Dr. Roach:  I have read about the benefits of having a glass of wine per day for women, or two gasses for men. Can you please tell me how your health will be affected if you have more? My husband often drinks a bottle of wine a night, & if we go out he will have cocktails as well. Dr. Roach replies:  I wish nobody had ever said that a glass of wine a day is healthy. It my be true, but experts disagree. It is true that people who drink moderately at or below the one or two drinks level you reference, have decreased risk for some conditions compared with nondrinkers. This includes coronary artery disease, the kind of heart disease that leads to heart attacks. But it's not clear that it is the wine that is doing it. It could be that moderate drinkers have other good health behavior responsible for the better outcomes seen. The definitive study, a blinded, randomized, controlled trial, can't be done. Too many people with problem drinking justify their behavior by saying small amounts of alcohol are beneficial."

LLAMAS

"According to a new study, antibodies from llamas may prevent infections from coronavirus. And, of course, now you can't find llamas at Costco." Late Night with Seth Meyers, Entertainment Spotlight, latelaughs, Norfolk Daily News, 9/24

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

Hooray for us! We watched the Star Trek Enterprise series finale last night, beating the deadline by two days. [We were notified that this series would no longer be available on Netflix after 9/30.] We really enjoyed this series. The series finale was even a little bit of a tearjerker, but, sorry, no spoiler alerts today. Now we're resumed watching Deep Space 9.

TRENDING

"DOLLAR TREE to sell more items above $1 as costs rise." Drudge Report

"Americans check their smartphones 96 times a day!" Drudge

"Police warn parents about cannabis candy ahead of Halloween." Drudge

"Wife claims $3.5 trillion spending spree at Target cost $10." Babylon Bee

COVID

"New York Atheists claim religious exemption from vaccine after governor claims that it's from God." Babylon Bee

"Australian hospitals over capacity with people beaten by police for not wearing masks." Ditto

Powerful Verses in the Bible that Support Vaccination  Babylon Bee

"Blessed are the vaccinate, for they shall be on the right side of history."

"Come to me, you who are weary & heavy laden, & I will give you a dose of the Pfizer vaccine."

"Love your neighbor as yourself by getting a vaccine that doesn't protect yourself or others from getting infected."

"Love your enemies . . . unless they are unvaccinated, in which case you must wish for their painful deaths."

Tips for Making Sure Your Kids are Terrified of COVID  Babylon Bee

* Buy a loud alarm & do COVID drills.

* Tell them the COVID monster is hiding in their closet waiting to eat them up if they take off their mask.

"Tell them Elmo died from COVID."

"Tell them they're not going back to school because all their teachers & classmates died from COVID."

"Tell them FL Gov. Ron DeSantis is hiding in their closet."

ANXIETY

I've been diagnosed with clinical depression & a chronic anxiety disorder. This information from Reader's Digest (July/Aug 2021), may be helpful, if you suspect you suffer from an anxiety disorder.

"Despite the fact that chronic anxiety is very manageable with some combination of medication, therapy, & lifestyle adjustments, only about 37% of affected people receive treatment of any kind. The rest try to battle their anxiety from within or suppress it . . . Here are some tips to help minimize anxiety's negative effects:

 

1. Accept it. If you accept anxiety as part of life & part of everyone's lived experience, you can learn to relate to it with self-compassion & even with humor.

2. Be curious about it. Along with acceptance, a mindfulness approach to anxiety can be useful, especially when you're cycling through anxious thoughts & unable to think clearly or rationally.

3. Make lifestyle adjustments. Learning to live with anxiety is an individual process that requires trial & error to get just right. While acceptance is the first & most important step, some lifestyle changes have been proved to take the edge off as well. Since fatigue & increased stress leave us more vulnerable to anxiety, a well-balanced diet, adequate rest, &, above all, exercise can help us manage it better. One research study showed that regular vigorous workouts reduced the likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder over the next 5 years by 25%.

Also, medication can help. Many people avoid even looking into medication for anxiety because of the stigma associated with psychiatric drugs. Those with anxiety may worry that they'll become dependent on the drugs or that loved ones will see them as weak or flawed. But the fact is, modern pharmacological treatments for anxiety disorders are safer & produce fewer side effects than they did 30 years ago. At the same time, attitudes toward mental illness are improving. A 2019 survey by the APA found that 87% of adults agreed that having a mental health disorder is nothing to be ashamed of."

WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO

Tomorrow is our bi-weekly Grace Men's Breakfast Bible Study at 1st Choice. We're joined by men from other congregations. Pastor Asbury, our associate pastor at Grace, usually leads, but he'll be absent tomorrow, so I'll be leading the Bible study. We're working our way through the Gospel of John. Please pray for me. Also, did I mention it's a "Breakfast" Bible Study?

My brother Mark & sister-in-law Christy will be here on WED. They're heading to Beatrice on FRI for a visit with my sister Carolyn & brother-in-law Matt. We'll join them on SAT for--I hope--Matt's world-famous smoked ribs. Oh, & if you're reading this, Mark & Christy, rest assured. You don't need to bring your own toilet paper. We're all stocked up.

Yesterday we had our weekly Zoom call with Lois' siblings. We discussed plans for Lois' Sibling Bash in Sedona, AZ, next month. COMING SOON! Sibling Bash Rules! Plans seems to be falling into place, & we're really looking forward to it. We'll also be visiting national parks in Utah & Arizona, & we'll spend a night with our niece Jocelyn, who lives in a suburb of Denver.

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, July/Aug 2021

"I don't want a whole dessert; let's just get two spoons." - Former friends of mine

"The most cutting thing you can say is, 'Who's this clown?' because it implies they're (a) a clown & (b) not even one of the better-known clowns."

"Sometimes I want kids just so I can eat fish sticks for dinner."

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE NORTH DAKOTA

"North Dakota's 'Flying Farmer' wrecks car during daredevil stunt." Fox News

. . . WASHINGTON

"Washington school bans pro-police flag, claims it's 'political,' but permits BLM & LGBT messages." Fox News

OUR FRIENDS THE TALIBAN

"Taliban hang bodies in four city squares." Drudge Report

"Taliban warn barbers in one province not to trim beards, report says." Fox News. At least our president is confident of their professionalism. Too bad there are no women on their ruling council.

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Maine woman allegedly calls in bomb threats to get boyfriend out of work." Fox News

TRENDING *

* Compliments of Babylon Bee

"Study finds horse unemployment has risen 900% under Biden administration." 

"Lockdown deemed a success as everyone is now so obese they can't fit out their doors."

"Border Patrol ordered to chase immigrants with segways & pool noodles."

"AOC argues that an Iron Dome over an entire country would be completely impractical, would block out the sun."

TODAY'S VERSE

Isaiah 1:18  "Come, let's talk this over!" says the Lord. "I can take it out & make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool!" The Living Bible

CALMNESS

"Calmness comes from within us when we are confident in God's Word. Painful trials produce maturity, which leads to love!" Gary Smalley & John Trent, Men's Devotional Bible

LIFE THOUGHTS

"Decisions about manner & timing of death--either our own or anyone else's--are difficult & dangerous. We cannot anticipate all its effects & consequences. Our Lord relieves us from playing God by reserving for Himself the right to determine how human beings live & when we die (Ps. 104:29-30). And He assures us that we may flee the likes of abortion & assisted suicide by taking refuge in His kingdom of forgiveness & faith (Mark 9:43-47)." Source:  Grace Lutheran Church bulletin, 9/26

MONEY

"The most important thing about money isn't having as much as you want in order to get all the things you want but having enough to give to others in need. God doesn't give His children money in order to make them happy but in order for them to distribute it to people around them who are in need . . . What you have isn't your own. It all came from God so that it could go out to those who are in more need than you are. When you are blessed with something, ask God who you can now bless. Find out how to spread the wealth, how to share the gifts, & how to change the world through giving to others as God gives to you."  Michael DiMarco, Devotions for the God Guy

A HYMN FOR THE NATION

God of Our Fathers, LW #501, Sts. 2-4

Your love divine has led us in the past; In this free land by You our lot is cast; Oh, be our ruler, guardian, guide, & stay; Your Word our law, Your paths our chosen way.

From war's alarms, from deadline pestilence Make Your strong arm our ever sure defense. Your true religion in our hearts increase; Your bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

Refresh Your people on their toilsome way; Lead us from night to never-ending day; Fill all our lives with heav'n-born love & grace Until at last we meet before You face.

A HYMN FOR SOCIETY

Christ, Our Human Likeness Sharing, LSB #847, Sts. 1 & 4

Christ, our human likeness sharing, Heaven's love on earth portrayed; Christ the Shepherd, tending, caring, In His death our ransom paid:  Christ the Savior, Christ the Servant, Be Your life in us displayed.

Come, O living Christ, renew us, As of old in wind & flame; With the Spirit's pow'r endue us, Servants of Your saving name:  Christ the Savior, Christ the Servant, Christ whose kingdom we proclaim.

A HYMN FOR THE CHURCH

Church of God, Elect & Glorious, LSB #646, Sts. 1 & 4

Church of God, elect & glorious, Holy nation, chosen race; Called as God's own special people, Royal priests & heirs of grace:  Know the purpose of your calling, Show to all His mighty deeds; Tell of love that knows no limits, Grace that meets all human needs.

Church of God, elect & holy, Be the people He intends; Strong in faith & swift to answer Each command your Master sends:  Royal priests, fulfill your calling Through your sacrifice & prayer; Give your lives in joyful service--Sing His praise, His love declare.

WHAT I'M READING

I finished reading "The Best of Uncle John's Bathroom Reader." I'm done with Uncle John for the foreseeable future. Last night, after browsing my way through the AAA tour book for Utah--we're leaving on our Great Western Road Trip a week from this next TUE--I started reading "The Real Custer:  From Boy General to Tragic Hero," by James Robbins. I've read several biographies of him, & I've visited the Little Bighorn Battle Site twice, so I'm not sure what more I can learn about him, but I decided to give it a shot.

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Mother-daughter team accused of murder after botching illegal butt lift operation." msn.com 9/22

MENTAL HEALTH FRIDAY

"Growing number of young suffering from 'climate change anxiety.'" Drudge Report, 9/23

CRIMINAL MINDS

"NYPD:  Stabbing sparked by dispute over amount of sugar in McDonald's coffee." Drudge, 9/23

"DRAMA:  JetBlue passenger restrained with neckties, seat belts, after choking flight attendant." Drudge

OUR STATE OF EDUCATION

"Clowns lurking outside schools to promote speech academy. Horrified parents called police." Drudge, 9/23

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"Restaurant drive-thrus slower & less accurate." Drudge, 9/23

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE CALIFORNIA

"Blue Ribbon Reefer:  CA state fair to award best state-grown marijuana." Drudge, 9/23

IMMIGRATION

"Idiot immigrants enter country legally." Babylon Bee

"Border patrol agents accused of patrolling border." Babylon Bee

COVID

"Both vaccinated? Oregon health officials say you can kiss on dates again." Drudge

SPEAKING OF OREGON

"Oregon legalizes breakthrough treatment:  magic mushrooms." Drudge

TRENDING

"SHOCK:  Family finds unknown woman in mother's clothes in casket." Drudge

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"Horse-mounted aides with whips chase away journalists trying to ask Biden questions." Babylon Bee

"Kamala Harris demands to speak with whoever was put in charge of border." Babylon Bee

CHARTER SCHOOLS

"Moreover, stories abound of government-run schools in which not one student can read, write, or perform math and/or science at grade-level. Despite Herculean efforts on behalf of the federal government to correct this problem, such as President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind program and President Barack Obama’s Race to the Top, things are actually getting worse, not better.

Fortunately, more Americans are recognizing that government-run schools are not their only option. According to a new report from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, “During the 2020-21 school year, charter school enrollment grew 7%, the largest increase in half a decade.” Chris Talgo, Townhall

CANCEL CULTURE

"Six defining characteristics of cancel culture that set it apart from criticism & debate:

1. Punitiveness. Cancellers seek to punish. If you are criticized, you might lose an argument. If you are cancelled, you might lose your job.

2. Deplatforming. Cancellation is often an organized effort, bringing in groups & individuals to research other transgressions from the target's past & to exert pressure against him.

3. Secondary boycotts. Cancellers do not stop with an individual offender. They also threaten the target's place of employment, sponsors, & associates, unless they "do something about him."

4. Moral grandstanding. Cancellers project a tone of moral outrage & demonize their targets.

5. Truthiness. Canceller are willing to assert inaccurate information & distortions, even after that information has been shown to be untrue.

"This is rampant, even though 2/3 of Americans from across the political & religious spectrum oppose it, with a majority feeling cowed into submission. Even if the government will not infringe on your religious liberty, other people may. Christians should prepare themselves for cancellation." Gene Veith, The Lutheran Witness, May 2021

TODAY'S VERSE

Isaiah 1:16-17  "Oh, wash yourselves! Be clean! Let Me no longer see you doing all these wicked things; quit your evil ways. Learn to do good, to be fair, & to help the poor, the fatherless, & widows." The Living Bible

THE CENTRAL CHRISTIAN BELIEF

"The central Christian belief is that Christ's death has somehow put us right with God & given us a fresh start." C.S. Lewis, Men's Devotional Bible

TIMES OF DESPAIR . . . TIMES OF HAPPINESS

" . . . it is a misconception to think that faith should always make us happy, or that if we are unhappy, there must be something wrong with our faith. Sensitive Christians are not always satisfied with their lives in this fallen world. Spiritual giants such as Luther & Walther struggled with depression & were sometimes on the verge of despair. But their faith in Christ helped them bear their crosses & kept them focused on the joy that He promises in the world to come. The times of happiness we do have here--being with people we love, experiences of beauty & joy, moments of satisfaction, feeling close to God--provide glimpses of that eternal happiness that awaits us in heaven." Gene Veith, The Lutheran Witness, May 2021

TODAY'S HYMN FOR THE NATION

God Bless Our Native Land, LW #497

God bless our native land; Firm may it ever stand Through storm & night. When the wild tempests rave, Ruler of wind & wave, Do Thou our country save By Thy great might.

So shall our prayers arise To God above the skies, On Whom we wait. Thou who are ever nigh, Guarding with watchful eye, To Thee aloud we cry:  God save the state!

COULDA, WOULDA, SHOULDA

I may have been premature in posting my first Temp Challenge of the season yesterday. This morning's temperature when I got up was 41. That's too cold. I even put on my flannel pajamas for the first time.

FALL

Today is the first day of fall--the autumnal equinox. [Are you impressed with my flaunting of seasonal knowledge?] Fall has always been my favorite time of year, except in Hawaii. The trade winds died in the fall, allowing humid, warm air to drift up from the tropics. It also allowed vog to drift over from the Big Island Vog is volcanic smog--the smoke from Volcanoes National Park. The best time of year in Hawaii was spring.

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest July/Aug 2021

> "I don't want to die doing something I love. I want to die doing something I hate. That way I don't have to finish it."

> "Do people who run know that we're not food anymore?"

> My parrot died yesterday. It's last words were, 'Darn, I think my parrot is about to die.'"

> "Every neck tattoo should read 'I'm not getting the job, am I?'"

TRENDING

"UPDATE:  Woman with no memory found alone on island inhabited by bears." Drudge Report  As is often the case, I don't have time to read every story found on Drudge. It's your responsibility to go to Drudge & read the stories that intrigue you. I can't do everything for you.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"Mutant muscle cows, pigs bred to ward off mea shortages." Drudge

"Extra butter? Consuming more dairy fat may PREVENT heart attack, death." Drudge

"Happy Meals going green." Drudge

CRIMINAL MINDS

"SNAP:  Man fed up with speed bump smashes it to pieces!" Drudge

HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH

"Medical schools update Hippocratic Oath to exclude the unvaccinated." Babylon Bee

ON THE BORDER

"Border Patrol loses horse privileges, must now bang two halves of coconuts together." Babylon Bee

"Until the Biden team realizes that swift exclusion from the U.S. must apply to almost everyone, the problems at the border won’t let up." Rich Lowry, National Review Online

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"The press ever-so-politely turns on Biden, as troubles mount." Drudge

"New York restaurant adds voting booth so they can allow people in without ID." Babylon Bee

"Fiscally responsible Democrat says we should be able to destroy America for way less than $3.5 trillion."

CRITICAL RACE THEORY

"No longer simply an academic matter, critical race theory has become a tool of political power . . . More & more, it is driving the vast machinery of the state & society. If we want to succeed in opposing it, we must address it politically at every level. Critical race theorists must be confronted with & forced to speak to the facts. Do they support public schools separating first-graders into groups of "oppressors" & "oppressed"? Do they support mandatory curricular teaching that "all white people play a part in perpetuating systemic racism"? Do they support public schools instructing white parents to become "white traitors" & advocate for "white abolition"? Do they want those who work in government to be required to undergo this kind of re-education? How about managers & workers in corporate America? How about the men & women in our military? How about every one of us. There are three parts to a successful strategy to defeat the forces of critical race theory:  governmental action, grass-roots mobilization, & an appeal to principle . . . 

Above all, we must have courage--the fundamental virtue required in our time.Courage to stand & speak the truth. Courage to withstand epithets. Courage to face the mob. Courage to shrug off the scorn of the elites. When enough of us overcome the fear that currently prevents so many from speaking out, the hold of critical race theory will begin to slip. And courage begets courage. It's easy to stop a lone dissenter; it's much harder to stop 10, 20, 100, 1,000, 1,000,000 or more who stand together for the principles of America. Truth & justice are on our side. If we can muster the courage, we will win." Christopher Rufo, Imprimus--A Publication of Hillsdale College  What's my opinion of CRT? I'm glad you asked. First of all, there is no place for racism & intolerance. God's people must take the lead in opposing these things. After all, we are enjoined to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are taught to let our lights shine among men, that by our good works, God would be glorified. Having said that, there is no place for CRT to be promoted & taught. That, too, contravenes God's direction to love our neighbors as ourselves. CRT is indoctrination of the worst kid. And that's my opinion!

THE WIT & WISDOM OF BEN SHAPIRO

"In the end, the "tax the rich to be fair" notion rests on a simple lie: the lie that income distribution is purely a matter of privilege or luck. It isn't. In the main, in a free market system, income distribution is the result of successful decision-making that must be incentivized rather than punished if we wish to see a more prosperous society. Some people game the system; some are indeed beneficiaries of insider deal-making. But most success in capitalism is due to innovation, entrepreneurialism and creativity. Biden's "fairness" cuts directly against these core elements of progress on behalf of political pandering." Townhall

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

Since Lois is back home, we've resumed watching Star Trek Enterprise. Although the series is no longer available on Netflix after 9/30, we found out that it will be available on Amazon Prime, so we no longer need to rush to finish Season 3 & hurry through Season 4.

And, my OCD forces me to reveal that I neglected to mention one movie that I watched while Lois was in FL. That movie would be Congo. "While searching for rare blue diamonds that could lead to a new revolutionary communications, TraviCom employees Charles Travis & Jeffrey Weems discover the ruins of a lost city near a volcanic site in a remote part of the Congo jungle." [Wikipedia]. Stars included Tim Curry, Ernie Hudson [Ghostbusters], Joe Don Baker, & Bruce Campbell [Ash Williams], who, sadly, only appears briefly at the beginning of the movie before he--SPOILER ALERT!--comes to a gruesome end, courtesy of killer gorillas.

LECKBAND TEMP CHALLENGE

I decided to do a temp challenge this morning, since it seemed unseasonably chilly outside. Results are from weather.com at 8:21a (CDT).

#1, TIE:  Ventura, IA, 51; Norfolk, NE, 51

#3:  Beatrice, NE, 52

#4:  Lincoln, NE, 53

#5, B"HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH

"Keys to Happy Life = Exercise, Eating Fruits & Veg?" Drudge Report

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE CHINA

"China targets 'effeminate' men in Xi's mounting push for conformity." Drudge

. . . NEW ZEALAND

"NZ cops arrest men entering locked-down city with 'large amounts' of illicit KFC." Drudge

TRENDING

"Swarm of bees kills dozens of endangered penguins." Drudge

"Schoolboy who hasn't seen a human face in weeks just glad celebrities had a good time last night." Babylon Bee

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-TELLING *

* Courtesy of Reader's Digest, July/Aug 2021

"If I was stuck on a desert island with only one record, I would want it to be the record for being able to swim the farthest."

"Every class is drama class when you're in high school."

"Done with dating sites. I'm now focusing on pizza delivery guy because at least I know they have a job, a car, & pizza."

THE WIT & WISDOM OF BE SHAPIRO

"We realize that whatever our faults, whatever our shortcomings, we have a role in the world; tha whatever our faults whatever our shortcomings, we still are heirs to the greatest founding philosophy in world history; that whatever our faults, whatever our shortcomings, we are still citizens of the same body politic. The choice is still in our hands. But if Afghanistan is any indicator, it's quickly slipping away." Column in Norfolk Daily News, 9/13

ABORTION

"During the infighting, we will continue to endure all the old, worn-out, pro-abortion arguments, such as the callously expressed right of a woman to control her own body as if there is not a second body involved. Early on, you might see this evolving miracle as just a process, but oh so quickly we have a human creature, an unborn child getting ready for love & awareness." Column by Jay Ambrose, NDN, 9/15

TODAY'S VERSE

Job 42:1-3  "Then Job replied to God: "I know that You can do anything & that no one can stop You. You ask who it is who has so foolishly denied Your providence. It is I. I was talking about things I knew nothing about & did not understand, things far too wonderful for me.'" The Living Bible

TODAY'S PRAYER

"Almighty God, our heavenly Father, because You desire not the death of a sinner but rather that he would turn from his evil way & live, graciously turn away from us the punishments which we by our sins have deserved & which have been borne for us by our Lord Jesus Christ, & grant us ever to serve You in holiness & pureness of living; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen." Collect for a Day of Supplication & Prayer

THE CENTRAL CHRISTIAN BELIEF

"The central Christian belief is that Christ's death has somehow put us right with God & given us a fresh start." C.S. Lewis, Men's Devotional Bible

MOVE ON

"If you wallow in your past & refuse to move on, you recommit your failure all over again . . . If you don't know what the next thing for you is, then let it be this & this alone:  to trust Jesus completely & to pray continually. Then ultimately know that He works all things together for good--even your failures." Devotions for the God Guy

OUR CHIEF ARTICLE

"This is our chief article, the doctrine of faith, which tells us that we cannot help ourselves, nor can any works or teaching of the Law, but (Jesus) must begin it in us. He does not drive us with the Law if we perceive our sins & misery . . . but He sincerely takes pity on us, befriends & comforts us through His Word, Himself binds up the wounded, puts us on His animal, nurses & tends to us. He Himself had to carry out our redemption by Himself, take our place, & bear on His body our sins & need. He Himself also proclaims this to us & gives us the comforting words through which we are bandaged & healed." A Year in the Gospels with Martin Luther

TODAY'S HYMN 

Christ, Our Human Likeness Sharing, LSB #847, Sts. 1, 3, 4

Christ, our human likeness sharing, Heaven's love on earth portrayed; Christ the Shepherd, tending, caring, In His death our ransom paid:  Christ the Savior, Christ the Servant, Be Your life in us displayed.

Christ, in ev'ry congregation Build Your temple, stone by stone, With Your Word as firm foundation For a faith matured & grown:  Christ the Savior, Christ the Servant, Make in us Your Gospel known.

Come, O living Christ, renew us, As of old in wind & flame; With the Spirit's pow'r endue us, Servants of Your saving name:  Christ the Savior, Christ the Servant, Christ whose kingdom we proclaim.

MENTAL HEALTH MONDAY

I started blogging a few(?) years ago as one of my strategies for coping with my depression & anxiety. Journaling, which, in essence, is what my blog is, is one method among many for coping. So, the main reason I bog is to help me cope, but I also hope that maybe those who are also coping with their own depression & anxiety might benefit from some of my topics in my Mental Health MON blog.

ANXIETY *

* Rev. Matthew Harrison, The Lutheran Witness, May 2021

"'God's kingdom certainly comes when our heavenly Father give us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word & lead godly lives here in time & there in eternity.' (Small Catechism, 2nd Petition) This word of promise helps us face our anxieties & cry out in confidence to our Lord & Savior:

* "I'm anxious! You bore on the cross all the anxiety of the world. Lord, continue to slay my anxiety & give me Your Spirit.

* I'm discontent! You, Lord, carried my anxieties to Golgotha. Lord, forgive my sin.

* I'm jealous! Lord, slay my sinful flesh by Your word of law, & give me Your kingdom anew in Your Gospel. Cause me to rejoice in the blessings You give to others.

* I'm worried! All worry was subsumed & sentenced to death when You said, 'It is finished' (John 19:30). Lord, grant me contentment in You & Your promises.

* I'm greedy & self-centered! You, Lord, gave Yourself totally, for the totality of my sin. Lord, create in me a clean heart & renew my feeble spirit.

* I'm afraid to confess Your name! You, Lord, confessed before Pilate. You confessed Psalm 22 on the cross. Lord, strengthen my feeble knees & open my lips, & my mouth will praise Your name 'to a people yet unborn' (Ps. 22:31)."

DR. FAUCI

"Thousands come to worship at miraculous mask stain that looks just like Fauci." Babylon Bee

THE WIT & WISDOM OF CAL THOMAS

"The rights of man, endowed by a Creator from Whom comes the law, personal responsibility, & accountability, were self-evident to the Founders. While there were energetic debates about how to preserve them for themselves & bequeath such values to their posterity, there was no doubt they existed for them & for all time. Today's cancel culture & political correctness argue against the existence of objective truth. The individual now gets to set the standard for himself or herself, even when they are contradictory Personal peace & happiness are now the highest goal, not the general welfare.

"There are consequences to embracing such beliefs, & we are seeing them played out today. Government grows in size & cost. Taxpayers who earn money are going to be told by Democrats to pay even more to subsidize ineffective government programs & the unproductive. Prosperity is to be penalized when it once was thought of as a worthy goal for individuals & the nation . . . You've got to be taught to love America, or we risk losing it." Column by Cal Thomas, Omaha World Herald, 9/19.

POTTY TRAINING CATTLE

"By now, many people probably have either read or heard about the story from the Associated Press that begins, 'If you can potty-train a child, you can potty-train a cow. At least, that was the theory a group of researchers in Germany decided to test, in a bid to find a solution to the environmental damage caused by livestock waste.'" Our View, Norfolk Daily News, 9/16  But just imagine how this would benefit the economy by enriching manufacturers of cow diapers!

LOIS

My beautiful spouse returns from FL today, where she & her brother David have been spending the past week helping their sister Kathy move into her new condo. Hopefully her travel today will go better than it did last FRI. Because of flight delays, she missed a connecting flight in Chicago. Fortunately, she was able to get on another flight, but didn't arrive in Tampa [Kathy lives in St. Petersburg.] until late that night. More troublesome was her abscessed molar. When the cabin pressure changed in the plane, it felt--as I remember her vividly describing it--like her tooth exploded. During the week her toothache got progressively worse, until she finally had to get her root canal there instead of waiting until she got back to Norfolk. Fortunately, her tooth feels much better. She is able to drink coffee again & doesn't have to live on smoothies & protein shakes. Her flight arrives in Omaha, God-willing, at 10:30 tonight. We'll spend the night in Omaha before returning tomorrow.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

Lois & I have been watching Deep Space Nine & Star Trek Enterprise on Netflix. Then, several weeks ago, there was a notification that Enterprise's last day would be Sep. 30, so we began watching Enterprise exclusively. We still have one season to go, & it will be cutting it close. We may have to watch 10-12 episodes per night in order to finish. So I offered to keep watching it while Lois was in FL & text her plot summaries. She demurred, so I've been watching movies & comedy specials & comedians on You Tube Instead. Here goes.

* Blade Runner, a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, who went on to direct Alien. Stars included Harrison Ford, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, & the dude who played Larry on the Bob Newhart show. [You know:  "I'm Larry. This is my brother Daryl, & this is my other brother Daryl."

* Catch Me If You Can, a 2002 pseudobiographical crime film directed by Steven Spielberg. [NOTE:  I'm getting help from Wikipedia, a more trusted news source than CNN.] Stars included Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen.

* The Outpost, a 2020 Film, based on the 2012 non-fiction book "The Outpost:  An Untold Story of American Valor," about the Battle of Kamdesh in the war in Afghanistan. The only actor I recognized was Orlando Bloom [Lord of Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean].

* Space Cowboys, a 2000 adventure drama film, directed by Clint Eastwood, starring Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, James Garner.

* In the Line of Fire, a 1993 political action thriller film starring Clint Eastwood, John Malkovich, Rene Russo.

* An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life, a 2018 Netflix special featuring longtime pals & showbiz icons Steve Martin & Martin Short, as quoted on Netflix. [Steve Martin is one of my all-time favorite comedians, whom I first saw on the early Saturday Night Live shows. SNL was actually fun to watch back in the day.]

* Beyond the Pale, a 2005 special on Netflix, featuring Jim Gaffigan, also one of my favorite comedians.

* You Tube videos, featuring Mitch Hedberg, Shayne Smith [whom I discovered on Dry Bar Comedy], & Norm Macdonald.

WHAT I'M READING

I finished reading "Uncle John's Weird Weird World:  Who, What, Where, When, & Why." Now I'm reading "The Best of Uncle John's Bathroom Reader." I promise . . . this is the last Uncle John book I will read, & after finishing it I will start reading tour books about the national parks we plan to visit in October.

TRENDING

"SURVEY:  1 in 6 will quit job if not allowed to work from home." Drudge Report, 9/16

"Just 56% of Americans can name all 3 branches of govt." Drudge, 9/16 That's easy. Moe, Larry, Curly

NORM MACDONALD

"Nation's productivity down 97% as everyone binge-watching Norm Macdonald clips all day." Babylon Bee  Guilty as charged.

"Millions convert to Christianity after heaven begins advertising Norm Macdonald shows." Babylon Bee

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, July/Aug 2021

> "Eat her already!" Animal watching people kissing.

> Growing up, my mom would often say, "If you kids didn't cost so much, I could drink wine that comes out of a bottle."

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"Sirens blaring at Democratic headquarters as Black woman expresses unapproved opinion." Babylon Bee

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE CALIFORNIA

"Homeless spell out 'Congrats, Gavin Newsom' in poo on the streets of CA." Babylon Bee

"Marathon runners required to wear face masks in San Francisco." Drudge

TODAY'S VERSE

Job. 40:1-5  "The Lord went on:  'Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? Or will you yield? Do you--God's critic--have the answers?' Then Job replied to God:  'I am nothing--how could I ever find the answers? I lay my hand upon my mouth in silence. I have said too much already.'" The Living Bible

ASK

"Claiming to be wise, we become fools; we exchange the truth of God for a lie & worship the created things [our systems, principles & formulas] rather than the Creator--who is forever blessed. Amen. (see Rom. 1:22-25) That's why Jesus says we should ask. Asking puts us back on track with God. It assumes a need relationship with Him--a hand-to-mouth spiritual existence." John Fischer, Men's Devotional Bible

A PRAYER FOR OUR LEADERS

"Lord God . . . Behold in mercy all who are in authority over us. Supply them with Your blessing that they may be inclined to Your will & walk according to Your commandments." Lutheran Service Book

A MORNING HYMN

Awake, My Soul, & with the Sun LW #478, Sts. 1, 2, 4

Awake, my soul, & with the sun Your daily stage of duty run; Shake off dull sloth & joyful rise To pay your morning sacrifice.

All praise to You, who safe have kept And have refreshed me while I slept, Grant Lord, when I from death shall wake, I may of endless light partake.

Direct, control, suggest this day All I design or do or say That all my pow'rs with all their might In Your sole glory may unite.

WHAT I'M READING

I finished reading "Uncle John's Weird Weird World:  How, What, Where, When & Why." Now I'm reading "Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Christmas Collection." Every day I read the Omaha World Herald & Norfolk Daily News. Almost every day I check out the Drudge Report, Babylon Bee, National Review Online, Townhall, & the National Review Magazine online edition.

TRENDING

"Human remains found inside 504-lb gator suspected in Ida attack." Drudge Report

"'Deaths of despair' worsen among Americans lacking college decrees." Drudge

"Tourists smoking toad venom in Mexico hipster town Tulum." Drudge

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE CALIFORNIA

"Mysterious unmanned vessel spotted in San Diego Bay." Drudge

AFGHANISTAN

"Rednecks dress up as Taliban so Biden will give them billions of dollars in firearms." Babylon Bee

"Taliban celebrates 9/11 with patriotic flyover of U.S. Black Hawks." Ditto

"Since the collapse of Afghanistan and the re-ascension of the Taliban, comparisons have been made to the evacuation of Saigon in 1975. The imagery of United States helicopters evacuating panic-stricken South Vietnamese civilians as NVA tanks rolled into Saigon has been invoked many times over by the press. The administration was adamant that a fiasco like the evacuation of Saigon would not be repeated. The Biden administration, for all its failures, has succeeded in avoiding a situation like Saigon. Unfortunately, the collapse of Afghanistan, the chaotic evacuation, and the ongoing hostage crisis are nothing like Saigon and the end of Vietnam. What we saw with the U.S. failure in Afghanistan is far worse. It is the worst foreign policy blunder in American history, including the War of 1812, where we picked a fight with the British by invading Canada, who subsequently retaliated by invading the United States and burning down Washington D.C. Yes, the U.S. failure in Afghanistan is worse than even that." Joseph Bowman, Townhall

COVID

"Biden declares we must spray sunscreen on everyone to protect those already wearing sunscreen." Babylon Bee

"The photographs from last night’s event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City show a host of celebrities — including New York Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Carolyn Maloney — enjoying themselves without masks while the staff that are waiting on them are all masked up. Why?" Charles Cooke, National Review Online

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"Kamala Harris instructed to stop answering all her phone calls with 'Did he die?'" Babylon Bee

"There are many ways in which to divide humanity -- the decent and the indecent, the happy and the unhappy, the cowardly and the courageous, those who lead and those who follow, etc. Two major divisions that are less often noted but highly consequential are between those who want to control others and those who have little interest in controlling others, and between the related categories of those who are comfortable with being controlled by others and those who detest being controlled by others. Those who seek to control others and those who seek to be controlled by others would seem to be on opposite ends of the political spectrum. But they are not. Both groups are overwhelmingly populated by individuals on the Left." Dennis Prager, Townhall

EDUCATION

"As a new school year unfolds and students face yet another year of learning disruptions, policy leaders across the country should be doing everything in their power to ensure every student is equipped with an education that will help them succeed. Unfortunately, some politicians lack the conviction to enact sound policy that puts students first and, instead, have embraced a race-to-the-bottom mentality.

Rather than implement plans to turn around plummeting student achievement, create new pathways for kids to access a school tailored to their needs, or innovate with strategies to customize a child’s learning experience, Oregon governor Kate Brown quietly signed a brand new bill that hands all Oregon students a high-school diploma, irrespective of whether they can read, write, or demonstrate proficiency in math.

"In other words, Oregon is lowering the bar and lowering expectations, granting students the credential of an “effective” K–12 education without making sure they’re equipped with the fundamental skills they need for a successful life." Jeb Bush, NRO

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Deer attack bruises North Platte worker. A North Platte (NE) parks employee was left bruised after an attack by a whitetail deer in its enclosure at Cody Park." Omaha World Herald, 9/13

TODAY'S VERSE

Job 38:1-4  Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:  "Why are you using your ignorance to deny My providence? Now get ready to fight, for I am going to demand some answers from you, & you must reply. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you know so much."  The Living Bible

TELLING OTHERS ABOUT JESUS

"In order to share the Gospel with others, are we willing to forego some personal discomfort? Are we willing to risk our reputations by associating with those clearly identified as godless people? One way to become more intentional about evangelism & telling others about Jesus is to make a list of some people needing to hear the Good News. Include acquaintances with whom you could start building relationships in order to share your love for Jesus with them. With the help of the Holy Spirit, you can help them see how much God loves them, that He sent His Son to die for them, & that they can live forever with Him." Steward Builders

WHAT OUR SONS WILL BECOME

"We need to be confronted by our actions, messages & shortcomings if we expect to learn & grow. No more hiding behind excuses. No blaming others. No hiding behind phrases like, 'This is just the way I am.' Let us have a look at who we are for that is the best indication of who our sons will become." E. James Wilder, Men's Devotional Bible

SEEING & HEARING

"Well, seeing & hearing are very important. This is abundantly revealed & is as clear as light before our eyes & ears. However, the great crowd of the world cannot see or recognize it, even if it hits them in the eyes & rings & rattles in their ears without ceasing. If they could hear & see something of this, it would also produce something in them & improve them, so that they would become wiser & not oppose the truth in this way." A Year in the Gospels with Martin Luther

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

"The thing you say you can't give up is the very thing you have to give up. When something you own becomes the most important thing in your life, it teeters on idolatry. An idol is anything that you obsess about, that you need, that you can't live without. The only thing that you truly can't live without, other than food & water, is the presence of God in your life. And when things overshadow that need or even try to fill it, danger is in the air." Michael DiMarco, Devotions for the God Guy

TODAY'S HYMM OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts, LW #474, Sts. 1, 2, 4, 5

How shall the young secure their hearts & guard their lives from sin? Your Word the choicest rules imparts To keep the conscience clean.

It's like the sun, a heav'nly light That guides us all the day, And through the dangers of the night Its lamp shall lead our way.

But still Your Law & Gospel, Lord, Have lessons more divine; Earth is not firm as is Your Word, No stars so nobly shine.

Your Word is everlasting truth. How pure its every page! That holy book shall guide our youth And well support our age.

9/11

I probably don't need to remind you that today is the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Here are some of my thoughts.

* I was serving as head administrator at Lutheran High Northeast in Norfolk, NE. I was in the car, returning from a visit to one of the area Lutheran elementary schools. When I got back to school, there was a crowd of students & teachers in the library, watching the events unfolding on t.v. The videos & narratives were horrific.

* Certain events tend to define a generation. Pearl Harbor, Kennedy's assassination, the Challenger disaster, 9/11. 

* The next day I went to the Red Cross for my regularly-scheduled blood donation. The place was jammed with people. I had never seen anything like it. I was told there would be a 2-hour wait to donate, so I made an appointment for the next week & left.

* The newspapers I read--the Omaha World Herald & Norfolk Daily News--have been printing many stories about 9/11. As I was reading people's reminiscences of 9/11 in the OWH this morning, I found myself getting choked up.

* I wonder if the recent events in Afghanistan will lead to renew threats of terrorism, not just in our country but in others, as well.

* This catastrophe brought Americans together. In the 20 years since, for many reasons, we are a sharply divided nation. Will it take another tragedy like 9/11 to bring us back together?

* Some of my content today may seem inappropriate, but I had previously put it in, so I'm going to stick with it.

ORPHAN GRAIN TRAIN

Many of you know that I work for OGT, an organization that ships relief supplies internationally & domestically. Mostly I write devotions, but I help with some other tasks, too. This past THU & FRI we had our annual mtg, which gathers together Board members & volunteers from our branches & collection centers. Last year's mtg was cancelled, due to COVID. This year we cancelled our biennial convention, also due to COVID. Attendance at this year's mtg was spare, also, you guessed it, due to COVID. One of the things we do at supper on THU night is to recognize our volunteers & give them an opportunity to share. I heard inspiring stories of the great things being accomplished at our Norfolk warehouse, branches & collection centers. It's very inspiring, also humbling. I am most thankful for these people, & I am most thankful that God has given me the opportunity to serve in this ministry.

WHAT I'M READING

I'm still into trivia. Soon I'll begin reading tour guides in preparation for our road trip out West in OCT. I finished reading "Uncle John's True Crime:  A Classic Collection of Crooks, Cops, & Capers." I started reading "Uncle John's Weird Weird World:  Who, Where, When, & How." NOTICE! Uncle John is NOT Lois' little brother John, just in case you were wondering.

ROAD TRIP

Lois left for FL yesterday. She & her brother David are helping her sister Kathy, who lives in St. Petersburg, move into her new condo. [She recently sold her house.] Lois had quite a day. Her flight out of Omaha was moved back, leaving not enough time for her to catch her connecting flight to Chicago Midway. Then her flight out of Omaha was delayed again. Fortunately, she was able to book another flight out of Chicago, but she didn't get into Tampa until 10:30. She has an abscessed tooth, & wasn't able to get her root canal done before leaving town. The change of cabin pressure in the plane proved excrutiating. At least she made it to Kathy's. When we left Norfolk yesterday morning, there was some question as to whether she would even make it there yesterday. She's returning next FRI. 

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE CALIFORNIA . . . 

"Elder egged by woman in monkey mask." Drudge Report, 9/9

. . . TEXAS

Red states eye TX abortion law as new model." Drudge, 9/9

"With no abortions or voter fraud, bored TX Democrats left with nothing to do all day." Babylon Bee

AFGHANISTAN

"Triumphant Taliban start putting policies into practice." Drudge, 9/9

"CDC says a new COVID variant may be needed to effectively bury  Afghanistan news." Babylon Bee

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Woman was late for flight. So she told airline workers there was bomb on plane." Drudge, 9/9

TRENDING

"'We're on the right side of history,' says Party whose abortion position is endorsed by North Korea, Harvey Weinstein, Church of Satan." Babylon Bee

"Biden warns of especially severe 'Whirlyswirly Wind' season this year." Babylon Bee

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Courtesy of Reader's Digest, July/Aug 2021

> Me, as a kid:  Hey, I have that toy! Me, as an adult:  "Hey, I'm on that medication.

> Sick of having to go to two different huts to buy pizza & sunglasses.

> Honestly officer, I wouldn't have pulled over had I known you were just going to criticize me.

ROUGH SEAS

"Oh, the times we live in. We're not the first to say that. Others said it during World War I, the Spanish flu, the Great Depression, World War II, polio, Korea, the fight for civil rights, the quagmire of Vietnam & the horror of Sept. 11. We personalize upheaval & uncertainty as unique to us & our times, but upheaval & uncertainty have always been part of life & history.

"There's a saying:  'A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.' Some say it is an old English proverb. Others attribute it to Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose four-term presidency spanned the Great Depression & Word War II. The man knew a thing or two about rough waters.

"Smooth sailing doesn't reveal what we are made of. It's when the waves crash, the wind screams, & the night is long that we learn what we're made of." Column by Lori Borgman, Norfolk Daily News, 9/7

 MON 9/13

"Study links too much free time to lower sense of wellbeing." Drudge Report, 9/9

GOOD RELATIONSHIP TOOLS *

* Source:  Column by Barton Goldsmith, Norfolk Daily News, 9/7

"Successful relationships don't happen in a vacuum. They take work. And couples who make their relationships work are the ones who also have the most fun & feel the most love. It's a simple program that really works. Here are 10 tools to get you started."

1. Give what you want to get. All relationships benefit from a pay-it-forward attitude.

2. Find your happy place. No one else can make you happy.

3. Find a way to become & stay best friends.

4. Get regular relationship tune-ups.

5. Let go of your anger. Anger is a relationship killer.

6. Honor each other in some way every day.

7. Understand that every couple is different.

8. When upset occurs, first check out what's going on inside you.

9. Put your wishes on the table so your partner knows what you need.

10. Talk more than you ever have."

TMI

"30% of people suffer from nocturia--they have to get up at least once a night to pee." Uncle John's Weird Weird World:  Who, What, Where, When, & Why

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING

"[The audience] want(s) to hear me talk about the big story everyone is talking about right now; it continues to be the chaos surrounding the big, poorly handled regime change--over at 'Jeopardy.'" latelaughs, Stephen Colbert, Entertainment Spotlight, Norfolk Daily New, 9/10

GOVERNMENT

"Those who relish the unyielding power of the state over the individual have had a good year. Lockdowns by tyrannical governors and state and local bureaucrats, along with expansive authority seized out of thin air by the CDC and other arms of the federal government, have made America almost unrecognizable as a bastion of freedom.

"Local public schools, once trusted unequivocally by parents, have revealed themselves not only as just another arm of the government but one controlled by teachers’ unions doing the bidding of one political party. Lockdowns and mask and vaccination mandates have been enacted against the wishes of many parents.

"Yes, the statists have had a good run. But the backlash has arrived. Americans are renewing their distrust of government in a manner reminiscent of the founders. And who could blame them? The government agencies (NIH, FDA, CDC, etc.) have proven to be shockingly incompetent and inconsistent, while unflinching in their authoritarianism. It would be comical if it were not so tragic." Ken Blackwell, Townhall, 9/9

AFGHANISTAN

"On the 20th commemoration of 9-11, President Biden will visit New York, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. At these sites, he needs to explain why he allowed the Taliban to set the terms of the U.S. exit from Afghanistan, and why he chose to leave Americans behind. Those citizens are being held hostage by the Taliban; prevented from leaving the country. " Thomas Kilgannon, Townhall, 9/9

TODAY'S VERSE

Job 36:26  "God is so great that we cannot begin to know Him. No one can begin to understand eternity." The Living Bible

GOD CHANGES OUR HEARTS

"Our relationships with fellow believers are not dependent upon external things but develop because of Jesus' love for us & our love for Him. In Acts 2:44-46, we find a special relationship among believers. 'And all who believed were together & had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions & belongings & distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.' Among these fellow believers, there was a willingness to share things. They looked out for each other both physically & spiritually. Equality existed because those in need received from those who had the ability to share. This love for others come from hearts changed by God." Steward Builders

RESULTS

"The message is gripping:  Show a man his failures without Jesus, & the result will be found in a roadside gutter. Give a man religion without reminding him of his filthy, & the result will be arrogance in a three-piece suit. But get the two in the same heart--get sin to meet Savior & Savior to meet sin--and the result just might be another Pharisee turned preacher who sets the world on fire." Max Lucado, Men's Devotional Bible

A HYMN FOR THE CHRISTIAN HOME

Holy Father, in Your Mercy, LW #469, Sts. 1, 6

Holy Father, in Your mercy, Hear our anxious prayer; Keep our loved ones who are absent In Your care.

Father, Son, & Holy Spirit, You are God alone; Bless them, guide them, save them, keep them, All you own.

I'm going to try to keep things a little bit more on the lighter side today.

A VERSE FOR TODAY

"God is powerful & dreadful. He enforces peace in heaven. Who is able to number His hosts of angels? And His light shines down on all the earth. How can mere man stand before God & claim to be righteous? Who in all the earth can boast that he is clean? God is so glorious that even the moon & stars are less than nothing as compared to Him. How much less is man, who is but a worm in His sight? The Living Bible

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"Fan eats giant tub of mayo live on t.v." Drudge Report, 9/7

The Best Dessert in Every State *

* Courtesy of Reader's Digest, July/Aug 2021

I'm anxious to see if my brothers & sisters & children agree.

> California:  Frozen yogurt

> Florida:  Key lime pie

> Hawaii:  Haupia

> Iowa:  scotcheroos

> Minnesota:  Lefse

> Nebraska:  Tin roof sundae

> North Carolina:  Sweet potato pie

> Texas:  Pecan pie

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Also courtesy of Reader's Digest, July/Aug 2021

"You know you're an adult when you suddenly start taking Bert's side over Ernies'.

CRIMINAL MINDS

"Rhino gets outside his enclosure at Omaha's zoo. A rhinoceros at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium briefly escaped his enclosure TUE afternoon. Keepers spotted Jontu, an Indian rhino, outside his enclosure in the Asian Highlands area about 1 p.m. . . . Jontu, who is 13, was grazing in a behind-the-scenes area outside of the rhino barn for about 40 minutes . . . " Omaha World Herald

"Residents stunned as pack of zebras roaming Maryland yards." Drudge

"Naked woman drives golf cart through scene of armed standoff." Drudge

TRENDING

"ENOUGH:  Britney's father files to end conservatorship." Drudge. I don't know about you, but I've been losing sleep over this.

WHAT I'M READING

I'm still into trivia. I finished reading "Uncle John's Extraordinary Book of Facts." Now I'm reading Uncle John's True Crime:  A Classic Collection of Crooks, Cops, & Capers.

TRENDING

"Tent cities now part of American landscape." Drudge Report

"More educated women having babies outside of marriage." Drudge

"STUDY:  People spend 100 days of lives deciding what to watch." Drudge

"ALASKA AIR passenger booted 'for being fat in sports bra.'" Drudge

HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH

"Young pot consumers twice as likely to suffer from heart attack." Drudge

ABORTION [YES, HERE I GO AGAIN.]

"DOJ will 'protect' abortion seeks in TX." Drudge. Of course they will.

"“Follow the science” has been one of the coronavirus-pandemic mantras. When it comes to abortion, the science is clear and has been for quite a bit now. In some pregnancies, sonograms begin the photo albums for the child. In other pregnancies, what the mother doesn’t get to see, the doctor uses to guide the ending of this early life. Abortion has been so successful in ending lives in America because of euphemisms and pressures. We look away. We don’t let young women see what is happening, what abortion is. Girls are told — sometimes by their mothers — that they are too young. That their lives will be miserable and never amount to anything if they embrace the motherhood that is already a part of who they are. That’s not how Mom puts it, of course, but all her hopes for her daughter are strangled by the fear of this new life disrupting plans. But do we ever want to be in the position where we are destroying life?" Kathryn Lopez, National Review Online 9/6

THE WIT & WISDOM OF CAL THOMAS

"In the matter of a new Texas law banning abortions six weeks after gestation, when a fetal heartbeat can usually be detected by vaginal ultrasound, suppose the headlines had been different? Instead of words like "most restrictive in nation" (The Wall Street Journal) and "Supreme Court refuses to block Texas law" (The Washington Post), along with four stories splashed across the front page of The New York Times that seemed to be written from the perspective of pro-choice writers, what if the headlines had instead reflected another point of view that took the side of babies and the women who carry them?

"Those headlines and stories might have read: "Supreme Court decides to protect babies, recognizing Thomas Jefferson's writing about endowed life coming from God." Or, if that's too long for headline writers, how about "Supreme Court takes side of the unborn"? Might that have changed the perception about abortion by people who are on the fence, or conflicted? Information, including sonograms for abortion-minded pregnant women, has been shown to change minds. So has compassionate counseling and adoption services at pregnancy help centers." Cal Thomas, Townhall

AFGHANISTAN [AND HERE I GO AGAIN]

"Victorious Taliban gloat over ruins of CIA's Afghan base." Drudge

"Nancy Pelosi flies to Afghanistan to lecture stranded Americans on how bad Jan. 6 was." Babylon Bee

"In the aftermath of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, there’s going to be a refugee crisis. The Taliban’s reign will be brutal, but that’s only the start of Afghanistan’s problems. As Andrew Stuttaford explained on August 24, the Afghan economy is going to collapse, and it threatens to undo all of the gains in the standard of living the country made over the past 20 years . . . 

"With the end of the U.S. airlift on August 31, no airport in Afghanistan is currently operating, the story says. Fleeing by land isn’t any easier. “The Taliban say they will allow Afghans with valid passports and visas to travel out of the country,” the story adds. “So far, the country’s passport offices remain closed. The embassies of all Western nations and India have shut down and their diplomats have left the country.”

"In the past, 90 percent of Afghan refugees settled in Iran and Pakistan, and those countries aren’t willing to take in any more. It’s unclear where they’re supposed to go instead. Our supposed moral superiors in Europe aren’t too interested . . . 

"It’s not just “difficult” to leave Afghanistan right now; it’s nearly impossible. In the rush to meet Biden’s arbitrary deadline, many Afghans who America is obligated to help have been left behind. And many more who will be seeking refuge amidst a collapse in living standards and a brutal Islamist regime will have no place to go, in the Muslim world or anywhere else." NRO, Dominic Pino, 9/6

"Sen. Lindsey Graham stunned BBC reporter Stephen Sackur after making a prediction about the United States’ future involvement in Afghanistan. “Whether you like Trump or not, whether you believe it’s Trump’s fault or Biden’s fault, here’s where we’re at as a world: The Taliban are not reformed, they’re not new,” Graham said about the situation in Afghanistan. “They have a view of the world out of sync with modern times." "The South Carolina Republican said life for the Afghan people is about to get so bad that it will make Americans “sick to our stomach.” Beyond that, under Taliban rule, the country will end up providing a “safe haven” for other terror groups, prompting U.S. action, he claimed." Leah Barkoukis, Townhall

AN ATTACK ON OUR CHILDREN

"This article is not meant to attack young people struggling with deep-seated gender confusion. To the contrary, it is meant to expose the attack on these young people. To be totally candid, it’s as if a spirit of madness has descended on our society targeting the youth in particular. It’s as if reality has been turned upside down and truth no longer matters – or even exists. And it is downright heartbreaking to witness  . . . 

"Yet everywhere you turn, this is the new normal, even something to be celebrated, from our children’s schools to Hollywood and from the Olympics (with biological males competing against females) to the Equality Act . . . 

"It’s as if a horde of demons has been unleashed and our society has fallen into deep deception and delusion. And the ultimate victims, targeted for indoctrination from their earliest years, are the children . . . Whatever the cause of this societal madness, the question that remains is simple: what are we going to do about it?" Michael Brown, Townhall 9/6

POLITICAL POTPOURRI

"Biden's negligence on Afghanistan is not a singular event but a pattern of behavior. He has been negligent in his dismissal of the crisis at the border. The dramatic surge in illegal U.S. southern border crossings -- last month alone there were nearly 200,000 -- is a humanitarian crisis that has endangered lives and communities, increased human and drug trafficking 100-fold and turned the lives of people who live along the border upside down. Incompetence denotes that Biden has no idea what he is doing. And yes, he certainly seems unsteady in numerous settings. But he has shown stubborn purpose in making the withdrawal from Afghanistan, whatever the circumstances. He has been equally purposeful in showing no responsibility for conditions at the border. That is negligence." Salena Zito, Townhall