Since I haven’t had a chance to post regularly, today is a good day to give thanks. Since there are so many good things present in my life, this is a meager start.

Although it takes me away from writing for myself, I give thanks to having a long-term project for employment – yet I pray for those looking for work.

Although the project has taken me away from some of my learning passions, I give thanks for all learning opportunities that exist in life and the ability to participate – yet I pray for those who haven’t found the joy of learning.

Although my work has taken me away from the cyber-friends in my life, I give thanks for all the good people I’ve encountered in my years, especially those new to my life. There are so many people throughout the world sharing so much goodness, yet I only encounter a fraction – yet I pray for those with hardened hearts who don’t see human kindness as important.

Although I sit at a desk and spend most of the day either inside a building or driving a car, I give thanks for all the beauty nature offers us each day. No matter if the sky is clear or stormy, land flat or mountainous, water calm or turbulent, trees displaying color or barren branches, the natural world is an infinite resource of gifts – yet I pray for those who don’t take time to see and appreciate all that has been given to them.

Although we are currently without a pet, I give thanks to all pets, especially those with the knack for providing us joy and comfort; who unconditionally greet us each time after returning home from a difficult day – yet I pray for the animals without home or tender care.

Although I don’t do nearly enough, I give thanks to everyone who serves the needy – yet I pray for those in needing food, space, clothing, care, heart, mind, love, and dignity with homes that more of us with step forward to share and give.

Although we are separate by miles and space, I give thanks for my wife and family for the love, concern, and support – yet I pray for those without surrounding love.

Although this is only a small list, I thank God for my gift of life so I can enjoy the endless list of gifts I’ve encountered in my thousands of days.

Although I’ve only experienced a small slice of worldly human culture, I give thanks to a tiny slice – the world of music and its many forms that I have found and those I have yet to discover. With that, Simple Gifts on handbells by a very good group (the Pikes Peak Ringers).

A blessed and safe Thanksgiving to everyone!

Houston’s Cinderella slipper is captured by a Knight. Iowa’s bounce-back attempt didn’t make it out of the Horseshoe, yet the Buckeyes showed that they shouldn’t be forgotten. TCU unveils new uniforms and a stunning result while most of the top teams predictably held serve.

As I look ahead to next week, attention getters are few and far between. As far as I’m concerned, Alabama scheduling a non-D1 game at this point of the season is grounds for firing the AD. That’s pathetic!

Up- TCU, Cincinnati, Ohio State, Pitt
Down- Texas
Out- Houston, Iowa
In: Ohio State, Pitt

They’ve Earned It Top 10

1. Alabama (10-0) Next: Tenn-Chattanooga
2. Florida (10-0) Next: @ Florida International
3. Georgia Tech (10-1) Next: Georgia
4. TCU (10-0) Next: @Wyoming
5. Cincinnati (10-0) Next: Bye
6. Texas (10-0) Next: Kansas
7. Ohio State (9-2) Next: @ Michigan
8. Pitt (9-1) Next: Bye
9. Boise (10-0) Next: @ Utah State
10. Oregon (8-2) Next: @Arizona

Besides games involving the top 10 teams, here are the potential ranking-impact games.

• Minnesota @ Iowa
• LSU @ Mississippi
• Cal @ Stanford

On Additional Walls
Monday’s post honored the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall’s fall and attempt to stimulate thinking, along with providing a wonderful 2-minute NPR segment. Here are some additional thoughts about walls.

A conversation with one of my pastors produced this analogy: One aspect of Christianity is to turn walls into tables. Now that’s worth thinking about.

Secondly, I continue to see letters to the editor in the Cincinnati paper pointing to President Reagan’s 1987 “Tear down that wall” speech as a single historic moment regarding the wall. Historic? Yes. Significant? Yes. The key event? No. Let’s us not forget World War II and Winston Churchill’s iron curtain speech – “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.” – as a line was drawn and the many events to come; including, but not solely, President Reagan. Here’s an interesting column from San Antonio’s Jonathan Gurwitz.

On Jobs and War
NY Times columnist Bob Hebert wrote an interesting column this week focusing on what would he tell President Obama about jobs, the economy, and the war in Afghanistan. Although it’s not about independent moderates, to me he hit the nail on the head about why nonpartisan independents are discouraged. To me his words weren’t based on a party or an ideology, but on a nonpartisan reality. Here’s the column.

On Moderates and Fiscal Policy
One thing Republicans don’t understand about independent moderates is that we tend to be more sensitive to social programs, including health care insurance. One thing that Democrats don’t understand about independent moderates is that we tend to be fiscally sensitive. Although I don’t always agree with George Will, I do appreciate his columns – including this one about fiscal concerns.

On Interesting Football Stat
Cincinnati Bearcat QB Tony Pike guided the team to a 4-0 start before suffering an injury in game 5. Sophomore QB Zach Collaros has started 3 games and produced these unconscious numbers:

• Record: 3-0
• Rushing: 33 attempts, 172 yards, 2 TDs
• Passing: 66-82, 0 INT, 8 TDs

Tonight the Bearcats host West Virginia at Nippert Stadium, one of the great old, on-campus sporting venues. (Here’s a prior post about the stadium.) I’ll be there so watch for me as I’ll be wearing red.

On the BCS
Since I mentioned college football, for those who haven’t seen the latest edition of the BCS Committee meeting from the Global Sports Fraternity, enjoy!

Yesterday was Veteran’s Day and since my work location was closed, I had the opportunity to watch more cable news. Sure the day is filled with parades, speeches, and moments of silence, but it is a day that should cause each of us to reflect.

I thought about Vietnam. Although I didn’t serve, I lived the times. Years later when the Vietnam Memorial design was proposed, I recall the outcry against it. Then again, I also recall visiting it and the special feeling I got walking down the ramp into the memorial. Wow – I guess the design was right after all.

I thought about my dad who served in WW II at age 18. He’s always kept in touch with his Army buddies, yet their numbers decrease each day. I heard a report today saying that there are over 2 million WW II veterans still alive today – yet I also read an estimated of 1200 of them die each day.

I thought about last year taking Dad to a reunion of a post-WW II group. Interestingly this group was made of a few who also served in WW II, but also some who where just getting started, thus eventually ending their military careers following Vietnam. The link to those two wars was right there in the room with me among them. I wrote about the reunion weekend last Veterans Day (here’s the link).

I watched President Obama’s speech at Arlington National Cemetery. It was a good speech that was full reflection – then again presidential speeches on this day are good for that, no matter who delivers it.

I also saw a report about Honor Flight – an organization that is funding trips so WW II veterans can visit the WW II Memorial in Washington. Very impressive, but I’m sorry that I was unable to find the online video version. In its place, please visit the Honor Flight site for more information about this noble cause, and here’s an ABC News video from 2007 about the person who started it.

Buffalo Bill is linked to the wild western frontier, but the reverse is a football team. Bill Clinton was a U.S. President, Bill Cullen a game show host, Bill Cosby an actor, comedian, and role model and Bill Bailey came home to a song.

Bill Gates founded Microsoft, Bill Murray makes us laugh, and Bill Cartwright was a pro athlete would wasn’t on Bonanza – but I do have a good friend Bill who is part of the dinner group on Gilligan’s Island.

Baseball is loaded with Bills. There’s the Yankee manager who loved to fight and got frequently fired and rehired; plus a former first baseman who went on to be AL President. The Hall of Fame even enshrines several umpire Bills.

With Bill being a common name, if you think an All-Bills team will be strong – you betcha – and upper division strong to boot! A team of all-Bills not on this team would soundly drub the All-Time Randys – much to the agreement to my college roommate (Bill) who tragically died in a car accident, who was also a good baseball player and also knew Randy.  I even consider splitting the Bill and Billy, but Bills say they have been called worse.

By the way, for the other all-time teams, see Categories in the Sidebar, and then Sports > All-Time Teams or click here.

Ladies and gentlemen, now taking the field, the All-Time Bills.

1B – Bill Terry (HOF)
2B – Bill Mazeroski (HOF)
SS – Billy Goodman (AS)
3B – Bill Herman (HOF)
C – Bill Dickey (HOF)
OF – Billy Williams (HOF)
OF – Billy Hamilton (HOF)
OF – Bill Buckner (AS)
DH – Bill Madlock (AS)

SP – Bill Foster (HOF)
SP – Billy Pierce (AS)
SP – Bill Donovan (AS)
SP – Bill not the Spaceman Lee (AS)
SP – Bill Dinneen
RP – Billy Wagner (AS)
RP – Bill Campbell (AS)
RP – Bill Henry (AS)

Bench – Bill Freehan (AS), Bill Doran (AS), Bill Jurges (AS), Bill White (AS), Bill Nicholson (AS)

Mgr – Bill McKechnie

Given the anniversary of an important event as the wall of the Berlin Wall, the trivialness of college football had to wait a day.

Last week allowed fans to witness Oregon laying an egg at Stanford, which leads to one reason why I like observing PAC-10 football – the leader continues to be surprised! Then there’s Iowa who got their eyes scratched out by regular nemesis Northwestern. The sweater vest vies for some respect with an impressive road win, but is it enough to get into this elite ranking? Interestingly, most of the this week’s upward movement had more to do with team’s losing rather than top teams winning.

But wait – next week is big as most of the top teams take to the road, so this angle is interested in next weekend.

Up- Alabama, Florida, Georgia Tech, Texas, Cincinnati, TCU, Boise
Down- Oregon, Iowa
Out- LSU
Back – Houston

They’ve Earned It Top 10

1. Alabama (9-0) Next: @ Mississippi State
2. Florida (8-0) Next: @ South Carolina
3. Georgia Tech (7-1) Next: @ Duke
4. Cincinnati (8-0) Next: West Virginia
5. Texas (8-0) Next: @ Baylor
6. TCU (8-0) Next: Utah
7. Houston (8-1) Next: @ UCF
8. Iowa (9-0) Next: @ Ohio State
9. Boise (8-0) Next: Idaho
10. Oregon (7-1) Next: Arizona State

Besides games involving the top 10 teams, here are the potential ranking-impact games.

• Stanford @ USC
• Miami (FL) @ North Carolina
• Arizona @ Cal
• Notre Dame @ Pitt

There’s the Great Wall of China, Kremlin walls, the walls of Jericho, many fortress walls around old cities, and plenty of famous prison walls. Although sports has walls as the Seven Blocks of Granite, the Steel Curtain, and the Green Monster, all of them pail to what the true sense in this post. Twenty years ago today (on November 9, 1989) there was an announcement of the opening of a famous modern-day wall that would eventually come down – the Berlin Wall.

While listening to NPR’s All Things Considered last week, I heard an interesting segment about walls – of which I will provide the link at the end of this post. Meanwhile, think about walls.

Walls gave any purposes. Some divide/separate, some keep others out while some keep others out. Some isolate while some protect or even define boundaries. Some are sacred and others are grim reminders of historical events.

We commonly think of physical walls, but let us not forget about the mental and psychological walls individuals but in place (for a variety of reasons). Think about the behavioral walls we put in place by our collective behaviors as a society and/or a culture.

So on this anniversary of a famous 20th century wall, I encourage readers to think about walls – especially for a perspective different from their own.

Meanwhile, this NPR segment is worth 2 minutes and 15 seconds.

On Fort Hood
First and foremost, thoughts and prayers to everyone associated with the Fort Hood tragedy.

On the Recent Election
What is the meaning of some Republican gains this past Tuesday? The answer is simple – nothing. One or two special Congressional races don’t change a thing. As we head into the first mid-term election, let us not forget that the opposing party made Congressional gains on the after the first two years of Presidents Reagan and Clinton.

On the Broadening GOP Tent
As GOP leader Michael Steele about broadening the party’s tent and acceptance of others, I want to know how he can accomplish that with statements like this.

Candidates who live in moderate to slightly liberal districts have got to walk a little bit carefully here, because you do not want to put yourself in a position where you’re crossing that line on conservative principles, fiscal principles, because we’ll come after you.

In the words of infamous orator Buggs Bunny, “What a maroon!”

On Interesting Local Hoops Connections
Cincinnati is fortunate to have two solid college basketball programs within its city limits – UC and Xavier. Interesting both head coaches are not only graduates of the school they coach, both worked their way up through the ranks at these schools, and both graduated from local high schools.

On Upcoming Handbells
Our handbell choir performs again this weekend. Unfortunately the tune doesn’t exist on YouTube, so here’s a lively audio recording of Fantasia on Forest Green. Don’t let the calm beginning fool you.

On the Upcoming Weekend
With the weekend upon us, in the words of Garrision Keilor “Be well, do good work and keep in touch.”

On the BCS
For those who haven’t seen the latest edition of the BCS Committee meeting from the Global Sports Fraternity.

From the view inside the Democratic Party’s big tent one can see that many moderate independents have already left while others are working their way toward the exits. Meanwhile, on the other side of the parking lot, the partisans inside the smaller Republican Party tent are having a rousing time pushing out their moderates in order to redefine their party and their message. While the partisans inside the perspective tents do their thing, the real show is what is happening in the parking lot.

The Democratic door keepers are telling the departed that they will be sorry, but they are welcome to return. The Republican hawkers are barking “we told you so” and inviting the lonesome Democrats to come into the tent as “we will show you the way.”

Now shift your eye from the partisans to those leaving the Democratic tent. What are they doing? Yes – some are walking into the Republican tent to the cheering faithful. But wait … so many are standing outside – drifting alone and pondering the future. Will a party ever represent them? Will they turn to voting a party out over voting for someone? Will they turn into a discouraged voter; that is one who no longer participates in the process?

As conservatives distance themselves from RINOs while only accepting their money and vote, liberals are fighting with moderates in the Democratic tent  labeling them as closet Republicans. Although in-fighting within the Democratic Party isn’t anything new, their exuberance from winning in 2008 has taken a toll.

As predicted here, the Democratic Party either didn’t know how to capture the center or it wasn’t interested in doing so. Now, a year and a few days after an historic election, the political tide (as it always does) is changing. But times are different today than the past. The days of moderates in both parties are gone – the Republicans have made sure of it and the Democrats can’t manage a big tent.

Just because many are abandoning Democrats, these are not a sure-fire Republican votes. And for those that are, Republicans will have to learn that independent-moderate voters will abandon them without hesitation.

Probably most people don’t know much about the state of Ohio where I’ve lived for all but a few months of my life. Even this is not my first post about the Buckeye state (see it here), so here’s another attempt to enhance your knowledge about Ohio firsts.

Sports

• First professional baseball team, Cincinnati Red Stockings (1869)
• First MLB night game, Crosley Field (Cincinnati Reds)
• First Black to play professional baseball, Moses Fleetwood Walker (1883)
• First Black in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Emlen Tunnell (University of Toledo)
• First Black to play in the American League (Larry Doby, Cleveland Indians  (1947)

Individual Feats

• First successful powered airplane flight, Wright Brothers (1903)
• First man on the moon, Neil Armstrong (1969)
• First American to orbit Earth, John Glenn (1962)
• First man to sail solo from America to England in a 13.5 ft sailboat; Robert Mandry
• First woman to fly a single engine plane solo around the world; Jerrie Mock

Corporate Firsts

• First rubber tire manufactured; BF Goodrich (1896)
• First tubeless tire, PW Litchfield (1903)
• First disposable diaper , Procter and Gamble, 1962)
• First electric coffee grinder, Kitchen Aid (1937)
• First synthetic detergent, Procter and Gamble (1944)
• First pre-mixed paint, Sherwin Williams
• First blackboard chalk, American Crayon Co (1835)
• First vacuum cleaner manufacturer, WH Hoover Company (Canton)
• First floating soap (Ivory); Procter & Gamble
• First PVC, Waldo Semon, BF Goodrich (1926)
• First bar code, National Cash Register Company
• First recycling aluminum process, Charles Hall (1886)
• First foam-soled bedroom sleepers, RG Berry Co (1947)
• First synthetic rubber tire (BF Goodrich)

Ohioan Inventions or Patents
Aircraft de-icer, alkaline storage battery, automobile hydraulic shock absorber, automobile self-starter, camera, cash register, chewing gum, electrical starting motor, folding step ladder, Formica, Freon, Fuzzbuster, Gatling gun, guided missle, incandescent light bulb, lacquer paint for automobiles, leaded gasoline, light-weight diesel locomotive, LCD,  Mr. Coffee, padded bicycle seat, phonograph, Play-Doh, pop-top can, refrigerated boxcar, ratchet wrench. Richter scale, Sakcrete, space helmet, space suit, standardized yeast, telephone switchboard, Telflon, tickertape machine, traffic light, UNO card game, vacuum cleaner, wind tunnel