As most readers are aware I’m not what anyone would consider religious. I was raised as a Catholic but wandered away from it at a very early age. I have no problems with people who believe but my problems are with any “organized religions”. Once a religious movement of any kind become embroiled in politics, I disregard it completely. I’m a big believer in “self” but I’ve never received mystical tablets from on high or been visited by angels or by God or by supposed visions. I find those claims to be disingenuous and preposterous..
In the mid-1960’s I was serving with the Army on the DMZ in South Korea. I often explored the country on my off-time and discovered a small Buddhist temple in a rural area on the side of a mountain in central South Korea. The monks there spoke broken English and I spoke broken Korean which made for some interesting conversations. Over the months they were able to communicate to me what I later discovered were the basic beliefs of Buddha. Not colored by politics or government restrictions but truths on how to live a good and wholesome life created by inner peace and self-control. That’s when I became what many would consider me to be a half-assed Buddhist. I learned to appreciate Zen and the power of meditation without shaving my head or wearing orange robes or lighting my self on fire to make a political point. Have I always been successful in finding that inner peace – absolutely not, but I keep trying. Here are a few pearls of wisdom from the man himself.
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
Buddha also explained that all human suffering is caused by desire – for comfort, possessions, power, sex, love, or even life itself. Knowledge of ourselves comes from contemplating on three basic facts:
Nothing in the universe is lost. Even though you will die your constituent parts will remain part of the universe.
Change is constant, so any happiness based on things outside of ourselves is an illusion.
Every action has a consequence – a reminder that everything we do affects others.
Buddha was something of an agnostic and I’ve always seen myself in that way. In my humble opinion each of us is our own God. Look inside yourself to find and see the truth.
Currently there seems to be no lack of interest in all things NFL. Now that the the Combine is approaching the interest level on football is once again skyrocketing. Every fan seems to think they are the absolute experts about all things football thanks to their involvement in the never-ending list of fantasy leagues. Here are a few tidbits of trivia that may interest some of them. Answers will be listed below.
Name the kicker who led all NFL scorers in 1998 while making every single field goal and extra point attempt?
After suffering a serious knee injury in 2011, which running back made an amazing comeback to lead the NFL with a near-record 2,097 yards rushing and 2,314 yards from scrimmage in 2012?
Despite leading the NFL in the number of times sacked, which player posted the highest QB rating during the 2012 season?
When he started his 117th consecutive game in 1999, which player did Brett Farvre overtake to become the new NFL “Ironman”?
Who was the first QB to win four Superbowl Championships?
In 2012 what quarterback broke the Johnny Unitas longstanding record for consecutive games throwing at least one touchdown pass?
What was the first team to win five Superbowl championships?
Which running back was the first player to rush for 20 touchdowns in a single season?
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Answers
Gary Anderson, Adrian Peterson, Aaron Rodgers, Ron Jaworski, Terry Bradshaw, Drew Brees with 54 games, The San Francisco 49ers, John Riggens
Most human beings are somewhat intelligent. Of course that doesn’t always guarantee that they’re very smart. Many times in my life I’ve been challenged about something I’ve said or written even when I have irrefutable proof to prove my statements. There are always people who adamantly demand that they are correct regardless of any proof provided. Some folks simply enjoy arguing about everything and others are just simply ignorant. Human nature being what it is, I don’t see any changes in this regard. Todays post will contain a number of items which may seem incorrect to some of you, but they are not. Wrap your heads around these tidbits of truthfulness . The correct answers will be listed below.
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What was the first invention to break the sound barrier?
What animal are the Canary Islands named after?
What do camels store in their humps?
What do dolphins drink?
How many toes does a two-toed sloth have?
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What African mammal kills more humans than any other?
Where do most tigers live?
Where was the sport of baseball invented?
How did Nome, Alaska get it’s name?
What do we use to write on a black-board?
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BONUS QUESTION
What was the first animal in space?
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Answers
The Whip, Dogs (Insula Canaria), Fat, Nothing, 6 or 8, The Hippopotamus, The USA in Zoos, England, A Spelling Mistake, Gypsum, BONUS-Fruit Flies
I’m a life long Pittsburgh Steeler fan thanks to my father and grandfathers. It was black and gold all the time beginning at the age of 4. That’s when I finally realized what football was and how important it was for family unity. No matter what, you stayed loyal to the team. I learned a large and varied collection of interesting cuss words over the years as we sat and listened to the games, especially during those seasons that the team wasn’t particularly successful. I relished the 1970’s and the four Superbowl wins and managed to maintain my sanity though a couple of decades of so-so football.
Todays post is my offering to the real Steeler fans out there who just can’t get enough information on the teams colorful history. Here are ten trivia questions to test your “fandomness” (I made up that word so no smart-ass comments about my spelling). As always, the answers will be listed below. Enjoy . . .
What future NFL coach was the offensive coordinator with the Steelers from 2007-2011?
Whose 89-yard touchdown pass to Dwight Stone in1991 was the longest pass thrown at Three Rivers stadium?
In 2001 , which Pittsburgh linebacker was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year?
In 2011, Ben Roethlisberger threw the longest touchdown pass in franchise history. Who caught the 95-yarder?
Which receiver made 217 appearances for the Steelers between 1998 and 2011?
The Steelers set a franchise after starting the 2020 season with how many consecutive wins?
Which Steeler legend is the author of a 2021 book called “Heart and Steel”?
Which tight end, which was drafted by the Steelers in 2015, shares his name with a famous wild west outlaw?
Since the AFL/NFL merger, only two Steelers quarterbacks have thrown for more than 400 yards in a game. Big Ben is one, who is the other?
Eight of Troy Polamalu’s 35 interceptions were against what team?
BONUS QUESTION
Which running back rushed for 161 yards from 22 carries and caught a
48-yard pass in his first career start for the Steelers against the Titans in 2005?
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Answers
Bruce Arians, Neil O’Donnell, Kendrell Bell, Mike Wallace, Hines Ward, 11 Wins, Bill Cower, Jesse James, Tommy Maddox, Cleveland Browns, BONUS – Willie Parker
It’s been a long week of limericks and I’ve had my fill. I enjoyed the week immensely but it has had it’s drawbacks. I still find myself at odd hours of the night and early morning lying in bed thinking about how to rhyme words. Then I start mentally composing my own limericks and it’s driving me a little nuts. Todays post should help me to clear all of those limerick cobwebs from my brain. Her we go . . .
“To say of what is that it is not, or of what is not
that it is, is false, while to say of what is that it is,
and of what is not that it is not, is true.”
(Aristotle)
I feel better now that Aristotle has explained things for me.
In the Jurassic Park movies. the fierce Velociraptors are about as tall as an adult human. In real life, however, they were only as tall as a turkey.
Confucius has more than three million living descendants.
Pablo Picasso, the influential Spanish cubist, wasn’t breathing when he was born in 1881. His face was so blue that the midwife left him for dead. One of his uncles revived him by blowing cigar smoke up his nose.
From the 1300’s to the 1600’s, the heads of England’s slain enemies – including William Wallace and Thomas More – were displayed on London Bridge.
The first recorded mastectomy was performed in A.D. 548 on Theodora, Empress of Byzantium.
The word “hooch” comes from the Hoochinoo Indians of Alaska. They made a liquor so strong it could knock a person out.
Spoons were such a rare novelty in Elizabethan England that wealthy aristocrats would bring their own folding spoons to fancy banquets.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST
Here is a riddle found inscribed about 3500 years ago on a stone slab. It’s mainly for my better-half who should have no problem coming up with the correct answer.
In your mouth and your urine, constantly stared at you,
It’s time to end this series of posts about limericks. It’s been fun writing and researching all of these older limericks and I’ll continue to do so with periodic posts of this type. I became enamored with limericks as a ten year old boy listening at the door of a card game while my father and his friends were playing poker. One of them recited the following limerick and I’ve never forgotten it. It imbodies everything I like in poetry. It’s both a little funny and a little bawdy. Enjoy. . .
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There was a man from Cass
Whose balls were made of brass.
During inclement weather he’d rub them together
And lightning would shoot out of his ass.
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If you aren’t smiling at that one then limericks aren’t for you. Over the years I’ve written many myself and upset both friends and family because I lean to the bawdy side of things. The following ditty was written by me just a few days ago and it reminded just how much fun it is to create one. Here it is . . .
I’ve always been a huge fan of Asimov even before I learned he was a proficient writer of limericks. I’ve been reading his novels for many years and have always considered him to be fellow lover of science fiction. After reading some of his limericks I discovered his relationship with John Ciardi and their famous limerick wars. For those of you not familiar with Azimov and his works I’d recommend you read his greatest work, The Foundation Series. I love reading long and involved stories and I’d put Asimov right up there with J.R.R Tolkien and J. K Rowling. Here’s a few samples of his well constructed limericks.
While primarily known as a poet and translator of Dante’s Divine Comedy, he also wrote several volumes of children’s poetry and contributed to the Saturday Review as a columnist and long-time poetry editor. I could continue with all of his accomplishments but they are endless. In 1981 he co-authored a book, LIMERICKS, with his friend Isaac Asimov. It was called a “War of Words (limericks)” and makes for a great read. Two utterly famous men who absolutely loved writing limericks just for fun.
David McCord was a notable American author, best known for his contributions to children’s poetry and also serving as the executive director of the Harvard Fund Council for several decades. His limerick are still somewhat mild as seen in Mr. Lear’s contribution.
I’d like to introduce to you Mr. Edward Lear. He was a prolific writer of hundreds of limericks in the early days. They are much milder in content than what we are currently seeing. Enjoy!
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