2025 NFL Week 4 Monday Night Football Games Review

    

Once again, we had two games take place, simultaneously at some points, on Monday night.

Below are my review of these two games:

Monday Night Football Game # 1 - Miami 27, NY Jets 21 - This was a contest between two franchises that have gotten off to simply awful 0-3 starts. Obviously, neither team wanted to walk away from this one with an 0-4 start, because only one team in NFL history has overcome an 0-4 start to a season and managed to qualify for the playoffs (the 1992 San Diego Chargers, just for the record). Neither of these teams looks like they will be the next version of those Chargers, either. But the Dolphins played solidly enough that they at least avoided that 0-4 start. They jumped out to a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter, and scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter. That gave them a commanding 24-10 lead, which Gang Green simply could not overcome. Yet the Jets were impressive on many levels, producing 404 yards and 23 first downs, to just 300 yards and 19 first downs for the Fins. The two teams were nearly equal in terms of time of possession. But they also hurt themselves with a whopping 13 penalties for 101 yards, which is a lot. Justin Fields was impressive, completing 20 of 27 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown. Fields also was a force with his legs, adding another 81 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Breece Hall added another 81 yards on 14 carries for Gang Green. Indeed, the Jets produced a balanced and productive approach on offense in this game. Their offense looked better than Miami's, which is saying something. Still, they fell short and now fall to 0-4. 

My pick: Accurate

Monday Night Football Game # 2 - My pick: Denver 28, Cincinnati 3 - The Bengals were 2-0 about eight or nine days ago. Now they are 2-2. It has to be concerning that the Bengals lost those two games, sure. But far more concerning is how they lost those two games. Because they lost to Minnesota, 48-10, and now followed that up with a 28-3 loss to the Broncos. that means that the Bengals were outscored 76 to 13 in those two combined games. That's almost as bad as you are going to see in today's NFL. Granted, both of those are on the road. Both of those are against likely playoff opponents. Most importantly, both of those were without starting quarterback Joe Burrow. Still, since Burrow seems to often be sidelined with injury, this is not something that Cincy fans should feel to be insignificant or some isolated incident. If this is indicative of the gap between how good the Bengals are with Burrow versus how good (or awful) they are without him, it's alarming. Obviously, a solid win for the Broncos, who improve to 2-2, tied with the Chiefs for second place and one game behind the 3-1 Chargers.

My pick: Accurate

Book Review: Double Cross by James Patterson

    

So I finished this book recently, Double Cross. It is one of the admittedly few books which I have ever read by James Patterson. 

What did I think of it?

Well, first of all, there was one interesting thing which I encountered after researching Patterson a bit online. One of my favorite authors, Stephen King, was very critical of him, calling him a terrible writer. Apparently, Patterson wrote a book in response about King getting killed, called "The Murder of Stephen King."

That response by Patterson seemed, frankly, a bit over the top. I mean, yes, King did not like Patterson's writing style. Obviously, that will not make Patterson happy. However, to go out and almost release a book about him getting murdered? Seems a bit...well, petty, to be quite frank. Unbecoming of a well-known, highly successful author. And I'm not just saying that as a big Stephen King fan. That would have been true of an author I didn't like, or had never read anything by, for that matter.  It's just a bit much, frankly. 

Anyway, I digress...

What about this particular book?

Before I go any farther, however, let me give the usual warnings to stop reading if you intend to read this book, because there will be spoilers ahead.

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

Okay, so by now if you are still reading this, I have to imagine that you either are familiar with this story already, or perhaps you do not mind the spoilers. Please just don't say that you were not given advanced warning. 

So, back to the book. Again, how was it?

Well, it was not bad. One thing about books by James Patterson is that the chapters are short. So you really feel like you are progressing fast. And the story keeps moving, too. The story itself feels fast-paced. Maybe it's at the expense of character building, at least a little bit. But this book was entertaining enough, nevertheless. 

It features Alex Cross, who is a recurring character for James Patterson. 

Now, I don't want to come across as taking sides in the apparent feud between King and Patterson. But if there is one criticism that I would have of Patterson, based on the few books (three, I think) which I have read from him, his characters feel, frankly, a bit paper thin and unrealistic. Cross is a bit too perfect for my tastes. He just does not feel real to me. His life seems a little too ideal, with an attractive woman completely in love with him, and professional success in terms of writing popular books, being a highly sought after former policeman dragged back by everyone almost against his will, and having opened an apparently very successful office as a psychologist.

Some people are that successful indeed. But most people are not. And people who do enjoy this level of success almost assuredly will not live quite the intense and cardiac level of exciting lives that Alex Cross lives. He reminds me quite a bit of Dan Brown's Robert Langley, or perhaps James Bond, and other adventure characters who seem somehow a little too perfect in every way, and continuously find themselves somehow time and again facing life-threatening situations, and predictably escaping without any real harm by outsmarting and outmuscling their dangerous enemies, also time and time again.

It's kind of a predictable formula. 

Now that said, this also feels like a boo which you read just for fun. It is not too serious, and you generally are not going to read James Patterson based on his literary merits. I enjoy reading Dan Brown, even though his characters often feel a bit paper thin. And James Patterson feels like a similar experience to me. You pick up one of his books for the fun of it. The story moves fast. With the short chapters, you feel that you are making rapid progress, which also kind of adds to the fun.

So for all intents and purposes, this book achieves those things. It is a fun read, something that you might bring with you for a day at the beach, or to the park for relaxation. Nothing too serious, and without literary pretensions. That, to me, feels like how this should be judged. And again, the important thing is that this is a fun book to read.

Recommended for people who enjoy these kinds of books. 

Seth Myers Takes Down Trump’s Absurd Escalator Incident at the United Nations Last Week

Last week, President Trump gave a speech at the United Nations.

Sometimes, American presidents or other high-ranking American government officials give speeches at the United Nations that do not go over so well. Often, they are remembered for all of the wrong reasons. Nobody has forgotten how Colin Powell once provided "proof" of Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD's) which turned out to have been dead wrong.

However, Trump often takes these things to ever new extremes, sets all new lows. That feels like it's a trademark of what passes for his presidency. Remember how he got laughed at years ago, during his first speech before the United Nations? He somehow forgot that he was not addressing a Trump rally, but was talking to assembled world leaders, who began to laugh at him when he began, quite typically, to praise himself.

Well, last week's speech did not go over so well, either. Nobody laughed at him. And yet, actually taking some time during his address to point out how the escalator stopped, and then tying that in to some kind of ridiculous conspiracy theory against him is just plain embarrassing and disgraceful. 

This man has absolutely no business being in the Oval Office. What a national disgrace.

Really, it does not feel like a laughing matter. And yet, humor often is the best tool to use against such a ridiculous man and his cult following. And Seth Myers had a pretty funny response to all of this. Thought that this would be a video worth sharing.

Enjoy.

Trump Demands Arrests for U.N. "Sabotage” Amid MAGA Escalator Conspiracy: A Closer Look

2025 NFL Week 4 Review

   

Well, the final weekend of NFL play for September is now almost in the books. Once the dust settled, almost shockingly, there were only two undefeated teams left standing. Indeed, the Buffalo Bills for the AFC and the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC are the last two remaining unbeaten teams. That is because the 49ers and the Chargers lost in surprising upsets. Meanwhile, the Colts were bested by the Rams in Los Angeles, and the Tampa Bay Bucs lost the battle of unbeatens to the Eagles.

Let's take a look at all of the games played this weekend a little bit more closely:

Pittsburgh 24, Minnesota 21 - Well, I kind of figured that this was going to be a close one, and could be anybody's game. But it seemed like Pittsburgh dominated most of this game, and Minnesota just was never able to close the gap. My pick: Inaccurate

LA Chargers at NY Giants - As a Giants fan, maybe I was just getting used to them losing all of the time. They played well overall, and managed to pull off a pretty big surprise by topping the previously undefeated Chargers. A solid win for Big Blue. My pick: Inaccurate

Atlanta 34, Washington 27 - The Falcons jumped out early in this one, but the Commanders battled back and made a game of it. Still, it seems that Atlanta is tough at home, as they pick up 435 total yards of offense against Washington's normally tough defense. My pick: Inaccurate

Buffalo 31, New Orleans 19 - The Bills remained undefeated by beating the the Saints. But they struggled a bit more than expected. Buffalo picked up way too many penalties, and seemed unable to close this one out until fairly late in the fourth. Still, the Bills continue scoring a lot of points, as they have scored at least 30 points or more in every game that they have played so far this season. Buffalo improves to a perfect 4-0 start, while the Saints fall to 0-4. My pick: Accurate

Detroit 34, Cleveland 10 - Cleveland managed to jump out ahead early with a touchdown. From that point onward, this game belonged to Detroit. They had this game pretty well in hand by the second quarter, and mostly coasted to a convincing win. Don't look now, but after a poor showing in the season opener, the Lions have gotten hot, winning three straight and scoring 124 points in those three games, which means that they are averaging over 40 points in that stretch. My pick: Accurate

Houston 26, Tennessee 0 - No major surprises here. Both teams entered this game with identical 0-3 records, yet you definitely got the impression heading into this one that the two teams were not equal. The Texans took care of the job and won convincingly, shutting out the Titans and leaving no doubt in picking up their first win of the year. My pick: Accurate

New England 42, Carolina 13 - The Panthers scored early, and then hardly scored or did much of anything again in this one. The Patriots routed the Panthers in a game that looked reminiscent of the salad days of that dynasty a few years ago in New England. Drake Maye appears to be the answer at quarterback for the Pats. My pick: Accurate

Philadelphia 31, Tampa Bay 25 - The defending champion Eagles seemed to be dominating and had this game well in hand throughout the first half. They were leading 24-3 before the Bucs managed a field goal just before the half to close to within 24-6. Tampa Bay did mount a comeback, but they just did not have enough to finish the job, as Philly wins the battle of the unbeatens on this day. My pick:  Accurate

LA Rams 27, Indianapolis 20 - The Colts were tough, and this game was back and forth. Still, playing the Rams in Los Angeles is not going to be easy. So it is not surprising that the Colts fell just a bit short. An impressive win for the Rams, who are now in a three way tie atop the NFC West at 3-1, with a big showdown against the Niners to come. My pick: Accurate

Jax 26, San Francisco 21 - One of those games when you don't see the final result coming. With the seemingly superior team and home field advantage, and with a big showdown against the Rams coming, I was pretty sure that the 49ers were going to win this one. Did they overlook the Jaguars? My pick: Inaccurate

Chicago 25, Las Vegas 24 - Da Bears wound up just getting by with the win in this back and forth game. Caleb Williams looked decent, while Geno Smith three three picks and the Raiders had four turnovers. My pick: Inaccurate

Kansas City 37, Baltimore 20 - Admittedly, I was kind of hoping that the Ravens would pull this one off. But to their credit, the Chiefs took over the game and never let go. They rolled from there. That's why KC are presently the standard for everyone in the NFL. My pick: Accurate

Sunday Night Football: Green Bay 40, Dallas 40 - In fairness, who ever predicts a tie game as a final result in an NFL game? But the Pack and the 'Boys managed it. This was probably the highest scoring tied game that I can remember, too. Not sure if it's a record, but it surely has to be up there somewhere. My pick: Not Accurate

September 29th: This Day in History

  

Once again, it should be reiterated, that this does not pretend to be a very extensive history of what happened on this day (nor is it the most original - the links can be found down below). If you know something that I am missing, by all means, shoot me an email or leave a comment, and let me know!

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history 

Here's a more detailed look at events that transpired on this date throughout history:

• 522 BCE - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta, securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire.

• 480 BC - Battle of Salamis: The Greek fleet under Themistocles defeats the Persian fleet under Xerxes I.

• 61 BCE - Pompey the Great celebrates his third triumph for victories over the pirates and the end of the Mithridatic Wars on his 45th birthday.

• 219 - Batavian soldiers consecrate altar on Hercules Magusanus Rome

235 - St Pontianus ends his reign as Catholic Pope

440 - Pope Leo I the Great, installed

855 - Benedict III begins his reign as Catholic Pope

1187 - Saladins army marches into Jerusalem

1227 - Pope Gregory IX excommunicate German emperor Frederik II

1349 - People of Krems Austria accuse Jews of poisoning wells

1364 - Battle of Auray, English forces defeat French at Brittany

• In 1399 on this day, King Richard II became the first English monarch to abdicate his throne. 

1521 - Turkish troops occupy Belgrade

1564 - Robert Dudley becomes earl of Leicester

1567 - War of Religion breaks out in France - Huguenots try to kidnap king Charles IX

1567 - At a dinner, the Duke of Alba arrests the Count of Egmont and the Count of Hoorn for treason.

• 1608 - Captain Newport arrives from England with supplies for colonists

• 1650 - Second Fronde-uprising ends

1650 - Henry Robinson opens 1st marriage bureau (England)

• 1678 - France & Brandenburg signs peace treaty

Roman Military and Political Leader Pompey the GreatRoman Military and Political Leader Pompey the Great 

• 1785 - Chasidic sect is excommunicated in Cracow Poland

• 1789 - 1st congress adjourns

1789 - US War Dept established a regular army

• 1793 - Tennis is 1st mentioned in an English sporting magazine

1815 - King Willem I forms Order of Dutch Lion

1829 - London's Metropolitan Police Force goes on duty (Scotland Yard)

1829 Sir Robert Peel's police force, the "bobbies," began operations at Scotland Yard. 

• 1848 - Battle of Pákozd: Hungarian forces defeat Croats at Pákozd; the first battle of the War of Independence.

1849 - 1st passenger train service to Peekskill NY (New Haven Railroad)

1853 - Emigrant ship "Annie Jane" sinks off Scotland, drowning 348

1859 - Great auroral display in US

• 1863 - Opera "Pescatori di Perle" is produced (Paris)

1864 - Battle of Battle of Chaffin's Farm & New Market Heights VA

1872 - "3 Fingers" Mackenzie destroys Kwahadi-Commanche village

1872 - Kiowa-chief Lone Wolf captures Satanta & Big Tree

1875 - US-Spanish relations decline in wake of Cuban rebellion

1879 - NL owners meeting in Buffalo adopt reserve clause, giving each team exclusive rights to their players

1885 - The first practical public electric tramway in the world is opened in Blackpool, England.

1890 - 1st pro baseball game, NY Metropolitans beat Washington Nationals 4-2 in 5 innings at Polo Grounds in NYC

1892 - 1st night football game played (Mansfield, Penn)

Picture of a bust of French chemist Louis Pasteur

• French chemist Louis Pasteur died on this day in 1895.

• 1898 - French troops reach Guinea & Sudan, Samori caught

1902 - Impresario David Belasco opens his 1st Broadway theater

1904 - 1st monument honoring Spanish American War erected (Monroeville Ohio)

1906 - US intervenes in Cuba ousts dictator Estrada Palma

1907 - Construction begins on Washington National Cathedral

1908 - Calgary Rugby Football Union forms

1911 - Gun magazine of French battleship Liberte explode

1911 - Italy declares war on Turkey, starting the Italo-Turkish War

1911 - Yanks steal 15 bases & get 13 walks, beating Browns 16-12; with a major-league record 6 stolen bases in 1 inning

• 1911 - Italy declares war on the Ottoman Empire.

• 1912 - French/British troops lands on Samoa

1913 - Sam S Shubert Theater opens at 225 W 44th St NYC

1913 - Wash Senator Walter Johnson wins his 36th game

1914 - Boston Braves, who were in last place in mid-July, clinch NL pennant

1915 - 1st transcontinental radio telephone message is sent

1915 - British army conquerors Chilly al Imara, Mesopotamia

1915 - Dutch Opera's 1st performance

1915 - Herbert/Blossoms musical "Princess Pat," premieres in NYC

1915 - Hurricane claims 275 in Mississippi Delta

1915 - Philadelphia Phillies clinch their 1st pennant

Oil Industrialist John D. RockefellerOil Industrialist John D. Rockefeller 1916 - John D Rockefeller becomes the first billionaire.

1918 - Allied forces scored a decisive breakthrough of Hindenburg Line

1920 - Babe Ruth sets then home run season record at 54

• 1920 - Belgium annexes Eupen/Malmö dy

1920 - Joseph Horne Company in Pittsburgh sells radios for $10

1921 - Pirates drop doubleheader to Cards to allow idle Giants to clinch NL

1922 - Benito Mussolini ask Vatican for support of fascist party program

1923 - 6th PGA Championship: Gene Sarazen at Pelham CC Pelham NY

1923 - Steinhart Aquarium in Golden Gate Park opens to public

1924 - Santo Domingo joins League of Nations

1924 - Senators clinch pennant, finishing 2 games in front of Yankees

1925 - French Gen of Morocco, marshal Lyautey, is dismissed

1925 - Greek republican constitution enforced

1926 - Norma Shearer wed Irving Thalberg

1927 - Babe Ruth ties record by hitting grand slams in consecutive games

Baseball Great Babe RuthBaseball Great Babe Ruth 1927 - Telephone service begins between US & Mexico

1927 - Tornado strikes St Louis Missouri, 85 die

1928 - Cardinals win NL pennant with a 3-1 win at Boston

1928 - Yanks (17) Tigers (28) set 9 inning hit record (45)-Tigers win 19-10

1930 - 1st Canadian football game played under lights, Hamilton-UBC

• 1930 - Boquerón battle ends Paraguay border dispute

1930 - Lowell Thomas made debuts on CBS Radio replacing Floyd Gibbons

1930 - NYC College offers 1st course in radio advertising

1932 - "Bill of Divorcement" premieres at the Mayfair

1933 - Little King, Cartoon Character, by Von Beuren, debut

1935 - 5th Ryder Cup: US wins, 9-3 at Ridgewood Country Club (Ridgewood, New Jersey, US)

1936 - Radio used for 1st time for a presidential campaign

1937 - Frans Slaats bicycles world record time (45,563 km)

1938 - 1st archival course is offered at Columbia University in NYC

• 1938 - Treaty of Munich signed by Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Daladier & Chamberlain

Dictator of Nazi Germany Adolf HitlerDictator of Nazi Germany Adolf Hitler 1940 - "Double or Nothing," a radio quiz show, 1st heard on Mutual Radio Net

1940 - "Strike Up Band," opens

1940 - 1st US merchant ship "Booker T. Washington" commanded by a black captain (Hugh Mulzac), launched at Wilmington Delaware

1941 - Joe Louis TKOs Lou Nova in 6 for heavyweight boxing title

1941 - Million jam downtown Brooklyn to cheer NL champ Dodgers in a parade

• 1941 - Nazi mass murder at Babi Jar, Soviet Union

1942 - 32°F lowest temperature ever recorded in Cleveland in Sept

1942 - Government of De Gaulle cancels agreement of Munich

1943 - 1st Silbertanne-murder by German occupiers in Meppel

General Dwight Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States

• On this day in 1943 during World War II, U.S. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and Italian Marshal Pietro Badoglio signed an armistice aboard the British ship Nelson.   

1943 - German riots at Amsterdam Jews

1943 - Zjadovs 5th Gardeleger/Managarovs 53rd Army reconquer Kremenchug

• 1944 - Soviet troops invade Yugoslavia

1946 - Al Couture knockouts Ralph Walton in Lewiston Maine in 10 secs

1946 - Los Angeles (previously Cleveland) Rams play 1st NFL game in LA

1946 - NPS, Nationale Party Suriname, forms

1947 - Dizzy Gillespie presented his 1st Carnegie Hall concert in NY

1947 - Former Yank manager Joe McCarthy signs to manage Red Sox

1947 - Record World Series crowd of 73,365 at Yankee Stadium ($325,828)

1948 - Laurence Olivier's "Hamlet" opens at Park Avenue Cinema

1948 - WBAP (now KXAS) TV channel 5 in Fort Worth-Dallas, TX (NBC) begins

1948 - WSB TV channel 2 in Atlanta, GA (ABC) begins broadcasting

1949 - "Front Page," debuts on CBS-TV

1949 - "Inside USA With Chevrolet," debuts on CBS-TV

1949 - Elia Kazan's "Pinky" starring Ethel Waters opens at Rivoli

1950 - "Tin Pan Alley TV," last airs on ABC-TV

1950 - Telephone Answering Machine created by Bell Laboratories

1950 - Yanks clinch 2nd consecutive pennant under Casey Stengel

1951 - 1st color telecast of football game on network, Phila (CBS)

1951 - Emile Zatopek runs world record 20,000 m & 10 mile

• 1951 - S B Nicholson discovers 12th satellite of Jupiter

1952 - "Lights Out," last airs on NBC-TV

1952 - Stan Musial makes his only major league pitching appearance

1953 - "Buick-Berle Show," debuts on NBC-TV

1953 - "Make Room for Daddy," starring Danny Thomas, premieres on ABC-TV

1953 - 1st dept store to sell insurance is Carson Pirie Scott in Chicago Ill

1953 - Balt Mayor D'Alesandro buys Veeck's interest in Browns for $2,475,000

1953 - Milton Berle Show premieres

1953 - US government gives France $385 million for combat in Indo-China

1954 - "Barefoot Contessa" starring Ava Gardner premieres at the Capitol

1954 - "Masquerade Party," TV game Show; moves to ABC

Actress Judy GarlandActress Judy Garland 1954 - "Star is Born" starring Judy Garland & James Mason premieres

1954 - Bennekom soccer team forms in Bennekom

1954 - KALB TV channel 5 in Alexandria, LA (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting

1954 - Willie Mays famous over-the-shoulder catch of Vic Wertz' 460' drive

1955 - "Sergeant Preston," debuts on CBS

1955 - Ali Sastroamidjojo's PNI wins elections in Indonesia

1957 - 300 die as express train hits stalled train (Montgomery W Pakistan)

1957 - Buddy Holly & Crickets released 2nd single "Oh Boy!"/"Not Fade Away"

1957 - NY Giants play & lose their last game at Polo Grounds (9-1 to Pitts)

Singer Buddy HollySinger Buddy Holly 1957 - Passenger train & oil train crash in Gambar West Pakistan, 300 die

1958 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site

1959 - Dodgers win game 2 of playoff, 6-5, & take NL pennant

1959 - Little Anthony & the Imperials record "Shimmy Shimmy Koko Bop"

1959 - Sultan of Brunei promulgates a constitution

1960 - "Johnny Ringo," TV Western Drama; last airs on CBS-TV

Singer-Songwriter Bob DylanSinger-Songwriter Bob Dylan 1961 - Bob Dylan's 1st recording session-backup harmonica for Caroline Hester

1961 - Mamum Kuzbari becomes premier of Syria

Flag of Algeria

• 1962 - Algerian government of Ben Bella forms

• On this day in 1962, U.S. President John F. Kennedy authorized the use of federal troops in response to city officials defying federal court orders to integrate public schools. The orders had been to enroll James Meredith at the University of Mississippi. 

• 1962 - Launch of Alouette 1, 1st Canadian satellite (on US Delta rocket)

1962 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site

1963 - "Judy Garland Show," debuts on CBS-TV

1963 - "My Favorite Martian," starring Ray Walston, debuts on CBS-TV

1963 - 2nd session of Ecumenical council, `Vatican II,' opens in Rome

US President John F. KennedyUS President John F. Kennedy 1963 - Card's Stan Musial's final game, gets his 3,629th & 3,630th hit

1963 - Houston Colt .45 John Paciorek goes 3 for 3 in his only game

1963 - Mickey Wright wins LPGA Mickey Wright Golf Invitational

1963 - Pope Paul opens 2nd sitting of 2nd Vatican council

1963 - Rolling Stones 1st tour (opening act for Bo Diddley & Everly Bros)

1963 - Stan Musial Day in St Louis

• 1964 - Greece & Bulgaria close boundaries

1965 - Phillies catcher Pat Corrales sets record by reaching base twice on catcher's interference in one game & 6 times in one season

• 1966 - Bechuanaland gains independence from England, becomes Botswana

1966 - Sandy Koufax pitches 3rd 300-strikeout season

1966 - The Chevrolet Camaro, originally named Panther, is introduced.

1967 - -Oct 29] Rome: 1st bishop synod

1967 - Gladys Knight & Pips releases "I Heard it Through the Grapevine"

1967 - Intl Monetary Fund reforms world monetary system

1967 - Mickey Hart joins the Grateful Dead & plays the Straightater

1969 - China PR performs nuclear test at Lop Nor PRC

1969 - Jackie DeShannon gets Gold Record for "Put Little Love in Your Heart"

1969 - Red Sox Rico Petrocelli hits shortstop record 40th HR of season

1969 - Steve O'Neal of NY Jets, kicks longest NFL punt; 98 yards vs Denver

1970 - "NET Festival," last aired

1971 - "McMillan & Wife," debuts on NBC-TV

1971 - Cyclone & tidal wave off Bay of Bengal kills as many as 10,000

1971 - Orbiting Solar Observatory VII launched

1971 - Ron Hunt is hit by a pitch for record 50th time in a season

1971 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site

1972 - Japan & People's Republic of China begin diplomatic relations

1973 - "Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne" by Looking Glass peaks at #33

1973 - "We're An American Band" by Grand Funk peaks at #1

1973 - Balt Orioles pull their 5th triple play (5-4-3 vs Detroit)

1973 - Insurance ind announces auto racers get into more highway accidents

• 1973 - Soyuz 12 returns to Earth

1975 - Jackie Wilson, slips into an irreversible coma; he dies in 1984

1975 - USSR performs underground nuclear test

1975 - WGPR-TV Detroit, 1st Black-owned station in US, began broadcasting

1975 - Sharon Dahlonega Raiford Bush becomes American television's first African-American weathercaster.

1976 - "Alice," debuts on CBS-TV

1976 - 2nd Chamber recognizes Dutch Liberals/social democratic abortion law

1976 - Boy George expelled from school

1976 - SF Giant John Montefusco no-hits Atlanta Braves, 9-0

• 1976 - Syria drives Palestinian guerrillas out of Lebanon

1976 - Tommy Lasorda replaces Walter Alston as Dodger manager

1976 - USSR performs nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya USSR

Country Singer Jerry Lee LewisCountry Singer Jerry Lee Lewis 1976 - Jerry Lee Lewis, attempting to shoot soda bottles hits his bass player Norman Owens twice in the chest

• 1977 - "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band," by Meco hits #1

1977 - Eva Shain is 1st woman to referee a heavyweight championship

1977 - James Brown's band walks out claiming they were underpaid & overworked

1977 - Muhammad Ali beats Earnie Shavers in 15 for heavyweight boxing title

1977 - Peter Schats circus opera "Houdini," premieres in Amsterdam

1977 - Soviet space station Salyut 6 launched into Earth orbit

Singer Maureen McGovernSinger Maureen McGovern 1979 - "Driver's Seat" by Sniff 'n' the Tears peaks at #15

1979 - "Girls Talk" by Dave Edmunds peaks at #65

1979 - "Lonesome Loser" by Little River Band peaks at #6

1979 - "Message In A Bottle" by Police peaks at #1 in UK

1979 - "What Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin'" by Stephanie Mills peaks at #22

1979 - Astros' J R Richard strikes out NL season righty record of 313

1979 - Gold hits record $400.20 an ounce in Hong Kong

1979 - John Huston's "Wine Blood" premieres at NY Film Festival

1979 - LA Dodger Manny Mota hits record 146th pinch hit

Picture of a bust of Pope John Paul II taken at the Basilique Saint-Sernin in Toulouse.

• In 1979 on this day, Pope John Paul II became the first pope to visit Ireland.

1980 - Malcolm McDowell wed Mary Steenburgen

1982 - 1st broadcast of "Cheers" on NBC-TV

• On this day in 1982, seven people died after taking Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules laced with cyanide in Chicago. This led to the use of safety seals on most consumer products. Also as a result of this, 264,000 bottles were recalled.

1982 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site

1983 - "A Chorus Line" 3,389 performance to become longest running Bdwy show

264th Pope John Paul II264th Pope John Paul II 1983 - 1st time Congress invokes War Powers Act

1983 - Airport of Beirut reopens

1983 - Congress authorized President Reagan to keep 1,600 US Marines in Lebanon

1983 - Oakland A's Mike Warren no-hits Chicago White Sox, 3-0

1984 - "(What) In Name Of Love" by Naked Eyes peaks at #39

1984 - "Cruel Summer" by Bananarama peaks at #9

1984 - "Drive" by Cars peaks at #3

1984 - "Layin' It On Line" by Jefferson Starship peaks at #66

1984 - "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince & Revolution peaks at #1

1984 - "Pretty Mess" by Vanity peaks at #75

1984 - "Torture" by Jacksons peaks at #17

1984 - "When You Close Your Eyes" by Night Ranger peaks at #14

1984 - "Yes Or No" by Go-Go's peak at #84

1984 - Elizabeth Taylor, undergoing rehabilitation at the Betty Ford Clinic

1985 - "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," returns to NBC-TV

Director Steven SpielbergDirector Steven Spielberg 1985 - "Amazing Stories," by Steven Spielberg, debuts on NBC-TV

1985 - "MacGyver," starring Richard Dean Anderson, debuts on ABC-TV

1985 - Deron Cherry, Kansas City vs Seattle, has 4 interceptions!

1985 - Houston QB Warren Moon sacked NFL tying record 12 times (by Cowboys)

1986 - "Airwolf," TV Adventure; moves to USA

1986 - "Designing Women," TV Comedy, debuts on CBS

1986 - Cubs Greg Maddux defeats Phillies Mike Maddux (1st rookie brothers)

1986 - Indians Jay Bell is 10th to hit a HR on 1st major league pitch he sees

1986 - Mary Lou Retton retires as a gymnast

1986 - USSR releases US journalist Nicholas Daniloff confined on spy charges

1987 - "Didn't We Almost Have It All," by Whitney Houston hits #1

1987 - "thirtysomething," debuts on ABC-TV

1987 - 8th Emmy Sports Award presentation

1987 - NY Yankee Don Mattingly hits record 6th grand slam of year

Singer Whitney HoustonSinger Whitney Houston 

Picture of the space shuttle at Expo Park in Los Angeles, California

•  The 26th space shuttle mission took place on this day when Discovery 7 was launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on this day in 1988. It was the first manned space flight since the Challenger disaster. It was also the first American staffed space flight since the Challenger disaster.    

1988 - China PR performs nuclear test at Lop Nor PRC

1988 - Florence Griffith Joyner of USA sets 200m woman's record (21.34)

1988 - UN peacekeeping forces win Nobel Peace prize

1988 - Union Station reopens in Wash DC

1989 - Glenn Frey joins Don Henley on-stage (for 1st time since 1981)

1989 - Zsa Zsa Gabor convicted of slapping a police officer in Beverly Hills

1990 - "Love & Affection" by Nelson peaks at #1 on pop singles chart

1990 - "Street Scene" closes at NY State Theater NYC after 6 perfs

1990 - Reds are 1st NL team to clinch title, staying in 1st place all year

• 1990 - US Sect of State James Baker meets with Vietnam's foreign minister

• 1990 - Washington National Cathedral construction is completed after 83 years

1990 - "Millie's Book" written by 1st Lady Barbara Bush for president's dog is a best-selling non-fiction book

1990 - The YF-22, which would later become the F-22 Raptor, flies for the first time.

1991 - "My Own Private Idaho" premieres

1991 - 29th Ryder Cup: US beats Europe, 14½-13½ at Ocean Course (South Carolina, US)

1991 - Pat Bradley wins MBS LPGA Golf Classic

1992 - Atlanta Braves wins 2nd straight NL West title

1992 - Magic Johnson announces return to play basketball (he doesn't)

1992 - Parliament suspends president Fernando Collor

The flag of Brazil.

• Brazil's Congresso Nacional (Parliament) voted overwhelmingly in favor of impeaching President Fernando Collor de Mello on this day in 1992.   

• 1993 - Bosnia's parliament voted overwhelmingly to reject an international peace plan unless Bosnian Serbs returned land that had been taken by force. 

1994 - 1st phase of OJ Simpson murder trial jury selection ends (304 chosen)

1994 - House votes to end lobbyists buying meals & entertainment for Congress

1994 - Pointer Sisters receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

1995 - Indians break 1902 Pirates record for largest lead over 2nd-place team (KC) (27½ games)

1995 - OJ Simpson trial sent to the jury

1995 - Saleem Elahi scores century on ODI debut, Pakistan v Sri Lanka

• 1995 - US space probe Ulyssus completes 2nd passage behind Sun

1996 - "Delicate Balance" closes at Plymouth Theater NYC

1996 - 34th Tennis Fed Cup: USA beats Spain in Atlantic City USA (5-0)

1996 - Alanis Morissette ends her 1st US tour (Houston Texas)

Singer-Songwriter Alanis MorissetteSinger-Songwriter Alanis Morissette 1996 - Trish Johnson wins LPGA Fieldcrest Cannon Golf Classic

1996 - US wins Federation Cup over Spain

1997 - Jury selection in Terry Nichols Oklahoma bombing trial begins

• 2001 - The Syracuse Herald-Journal, a U.S. newspaper dating back to 1839, ceases publication.

• 2003 - Hurricane Juan makes landfall in Nova Scotia.

2004 - The asteroid 4179 Toutatis passes within four lunar distances of Earth.

2004 - The Burt Rutan Ansari X Prize entry SpaceShipOne performed a successful spaceflight, the first of two needed to win the prize.

2005 - Chicago White Sox clinch their first division title since 2000 and become just the 10th team in the history of baseball to be in first place on every day of the season

2005 - Amnesty referendum in Algeria.

2006 - US Representative Mark Foley resigns after allegations of inappropriate emails to house pages were introduced.

• 2007 - Calder Hall, the world's first commercial nuclear power station, the magnox reactor and Calder hall was demolished in a controlled explosion.

2008 - Following the bankruptcies of Lehman Brothers and Washington Mutual, The Dow Jones Industrial Average falls 777.68 points, the largest single-day point loss in its history.

• 2009 - An 8.0 magnitude earthquake near the Samoan Islands causes a tsunami .

1789 - A regular army was established by the U.S. War Department with several hundred men.   1829 - The first public appearance by London's re-organized police force was met with jeers from political opponents. The force became known as Scotland Yard.   1902 - David Belasco opened his first Broadway theater.   1930 - Lowell Thomas made his debut on CBS Radio. He was in the radio business for the next 46 years.   1930 - Bing Crosby and Dixie Lee were married.   1940 - The radio quiz show "Double or Nothing" debuted on the Mutual Radio Network.   1943 - U.S. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and Italian Marchal Pietro Badoglio signed an armistice aboard the British ship Nelson.   1946 - "The Adventures of Sam Spade" debuted on CBS Radio.   1951 - The first network football game was televised by CBS-TV in color. The game was between the University of California and the University of Pennsylvania.   1953 - "Make Room for Daddy" premiered on ABC-TV.   1955 - "A View From the Bridge," a play by Arthur Miller, opened in New York at the Coronet Theater.   1957 - The New York Giants played their last game at the Polo Grounds. The next year the Giants were in San Francisco, CA.   1960 - "My Three Sons" debuted on ABC-TV.     1963 - "My Favorite Martian" premiered on CBS-TV.   1963 - "The Judy Garland Show" premiered on CBS-TV.   1967 - The International Monetary Fund reformed monetary systems around the world.   1977 - Eva Shain became the first woman to officiate a heavyweight title boxing match. About 70 million people watched Muhammad Ali defeat Ernie Shavers on NBC-TV.  1983 - The War Powers Act was used for the first time by the U.S. Congress when they authorized President Reagan to keep U.S. Marines in Lebanon for 18 more months.   1983 - "A Chorus Line" with performance number 3,389 became the longest running show on Broadway.   1984 - Irish officials announced that they had intercepted the Marita Anne carrying seven tons of U.S.-purchased weapons. The weapons were intended for the Irish Republican Army.   1984 - Elizabeth Taylor was voted to be the world's most beautiful woman in a Louis Harris poll. Taylor was at the time in the Betty Ford Clinic overcoming a weight problem.   1986 - Mary Lou Retton announced that she was quitting gymnastics.    1994 - The U.S. House voted to end the practice of lobbyist buying meals and entertainment for members of Congress.   1998 - Hasbro announced plans to introduce an action figure of retired U.S. General Colin Powell.   2010 - In China, Canton Tower became operational.

1978 John Paul I died one month after becoming pope.  2001 Former South Vietnam president Nguyen Van Thieu died.

The following links are to web sites that were used to complete this blog entry:

http://www.historyorb.com/today/events.php

http://on-this-day.com/onthisday/thedays/alldays/sep29.htm

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

http://www.infoplease.com/dayinhistory