Is the NFL's Implosion Worth Noting?

Absolutely.  The NFL has become such an iconic brand in America, and has become so popular, it is representative of us as a nation.  The NFL is reflective of us because it has woven itself into the fabric of our national psyche.  We have grown to love it during its rise to its current status.  The NFL has become a cultural mirror, upon which we can evaluate ourselves, if we dare.  It is because of this evaluation and analysis of this institution that I have become critical of it.  I have spent a good amount of time sharing my opinion about the NFL rather than watching it this season. And while I have not yet called for a NATIONAL BOYCOTT OF THE SUPERBOWL, the key word there being "yet", I am considering doing so.

Roger Goodell just signed another contract extension.  He has already made over $200 million in his current position and the new contract will double that amount.  He has become filthy rich and we the fans are the enablers, because we have made the men who pay Roger's salary filthy rich.  Good for Roger.  Roger is paid by the team owners, indirectly by our dime, because we are the ones who watch the games on TV and buy the advertiser's products.  We the fans are the ones who used to fill the stadiums (just look at the photos) every Sunday, Monday and Thursday. We the fans are the ones who buy our teams sweatshirts, hats and other memorabilia.  When the NFL finally crumbles, we will be there to witness it.  At least Roger will be comfortable enough financially to retire.

The implosion of the NFL is worth noting because the leadership is too self absorbed to be self aware of how it fits into our society.  It has led from behind on the "Anthem Kneeling" issue from the beginning.  It has tried to stop the leaks in the dam with one incorrect public relations stunt after another, rather than recognizing and addressing the real problem.  The NFL  has pissed off about half of its loyal fan base and can't figure out why everyone is abandoning them.  How can people making so much money act so stupidly?  This is reflective of our nation's leaders.  They are too self absorbed to be self aware.  The Establishment in Washington is too entrenched in its own delusions to recognize why Donald Trump is our new President.  It too will remain blissfully ignorant when Trump wins a second election in 2020.  The NFL's Apocalypse is upon us, and our nation's is not far behind.

Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory in Historic Petersburg

The most beautiful church exterior my eyes have ever beheld: Trinity United Methodist Church on the 100 block of South Sycamore in Downtown Petersburg, Virginia.  While beautiful on a sunny day, the large gray and sandstone colored blocks really pop on an overcast day because the unique individual color of each block is more distinguishable to the passer by, via the uniform ultra violet rays filtered through the clouds.  I have no idea what the interior looks like, but may visit this place one Sunday soon.  I'll keep you posted.  Also, research is ongoing on  Byrne St. Baptist Church (currently active as Second Baptist Church), from 1866 to 1876.  An update is forthcoming on that as well.

More Deerfield Massacre

What Rev. John Williams endured is an incredible story.  Perhaps the only two families who suffered more loss during the Deerfield Massacre were my ancestors, The French family and the Catlin Family, who lived directly across the street from the church where Rev. Williams preached.  The Catlin and French families lost 14 members through murder or kidnapping and enslavement as a result of the events that transpired on February 29, 1704.  I would recommend this book for any person interested in American or Canadian history.  I got this used copy in very good condition through Amazon for about $8. One interesting note--Rev. Williams was the uncle of Jonathan Edwards, the minister who is credited as  being one of the driving forces behind The Great Awakening--a revival movement primarily begun by the Puritans and Reformed Christian denominations.  At that time, our Baptist and Methodist denominations were not yet significant enough numerically to have much of an impact.  Their influence came later during The Second Great Awakening, after they had grown larger than the Puritans of New England and the Anglicans of the Southeast. If the book cover blurb below seems interesting to you, I am certain that you will enjoy the book as much as I did.