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[Spencer Cox @SpencerJCox]

Celebrating an historic anniversary of the founding of our nation at a time of profound (and discomfiting) technological change, growing material abundance, a booming stock market, and a rise in totalitarian regimes across the globe? No, I’m not referring to 2026. The year was 1926 — the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Shakespeare was right…the past really is prologue.

The year 1926 must have felt a bit like today. Having survived a global pandemic and a world war, the country found itself at a time of incredible prosperity — but not for everyone — and radical political shifts. Things were getting cheaper, faster and better: cars and planes shrunk the world, and the radio brought news, music, and politics into every home. And yet, many people felt adrift. The country was straying from its moral foundations. The Roaring 20’s could hardly be described as a time of virtue —and the founders knew our experiment in self-government could only succeed with an informed and virtuous people. Like today, Americans never had more. And yet too many wondered why we’re doing any of this in the first place.

On that anniversary day 100 years ago, the President of our Country, Calvin Coolidge, stepped to the podium in Philadelphia to celebrate America’s success and to issue a warning. I’m grateful that “Silent Cal” was not on that day…and his words might be more important 100 years later.

“We live in an age of science and of abounding accumulation of material things. These did not create our Declaration [of Independence]. Our Declaration created them. The things of the spirit come first.

“Unless we cling to that, all our material prosperity, overwhelming though it may appear, will turn to a barren scepter in our grasp. If we are to maintain the great heritage which has been bequeathed to us, we must be like-minded as the [Founders] who created it.

“We must not sink into a pagan materialism. We must cultivate the reverence which they had for the things that are holy. We must follow the spiritual and moral leadership which they showed.” 

In other words, and more succinctly, if America ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.

It’s been said that, if you want to hate America, watch the news. But if you want to love America, take a road trip. Over the past few weeks, the world has been taking a road trip across our great country.

Hosting the World Cup has been one of the unexpected highlights of my life. Watching our new friends from all over the globe discover unlimited chips and salsa, ranch dressing, Costco, air conditioning and Buc-ee’s has been a delight. And watching Kansas embrace Algeria, the Scots drink Boston dry and the Vikings row through Time Square has warmed my soul. Even better, we’ve discovered that our foreign friends are pretty great—and they’ve discovered that we are too. Oh, and the soccer has been pretty good.

And maybe that is the lesson our country needs in 2026. Half of us need to be reminded that the rest of the world is awesome and more like us than we realized And the other half need to be reminded that America is freaking amazing and we are incredibly lucky to live here.

Remember that America has never been a president or a political party or even our government. America is, and always will be…well…us. We the People. To paraphrase one president, there is nothing so wrong in America that it can’t be fixed by what’s right in America.

Today, and every day, I’m proud to be an American. Happy 250th!

[Merriam-Webster @MerriamWebster]

Why is it ‘cancelled’ in the U.K. but ‘canceled’ in the U.S.?

Because we gave them that L in 1776.

[ok @ok4ever]

You don’t buy an electric car to save money on gas. You buy an electric car because it is freaking fun to drive! I have owned several electric cars and test-driven several more. They are all amazing! Tesla takes the cake for me because of FSD. It is $100 per month and I will never be without it - I literally use it every drive. I have talked several people into getting a Tesla and even the most initially reluctant and critical have had zero regrets.

(For context: I own a Tesla Model Y. I also own/owned a VW ID.4, Rivian R1S, Chevy Volt, Nissan LEAF, and several models of Toyota Prius over the years)

Use the link of a family member or friend to get both of you Tesla perks. If you don’t know anyone, you can use this one: https://t.co/EI2DcQG10n I’m happy to answer questions anytime.

[ok @ok4ever]

@sambena @FiredUpCoug I have a 2023 Model Y. I use FSD literally everywhere I drive! It is incredible! There are other electric cars that are great (I have a Rivian too) but Tesla FSD is by far the favorite product feature I have ever used.

[ok @ok4ever]

@FiredUpCoug ( ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡°)

[Spencer Cox @SpencerJCox]

This is absolutely the right move. Getting embarrassed in a bowl game against BYU would be really hard on the program. Much smarter to avoid playing tough teams so you can keep your brand intact.

[Dave McCann @DaveMcCannTV]

Once you remove logic from the CFP committee I think they nailed it. 🏈

[Kramer @KramerHolle]

If you're going to penalize a 1-loss Power Conference team for a weak strength of schedule... BYU's SOS is better than Ole Miss and Notre Dame.

If you're going to penalize a team for not having the strongest power ratings (which incorporate prior year's history and recruiting rankings)... BYU's FPI is higher than Oklahoma's.

If you're going to penalize a team for a non-competitive / bad loss... Alabama lost by 14 to a team with a losing record and Miami lost to two unranked teams.

If you're going to use strength-of-record like you indicated you would, BYU's SOR is the second highest of teams 6-12.

BYU also (1) made its conference championship game and (2) if you sum up the wins of the teams it has beaten, it is THIRD in the country. It is hard to win games and BYU has beaten a lot of teams with a lot of wins.

This. Makes. No. Sense.

The @CFBPlayoff should be ashamed of itself. It has literally contorted itself into a pretzel to avoid putting BYU where it should be ranked (somewhere between 6th - 9th).

RT to get the info out there. They need to feel pressure.

[ok @ok4ever]

@FiredUpCoug As long as the name is “Saving Sitake” - I’d pay to watch that! “Stealing Sitake”…is another matter.

[Brigham's Burner @FiredUpCoug]

I once again call on Cincinnati and other fan bases to stop chanting F The Mormons.

We have so many kids already, we really don't need any more encouragement.

Do you know how exhausting it is to have more children than you have hands?!

[Greg Wrubell @gregwrubell]

BYU going 9-1 with a No. 6 Strength of Record evidently does not mitigate trailing 26-0 and losing 29-7 at Texas Tech--an elite football team, as shown by their CFP ranking of 5th.

CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek tonight: "It's really the way they looked in that game against Texas Tech. They were dominated on both sides of the ball in that game against Texas Tech."

Facts about Texas Tech in its game v. BYU (11th CFP):

29 points scored are their fewest in any win, and second-fewest in any game.

368 yards are their fewest in any win, and second-fewest in any game.

39% third-down conversion rate is their lowest in any win, and second-lowest in any game.

17 first downs are their fewest in any win, and second-fewest in any game.

2 TDs scored in 7 RZ drives: lowest RZ TD rate in any game.

It is perhaps a matter of semantics, but I'd argue that BYU was not dominated on both sides of the ball. BYU's defense played Texas Tech notably better than any other opponent the Red Raiders have defeated.

Utah was dominated by Texas Tech on both sides of the ball to a greater extent than BYU--

Defeat margin:
BYU -22 points
Utah -24 points

Yardage margin:
BYU -113 yards
Utah -221 yards

Giveaways:
BYU 3
Utah 4

BYU beat Utah.
And has one less loss than Utah.
And one ranking spot separates the two teams.

Also a fact: BYU needed to be much more competitive on offense and special teams in Lubbock. Rough days for both units contributed most to the 26-0 deficit--a snapshot the committee refuses to look past. The committee chair admitted as much tonight.

Even though the negative impression left in Lubbock has some qualifying elements, as outlined above, being shut out into the 4th quarter at Texas Tech has cost BYU with the committee.

As a result, BYU's playoff hopes may require winning the next three games.

Should BYU get to 11-1, play well in a rematch against an 11-1 Texas Tech team in Arlington and come up short, you'd like to think the body of a season's work in a power conference--including a win over the Big 12's next most-likely candidate for a second league playoff bid--would lead to consideration for an at-large CFP berth. But based on the current rankings and rationale, it would be a tough thing to count on.

To quote Bill Belichick: "On to Cincinnati."

[Brigham's Burner @FiredUpCoug]

This is a pretty high IQ move by Utah, not going to lie.

[De Christian Life @DeChristianLife]

Savour every moment with your children

[Derek Andersen @DerekjAndersen]

This morning with our burned down church still smoldering and four saints murdered, members of the Church of Jesus Christ raised $60k for...checks notes...the shooter's wife and children. Most donations are anonymous. Each Christian comment will make you cry more than the last.

[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints @Ch_JesusChrist]

Bishop Jeffrey Schaub from the Grand Blanc Ward shares an update on the ward and its members following the Sunday, September 28 attack on their local meetinghouse.

“We will be happy and find joy again. I know there are a lot of people suffering right now. But we share in that testimony and that love of Jesus Christ that through Him, we’ll find that peace and joy that is missing today, and tomorrow, and the next few days—but it will come."

https://t.co/6UVLKYvNpk

[Robert P. George @McCormickProf]

Catholic and Protestant friends: Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints are today mourning the death of their beloved leader, President Nelson. At the same time, they are in shock at a murderous assault at a church in Michigan. This is NO TIME for theological disputations! The only thing we should be saying right now is this: "We stand in loving solidarity with you, dear brothers and sisters."

[Brigham's Brigade @BrighamsBrigade]

"Those are my brothers over there (BYU) until the end... I'm excited to see their future and their success."

Jake Retzlaff was very complimentary of his BYU teammates, coaches the school and Provo in his first time taking questions with Tulane.

[jayhawk lasso @jaylassoku]

college football is coming

how to prepare:

🔘rsvp no to all fall weddings
🔘practice screaming “HOW WAS THAT PASS INTERFERENCE" when it clearly was
🔘prepare to emotionally spiral after a pass on 4th and 1
🔘believe—truly believe—this is "our year" (it’s not)

[Lulu Cheng Meservey @lulumeservey]

Upstairs apartment culture

[Ryan Holiday @RyanHoliday]

By all means, pursue your success. Realize your ambition. Just make sure it's not coming at the expense of what actually matters