GENESIS

Genesis in the Christian Bible mentions that God created the heavens and the earth.  In the Qur'an, Allah created the heavens and the earth.  Also mentioned was an intimation of a Big Bang.  And so did The Bible, although it is in the interpretation.

'IN THE BEGINNING God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the face of the deep, and the spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
– Genesis 1:1-2

The Buddhist Genesis is supposedly in The Aggañña-sutta.  

Yet from any logic, the Big Bang, followed by evolution, can be said to question the validity of God in six days creating everything.  Arguments have been made, however, that time is a variable in these early texts, and six days could very well be the equivalent of nearly 14 billion years.  In any case, it is interesting that Hindus believe that the Big Bang offers no challenge to their belief in creation.  Nowhere is this scientific theory mentioned.

The scientific logic of the Big Bang, of course, is no better than any religious genesis, for you are essentially asked to believe that from nothing came everything.  Then everything is made more complicated by indicating that what we can see, touch and measure is only around 4% of what exists.

Speaking of confusion, I began this posting today more because I was watching the PGA Genesis Invitational Golf Tournament on TV.  I wondered, who makes this car called Genesis.   Turns out it is Hyundai.  Never in the ads is this mentioned.  The Genesis is a rear or all-wheel-drive full-size luxury sedan, first marketed in 2008, and rebranded as the G80 in 2017.   This was the Hyundai Equus. The manufacturer is Genesis Motor.  It is like Hyundai does not want to diminish the value of Genesis by any association.

These South Korean cars Hyundai, Kia and Genesis are all manufactured in that country, but did you know:

• Hyundai owns about a third of Kia.
• The Genesis shares the same engines and platforms with Kia.
• The Genesis 2023 all-electric car will be produced in Alabama at the end of the year.  Genesis hopes to go all electric in 2030.  The Genesis GV60 was just selected in London as the best Electric SUV at the 2023 What Car? Awards.

How good are Genesis cars?

• The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named every model in the 2022 lineup a Top Safety+ pick, its highest rating.
• The G70 in 2019 was named North American Car of the Year.

How much does a Genesis cost?

• The G70 starts at $40,970 to take on the BMW 3 Series.
• The G80 competes with the BMW 5 Series, but costs $6,000 less.
• Top of the line is the G90 for more than $76,000.
• Their smallest SUV, the GV60 is electric, and most expensive at $60,000.

Another thing I wanted to do today is to sort out what those golf tournament titles mean.

• There is the U.S. Open Championship.  An open is theoretically open to anyone.  However, there are varying qualifying rounds to whittle down the numbers.  The ultimate is the Open, just that, once known as the British Open.

• 
  At one time there was the Los Angeles Open at the Riviera Golf Course, which became the Nissan Open and now....the Genesis Invitational, which continues today.  Tiger Woods made the cut.  So, apparently, an open can just become an invitational.

• 
  The Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, will be held in Orlando.  Invitationals are just that.  You are invited to take part.
• Next week is the Honda Classic in Florida, once known as the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic.  Open?  Invitational?  Who cares.
• 
  Then there are tournaments, like the Masters, which are really invitational.  But the Masters seems to be more eminent, and they allow previous winners to play, plus a whole host of other qualifying options.  Oh, 16 LIV golfers are being invited this year.  Who?  What?  This is the prime controversy in this sport today.

What is happening this week from the Sunday New York Times:

• The N.B.A. All-Star Game is tonight in Salt Lake City.

• 
  Presidents’ Day is tomorrow, a federal holiday in the U.S.  Among those on holiday are school children, bank employees and non-essential government workers.

• 
  Tuesday is the day before Lent, a day of celebrations around the world. That includes Mardi Gras — and New Orleans is set to host more parades than ever, Nola.com reports.  Actually began on January 6.
• Friday marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine.

Can't end with war on a Sunday...so here are SLICE n RICE on their parody from The Book of Genesis.

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