# 9-15-2023 - Cold Medicine Lies, MGM Cyberattack, & NFL Turf Wars

An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 15 Sep 2023, 14 min.

Audio: https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/ce9a673d-e313-4c0a-9df4-b4d6010c32c6/b6f4c7f2-2d4b-4069-8b89-b4d7000cdd8e/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=992944cf-642c-431f-a11e-b4d6010c32cd

This is PrayNews, your Daily Christian news and beacon of hope in the stormy seas of current events. Sign up to receive PrayNews in your inbox every weekday: https://www.praynews.com/ Today’s Good News at a Glance: • Your favorite cold medicine may have been lying to you this whole time! • MGM Resorts suffered a huge cyberattack, resulting in a loss of millions by the day. • Week 1 of the NFL has stirred up an old controversy for football players. Pray News is your number 1 source for the top conservative news given to you daily. Download the Pray.com app and make prayer a priority in your life. Watch and listen to inspiring sermons, dramatized Bible stories, and relaxing Bedtime Bible Stories at Pray.com, the digital destination for faith. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

## Transcript

[0:01] Speaker 1: Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow let's go
[0:03] Speaker 1: into this city and spend a year there, trade and
[0:06] Speaker 1: make a profit. Whereas you don't know what your life
[0:09] Speaker 1: will be like tomorrow. What is your life? For you
[0:12] Speaker 1: are a vapor that appears for a little time and
[0:15] Speaker 1: then vanishes away. For you ought to say, If the
[0:17] Speaker 1: Lord wills, we will both live and we will do
[0:20] Speaker 1: this or that. James 4, 13-15 Dear Lord, we acknowledge
[0:28] Speaker 1: that you alone are in control of time and circumstances.
[0:32] Speaker 1: No matter how hard we try to control everything in
[0:35] Speaker 1: our lives, we don't have the authority over every situation. Therefore,
[0:39] Speaker 1: we pray that you would make us adaptable, flexible, and
[0:43] Speaker 1: able to handle whatever situation comes our way. Give us
[0:46] Speaker 1: resilience when unexpected trials arise. Give us gratitude and humility
[0:51] Speaker 1: when life surprises us with blessings. But above all these things,
[0:55] Speaker 1: We pray that no situation, whether expected or unexpected, would
[0:59] Speaker 1: cause us to stray away from you. In Jesus' name
[1:02] Speaker 1: we pray. Amen. Welcome to Pray News, where hope is
[1:06] Speaker 1: our only bias. Today's news at a glance, your favorite
[1:09] Speaker 1: cold medicine may have been lying to you this whole time.
[1:12] Speaker 1: MGM Resorts suffered a huge cyber attack, resulting in loss
[1:15] Speaker 1: of millions by the day. And week one of the
[1:18] Speaker 1: NFL has stirred up an old controversy for football players.
[1:22] Speaker 1: How do we handle disappointments? Today's stories hold a common
[1:25] Speaker 1: theme of disappointment. How do we react when things don't
[1:28] Speaker 1: go as we expected them to? Our faith is tested
[1:31] Speaker 1: when we face unexpected challenges or bumps in the road.
[1:34] Speaker 1: James 4 reminds us to not hold too tightly to
[1:37] Speaker 1: our plans, but instead to say, if it's the Lord's will,
[1:40] Speaker 1: we will live and we will do this or that.
[1:43] Speaker 1: Our faith is revealed in our ability to adapt to
[1:46] Speaker 1: any situation. When things begin to unravel, remember that your
[1:50] Speaker 1: plans were never set in stone to begin with. Whether
[1:53] Speaker 1: expected or unexpected, each moment provides a beautiful opportunity to
[1:58] Speaker 1: live out God's mission and will. We're glad you're here.
[2:02] Speaker 1: We pray today's news leaves you informed and transformed. If
[2:06] Speaker 1: you've been blessed by this take on the news, we
[2:08] Speaker 1: would love it if you would leave us a review.
[2:10] Speaker 1: We want to hear your thoughts and how this has
[2:12] Speaker 1: impacted you. Before we head into today's first story, let's
[2:15] Speaker 1: hear a word from these sponsors. We've got a real
[2:18] Speaker 1: bombshell for you today, and for once, it's not political.
[2:22] Speaker 1: You might want to sit down for this. It seems
[2:24] Speaker 1: we've been hoodwinked, bamboozled, led astray by none other than,
[2:27] Speaker 1: wait for it, your local drugstore's cold medicine aisle. Yes,
[2:31] Speaker 1: that little box of chemical magic you've been downing like
[2:34] Speaker 1: candy on cold nights and days might actually be a farce.
[2:38] Speaker 1: An FDA advisory panel announced that phenolphrine, a popular decongestant
[2:42] Speaker 1: found in about 260 oral cold and sinus medicines, doesn't
[2:47] Speaker 1: do anything. Yes, you heard that right. Your grandma's chicken
[2:51] Speaker 1: noodle soup likely has significantly more impact on your cold
[2:54] Speaker 1: than the so-called cold medicine. Apparently, this oral medication is
[2:57] Speaker 1: metabolized so quickly by our superhero guts and livers that
[3:01] Speaker 1: it doesn't get a chance to narrow your blood vessels
[3:04] Speaker 1: and relieve that stuffy nose. It's like an RSVP to
[3:07] Speaker 1: a party and then bailing before saying hello. But don't
[3:11] Speaker 1: toss your nasal sprays out just yet. Those apparently still work,
[3:14] Speaker 1: thank God. With a market value of roughly $ 5 billion,
[3:18] Speaker 1: this revelation could feather Big Pharma's golden goose. We're talking
[3:22] Speaker 1: about household names here, Sudafed, Tylenol, Cold and Flu, NyQuil.
[3:26] Speaker 1: If the FDA follows this panel's recommendation, these products could
[3:30] Speaker 1: vanish altogether. This could trigger a race among pharmaceutical companies
[3:34] Speaker 1: to develop a viable alternative, but we won't hold our breath.
[3:38] Speaker 1: You know what that means. Get ready for a slew
[3:40] Speaker 1: of new products with names you can't pronounce and side
[3:42] Speaker 1: effects that sound like a plot to a horror movie.
[3:44] Speaker 1: Several studies have shown that those taking phenolphrine fared no
[3:48] Speaker 1: better than those on a placebo. In other words, all
[3:51] Speaker 1: these years your cold was laughing in your face as
[3:54] Speaker 1: you swallowed that pill for false hope. But look on
[3:57] Speaker 1: the bright side. This means your mind has some power
[3:59] Speaker 1: over how you feel. Next time you get a stuffy nose,
[4:02] Speaker 1: just tell yourself to feel better. That'll work about the same.
[4:05] Speaker 1: Of course, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association would like us
[4:08] Speaker 1: to know that phenolphrine is both safe and effective. I mean,
[4:11] Speaker 1: safe for sure. It's as harmless as a sleeping baby,
[4:14] Speaker 1: but is it effective? Eh, definitions there may vary. FDA
[4:18] Speaker 1: officials could take months before a final decision is made.
[4:22] Speaker 1: In the meantime, there's no need to treat your medicine
[4:24] Speaker 1: cabinet like a crime scene, but you might not want
[4:26] Speaker 1: to waste too much of your money when buying these things.
[4:29] Speaker 1: This story is a humble reminder of the need for
[4:32] Speaker 1: truth and transparency in all sectors in a world that
[4:34] Speaker 1: often prioritizes profit over well-being. 1 John 1-7 reminds us
[4:39] Speaker 1: to walk in the light as Christ is in the light.
[4:41] Speaker 1: Why is it so important for us to walk honestly
[4:44] Speaker 1: in life? Because if we build an identity around lies,
[4:47] Speaker 1: things like this tend to happen. We get caught eventually
[4:50] Speaker 1: and people find it hard to trust anything we say.
[4:52] Speaker 1: When these pharmaceutical companies develop new products, How should we
[4:55] Speaker 1: believe what they say? Because they have a pattern of
[4:58] Speaker 1: being disingenuous and dishonest. The data can be skewed, apparently,
[5:02] Speaker 1: when research is happening or new products are being developed.
[5:06] Speaker 1: It's a boy-who-cried-wolf situation. In this post-pandemic world, it's brought
[5:10] Speaker 1: about a lot of skepticism in long-standing businesses and institutions
[5:14] Speaker 1: like these pharmaceutical companies. Companies, politicians, and even churches built
[5:18] Speaker 1: on lies will eventually lose people's trust if they continue
[5:22] Speaker 1: to do so. Let this story be a gentle reminder
[5:25] Speaker 1: to all of us that our witnesses will be tarnished
[5:28] Speaker 1: if we don't live honestly, consistently, and in the light.
[5:31] Speaker 1: Because when it's time for people to actually trust these
[5:33] Speaker 1: companies with a world-changing drug, perhaps, they want people to
[5:38] Speaker 1: trust them. So, with all this being said, let's pray. Lord,
[5:43] Speaker 1: we ask for wisdom and discernment as we navigate the
[5:45] Speaker 1: world where profit sometimes overshadows well-being. Guide those in positions
[5:50] Speaker 1: of influence to prioritize truth and transparency. and help us
[5:53] Speaker 1: all to walk in the light as you were in
[5:55] Speaker 1: the light. May this revelation lead to improvements that genuinely
[5:58] Speaker 1: help those in need. We love you, Lord, and we
[6:01] Speaker 1: pray for anyone that has a cough. In Jesus' name, amen.
[6:05] Speaker 1: In a distressing incident highlighting vulnerabilities in our interconnected digital age,
[6:10] Speaker 1: MGM Resorts has fallen victim to a devastating cyber attack.
[6:14] Speaker 1: The gaming and hospitality giant has to shut down operations
[6:17] Speaker 1: at a dozen iconic casino hotels in Las Vegas. including Bellagio,
[6:22] Speaker 1: Mandalay Bay, and the Cosmopolitan. A handful of other MGM
[6:25] Speaker 1: properties across the United States were similarly affected. Hotel guests
[6:29] Speaker 1: found themselves locked out of their rooms and rendered unable
[6:32] Speaker 1: to use MGM's mobile app or digital key cards to
[6:35] Speaker 1: charge their goods or services. As a stopgap measure, hotels
[6:39] Speaker 1: initiated manual transactions. This cyber onslaught has had a domino
[6:44] Speaker 1: effect in MGM's operations. The resort's website was swapped out
[6:48] Speaker 1: for a splash page, instructing guests to contact the company
[6:51] Speaker 1: directly if they needed anything. In a statement on X,
[6:55] Speaker 1: MGM acknowledged the breach and assured that they had engaged
[6:58] Speaker 1: leading cybersecurity experts for investigation and took immediate action to
[7:02] Speaker 1: protect their data infrastructure. While the cyber attack has disrupted
[7:07] Speaker 1: MGM's hotel reservation systems and left them offline for 24 hours,
[7:11] Speaker 1: casino floors managed to resume operations. According to most recent statistics,
[7:16] Speaker 1: MGM's hotel rooms and casinos generate about $ 8 million to
[7:19] Speaker 1: $ 15 million, ready for it, a day. And this attack
[7:22] Speaker 1: has undoubtedly dealt a significant financial blow to the company.
[7:27] Speaker 1: Though the hospitality sector has long been a lucrative target
[7:30] Speaker 1: for cybercriminals due to its reservoir of personal data, this
[7:34] Speaker 1: recent attack on MGM defers from typical cybercrimes. Most attacks
[7:38] Speaker 1: focus on data pilfering and usually come to light post-factum. However,
[7:43] Speaker 1: this breach has disrupted MGM's day-to-day operations for an extended period,
[7:48] Speaker 1: marking it as an unusual but highly effective cyber offensive.
[7:52] Speaker 1: This is not the first time MGM cybersecurity infrastructure has
[7:56] Speaker 1: come under scrutiny. A data breach in 2019 saw hackers
[7:59] Speaker 1: gaining unauthorized access to MGM's cloud server, resulting in stolen
[8:04] Speaker 1: guest information. This pattern of breaches indicates systematic vulnerabilities that
[8:08] Speaker 1: go beyond isolated incidents. Further investigations reveal that the ransomware
[8:13] Speaker 1: attack began through a seemingly innocent phone call. Employing social
[8:16] Speaker 1: engineering tactics, the attackers targeted the MGM employee identified on LinkedIn.
[8:21] Speaker 1: This raises serious concerns about employee training and awareness regarding
[8:25] Speaker 1: cybersecurity best practices, especially given that the group suspected to
[8:29] Speaker 1: be behind this attack, ALPHV, also known as Black Cat,
[8:33] Speaker 1: has a history of social engineering tactics. What this brings
[8:37] Speaker 1: to the forefront is the fragility of our cybersecurity systems.
[8:41] Speaker 1: It beckons us to question if a mere 10-minute phone
[8:43] Speaker 1: call can topple a company with resources and financial might
[8:46] Speaker 1: like MGM. What does that say about the cybersecurity across industries,
[8:51] Speaker 1: small businesses even? As we ponder the scope and gravity
[8:55] Speaker 1: of the cyber attack, it's important to apply our Christian
[8:57] Speaker 1: principles to a world increasingly defined by technology. The Bible
[9:01] Speaker 1: teaches us to be vigilant, to be alert and sober-minded.
[9:04] Speaker 1: In today's digitized world, our vigilant must extend to the
[9:08] Speaker 1: technology we use daily as well. In times of crisis,
[9:11] Speaker 1: we are reminded that while man-made systems can fail though,
[9:14] Speaker 1: God's love and protection remains steadfast. As businesses like MGM
[9:18] Speaker 1: work to secure their digital fortresses, let us also remember
[9:22] Speaker 1: to secure our spiritual ones, placing our trust in the
[9:24] Speaker 1: eternal and unbreakable security that only God can provide. And so,
[9:29] Speaker 1: with all this being said, let's lift this story up
[9:31] Speaker 1: in prayer. Heavenly Father, we pray for all those affected
[9:34] Speaker 1: by this cyber attack. and for the wisdom and discernment
[9:37] Speaker 1: for teams working to restore security and normalcy. May this
[9:40] Speaker 1: incident serve as a wake-up call for all of us
[9:42] Speaker 1: to be vigilant in guarding not just our digital lives,
[9:45] Speaker 1: but also our hearts and our spirits. We're vulnerable, Lord,
[9:48] Speaker 1: and we need you to protect us. We love you, Lord,
[9:51] Speaker 1: and it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Our last
[9:54] Speaker 1: story of today is for NFL fans and lawn enthusiasts.
[9:57] Speaker 1: As the confetti settles after one week of the 2020
[10:00] Speaker 1: NFL season, a less celebratory topic has resurfaced. The controversy
[10:04] Speaker 1: isn't over an intercepted throw or a blown call from
[10:07] Speaker 1: the referee. It's about what's beneath the players' feet. The
[10:10] Speaker 1: NFL Players Association is urging the league to replace artificial
[10:14] Speaker 1: turf fields with natural grass, reigniting a debate that has
[10:18] Speaker 1: long been the Achilles heel of the sport. We say
[10:21] Speaker 1: Achilles heel, tongue in cheek. It's a fitting term, especially
[10:23] Speaker 1: since star quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon in
[10:26] Speaker 1: his debut game for the New York Jets, which was
[10:30] Speaker 1: long anticipated for the entire summer for NFL fans everywhere,
[10:33] Speaker 1: and especially Jets fans. The NFLPA, headed by President J.C.
[10:37] Speaker 1: Tretter and his new executive director Lloyd Howell, has been
[10:41] Speaker 1: vocal about the higher injury rates on synthetic surfaces like turf.
[10:45] Speaker 1: According to their data, players have been hurt more on
[10:48] Speaker 1: artificial turf in 10 of the last 11 seasons. The
[10:52] Speaker 1: injury rate on synthetic turf was 37% higher last year,
[10:56] Speaker 1: making it clear why players prefer a more natural field
[10:59] Speaker 1: with real grass. However, the league argues that the issue
[11:03] Speaker 1: isn't so black and white. Jeff Miller, NFL executive VP,
[11:07] Speaker 1: reminds us that injury rates can vary across both synthetic
[11:10] Speaker 1: and natural surfaces. But tell that to the players like
[11:12] Speaker 1: Rodgers or Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins, who lost their
[11:16] Speaker 1: seasons due to severe injuries on their first game, in Rodgers' case,
[11:20] Speaker 1: on his first NFL drive. Switching to natural grass is
[11:24] Speaker 1: far from a grassroots campaign. It would cost approximately $ 850, 000
[11:28] Speaker 1: for each of the NFL's 15 turf fields. When compared
[11:32] Speaker 1: to the NFL's $ 12 billion revenue, though, Howell argues that
[11:36] Speaker 1: it's the easiest solution that the NFL can make. Some
[11:40] Speaker 1: stadiums have already made tech-savvy moves, like the Arizona Cardinals
[11:43] Speaker 1: and Las Vegas Raiders, with their retractable grass fields. While
[11:47] Speaker 1: the NFL sees a profitable future in hosting concerts and
[11:50] Speaker 1: other events on their durable synthetic surfaces, players in the
[11:53] Speaker 1: union argue that health should come first. In fact, the
[11:58] Speaker 1: FIFA standard is that it has to be natural grass,
[12:00] Speaker 1: and this is specifically to prevent injuries. To quote the union,
[12:04] Speaker 1: if FIFA is the standard, why aren't we? As stewards
[12:08] Speaker 1: of their God-given talents, players understandably want to protect their bodies.
[12:12] Speaker 1: Scripture reminds us that the body is a temple of
[12:14] Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit, and in their case, their body is
[12:17] Speaker 1: how they make a living. But for league owners, it
[12:20] Speaker 1: becomes a moral dilemma of doing what's best for business
[12:22] Speaker 1: or prioritizing the well-being of their players. As we move forward,
[12:26] Speaker 1: perhaps both sides can find some common ground, much like
[12:29] Speaker 1: a hybrid playing field, balancing both safety and utility. After all,
[12:33] Speaker 1: the Bible teaches us that wisdom is found in a
[12:35] Speaker 1: multitude of counselors. So hopefully there's some compromise that can
[12:38] Speaker 1: be made. In the grand arena of life, this turf
[12:41] Speaker 1: war might seem like a minor skirmish, yet it's a
[12:43] Speaker 1: reminder that the decisions we make, no matter how small
[12:46] Speaker 1: they seem, have a ripple effect. Whether it's about a
[12:49] Speaker 1: football field or the field of life, let's make sure
[12:51] Speaker 1: that our priorities are in line with what really matters.
[12:54] Speaker 1: Understanding that the most minuscule decisions we make selfishly for
[12:58] Speaker 1: ourselves could have a ripple effect that causes harm to
[13:01] Speaker 1: the people around us in our sphere of influence. We
[13:04] Speaker 1: ought to be mindful treading lightly in every decision we make,
[13:07] Speaker 1: knowing that we live in a community where people need
[13:10] Speaker 1: us and we need them. With all that being said,
[13:13] Speaker 1: let's close our time together in prayer. Lord, we lift
[13:17] Speaker 1: up the NFL players, coaches, and executives as they navigate
[13:19] Speaker 1: this complex issue of player safety and artificial turf. We
[13:22] Speaker 1: ask for wisdom and understanding for both sides, that they
[13:25] Speaker 1: may come to a solution that values the well-being of
[13:27] Speaker 1: the athletes. May this be a reminder to all of us, though,
[13:30] Speaker 1: that the decisions we make have far-reaching consequences and Give
[13:33] Speaker 1: us wisdom and discernment that can only come from your spirit.
[13:37] Speaker 1: Urge us through your spirit and convict us to prioritize
[13:40] Speaker 1: what truly matters in our lives, understanding that we have
[13:43] Speaker 1: people around us that are in need and need us
[13:46] Speaker 1: to lift them up. We love you, Lord, and it's
[13:48] Speaker 1: in Jesus' name we pray and trust. Amen. Thank you
[13:53] Speaker 1: for joining us today on Pray News. It is our
[13:55] Speaker 1: aim to be informed and transformed. We pray today you
[13:58] Speaker 1: would proceed with hope, love, and determination to be a
[14:00] Speaker 1: force for good. If you've enjoyed this take on the news,
[14:03] Speaker 1: Write us a review and share your experience. We would
[14:05] Speaker 1: love to hear from you. You can sign up for
[14:07] Speaker 1: our newsletter at PrayNews.com. There, you will find sources to
[14:10] Speaker 1: all of our reporting. And be sure to download the
[14:12] Speaker 1: Pray.com app to make prayer a priority in your life
[14:14] Speaker 1: and experience the Bible in new and exciting ways. God bless.

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