Ship’s Captain To Be Put Under House Arrest

*** begin quote ***

“Now you go to the bow, you climb up the emergency ladder and co-ordinate the evacuation,” the official reportedly tells him. ”You must tell us how many people, children, women and passengers are there and the exact number of each category.”

*** end quote ***

[JR:  Is anyone struck by the contrast between Captain Coward and Captain Sully? I wasn't in either situation. (I guess I'd be more like C and less like S.) But, I'm just struck by the comparison. I hope I'm more like S. I'm sure my fellow alums are S's in the garb of commoners. Just waiting for the right situation, to emerge in their Super Hero costume. ]

# – # – # – # – #

Obama vs. Catholics
So when to the TV networks notice that Team Obama has an ideological agenda against faith-based charitable organizations, most especially the Catholic Church? Across the country, Democrats have been pushing Catholic social workers out of government cooperation.
By: L. Brent Bozell
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 9:07 PM EST

*** begin quote ***

Take the order promulgated by Obama’s Department of Health and Human Services on Friday to require virtually all employers to offer insurance coverage of sterilization, abortifacients, and contraceptives without deductibles or co-pays in their employee plans by August 1. Churches are exempt, but not religiously inspired hospitals, schools, and other charities that hire outside their faith tradition.

“The government should not force Americans to act as if pregnancy is a disease to be prevented at all costs,” insisted Archbishop (and Cardinal-designate) Timothy Dolan of New York, head of the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops. “Historically this represents a challenge and a compromise of our religious liberty.”

That’s putting it mildly. What it means is that the Catholic Church is faced with closing down its hospitals, universities, and charities – or committing mortal sin.

*** end quote ***

I know readers here think I’m a real tin foil hat. The Gooferment at war with the Catholic Church, Christianity, and organized religion? Impossible! Couldn’t happen here.

Remember Waco?

So when are we going to stand up for our First Amendment rights?

You only have the rights that you are willing to fight for.

I’ll go one step further. We should be pushing back with an Human Life Amendment. How about “With respect to the right to life, the word ‘person,’ as used in this article and in the fifth and fourteenth articles of amendment to the Constitution of the United States, applies to all human beings, including their unborn offspring at every stage of their biological development, irrespective of age, health, function, or condition of dependency.”

Now as a little L libertarian, I don’t want to put the Gooferment in charge of woman’s body, or insert anything between a woman and her doctor. By the same token, we are killing ourselves as a species. There has to be a middle ground.

Let’s go on the offensive?

When ”Secular Progressive” say that “the rich aren’t paying their fare share”, and Bill O’Reilly pushes back with “What’s Fair?” and waits for a number. They wriggle like speared fish. Andrew Neapolitano does it even better: “Who gets to decide what’s fair?”

We need to push back. It’s not about abortion. It’s about when does life begin? When do those inalienable rights inure to “a person”? “Among these are the Right to Life, Liberty, and Property.”

So when is it?

Certainly, we can all agree that it’s some point between conception and the child’s 21st birthday.

So when is it?

Let’s stand up for OUR rights.

If they can kill babies, American citizens without due process, or anyone who’s unlucky enough to to be in the way of drone strike, then it won’t be long before they will be killing us fat old white guy injineers because it’s too expensive to care for us.

So when is it?

“…if you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.” -Churchill, The Second World War, vol. 1, The Gathering Storm (London: Cassell, 1948, 272, on the British guarantee to Poland in Spring 1939.

# – # – # – # – #

Irish woman trapped in a 12-year-old girl’s body, pleads for medical help
25-year-old Kate Quinn suffers from rare Caudal Regression Syndrome
By CATHAL DERVAN, IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Saturday, January 7, 2012, 7:45 AM
Updated Saturday, January 7, 2012, 7:45 AM

*** begin quote ***

A brave Kilkenny woman has gone public to reveal her torment at being trapped in a 12-year-old’s body – at the age of 25.

Kate Quinn from the village of Mooncoin suffers from a rare medical condition called Caudal Regression Syndrome (CRS) which results in an abnormal development of the lower spine.

*** end quote ***

There stories should be read to children. Those tweens and teens who can’t possibly value the gift that they’ve been given. Good health!

I read this story, and I admit my bias since Frau Reinke died of an unidentified blood disorder, and felt tremendous empathy for this young woman.

The lesson I hope that I take away is that life is complex. The old man in the funny white hat, as his predecessors have done, campaigns for human dignity and the sanctity of life itself.  In my blunt fat old white guy injineer’s way, I’d phrase it differently: “Don’t mess with what you don’t, maybe can’t, understand. Add that to the fact that the USA has aborted enough babies to populate a large city. And, you have a feel for the depth of the problem.

Here we have human afflictions that beg us “study me” and “we” have a lot of time, talent, resources, and attention focused on a species-wide extermination project. Wether it’s aborting girls in India, subsequent children in China, or the inconvenient here in the USA, it’s just nuts.

For my part, I just marvel at the Universe’s, God’s Plan, or Evolution’s miracle.

Hopefully, my fellow alums will see this as motivating them to do their part in this adventure.

Dona Nobis Pacem

p.s., I am sending this to my “old” friend who insists that CRS stands for “can’t remember <synonym for excrement>”. Obviously, he better be careful when he checks into the hospital and puts that on his form.

# – # – # – # – #

EXCLUSIVE PHOTO: Nancy Pelosi: Livin’ La Vida 1%
by Mike Flynn

*** begin quote ***

I believe Leader Pelosi on this. I think she really has dedicated her life to the 99% and 1%. Its just that her focus has been on using advocacy for the 99% to get into the 1%. And it seems to be working. In 2010, her last year as Speaker, her net worth exploded by 62%:

Pelosi’s drastic growth, from an initial $21.7 million in 2009, is attributed to recent stock gains and smart investments. Her husband reported raking in $1 million to $5 million last year from a sale of Apple stocks.

Funny how so many of these politicians make so many “smart investments.”

*** end quote ***

Now, as a little L libertarian, I am all for EVERYONE working hard, doing good, and making millions. I’m for the freedom and liberty that “millions” can be denominated in whatever the individual deems important: Federal Reserve Note’s certificates of appreciation; units of recognition — Q rating like Donal Trump, the adulation of fame like Taylor Swift’s adoring teens tweens and fat old white guy injineers, or the teacher receiving the hugs of grateful students. Whatever floats your boat.

The politicians and bureaucrats, as well as all those who extract wealth corruptly from the process of Gooferment, seem to take advantage of their position.  Add that in to the Regulatory Capture of Wall Street. And, the Crony Capitalism and Corporate Welfare and you have the reason that those “smart investments” always seem to pay off.

Then, for the Speaker to “vacation” at a 10k$/day hotel while “supporting” “Occupy Wall Street” just puts a knot in my tummy. It’s OK for you to defraud us. Just don’t rub our noses in it.

# – # – # – # – #

Health Teen Succumbs to Cancer After Stopping Treatment to Deliver Healthy Baby Boy
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 7:36pm by Liz Klimas

*** begin quote ***

POCATELLO, Idaho (TheBlaze/AP) — This is not the storyline you may expect in the case of teen pregnancy. Jenni Lake gave birth to a baby boy the month before her 18th birthday, though she was not destined to become just another teenage mother.

While being admitted to the hospital, she pulled her nurse down to her at bed level and whispered into her ear. The nurse would later repeat the girl’s words to comfort her family, as their worst fears were realized a day after Jenni’s baby was born.

“She told the nurse, ‘I’m done, I did what I was supposed to. My baby is going to get here safe,’” said Diana Phillips, Jenni’s mother.

*** end quote ***

[JR: You have to just marvel at humans. Facing her own mortality, she chose to give her child the chance for life. Now, I don't know what's right and wrong. I'm sure my fellow alums would know better than I. Pre-marital sex, bad. Killer cancer, bad. Motherless child, bad. imho Life, good. I'm not a great ethicist, just a fat old white guy injineer who will say a prayer tonight for Mother and Child. And, all who have taken that final journey. I think, in the end, the girl / woman did her best in a tough situation. Hope I never find myself in such. I need little challenges; commensurate with my limited abilities. I'll leave the heroic choices, challenges, and labors to the real heros. My fellow alums.]

# – # – # – # – #

100 year old letter to Santa Claus found in Dublin home
Placed in chimney a century ago it comes to light
By CATHAL DERVAN, IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Wednesday, December 21, 2011, 7:23 AM
Updated Wednesday, December 21, 2011, 9:50 AM

*** begin quote ***

A 100-year-old Santa letter written by a Dublin brother and sister has come to light – and offers a fascinating glimpse into the Christmas spirit of old.

The Irish Times newspaper has published the letter, written by the Howard family siblings to Father Christmas in 1911, and found in a Terenure house.

Builder John Byrne came across the handwritten note on a shelf behind a fireplace and the paper reports that it has been slightly scorched over the years.

*** end quote ***

This is a good example to end the Old Year or start the New Year with.

How little what we do or think will make any difference in the long run? Be it a child’s letter or strident political speech, it’s gone in flash when you take the long view. The great principles of life — do unto others, that which you do for the least, never say ill, if you don’t have something positive to say, first do no harm, mote in thine own eye, and my personal favorite MYOB.

A lot comes to mind with this little letter. Maybe those children wrote it for me?

In any event, HNY to all my fellow alums.

And, let me share one principle that was drive home to me this year: Hug all your loved ones because “you know not the day; nor, the hour”.

# – # – # – # – #   

Hospital Kills “Wrong” Twin in Abortion, Both Babies Now Dead
by Steven Ertelt | Melbourne, Australia | LifeNews.com | 11/23/11 6:28 PM

*** begin quote ***

A hospital in Australia making news for having killed the “wrong” twin in an abortion of a healthy unborn child when the mother of the babies wanted an abortion on her child who doctors said had little chance to live. Now, both babies are dead.

The Herald Sun newspaper reports that the unnamed woman from Victoria had already named her unborn children when doctors told her one of the unborn babies had a congenital heart defect that would requires years of operations, assuming the baby survived long enough to have them. The mother decided to have an abortion, terminating the life of one of her unborn children and allowing the other baby to live.

*** end quote ***

[JR: This is a tragedy in thinking. The meme is all wrong. By trying "to play God", everyone involved is responsible for this disaster in miniature. And, while the best "medical minds" may have presumed that the "sick" twin would have all these troubles, how can they be sure? And, that ignores the possibilities of medical progress in knowledge, new technology, someone with better skills, someone with a novel approach, new drugs, or even just an old-fashioned miracle. And, so what if the "sick" twin has a shortened lifespan, even if it's just a day. Are we judged by how we treat everyone on this life boat called "Earth". To the best of our ability! Makes the moral choices much easier. And, "accidents" like this aren't as likely. Seems an appropriate rant for Christmas Eve. Dona Nobis Pacem!]

# # # # #

Man Accuses Ex-Girlfriend of Stealing Sperm, Making Twins

by Steven Ertelt | Houston, TX | LifeNews.com | 11/25/11 6:01 PM

*** begin quote ***

A new and unusual criminal case out of Houston, Texas highlights some of the problems with the fertility industry shown in a new video that is getting attention within pro-life circles.

In this case, a Texas man is upset his former girlfriend stole his sperm and used it to produce two twins via in-vitro fertilization without his permission. The man says he had no idea what happened until he received a receipt from the fertility clinic addressed to him.

*** and ***

From the story:

“Actually, I couldn’t believe it could be done. I was very, very devastated. I couldn’t believe that this fertility clinic could actually do this without my consent, or without my even being there,” Pressil said, adding artificial insemination is against his religious beliefs.

Pressil’s ex-girlfriend sued for and was granted child support after blood tests confirmed he is the father.

“That’s a violation of myself, to what I believe in, to my religion, and just to my manhood,” Pressil said.

“It’s not what you’re thinking when you’re in a relationship,” said Jason Gibson, Pressil’s attorney. “That’s not what most people are thinking, that their partner is going to get a special condom, use that condom as soon as you’re done having sex, run off to the fertility clinic to go have an IVF procedure. That’s certainly not what my client was thinking,” Gibson said.

*** end quote ***

[JR: Excuse me? “his religious beliefs” Now that’s a real thigh slapper. I’ll have to call on Key West Lou, my friend John D, Tax Defender, Richie F, and all the other Jasper lawyers to opine on this one. I imagine, that under cross examination of the complainant, the defense attorney might inquire as to the depth of those beliefs. Given that it was his obviously religious fervor that led to filing charges. Hmmm, having pre-marital sex with one’s GIRL FRIEND is OK religion-wise. How about that condom stuff? ROFL! I’d order, as they say on Law ‘n’ Order, 731 psych evals all around. Why would the woman want to have children with this “catch”? And, ewww, running around with a “special condom”. Used! Yuck!!! I’d expect this on Comedy Central. And, hey Esquire, (the guy’s lawyer) , we know exactly what your Client was thinking … … with his “little brain”. Guess the guy should have went to MC Biology class: “If you don’t dip your pen, you never have support problems.” Argh! To me, this is symptomatic of what’s wrong with “us” and a waste of the court time, better spent on corrupt politicians. About the only thing that would make this story funnier, would be if he was a politician. Please, make my day! I feel true sorrow for the twins in this case. One can only hope that they can over come a rough start. Certainly will make for interesting “family time” at the holidays.]

# – # – # – # – #

CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL REFUSES TO ALLOW STUDENT-LED CONSERVATIVE CLUB ON CAMPUS
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 3:02pm by Billy Hallowell

*** begin quote ***

La Reina High School, an all-girls Catholic educational facility located in Thousand Oaks, California, has endured some heat after refusing to allow a student to launch a conservative club on campus.

In a story that has gone widely unreported, a battle has been brewing between the school’s administrators and Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), an arm of Young Americans Foundation, a prominent organization that helps spread conservative ideals.

The drama commenced at the end of the last school year when Isabelle Foxen, who is now a junior at La Reina, decided that she wanted to launch a YAF chapter at the school. In an exclusive interview with the Blaze, Isabella’s mother, Cristine Foxen, explained that there was already a political interest group on the school’s campus, but she described it as a “very one-sided“ and ”liberal” group.

*** and ***

Unfortunately, the Blaze was not able to verify the current status of these clubs or get a response to the quotes recalled by the mother, as accessing individuals at both the Los Angeles Archdiocese and La Reina has been difficult at best. In a brief conversation with Dr. Gomez, we were told that someone would respond to us. After we placed a number of follow-up calls, the Blaze was forwarded to the archdiocese (they, too, ignored our attempts for comment).

*** end quote ***

Normally, I’d have did a “ho hum” and rolled right along.

I thought the name was odd for a “Catholic” high school. My rusty Manhattan Prep Spanish was enough to know that “La Reina” is spanish for “Queen”.

I looked at the website and saw pictures of all Caucasian girl students.

That’s odd.

Poking around on the website, http://www.lareina.com/about/index.asp, I found the mission statement: “La Reina High School is a Catholic college preparatory school for young women in the tradition, vision, and educational principles of the Sisters of Notre Dame. La Reina provides a nurturing, Catholic environment of educational excellence, focused on helping young women develop into moral and self-confident leaders, who work for the transformation of individuals and society. Students are given opportunities to foster their relationship with God, to grow intellectually, to develop their individual gifts, and to be catalysts for the promotion of justice locally, nationally and globally.”

I found the story and the statement inconsistent. If a reporter asks a question, it’s polite to answer it.

Then, at the last line of the statement, which I had to read twice to pick up on, “promotion of justice locally, nationally, and globally” jumped off the screen at me.

Our old “friend” “Social Justice”!

So this is Socialism wrapped up in the label “Catholic”. And, immediately, the whole story makes sense.

This is the “Secular Progressive” version of “Catholic”. It’s all designed to transfer power from the individual, made in the Image and Likeness, to the Government who replaced God in our lives.

So now I “see”!

It’s just another strategy in crippling a competitor to the Government as the Queen Bee of the human hive.

Where’s Zorro when you need him?

# # # # #

A ‘reality-based’ approach to children’s stake in marriage dispute
By Benjamin Mann

*** begin quote ***

San Francisco, Calif., Oct 9, 2011 / 06:02 pm (CNA).- As California’s largest gay activist group Equality California launches its new “Breakthrough Conversation Project” to change public opinion on marriage, Catholics for the Common Good wants to talk about what society’s basic institution really is – and who loses out if it is redefined.

“We are taking an entirely fresh approach to communicating the reality of marriage in secular society,” said William B. May, founder and chairman of the San Francisco-based group that promotes Catholic social teaching on society’s common interest. “Marriage is the reality that unites a man and a woman with each other and any children born from their union.”

“We call it a ‘reality-based’ approach – reality, as an antidote to relativism,” May told CNA on Oct. 6. “We’re looking at the reality of marriage from the perspective of the child.”

*** and ***

“Underlying the proposal to redefine marriage, is an assumption that marriage is merely the committed relationship between two loving people,” he said. “And a lot of us think of marriage in terms of the adult perspective, and the benefit for adults.”

“That’s a private interest – and that’s not what marriage really is.”

“Marriage is more than that. It’s a communion of persons. And when we look at it from the perspective of the child, it’s the heart’s desire of every person – without exception – to be united with, and to know, the man and woman that they came from. That’s part of who we are.”

“What’s happening now, with the redefinition of marriage in the minds of people, is that more and more children are becoming deprived of that experience – which is a human right – to be born into, and raised in, a family with a mother and a father united in marriage.”

Society and culture, May explained, have perennially defined marriage in this manner for the sake of binding men and women to fulfill this duty to their children.

Thus, any redefinition weakens the unique cultural and legal standing of the only institution that secures the integral bond between children and parents.

“The harm is this,” he said. “By redefining marriage as merely the public recognition of a relationship between adults, we essentially ban the promotion of marriage as the only institution that unites a man and a woman with each other and any children born from their union.”

“It creates a conflict with the human rights of the child, to know and be cared for by their mother and father in the union of a marriage.”

*** end quote ***

I continue to assert that the Gooferment should have no role in “marriage”, its definition, or anything related to it.

Not everything requires the Gooferment’s “involvement”.

Some things are Constitutionally reserved to “The People” and to the individual States. (You must remember them. Before everything became a “federal case”.)

This author’s attempt to fight the battle on children’s rights fails to note that it’s possible to be “married” and not have any children.

I’d prefer to fight the battle on the “MYOB” basis.

“Marriage” is only the Gooferment’s business because of racism and the tax code. Further, redefining marriage is a contra-survival act of a nation on the decline. (Remember Rome’s excesses?) Along

# – # – #

[JR: In addition to a Google Reader problem, the ENDNOTE was truncated. Argh! ]

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Dec-03 @ 23:27

Truth & Charity
by Thomas E. Woods Jr.
August 07, 2009

*** begin quote ***

The system we have now involves a government-privileged central bank with a monopoly on the creation of legal-tender money, charged with watching over a cartel of ostensibly private but also state-privileged commercial banks. Its debasement of money makes it very difficult for people to save for the future without having to become speculators of one kind or another. A hard-money system, on the other hand, permitted the average person to save for the future simply by accumulating precious-metal coins, which, back in the days when they served as money, held or increased their value over time. Who today would save for the future by piling up Federal Reserve Notes? Society’s most vulnerable now must enter the stock market or take other kinds of risks just to hold on to their wealth. Is this not a moral issue?

*** end quote ***

Papal infallibility, I was taught at the Prep and MC, was limited to “matters of faith and morals”.

Here we have the Vatican, as it often does, speak on economics.

Normally, I’d snooze thru these. But, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve seen HOW the manipulation of money screws the little people.

The problem of “poverty”, like we see in Africa, is the corrupt governments. And, the “system” of foreign aid turns the poor into chattel slaves.

And, it just keeps getting worse and worse.

# # # # #

WND RADIO COMMENTARY
Savage: Liberals now support death penalty?
Talk host asks why left, media celebrating execution of Gadhafi
Posted: October 21, 2011 1:40 pm Eastern
© 2011 WND

*** begin quote ***

Why are anti-death-penalty liberals, of all people, supporting the execution of a head of state?

That’s the question asked by Michael Savage at the opening of his top-rated talk-radio show yesterday following the killing of former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

*** and ***

“Why are, all of a sudden, war-mongers and death-penalty advocates so full of themselves?” he asked. “When Obama invades a country, it’s OK. When Obama executes someone, it’s OK; but when Bush did the same thing, it was a violation of human rights.”

It seems, Savage said, that “some dictators more equal than others.”

“Gadhafi is bad, but Assad in Syria is good? Ahmadinejad is good?” he asked.

“While the Hitler of Iran is invited to dinner at Columbia,” Savage observed, referring to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, “Gadhafi gets a bullet to the head. Why?”

*** end quote ***

As a little L libertarian and fat old white guy injineer, it seems that abortion, the death penalty, and the “Just War” are all tied together.

While everyone celebrated OBL’s death, I wondered how this was Constitutional, moral, and effective.

Then “we” “nuked” that American citizen, AAA (i.e., Anwar Al-Awlaki), I wondered how this was Constitutional and moral.

Now, “we” “nuke” Muammar Gaddafi. Yeah maybe we did not directly pull the trigger. But we certainly put him in the cross hairs.

(One has to question BHO44′s foreign policy. Where is the balance against Iran? Israel is in the cross hairs. Radical Islam is empowered. Was BHO44 an Islamic “Manchurian Candidate” all along?)

We’re putting “droning” Yemen and putting troops into Uganda.

Sorry, but we are along way from the Constitution, the “Just War”, and — by the way — morality.

MYOB should be our “foreign policy”.

And, how about we bring our troops home from Korea, Germany, and the other hundred or so countries were in.

2012 should be an interesting election for “pro-life-ers”. How pro-life are they?

# – # – # – # – #

What the Joe Paterno Scandal and the Penn State Riots Say About America
by Wayne Allyn Root

*** begin quote ***

How could this happen in my America? Is everyone truly mad? Is winning football games more important than a 10-year old boy’s safety? How about dozens of innocent little boys? Is protecting a respected institution more important than stopping a child rapist? Why would educated responsible administrators with 6-figure and 7-figure salaries make the same decision to cover-up a heinous crime as priests and bishops and cardinals for the Catholic Church?

*** end quote ***

I can’t imagine any of the thinking that allowed this to go on. “Papa Joe”? Mike McQueary? Any of the executives of Penn State? Anybody?

I can’t understand Penn State any more than I can understand the Catholic Church.

I can’t understand the Parents and Guardians of these abused children.

I can understand that “We, The Sheeple” are tolerant of celebrities, star athletes, and “winning” coaches.

I’m speechless, but I’d love to be on that jury.

I’m ashamed of Penn State and the Catholic Church.

# # # # #

News
Pennsylvania bishops: school choice a ‘defining social justice issue’
October 13, 2011

*** begin quote ***

Following a statement in which the bishops of Pennsylvania called school choice “a defining social justice issue of our society,” the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference has lent its support to Governor Tom Corbett’s plan to introduce school vouchers and expand the state Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC).

*** end quote ***

“Social Justice” equals “socialism”, if not worse.

BUT, (and there is always a BIG butt), sounds like they are finally fighting for Catholic schools. Perhaps too late.

From Day One, the Gooferment’s role in “education” should have been vigorously opposed as First Amendment issue.

Gooferment should not be allowed to dumb down and propagandize future voters.

I just shake my head at how the battle was lost befor ethe first shots were fired.

Argh!

# # # # #

The Art of Mindful Drinking
What’s the right role for alcohol in your life? Experts offer suggestions for creating a healthier, more conscious relationship to drinking.
By Caren Osten Gerszberg / November 2011

*** begin quote ***

When I was growing up, my French-born mother sipped wine freely and daily. I can picture her in the kitchen, stirring a bubbly cassoulet in a dark blue enamel pot, preparing a plate of cheeses, churning the pepper mill — with a glass in hand or waiting close by. A habitual part of her cooking process, wine was also served at every evening meal. Long, narrow, green-tinted bottles with strangely spelled words were as much of a staple in our fridge as a container of milk.

*** end quote ***

[JR: I’m not the poster boy for anything; let alone alcohol. In my magnus opus “CHURCH 10●19●62”, I wished for sobriety.]

*** begin quote ***

Third, she’d agonize on but demand a promise of future honesty. Second, was where she’d spend a lot of time? Drinking like her Uncle vin would be a sticking point. The decision would hinge there.

…

“That being said, I will accept your apology and forgive. But there are three conditions. (1) Your Irish enough. I want the Pioneer Pledge. You can never take another drink.”

*** end quote ***

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_Total_Abstinence_Association

*** begin quote ***

Pioneer Total Abstinence Association

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart (or PTAA) is an Irish organisation for Roman Catholic teetotallers. Its members are commonly called Pioneers. While the PTAA does not advocate prohibition, it does require complete abstinence from alcoholic drink from its members. It also encourages devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as an aid to resisting the temptation of alcohol. Pioneers wear a lapel pin called a Pioneer pin with an image of the Sacred Heart, both to advertise the organisation and to alert others not to offer them alcohol. The association publishes a monthly magazine, The Pioneer.

*** end quote ***

http://www.pioneerassociation.ie/

*** begin quote ***

Our mission is to address the problems in society caused by excess alcohol consumption and drug usage. We do this through:
* Faith and prayer
* Self denial
* Example
* Activities based on presenting alternatives to individuals, particularly the young
* Advocacy

Our vision – based on the love in the Heart of Christ, as expressed in The Gospels – is to help to build a society where people live to their full potential and alcohol can be enjoyed in moderation avoiding the ills that arise in society from excess in its use.

*** end quote ***

[JR: Probably wouldn’t have hurt to hear these ideas back in grammar school. Wonder if this is … … ]

# # # # #

Vatican daily remembers Steve Jobs as ‘visionary’ of technology and art

*** begin quote ***

Rome, Italy, Oct 6, 2011 / 04:19 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Vatican daily L’Osservatore Romano remembered Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, as a “visionary who united technology and art.”

The newspaper underscored that Jobs, who died at age 56 on Oct. 5 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, “was one of the leaders and symbols of the Silicon Valley revolution.”

This revolution was also one of “habits, mentalities and culture. A revolution that was an offshoot, but not an heir, of the lax ‘70s”

Jobs “was a visionary who united technology and art. True, he wasn’t a technician or an entrepreneur. He was not a designer or a mathematician. Neither was he the typical nerd or showman. Was he a pirate or a pioneer? History will be the judge. In the meantime, his genius creations remain with us,” L’Osservatore Romano said.

From “unwanted pregnancy” to genius

Steve Jobs was born on Feb. 24, 1955. He was given up for adoption by his mother Joanne Simpson because of her father’s opposition to her relationship with Jobs’ Syrian father, Abdulfattah John Jandali.

Joanne and Abdulfattah eventually married after the death of her father. They had a daughter and tried to get their son back but it was legally impossible.

*** end quote ***

And, the rest was history.

Now factor in the Culture of Death, where unwanted children are “prevented”, or even more horrific, murdered.

Where have all the other “Steve Jobs” gone?

What miracles have “we” deprived ourselves of by stupidity?

Think of every human, who was ever unwanted or “defective”, yet made their contribution.

I just shake my head and wonder what could have been?

# # # # #

Flash Editorials September 24, 2011

By Russell D. Longcore

*** begin quote ***

Religion: Politics meet religion in Ohio – The Ohio legislature recently passed the so-called “Heatbeat Bill,” named because it outlaws abortion at the first detectable heartbeat of a human fetus. Now the bill must be passed by the Ohio Senate before it can be signed into law. It will be the most restrictive abortion law in the nation if passed. Remember folks…this is not about reproductive rights. You have all the reproductive rights you deserve…right up to the instant you get pregnant. Then your rights properly morph into responsibility…which is what REAL rights always do anyway. This is about whether or not it’s OK to kill another human being because its existence is inconvenient. Natural law bestows the right to life and NONE of us get here without some help. Good luck, Ohio. Godspeed. About 50 million lives have been snuffed out since Roe v. Wade in 1973. The oldest of them would be nearly 40 years old now…paying into Social Security and Medicare. OOOPS. Unintended consequences suck, don’t they?

*** end quote ***

[JR: Interesting the implications of social policy? One shouldn’t mess with what one really doesn’t understand. Seems so obvious to me. Guess that’s what MC did for me — made me realize how dumb I really was.]

# # # # #

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qt_JCnRdCQ&feature=player_embedded

Manhattan Diary
by Cahir O’Doherty

Posted on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 10:53 AM
Pat Robertson: if your wife has Alzheimer’s, divorce her

*** begin quote ***

I’ve come to anticipate high handed judgements from American evangelical leaders, but even I was surprised by the sheer thoughtlessness of Pat Robertson’s directive to the husband of an Alzheimer’s patient this week.

*** end quote ***

Wow, this is hard to stomach. Maybe I’m overly sensitive to the topic. I’d give anything to have any part of my spouse back. Weren’t we taught that bad things do happen to good people and we have to “accept” our burdens with love. In my novel, I wrote some dialog that I still believe.

“My love, were it in my power, I would sadly grant thee this boon. But, we have to continue to follow His Plan for us. Let’s go forth and speak no more of this. Who ever is last will be last. It will be His choice; not ours. We’re but humble custodians of His temple on earth. It’s not our place to trump His plan. Whatever that plan be, know that I will be with you to my last breath.” — character “John” to Marie about dying in CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 2 Page 399

“You can’t be afraid. It’s not right to be afraid. It’s as if you don’t trust the Lord with our lives. I’m not a big Bible Banger, but it seems rude to joggle God’s elbow. Like a little kid, who has no concept of what is happening.” — character “John” in CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 2 Page 206

It seems to me that the proper advice would be to chastise the wayward spouse to tend to his duties and forego his dalliances. Once you give your word, you’re committed. If you word is no good, why should anyone trust you? Why should you trust yourself? The beauty of marriage is that you go “all in” for however the cards fall. And, while Caesar can grant you a divorce from your civil marriage, there’s no release from your vow but death.

Shame on Pat for not realizing that while the poor afflicted woman may no longer be in her right mind, she has dignity. Palming her off on the State so that the wayward husband can party hearty is just wrong. Immoral! Shame on Pat for this answer.

“I knew I was sunk-but, damn it, if you are caught by the Birkenhead Drill, the least you owe yourself is to stand at attention while the ship goes down.” — Robert A. Heinlein’s “Double Star”

It would be a “Birkenhead Drill” (The famous soldiers’ action which became the epitome of courageous behaviour in hopeless circumstances.) but it was his self-assumed obligation to stand by his wife’s side.

Again, maybe I’m too close to the topic.

# # # # #

September 10th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Birth Control Pills found to affect memory
in: Analysis, Birth, Brain, Breakthrough Thinking, Health & Fitness, Historical Perspectives,
Medical Breakthrough, New Discoveries, Science & Technology News

*** begin quote ***

Women who use contraceptives like birth control pills experience memory changes, according to new UC Irvine research. Their ability to remember the gist of an emotional event improves, while women not using the contraceptives better retain details.

*** and ***

Nielsen and fellow researcher Nicole Ertman agreed the findings could help lead to fuller answers about why women experience post traumatic stress syndrome more frequently than men, and how men remember differently than women. Men typically rely more on right-hemisphere brain activity to encode memory. They retain the gist of things better than details. Women on the pill, who have lower levels of hormones associated with female reproduction, may remember emotional events similarly to men. Nielsen plans to do her doctoral thesis on whether hormones affect the retention of details.

*** end quote ***

[JR: Yup, "we" are definitely experimenting on "ourselves" without any real understanding. When do we stop? When "we" screw something we can't undo! In the dikw (i.e., data, information, knowledge, wisdom) meme that I like, wisdom is understanding the bounds of knowledge. Where is the "edge of the earth"?]

# # # # #

FAITH
IS SUPPORTING THE DEATH PENALTY ‘CHRISTIAN?’
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 8:18pm by Billy Hallowell

*** begin quote ***

Head continues by explaining Jesus’ denunciations of violence in the Gospels. He makes it a point to note John 8:3-11, which shows Jesus stepping in to stop a would-be instance of capital punishment. Below, read this section of John for yourself:

3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

*** end quote ***

It’s interesting that followers of the Prince of Peace can endorse abortion, war, and the “death penalty”. Just strikes me as absurd.

First, the process of determining guilt or innocence is flawed. Time after time we hear of cases of “Sorry about that”. There’s no “eraser”, control Z, or backspace / retype on the death penalty. It’s final.

Now, bear in mind that these are dangerous people. Maybe we need a Devil’s Island.

We can save a lot of resources by stopping it.

Then, maybe we can say “Then, neither do I condemn you”?

# # # # #