Countrydiction

This is a test

2010-12-28T18:29:00.000-06:00

testing 999

Boathouse

2006-03-17T19:05:00.000-06:00

Shadow, affectionately known as Boathouse, has settled in to his new residence at our house. He mourned forever his long-time family in Alexandria, VA (my son, daughter-in-law, and Kodie). Shadow came with me when Leo and Sara couldn't take any pets with them to their new assignment in Sri Lanka.
Leo and Sara will probably cringe to hear this, but Shadow has about three more scars than he did before he arrived here in the woods of wild west Florida. Unlike Ozzie, my 'timid' other bulldog, Shadow will mix it up in a heartbeat.
When I run Shadow runs with me, and he is the classic guard dog. If we run by a neighbor who's dogs run loose he will run ahead and stay between the dogs and me. A few times he has intruded into the yards of the other dogs and at times the other dogs took umbrage...big time! Now, Shadow has massive heart. He doesn't have extensive fighting experience. The other hounds have been slightly quicker and obviously more experienced.
Bloodied and muddied, Shadow has had more baths than I have. At the present time he is not nursing any scrap wounds. But that's been the exception rather than the rule.

Junkyard

2006-03-17T18:45:00.000-06:00

Oslo, my young bulldog who is affectionately called Junkyard (see the seeing eye in my profile foto), has had a run of bad luck, or stupidity. A few weeks ago he came home with blood dripping out the side of his mouth. He bled for about 24 hours and couldn't drink or eat. I don't really know if it was his tongue, gums or lips that was lacerated. I don't know if he was hit by a car or tangled with a fence or coon or what. No witnesses.
He's young and he healed quickly. To top that calamity, he came limping home the other day on three legs. Somehow he tore one of the pads of his front right paw. I'm going to take him in to the vet tomorrow, my first day off since it happened. I've thought about saving a couple hundred dollars by getting my wire cutters and taking torn, dangling piece off myself.
There is a race in Destin in the morning called 'Run with the Dogs.' I would have taken Oslo because he gets along with all peace loving, social people and animals. I'm just not sure he would run the whole 5K. Shadow will run the whole 5K with no hesitation...his endurance is astounding for a 90 lb. behemoth. Shadow, however, doesn't associate with other big male canines. We would be ostracized by the other racers.
Next year I will have Junkyard stoked and we'll do the race and share a beer afterwards at the awards ceremony...

Team Turmoil

2006-03-11T17:59:00.000-06:00

One week on the new job. I was warned about the problems with staffing, but I wasn't prepared for what I've found. With all the turnover in management that has transpired in the last few months at the Y, the challenge is to form a nucleus of a new team. My boss has only been on board for a month, but he exudes confidence and enthusiasm. The mountain is steep because I not only have to jell with the new management team but we are converting to a new computer system to replace the 20 year old one, AND we are in the middle of a 90 day facility renovation. Total turmoil!
I love my new job!

Championship on Hold

2006-03-11T17:15:00.000-06:00

This has been an up and down season for the MildCats. At times fans have pulled their hair out. Sleight of hand hasn't worked...hard-nosed defense is the solution. The Cats will squeeze into the Big Dance. Who knows how long they can hold on.
If Tubby has any cards left, he better whip it out. How could we know it would shake out this way?

Working Man!

2006-03-01T05:44:00.000-06:00

The sabbatical is over and done. I've accepted an offer to take the membership director position at the YMCA of Fort Walton Beach. This is a job that I feel qualified for and am excited about. This area was just declared 1st on a list of the top 179 'smallest metros' by the Milken Institute, a non-profit, independent, economic think tank. The 'Best Performing Cities Index' is a measurement of where jobs are being created in America. Florida's 'large metros' rock this list!

Since moving back down here to the 'emerald coast' area I've lived the life of the semi-retired, sleeping, gardening, riding motorcycle, bonding with my animals. The columnist gig lasted almost a year, but that was more like a hobby than a job. I'm rejuvenated, motivated, and ready to roll!

My new boss is a retired Colonel who left Louisianna about the time Katrina hit and took the Y's director job. The Y is starting a major renovation and while that is going on there will be a capitol funding campaign to allow the Y to enlarge the facilities by 50%. Stuff is happening and I'm going to be a part of it.

Spirit, Mind and Body

2006-02-16T16:47:00.000-06:00

I have to get a job so I applied for the Membership Director position at the local YMCA. There were 30 other applicants and I was selected for the first cut of seven or so and we were interviewed by phone. I made the next cut and was interviewed face2face with three of the staff. Now the wait is on for them to complete all interviews. Hope I get it...

Outward Bound

2006-02-16T16:41:00.000-06:00

No matter whether you’re just starting out or you’re an accomplished athlete you need to set goals. With that thought in mind, I was surfing the internet back in the spring looking for a winter marathon. I had not run a marathon since Berlin in the early 80’s and I was way past due for a challenge.
The Colorado Outward Bound Relay caught my eye, and my imagination. I had spent the summer of 2002 in Colorado Springs and fell in love with the Rockies. While I was there I hiked the Barr Trail to the summit of Pikes Peak (14,100 ft. elevation) and back down, which took 12 hours to do. The total distance of the hike was 25 miles. It was a mind-blowing and ear-popping experience.
So, I contacted the relay’s website forum and announced that this 54 year old ‘flatlander’ was looking for a team to join. It didn’t take long to get a response back and I was invited to join the team called ‘Altitude Attitude.’
My thinking was that to endure the heat and humidity while training in this area I needed a darn good reason besides just staying in shape and sweating off the beer calories. I was looking forward big-time to running in the dry, cool mountain air, come the middle of September.
Now, mountain people snicker at the idea of a Florida beach bum running on 10,000 ft mountain passes. But, I got the last snicker because they didn’t realize that up here in the north end of the county where I live I have knobs and bottoms which can test the sole, so-to-speak.
I arranged to stay at a cousin’s house in Colorado Springs and arrived four days early so I could get a little acclimated to the thin air. When I got off the airplane it was 85 degrees. The next day a cold front came through and the high temp never got above 75 degrees the rest of the week. The nights averaged in the low 40’s. Perfect running climate!
One of my favorite cousins, Darrell, flew up from Austin to out with me, and we drove up to Boulder the day before the race to meet my team captain. We made it a point to get there early enough to stop at the Rock Bottom brewpub, also known as the Walnut Brewery.
We spent the night at the home of team captain, Sarah, in Nederland, a few miles west of Boulder. The next morning, Friday, 16 September, was the long anticipated start of the race in Idaho Springs. I met my other team members and our first runner started off in the 7:00 a.m. wave. There were a total of 150 teams, with 10 members each. We were handicapped according to our projected 10k times, so slower teams started at 5:00 and faster teams started as late as 11:00.
Each team had to provide two vans holding five members in each van. Needless to say, I got up close and comfortable with my new friends, two guys and two gals. I can’t imagine what the 26 hours would have been like if we were incompatible.
Each team ran 30 legs covering 170 miles. Each member ran three legs. The legs were rated as either easy, medium, hard, or extra hard. You had to run in order so you knew in advance what you were getting into. Since we were given the chance to pick our poison I told Sarah to give me either a 5 or 6 ‘difficulty’ of legs, with difficulty progressing from 1 to 10.
I ran hard, hard, and easy legs, each being a little over six miles. I had everything in my legs including paved road, gravel road, jeep trail, and single-track trail. The first two legs were between 9,000 and 10,000 feet altitude and the last one was a little over 6,000 ft. My first leg rose about 400 ft. and dropped about 1,000 ft. The second leg rose about 800 ft. I hit the wall in my third leg as a result of the effort in my first two legs!
A full moon run along a roiling mountain creek and cool air temperature…not a grouch within miles…new friends making lifelong memories…Boulder Beer at the finish, in Glenwood Springs, with the sun rising over the crest.
Driving our van around a switchback and surprised by a bighorn sheep leaping off the road onto a ledge and locking a big old eyeball on a runner 12 feet below it…sleepbagging it on the floor in a beautiful home in Vail belonging to a sister of one of my teammates…placing 12th in the open division of about 50 teams.
I guess I pulled my weight because I was invited to be on the team again next year. Hopefully, I can replay this once in a lifetime experience.
If you want to see some ‘cool’ mountain pics, see the following links…Pikes Peak and Outward Bound.

The Blue Angel

2006-02-15T11:29:00.000-06:00

When I bought my first motorcycle in 2003 I soon became aware of its limitations. I learned how to ride on the Suzuki Volusia and I think it is the perfect 'first' bike. I've lusted after the 'Dragon,' as the Honda Valkyrie is called by its fans, for a couple years now.
I wasn't looking to buy a new bike when I stumbled upon the Blue Angel parked on the 'Lemon Lot,' a location on Eglin AFB where employees, GI's and retired like me can display their vehicles for sale.
I love this beast, the famous anti-Harley with the 'flat-6' car engine. Now I am actively looking for a job to pay for her!

Perspective

2005-08-31T10:28:00.000-05:00

The lifetime natural disaster of my parents' generation was the '37 flood that destoyed property and took many lives along the Ohio River Valley. I've seen pictures of the high water in my hometown in Kentucky. The river had to rise 30 plus feet to have water that high. And of course, the second World War was a defining tragedy of their lifetime.

My generation is marked by the Vietnam War and then 9/11. As for natural disasters, I thought I would never see anything as devastating as the South Asia tsunami. But, the storm of a lifetime has just skirted my area and brought unspeakable misery to Louisiana and Mississippi.

In the two days since Katrina made landfall the news got worse by the hour. In the days and weeks ahead the news will worsen by the hour. The horror puts all of our local problems in perspective.

In my part of the Gulf Coast we have certainly had multiple hits by tropical storms and hurricanes in the last year. Navarre Beach, to the west of Fort Walton Beach, is particularly vulnerable to beach erosion and flooding. Our beaches are critically eroded and beach property owners have lost houses (many of them rentals or second homes) or are threatened to lose their foundations. Our roads are quagmires and death traps. Local gas prices are regularly higher than the national average. Bureaucrats give developers every exemption, amendment, and variance they ask for. Quality of life seems to be getting worse rather than better.

When I see the chaos, destruction, and struggle for survival going on in New Orleans right now I can't imagine a worse scenario. But, it will get worse. Already, a news anchor is saying that there is a growing consensus that this is the worst natural disaster in US history.

I wish I had Red Cross disaster preparedness and recovery training so that I could help some way as a volunteer. A small donation and heart-felt prayers are going out for those poor souls, my neighbors to the west.

Keep One Eye on Destin

2005-06-07T10:40:00.000-05:00

Column published in Northwest Florida Daily News, April 27, 2005:

As much as I love the Emerald Coast beaches I have only myself to blame for buying a home 30 miles inland. But, I’ve discovered a potential way to enjoy the beach 24/7. Let’s lobby the city of Destin to install some webcams.

Anyone who has a computer has probably seen web-camera images on the internet. Typically, a camera is installed on a tower or top of a tall building and directed at a point of interest. Still images are updated at regular intervals, like 30 seconds or a minute apart. You get the idea when the local TV news and weather programs show a view at sunrise from a stationary camera.

Consider the benefits. For example, a local TV station in Toledo, Ohio, where my brother lives, hosts several webcams around the city. Every time I felt like complaining about the weather this winter I sought out the webcam in Toledo, and suddenly I felt warm…and giddy.

Let’s say you felt the call of the surf and sand. But, feeling lazy you ruled out driving to the beach. With a Destin webcam on the beach you could be there instantly! And, if you did want to drive to the beach you could preview the scene to scan for college age drunks, sea grass infestations, fish kill, etc.

Better yet, train a webcam on the city councilmembers to observe how they are serving the community, or not. It would be insightful to see whether the councilmembers were spending as much time with the concerns of the common citizens as they were with those of the developers.

As you can see, I believe in getting a lot of things done, while sitting at ease in my cut-offs and Mickey Mouse house slippers.

We country folk would look on in shock and awe at a webcam leveled at U.S. 98. Observing the traffic would send us scurrying even deeper into the woods of the north counties. And, counting our blessings.

The webcams would never enjoy a very long stay at any vantage point, though. With high rises popping up like pimples on a teen, a full time webcam technician would be kept busy moving the cams from the shadows of monster cranes and condominiums.

For those who would rather stroll the shops than the beach, a webcam would track the dynamic world of Destin Commons. The Friday Night Fights would pale compared to the tourists tangling for the coveted parking spot. As an extra service, the webcam would have a countdown, in the bottom of the image, until the next giant shopping extravaganza is built.

Another webcam could direct our gaze at the docks where we could indulge in the tapestry of the fishing fleet, and review the catch to see what’s running.

So, there could be an image suited for just about everyone with an interest in Destin and the Emerald Coast. Likely, the most popular image would be the long view of the undulating beach and the white brushed, blue-green surf, with a fishing vessel bearing for deeper waters; in the distant horizon, a cloud-dappled sky bathed in a shifting panorama of color. May THAT image of Destin endure.

Writer's Redux

2005-06-07T07:44:00.000-05:00

As the sun climbs daily toward its annual apex I marvel at the fact that it never takes a day off. I, on the otherhand, go into eclipse every chance I get.

Writing a bi-weekly column for the local newspaper (circulation 41,000)is not all that taxing. I spend probably an hour and a half on average for each column. I've had three published and I have three drafted columns waiting in the barrel.

So, no excuse for not keeping my blog fresh.

I just finished a three mile run, barefoot. I love running on these dirt roads barefoot. Nike has a major marketing effort to sell their latest craze. The Nike Free 5.0 is supposed to give you that barefoot feeling when running in them. I'm going to save the $85 and leave my nekkid footprint on the landscape.

The other day I ran soon after an early morning downpour. Oslo was running with me and he performed a trick I had never seen before. There were stands of rainwater along side the road and the Oz was running and lapping up water on the move! Neat trick.

Competitive runners are supposed to practice drinking on the run, so that in a competition, usually over 5K, you don't lose much time while rehydrating. Ozzie can join me in a race anytime. Next, I'm going to share a Power Bar with him while on a long run. Then, we'll share a brewskie after we're done.

We Have A Pope!

2005-04-20T18:12:00.000-05:00

I am so relieved. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (see ratzingerfanclub.com/blog) is now Pope Benedict XVI. There has been a growing awareness by some of us for the need of a 'muscular Christianity.' In Pope Benedict we have our Arnold Schwarzenneger.

Many have noted the speed or shortness of the conclave to elect the new pope, which was the result of the unanimity of the Cardinals to continue much of the legacy of John Paul the Great. Much of the mainstream media have lamented that Benedict XVI has gone on record condemning relativism in the modern world. It's going to take a strong man with indestructible belief in truth and faith to counter the tide of the secular world, particularly in western Europe and North America, and in Benedict XVI we have that man!

I believe as the pope has said that the exclusivity of the Roman Catholic faith, the Church's teaching that there is an absolute truth and that the Church was instituted by Jesus Christ, will mean a leaner, more vibrant Church of the future. Unfortunately, the flacid, cafeteria style segment of Catholicism will wither and transplant to the progressive Protestant churches, or to who knows where in search of the easy way.

I realize there was a collective moan and groan when the name of the new pope was announced. On the other hand, I saw priests and nuns in the Vatican square leaping for joy at the announcement, as if they were on pogo sticks or trampolines. At that point I cried in joy and relief. Viva il papa!

It's Official!

2005-04-17T13:36:00.000-05:00

After jumping through more hoops than a circus animal I can now consider myself a professional writer. I was hired by the Northwest Florida Daily News to be one of their three new 'citizen columnists.' In other words, I'm a local columnist and I can write about whatever subject my heart desires. Man, I wanted this writing gig!

My first column will be published on Wednesday, 27th of April. Initially our column will run every other week. My goal is to run weekly.

The newspaper website requires a subscription to read it, so I am going to contact the webmaster and get a link to my columns which will be available here, plus I intend to get authorized to have my columns available on this blog.

Nothing like a part-time job where I can work at home, in my cut-offs and Mickey Mouse house slippers!

The Roots of the Matter

2005-04-16T16:05:00.000-05:00

Words, for a person who enjoys reading and writing, are like the variety of plants in our world. Regardless of what language you consider you will find it uses words which are utilitarian, some that are sustaining, and others which are beautifully descriptive. Likewise, some plants are useful for building things, some for feeding us, and many others express inspirational beauty.

For example, the word ‘do’ is a no-nonsense, useful verb. The word is used for many different meanings, such as produce, solve, and suffice. Colloquially, or conversationally, ‘do’ can mean visit, deceive, or swindle. The word is used as a base for phrases such as do over, do like, and do away with. Now, I see the word ‘do’ like I see the longleaf pine tree. It used to be more common throughout the southeast, but it was over-harvested for lumber. Other trees are used for lumber now. The tree is also useful for its pine needles and its bark, both of which make fine mulch for other plants.

There are also words which sustain and strengthen us. ‘Hope’ and others like faith, promise, and conviction are words which feed, nourish, and nurture us. The alternative is fear and hopelessness. In the plant world we have many edible choices which are indispensable to our health and wellbeing. The nutritionists declare that fruits and vegetables are one of the major food groups, so there you have it! Continuing our comparison, if not for these edible plant foods we would be doomed to a dark diet indeed.

Descriptive words like sweet-sounding, mellow, and ladylove take us to places we fondly remember or to places we dream of. These kinds of words give infinite variety and surprise and wonder to common language. Doesn’t that sound like what roses in full bloom bring to us? Or a rolling meadow of wildflowers in spring? Or the aromatic wisteria in its prime? Imagine a novel which reads like a mathematics textbook and that’s what our world would be without the ornamental flowers, shrubs, and trees.

I found that this analogy of words and plants could be carried out ad infinitum. Note that I used a Latin phrase in the previous sentence. The English language not only descended from Latin, but we commonly use Spanish, French, and even Scandinavian words. Similarly, we enjoy many non-native plants in our gardens and landscapes. We have merged, blended, and lumped together words to form new meaning, and the same is done with cultivars and varieties of plants.

As you can see, I am fascinated with words and nature. Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the options contained in both. The challenge is to properly understand and use them to form a finished piece. Right now my acre and a half of yard is practically a blank canvas. I’m learning that plants talk a different lingo down here than they do up in my original home of Kentucky. But, I’m visualizing a space that will be functional, sustaining, and pleasing to all the senses of anyone who passes by.

Third and Final Round

2005-04-08T16:44:00.000-05:00

After three or four weeks without hearing from the newspaper after I submitted a second commentary I had given up hope of getting a columnist position. Then while I was in Austin I received an email which notified me that I made the second cut! Originally, there were 50 plus people submitting a sample. Seven of us were selected from that group. I was one of three from that group to be interviewed, which took place yesterday with the editor and one of his staff. The editor said he will notify me by early next week whether I'm selected or not.

This has been like an emotional roller coaster. I submitted a third piece unsolicited and hope that it helps the cause rather than sink it. My nature doesn't allow me to just sit and wait. Lord, I'm ready to go to work and use the tools you've given me!

Ciao, il Papa

2005-04-04T20:33:00.000-05:00

The Pontiff,Oct 16, 1978 to Apr 2, 2005.

Best Buzzer Beater

2005-04-01T19:42:00.000-06:00

The ESPN website really blows my coals. They asked what was the most memorable clutch, end-of-game shot so far in the NCAA tournament. They gave three options to choose from: Arizona's Salim Stoudamire beats Oklahoma State, or Bucknell's Chris McNaughton beats Kansas, or West Virginia gets a stop and a breakaway dunk to beat Creighton. Welllllllllllllllll! Everyone knows that the biggest, baddest, Packer-smacker was the three-pointer at the end of regulation to tie the score during the Kentucky-Michigan State regional final in Austin. Here's the scene: with under a minute to go Patrick Sparks, Kentucky's shooting guard, misses the front end of a one-and-one free throw bonus situation. Usually, he's clutch. Two free throws would give the Cats a one point lead. Instead MSU goes down court and makes two to give them a three point lead with a few seconds left. Here we are, three points down, clock ticking to oblivion. Sparks launches a three and misses, long rebound by Kentucky's Azubuike who races outside the three-point line and shoots, misses, and the rebound goes to Sparks who races to the three-point area and shoots with a couple seconds left. The ball bounces off the rim, off the glass, off the rim, and DROP's in for a THREE to tie the game as the clock runs out. The crowd of 17,000 wait on their feet for five and a half minutes while the officials review the shot to confirm whether Sparks was behind or on the three-point line. The drama was head-splitting, gut-wrenching, expletive-spewing, and that was just the sequence of events in the last seconds of the clock. The eternally long wait for the officials' call following up the shot will irrefutably go down as my choice for biggest clutch shot...even though two overtimes were needed to settle the score of this game!

Not Outraged, Just Disappointed

2005-04-01T19:08:00.000-06:00

The more I think about it I get incensed at the sloppy work at Fox News and CNN. Today, they both announced that Pope John Paul II had died. Fox attributed their source to the 'Italian media' and I switched to CNN to hear them claim their source to be the Reuters newswire. Apparently, the Vatican quashed the rumors and the cable channels soon retracted.

While hearing all the pundits and analysts speaking of John Paul in the past tense all day I can't help but note how uncomfortable the media are with the stubbornness of JPII to continue the fight. Having struggled to understand the fight in the Schindlers for the life of their daughter, Terri Shiavo, the media reflect the confusion and consternation of all those who shun the weak and spurn the helpless. John Paul has marked his legacy with his insistence on the dignity of all human life. Vis-a-vis the dire portent of the life and death of Terri Schiavo, the Holy Father no doubt is walking the walk.

"Be Not Afraid"

2005-04-01T18:04:00.000-06:00

For those too young to remember, or who've been indoctrinated by academic revisionists, these are the two men responsible for the victory over the hegemony of Communism. Truly giants among men, prophets from God, masters of their universe. God bless the Church, and God bless America...

Human Nature Gone Wild

2005-04-01T16:53:00.000-06:00

During my motorcycle ride to Austin TX and back (1,500 miles) and in a drive to Gulf Shores AL in my truck I observed a plethora of character types on the road. Some mosey along like they are oblivious to the chaos around them. I've been semi-retired (jobless) for a year now and I don't have to be anywhere on time except church on Sunday. But, I still race to anywhere I go. Most of the drivers on the road are apparently chronically late because they drive as if nothing better get in their way.

My mind-set is to get somewhere without lollygagging. When I left Austin I took a country road through the outback, the most direct route to Houston. It was a four lane highway with massive shoulders and beautiful purple, orange and pink wildflowers flanked the sides and filled the medians. I had my camera with me but I didn't stop to take one photo because I needed to stay on course without delay. What's wrong with that attitude?

So, I was on I-12 in the Baton Rouge metro area when a black guy in a work truck passed me on my left and he was pointing to my right and then pointing downward. I went 'huh?' and then looked down to see if anything was falling off my bike. I looked at the saddlebag on my right side and it was unhinged from one of two pins and hanging almost to the road! I got off at the next exit and fixed the problem and got home safely. I'm wondering how many drivers noticed my predicament and never gave a care! Thank you, sir, whoever you were.

Then, I was returning from Gulf Shores in one of the most raging rains I've ever seen. I was caught up in a typical terrific traffic jam in Pensacola where they have been working on the interstate, overpasses, and Ivan-damaged Bay Bridge. Two lanes had to merge into one and as I tried to move into the other lane I was stymied by a line of tractor-trailors who would give no quarter. Finally, some four-wheelers approached and I make a very slight move hoping for a good neighbor to give way. Not only did one driver close in to block me, but the second car closed in, and the lady made such a macho move that she slid on the rain-slickened surface and smacked the car in front of her. The guy in front, with his head leaning into his open hand, never blanched, like he just knew that some maniac would rearend him. They moved and the next guy let me in. I did the unchristian thing and flicked my headlights at the macho lady for a couple minutes until the ire evaporated. Human nature gone wild! Thank you, sir, whovever let me merge...

The Sky is Crying...

2005-04-01T12:53:00.000-06:00

The thunderbolts are flying. We on the Gulf Coast have had six to seven inches of rain since yesterday, starting soon after the announcement of Terri Schiavo's death. Presently, we are hearing that the Holy Father, John Paul II, is in the throes of death. Choirs of angels are forming at Peter's Gate.

Two saints have defied not only death, but all of those who would forego suffering in the rush to the choice to die. Already, two cable news channels which I have watched all morning have reported John Paul's death, based on Reuters, rumors, and the Italian press, and have had to retract and apologize for an incorrect diagnosis. As long as the windows remain open at the Papal apartments then we know that the pope is still with us.

My prayers were for the relief of his suffering or for recovery to health. My prayers are now for the Church and its future. The Holy Spirit will insure that the Mother Church will prevail as a mystical body of Christ. It is the human institution which needs our prayers, for it needs discernment, atonement, humility, and holiness. Many Western Catholics are in opposition to each other and to the Vatican. We are polarized religiously as well as politically. I fear that upheaval will rear its head in reaction to the way the pope has molded the Church in the last 26 years.

The Vatican has just announced that John Paul's heart and brain are still functioning, still have life. When his soul departs his body there will be such a world-wide torrent of love, flowing from his flock, and he will ride that wave into the arms of our loving Lord. God bless you, John Paul the Great, and bless us all.

2nd Greatest Basketball Game of All Time

2005-03-28T06:43:00.000-06:00

People will talk about the Cats-Spartan game forever. I am horse from screaming at the referrees. There's a reason why the video screens at the games don't show replays like you are accustomed to seeing at home. It keeps the crowds from becoming even more incensed at the officials.

This game was an extraordinary chess match between two masters, Tubby and Izzo. Too bad Tubby had to lose, because I love the job he's doing, but he is going to start catching more hell from the UK fans for his drought of Final Fours since '98.

Morris had his game, as well as most everybody else, with the glaring exception of Kallena Azabuike. What a shame he didn't show up, our best scorer...

The 17,000 seat arena filled up with lot's of non-UK and non-MSU basketball fans. The vast majority rooted for the underdog, Michigan State.

Chuck, we're going to miss you, man.

Austin, Y'all!

2005-03-27T13:17:00.000-06:00

What a country! I rode 750 miles last Thursday, but I'm still in the South. As a Blue-Blood Kentucky Wildcat fan able and willing to jump through hoops to follow our team, I deployed to Austin to stay with cuzin Darrell and attend the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight in one glorious weekend.

Darrell and I staked a claim in a ticket line Friday morning to attempt to get two of a bundle of tickets released at the last minute by Michigan State. The rumors were that the amount of tickets to go on sale were 150 to 200. We waited from 7:00 till 10:00 a.m. when the ticket booth opened. The wait was a classic example of how ugly a situation can get when thes re is a line of true sports fans being infiltrated by professional broker/scalpers. Healthy optimism degraded into chaotic confrontation when we could not get event coordinators or campus police (the arena is the University of Texas property) to intervene. Without law and order (wild west?) you get unfettered human nature, and the result is not pretty. Long story short, when we started at 0700 I was 35th in line, each person can purchase up to four tickets, multiply those numbers and get 145, so if there are 150 tickets available we thought we were to be rewarded with two very precious tickets. By 10:00 when the ticket window opened I was 5oth in line because of the infiltrators who had cut the line in front of us through the course of the morning. The event personnel showed up a little after 9:00 to monitor but by then most of the low-lifes had jumped the line. We bitched, called campus cops, ranted, accused, threatened to cut in front of the cutters...emotional roller-coaster from visions of Sweet victory to nadir of negativity. They only ended up selling about 40 tickets, meaning that some inner circle scums pilfered tickets just before they went on sale, but us good guys had the satisfaction that none of the scalpers got to add to their largesse at our expense.

Darrell and I came back at the beginning of the Duke/Michigan State game and bought our tickets from the @$$#0l&$ on the street, but what are you going to do?

Since I was wearing a UK cap two different Lexington, KY TV stations approached us and taped interviews. The first reporter was an attractive woman who asked us stress-free questions like 'where y'all from?' The second station reporter had the gall to ask five trivia questions about Kentucky basketball, and between Darrell and me, we were 0 for 5. Finally, he asked us a question that would be easy to answer, 'Who' going to win tonight?' We got that one right.

Later we called our cuzin Tony who works for the UK hospital administration and has been known to supply many many of us cuzins with tickets to KY games over the years. I called him to warn him that he might see us on the local news that evening, and hoped we wouldn't embarrass him. It hadn't occurred to us that he would have any tickets because this was game day. Unfortunately, while still having the horrific memories of the mornings experience at the ticket line, Tony volunteered the fact that 'I wish I'd have talked to you four hours ago, because that's when I got rid of my last six tickets!'

We thoroughly enjoyed the thrashing which Michigan State gave to the Dukies, and of course we drew blood by beating Utah for the sixth straight tournament game. It is now Easter Sunday, we just enjoyed some of our uncle Vird's sausage imported in from Owensboro, KY, and we are resting up in anticipation of this afternoon's game with the Spartans. Life is fine...mighty fine.

Oslo is a Survivor

2005-03-23T17:59:00.000-06:00

Ozzie had a playmate, a one year old mix mutt, that belonged to a neighbor. He got shot. Then there was the female rottweiler that came around, but a neighbor took it off to the pound. Another showed up, a blue heeler or some kind of herder dog with silver eyes and unbounding energy, but he got into another neighbor's chicken coop and they apparently snuffed him out because I found buzzards dining on the carcas. There is a golden retriever that has visited a couple times lately. I hope he survives because Oz needs playmates.

Oslo has the run of the neighborhood but he behaves and is a sweetheart and is a handsome beast. I would not want to be fenced in, so I don't intend to fence in my dog.

He made me laugh again. I was setting at the computer, my stomach growled...Oslo went wild. He didn't know what he heard but he jumped up and growled himself and rushed for the door, probably thinking 'Who dat?'

Minuteman Project

2005-03-23T17:23:00.000-06:00

A couple months ago I heard about the Arizona Minuteman Project, an effort to gather 1,000 volunteer US citizens to spend one month, April 2005, near the Arizona/Mexico border. I found the website to get some information because it intrigued me and I wanted to see what the group meant to accomplish. The majority of volunteers at the time were veterans, especially retired military members. Right down my alley. The intent is for Minutemen to monitor the border around the clock for a month to guage the usefulness of our border control and to observe illegal aliens coming across the border and then report the illegal entry to the border patrol. There is to be no physical contact with the illegals. Volunteers must bear all individual expenses. Since I don't have adequate camping gear and dogs are not allowed I did not volunteer.

Today, President Bush is meeting with the leaders of Canada and Mexico. Dubya stated that the Minutemen are vigilantes! President Fox loved it. Many US citizens, including myself, are steamed. Ten percent of all Mexican citizens are illegally in the USA. Eight thousand illegals cross the border daily. Our immigration laws are being ignored and the Feds cannot or will not enforce them.

Since we have more low wage jobs than willing workers we need the labor pool of Hispanics. Americans should appreciate the Hispanic values of family, and Catholics are better for the integration of the faithful Hispanics. But, we must insist that they immigrate legally and we must protect our borders. Presently, we are doing neither.

Altitude Adjustment

2005-03-18T20:13:00.000-06:00

Sea level sucks! Kidding. I do love Colorado though...the whole west for that matter. So, I stumbled across a website for the Colorado Outward Bound Relay and found a team looking for runners and I signed up! If I was wealthier I would have a place in the Rockies and my place here near the coast and I would split my time between them.

What also attracts me to this endeavor is that it gives me incentive to plug through the summer with my training. Usually, my running bogs down in the humidity and heat down here. I will just have to get it done by doing it at daybreak which will be somewhat bearable at around 75 degrees.

I contacted a cousin in Colorado Springs to see if I could stay at her place. Even though she's going to be on vacation in Ireland at that time, she's offered her house for my use. Her daughter, Erin, will be nearby, and I have another cousin and her family in the Springs area, so I'm set. Been doing my research and I'll have to go out there a week in advance to get acclimated by exercising at altitude.

One of the many questions in my mind is whether to drive the pickup and take Oslo, or leave him with neighbors and ride my motorcycle...

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

2005-03-18T20:06:00.000-06:00

I haven't heard from the newspaper in awhile so I assume I am no longer under consideration for a columnist job. It was exciting to be in the running for awhile anyways. Thank heavens for this outlet for expressing myself with the written language and with graphics.

Arab Street

2005-03-18T19:19:00.000-06:00

I'll never forget a conversation I had at the table one evening while I was in the seminary. It was in the fall of 2003, a few months after we entered Iraq. My 'heated' conversation was with a Benedictine monk, Fr. Patrick, who was an Air Force Reserve chaplain and had recently spent 30 days in Qatar where the US military placed its command and control center for conducting the ground war in Iraq.

Two facets of our chat stand out clearly in my memory. One argument of Fr. Pat's was that democracy was not a realistic possibility in the Middle East. I had stated that freedom from tyranny was the over-riding justification for the US intervention in that region, and the removal of Hussein was the imperative, first step that had to be taken. Hussein was a thug who threatened and killed his own people and his neighbor's people. Take this monster down, then see if the Iraqis would thrive in freedom.

Also, Fr. Pat insisted that the insurgents (terrorists) were, on the whole, Iraqi's trying to defend their own nation. I suspected that the terrorists were foreign extremists who were recruited by an international network of various groups.

Fr. Pat is of the same mind as many who have always warned that the 'Arab Street' was some amorphous, fathomless, alien people who were hostile to any Western form of society, especially, politically and philosophically, based on the long history of autocratic theocracies in Muslim nation-states. I would ask Fr. Pat today whether the Arab Street may have more in common with us than he first thought.

Brothers in Arms

2005-03-18T18:04:00.000-06:00

Ego, temperment, urges, self-control...these boys look a lot alike. Heck, I'm sure they are interchangeable in their job skills too!

Freedom will Boomerang

2005-03-03T18:16:00.000-06:00

The January 30th election day in Iraq can be equated to the hole in the dike. Let us reframe this children's tale in this way; the dike is the totalitarian and autocratic network of despots and dictators with their supporting cast of terrorists, insurgents, and nihilists; the sea being held back is the human desire for freedom. The plans for the Iraqi election caused a breach in the dike and this created a threat to the status quo. Non other than Hans, the would be hero, shows up to find a trickle passing through the hole in the dike. In this little analogy Hans represents the brotherhood or coterie comprised of the academic elitists, the left wing of the Democratic Party/Hollywood, the New York Times, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, CBS, and NPR. Like the mighty Mississippi River the oppressed people can only be contained for so long. The left wing naysayers said to delay the Iraqi elections because the people were not ready. Since the election the hole in the dike has opened to a force which will be very hard to staunch. And Hans is having 'cognitive dissonance' over the events which have transpired.

From Ukraine to Lebanon

Winds of Change

Free at Last Through an Arab-Western Joint Venture

Middle East Side Story

Winds of Change Stir in Mideast, but Their Direction Is Unclear

Some Arabs See Beginning of New Era

Syria to Pull Troops Out of Lebanon in Months -Assad

2,000 Demonstrate at Iraqi Bombing Site

Minds are Changing

Mideast Climate Change

Tel Aviv Bomber's Family Shunned

Managing a Mideast Revolution

About that Quagmire

The Good News Graveyard

Lebanon 'victory' spurs Syrians to demand a voice

Saudi Shiites Look to Iraq and Assert Rights

"But as an American..."

See the link directly above where I borrowed the 'cognitive dissonance' phrase from Jon Stewart of the Daily Show. You will be surprised to find even a New York Times and the British Times editorials among the selections above which I found extremely gratifying.

The Iraqi people will experience the boomerang effect in this way: eight million people defied the odds and voted in a true democratic election for the first time in their lives, which has had percussions throughout the region. The success of democratic movements among their neighbors, i.e., Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, will embolden the Iraqis to turn against and squeeze out the terrorists who will have to find a new rat hole in which to hide...if they survive.

Made the Cut

2005-03-03T17:42:00.000-06:00

I received a call I was hoping for yesterday. The editor of the local newspaper called to tell me that I made the final round of a half a dozen or so writers selected from 50 plus submissions. I was asked to provide another 550 word piece with a deadline of 5:00 p.m. Friday (tomorrow). If I get this break into the world of mainstream media I will seek to emulate my idols...Victor Davis Hanson, Mark Steyn, and Jonah Goldberg.

Water, Water Everywhere, But

2005-03-01T07:03:00.000-06:00

Someone who knows these things told us in the Master Gardener class last Thursday that the aquifer from which we get our drinking water will fall to distressing levels within 10 years! Florida, because of its sandy, porous soil (which needs irrigation in addition to the rainfall for upkeep of turf grass), and other reasons, is the highest domestic water user in the US. Now, Florida can't take all the blame for aquifer levels when its northern boundaries are in South Carolina and Georgia and the flow is from north to south. In the class the scrutiny was directed at Walton County, our county, and we are part of the problem...big time!

It is common to see automatic sprinkler systems operating during rainstorms. Since 1992, Walton Co has a code which requires rain shut-off devices to be installed with any irrigation system. Sounds good and they work very well, however! There are not near enough inspectors to enforce the law AND landscaper businesses in our county are not required to be licensed. Landscapers who attend the class were aghast that there was such a law and they weren't aware of it.

Another story was told by a classmate who helped install landscaping for a huge residential resort a few years ago. A huge amount of money was spent to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials, and an irrigation system. Years later, when established plants (especially native plants) can survive on normal rainfall, the irrigation system has never been recalibrated to suit the need, nor has any maintenance been performed to repair breaks, leaks, and malfunctions. This situation is replicated throughout the region on large and small scale.

The most horrific eye-opener was the before and after photos of natural sand dunes near the beaches with native flora, hundreds of years old in the case of the live oak trees, flattened and replaced by turf. Makes you want to choke the ignorance out of some people. And there lies the key to solutions...combat the ignorance with education, publicity, enforcement.

Man of the Millenium

2005-02-28T15:01:00.000-06:00

Holy Father John Paul II will one day be known as John Paul the Great. I don't have to wait until he has passed before realizing his holiness and his greatness. He is the reason that I was motivated to enter the seminary. Unfortunately, his influence and presence were not enough to keep me from leaving the seminary, and that is not a reflection on him.

John Paul is a man's man. The reasons for his manly stature are manifold; he was a mountain climber and skier, he stoutly and vehemently opposed Communism, he took a bullet and forgave, in person, the shooter. He wrote one of his doctoral theses on another man's man, St. John of the Cross. His most outstanding quality as a role model for men is his love for our Blessed Mother.

John Paul is flying in the face of death. He is thumbing his nose to sickness and disease. He is fighting a manly battle against despair, debility, and doubt. His weakness is strength, his pain is powerful, his decline is restitutive. Why? Because one cannot witness his witness, and there are billions the world over who have, without taking something beneficial from his suffering.

I can hear the squeamish now. Well, hasn't he got the most luxurious digs there at the Vatican, wear the finest threads, eat anything his heart desires? Maybe. But, can anyone accuse this man of seeking material comfort while he bears the burden of not just the souls of Roman Catholics, but of every Christian? Can anyone begrudge the Holy Father of his physical comfort when he carries the guilt of 2,000 years of Catholic human weakness in the form of antisemitism to pray for forgiveness at the Wailing Wall? While investing countless overtures and gestures toward the Russian Orthodox seeking reconciliation between the Churches, only to be rebuffed everytime. While the increasing secularization of Western Europe erases its Christian history and tradition? When the sins of the flesh threaten to undermine and deface the Church in the United States, and young boys and girls lives were shattered? When Christians are being persecuted and executed around the world? When the 'Culture of Death' seems to be winning the culture wars in entertainment, media, the academy; where prayer is banished and abortion is precept?

Praise God for our faith, our Church, and the Pope. The Holy Spirit sent the right man for the times 27 years ago, and I shudder to think where the Church would be without JPII having steered the ship during these post-Vatican times. What kind of Church would we be without the Chair of Peter? I could describe it for you but I won't go there...

May the Lord give John Paul continued blessings during his pilgrimage with us.

Still in the Running!

2005-02-21T09:29:00.000-06:00

I had been wondering who the local newspaper editor selected for his two new columnist positions for which I had submitted a sample column. In the Sunday Commentary section the editor informed the public that he was overwhelmed with over 50 submissions. He hadn't selected anybody yet! He gave examples of some of the paragraphers, including me! He formed a selection board of six members of his staff who will winnow the whole group down to six writers. The editor will possibly ask for more writing examples and interview the finalists. Verrry interesting...

You've Heard of First Responders...

2005-02-21T08:53:00.000-06:00

I'm learning to be a First Detector for my county. What is a First Detector supposed to detect? Agro-terrorism. We are to monitor for exotic pests and unusual pest and pathogen outbreaks. But, first I have to become familiar with the common pests and diseases. So Dr. Dick Sprenkle (I didn't make that name up) gave us some training in this area at my last Master Gardener class. He told us that Hurrican Ivan is suspected of carrying an airborn fungus from Brazil into the southern U.S. last September. So, the new disease, soybean rust, has been introduced and is a threat all the way up to my home state of Kentucky.

Agriculture in the South accounts for 94% of the nation's peanuts, 94% of sugarcane, 93% of tobacco, 74% of cotton, 61% of citrus, 55% if pecans, and 36% of floriculture. Florida has a significant share of commercial vegetables. Eco-terrorism is a threat to our life and wellbeing, and it's a subject which I will pay increasing attention.

Last week's class was a clinic on how to take plant stem and leaf cuttings, air-layering, and grafting. I got to bring home various cuttings, a couple of which will survive, but my apple tree graft was evidently tackled by Ozzie, my faithful home-wrecker.

Daddy and Me!

2005-02-21T08:45:00.000-06:00

Knock Out!

How Does One Say Cojones in French?

2005-02-20T08:02:00.000-06:00

I don't know, but I think Jacques Chirac went to his jewelry box and pulled his out. Question is: will he wear them or just display them briefly before they go back into the box? Maybe it's French self-interest and just Chirac raising cackles and flaring some hackles. But, I will give him the benefit of the doubt this time. He went to Lebanon this week after the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri to pay his respects. Now, Hariri was pro-West and led the opposition to the Syrian puppet government in Beirut. Chirac met with the opposition leaders during his brief visit but ignored the Lebanese government.

The crowds which turned out to mourn numbered in the hundreds of thousands! Wonder how many mourners would show for the funeral of the current Prime Minister Karami? I've already said previously that we are witnessing ripples which are reverberating throughout the despotic and autocratic landscapes. Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine are the models, while Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Palestine are experiencing tremors of hope. Watch the satellite countries of the former USSR! I am stoked for the future of oppressed people.

Condi for 2008!

2005-02-18T10:24:00.000-06:00

The next president of the United States of America...Condi!!! I do believe that this photo was taken during Madam Rice's Secretary of State nomination hearings. Particularly, during a venom spewing moment from Sen. Barbara Boxer. I pity the infamous senator...but, pity is not the emotion displayed in this candid Condi Kodak moment.

The Greatest Generation

2005-02-17T14:12:00.000-06:00

Like many veterans of the War, my Daddy hardly ever talked about his experience in Europe fighting the Germans. The only things I remember him relating (he died in 1976) were that he was a machine gunner, his asst. gunner who fed the ammo belt into the gun while Daddy aimed and fired, was killed right beside him, that he fought all the way across Germany into Czeckoslovakia, and ended up in Austria at the end of the war. Daddy also met up with his two brothers who also were soldiers in Europe.

I've decided belatedly to research his exact route during the war, but in order to do that I need to know what unit he was in. Unfortunately, I don't know the whereabouts of his discharge papers. I contacted my Uncle Vird, who was one of the three soldier brothers, and he found an old newspaper article that gave me what I needed! Daddy served under General Patton, that ivory-gripped-pistol packing, riding crop wielding, megalomaniac, in the Third Army, 26th Infantry (Yankee) Division, 101st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, S Company.

Daddy spent a total of 16 months in Europe, with six months of duty as a light machine gunner and three monts as a telephone switchboard operator/maintainer. He was separated from the Army on 30 June 1946, at the Camp Atterbury, IN Separation Center, where 560,000 GIs were processed.

I have two major regrets after my three year Air Force assignment at Ramstein Air Base, Germany during the mid 80's. One regret is that I did not see the great cathedrals and monestaries of Europe, and the other regret is that I did not study and see the battlefields which my own father sweat and bled upon. Now, I commence on my exciting quest to trace the march my Daddy took during the 2nd World War.

Mama Likes It!

2005-02-16T11:20:00.000-06:00

Today is the first anniversary of the day that Our Lord took Mama home to her reward. I and my siblings miss her terribly. I was still in the seminary and saw her regularly because I was only about an hour away in southern Indiana. I stayed with her during every school break. Mama suffered from cancer and it took about five and a half months to take her life. I have so many memories that make me smile and it is satisfying to know that she is with Daddy and especially with the Lord and the Blessed Mother, whom she loved dearly.

In the photo she is in the front, with Aunt Marie and Uncle Hayman, at a Blandford reunion in 2002, enjoying our famous Blandford BBQ chicken. It makes me quiver just thinking about that chicken.

Mama, you are a saint, no doubt about it. There's not a day goes by that I don't think of you.

It Runs So Purrty

2005-02-10T19:39:00.002-06:00

My yard takes four and a half hours to mow with my self-propelled mower. Not any more! I decided that before another summer roles around I am going to turn at least a third of the yard or more into groundcover and wildflowers. So, I found a used tiller for sale and went to check it out. The feller was moving to North Carolina and didn't want to pack it up for the move. Problem was it wouldn't start. We'd put gas in the ventura of the carburetor and crank and it would run out the gas in the carb and then quit. It wasn't getting gas from the tank. I had talked the man down $50 on the price already but since I thought it wouldn't cost much to get it running I got him to take another $50 less and I loaded it up.

I get home and then I look in the tank...it looked like...Chernobyl or Three Mile Island...disastrous meltdown thing going on inside. I'm not a nuclear physicist so I decided to take the initiative to take the tank in to a repairman to see if it was a threat to my fellow citizens of Mossy Head, FL. So I tore down the tank which meant I had to tear down the carburetor which meant I had to disconnect all kinds of sundry links, springs, wires, etc., from the motor. The repairman took a look and said, 'boy, I ain't never seen such perdition.' I said, 'huh?' He then said, 'son, you can kiss it goodbah.' I shopped all over the internet for prices for a new tank. Cost me $58 for the tank and a set of gaskets.

But, consarnit, I went to the library, book store, Auto Zone, asked questions at the certified repair shop, and searched on the internet until I worked up the courage (four weeks later) to begin thinking about putting everything together. Now I'm modockin. What cinched it for me was finding a webpage on the internet that had pictures...of the exact same carburetor as mine. There must be hundreds of different carbs out there and I lucked upon the only pictures in the whole universe of my carb and tank... being assembled. I'm now expert enough to remind everyone that you should always take pictures with your digital camera AS you disassemble your works. Especially first-timers who don't remember over a month later what pieces went where!

Yesterday I finished putting her together, bought fresh gasoline, changed the oil, aired up the tires, and cranked. Sounded normal but wouldn't turn over. Saw the spark wire wasn't connected!!! Cranked but just a sputter. The choke wasn't engaged!!! Cranked and Papapapapapapapapapapapapa! Adjusted the idle needle valve like the manual says and Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Oh man, angelic music to my ears. I put her in gear and went tearing across my yard. I had a chest on me, hooooowheeeeeee!

I'm ready to move to the Rockies now. I'm a self-reliant man...

Memento Mori

2005-02-10T18:18:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I went to mass and received the ashes on the forehead as a reminder that the season of lent has begun. Lent, in the Catholic tradition, is a time of reconciliation and conversion. Personally, I love ritual and tradition. For one like me, ritual is needed to spur the heart to center on the process of conversion. During the ordinary time of the year, without ritual reminders, I am prone to focus less on my spiritual conversion and more on my material wellbeing. The ritual season of Advent allows me to get ready for Christmas and the season of Lent prepares me for the celebration of Easter.

The Holy Father, Pope John Paul, refered to Ash Wednesday liturgy in his sermon yesterday as the 'Liturgy of death.' Good Friday was mentioned so as to remind us that like Christ we must die to ourselves to be reborn to eternal life. During lent we are encouraged to perform some kinds of penance and I assure you that when I deny myself of something I'm used to getting it keeps me focused on the suffering of Jesus Christ.

Speaking of death, I just finished the first book I've ever read by Muriel Spark, called 'Memento Mori.' Ms Spark is now 86 years old and is considered by many Brits to be the premier living English writer. Her most fameous novel is 'The Pride of Miss Jean Brodie.' Spark was 40 years old and a recent convert to Catholicism when she wrote Memento Mori. The title is Latin and means, 'Remember that thou must die.' The theme is old age, the characters are all elderly. The hook of the plot is that an unknown man rings up various characters, confirms who he is calling by name, and in a civil manner tells the person, 'remember, you must die.' The genius of Sparks is the telling of how each character deals with this omen. All in all, this is a familiar perspective on the four Last Things, as we Catholics call them, of death, judgment, hell, and heaven. This is not a dark and brooding tale, or macabre or grotesque, rather, it is told with humor and wit, like you'd expect from one of our great Catholic novelists writing of the Last Things. The book sure was timely reading for my meditation during this season of Lent.

Outfit Raises Eyebrows

2005-02-03T17:42:00.000-06:00

//

Last week the uproar was about Cheney's olive-drab parka, hiking boots and knit ski cap worn at the anniversary ceremony at Auschwitz. He did stand out among the solemn, and appropriate, dark dress of the other dignitaries. Even his wife, Lynne, was dressed all in black. The weather was brutal but I bet he did wish he would have listened to his wife who undoubtedly made some sartorial comment before they left the hotel.

Now, since I am so non-partisan, I must give Hillary equal time. Last night at one of the most formal functions of the year in the seat of our federal government, the state of the union address, Senator Hillary was dressed like a prom queen of the proletariat, with her Castro-inspired pants suit. I wouldn't have given it a second thought if I hadn't seen all the other women in attendance wearing skirts. I've heard Hillary is a pretty tough gal who rules her staff and underlings like a hellcat. Don't cross her. There's jack-boots concealed under those pants...

A Blue-tipped Finger to the Naysayers!

2005-01-30T16:07:00.000-06:00

I'm tipping a stiff one in salute to the Iraqi people. Whatta country! Here are some preliminary numbers, courtesy of The Corner...

Still relatively earlier, so take these as preliminary (coming from admin source): 14.27 million registered voters in and outside Iraq.; 5,159 polling centers; 184,000 local officials working at the 5,159 centers; Approximately 45,000 local Iraqi monitors and 199 international monitors. Total of 53,000 - 55,000 monitors; in 14 countries nearly 187,000 Iraqis voted in the first two of three days of voting for Iraqis abroad. This is 65.86% of all Iraqis who registered to vote abroad. Roughly two-thirds of Iraqis in the US who registered voted in the first two days of OCV voting.

This is what's called baby steps, folks. But, it's a sign that the freedom loving people are taking the offensive against those psuedo-human vermin of terror. There will be trying times ahead, but I will bet you a bucket full of red ants that we are witnessing the genesis of a struggle which will reverberate throughout the Middle East.

Note that there are two anniversaries today which strike me as germane to the events in Iraq. This day in 1968, which was the eve of Lunar New Year that year, began the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War. General Giap, leader of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), and the National Liberation Front (NLF), which we called the Viet Cong, led a widespread attack with the objective of stimulating an uprising by the South Vietnamese people. The offensive failed in that regard, but the unforseen result was that it planted doubt, the U.S. media flinched, and the resolve needed to accomplish the American mission began to dissolve. On the contrary, the Bush administration, US military, and above all, the Iraqi people have the resolve to see that freedom and democracy will sustain in Iraq. If not for the Fox News, talk radio, and internet, we would hear nothing today but what went wrong in Iraq today. I pity anyone who believes that Iraq is Bush's Vietnam...you hear me, Tippsy Ted Kennedy?!

Forty years ago today, Winston Churchill was laid to rest. He received the only non-royal state funeral of the century. I am in the middle of the the second volume of his six-volume, The Second World War. I found a great deal on the set in a used book store. Winston had a gift for history and for writing. But, Churchill is renowned by both critics and admirers as the solo voice to cry the warning that Germany was a developing threat to western Europe, and that England was woefully unprepared for meeting that threat. I believe that George W. Bush has read The Gathering Storm, Churchill's first volume, and he will not doom America to repeat the failings of Churchill's peers. Like Churchill, W sees a clear and present danger to the world, and thankfully, he's in a position to do something about it.

Brightest in Dungeons, Liberty!

2005-01-29T09:38:00.000-06:00

Lord Byron (1788-1824), though he was a very young man, expressed in his Sonnet on Chillon an intimate and empathetic grasp of the pain of tyranny and terror...

Eternal spirit of the chainless mind!
Brightest in dungeons, Liberty! thou art.

In a few hours the polls in Iraq will open. As Iraqi citizens abroad have since yesterday around the world, many will vote for the first time in their lives in an Iraqi election, and many will raise a blue stained finger in salute to freedom. The blue ink used by the poll workers will remain on the finger for a couple days which will preclude voting more than once. The terrorists have warned the populace that their blue-stained finger will mark them for death.

When I was a youth studying 'Civics,' which was still being taught with the emphasis on intellectual diversty rather than the cultural diversity and mutliculturalism so widespread today, we were bored to the extreme by the bland textbooks. We also didn't have the topical events from around the world to relate with our ideals of freedom and democracy. There were the negative comparisons, what with communism's influence spreading to Vietnam, Africa, and Central America. But today I would hope that the teachers are using the real-world events in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Iraq to encourage the youth to observe the birth and development of liberty and the forms of governments that protect and nurture it.

History will show that Ronald Reagan was instrumental in impeding the spread, and hastening the fall, of Communist hegemony. History will also reflect that George W. Bush set the tone for opposition to and demise of the threat of terrorism, especially of the antiliberal, fundamentalist, apocalyptic, nihilist, radical, totalitarian, internecine kind (which I refer to as Islamic extremism). Let freedom reign!

I believe that the peoples of Iraq, as well as Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, etc., can embrace democracy, if given a fighting (and voting) chance. One has to search very hard in the mainstream media to find reason to believe as I do, but an interview I found does support my optimism. This interview will not spawn any soundbites found in the MSM.

Lord, give the Iraqi people strength and courage in the days ahead...

Dark Night

2005-01-27T20:32:00.000-06:00

I mentioned in a previous post that the Catholic Church teaches that evil is primarily of two kinds, moral evil and physical, or natural, evil (there is also metaphysical evil, but it is left for more theological discussion). The tsunami horror is considered physical evil; the Holocaust is considered a great moral evil.

Today is the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps. I watched TV coverage of a ceremony at Auschwitz marking that event. The grounds was covered in snow and snow pelted down throughout the ceremony. At the start an eerie sound of an approaching train was broadcast signifying the cattle cars which brought over a million Jews to these particular camps. At the close of the ceremony the train tracks burst into flames, so as to never again be used for evil purpose.

I also read the haunting book, Night, by Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel. He was 15 years old when he and his family in Hungary were sent to the concentration camps, where his mother and younger sister were exterminated by gas chamber and crematory at Birkenau, and his father was brutilized until death on a forced march between camps. I was struck by the prominence of bitter cold and snow in Wiesel's book, especially at the end when he was liberated. The scenes on TV today reflected the same conditions which existed exactly 60 years ago.

A snowfall is welcomed by many because it covers much ugliness, stench, dirt, and even noise. It's as if a snowfall purifies the normal and mundane. On the other hand, an avalanche can cause death and destruction, pure physical evil. Man has the capacity to create and perform undeniable good. Likewise, as the history of Nazism shows, man is capable of the purest moral evil.

God bless the victims and the survivors.

2005-01-25T10:13:00.000-06:00

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Myself is more closer to utilizing good English.

2005-01-24T10:23:00.000-06:00

How do I know that? Because, I hear that kind of grammar everyday. From sophisticated kinds of people. Now, to the point. I hear things that are grating to my ear, so I pulled out my copy of "The Holt Handbook," the college composition writer's companion.

I cringe when people misutilize and abutilize the personal pronouns, "I," "myself," and "me." Examples are: 'The game was fun for Lisa and I.' 'Bob and myself finished the job.' According to my Webster House, most utilizage guides say that utilizing 'myself' in any construction where 'I' or 'me' could be utilised instead, is only appropriate in informal speaking, and never in writing. I think 'myself' should very rarely be utilized, and only when addressing bohemians. And here's the Holt Handbook: "Discard the mistaken idea that 'I' is always somehow more appropriate than 'me.'

Another burr under my saddle is the overutilization of the modifier 'more' utilized with comparative adjectives. I actually heard a weather reporter on TV recently say "Bundle up if you want a more closer view of the snowfall." "It's going to be more cold today than yesterday." I am certain that I was taught in school that a greater degree of slow is slower, not more slow! Funnier, not more funny! Lovelier, not more lovely! Later, not more later! Oh well, that's just me.

If I had a nickel for everytime I've seen 'to' utilized where 'too' was the intended meaning. Or 'there' incorrectly meaning 'their.'

Finally, who can explain why 'utilize' has replaced 'use,' which I think is a simple, elegant, and meaningful word?

Wow, this has been a cathartic blog...

Dear Daughter-in-Law,

2005-01-24T09:34:00.000-06:00

Sara, you ought to know that your husband, my son Leo, signed off from his latest email notifying us of your return date from Sri Lanka, as "Proud as a peacock." Well, Papa is purty proud himself. You are literally God's hands and heart in the recovery effort of the tsunami disaster. I suspect what you have seen and experienced has been pure hell.

I don't refer to natural disasters as 'acts of God' like insurance companies tend to do. My faith tradition refers to moral evil and physical evil, and the tsunami falls in the category of the latter. I may have to dwell on the Catholic world view on evil in a later post...

I hope you don't mind that I've been forwarding Leo's emails with reports of your work and wellbeing to your uncles and aunts and others. They have kept you in their prayers and thoughts. I know that your vast extended family has done the same.

Every time I hear reports from the Norwegians who work for the UN I am reminded of all your aunts, uncles, and cousins in Norway. They must be proud also.

Isn't it remarkable how the universe can coalesce into a humanitarian force for good?

The 'ard, 'igh Road

2005-01-17T13:35:00.000-06:00

A little jingle from an 1856 issue of Punch magazine is appropriate here. “It ain’t th ‘unting as ‘urts ‘im, it’s the ‘ammer, ‘ammer, ‘ammer along the ‘ard ‘igh road.”

It is my good fortune to own a four-wheel drive pick-up, because there are days when, after a heavy downpour, drastic measures are needed to traverse the main road/street leading to my house. Having worked up the courage to email the commissioner of my district, the gentleman gave me a call. I won’t mention names, but he was the only incumbent re-elected in my county last November. After exchanging pleasantries, we cut to the chase.

First, I owe the reader some overview. My street is one of many formed in a grid of roads and streets running north/south and east/west. If I understand correctly, this development, which is approximately eight square miles, was subdivided in the 1970’s. Consequent with the growing population and the stout real estate market, this once sparsely populated area is rapidly changing. Ninety percent of these streets are unpaved dirt. A large majority of the dirt roads in this development are maintained by the county (I’ve seen county road department maps) and graded on a regular basis.

The pertinent question put to the good commissioner was this, “Why isn’t our street on the county-maintained list and graded?”

The gentleman’s response, “There is a county law from 1996 which stipulates which county roads and streets are maintained.”

At this point I was optimistic that logic and reason would prevail. “Well sir, since 1996 the neighbors have moved in all over the place. Progress has finally arrived in this part of the county! Surely, the county is concerned about keeping pace with progress, if not getting a leg-up on it. Besides, this well-traveled road reflects a poor image of the county to those considering a homestead.”

“Well, there’s this here ’96 law…”

“But, laws can be updated or rescinded, especially where a county is changing so rapidly!”

The statesman rebuts, “Let’s look at it this way…I have a house on the end of a half-mile driveway. That driveway is a private roadway, not public. I grade that driveway myself. The county does not grade my driveway.”

“Mr. Commissioner, are you saying that my road is a private road?”

“Yes.”

“Well, this road is in the same development as all those other roads that are maintained by the county, so why is ours the exception?!”

Being wary of pushing the statesman over the edge, I did not refer to the scent of cronyism, antagonism to change, and so on.

“It’s the law,” rejoined the statesman.

The wind had gone right out of my sails. It occurred to me that I was wrangling with a man who knew his history, so I closed my interrogation. I meekly solicited the statesman’s support in case I decided to pursue the matter, albeit, within the constraints of the law!

There are options which don’t necessitate any undue effort from the statesman. For $25 the county road department will gouge, I mean, grade our road when they happen to be in the neighborhood, grading the two maintained roads that intersect ours. The problem is that some of my neighbors will not contribute to the fund because they prefer the craters in front of their place because it slows down the traffic…

Pistil or Petiole, Pinnate or Palmate

2005-01-17T13:31:00.000-06:00

On Thursday I attended my first 'Master Gardener' class at the county 'cooperative extension service'. For all you rural folks who participated in '4-H' like I did in my youth, you can appreciate what this county office has to offer. I will attend 50 hours of classes and field trips with 14 others who love to get dirty.

The quest speaker, who gave us the basics of botany...you know, the birds and bees of plant propagation...was a character. He's a 76 year old retired professor who became a Master Gardener himself, and was recruited to teach in the program. I caught him twice trying unsuccessfully to be politically correct in his presentation. Once, he prefaced a unique trait of a particular plant by saying, "whoever designed this, (he then caught himself) uh, whatever caused this process..." Another time he was referring to some unbelievably beautiful aspect of another plant saying, "of course, this is the outcome of pure chance, chaos, etc." I caught all this tongue-in-cheek goings-on and looked around and noticed that no one else seemed to enjoy his word-play which presumedly was to placate any hardcore Darwinians, atheists, and agnostics.

As an aside, we Catholics can live with the idea of evolution, in the biological sense. God works in mysterious ways and if He arranged that man develop veerrry slllowwwly from a primative ape-like being it just means His time is not our time. If you extrapolate natural selection into the ethical and philosophical, like Spencer, Huxley, Dewey, and Peirce, then you're talking Darwinism in the broad sense, with lots of atheism thrown in, and I don't play dat.

Christmas Pics!

2005-01-04T11:33:00.000-06:00

A Schoon (daughterInLaw Sara's family) tradition is to bury under the pile of Christmas gift wrap and take a picture! From bottom-left, Leo, his and Sara's friend Carol (who completed the Marine Corp Marathon in October), Jessica (Sara's step-sister), Sara, and Zack.

2005-01-04T11:27:00.000-06:00

This scene at Leo and Sara's was really beautiful. And the Christmas Eve meal was scrumptious! The Christmas Day Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings by Sara and Jessica was great!

2005-01-04T11:22:00.000-06:00

So, I'm Santa's reindeer...big whoop...

Merry Christmas!

2004-12-22T06:24:00.000-06:00

I am hitting the asphalt, going to spend Christmas with my sons and daughter-in-law, Leo, Sara, and Zack. Felis Navidad!!!

Butterfly Blues

2004-12-19T16:46:00.000-06:00

ATHEISTS PROTEST 'GIVING TREE'

REUTERS: U.S. Christians fight against secular Christmas

"Christian Conservatives Say It's 'Christmas' Time"

Christmas or Kwanzaa, Diwali, Ramadan, Chanukah or the Winter Solstice

Parade Organizers Say Christmas Carols May Be Offensive To Others

Ban on Christmas leads to court fight

School bans saying 'Christmas'

Christmas book banned from class

Parents sue district after teacher censors 2nd-grader's story

Christmas is THE NEW “C-WORD”

Public Schools and the ACLU Play Scrooge This Christmas

Christmas Trees are Banned from Public Buildings in Pasco County

Religious exhibit ruled illegal, removed from park's entrance
****************************************************
The above headlines are just a sampling of the deleterious impact that 'political correctness' is having on the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ. The television, radio, and internet are constant reminders of the insidious assault of liberal, postmodern secularists on not just Christianity but American tradition. This hegemony by the minority (most Americans are Christian and even a majority of those non-Christians are OK with the tradition of publically celebrating Christmas) is condoned by a certain political party and explains why said party lost in the last election and why they will continue to shrivel on the vine.

A year ago at this time I was still in a seminary studying for the priesthood. I was cocooned in an environment where I was uninformed about the ideological and cultural clashes out in the world. In other words, I don't recall hearing much about the PC attempts to strain or eliminate all hints of 'Christmas' from the public square (ACLU), nor the possibly subconcious impulse of the culture in general (see the plethora of sanitized and secularized 'greeting cards' on the market). Is this a suddenly new phenomenon (the actions described in the headlines above) or is the media pushing these headlines more than ever before, for lack of hard news?

Back in the seminary I made the point once that the seminary environment was not the real world. I got some flack from a member of the staff, one of the many Benedictine monks from the monestary there, because he disagreed with my assessment. I asked some of my fellow seminarians if they considered the seminary as experiencing the real world, and of course they felt as I did. My point is, I was spoiled (not the best description) by the sacredness, serenity, solitude, and opportunity for serious study, while living on the grounds of a monestary as a seminarian.

I'm no longer a seminarian...I'm living out in the real world. Must I assimilate?

Good News I have Not found in the N.Y.Times or CBS

2004-12-16T07:18:00.000-06:00

1. The violent-free election in Afghanistan is an amazing event considering the state of affairs in that country a short two years ago.

2. Peaceful revolution in Ukraine will send shockwaves around the world for freedom seekers. Not everyone in the world has access to unfettered news so they will not hear about the momentous events there. In fact, busloads of democratic loving people from Kiev are deploying to the hinterlands to inform their countrymen who have been kept in the dark by the Russian supported apparatchik (power structure).

3. A hero for the world's atheists, Antony Flew, a British philosophy professor, has apparently become a deist, to the dismay of his disciples. Flew released a video in which he said that, based on scientific evidence, he has concluded that some sort of intelligence or first cause must have created the universe.

4. The federal government (CDC) just announced new data on teen pregnancy/sex. Teens are delaying sex longer, more are practicing abstinence, and the rest are using contraception more consistently if they do engage in sexual activity. "Of those teens who have not had sex, the primary reason for their decision was
that it was “against religion or morals.”

5. Women and people of color have more positive role models in the Bush administration than any other American government in my memory. Where can we find a better example of diversity?

6. Nutella, the breakfast of champions and warriors, turns 40 years old! This chocolate/hazelnut spread, this exquisite marriage of gustable delights was invented in Italy and my first taste was when we were stationed in Germany in the mid 80's. Last evening my supper dessert was ginger snaps dipped in Nutella and chased with gulps of vanilla yogurt...it don't get any better than that (and no, I was not stoned).

Resusitating my Hearth

2004-12-16T07:01:00.000-06:00

It was 22 degrees when I woke this morning...at the same time it was 28 in my hometown in KY. Hope we get some of that warmer weather down here. Talk about timing...I joined the Arbor Day Foundation back in the summer, and for my $10 membership I get 10 trees. Shipments to Florida happen in early December because we can plant trees the year-round. RIIIIIGGGHHTTTT. Well the bare-root little guys arrived yesterday, in the middle of a killer coldfront. At least we don't have to deal with frozen ground here on the sand hill where I live. It will get to the high 50's today so I will get the twigs in the ground, and hope to see some buds in a few months...

I fired up the fireplace for my first time and didn't set off the smoke alarm. Man, a roaring fire, hot toddy, and a great novel sure sets the mood. Hold on now...I'm talking ambiance and not urges!

Rottweiler Mistakes Yorkie for Chew Toy...Ends Up Strangled

2004-12-11T08:34:00.000-06:00

I find everything about this story as suspect. Actually, fantastically unbelievable. A lady does not strangle a 130 lb. dog while the owner of the dog is holding on by its collar!

Deep Freeze in the Deep South?

2004-12-11T08:02:00.000-06:00

After an unusually warm Autumn the payback is imminent. Low 30's tonight and moving into the upper 20's for the low temps early next week. This is a good thing because I have to get acclimated to Washington DC type weather because that's where I will spend Christmas with my two sons and daughter-in-law.

I'm concerned about my new landscape plants. There are advantages to planting in the fall such as developing good root systems, or at least giving them a headstart before the hot summer weather ahead. But, I risk the tender plants in the cold fronts that come in the winter. Another peculiar thing about fall planting is that the deciduous trees have lost most of their leaves and I'm wondering if it's normal seasonal behavior, or are they not taking to their transplanting and are dying on me. So, I've been checking the little guys from time to time by pinching off branch tips to see if they are green or not. Looks like I'll be anticipating spring big-time looking for new leaves on my new trees, and fortunately Spring comes in late Feb and early March around here.

Adam and Eve were Long-Distance Runners?

2004-12-06T09:36:00.000-06:00

I've always considered running a primitive sort of past-time. Nothing is more natural, physiologically speaking, than running. Notice the first thing a toddler does after he learns to walk. Soon he is zipping all over the place, with his torso preceeding his little legs for momentum! Now research proposes that running was key to human evolution.

My training is going well. I ran eight miles yesterday out on a dirt road on the Eglin AFB reservation. It had been about a year since I ran that far in a training run (I did a 13 miler in a race a couple weeks ago). I ran 24 miles for the week, last week, and I haven't run that many miles in a week in a few years. My goal for a couple years has been to get my weight down to 160 lbs. I was at about 180 there for awhile, but now am hovering around 165. The point is to be able to see my ribs, and I can't distinguish them yet...

Church or Championship

2004-12-06T08:52:00.000-06:00

Read this little story out of California for a heartwarming, positive, hopeful piece of news about a segment of our tenderest generation!

Which reminds me. I hope to go to church Wednesday to celebrate a major date of the Church calendar, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Then, we celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas, on December 12th! The Blessed Mother truly pulls me into the spirit of Christmas. For an indispensible explanation on our devotion to Mary see this offering from former evangelical protestant, Mark Shea

Western Europe Pulls Head out of Sand Full of Fire Ants

2004-12-06T07:26:00.000-06:00

This article from the British newspaper, The Times, gives me the impression that Europe is undergoing their own 9/11. Our 9/11 was the climactic event, although there were prior overseas smaller terrorist attacks against our interests, going back to the 1980's. Western Europe's 9/11 is akin to slowly being poisoned; they've felt a creeping crud which they have suspected was alien to their system. The treatment? Ride it out and hope the immune system stuffs it out. What was this immune system consisted of? Political Correctness, Diversity, Multiculturalism, Tolerance. The result is that a full-blown tumor has broken, the bile has already spread, rapidly causing the body to deteriorate.

I'm in a festive mood today. What with the U.N. and its oil-for-food scandal, and paralysis of effect on the genocide in Africa. The MainStreamMedia, epitomized by the Dan Rather fake-documents scandal. The bloody, wretched, desperate, Islamofascists' attempt to stop free election in Iraq. The sports world, i.e. baseball, track and field, bicycling, devolving into steroid induced monster shows, not to mention the blood sport of player/fan brawling. The Netherlands Groningen protocol which euthanizes infants, the next logical step up from abortion.

I think I'll go shopping now...

Update:
Another report from Europe and I suspect we'll be seeing many more like it. Unchecked immigration causes agonized emigration...

"It's the Spark of Life"

2004-12-02T09:33:00.000-06:00

When my Daddy gave me the 'plumbing' lesson which explains how babies are made I was slightly more enlightened than I was prior to. I said 'plumbing' because I received a matter-of-fact, biological, unemotional, power-point display of the mechanics. My hormonal state was still embryonic, so-to-speak, so Daddy was not concerned with the ethics, morality, or consequences of pre-marital sex. He did prelude the lesson with "...when a husband and wife love each other...", so right up front, he put the sex act in the context of good, beauty, and love. Life was pretty simple back in the early 60's.

Daddy didn't tell me about phospholipase C-zeta (PLC-zeta). Nobody told me about it until I read about it in this article. One is led to believe that science can skirt the ethical questions of embryonic stem cell research now because PLC-zeta can be extracted from the sperm and used to spur the egg cell to divide and multiply. Since the potential stem cells, or blastocysts, which result are composed of only the female chromosomes then no babies can develop. WOW! Let's press on with 'therapeutic' (as opposed to 'reproductive' stem cell research which physicians, philosophers, politicians, and humanists agree should be banned internationally) research!

Well, hold on. Notice that the referenced article uses euphemisms such as 'dividing' and 'harvesting' and never uses 'cloning.' I'm not fooled. Thank God for the Magisterium of the Church which had the prescience to provide a wealth of teaching on this matter to guide us in medical ethics. I did a search on 'stem cell' on a Catholic website and tried to find reference to research which involves dividing human eggs without sperm but could find none. (I am baffled by the article's use of 'embryonic' even though the stem cells are not fertilized) I anticipate a response from the Church in the near future. An important thing I noted: 'adult' stem cell research is supported by the Church.

There are two potential sources of stem cells for human research: firstly, "adult" stem cells, which are derived from the umbilical cord blood, the bone marrow and other tissues; and secondly, "embryonic" stem cells, which are obtained by the disaggregation of human embryos.

The Holy See opposes the cloning of human embryos for the purpose of destroying them in order to harvest their stem cells, even for a noble purpose, because it is inconsistent with the ground and motive of human biomedical research, that is, respect for the dignity of human beings.

However, the Holy See applauds and encourages research using adult stem cells, because it is completely compatible with respect for the dignity of human beings. The unexpected plasticity of adult stem cells has made it possible to use this type of undifferentiated, self-renewing cell successfully for the healing of various human tissues and organs,1 particularly in hearts damaged after myocardial infarction.2 The multiple therapeutic achievements that have been demonstrated using adult stem cells, and the promise they hold for other diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders or diabetes, make efforts to support this fruitful avenue of investigation an urgent matter.3

Above all, it is universally agreed that the use of adult stem cells does not entail any ethical problems.

The news came last week of the South Korean woman who had been paralyzed for 20 years and suddenly is able to walk after receiving stem cell therapy. Although I find it hard to believe, and the event has not been independently verified, it is very good news. The woman was supposedly treated with stem cells from umbilical cord blood! Alleluia...

Another Victim of Hurricane Ivan

2004-12-01T07:17:00.000-06:00

One of the great races in the panhandle area is the Navarre Beach Run located between Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola. I have enjoyed the event since the mid-80's and since I moved back to the area recently, after living several years back in KY/IN area where I grew up, I was really looking forward to this early January race. There was always the option of running a 5K, 10K, or Half-Marathon...pretty unique. It always happens to be freezing with blowing winds. The after-race festivities took place at the Holiday Inn on the beach, within it's huge indoor square with a heated pool, jacuzzi, and plenty of space for live music and partying. Most of the rooms form first and second floor rings around the quad and the party spilled into many of those rooms. Just a fantastic scene, rivaling the revelry of Mardi Gra, especially in the rooms of the Louisianians who offered unlimited jumbalaya to all comers.

The hotel was severely damaged and the half-marathon is in question because of the destruction of the roadways from the hurricane. The bright side is that the 5K and 10K will happen and the post-race fun will be at Cocodrie's Restaurant on the beach. This is a Cajun specialty place so I hope to see many Louisianians come and make themselves right at home!

Hollywood, Truth or Consequences

2004-12-01T06:54:00.000-06:00

Pat Sajak, the amicable and erudite host of Wheel of Fortune, has pretty well nailed the Hollywoodian silence in the aftermath of the terrorist murder of the Dutch movie maker, Theo Van Gogh. Could the underwhelming reaction be attributed to fear, or to tolerance, or to hate? See what Sajak has to say...

Ignorance of the Law IS an excuse...

2004-11-30T07:14:00.000-06:00

...according to Sister Larraine who is director of a migrant/immigrant shelter in my hometown in KY.

Wilkerson (an employment and training specialist for the county) said some area employers are afraid that some Hispanic workers might be in the country illegally. But Sister Larraine said the law only prohibits people from knowingly hiring illegal aliens. The employers are not required to prove that the people they hire are in the country legally, she said.

I doubt that Sr. Larraine refers to the law correctly, but if she does then why even have the law on the books? As difficult as it is to disprove ignorance I would expect that any defendent accused of violating this immigration law would plead ignorance. But what of the universal 'unwritten' maxim that 'ignorance of the law is no excuse?' This maxim is true, generally, because good laws have these standard conditions: that it is promulgated widely and in advance for public knowledge, that its interpretation is unambiguous, that it is stable without constant change, and general in form.

My guess is that employers of these migrants are doing the morally appropriate thing , which is a better mitigating factor than ignorance. That is a valid tension between intent of the law and the intent of the employer. There is the possibility, I think, of employers looking to save by hiring the cheapest labor by far, rather than an having an altruistic motive. This appears to be a vicious circle for Sr. Larraine. She's perpetuating the need for her services by opposing laws which in effect motivate migrants to wean themselves from the need for her services, i.e., learn some English, obtain legal entry.

The bottom line should be charity. But nowdays immigration matters are national security matters. And any intelligence reform or overhaul must consider the security of our borders, north and south.

Puppy Daddy?

2004-11-29T08:53:00.000-06:00

Got a knock on the door yesterday and a neighbor kid gave me a shock. He tells me that my dog, Oslo, and his dog had pups a week ago. I stalled for a few seconds thinking/hoping he was joking. I said, "how do you know?" and he said they look just like Oslo. I said, "He's only seven months old, almost!" The kid says, he's old enough...I seen him humpin' her. I said, "What are you going to do with them?" He said, do you want one? I said NO. He said he and his daddy are going to take them to the Walmart parking lot at Christmas time, when they're old enough, and give them away.

The breeder where I got Oz told me that his mother was only seven months old when she and the father hooked up. Said he'd never seen a bitch bear that early. Looks like she's a grandmother and hardly a year old!

Letter to the Editor

2004-11-29T07:11:00.000-06:00

I found, right here in my own backyard, yet again another example of the attempted eradication of any and all references or influence of Christianity in the public square! I quote part of an article in the local newspaper here:

"Holiday Reflections is Sims’ brainchild. The 78-year-old saw similar displays when he traveled out of state years ago and thought DeFuniak Springs needed its own lights. For its first six years, the display was called Christmas Reflections. This year the Walton County Tourist Development Council renamed it to appeal to a wider audience, Sims said."

Excuse me if I'm sensitive, but the proof that the secular, liberal culture is intolerant of Christians is constantly being thrust into our faces. The ACLU has had a vendetta against the Boy Scouts for years. See the recent news of the Dept. of Defense relenting to the ACLU's suit to stop the support which military organizations have historically given to the Boy Scouts. See the recent news of the teacher in California suspended for teaching the Declaration of Independance which references God. See the recent news of a school district in Maryland which warned that students could express thanks in school in anticipation of the holiday, but they couldn't thank God.

Throughout my life I've witnessed a steady erosion of public witness of Christianity, influenced by the "church/state separation" argument (which words do not even exist in the Constitution). Nowhere is the implicit bigotry and discrimination more apparent than at Christmas time. Every year it is becoming increasingly challenging to find any sign of the true meaning of Christmas. I've quit looking for Christmas cards with the theme of the real reason for Christmas, because it riles me so. I used to consider it a fun challenge to hunt for such cards. Now, it's like the odds of finding a seashell on the panhandle beaches...they ain't any. Gives me an excuse to bury this tradition of card giving. Sigghhhhhhh...

Feelin' Thankful

2004-11-25T08:43:00.000-06:00

This is my first Thanksgiving without the comfort of reaching out and touching my Momma, whether closeup or from long-distance telephone call. She was always my refuge in a world that is not a settled place.

In fact, our universe, i.e., humanity, is racked with pain, fear, confusion, and hate. Many of us understand our lot as the result of fallen man, from the original fault of pride, yet we have hope of redemption or deliverance in the eternal life. Many others see man as the highest creature of a naturalistic evolution of life, so far, and hope that man (or humanity, to be PC) can overcome the basic instincts to create a world of peace, tolerance, and happiness. For those others, my question would be...who would you be thanking on this Thanksgiving Day? Yourself, the lottery, lady luck?

I'm trying to focus on the fundamental, essential reasons to be thankful, not material or outward reasons. The essentials are my faith, the love of my family and friends, my health, and my freedom. Pretty overwhelming when I think about it!

I wish that everyone who gathers with their families and/or friends this Thanksgiving overlook their disagreements and celebrate their unity and harmony and affection.

Timberlake Run

2004-11-22T10:18:00.000-06:00

I ran in a race Saturday and I'm feeling it today! I had the option to run a 5K (3.1 mi) or a half-marathon (13.1 mi) and I ran the latter. At the 11 mile mark I 'hit the wall.' The lactic acid had finally built up in my thigh muscles to the point where they kind of locked up. So there were a couple walking stints in the last two miles, but I was thrilled to be able to do the distance...and...I got a first place medal for my age division. Afterwards there was a massage and a couple beers, both courtesy of the race director. Got home and soaked in my jacuzzi tub full till I roasted and took a nap. Later, I met some old friends and ate a delicious meal of shrimp and scallops Alfredo on pasta, with some great wine, at the Tradewinds restaurant in Valparaiso. The place was jammed so it was prudent that we had reservations.

Everthing was fine until I woke up Sunday morning and could hardly walk on my left ankle! I limped to Church, then I limped to Walmart to get an old-fashioned ice bag. Went home and took aspirin all day and iced my ankle till it turned blue. I'm much better today...been outside watering my babies all morning.

Fungi Farm!

2004-11-22T10:03:00.000-06:00

While working in the yard adding new plants I found this growth on an old tree stump. Lately, I added two Leyland Cypresses. They make the best Christmas trees. Mine are about three feet tall and will grow to 30 or 40 ft. On the corner of my front porch I planted a young Chinese 'Drake' elm, also called a Lacebark Elm because of the delicate flaking off of the bark to leave a mottled orange, brown, and gray effect. It is the same appeal as the River Birch that I planted on the other side of the yard. I'm outside all the time now that the weather is ideal.

It's a real pleasure to go spend time in the local nurseries because I am the only one there usually. So many folks have moved to the panhandle from farther parts north that practically everyone waits till spring to do major planting and maintenance, because that's the way you have to do it up north. In this hardiness zone the fall and winter are times to get with it and get a jump on the spring garden.

I Dig Cowboys!!

2004-11-22T09:34:00.000-06:00

President Bush is the epitome of a Texas Ranger. With his actions down in Santiago, Chile this weekend, he has further endeared himself in the hearts and minds of those of us who support him. Chilean journalists condescendingly called him a cowboy after he single-handedly pulled one of his personal bodyguards from the midst of a fracas among security personnel. Cowboys are an enduring symbol of America. I'd love to be a cowboy. I ride my motorcycle because that steel horse makes me feel like a cowboy. If the jounalists want to insult the President they could call him a French surrender-monkey, a three-toed Canuk, or a multiculturist Dutchman. But, I don't think he's too upset about being called a cowboy.

There should be an investigation of that episode because there are Bush haters who would love to separate the President from his Secret Service en el momento oportuno.

Mace the Pacers

2004-11-22T09:12:00.000-06:00

Watched that end of the Pistons-Pacers game live Friday night. First time I've ever seen Bill Walton speechless! I've turned into a Pistons fan since Tayshaun Prince (formerly a KY Wildcat) joined the team two years ago. Got really excited watching them win the NBA Championship over the Lakers. Call me biased, but here's my take on what I saw Friday night. In the last minute of the game Ron Artest needlessly fouled Ben Wallace by slapping at him instead of the ball. Considering the circumstances of the point spread and time left, I considered that a flagrant foul like Big Ben did. Now Ben goes and shoves, really hard, Artest in the neck area. The benches clear. But here's the deal. Artest backs off and stays clear the way away from Ben, and he inexplicably goes and lays down on the officials table while they are trying to contain Ben. If Artest is injured they should have taken him to the locker room. I considered him taunting by laying there on the table and watching the mayhem like he's laying on the beach. Not surprised that he gets plastered by a cup of beer. He didn't have the cajones to deal with Wallace, but he sure jumped a fan in a hurry. I knew about Artest asking last week for a month off so that he could publicize the issue of his rap album. Good for him...he nows has the rest of the season to promote himself due to the suspension announced yesterday...

The bottom line for professional sports is *money.* Consequently, you won't see drastic action taken to deal with rioting fans. They won't cut off beer sales, say at the end of the third quarter. We will see an increase in security personnel, who by-the-way are practically invisible in the replays of the riot. They won't move the seating back further from the playing floor. They won't put up glass walls like at hockey arenas. The game will suffer for the majority of fans because of the few punks amongst them.

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

2004-11-22T09:04:00.000-06:00

I snuck off and ran without the Oz, so as I'm finishing up my run I'm just out of sight before I turn the corner to my house. Oslo hears me but doesn't know it's me, so for *the first time* I hear him let loose with a "WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO?! It was music to me ears to hear my six and a half month old pup turning into a little man. A couple days later, we were in the house when he heard something outside and jumped on the couch to look outside and he barked a couple times. His nervous system is developing right on time. My alarm system is hooked up!

Another distinction for the 'Flyover' States

2004-11-11T17:44:00.000-06:00

With a nod to the Southern Appeal blog, I just had to pass this along for the benefit of those who rant about the cold-hearted, greedy, social conservatives not giving a damn about the poor and disadvantaged. Check out this index which shows the philanthropy (generosity) rankings by state. Note that the first 24 states ranked are so-called Red States!

2004-11-11T14:43:00.000-06:00

I had some odds and ends in the fridge and cabinet so I made a pauper's feast...whoever can tell me all (there is no meat) the ingredients gets my esteem and makes my wokking world go round!

Master Gardener Program

2004-11-11T13:37:00.000-06:00

I just filled out the application to become a Master Gardener. All I have to do is pay up $90, attend 50 hours of classroom training, pass a 50 question test at the end, and perform 50 hours of volunteer time within one year for the county extension agent's office. The program is active in 45 states and in over half of the counties of Florida. If I'm one of 20 people selected I will learn about plant physiology, insects, plant diseases, care of landscape plants, vegetable gardening, fruit gardening, lawn management, landscape design, irrigation, and communications. What I am particularly interested in is how all this relates to my piece of ground located in my zone of plant hardiness, and what are the native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. If I'm selected I'll attend my first class on 13 January.

Listen Up, Blue America...

2004-11-11T06:46:00.000-06:00

Very sensible advice coming out of Manhattan...ignore this link , and this one at your own peril!

My garden of eden

2004-11-09T08:21:00.000-06:00

I know, no big deal. But it is a big deal...this is the first bud of the genesis of my new landscape! I bought these, along with a black walnut tree, a couple palms, and some other plants I didn't get the name of. I bought these plants at the ARC, a service for handicapped. The lady told me the plant in the picture was a Chinese Bluebell. I researched and found that it is called Mexican Bluebell, Mexican Petunia, and Florida Bluebell.

Later I went to Home Depot and got three different ornamental grasses, which I am going to continue to acquire; pampas grass, muhlenberg (gulf muhly) grass, and some rubrum (purple fountain grass). Got some mexican heather (which I had before at my townhome on Boggy Bayou, and flowering kale. Then later, I went to the local garden nursery and bought two giant crape myrtles (one red, one white) and planted them on a berm on the corner of my property along with the fountain grass. I also bought a nice river birch. Well I'm watering the you-know-what out of everything, and so far I am only losing one of the kale!

From 1 Peter 2:11-17

2004-11-09T06:47:00.000-06:00

One of the Bible readings from this morning's Liturgy of the Hours struck me as another timeless piece of scripture. Quoted in part: "...Though the pagans may slander you as troublemakers, conduct yourselves blamelessly among them...Because of the Lord, be obedient to every human institution, whether to the emperor as sovereign or to the governors he commissions for the punishment of criminals and the recognition of the upright. Such obedience is the will of God. You must silence the ignorant talk of fools by your good behavior. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cloak for vice."

We who are practicing Christians struggle with living the Way of Jesus Christ because we are human, with all our feebleness and foibles. To make matters worse, we have to deal with the estrangement (the polite word) from non-believers (pagan, Gentile, depends on your translation). Has it not been worse than ever during this latest campaign and election? The kicker in these verses is the admonition of our civic duty, which is easier to swallow, I will admit, if you happen to have voted for the incumbant last week. Peter points out that our allegiance is directed to all human authorities and not just the sovereign, in reference to the fact that some Gentiles divinized their monarch. In a constitutional republic like ours we shouldn't have that problem (although JFK came close to being divinized). Bottom line for me...I need to keep my language and actions out of the gutter that partisanship has become. Dignity, example, conduct, patience, comportment, respect. Whewwww...easier said than done!

Stream of Consciousness...

2004-11-08T08:18:00.000-06:00

Random thoughts...

I recall numerous times in my travels overseas when someone would point out that their grievance with the USA is aimed against the president and his policy. They emphasize that their ire and disgust is NOT directed to the American people, or the American culture. On the contrary, I have seen too much anger and invective hurled at the people of 'middle America' and what we stand for from arrogant, contemptuous, sardonic spewers from Old Europe. I am mighty grateful and relieved that the majority of Americans have emphatically disavowed the Kerry idea of a 'global test' for the conduct of our own affairs. What I'm alluding to here is the French Disease (You don't have to be French to have it). I learned, for the first time last night, while watching a documentary about WWII that Hitler had not even completed his conquest of France when in the summer of 1942 the American navy was attacked by the French navy off the coast of North Africa. We lost 7,000 men in that battle, but within three days the French navy was decimated. The Vichy government, true to form, chose the wrong ally, its conqueror no less. The French reaction when Hitler attacked north and eastern France? Rapid retreat...impulsive armistice...let loose on their ultimate liberators. What gets me cranked is hearing that French president Chirac left a European Union summit early to avoid meeting interim Iraqi prime minister Allawi. Chirac did rush to the bedside of the deathly ill Arafat in a French hospital. I determined long ago that Chirac and his supporters have taken French Leave. Millenia of history indicate they will never return...

Speaking of Arafat, I noted in the news this morning that his confidants and lieutenants are desperately trying to retrieve the codes for secret bank accounts holding up to a billion dollars. Unfortunately, these codes are supposedly only residing in the dark depths of Arafat's memory. Science fiction couldn't come up with a better storyline...a frantic search for that Sony machine which sends camera probes into sewers...an evil genius adapts it (doesn't need anything but downsizing) to fit in Arafat's manhole...doesn't work so Israelis recruited and quickly and cleanly solve this Gordian knot.

2004-11-08T08:15:00.000-06:00

I was out in the garage this morning pouring a bowl of dog food for Oslo when I heard some rattle, sorta like from a little rattlesnake or a windup toy soldier ratta-tat-tatting on his tin drum. I look all around, then glance at Oslo who was doing a little teeth-rattling shiver. Cutest thing I ever saw. It was only 55 degrees...I guess soon the little guy will be shivering from teeth to tail, because it will occasionally drop to freezing temps up here in the sandhills of the panhandle in Jan and Feb.

The Tolerant Left

2004-11-06T09:48:00.000-06:00

*Warning: Those who are sensitive to profane language (and/or have a high regard for the basic goodness of the human race) should avert their eyes...

Is this just an aberration or is this fellow representative of the liberal elite?

Election Day Omens

2004-11-03T13:09:00.000-06:00

The little dark cloud was like the early exit polls...soon overwhelmed by the happy sunny cloud of the impending Republican ascendancy!

Be Loud, well you can be loud, chillun', Be Proud

2004-11-03T11:54:00.000-06:00

Be proud you're a rebel, cause the South's gonna do it again, and again! Last night I went to bed at 6:00 p.m. with the intent of waking later when votes had been counted and results from around the country were in. I woke up at midnight, found out that trends were pointing to a Bush win. So I immediately tuned in to Dan Rather to enjoy watching and hearing him squirm! This morning I was waiting with intense satisfaction at 8:00 for Katie Couric to come on and the Today crew did not dissapoint. They were all wearing BLACK this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Two or three segments of the show were on the subject of the Supreme Court. Katie is concerned about the possibility of Bush cleaning up some of the federal activist judges. Go W!!! While going to some commercial breaks Today played cuts of the Dave Matthews band. I soured on them during the campaign because they 'rocked the vote' for Kerry. Now I think they sound quite quaint...

To quote the great Churchill, to the British on VE day in May, 1945, "We may permit ourselves a brief period of jubilation!" And may I be specific. My message is "Move On" to MoveOn.org, George Soros, Michael Moore, Bruce Springsteen. "Move on" to Jacques Chirac, The New York Times, and CBS! "Move On" to Osama Bin Losin, Le Monde, Terry McAuliffe, and Dave Mathews Band. "Move On" Tom Daschle, Dan Rather, Kofi Annan, and ACLU.

Can you believe the solid Republican sweep of the South?! After the big time good news of W's re-election, the big news is the South, loser Daschle, and the huge continued increase of Republican seats in the Senate and the House!

I haven't heard how the Catholic vote broke out specifically, but Kerry definitely did not get anywhere near the Catholic votes that JFK did. Thankfully, some of the bishops have developed some spine and have taken their teaching ministry seriously.

A poll I saw this morning showed that the no. 1 issue for voters was 'moral values.' The DemocRats will use every kind of excuse for losing so badly but they won't admit that their 'don't give an inch' attitude toward abortion could lead to their demise as a major political party.

Final note. I'll bet you a bucket full of red ants that there were undecided voters who stepped into the booth noting that there had been no terrorist acts attempting to disrupt the American election. I admit I was expecting some kind of interference (besides the impotent Bin Laden and his videotape). Undoubtedly, the terrorists are on the run, and the undecideds may have voted accordingly.

Amen, and Alleluia!!!

I Have a Plan

2004-10-26T18:25:00.000-05:00

I am four weeks into my new running training plan. And I'm excited because I am injury free. Usually when I come off a long period of little or no running, I try to come back too damn fast. With my program, taken from marathontraining.com, I am progressing at a rate that will preclude injuries, unless I trip over my pup, Oslo, or an armadillo or something.

I would love to run another marathon, particularly the Marine Corps Marathon in Wash D.C. The problem is that that one is in October and training is just too difficult in these hot/humid summers to be ready in October. I'm looking at some late spring races out in CO, SD, and WY. I've got some cousins I've got to visit in CO, so if I time it right...

Whew!!! Almost October Surprise!

2004-10-26T07:16:00.000-05:00

A 'source' takes a potential politically damaging story to CBS news, who, under Ratherbiased circumstances, turn down the opportunity. So, the source goes to CBS's ideological clone, the New York Times, and they jump on the story like a terrier on a rat! Supposedly, the U.S. military has allowed 380 tons of controlled weapon materials to go missing. A week before the 2004 general election the headline jumps off the NYT front page, top-of-fold. Kerry and Edwards don't take a breath before condemning Bush for a massive error in the conduct of the war in Iraq, emphasizing Bush's failure as a leader. Wellllll....Kerry should have taken a breath because the news cycle was not one day old before we hear that NBC News had a news crew embedded with the 101st Airborne Division when they arrived at the storage depot the day after troops first arrived in Baghdad. The conventional weapons were already missing!! There is much more behind this story supporting the contention that political enemies are desperately attacking the Bush campaign with a week to go before the election.

I will be so relieved when November 3rd is here!

2004-10-25T16:54:00.000-05:00

My friend Alma who worked at the internet cafe, and me, in Guatemala...and yes, I was giddy. Can you blame me?!

Welcome...

2004-10-25T15:04:00.000-05:00

With a quiver and a quake, I launch my weblog! I considered taking this step for quite a while, realizing that I can be very frank and honest about how I feel about who I am and the circumstances of my earthly existence. Like most bloggers, I have strong convictions which will surface occasionally. Also, related to the name of my blog, 'Country diction,' I am a bona fide contradiction. This will be apparent to anyone who happens upon this blog.

I was born and raised in the 'country' in western Kentucky. Once I enlisted into the military and started a family I experienced years of the urbane, suburban lifestyle, in deference to my family and because I despised the wasted time of a long commute. Now that I'm semi-retired I have returned to the country, and I, along with my American Bulldog pup, Oslo (Ozzie), intend to remain here in the Florida panhandle in all its glory, beauty, and remoteness.

One will find in this blog a variety of subjects, i.e., religion, politics, dogs, landscaping, running, kayaking, mountain bike riding. I can't speak of the first two subjects with my brothers, for obvious reasons, so I now have this outlet! If I successfully use the features accessible to me I will be able to categorize my ramblings and retorts.

Rather than expect a blessing by dedicating this site to a patron saint, I will chance to commit this blog in honor of G.K. Chesterton, the English agnostic who converted to Catholicism, who staunchly and deftly promoted the truth of the Christian faith. If one were to imagine the Church with its team consisting of the offense and the defense, Chesterton would be the star of the offense!

I leave you with one of my favorite GKC quotes..."Tolerance...is the virtue of the man without conviction!"

Y'all come back...