Pensamientos

GAO chief warns economic disaster looms - Yahoo! News

2006-10-28T13:40:00.000-07:00

GAO chief warns economic disaster looms - Yahoo! News

Anagram for Ink

2006-01-18T15:34:00.000-08:00

Anagram for Ink

Michael Yon : Online Magazine

2006-01-01T10:03:00.000-08:00

Michael Yon : Online Magazine

Out Of The Mouth of Babes

2005-12-30T07:13:00.000-08:00

The following is an excerpt from an essay written recently by Farris Hassan, 16, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who traveled to Iraq without telling his parents:"There is a struggle in Iraq between good and evil, between those striving for freedom and liberty and those striving for death and destruction. " The complete essaycan be read by clicking the link. Farris essay reveals an idealism and a compassion that is rare in an American teen. His voice is a voice that we all should hear and that our President and leaders should pay attention to.

Wading into War Again

2005-11-10T13:38:00.000-08:00

Son Paul leaves for his second Iraq tour the day after Thanksgiving. The first tour was pretty stressful on our whole family. Given the political situation in Iraq today, I'm certain it'll be worse this time. Saddam's pending trial, elections and escalating violence punctuate the landscape. My feelings are expressed in the poem that I wrote and placed under the title of this blog. In general this weblog will shift emphasis from poetry to the war and my son's presence in Iraq. I will continue to write poems on a different blog called "Poetic License" http://www.testkeith.blogspot.com. Please visit, read, enjoy and comment on my poems. I hope to share my thoughts (Pensamientos) about the war, life in the USA, and the current political doings from my own understanding and perspective. Also I'd love to hear from parents who have a son or daughter in the military, so feel free to leave comments.

Poems Re-posted on My other Blog

2005-10-10T16:38:00.000-07:00

The formatting on this site went haywire and screwed up my poetry. I reposted at the following site: www.testkeith.blogspot.com

TODAY´S QUOTE

2005-09-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

TODAY´S QUOTE "When we're incomplete, we're always searching for somebody to complete us. When, after a few years or a few months of a relationship, we find that we're still unfulfilled, we blame our partners and take up with somebody more promising. This can go on and on--series polygamy--until we admit that while a partner can add sweet dimensions to our lives, we, each of us, are responsible for our own fulfillment. Nobody else can provide it for us, and to believe otherwise is to delude ourselves dangerously and to program for eventual failure every relationship we enter."...Tom Robbins

Charles Russell

2005-04-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

Charles Russell
Originally uploaded by hombreciego.

This wonderful wood engraving by James Todd brings back a flood memories of growing up in Montana.Charlie Russell was a legend in my home town of Great Falls. As a boy of ten, selling the local evening newspaper (The Great Falls Leader)in the dowtown bars on Central Ave., I daily admired Russell's paintings hanging behind the bar at the Mint Club in a smoke-drenched atmosphere peopled by drunks, indians, poker players and construction workers. The smell of smoke, whiskey, vomit, and body odors permeated the air of the Mint. Often in the back alley behind the saloon I would stumble over a bloody, unconscious drunk who fell victim to to an awful beating.

Aside from the nostalgia of my newspaper selling days, The artist James Todd was a boyhood friend of mine. We grew up in the Parkdale/Bill Holt low-income housing projects of post WWll Great falls. Jim ended up as a college professor at The University of Montana He was a precocious artist and an intellect who influenced me and my other friends greatly. Most of our circle attained college degrees and served in various professions, despite the poor circumstances in which we were reared. As teens we were a snooker playing, beer drinking, jazz listening, rowdy group. Today at 65 yrs. old, I find that James Todd's Charlie Russell wood engraving satisfies my nostalgic thirst. Thanks Jim.

Lukes Whopper Spring Chinook

2005-04-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

Lukes 39 lb Whopper Spring Chinook Oregon
Originally uploaded by hombreciego.

Luke, my son wrestled this giant salmon for a good while. It was a beauty! Fishing with one's sons is about as good as it gets. Fathers and sons need to fish together often. Simply nothing like the bonding that occurs from a successful fishing trip!

Keith and Oregon Spring Chinook salmon

2005-04-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

Keith and Oregon Spring Chinook salmon
Originally uploaded by hombreciego.

Dreaming about going to Oregon and trying my hand at catching some more of these beautiful fish. The springers are now running and I long for the beauty of the silent Rogue River. Maybe I'll get there this year.

The Old Tavern

2005-04-18T10:53:00.000-07:00

The Old Tavern is now a museum Trail Creek tavern in Trail, Oregon was my favorite hangout and watering hole during the 1980's and the 1990's summer vacations. It was the only bar close to where I lived, but I mainly enjoyed the eclectic mix of patrons who frequented the place. On any given day, I could strike up a conversation or swap tales or play pool with loggers, fishing guides, truckers, bikers, doctors, lawyers, business owners, housewives, tourists, salmon fisherman, rafters and just plain interesting folks. The tavern featured cold draft beer, juicy hamburgers, homemade pizza and chatty bartenders. During the day the atmosphetre was that of a small town cafe, with working folks dropping in and out for short chats, while at night it was much louder and rowdier after the loggers left work and the fisherman recorded the days catch. Country music blasted from the innards of the tavern on weekends and jealous husbands, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends often argued and fought over some real or imagined infidelity. The surrounding neighbors constantly tried unsuccessfully to get the tavern's license revoked because of rowdy weekends. It seems like they finally succeeded as Trail Creek Tavern is now a museum, a blip on the radar screen. I shall always think of her as a place where I enjoyed many beers, met some good friends and swapped some tall tales. The following is an article about Trail Southern Oregon that I found interesting and decided to share it here. It will give you an insight as to why I love this place: Just click the link to read it.

Innovations

2005-04-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

CNN recently published the following list of the top innovations that changed the world in the last quarter of a century: TOP INNOVATIONS 1. The Internet 2. Cell phone 3. Personal computers 4. Fiber optics 5. E-mail 6. Commercialized GPS 7. Portable computers 8. Memory storage discs 9. Consumer level digital camera 10. Radio frequency ID tags 11. MEMS 12. DNA fingerprinting 13. Air bags 14. ATM 15. Advanced batteries 16. Hybrid car 17. OLEDs 18. Display panels 19. HDTV 20. Space shuttle 21. Nanotechnology 22. Flash memory 23. Voice mail 24. Modern hearing aids 25. Short Range, High Frequency Radio By clicking the link or the title of this article you can read CNN's analysis of each innovation and it's value and impact.

What I learned in Kindergarden

2005-04-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

The following excerpt is from Robert Fulgum's wise little book about the things he learned in kindergarden. I believe there is way to conduct our lives that makes us saner, happier and more stable. My precious girlfriend reminds me daily that I have too many rules for living and that I set too many boundaries. Simply I'm more at ease and more stable when my life has a clear direction. I'm a poet, accustomed to chaos, and I constantly strive to create order and give shape to what I imagine. Always, I seek for the things I need to know, because they are somewhere. Here is the crux of fulgum's ideas: "Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living. Take any of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or your government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if all-the whole world-had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had a basic policy to always put thing back where they found them and to clean up their own mess. And it is still true, no matter how old you are-when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together. All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sand-pile at Sunday School. These are the things I learned: 1 Share everything. 2 Play fair. 3 Don't hit people. 4 Put things back where you found them. 5 Clean up your own mess. 6 Don't take things that aren't yours. 7 Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. 8 Wash your hands before you eat. 9 Flush. 10 Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life ~ learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. 11 Take a nap every afternoon. 12 When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. 13 Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that. Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup-they all die. So do we."

Poetry Quotes and Thoughts

2005-03-24T11:40:00.000-08:00

"A poem begins with a lump in the throat". ~Robert Frost Often, my poems do begin with a "lump in the throat", a feeling that something is amiss and needs to be explored. At times a simple statement by someone begs to be written about in a poem. At other times. dark, uncomprehensible fragmented thoughts rattling about in my subconcious scream to surface for air. today, I'm thinking about poetry and what it means. Here is a page of several poetry quotes of famous writers and poets, who define poetry from their particular perspectives. I do not have my own definition of poetry, but I suspect that my feelings about it are a composite of several slanted perspectives. Particularly, I am attracted to Archibald McCleish's statement that a "poem should not mean, but be". I cannot always explain the meaning of my poems, but, like a song, I can always feel them.

Blog Thoughts

2005-03-22T11:25:00.000-08:00

I began this blog 14 months ago. I didn't have a theme or a specific purpose in mind when I began, so I named the blog "Pensamientos", which means "thoughts" in Spanish. Initially I was more concerned with the design and appearance of these pages than the actual writing. It became an interesting way for a retired guy like myself to pass the time in a creative activity. After I was satisfied with the look of this weblog, I began writing about random thoughts that swirled about in my head. Reactions to tidbits of news, other people's blogs and the war in Iraq,( Especially the war, since my son Paul was fighting there as a soldier). Because of my anxiety for Paul's safety, my daily writings became expressions of war thoughts and were personal and cathartic. Eventually, Paul returned home safely from Iraq (Praise the Lord!!) and my pre-occupation with Iraq diminished. Everyday, I still read the names of the soldiers who have died and are on the American Coalition website and say silent prayers for their souls and for their familie's grief. My son is still a soldier with the real possibility of returning to Iraq in the future, and I never want to forget the Americans who have died or have been maimed in this bloody war. I have always written my thoughts in a small private journal. Also, I write poetry about things or ideas that impress or bother me. If I can write it,I am often able to understand it. This isn't always true, but I gain some clarity and emotional satisfaction through writing. For the past few months, my blog has become a poetry blog. Many of my poems are about relationships between men and women, about sex and passion, about trust, about deceit, about lonliness and even about joy. I've discovered that I often see the dark side of things, which I suspect interests me more than the saccharine, pleasantness of ordinary living. I'm certain that my poetry offends some and inspires others. Most poems on this blog are works in progress, that I constantly edit and change. If you're reading this essay and enjoy my poetry and writing, welcome. If you are bored or turned off by my writing,move on. There's plenty of interesting stuff to read out there without wasting your time here. I truly appreciate those of you who have taken the time to read and comment on my poems or have contacted me regarding them. Thank you. Following this essay is a new poem that I published today. It is a short triolet entitled "Inner Space"

Happy Holidays

2004-12-14T13:16:00.000-08:00

A/V Blog
by Userplane

Read My Blog in Five Languages

2004-11-20T15:57:00.000-08:00

Today I added links at the beginning of each article that enables the reader to choose one of five languages (Spanish, German, Italian, Portugese and French).A reader can select his or her preferred language by simply clicking on the appropriate link, and the article will be translated into that language. Nuances of meaning will change in translation, but the gist of my article will be clear. It won't translate audio readings however. Try it, international readers, and let me know what you think by leaving a comment. More blog fun!!

The Real Self

2004-10-30T15:18:00.000-07:00

OUR REAL SELF Just by being ourselves we are borne toward a destiny far beyond anything we could imagine. It is enough to know that the being I nourish inside me is the same as the Being that suffuses every atom of the cosmos. When the two see each other as equals they will be equal, because then the same force that controls the galaxies will be upholding my individual existence.-Deepak Chopra

Presidential Thoughts

2004-10-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

Generally I'm apolitical. I hold a healthy mistrust of most promises and words put forth by politicians. The welfare of the average American is much less important to the politician than the special interests of the major corporations. Poor access to basic healthcare, enviromental pollution and destruction, a mind-numbing, under-funded educational system, and the recent aggressive war-mongering by our beloved country, all serve to re-inforce my mistrust of America's elected representatives. With the presidential election, just a few short days away, i'm acutely aware that one must choose between the lesser of two evils; a democrat or a republican, an aspirant or an incumbent; both heavily funded by corporate America and rife with special interests; most of which have nothing positive to offer you and me, the so-called average American. Is this election important? Does it matter whom we choose? Are these men, Mr. Bush and Mr. Kerry so different? These are tough questions for me to answer. As I wrestle with this puzzle, we are in an awful bloody quagmire in Iraq, 40% of all Americans have no health coverage, terrorists threaten our freedom, the jobless rate has skyrocketed, the economy is weakening, our schools are woefully inadequate and illegal immigration is over-the-top. Additionally, our basic freedoms and our privacy are being challenged at every turn. It's a different America, than I've grown accustomed to over my long life. Who will keep our country safe, viable, healthy, respected? which candidate, which man will better serve and preserve this great country for my children and grandchildren? As I ponder my vote, i still can't decide. I hope in the next few days, my mind will penatrate this rhetorical fuzziness and that I'll make the right choice between these "lesser of two evils!"

[Listening to: The Prayer - Andrea Bocelli; Celine Dion - Sueños (04:30)]

Suppression of an Artist

2004-10-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

Chilean Writer, poet, friend and adopted grandaughter, Happy Lee del Canto ended her fine creative blog today. The pressure of criticism by ignorant factions within her culture were more than she could bear. The subtle comments, the tsking lips and the nodding gossipy heads of lesser beings, silenced this national treasure into obscurity. Forgive them. They know not what they do. Her Word Flow is gone. She will be sorely missed by her daily readers, and potential readers will never know her. The following Robert frost poem is dedicated to happy: Robert Frost - The Silken Tent She is as in a field a silken tent At midday when the sunny summer breeze Has dried the dew and all its ropes relent, So that in guys it gently sways at ease, And its supporting central cedar pole, That is its pinnacle to heavenward And signifies the sureness of the soul, Seems to owe naught to any single cord, But strictly held by none, is loosely bound By countless silken ties of love and thought To everything on earth the compass round, And only by one's going slightly taut In the capriciousness of summer air Is of the slightest bondage made aware.

Age in Context

2004-10-14T20:11:00.000-07:00

Actors and movies are a measuring stick of one's age in perspective. For example, the following facts, relative to my present age, brings into focus an aspect of my personal history: 20 years 4 months younger than Zsa Zsa Gabor, age 85; 9 years 0 months younger than Clint Eastwood, age 74; 6 years 4 months younger than Kim Novak, age 71; 3 years 4 months younger than Burt Reynolds, age 68; 0 years 8 months older than Nick Nolte, age 64; 1 year 11 months older than Ann-Margret, age 63; 7 years 9 months older than Billy Crystal, age 57; 10 years 5 months older than Whoopi Goldberg, age 54; 13 years 1 month older than Robin Williams, age 52; 17 years 1 month older than Tom Hanks, age 48; 19 years 5 months older than Jamie Lee Curtis, age 45; 21 years 10 months older than Eddie Murphy, age 43; 31 years 1 month older than Jennifer Lopez, age 34; 39 years 8 months older than Jennifer Love Hewitt, age 25; 48 years 10 months older than Haley Joel Osment, age 16. When these movies were released in the U.S. my age was: Casablanca: 3; All the King's Men: 10; Old Yeller: 18; Ben-Hur: 20; West Side Story: 22; The Sound of Music: 25; Guess Who's Coming to Dinner: 28; Midnight Cowboy: 29; The Godfather: 32; American Graffiti: 34; Jaws: 36; Star Wars: 37; Animal House: 38; Star Trek: The Motion Picture: 40; ET: 43; The Terminator: 45; Top Gun: 46; Planes, Trains & Automobiles: 48; Steel Magnolias: 50; Home Alone: 51; Wayne's World: 52; Jurassic Park: 54; Forrest Gump: 55; Fargo: 56; Saving Private Ryan: 59; Toy Story 2: 60 . tempus fugit!

No Internet for two weeks? How 28 people coped. | csmonitor.com

2004-10-14T14:10:00.000-07:00

No Internet for two weeks? How 28 people coped. | csmonitor.com

Validation

2004-10-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

All humans share a basic need to be validated, a need to be heard. Writing and blogging validtes us. Creative activity provides catharsis and gives voice to our deepest feelings. It release the demons within. We expose our true selves to the sun's rays, wrapped in metaphor and ideals. A broken chilhood is re-created and the artist is re-born. Our existence is validated. As we share our words, we say "We matter".

[Listening to: The Prayer - Andrea Bocelli; Celine Dion - Sueños (04:30)]

In Memorium

2004-10-11T11:39:00.000-07:00

My uncle Lewis Lewis, my uncle died this past week. His teen years were spent in Montana where he learned the value of hard work while working on a ranch. He enlisted in 1942 and served in the European Theatre as a gunner on a B-17. He survived his twenty-five missions and returned home in 1943 to Lowry Air Base. This photo hung on the mantel in my parent's home for years and served as a constant reminder of a family war hero. His sons, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren will sorely miss Lewis.

Survey Shows Web Withdrawal

2004-10-10T11:57:00.000-07:00

I think I have a new disease called web withdrawal. My palms sweat, I shake, my stomach growls, and my head pounds if the day passes without my online fix. How did this happen?Haven't been this addicted since I crushed out the last butt of that filthy Marlbourough smoke 30 years ago. I'm in good company though. I encounter millions of others, just like me, everyday. The cyber-family has replaced the real family. The glaring computer screen has become the center of the universe. It's pathetic. I play poker, blog, e-mail, read the news, chat with friends, research, emote, philosophize and interact with unknown faces in far away places. I'm connected in ways, un-imagined just a few years ago. Orwellian culture is reality. Willingly, I submit to the prying eyes of "Big Brother" like a fish to the bait. The meaning of freedom is being re-defined. After I'm gone, I wonder what my children's lives will be like?

Effects of War on the Ordinary Citizen

2004-10-07T13:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Oprah Winfrey featured 30 yr. old women from around the world on her show. Awestruck by many of their stories and lives, one in particular riveted my attention, and brought home the perils of the devastating Iraq conflict. This young woman, Sabah, a writer, detailed the perils and fear of living in Iraq today. She put a face on what all women face in iraq today. Surviving each day is the main goal of these women. Anarchy reigns. daily they are subject to murder, rape, and kidnapping. Many are terrified of leaving the house, fearful that they won't return.They have no safety, no protection, no freedom. The hope of a post-Saddam liberty and democracy no longer exists for them. They are at the mercy and the whim of lawless, senseless, random violence. Their children are murdered and their lives are shattered. Like you and I, they are simply people, struggling to survive. American media under-reports and fails to mention the horror of their lives. They are faceless statistics, lumped together under the umbrella of terrorism and radicalism. From the comfort of our easy-chairs, we judge their culture, and dismiss them. They're humans, not numbers. we must humanize them, understand them, and help them. When America deposed Saddam Hussein, she accepted the responsility for the safety and well-being of these victims of this war. It's time to step up to the plate and demonstrate what my America stands for. To do less, will scar us in the eyes of the Iraqis for all time.

A Blog in Spanish

2004-10-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

Read about my adopted grandaughter in Spanish in my spanish blog and click on the link to her creative blog in English to read the work of this talented Chilean woman.

Daily Meditation

2004-10-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

"whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable?If anything is excellent or praiseworthy?Think about such things. "...Philippians. Thoughts pervade the spirit and determine one's actions. If the mind is filled with garbage and negativity, external actions reflect the attitudes. . The struggle to stay the high ground is an ever-present one. Although we are products of heredity and environment, we are blessed with choice and free will. Daily, we are bombarded with images of war, violence, sex, pornography, fractured families, and perverse relationships. Images are magnified by mass media and television. From birth, we are exposed and led to believe that "anything goes" is the norm and perfectly natural and acceptable. We are in a struggle for our soul and spirit. Good is overshadowed by evil. Through such clouds of darkness, the light of hope is dim. These clouds cannot be ignored, but with great effort we can choose to dwell upon the light, and fill our spirits with hope and optimism. We can see what's great about our country, rather than what's evil. In small act of kindness and charity, our nation's true soul is reflected. We can change what we can and turn away from the metastisizing cancer of doom and negativity. This attitude is not pollyanyish, it's right thinking. As written in Phillipians, see and think about the noble, pure. praiseworthy, and the righteous. Like the ancient Roman bacchanalian culture, your survival depends on it. They ceased to exist, we musn't!

The Beatle's Site

2004-10-03T21:55:00.000-07:00

The great Beatle's Discography page

Rocky Mountain News: America At War

2004-09-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

Are soldiers being coerced into re-enlisting? Here is a disturbing story from Colorado Springs.

A Link Worth Visiting

2004-09-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my soldier-son Paul, called and told me he had volunteered for funeral duty. He, along with other soldiers in the detail would present the U.S. flag to the family members of the deceased. Paul, told me he actually likes this duty as it gives him time to reflect and pay respect to veterans who preceeded him. As a young boy, Paul presented the flag to his grandmother at his grandfather's funeral and it left a strong impression of respect on him. I appreciate more and more the man that my boy has become. In the sidebar of this blog, there's a heroe's memorial link, that is worth visiting. It is a list of the names and details of every U.S. military person that has died in combat during the past eighteen months. If you click on the title of this article or on the link at the end of this article it will take you to the website.

An Open Message to My Adopted Grandaughter in Chile

2004-09-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

"" am suffering here. I am in pain. Life sucks and it will never get better. Not in a country like this, not where you aren't given any opportunities. This had become almost a mantra to me." .....Un-Happy Lee del Canto. In the midst of el bosque, los arboles seem to encompass the world. Beyond the forest's borders there is light. One must proceed toward the edge with hope of illumination. Spirit resides in the mind. Family illness, poverty, unfair employment,unpaid bills, hunger, broken love, death and loss; cast black shadows like the tall trees, that darken our spirit. With God's help, you are your own salvation. Use your gift of words and connecting with others to raise you up. Happy, Life does not suck, and it will get better! In a country like Chile or a place like Wonderland, most of us are never "given" opportunities. We "create" opportunities" despite the burdens. God gave you your wonderful gifts for a reason. See the light shining through the tall trees and don't despair. A new season is upon you. Change your mantra! Te quiero grandaughter. Besitos, abuelito

2004-09-27T16:10:00.000-07:00

Paul and Kim at military Ball Here's a photo of my smiling son and his pretty wife at the ball. Check out the ribbons and medals on Paul's chest. Small tokens of appreciation for a heroic job, serving our country in the Iraq war. I'm very proud of my son's service and grateful for his safe return.

In Praise of the World's First Chocolate Lovers

2004-09-14T11:38:00.000-07:00

I love choclate! I drink choclate/ rasperry creamer in my coffee; choclate syrup laces my ice cream; choclate hearts stimulate my love hormones on Valentines day; sinful choclate cake fills my palate with exstasy. Choclate is for lovers. So who discovered this heavenly food? Read the following article for the answer.

My Personality

2004-09-06T09:45:00.000-07:00

Today I took a personality test from the BBC.s great science and health website. Here are my results from the 70-odd questions that I answered: My Results Extraversion Some people like lots of stimulation; they want people around them, activity and excitement, whilst others prefer to be able to focus on things in a calm and quiet environment. Most people prefer a blend of the two extremes and your answers suggest that you are quite comfortable in either situation. You can probably cope with things being a bit hectic or a bit quiet but, like most people, you may find extremes in either direction uncomfortable or annoying. Confidence Some people make decisions very easily and tend not to worry about them before or afterwards while, at the other extreme, some people are so careful and cautious that the decisions never get made! Taking a cautious approach can be a good thing (do you want to fly with a pilot that is so free from worry and concern that she never checks her controls and instruments and doesn't bother to communicate with air-traffic control?) Openness While some people like experimenting with new things and ideas, others prefer traditional methods and taking a very practical approach to problems. Your answers suggest that you like to balance a willingness to try new things with making sure you don't scrap an existing approach that works just because it has been around for a while. Like most people you may not enjoy constant change and uncertainty or an environment where nothing develops from year to year, but your preparedness to see the merits of new and old alike can be helpful. Agreeableness Most people want to be able to get on with others but to some it is the most important thing in the world, whilst others are quite happy to upset someone else if it means that things get done. Your answers suggest that you can be firm with people when you need to be but that getting on with others is still important to you. Like most people you would rather avoid conflict but are not prepared to put up with being treated badly by others. Conscientiousness Some people like everything to be well planned, tidy and organised, whilst others prefer to deal with things as they come up and appear to work in absolute chaos. Your answers suggest that you don't like having things too structured or being tied down and you can cope quite well without having to have everything organised. This may make it hard to find things at times or for colleagues to know where you are or what you are doing, but you probably find coping with the unexpected (the things your colleagues didn't plan for!) easier than many.

Dog Days

2004-08-02T20:54:00.000-07:00

The dog days of summer arrived early this year. I skipped writing during the month of July. Words would not come and the silence was deafening. August is prodding me awake again, encouraging more writing. After Paul returned from the war, I've spent a very long meditation of thankfullness, counting the blessings received. Now its time to get busy and leave my cocoon.

SPC Keith Maupin

2004-06-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

"Ladies and Gentlemen: I appear to say but a word. This extraordinary war in which we are engaged falls heavily upon all classes of people, but the most heavily upon the soldier. For it has been said, all that a man hath will he give for his life; and while all contribute of their substance the soldier puts his life at stake, and often yields it up in his country's cause. The highest merit, then is due to the soldier."...Abraham Lincoln God Bless SPC Keith Maupin's soul and the family he leaves behind.. Held captive in Iraq by bloody terrorists, He was murdered in cold blood with a bullet to to base of his skull. He put his life at stake for freedom of the Iraqi people and to serve his country. Lest we forget, as President Lincoln said, the burden of war falls most heavily upon the soldier The barbaric bloody beheadings of both civilians and coalition troops reveal savagery unknown to civilized people everywhere. We under-estimated the strength of world terrorism, but the terrorists badly underestimate the will of Americans and free peoples of the world. "SPC Keith Maupin, You didn't die in vain".

An Artist

2004-06-27T13:16:00.000-07:00

Happy Lee del Canto is an artist in the mist. A Chilean writer, she touches many lives with her words and her art. A breath of pure oxygen in a love-starved universe. Her music is strummed from an angelic harp that poignantly penetrates the deepest recesses of the human soul. To enjoyed her rarified atmosphere, read The Word Flow. I'm proud to be her friend and her adopted grandfather.

La Paz

2004-06-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

" live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."...Ephesians Peace begins with me. A small speck in the universe. A flick of a tiny bird's wing chipping away at the Rock of Gibraltar. A commitment to my own inner love and tranquility. From a small child's innocence, a village arises. I am a meme of peace. Love your neighbor Share your sustenance with the poor. Reach out to the oppressed. Listen to the inner voice and still the turmoil. God is your guide. Trust him.

Listen to the Silence

2004-06-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

New studies suggest that some aspects of human personality are inborn and resistant to change. Ironically, this makes the role of environment all the more important in shaping individual lives. I know that my personality is a mixture of introversion and extroversion. I'm much more introspective and introverted than extroverted. Rearing and upbringing have served two reconcile and fuse these opposite personalities within my psyche. Introverts are not necessarily shy. Shy people are anxious or frightened or self-excoriating in social settings; introverts generally are not. Introverts are also not misanthropic, though some of us do go along with Sartre as far as to say "Hell is other people at breakfast." Rather, introverts are people who find other people tiring. With their endless appetite for talk and attention, extroverts dominate social life, so they tend to set expectations. In our extrovertist society, being outgoing is considered normal and therefore desirable, a mark of happiness, confidence, leadership. Extroverts are seen as bighearted, vibrant, warm, empathic. "People person" is a compliment. Introverts are described with words like "guarded," "loner," "reserved," "taciturn," "self-contained," "private"—narrow, ungenerous words, words that suggest emotional parsimony and smallness of personality. Female introverts, I suspect, must suffer especially. In certain circles, particularly in the Midwest, a man can still sometimes get away with being what they used to call a strong and silent type; introverted women, lacking that alternative, are even more likely than men to be perceived as timid, withdrawn, haughty. Extroverts therefore dominate public life. This is a pity. If we introverts ran the world, it would no doubt be a calmer, saner, more peaceful sort of place. As Coolidge is supposed to have said, "Don't you know that four fifths of all our troubles in this life would disappear if we would just sit down and keep still?" (He is also supposed to have said, "If you don't say anything, you won't be called on to repeat it." The only thing a true introvert dislikes more than talking about himself is repeating himself.) Extroverts are energized by people, and wilt or fade when alone. They often seem bored by themselves, in both senses of the expression. Leave an extrovert alone for two minutes and he will reach for his cell phone. In contrast, after an hour or two of being socially "on," we introverts need to turn off and recharge. My own formula is roughly two hours alone for every hour of socializing. This isn't antisocial. It isn't a sign of depression. It does not call for medication. For introverts, to be alone with our thoughts is as restorative as sleeping, as nourishing as eating. Our motto: "I'm okay, you're okay—in small doses." Extroverts are easy for introverts to understand, because extroverts spend so much of their time working out who they are in voluble, and frequently inescapable, interaction with other people. They are as inscrutable as puppy dogs. But the street does not run both ways. Extroverts have little or no grasp of introversion. They assume that company, especially their own, is always welcome. They cannot imagine why someone would need to be alone; indeed, they often take umbrage at the suggestion. As often as I have tried to explain the matter to extroverts, I have never sensed that any of them really understood. They listen for a moment and then go back to barking and yipping. The worst of it is that extroverts have no idea of the torment they put us through. Sometimes, as we gasp for air amid the fog of their 98-percent-content-free talk, we wonder if extroverts even bother to listen to themselves. Still, we endure stoically, because the etiquette books—written, no doubt, by extroverts—regard declining to banter as rude and gaps in conversation as awkward. We can only dream that someday, when our condition is more widely understood, when perhaps an Introverts' Rights movement has blossomed and borne fruit, it will not be impolite to say "I'm an introvert. You are a wonderful person and I like you. But now please shush." How can I let the introvert in my life know that I support him and respect his choice? First, recognize that it's not a choice. It's not a lifestyle. It's an orientation. Second, when you see an introvert lost in thought, don't say "What's the matter?" or "Are you all right?" Third, don't say anything else, either someone you know, respect, and interact with every day is an introvert, and you are probably driving this person nuts. It pays to learn the warning signs.

Mom's Generation

2004-06-10T09:27:00.000-07:00

Today my precious 84 yr. old mom called to wish me a happy birthday on this day, my 65th year. We were both struck by the swiftness of the passing years. Life is short. It seems like only yesterday that mom was a young mother raising two young children and I was a child running amok among the other children. In 1920, the year of mom's birth, life in the United States was very different. Her generation looked like this: FACTS about this decade. 106,521,537 people in the United States 2,132,000 unemployed, Unemployment 5.2% Life expectancy: Male 53.6, Female 54.6 343.000 in military (down from 1,172,601 in 1919) Average annual earnings $1236; Teacher's salary $970 Dow Jones High 100 Low 67 Illiteracy rate reached a new low of 6% of the population. Gangland crime included murder, swindles, racketeering It took 13 days to reach California from New York There were 387,000 miles of paved road. I wonder what our world will look like 1n 2020?

My Birthday

2004-06-10T09:20:00.000-07:00

Wow! I'm 65 yrs old today! Happy birthday to me and my friend Sue. I'm three hours older than she. We discovered our mutual birth day at the poker table. Geminis both, we are full of the devil. Our twin natures multiplied into a foursome! i'm unsure if the world can tolerate that. Lovers we're not, kindred souls we are. Entering the world together creates a special bond between beings....star crossed....enigmatic...shifting temperaments like desert sands in a windstorm...two planets aligned....sharing inconsistent natures in a whirling universe...seperate lives brought together by fate in a cosmic dance. It's our day; our arrival on God's earth...a day of reminiscience and celebration...a time to count blessings. One thing for sure, we won't die young, my friend Sue and I. I hope the next 65 years brings us peace, health and prosperity. Again, Happy birthday to us Sue!! :-)

If I Could Do It Again

2004-06-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

In thinking of what I would do, if I had life to live over again, I remembered a Poem by Jorge Luis Borges in Spanish and a similiar poem by 85 yr. old Nadine Stair ( I think Borges poem is a translation of Stair's, but I'm unsure). Here are both poems, the first in Spanish, followed by the English version: INSTANTES. visitas hasta hoy: Si pudiera vivir nuevamente mi vida. En la próxima trataria de cometer mas errores. No intentaria ser tan perfecto, me relajaria mas. Seria mas tonto de lo que he sido, de hecho tomaria muy pocas cosas con seriedad. Seria menos higienico. Correria mas riesgos, haria mas viajes, contemplaria mas atardeceres, subiria mas montañas, nadaria mas rios. Iria a mas lugares adonde nunca he ido, comeria mas helados y menos habas, tendria mas problemas reales y menos imaginarios. Yo fui una de esas personas que vivi sensata y prolificamente cada minuto de su vida; claro que tuve momentos de alegria. Pero si pudiera volver atras trataria de tener solamente buenos momentos. Por si no lo saben, de eso esta hecha la vida, solo de momentos; no te pierdas el de ahora. Yo era uno de esos que nunca iban a ninguna parte sin un termometro, una bolsa de agua caliente, un paraguas y un paracaidas; Si pudiera volver a vivir, viajaria mas liviano. Si pudiera vivir nuevamente comenzaría a andar descalzo a principios de la primavera y seguiría descalzo hasta concluir el otoño. Daria mas vueltas en calesita, contemplaria mas amaneceres, y jugaria con mas niños, si tuviera otra vez vida por delante. Pero ya ven, tengo 85 años y se que me estoy muriendo. JORGE LUIS BORGES. If I Had My Life To Live Over... I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would take more trips. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments and if I had it to do over again I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had to do it again I would travel lighter than I have. If I had my life to live over I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies. by NADINE STAIR, 85 years old - Louisville, Kentucky.

Thoughts of War

2004-06-08T08:22:00.000-07:00

Since Paul my son returned from the war in iraq, I haven't written in this blog everyday. The war still occupies my thoughts, but the intense feelings and worries that I previously felt are gone. Daily, American soldiers suffer injury and death in Iraq. I deeply feel sorrow for their families. Daily, innocent Iraqi civilians die from terrorist bombings and shootings. I strongly feel the pain of their loss. The war goes on and my son is still a soldier, albeit back home in the USA. Life is different for our family now, but we realize that Paul could return to the war, and once again the daily anxiety would return. With this in mind, I continue to pray for the troops and their families and and to pray for peace.

The Word Chingar

2004-06-02T13:40:00.000-07:00

La palabra, the word is in our sangre, our blood. It's el alma de la cultura, the soul of the culture. It defies definition and analysis. It resides in our nerve endings and vibrates like harp strings when strummed to life's melodies. In Mexico the word chingar runs through the life force of the people. It is subtle, overt, powerful, sly, ironic, complimentary, blasphemous, sardonic, crude, sophisticated and secret- all wrapped up in nuance and context. In his novel La Muerte de Artemio Cruz, Carlos Fuentes includes the following: TÚ la pronunciarás: es tu palabra: y tu palabra es la mía; palabra de honor: palabra de hombre: palabra de rueda: palabra de molino: imprecación, propósito saludo, proyecto de vida, filiación, recuerdo, voz de los desesperados liberación de los pobres, orden de los poderosas, invitación a la rifia y al trabajo, epígrafe del amor, signo del nacímiento, amenaza y burla, verbo testígo, compañero de la fiesta y de la borrachera, espada del valor, trono de la tuerza, cilmillo de la marrullería, blasón de la raza, salvavida de los limítes, resumen de la historia: santo y seña de México: tu palabra: -Chingue a su madre -Hijo de la chingada -Aquí estamos los meros chingones -Déjate de chingaderas -Ahorita me lo chingo -Andale chingaquedito -No te dejes chingar -me chingué esa vieja -Chinga tú -Chingue ud. -Chinga bien, sin ver a quién - A chingar se ha dicho -Le chingué mil pesos -Chínguense aunque truenen -Chingaderitas las mías -Me chingó el jefe -No me chingues el día -Vamos todos a la chingada -Se lo llevó la chingada -Me chingo pero no me rajo -Se chingaron al indio -Nos chingaron los gachupines -Me chingan los gringos -Viva México, jijos de su rechingada: tristeza, madrugada, tostada, guayaba, el mal dormir: hijos de la palabra. Nacidos de la chingada, muertos en la chingada, vivos por pura chingadera: vientre y mortaja, escondidos en la chingada

Longing For My River

2004-06-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

June 1st always stirs my blood and makes me restless for some summer fishing. The bright chrome Spring Chinook Salmon enter the mouth of Oregon's Rogue River in peak numbers and await my fishing line. I pine for early morning coffee in the drift boat while waiting for first light and whispering to Jeff (my friend and fishing guide)so as not to disturb the resting fish. I long to hear the massive owl scold the beaver who slaps it's tail on the bank, disturbing the great horned creatures nocturnal reverie. Mostly I love the companionship of fishing with my sons and the shared excitement of catching these giant "Springers". The picture below is me with a couple of these great fish.
Summertime and the living is easy

2004-05-31T23:15:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day-A national holiday set aside to remember and honor soldiers, sailors, marines and other members of the armed forces, both past and present, living and dead. For me it is a time to reflect on the past year and give thanks that my son returned safely from Iraq and, to pray for the safe return of my nephew, Joshua, who is serving in the U.S. air Force, in the Middle East. My son, Paul's been home exactly sixty days. He's still a soldier, and as I write this, he's on a chartered bus to Texas on an 18 hour trip, for three weeks of advanced military training. The picture below is a photo of Paul in Iraq. I published it before, but in honor of my son and in support of American troops worldwide, here it is again.
Back on the job on Memorial day 2004

2004-05-29T00:45:00.000-07:00

It groans, it moans, it disconnects my words. I curse its fickleness and bemoan my dependency on this damn machine. Like a beautiful woman, I can't live with it or without it. How I've lived for so many years without this technological miracle amazes me. I want to kill my computer and once again feel the wind on my face and listen to the silence of the natural world, but the addiction to cyberspace is stronger than coal-tar heroin. I'm at its mercy. It connects me with a world far too interesting to abandon. For two days now I've been offline with glitches, and I sense delirium tremors quaking like a 7.0 richter-scale earthquake throughout my body. I'm back online and my fix is soothing me now! :-)

2004-05-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

"Congress brought twin bills, S. 89 and HR 163 forward this year, entitled the Universal National Service Act of 2003, "to provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons [age 18--26] in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes." These active bills currently sit in the committee on armed services." Mandatory military service for America's youth in the prime of life?? Are my precious grandaughters faced with a draft in a few short years? Why haven't the President, Congress or the Media discussed this issue publicly, with The American people? Is this another "Patriot Act" ram-rodding? Surreptiously, our freedoms are slowly disappearing under President Bush's "secret" administration. Like bat, in a dark cave, his policies can't stand the sun's rays and the scrutiny of bright lights. As usual, I have more questions than answers. To re-institute the Draft, we must have a national and public dialogue, involving all Americans and not just the elected, who generally, poorly represent us. Their nether world doesn't even closely resemble mine and that of the majority of Americans. Let your voices be heard loud and clear my friends!!

2004-05-25T17:48:00.000-07:00

"If you fall I'll be waiting, time after time"...Cyndi Lauper song With mouth wide open, reaching for a high note at an outdoor concert, Cyndi Lauper gagged and choked as a passing, high-flying pigeon deposited its load directly down the singer's gullett! Girls just wanna have fun! :-)

2004-05-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a gift from Srta. del canto of Chile, the blogger banner at the top of this blog disappeared. A small html change did the trick. I love it when smart people share their little aesthetic secrets with me. In cyberspace, one can find the answer to almost any question. It's a modern miracle. What used to take hours of research among the stacks in a library, now takes minutes with a computer search engine. Computers have shrunk the world and have created a global community with the ability to share different cultures. One would think that world peace would result from this shared understanding. Why are we still warring and more violent than the cro-magnons?

2004-05-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

Today's psalm in the sidebar under "Balm for thr Soul" from the International Bible Society, seems particularly appropriate in thes troubled times.

2004-05-19T08:54:00.000-07:00

The U.S. administration is scapegoating lower-ranked enlisted men and women for abusing Iraqi prisoners. Where are charges and trials of supervising officers? These abuses were not unknown to the higher powers. To prosecute privates and sergeants is a farce and a travesty of justice. It is a gross miscalculation and a cowardly path to blame the common soldier, while allowing the responsible higher echelon to escape responsibility for their neferious decions to extract information by questionable practices from prisioners and terrorists. The parade of poor decisions by our leaders continues to demoralize U.S troops and erode its credibility with the American people. The upcoming Presidential election results will reveal this country's sentiments, graphically. My support of the President and his advisors weakens day-by-day. No longer do the pithy statements of Mr. Bush stir me to patriotic pride, they sicken my spirit and shake my confidence. The horror of 9-11 has surely changed America, but George Bush's response to this terror is a scenario fraught with far greater dangers for our country than the destruction and deaths of the Pentagon and the twin towers of the World Trade Center. How a single term presidency weakened America in four short years is a colossal phenomena that we'll never recover from. Only God's intervention will save us from this tortuous path.

2004-05-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

In the sidebar on the right, after the photos, I added a bibical passage that is updated daily by The International Bible Society. I borrowed this idea from the very creative Happy Lee (The answer-seeking gal), my adopted Chilean grandaughter. Thanks Happy, I hope you don't mind, but it's a nice touch, which comforts readers and helps spread the word. I've entitled it "Balm For The Soul" because we need a little salve to soothe us in troubling times. Besitos, tu amigo viejo.

Ain't Love Grand

2004-05-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

Even for an old guy love is still possible. J-1's story proves the fact: Love almost passed J-1 by. At 5 years of age and 52 pounds, he's reaching the end of the line for his species, the largest octopus in the world. J-1 is in a period of decline that occurs before octopus die. His skin is eroding. His suckers have divots. "He's not as strong as he used to be," said aquarist Deanna Trobaugh. With so little time left, J-1 wasn't going to let the sweet Aurora slip through his eight octopus arms. While she had to make the first move, he caught on quickly, especially for an octopus who was collected on a beach near Seldovia in 1999 when he was about the size of a quarter and has lived the bachelor life since. To get the two together, aquarium staff put Aurora in a plastic bag and then gently poured her into J-1's 3,600-gallon exhibit tank. She sank to the bottom of the tank and then made the first move, going over to J-1, who was hanging on a rock wall. She reached out an arm and touched him. Only then did he wake up to the fact he had company. Contact made, she went back to her corner of the tank. J-1, dispelling water from his siphon to get quickly across the tank, was in hot pursuit. "They both were gripping the back wall of the tank. He just about covered her completely," Hocking said. The two remained intertwined for about eight hours. It's possible that during that time when J-1 was exploring Aurora's mantle with his many suckered arms that he passed his sperm packet to her, Hocking said. What the aquarium staff does know is that when they separated, J-1 flashed some colors, turning almost white and then dark red. "It looks like instinct took over during that encounter and they did what they were supposed to do," Hocking said. J-1 gives all of us elderly gentelmen hope. Athough our skin is eroding,and our suckers have divots and we aren't as strong as we used to be, a little push from a lovely female can re-kindle the spark and restore our amorous instincts and nature will awaken the dormant feelings, long suppressed. I await the comely Aurora, to dance, entwined in our many-armed embrace of forgotten passion while I flash my colors in a dark red aura of renewal and love. :-)

2004-05-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

In a prior post I expressed my dismay at the manner that the U.S. military police were humiliating Iraqi POWs. The well-publicized photos of naked prisoners piled on top of each other, genitals exposed, while a female soldier, with a cigarette dangling from the corner of her mouth, points and grins obscenely, shames the sensibilities. The same female soldier, holding a dog lease affixed to the neck of a naked, prone Iraqi on the cold prison floor, affronts all reason and severely damages America's claim that we are "different" and more humane than other cultures. Photos of a German shepard dog, snarling and baring its teeth at a bleeding, leather-bound, naked Iraqi man, parallels photos of WWII prisoners being herded onto trains for the journey to Auschwitz, the Jewish death camp. These acts are deplorable and the images are painful to look at, but In the light of day, America will expose her sins and fully recover her status as a free and just culture. Her willingness to fully investigate, debate, expose, and prosecute scandalous and unlawful acts publicly, clearly separates America from the shadowy, despotic cultures of Hussein, Hilter, Stalin, Milosevich, Douvalier, Mao-tse sung, Mussolini; cultures where no voice above a whisper could be heard without fear of death; cultures where millions of innocents, were tortured, executed and buried in mass graves, in secret places; cultures that ruled by control and fear and intimidation. America's light overshadows these culture's darkness. That is why, in this dangerous time we shall overcome the trials and tribulations that we presently face. As horrible as our sins are, they don't begin to approach the terrorist beheading and video taping of the evil execution of Nicholas Berg, a young, American, civilian entrepreneur. They pale in comparison to the terror of 9-11 and the WTC destruction and the 200 innocent civilan train deaths in the Madrid explosion. The list of terroist atrocities is long and lest we forget, many in the Abu-Zagreb Baghdad prison were willing participants in horrible terrorist acts that killed many innocent children, women and elderly people. We are at war with terrorism. Inhumane acts always happen in war, but we must keep in perspective America's goal, which is to free the Iraqi and Afghan people, eliminate terrorism and secure a safer, more peaceful world. Today I pray for the soul of Nicholas Berg and the comfort of his family and friends.

2004-05-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

It's been a month since my son has returned from the war in iraq. He's nicely re-adjusting to being in the states and away from the grim days of fighting in Iraq. He's planning, with the army's help, of finishing his education in medicine. He's once again excited about life's simple pleasures, such as playing with his daughters, golfing and driving his car.I'm thankful that he's home safe and I continue to pray for all of our troops and their families in the war. I included the following photo of Paul in his early war days to remind me never to forget this past year.
Warrior in the desert

2004-05-03T10:34:00.000-07:00

What fine line separates us from barbarism and inhumanity? How far must we travel from a civilized state to reach our primordial roots where bloodlust, revenge, torture and death reside? How does a young soldier get caught up in the shark-feeding frenzy of humiliation and torture of prisioners of war? How is it possible for a middle-class teenager from the heartland of Iowa, to strut in front of the camera, showing the peace sign, while arrogantly placing a foot on the back of a naked Iraqi prisoner who is obscenely stacked on top of other naked prisioners? I only have questions today. No answers. I'm ashamed for my country, about these, and other acts of inhumane treatment towards prisioners. It's a blight on America's already low-credibility in the world. One horror story from the press negates a thousand acts of charity and good will. Our country's humanity, her survival, her very soul depends upon how she treats others. We must take the high road. The world is watching and view is getting uglier day-by-day.

2004-04-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

Bob Babcock, 4th Infantry Division Historian, e-mailed these words of wisdom this a.m. I like pithy sayings, as they are memes that remind us of life's important attitudes. Here is Bob's e-mail: Words To Live By The most destructive habit.......................Worry The greatest joy......................................Giving The greatest loss.....................................Loss of self-respect The most satisfying work..........................Helping others The ugliest personality trait.......................Selfishness The most endangered species...................Dedicated leaders Our greatest natural resource....................Our youth The greatest "shot in the arm"...................Encouragement The greatest problem to overcome.............Fear The most effective sleeping pill..................Peace of mind The most crippling failure disease..............Excuses The most powerful force in life....................Love The most dangerous pariah.......................A gossiper The world's most incredible computer........The brain The worst thing to be without.................... Hope The deadliest weapon..............................The tongue The two most power-filled words..............."I Can" The greatest asset...................................Faith The most worthless emotion.....................Self-pity The most beautiful attire...........................SMILE! The most prized possession.................... Integrity The most powerful channel of communication.......Prayer The most contagious spirit..................................Enthusiasm

Yahoo! News - Blog-Tracking May Gain Ground Among U.S. Intelligence Officials

2004-04-27T17:41:00.000-07:00

The power of blogging isn't unnoticed by government entities. U.S. intelligence wants to spy on your blog, and China has banned blogging. Yahoo! News - Blog-Tracking May Gain Ground Among U.S. Intelligence Officials

2004-04-24T14:35:00.000-07:00

Jermaine Jackson gifted the people of Dubai a rug with brother Michael's portrait woven into it. Mr. Jackson, in the Gulf to promote understanding between Muslims and his fellow Americans, said Tuesday that Muslims are 'the new Negroes in America.' Mr Vanderleun of The American Digest asks;what's supposed to happen when that rug is used for prayer? Color me nervous, but I wouldn't start kneeling on that five times a day. :-) So far, we've experienced three out of five Jackson -Five dysfunctions, pedophilia, exhibitionism, and illogical religious idiocy. Time for La Toya and the rest of the gang to reveal to the world, the scars of their twisted lives.

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Iraq hit by lethal rocket strikes

2004-04-24T07:50:00.000-07:00

The BBC reported several explosive attacks in Iraq today, resulting in both civilian and military casualties and deaths. The attack in Taji caused the deaths of five American soldiers. Taji is the base that my son Paul soldiered from in February of this year while relieving another sergeant who was on recreational leave. In an earlier blog, I wrote about Taji and re-printed a news article about its garbage-dump economy.. The following is the BBC article regarding today's attacks: BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Iraq hit by lethal rocket strikes

2004-04-22T13:14:00.000-07:00

I just lit up a big, fat Cuban cigar that I've been saving for a special occasion. Today, a long-awaited dream has been fullfilled. I played golf with my two sons, Paul and Luke. The war in Iraq put a year long- hiatus on our father-son golf matches. This get together signifies a celebration of Paul's return as a soldier from the horrors of war and a re-integration of our family. It's been a long time coming. Watching the boys hit the stupid white ball together , brought a little tear to my eyes. If you scroll down this page or check the recent archive file, you will see a photo of Paul, practicing for this day in the sands of Iraq. It is my prayer that fathers of soldiers everywhere will soon experience the joy of a son returned from war unharmed. As the smoke from my cigar curls in the air, I smile and thank God for this blessing!

Blogging

2004-04-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

Blogging, or the fine art of journaling on the web with a weblog is cathartic. It allows one to give voice to the mental stream of ideas floating in the mind. A weblog is also educational. when I write about a subject, I come face to face with the truth of my thinking. Often I'm surprised how little or how much I know about a certain subject. Writing gives form and structure to ideas. I like to write about my pastime, poker (http://www.tholdem.blogspot.com), social issues and the war (http://www.kbris.blogspot.com), health and aging issues (http://www.innerbear.blogspot.com), and Spanish language study (http://www.seniorbriscoe.blogspot.com). Eventually, I hope to develop a small readership who will exchange ideas and dialogues on various issues. If not, I will continue to write and express myself in a monologue of self-discovery.

2004-04-21T07:03:00.000-07:00

It’s not "them" against "us". There is no them or us. We are, all of us, connected. I have met Iraqi’s and they are human just like me. Taking a side is the beginning of war. Taking sides immediately creates an argument. Do not argue. Do not judge. Only be human. We must live within our own heart."...Tony Anthony The world feels more dangerous than I can ever remember. Suicide bombings in Irag, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Spain, and Afghanistan punctuate the news and daily remind us of the instability worldwide. President Bush is blamed for everything that goes wrong and America is hated in the Arab world. It feels like we're sitting on a pile of explosives waiting to be blown to hell! Terrorism is working. Americans and their counterparts in other countries feel the terror and live in fear. In the USA the fear is not apparent as most go on with their daily routines in a sort of collective denial. There is a tension just below the surface of our free spirit, that expects a catastriophe, a disaster or an act of terrorism to happen at any moment. There's anticipation that the news at first light will show horrific images of mass destruction after a plane has destroyed Hoover Dam, The White House, a nuclear plant, or a thousand other structures and targets that will mortify Americans. Everytime I flick the switch on my television, I expect it to light up with horrifying news. I'm always relieved when ordinary stories appear. America's freedom has eroded since 9/11. I shudder to think that our open culture closes more day-by-day. I weep for my country and fear for her future.

2004-04-20T22:41:00.000-07:00

The 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time The Complete List 1. Vito Corleone of The Godfather 2. Fred C. Dobbs of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre 3. Scarlett O'Hara of Gone With the Wind 4. Norman Bates of Psycho 5. James Bond of Dr. No 6. Annie Hall of Annie Hall 7. Indiana Jones of Raiders of the Lost Ark 8. Ellen Ripley of Alien 9. Jeff Spicoli of Fast Times at Ridgemont High 10. Gollum of Lord of the Rings 11. Margo Channing of All About Eve 12. Charles Foster Kane of Citizen Kane 13. Atticus Finch of To Kill a Mockingbird 14. Randle McMurphy of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 15. Hannibal Lecter of The Silence of the Lambs 16. Robin Hood of The Adventures of Robin Hood 17. Dorothy Gale of The Wizard of Oz 18. Carl Spackler of Caddyshack 19. Rick Blaine of Casablanca 20. Virgil Tibbs of In the Heat of the Night 21. Susan Vance of Bringing up Baby 22. Travis Bickle of Taxi Driver 23. Eathan Edwards of The Searchers 24. The Little Tramp of Mabel's Strange Predicament 25. Gordon Gekko of Wall Street 26. E.T. of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 27. Marge Gunderson of Fargo 28. Captain Quint of Jaws 29. Daphne/Jerry of Some Like it Hot 30. King Kong of King Kong 31. Norma Desmond of Sunset Boulevard 32. Holly Golightly of Breakfast at Tiffany's 33. Ratso Rizzo of Midnight Cowboy 34. Bonnie Parker of Bonnie and Clyde 35. Dr. Evil of Austin Powers 36. Alex Forrest of Fatal Attraction 37. Jake Gittes of Chinatown 38. Willy Wonka of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory 39. Michael Dorsey/Dorthy Michaels of Tootsie 40. The Terminator of The Terminator 41. Jane Craig of Broadcast News 42. "Dirty" Harry Callahan of Dirty Harry 43. Forrest Gump of Forrest Gump 44. Jules Winnfield of Pulp Fiction 45. Mary Poppins of Mary Poppins 46. John McClane of Die Hard 47. Mrs. Robinson of The Graduate 48. John "Bluto" Blutarsky of Animal House 49. Chance the Gardener of Being There 50. Blondie of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly 51. Freddy Krueger of A Nightmare on Elm Street 52. Howard Beale of Network 53. Ninotchka of Ninotchka 54. Frank Booth of Blue Velvet 55. The Dude of The Big Lebowski 56. Alan Swann of My Favorite Year 57. Tom Powers of The Public Enemy 58. Phyliss Dietrichson of Double Indemnity 59. Lt. Kilgore of Apocalypse Now 60. George Bailey of It's a Wonderful Life 61. J.J. Hunsecker of Sweet Smell of Success 62. John Shaft of Shaft 63. Carrie White of Carrie 64. Rocky Balboa of Rocky 65. Edward Scissorhands of Edward Scissorhands 66. Navin Johnson of The Jerk 67. Inspector Clouseau of The Pink Panther 68. Alex DeLarge of A Clockwork Orange 69. Terry Malloy of On the Waterfront 70. Judy Benjamin of Private Benjamin 71. Rev. Harry Powell of The Night of the Hunter 72. Lloyd Dobler of Say Anything 73. Norma Rae of Norma Rae 74. Tony Montana of Scarface 75. Dr. Strangelove of Dr. Strangelove 76. Tony Manero of Saturday Night Fever 77. Annie Wilkes of Misery 78. "Mad" Max Rockatansky of Mad Max 79. Hans Beckert of M 80. Sam Spade of The Maltese Falcon 81. Aurora Greenway of Terms of Endearment 82. Jack Torrance of The Shining 83. William Cutting of Gangs of New York 84. Darth Vader of Star Wars 85. Stanley Kowalski of A Streetcar Named Desire 86. Melanie Daniels of The Birds 87. Captain Jack Sparrow of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 88. Raymond Babbitt of Rain Man 89. Sandy Olsson of Grease 90. John Malkovich of Being John Malkovich 91. Mrs. Iselin of The Manchurian Candidate 92. Dil of The Crying Game 93. Harry Lime of The Third Man 94. Rose Sayer of The African Queen 95. Oda Mae Brown of Ghost 96. Tommy DeVito of GoodFellas 97. Ace Ventura of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective 98. Antoine Doinel of The 400 Blows 99. Kevin McCallister of Home Alone 100. Roger "Verbal" Kint of The Usual Suspects

2004-04-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

I'm ecstatic when good things happen to one of my children. Today my younger son was hired by a staffing firm in Washington D.C. This is a huge break for him and his family. His perserverance in this job hunt makes me very proud. He deserves a break. I'll miss him terribly when he leaves, but I'll always support him, as he's a man, and needs to make decisions based on his best interests. In today's world, young people must go where the iobs are. Relocation has all but eliminated the closeness of extended families during the past forty years. Rapid air travel, computers, and the internet have replaced "Sunday dinner at Grandmas" as a means of family connection. I'll always prefer hugs and face to face chats over microsoft messenger, but I'll take what I can get! I finally have a reason to visit the nation's capitol!

2004-04-19T19:45:00.000-07:00

Put on my new Hawaiian shirt, Bass shoes and socks, wore the good-smelling cologne and headed out to have dinner in the casino's fine dining restaurant last night. I was feeling like the cock-of-the walk as I ordered Napa Valley merlot and a petit fillet mignon. People kept staring at me, so I thought to myself "you must look extra-sharp tonight, you devil you!" A lady at the next table caught my eye, leaned toward my candlelit table, and whispered "Sir, there's a large tag on your shirt hanging under your arm"! Sure enough, like Minnie Pearl, I'd forgotten to remove a price tag and it was flapping in the breeze for all to see! Red-faced, I removed it and thanked the woman. So goes being puffed up and proud. my balloon was popped by a sales tag!

2004-04-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes creator, prophesied long ago that: A period of natural convulsions during which a large portion of the human race will perish. Earthquakes of great severity, enormous tidal waves would seem to be the agents. War appears only in the early stages and appears to be a signal for the crisis to follow. The crisis will come in an instant. The destruction and dislocation of civilized life will be beyond belief. There will be a short period of chaos followed by some reconstruction; the total period of upheavals will be roughly three years. The chief centers of disturbance will be the Eastern Mediterranean basin, where not less than five countries will entirely disappear. Also in the Atlantic there will be a rise of land which will be a cause of those waves which will bring about great disasters upon the Americans, the Irish and Western European shore, involving all of the low-lying British coasts. There are indicated further great upheavals in the southern Pacific and in the Japanese region. Mankind can be saved by returning to its spiritual values. Is the present war a signal for Sir Arthur's disasters? Massive upheavals (earthquakes) have devastated some regions of the earth this year (Iran). Apocalyptic prognostications are interesting to contemplate. Every war revives these predictions. If men don't eradicate each other, it seems like nature will do the job. It wouldn't be a bad idea for humans to return to spiritul values. People are more alike than different. Family, love, peace, freedom, work, health, charity, hope, faith and prayer focus on the individual spirit. Governments should emulate the individual.

Yahoo! News - Height a Pain for Ukraine's 'Gulliver'

2004-04-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

"My height is God's punishment. My life has no sense" This touching story details the plight of the world's tallest man. His plight is a real life story of Victor Hugo's Quasimoto or similar to Mary Shelley's Dr. Frankenstein's creation. Life does imitate art. Yahoo! News - Height a Pain for Ukraine's 'Gulliver'

2004-04-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

This Is Just To Say I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast. Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold. -- William Carlos Williams Some times we ask to be forgiven for something we're not really sorry for. This devilish aspect of human nature often creeps into my comedic spirit at times unexpected. In a poker game the other night I apologized to a lady when my full house caused her to lose and go broke. I felt sorry for her, but as always, winning is delicious!

2004-04-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Donald Rumsfeld announced that 20,000 soldiers scheduled to return home from Iraq, will be held over for up to three more months. I can't imagine the mental anguish that they and their families are suffering right now. I'm very thankful that my son arrived home, given the level of increased violence and coalition and American casualties over the past two weeks. The President needs to use all of his diplomatic, military, economic and bargaining powers to bring this war to a resolution post-haste! America's patience is wearing thin and its citizens need a clearer vision as to where this war is taking us. Everyone understands that we must fight terrorism, and will rally around leadership with a specific plan to defeat this scourge. Waffling and politics will only result in the deaths of more U.S. troops. I continue to pray for the families and troops around the world involved in this fight against terrorism!

2004-04-15T19:14:00.000-07:00

Paul, my soldier son, called me from Colorado today and excitedly described the new Ping golf irons that he ordered. Golf has been a bonding sport between my boys and me for several years now. It was great to chat with him about something as mundane as golf and leave the war behind for a few minutes. Paul's been home from Iraq since April Fool's day and has started to re-adjust to a degree of normalcy. He joked about the golf course below in Balad, Iraq. Here he is trying to get out of the world's largest sand trap:

Yahoo! News - Health Bills Cost Some Seniors Their Homes

2004-04-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

Yahoo! News - Health Bills Cost Some Seniors Their Homes: "'Nevada ... sues old widows and widowers on their way home from the graveyard by slapping a lien on their homes,' " What them hell are they thinking about? The greed of the healthcare system in this country is overwhelming. The above link details a disgrace against Nevada's seniors, a state treasure, who deserve to live out their days in dignity. This Un-Godly, un-Christlike action by the state's beauracracy and high court is is the work of cold, calculated, un-feeling bastards, who some day will wither away, homeless, in nursing-home hell. I'm disgusted!!!

Where is Raed ?

2004-04-14T14:17:00.000-07:00

Meet Salam, a young gay Iraqi who chronicles the war from its genesis to the present day. Salam is intelligent, educated, iconoclastic and original. Through his eyes, his blog takes us through the horrors of falling bombs, Iraq politics, pre and post Saddam Iraq, and his opinions of war and democracy. His insights are well-positioned as he lived in Vienna and his parents are highly educated. Salam is adept with technolgy and seems more comfortable with western culture than Islamic society. His weblog is a refreshing departure from the war viewpoints that we receive during the nightly American news broadcasts or the snippets of news of Al-jazeera T.V. If you want to see Baghdad from the eyes of an Iraqi who lives there, click on the following link. It's a fascinating read! Where is Raed ?

2004-04-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

The right column of this blog is beginning to look like a junk yard. Everytime I run across a clever gimmick on the web, I add it to the blog, like a kid collecting broken toys. Today I added a clock that continually updates. From my site you can now check the weather, see the moon phase, convert currencies, look at photos, tell time, make comments, and check statistics. When will this madness stop? :-)

2004-04-09T10:18:00.000-07:00

It's Good Friday and Paul should be home with his wife and litte daughters now. it will be a joyful, well-deserved homecoming. The road from Iraq to Idaho is long, dusty and fraught with dangers. Nine days ago Paul arrived at his fort in Colorado from Kuwait. I met him there, and we spent 4 days together, re-bonding after his absence in the war. We ate, we drank, we chatted and we silently enjoyed his return, while relaxing in the Ramada Inn room that we shared in Colorado Springs. It was a father/son time, but more importantly it was a decompression period from the toils of war, and a time for thanksgiving. Yesterday, Paul drove from Colorado to Idaho to re-unite with his family (a fourteen hour trip). I imagine, at this writing, that the four of them are curled up together, in a ball on the couch, under a blanket, feeling the love radiated by each other's beings. It's the closure of one chapter and the beginning of another. The warmth, the security and the love of one's hearth and home is a gift from God. I pray on this Easter weekend for the safety of our troops and the comfort of their families. I'm a grateful dad!

Yahoo! News - Parts From Saint-Exupery's Plane Found

2004-04-07T21:45:00.000-07:00

"And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."...The Little Prince Many years ago I read Antoine Saint-Exupery's "Little Prince" in three languages: French, English and Spanish. I read this small gem for university assignments in language classes. Years later, as a middle-aged man I re-read the story and loved it more than I did previously. It's a timeless piece with a universal message of love. Now that I'm older and St. Exupery's downed plane has been found, I think I'll read "the Little Prince" once again. Perhaps I'll re-discover the secret of lost youth! Yahoo! News - Parts From Saint-Exupery's Plane Found

2004-04-01T11:42:00.000-08:00

I placed the ribbon image of the U.S. stars and stripes as a permanent fixture above my links to honor our military in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere around the world. It serves as a constant reminder that America's finest young men and women are struggling for our freedom daily.

2004-04-01T11:36:00.000-08:00

Paul's Home!!! He arrived in Colorado Springs from Kuwait at 1:A.M. this morning. I praise the Lord for my son's safe return. This is a great day for our family. I want to thank my friends for the prayers and well wishes. I'm on my way to Colorado. my next blog will be tuesday April 6th. This is for real and not an Aprils Fool's joke!

2004-03-31T09:42:00.000-08:00

As I write, my son should be in the air over the Atlantic Ocean flying towards the United States. After several cancelled flights, it is hard to believe that Paul is finally leaving the middle east and the awful Iraq war behind. I'm not holding my breath yet (I really am holding it!) because I haven't received official army confirmation of his status. I'm flying to Colorado tomorrow (slight change of plans) to welcome my soldier and his companions home. My heart aches for the families of the five American soldiers killed in a roadside bomb blast today. It's difficult for me to celebrate my son's homecoming in light of the 600 American men and women who've lost their lives in Iraq. I vow to never forget and I'll pray daily for their families.

2004-03-28T08:14:00.000-08:00

It's always frustrating when one's flight is cancelled or delayed. It's maddening when you're trying to leave a war zone. My son called his wife from Kuwait yesterday and announced yet another flight cancellation. He's anxious to get home, as his family is to have him here. We've been on pins and needles awaiting his return for three weeks. I keep telling myself that we're fortunate that he's out of Iraq and in the relative safety of Kuwait, and I believe this to be true. Patience is a virtue and we're trying hard to be virtuous, but our nerves are wearing thin. I ask the Lord for strength today and pray for my son and the troops who are fighting in this ongoing battle against world terrorism. Also, I pray for their families, who need great strength and courage in these trying times.

2004-03-27T10:33:00.000-08:00

My intentions were to show fresh photos weekly in the sidebar at the right side of this blog. Mostly I wanted to show pictures about and from my son in Iraq, who is on his way home from the war. The problem is, the photos that Paul took reside in his pocket-size Lexar flash drive, on his dog-tag chain, and he is still in Kuwait, without internet access to send them. I'll just have to wait until Paul returns to the states to download his photo files from the flash drive, Ain't technology wonderful! It's only as effective as its availability. My increasing dependence on the computer to function is a sign of the times. I hope the plug doesn't get pulled. Talk about a crash and burn scenario! Yikes!

2004-03-26T17:18:00.000-08:00

New York Times writer Emily Nussbaum wrote the following article about blogging, which I find interesting and decided to share: My So-Called Blog By EMILY NUSSBAUM Published: January 11, 2004 When M. gets home from school, he immediately logs on to his computer. Then he stays there, touching base with the people he has seen all day long, floating in a kind of multitasking heaven of communication. First, he clicks on his Web log, or blog -- an online diary he keeps on a Web site called LiveJournal -- and checks for responses from his readers. Next he reads his friends' journals, contributing his distinctive brand of wry, supportive commentary to their observations. Then he returns to his own journal to compose his entries: sometimes confessional, more often dry private jokes or koanlike observations on life. Finally, he spends a long time -- sometimes hours -- exchanging instant messages, a form of communication far more common among teenagers than phone calls. In multiple dialogue boxes on his computer screen, he'll type real-time conversations with several friends at once; if he leaves the house to hang out in the real world, he'll come back and instant-message some more, and sometimes cut and paste transcripts of these conversations into his online journal. All this upkeep can get in the way of homework, he admitted. ''You keep telling yourself, 'Don't look, don't look!' And you keep on checking your e-mail.'' M. is an unusually Zen teenage boy -- dreamy and ruminative about his personal relationships. But his obsessive online habits are hardly exceptional; he is one of a generation of compulsive self-chroniclers, a fleet of juvenile Marcel Prousts gone wild. When he meets new friends in real life, M. offers them access to his online world. ''That's how you introduce yourself,'' he said. ''It's like, here's my cellphone number, my e-mail, my screen name, oh, and -- here's my LiveJournal. Personally, I'd go to that person's LJ before I'd call them or e-mail them or contact them on AIM'' -- AOL Instant Messenger -- ''because I would know them better that way.'' Only five years ago, mounting an online journal or its close cousin, the blog, required at least a modicum of technical know-how. But today, using sites like LiveJournal or Blogger or Xanga, users can sign up for a free account, and with little computer knowledge design a site within minutes. According to figures released last October by Perseus Development Corporation, a company that designs software for online surveys, there are expected to be 10 million blogs by the end of 2004. In the news media, the blog explosion has been portrayed as a transformation of the industry, a thousand minipundits blooming. But the vast majority of bloggers are teens and young adults. Ninety percent of those with blogs are between 13 and 29 years old; a full 51 percent are between 13 and 19, according to Perseus. Many teen blogs are short-lived experiments. But for a significant number, they become a way of life, a daily record of a community's private thoughts -- a kind of invisible high school that floats above the daily life of teenagers. Back in the 1980's, when I attended high school, reading someone's diary would have been the ultimate intrusion. But communication was rudimentary back then. There were no cellphones, or answering machines; there was no ''texting,'' no MP3's or JPEG's, no digital cameras or file-sharing software; there was no World Wide Web -- none of the private-ish, public-ish, superimmediate forums kids today take for granted. If this new technology has provided a million ways to stay in touch, it has also acted as both an amplifier and a distortion device for human intimacy. The new forms of communication are madly contradictory: anonymous, but traceable; instantaneous, then saved forever (unless deleted in a snit). In such an unstable environment, it's no wonder that distinctions between healthy candor and ''too much information'' are in flux and that so many find themselves helplessly confessing, as if a generation were given a massive technological truth serum. A result of all this self-chronicling is that the private experience of adolescence -- a period traditionally marked by seizures of self-consciousness and personal confessions wrapped in layers and hidden in a sock drawer -- has been made public. Peer into an online journal, and you find the operatic texture of teenage life with its fits of romantic misery, quick-change moods and sardonic inside jokes. Gossip spreads like poison. Diary writers compete for attention, then fret when they get it. And everything parents fear is true. (For one thing, their children view them as stupid and insane, with terrible musical taste.) But the linked journals also form a community, an intriguing, unchecked experiment in silent group therapy -- a hive mind in which everyone commiserates about how it feels to be an outsider, in perfect choral unison.

2004-03-26T16:52:00.000-08:00

I thought my son Paul would be home from Iraq by now. He's been in Kuwait awaiting his flight for almost three weeks now. The most recent Iraq Update that I've received indicates that 75% of the 4th ID is already home. My anxiety level is fairly high. I'm trying hard to be patient and live in the moment. I know I'll get the news of Paul's arrival soon. Meanwhile I'll keep praying for him, his family and the families of soldiers still in the war.

2004-03-26T09:42:00.000-08:00

Pope John Paul on Friday said Sunday should be a day for God, not for secular diversions like entertainment and sports. "When Sunday loses its fundamental meaning and becomes subordinate to a secular concept of 'weekend' dominated by such things as entertainment and sport, people stay locked within a horizon so narrow that they can no longer see the heavens," the pontiff said in a speech to Australian bishops. John Paul criticized the "culture of the 'here and now,'" urging Church leaders to "lead men and women from the shadows of moral confusion and ambiguous thinking." The 83-year-old pope also encouraged Christians, especially young people, to remain faithful to Sunday Mass, saying the secular culture was undermining family life.

Camping

2004-03-24T12:33:00.000-08:00

I wonder if my son will still enjoy camping after soldiering in the war in Iraq for the past year? Living in a tent, sweltering from the desert heat, tasting the grit of blowing sand, showering once a week with a solar shower or washing with baby wipes, might well have dampened Paul's appetite for the great outdoors. I hope not. Our family has always loved to camp. We've spent many memorable summers in the beautiful forests of Oregon, often camping in Rogue Elk park on the Rogue River, a short distance from Crater Lake. My sons and I would fish for the mighty Spring Chinook salmon at Casey Park, or go rafting down the river. At night the the relatives would join us by the campfire for food, a game of Uno and warm conversation. The kids would sit around the fire toasting marshmellows while the moms made choclate s'mores. Son Paul would strum his guitar, while son Luke and his cousins Matt and Josh would figure out some trouble to get into. The dads would drink a little wine and beer and tell fish whoppers about the ones that got away. These were precious family times. I'm certain that after the war experience, my son will need time to re-adjust. I don't think I'll invite him to camp for a while. "War is Hell!"

More Tests

2004-03-24T08:35:00.000-08:00

I'm testing the w. bloggar tool to find out how it works while posting to more than one blog simultaneously. Also, I'm going to try out the text color feature.

2004-03-23T08:04:00.000-08:00

I like reading other people´s blogs. It´s a wonderful and interesting way of gaining insight into the human spirit, because many writers are unihibited and reveal their true natures in a running stream of consciousness. Sometimes I feel like a voyeur, peering into the private lives of others, but prurient interest is not what fascinates me about these writings. Unguarded, free flowing thoughts, penned spontaneously, yields rare gems of personal, social, familial, political and technolgical perspectives. Often my own ideas are shattered or affirmed, but I always learn something new about human beings. For example, I´ve come to realize that irrespective of our heritage, nationality, culture, religion, race, gender or sexual orientation, that we are more alike than different. This aha moment, this epiphany, tends to humble and make me a kinder and gentler soul and less critical of differences in others. Blogging is giving voice to millions of silent ideas and allowing people throughout the world to communicate globally!

2004-03-21T10:10:00.000-08:00

Paul called from Kuwait today. He's been recuperating from a high fever and severe bronchitis, while waiting for his flight back to the states. He's been ill for a week, and is taking antibiotics. I think that the stress of finally leaving the war zone of Iraq contributed to his illness. He said that the troop movement is a mess, because of the vast numbers of troops being moved in and out of the war. Typically, homecoming soldiers are given two hours notice before boarding their flights home. Therefore, my son won't know when he's leaving until it happens. It should be very soon though. The emotion must be akin to an indeterminate prison sentence. Human beings can tolerate difficult situations much better, when they know how long they'll last. I wait, I watch, and I maintain my vigilance and prayers.

2004-03-17T12:10:00.000-08:00

St. Patrick's Day finds me reminiscing about my son Paul who's returning from the war in Iraq. My mind's eye today sees him as a soldier in military fatigues, topped with a helmet, carrying a rifle while lurking in the shadows of an Iraqi village, seeking insurgents. My mind's eye of yesterday's past sees Paul in a green beret and white shirt, carrying a trumpet while marching to the beat of celebratory drums in the Las Vegas St. Patrick's Day parade. Further back, my mind recalls a 5 year old in a cub scout uniform, sweetly selling jamboree tickets door to door with a small voice and precious innocent smile. Other uniform images cross my thoughts; soccer uniforms, basketball uniforms, band uniforms, baseball uniforms. It seems like my son was born to wear some type of uniform. I treasure these images on this St. Patrick's Day as I await my son's return to America.

Head scarves

2004-03-17T07:14:00.000-08:00

Al-queda has threatened the French because of legislation passed against muslim girls wearing head scarves in public schools. Certainly these terrorists are emboldened by their success in Madrid, with the killing of 200 innocents in the train bombings. Jacque Chirac, the President of France is scheduled to finalize into law this legislation today. I wonder if he'll back down and capitulate to the demands of radical muslims? It wouldn't surprise me, given France's history. Europeans must take a stand and resist threats of violence by these blackmailers. It's difficult to be brave in these dangerous times. To cite an old cliché: "United we stand, divided we fall"!

2004-03-16T09:17:00.000-08:00

I wait for my son to return from war. He left iraq about one week ago. I haven't heard from him since then. Everyday, the Silver Lion families and I wait for the good news and a phone call that announces the arrival of our loved ones, always mindful that other's sons and daughters are leaving for battle. They are in my prayers.

2004-03-16T08:17:00.000-08:00

In a sense I hate the way the spanish people re-acted to the terrible train tragedy. Understandably, within their collective spirit resides an angry necessity to react. To do something about the terror and the deaths of their countrymen and women is natural. A furious reaction to the horror of this event bares the soul's necessity. I believe however, that by allowing the terrorists to swing the votes of the national presidential election, it is in effect, a vote for the terrorists. Their vote empowers groups like the ETA and Al-queida and allows them much greater significance than they actually possess. It will encourage further attempts at influencing the political landscapes of European countries through fear tactics. Spain's new government is going to withdraw its troops and support from Iraq. They blame Jose maria Aznar's support of the war , as the cause of the Madrid bombing. Rightly or wrongly, they still are yielding to terrorism, which will eventually breed further terrorism. Nations that are not united against these groups, will be vulnerable to further attacks. History will judge the rightness or wrongness of the terrible war in Iraq. Personally, I hate war and shudder that my country pre-emptivley attacked another country. Having said that, countries must support this fight or lose their basic freedoms.

2004-03-14T09:15:00.000-08:00

Tengo lagimas por españa. (I have tears for Spain). The reality of terrorism has struck the hearts and souls of the Spanish people. Innocent lives are gone and more than one thousand injured. Sadness and anger have engulfed that passionate and cultured nation. My prayer for Spain is that she will heal quickly and unite against anarchy and terror; that she won't play the blame game and tear her ancient country apart. It's time to unite, not divide. Spain is a great country with an ancient history. She's weathered many storms. she has the heart and soul to overcome this tempest. I join her in silent mourning. Like a regal lady, she will overcome this tribulation with dignity and intelligence. Yo lloro por ti españa-mi hermana (I weep for you Spain, my sister)

Changing Battle

2004-03-12T07:24:00.000-08:00

The war in Iraq has a different face. It's becoming a front for international terrorists. Yesterday's terrible train bombings in Madrid reflect the extent of this terror as did the 9-11 WTC destruction. The world communities must work together to irradicate this epidemic. Terrorism is a collective mental illness. It is like a narcotic to its participants. Their moment of fame in the sun derives from their acts of horror. The following snippet reveals how the violence in Iraq is changing: From CBS News (on the web): ....Fresh U.S. troops arriving in northern Iraq will find themselves fighting a different sort of war, with fewer Iraqi-led assaults on U.S. soldiers and more foreign-led attacks on Iraqi civilians, a top U.S. commander said Wednesday. A week before he is due to transfer power to the Army's 1st Infantry Division, Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno said his Texas-based 4th Infantry Division faced dwindling numbers of cells of disgruntled former members of Saddam Hussein's regime. Now, Odierno said, nationalist-minded Iraqis wanting to fight the occupation were banding with religious extremists, foreign fighters and a few members of terrorist groups, including al Qaeda and the Kurdish Sunni Muslim extremists, Ansar al-Islam. "They'll try to attack what's been successful for the Iraqis," Odierno said. "They'll try to kill a lot of people without getting injured themselves." Other U.S. commanders, including Brig. Gen. Martin Dempsey of the Army's 1st Armored Division, have reported a similar metamorphosis, saying fundamentalist fighters from Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Syria have been crossing into Iraq and funding or directing attacks. Iraqis have helped facilitate their attacks, military officials have said. Copyright CBS News.

At Last

2004-03-11T08:04:00.000-08:00

At last, my son is finally out of Iraq and preparing to come home. I just received the news and am overwhelmed. The year has been very emotional. I will write more about this soon. For now, I'll quietly celebrate with prayers of thanks. it's a great day!

1st Battalion � 68th Armor Regiment

2004-03-10T14:45:00.000-08:00

I'm patiently waiting for my son and the silver lions to return from war. 1st Battalion � 68th Armor Regiment

2004-03-10T09:35:00.000-08:00

The following news story crossed my computer screen, while I was receiving my daily 4th ID Iraq Update bulletin today: TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) - An American soldier was killed Tuesday morning after a roadside bomb exploded while his convoy was passing by, the U.S. military said. The soldier was the first member of the 1st Infantry Division, which is replacing the 4th Infantry Division, to die in Iraq, said Maj. Debra Stewart. The soldier was killed after the Humvee he was riding in was hit by the bomb in Balad Ruz, just east of Baqouba in the Sunni Triangle. A second soldier was wounded in the explosion and airlifted the 31st Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad and was listed in stable condition. The names of both soldiers were withheld pending notification of their families. ``It is a very sad day for the division, we have lost a very valuable team member,'' said Stewart, a Division spokeswoman. The latest death brings to 553 the number of American service members who have died since the Iraq conflict began March 20. Most of those deaths occurred after President Bush declared an end to major combat May 1. The 1st ID soldier was killed in the same area where my son has been serving for the past year. My son has been in a convoy leaving Iraq this past week. I still haven't received news of his arrival in Kuwait yet. My family and I are anxiously awaiting word of his return. Even when he's safely in the states, I'll continue to support and pray for our troops and their families who sacrifice much in this violent war. 553 deaths from war, is 553 too many!!

Homecomings

2004-03-09T05:50:00.000-08:00

Thousands of U.S. troops have returned from Iraq during the past two weeks. Martha Stewart, Michael Jackson, Kobi Bryant and Scott Peterson and early presidental politics have dominated the news, while the homecomings of our brave men and women have been largely ignored by the media. The press reports these celebrity stories ad-nauseum, while families welcome home their sons and daughters from war. Reporters love to say that they are "Fair and balanced", which is total bunk. In reality, most are automatons, regurgitating words flowing from a single source. They are like the little ankle-biting animal from the movie "The Gods Must Be Angry II". Once they latch on to an ankle (or a story), They hold on to it until death. The news networks need to show these military homecomings and let the American people see the faces of those who have sacrificed for their country!