tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47300984653846331882024-03-13T19:12:22.265-04:00John's Right StuffCatholic News faithful to the Pope and the Magesterium. Political News with a Conservative Bent.John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.comBlogger526125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-38968933067330110822011-01-04T14:09:00.000-05:002011-01-04T14:09:29.485-05:00We Made It<div style="background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.1285240212455392" style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To Those of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Us Born:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1930 - 1979</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the end of this email is a quote of the month by Jay Leno.. If you don't read anything else, please read what he said. Very well stated, Mr. Leno.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #603181; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #603181; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: navy; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: purple; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with bright colored lead-base paints.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: maroon; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: maroon; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">we had baseball caps</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> , </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: maroon; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not helmets on our heads..</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: green; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: navy; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: purple; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: maroon; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And, we weren't overweight.. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: maroon; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHY?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: maroon; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because we were always outside playing...that's why!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: green; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on..</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: navy; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No one was able to reach us all day. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: navy; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And, we were OKAY.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: purple; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: purple; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We did not have Play Stations, Nintendo's and X-boxes. There were no video games.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No 150 channels on cable, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">no video movies or DVD's,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">no surround-sound or CD's,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">no cell phones,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">no personal computers,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">no Internet and no chat rooms...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WE HAD FRIENDS</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and we went outside and found them!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: maroon; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: maroon; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We would get spankings with wooden spoons, switches, ping pong paddles, or just a bare hand and no one would call child services to report abuse.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: green; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: green; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and the worms did not live in us forever.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: navy; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not poke out very many eyes.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: purple; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: purple; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Little League had tryouts, and not everyone made the team.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Imagine that!!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: green; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, and inventors ever.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: navy; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: navy; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: navy; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and we learned how to deal with it all.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: purple; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If YOU are one of them, CONGRATULATIONS!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: teal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: maroon; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: green; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: green; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: navy; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For those that prefer to think that God is not watching over us...nothing further can be said.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: navy; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the rest of us...may God continue His watch over you.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: navy; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 24pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-34649171336170348882010-07-08T20:42:00.000-04:002010-07-08T20:42:12.381-04:00Never Take the Eucharist for Granted<table><tbody>
<tr><td><div class="author">BY BISHOP THOMAS J. TOBIN</div><div class="dateline">6/24/10</div><div class="dateline"></div><div class="dateline"><div>I suppose it’s typical for human beings to sometimes take our finest gifts for granted – our health, our faith, our family and our friends, for example.</div>And even as Catholics we have the tendency to take for granted one of God’s most precious gifts – the Holy Eucharist, and all that it means for us. Although we typically pay lip service to the importance of the Eucharist, I wonder if we really appreciate its significance in our lives.</div><div class="dateline"></div><div class="dateline">As the heart and soul of our Catholic Faith, the Eucharist a gift and mystery that includes several important dimensions. The Eucharist is a sacrifice – the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, made present again in a sacramental way. The Eucharist is a sacrament – the abiding presence of Christ among His people under the external forms of bread and wine. The Eucharist is a meal – established by Jesus at the Last Supper, and in which the action of eating and drinking the Body and Blood of Christ is essential to its meaning. And the Eucharist is a celebration – an affirmation of our faith in sign and symbol.<br />
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Each dimension of the Eucharist tells us something important about its meaning and all of them are included whenever we follow the Lord’s command: “Do this in memory of me.”<br />
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From the very beginning, even in the Apostolic era, the Church has recognized that reception of the Holy Eucharist demands a certain spiritual disposition. Here it’s helpful to recall that no one has an absolute right to receive the Eucharist, or any other sacrament for that matter. And while we routinely profess that “I am not worthy to receive you,” in recent years the requirements for receiving Holy Communion have become a hot topic, moving beyond the walls of internal Church discipline and crossing over into the political domain, even becoming the fodder of radio talk show debates.<br />
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Pope John Paul explained the criteria for receiving Holy Communion in these words: “The celebration of the Eucharist cannot be the starting-point for communion; it presupposes that communion already exists.” <i>(Ecclesia de Eucharistia, #35)</i> The Pope goes on to explain that this necessary unity with the Church has both an invisible dimension (the spiritual disposition) and a visible dimension (the structural disposition.) In other, more traditional words, to properly receive Holy Communion, a communicant must be in the state of grace and be a member of the Catholic Church. These requirements apply not only to Catholic politicians – although they have particular obligations because of their role as public officials – but equally to all members of the Church.<br />
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There are other important dimensions of the Eucharist we should consider as well. And one is the fact that while the Eucharist effects union with Christ, “body and blood, soul and divinity,” it also has more horizontal, societal implications.<br />
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Pope Benedict said this: “The Eucharist brings about a fundamental transformation. God no longer simply stands before us as totally other. He enters into us and then seeks to spread outward to others until He fills the world, so that His love can truly become the dominant measure of the world.” (World Youth Day, Cologne, 2005)<br />
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The Eucharist, then, is all about “transformation” the Pope says. It begins with the transformation of the elements of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. (Note this is a very special kind of transformation that Catholics call “transubstantiation,” meaning the very substance of the bread and wine is changed into the very substance of the Body and Blood of Christ.) This transformation continues as the person receiving Holy Communion grows spiritually and is transformed into the image and likeness of Christ in their daily lives. And that transformation reaches its conclusion as the faithful enter into the world and, by living the vision and values of Christ, transform it, the secular world, into the Kingdom of God.<br />
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Blessed Mother of Teresa of Calcutta put it this way: “If we truly understand the Eucharist; if we make the Eucharist the central focus of our lives; if we feed our lives with the Eucharist, we will not find it difficult to discover Christ, to love Him, and to serve Him in the poor.”<br />
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And finally, in reflecting upon the value of the Eucharist, we should also recall the importance of Eucharistic adoration, a wonderful devotion in the history and spiritual tradition of the Church. Pope John Paul wrote that “it is pleasant to spend time with Him, to lie close to His breast like the beloved disciple, and to feel the infinite love present in His heart.” He also points to the example of many saints, specifically St. Alphonsus Liguori who wrote, “Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us.”<i> (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, #25)</i><br />
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So, dear reader, as we consider the Holy Eucharist, let’s try to resist our normal tendency to take our gifts for granted. The Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ; it is the Bread of Life; it is spiritual food for our journey on earth; and it contains all the power we need to transform the world into the Kingdom of God.<br />
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</tbody></table>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-50634358131363731482010-03-29T17:49:00.009-04:002010-07-07T20:46:48.780-04:00The Gathering Storm<i><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">I don't know who came up with the idea for this photo</span></i><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <i>But it is GREAT!!!</i></span><i><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dh-B-UqqoBI/TDUcSHKLcrI/AAAAAAAAATQ/LZCxAehELJA/s1600/TheGatheringStorm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dh-B-UqqoBI/TDUcSHKLcrI/AAAAAAAAATQ/LZCxAehELJA/s400/TheGatheringStorm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><b><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">your auto industry, your banks, your health care, your taxes <br />
and your personal choice.... </span></b><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
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</span>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-60370549504207599392010-03-27T22:16:00.010-04:002010-03-27T22:26:06.379-04:00Please pray for Archbishop Chaput<h6 class="uiStreamMessage"><span style="font-size: small;">We need to continue our prayers for Archbishop Chaput of Denver who has been a "Light of Christ" for us. May he find the grace and courage to continue to speak the truth.</span></h6><a href="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/denver_archbishop_denounces_cha_counter-witness_against_bishops_on_health_care/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29">Denver archbishop criticizes CHA 'counter-witness' against bishops on health care</a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.archden.org/index.cfm/ID/3617">How we got from good intentions to a flawed bill</a></span></div>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-16506406685049618242010-03-23T08:29:00.000-04:002010-03-23T08:29:46.283-04:00If You’re against Obamacare, You’re Probably a Racist - Bill Burck and Dana Perino - The Corner on National Review Online<a href="http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZTVhYWQzNTVmOTE4YTg0NjljOGQ1MjE0ZjYyODlmYjc=">If You’re against Obamacare, You’re Probably a Racist - Bill Burck and Dana Perino - The Corner on National Review Online</a><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Today, the <em>New York Times</em> features </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/health/policy/22scene.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">an article</span></a><span style=""> drawing a direct link between the Obamacare debate and the civil-rights struggle over 40 years ago. The title is “Past Strife and Jeers,” and here is the opening paragraph:</span></p> <blockquote> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">WASHINGTON — Forty-five years ago, John Lewis began the third of what became society-shifting civil rights marches from Selma to Montgomery, Ala. On Sunday, the anniversary of that famous trek, he joined hands with fellow <a itxtdid="19127252" target="_blank" href="http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZTVhYWQzNTVmOTE4YTg0NjljOGQ1MjE0ZjYyODlmYjc=#" style="font-weight: normal ! important; font-size: 100% ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important; border-bottom: 0.075em solid darkgreen ! important; padding-bottom: 1px ! important; color: darkgreen ! important; background-color: transparent ! important; background-image: none; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt;" classname="iAs" class="iAs">House</a> Democrats and marched past jeering protesters into the Capitol to remake the nation’s health care system.</p> </blockquote> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We have no tolerance for intolerance and condemn anyone who would resort to racist name-calling. Shame on anyone who did. But shame on the <em>New York Times</em> for comparing those who protested the Democrats’ health-care policy with the virulent southern racists who participated in violent and often deadly protests against civil-rights demonstrators. Give us a break.<br /><br />The Left’s plan for November is to promote exactly this kind of thinking, shaming opponents into staying at <a itxtdid="19127246" target="_blank" href="http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZTVhYWQzNTVmOTE4YTg0NjljOGQ1MjE0ZjYyODlmYjc=#" style="font-weight: normal ! important; font-size: 100% ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important; border-bottom: 0.075em solid darkgreen ! important; padding-bottom: 1px ! important; color: darkgreen ! important; background-color: transparent ! important; background-image: none; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt;" classname="iAs" class="iAs">home</a> rather than going to the polls to vote the bums out, while fooling proponents that opposition is nothing more than the most atavistic form of prejudice. With every poll showing that far more voters hate Obamacare than love it (with the balance made up of the lukewarm on both sides of the issue), this is the <em>New York Times</em>’s effort to help shift voter intensity — which spells turnout in November — in favor of Obamacare.<br /><br />We suspect the electorate won’t prove so gullible. The Old Grey Lady is not as smart as she thinks she is, nor are Americans the ninnies she believes they are.</span></p>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-16447317333838740982010-03-22T14:41:00.011-04:002010-07-08T10:26:36.167-04:00The Real Meaning of Words<div><div><div><div><div><div><blockquote style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color blue; border-style: none none none solid; border-width: medium medium medium 1.5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 3.75pt; margin-top: 5pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 4pt;"><div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: teal; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 18pt;"></span></b></div></div></blockquote><b><span style="color: teal; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 18pt;">Loyalty...</span></b> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: teal; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 18pt;">Innocence...</span></b><span style="color: black;"> </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dh-B-UqqoBI/TDUu_lCQgUI/AAAAAAAAATc/OQXRVNhjCRg/s1600/3.+Innocence....jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dh-B-UqqoBI/TDUu_lCQgUI/AAAAAAAAATc/OQXRVNhjCRg/s640/3.+Innocence....jpg" width="518" /></a></div><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"></span> <span style="color: black;"></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 18pt;">Departure...</span></b><br />
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Patience...</span></b> </div></td></tr>
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Rescued...</span></b></span> </div></td></tr>
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Divine...</span></b><br />
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It's about learning how to dance in the rain."</span></b> </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 24pt;">Be kinder than necessary,</span></b> </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 24pt;">Because everyone</span></b><b><span style="color: #0000a1; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 24pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 24pt;">you meet</span></b> </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: navy; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 24pt;">Is fighting some kind of battle.</span></b> </div></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"></span> </div>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-64438315064489726352010-01-09T23:12:00.002-05:002010-01-09T23:22:02.210-05:00So, where are all the cries about Harry Reid being a RACIST? | Political Integrity Now<b>Here is the AP article concerning Reid's remarks about Obama. I am forwarding this from Political Integrety Now because I agree with the comments. We all know if this had come from a Republican, that person would be gone by the end of the week. We also know nothing will be done to Reid. The hypocrisy is ridiculous.<br />
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Also the AP article could not help but take a shot at Sarah. Heaven forbid that when a liberal screws up, they would have an article without bashing a conservative to make it 'fair and balanced' BTW..what does Sarah have to do with Reid's remarks anyway? Sheeeesh!!! </b><br />
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<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/%20http://politicalintegritynow.com/2010/01/so-where-are-all-the-cries-about-harry-reid-being-a-racist/%20"> So, where are all the cries about Harry Reid being a RACIST?</a>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-16413681218337158442009-05-21T13:44:00.000-04:002009-05-21T13:44:23.227-04:00Upcoming PBS board vote could disaffiliate stations with Mass for shut-insfrom <a href="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=16066">CNA</a><br />
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Arlington, Va., May 21 (<a href="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/" target="_blank">CNA</a>).-The network board of PBS in June will vote on whether to pull affiliate status from stations that broadcast "sectarian" programming, a decision which could affect broadcasts of Mass for shut-ins and other religious programming.<br />
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Jennifer Lawson, general manager of WHUT, heads the panel that recommended a board vote on religious programming. She told the Washington Post that the intent of the action is to demonstrate editorial independence.<br />
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PBS bylaws call for non-commercial, non-partisan, and non-sectarian programming. However, the network's editorial policy also calls for "integrity, quality, diversity and local station autonomy," the Television Broadcast Newsletter reports.<br />
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"PBS believes that public broadcasting's greatest potential is realized when it serves the unique needs of the local community, and that there are wide variations in local needs and tastes," the policy reads. "No one is better qualified to determine and respond to those local needs than the public television station licensed to that community."<br />
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Many PBS member stations have carried religious services and Mass for shut-ins for years. Denver's KBDI-TV has broadcast Mass for Shut-ins since 1966 every Sunday morning. The Archdiocese of Denver estimates 20,000 households tune in to the Mass each week.<br />
WHUT-TV, the PBS affiliate at Howard University in Washington, D.C., has carried a Mass for 13 years. Losing its PBS affiliation would take away its programming lineup of standard PBS shows. WHUT-TV has already told the Archdiocese of Washington the telecast would be cancelled.<br />
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WLAE-TV in New Orleans, partly owned by the local Catholic organization Willwoods Community, has carried a Mass for 25 years without any complaints.<br />
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"We've built an identity around this. People know us for this," WLAE vice president and general manager Ron Yager told the Washington Post. "I'm really not totally sure of their reasoning for doing this."John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-2982167732763134462009-05-20T16:58:00.000-04:002009-05-20T16:58:20.361-04:00Obama and the ‘Real’ CatholicsThe president inserts himself into a religious debate.<br />
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By George Weigel<br />
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Passionate debates over doctrine, identity, and the boundaries of “communion” have been a staple of the American religious landscape for centuries: Trinitarians vs. Unitarians in 19th-century New England; Modernists vs. Fundamentalists in early-20th-century Presbyterianism; Missouri Synod Lutherans vs. Wisconsin Synod Lutherans vs. Other Sorts of Lutherans down to today. Yet never in our history has a president of the United States, in the exercise of his public office, intervened in such disputes in order to secure a political advantage. <br />
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Until yesterday, at the University of Notre Dame.<br />
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The principal themes of President Obama’s Notre Dame commencement address were entirely predictable; indeed, in some offices I know, betting pools were forming last week on how many of the Catholic Left hot buttons Obama would hit. In the event, he hit for the cycle several times over, mentioning “common ground”; tolerance and reconciliation amid diversity; Father Hesburgh; respect for those with whose moral judgments we disagree; problem-solving over ideology; Father Hesburgh; saving God’s creation from climate change; pulling together; Father Hesburgh; open hearts; open minds; fair-minded words; Father Hesburgh. None of this was surprising, and most of it was said with the president’s usual smooth eloquence. <a href="http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YzNhZDI1MDAyMjcwNTFhMDM3NDZkOGQ5ZWZhOGUzNWI=#more">(Full story at Narional Review Online)</a>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-39652116610544868792009-05-18T17:53:00.000-04:002009-05-18T17:53:49.540-04:00You Might Be A 'Radicalized Right-Wing Extremist' If...<span style="color: #cc0000;">I am a little late on this one, but it is still valid. This is so critical in pointing out what we are up against, I have published this article from <a href="http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/mmalkin/2009/mm_04151.shtml">GOPUSA.com</a> in full. As Michelle says: "WELCOME TO THE CLUB!"</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gopusa.com/images/michellemalkin_b2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dj="true" src="http://www.gopusa.com/images/michellemalkin_b2.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: black;">By Michelle Malkin</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">April 15, 2009</span><br />
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What and who exactly are President Obama's homeland security officials afraid of these days? If you are a member of an active conservative group that opposes abortion, favors strict immigration enforcement, lobbies to protect Second Amendment rights, protests big government, advocates federalism or represents veterans who believe in any of the above, the answer is: You.<br />
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Department of Homeland Security Sec. Janet Napolitano has turned her attention away from acts of Islamic jihad on American soil (which she now refers to as "man-caused disasters"). Instead, her department is sounding the alarm over an unquantified "resurgence" in "right-wing extremism activity." On April 7, DHS sent a nine-page warning memo to law enforcement offices across the country titled "Right-wing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment."<br />
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The report includes a sweeping definition of the threat:<br />
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"Right-wing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration."<br />
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You cannot ignore the context or the timing of this DHS report. It's no small coincidence that Napolitano's agency disseminated the assessment just a week before the nationwide April 15 Tax Day Tea Party protests. The grassroots events organized by fiscal conservatives, independents, Libertarians and, yes, even some Blue Dog Democrats were fueled by the "current economic and political climate" of bipartisan profligate spending and endless taxpayer-funded bailouts. The growing success of the loose-knit movement has invited scorn, ridicule and fear-mongering from Obama's supporters. Liberal bloggers have likened the Tea Party movement to neo-Nazis, militias and even Weather Underground terrorists.<br />
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These attempts to demonize the Tea Party movement come on the heels of widespread conservative-bashing over the recent shooting sprees in Pittsburgh and Binghamton, N.Y. Taking Hillary Clinton's advice to "never waste a good crisis," left-wing pundits and analysts have blamed the tragedies on everyone from Rush Limbaugh to Fox News to the NRA.<br />
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The DHS spokespeople I talked to on Monday insisted that the report was not a politicized document and that DHS had done similar assessments on "left-wing extremism" in the past. But past domestic terrorism reports have always been very specific in identifying security threats -- such as the Animal Liberation Front and the Earth Liberation Front -- and very specific in identifying their methods and targets, including repeated physical harassment, arson and vandalism against pharmaceutical companies, farms, labs and university researchers.<br />
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By contrast, the Obama DHS report is an overarching indictment of conservatives. "Right-wing extremist chatter on the Internet continues to focus on the economy, the perceived loss of U.S. jobs in the manufacturing and construction sectors, and home foreclosures," the assessment warns. When I asked DHS spokeswoman Sara Kuban to explain who was responsible for this "extremist chatter," she could not and would not name names.<br />
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Moreover, the report relies on the work of the left-leaning Southern Poverty Law Center to stir anxiety over "disgruntled military veterans" -- a citation that gives us valuable insight into how DHS will define "hate-oriented" groups. The SPLC, you see, has designated the venerable American Legion a "hate group" for its stance on immigration enforcement. The report offers zero data, but states with an almost resentful attitude toward protected free speech: "Debates over appropriate immigration levels and enforcement policy generally fall within the realm of protected political speech under the First Amendment, but in some cases, anti-immigration or strident pro-enforcement fervor has been directed against specific groups and has the potential to turn violent."<br />
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"Potential to turn violent"? So did the hysterical fervor whipped up by Capitol Hill over the AIG bonuses, which prompted ugly death threats from across the country. No mention here, though. Not "right wing" enough. Nor will you see Obama DHS warnings to police and sheriff's departments about self-proclaimed bank terrorists such as Bruce Marks of the aggressive Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America or the mob activists of ACORN who have committed burglary, stormed corporate executives' homes and vowed to conduct "civil disobedience" by "any means necessary" in response to the "current economic and political climate."<br />
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If you can redefine dissenting opinion as "hate," you can brand your political opponents as "extremists" -- and you can marginalize electoral threats. "Antigovernment"? "Pro-enforcement"? "Disgruntled"? Feeling taxed enough already and "recruiting" and "radicalizing" your friends and neighbors through "chatter on the Internet"?<br />
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We are all right-wing extremists now. Welcome to the club.John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-77392053102408240022009-05-18T16:00:00.000-04:002009-05-18T16:00:12.554-04:00Biden Reveals Location of Secret 'Undisclosed Location'from <a href="http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/biden_secret_bunker/2009/05/17/215256.html">Newsmax.com</a> <br />
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Sunday, May 17, 2009 7:29 PM<br />
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Vice President Joe Biden has done it again.<br />
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Biden, who has a history of verbal blunders, has revealed the existence of a secret bunker intended to house the vice president in case of a national emergency or attack.<br />
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According to Newsweek magazine's Eleanor Clift, Biden let the secret slip at the recent Gridiron Club dinner, and annual event attended by media members and high-power politicians. Clift reports that Biden admitted to those at his table that the bunker is located beneath the vice president's official residence, located at the U.S. Naval Observatory near Washington, D.C.<br />
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It is likely that former Vice President Dick Cheney was hidden in the bunker - referred to as an "undisclosed location" - in the confusing aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.<br />
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Newsweek's story asserts that Biden "said a young naval officer giving him a tour of the residence showed him the hideaway, which is behind a massive steel door secured by an elaborate lock with a narrow connecting hallway lined with shelves filled with communications equipment.<br />
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"The officer explained that when Cheney was in lock down, this was where his most trusted aides were stationed, an image that Biden conveyed in a way that suggested we shouldn't be surprised that the policies that emerged were off the wall." <br />
This is hardly the first time Biden has raised eyebrows with an off-the-cuff remark. Most recently, he was criticized for encouraging Americans to avoid airline travel during the swine flu scare.John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-68538767572259026172009-05-18T15:34:00.000-04:002009-05-18T15:34:58.069-04:00Obama's Words and the Moral Equivalency That Doesn't Exist <b>Posted by <a href="http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?page_id=8">Bobby Eberle</a></b><br />
<small>May 18, 2009 at 7:46 am </small><br />
<small> <br />
</small><br />
When I was deciding on which college to attend to begin my undergraduate education, there were only a few on the radar screen. I was conflicted between wanting to further explore my faith and my desire to stay closer to home. I knew that I would be studying aerospace engineering, and in the end, I eventually chose Texas A&M (with Rice University for graduate school). However, had I not attended Texas A&M, my choice of university was clear: Notre Dame.<br />
<br />
So, it was with great interest and dread that I followed the events of this past weekend when Barack Obama gave the commencement speech to graduates at Norte Dame. The fact that Obama was invited in the first place speaks quite lowly of Notre Dame officials. The fact that he was presented with an honorary degree is insulting. But, as usual, it's Obama's words that are the most appalling as he tries to use his teleprompter-aided eloquence to cut down the pro-life movement. <a href="http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=1485">(Full story at GOPUSA.com)</a>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-82841636886989636172009-05-18T15:04:00.000-04:002009-05-18T15:04:53.766-04:00Gallup Poll: Majority of Americans Pro-Life on Abortion, Highest Levels in 15 Years<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">by Steven Ertelt</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
<i>LifeNews.com Editor<br />
May 15</i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>, 2009</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) --</b> A new Gallup poll shows that the majority of Americans self-identify as pro-life on the issue of abortion for the first time in 15 years. The Gallup survey shows the percentage of Americans saying they are pro-life at its highest point since 1995 and those saying they are "pro-choice" at its lowest.</span> <br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Gallup survey, conducted May 7-10, finds 51% of Americans calling themselves pro-life and just 42 percent saying they are "pro-choice" and supporting legal abortions.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The poll finds a plurality of women say they are pro-life -- with 49 percent saying so and just 44 percent saying they are "pro-choice." Men favor the pro-life position on a 54 to 39 percent margin. Both numbers are record highs for the pro-life position.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The 9 percent pro-life majority is a stark change from last year, when the Gallup survey showed a 6 percent majority in favor of abortion. Before the current poll Gallup had the pro-life percentage at its highest at 46 percent in both August 2001 and May 2002. <a href="http://www.lifenews.com/nat5053.html">(Full story at Lifenews.com)</a><br />
</span>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-71254894065314197972009-05-18T14:45:00.000-04:002009-05-18T14:45:24.214-04:00Democrat Dictionary<div> <div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> Doublespeak is alive as Democrats pull the strings in the White House and Congress 24 years after 1984. What do they mean when they engage in Democrat-speak?<br />
I know I'm not worthy, but I've got an assignment, so I shall borrow a page from Ambrose Bierce, not with a Devil's Dictionary, but a Democrats' Dictionary. The easy part: There's no dif.<br />
<strong>Academic freedom:</strong> Full license to espouse liberal thought to unformed minds.<br />
<strong>Bailout:</strong> Billions upon billions -- trillions really -- of government aid doled out to financial institutions to remind voters of the need for strong regulation.<br />
<strong>Biden, Joe:</strong> Running-at-the-mouth politician, but, hey, he was elected vice president.<br />
<strong>Bipartisanship:</strong> 40 Republicans and 60 Democrats.<br />
<strong>Bush, George W.:</strong> sh, Big-spending, war-waging Republican.<br />
<strong>Cheney, Dick:</strong> Satan.<br />
<strong>Clean coal:</strong> What Santa Claus puts in Democrats' stockings so they don't have to admit that their global-warming agenda is anti-coal.<br />
<strong>Climate change:</strong> Global warming during a blizzard.<br />
<strong>CNN:</strong> Unbiased news network whose reporters battle "right-wing" media.<br />
<strong>Deficits:</strong> Overspending before 2009, or spending practices that President Obama inherited. For current usage, see: Investment.<br />
<strong>Extremists:</strong> Abortion opponents.<br />
<strong>Fox News:</strong> Unlike CNN, biased news network.<br />
<strong>Global warming:</strong> An apocalyptic theory that every scientist believes in -- except dissenting scientists who don't count -- best bemoaned <br />
from one's Gulf Stream jet en route to an international conference on the environment.<br />
<strong>God:</strong> What people in small towns clung to before Obama won the White House. See: guns, anti-immigrant or anti-trade beliefs.<br />
<strong>Health care costs:</strong> A spiraling chunk of the U.S. economy that can be reduced by providing health care to all Americans. Really.<br />
<strong>Homeland security:</strong> Gun control.<br />
<strong>Iraq:</strong> An immoral war, once the focus of numerous anti-war demonstrations, which Democratic leaders vowed to end immediately upon winning the White House -- until Obama won the 2008 election.<br />
<strong>Liberal:</strong> The L-word, a term unfairly hurled by name-calling right-wing kooks.<br />
<strong>Lieberman, Joe:</strong> Former Democrat turned Independent senator from Connecticut. Sellout.<br />
<strong>McCain, John:</strong> Former GOP maverick who -- the nerve -- turned out to actually be a Republican.<br />
<strong>Middle class:</strong> Families that earn less than $250,000 -- until Washington decides it might be a good idea to pay for all the new Obama-era programs.<br />
<strong>Nuance:</strong> Homeland Security Janet Napolitano's decision to refer to terrorist attacks as "man-caused disasters." Formerly known as Doublespeak. <br />
Obama, Barack. God, at least in Detroit.<br />
<strong>Oil:</strong> A crude substance used to fuel other people's cars.<br />
<strong>One hundred days:</strong> The first in a series of holy days during which dutiful media preside over national thanksgiving.<br />
<strong>Palin, Sarah:</strong> White-trashy grandmother utterly unqualified and too dim-witted to be vice president.<br />
<strong>Pandemic:</strong> CNN-speak for flu.<br />
<strong>Pelosi, Nancy:</strong> Grandmotherly House speaker who could not be expected to understand that when Bushies authorized waterboarding of high-value detainees, it actually might happen.<br />
<strong>Progressive:</strong> Liberal.<br />
<strong>Public transportation:</strong> What other people should take to work.<br />
<strong>Regulation:</strong> The threat of a salary cap for executives with firms receiving federal funds.<br />
<strong>Republican Party:</strong> The party of the rich -- if the California inland empire and Central Valley are rich, and Beverly Hills, Marin County and Malibu are not.<br />
<strong>Sacrifice:</strong> Something Bush never asked for during time of war. Now a tax hike for 95 percent of working families while U.S. troops fight in two wars abroad.<br />
<strong>Specter, Arlen:</strong> Republican turned Democratic senator from Pennsylvania. Free thinker.<br />
<strong>Stimulus:</strong> A rush in the nether regions at the prospect of spending trillions of dollars you don't have. Not to be confused with: Banking.<br />
<strong>Surge:</strong> A tactic involving troop increases that could never work in Iraq, but always made sense for Afghanistan.<br />
<strong>Tobacco:</strong> Toxic substance that should be overtaxed or banned -- unless it is marijuana. Then see: Medicine.<br />
<strong>Tolerance:</strong> An essential element to civil societies; individuals deemed insufficiently tolerant must be re-educated.<br />
<strong>War on terror:</strong> The fairness doctrine, the only weapon that can harm America's true enemy, Rush Limbaugh.<br />
<strong>Waterboarding:</strong> Torture -- unless a plane piloted by terrorists hits a reservoir.</span></div></div>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-11874360744581914372009-05-18T08:48:00.000-04:002009-05-18T08:48:57.892-04:00The Dynamics of CelibacyMay 18th, 2009 by <a href="http://catholicexchange.com/author/fr-thomas-euteneuer/" title="Posts by Fr. Thomas Euteneuer">Fr. Thomas Euteneuer</a><br />
<br />
Some recent high-profile priest scandals have put celibacy back in the limelight as a topic for the pagan world to rage about, but rarely will you hear what the Catholic Church actually teaches about it. I hope that the following insights will be a short course in the dynamics of a marvelous life of grace: namely, celibate chastity. The world needs to hear “the other side” of the story.<br />
Number One: Celibacy is a gift to the world, not a rule imposed by the Church on a few seemingly-abnormal men. Celibacy initiates men into a life of spiritual fatherhood in a strikingly positive way for others. We are called “father” for a reason: we bring spiritual life to our people through the sacred mysteries which we handle, and they are drawn into a spiritual family thereby. A truly dedicated priest has thousands of spiritual children who sometimes make immense demands on him — I often wish I had only seven children like my father! In an age where men have massively renounced their sacred duty to generate, protect and nurture families, there are myriads of selfless, celibate men sacrificing themselves in a truly manly way for the sake of God’s family and, indeed, even for the sake of many individual families. The fact that some priests fail at it does not make the gift of celibacy anything less than a true blessing; in fact, its failures force us to reflect more deeply on its quiet successes. It’s hypocritical to think that we should throw away the gift of celibacy (i.e., make it “optional”) based upon a minuscule percentage of failures of its practitioners. We don’t say the same thing about the much higher percentage of failures in marriage. Should we allow polygamy just because some married men can’t stick to one woman? This is the time to reaffirm the genuine beauty and value of celibacy, not change this immense gift to us.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://catholicexchange.com/2009/05/18/118678/">(Full story at Catholic Exchange)</a>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-31184755089892488902009-04-23T13:55:00.000-04:002009-04-23T13:55:45.413-04:00Gorby In, Garbage Out<span style="color: #cc0000;">If this doesn't open your eyes up to what is going on, Nothing will!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman,times,serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal;">By <b>JAMES TARANTO on <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124041107420443821.html">WSJ.com</a></b></span><br />
<br />
Mention the name Mikhail Gorbachev to anyone under 35 or so, and you'll likely draw a blank look. Even those old enough to remember Gorbachev may be astonished to learn that he is still alive. Yet although history's second and subsequent drafts have relegated him to a supporting role, the first draft--that is, the journalism of the 1980s--mistook him for the lead character. In 1989 Time magazine named Gorbachev, not Ronald Reagan (or Margaret Thatcher or Lech Walesa or Pope John Paul II), "<a href="http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19900101,00.html" target="_blank">man of the decade</a>."<br />
But Gorbachev's name came up earlier this week in an odd context, an <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D97LOI9G0&show_article=1" target="_blank">Associated Press</a> "analysis" by Steven R. Hurst of President Obama's foreign policy:<br />
<blockquote>President Barack Obama has gone abroad and gored an ox--the deeply held belief that the United States does not make mistakes in dealings with either friends or foes.</blockquote><blockquote>And in the process, he's taking a huge gamble both at home and abroad, for a payoff that could be a long time coming, if ever. . . .</blockquote><blockquote>While historic analogies are never perfect, Obama's stark efforts to change the U.S. image abroad are reminiscent of the stunning realignments sought by former Soviet leader Michael Gorbachev. During his short--by Soviet standards--tenure, he scrambled incessantly to shed the ideological entanglements that were leading the communist empire toward ruin.</blockquote>There are lots of problems with Hurst's analysis, one of which is that the "belief that the United States does not make mistakes" is not an ox but a straw man, as Hurst himself implicitly acknowledges:<br />
<blockquote>Critics, especially those deeply attached to the foreign policy course of the past 50-plus years, see a president whose lofty ideals expose the country to a dangerous probing of U.S. weakness, of an unseemly readiness to admit past mistakes, of a willingness to talk with unpleasant opponents.</blockquote>In other words, the people who supposedly believe that the U.S. does not make mistakes are arguing that the U.S., right now, is making a big mistake!<br />
<br />
The Obama-Gorbachev comparison is what really got our attention, though. There is a striking parallel between the two men, in that both have drawn adoring coverage from the media. But what makes Gorbachev an interesting figure is also what makes him a relatively minor one: He was consequential because he was passive.<br />
<br />
Gorbachev did not succeed in bringing down the Soviet empire. He failed at saving it. History is replete with circumstances in which evil triumphed because well-intentioned statesmen failed to act effectively. In this case, freedom triumphed because an ill-intentioned statesman failed to act effectively.<br />
<br />
Gorbachev was a communist who presided over the disintegration of the country he had been chosen to lead. There are those who say the same thing about Obama, but most of them are right-wing nuts.John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-24729850948873649222009-04-23T13:47:00.000-04:002009-04-23T13:47:46.261-04:00DHS Chief Napolitano: Illegal Immigration Is Not a Crimefrom <a href="http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/napolitano_illegals_crime/2009/04/22/205948.html">Newsmax.com</a><br />
<br />
<span class="copy"><strong>By:</strong> Jim Meyers</span><br />
<br />
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano stunned many listeners during an appearance on CNN when she asserted that illegal immigration is really not a crime.<br />
<br />
<br />
In an interview with CNN’s John King last week, Napolitano discussed Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz., a strict enforcer of immigration laws who says he wants illegal aliens to be prosecuted and jailed.<br />
<br />
<br />
King said: “A lot of Democrats in Congress want you to investigate him. They think he is over the line. He says he is just enforcing the law and the problem is the federal government.”<br />
<br />
<br />
Napolitano responded: “Sheriff Joe … knows that there aren’t enough law enforcement officers, courtrooms or jail cells in the world to do what he is saying.<br />
<br />
<br />
“What we have to do is target the real evil-doers in this business, the employers who consistently hire illegal labor, the human traffickers who are exploiting human misery.<br />
<br />
<br />
“And yes, when we find illegal workers, yes, appropriate action, some of which is criminal, most of that is civil, because crossing the border is not a crime per se. It is civil. But anyway, going after those as well.”<br />
<br />
<br />
The fact is, crossing the border without authorization is a crime. The statute reads: “Any alien who enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers . . . shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both.”John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-42165772409453063062009-04-23T13:39:00.000-04:002009-04-23T13:39:09.272-04:00CIA Confirms: Waterboarding 9/11 Mastermind Led to Info that Aborted 9/11-Style Attack on Los Angeles<span class="date"><span id="ctl00_ContentArea_lblPostDateTime">Tuesday, April 21, 2009</span></span><br />
<span class="byline"></span> By <span id="ctl00_ContentArea_rptAuthors_ctl01_lblAuthorName">Terence P. Jeffrey, Editor-in-Chief</span><br />
<br />
<b>(CNSNews.com)</b> - The Central Intelligence Agency told CNSNews.com today that it stands by the assertion made in a May 30, 2005 Justice Department memo that the use of “enhanced techniques” of interrogation on al Qaeda leader Khalid Sheik Mohammed (KSM) -- including the use of waterboarding -- caused KSM to reveal information that allowed the U.S. government to thwart a planned attack on Los Angeles.<br />
<span id="ctl00_ContentArea_rptAuthors_ctl01_lblAuthorName"> <br />
</span><br />
Before he was waterboarded, when KSM was asked about planned attacks on the United States, he ominously told his CIA interrogators, “Soon, you will know.”<br />
<br />
According to the previously classified May 30, 2005 Justice Department memo that was released by President Barack Obama last week, the thwarted attack -- which KSM called the “Second Wave”-- planned “ ‘to use East Asian operatives to crash a hijacked airliner into’ a building in Los Angeles.” <a href="http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=46949">(Full Story at CNSNews.com)</a>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-44218946672133203552009-04-23T12:00:00.000-04:002009-04-23T12:00:07.578-04:00No wheeling or dealing when it comes to killing<span style="color: #cc0000;">Kudos to Carl Olson</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> at</span> <a href="http://insightscoop.typepad.com/2004/2009/04/no-wheeling-or-dealing-when-it-comes-to-killing.html">Ignatius Insight</a><br />
<br />
<div class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-body"> <em>The New York Times</em> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/us/politics/19lobby.html?_r=1&emc=eta1">ponders the fight and focus</a> of the President:<br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">Mr. Obama has not conceded on any major priority. His advisers argue that the concessions to date — on budget items, for instance — are intended to help win the bigger policy fights ahead. But his early willingness to deal or fold has left commentators, and some loyal Democrats, wondering: where’s the fight? </div><div style="margin-left: 40px;">“The thing we still don’t know about him is what he is willing to fight for,” said Leonard Burman, an economist at the Urban Institute and a <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/t/treasury_department/index.html?inline=nyt-org" title="More articles about the U.S. Treasury Department.">Treasury Department</a> official in the Clinton administration. “The thing I worry about is that he likes giving good speeches, he likes the adulation and he likes to make people happy.” </div><div style="margin-left: 40px;">So far, he said, “It’s hard to think of a place where he’s taken a really hard position.”</div><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><br />
</div>It's not hard at all. Here's a clue:<a href="http://www.ncregister.com/daily/obama_100_days_of_abortion/"> it begins with an "a" and end with murder.</a> It just happens to be the one issue <a href="http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Barack_Obama_Abortion.htm">on which Obama has always taken a really hard position</a>. But perhaps that is simply a given for Mr. Burman...<br />
</div></div>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-23408610164209452322009-04-22T10:57:00.000-04:002009-04-22T10:57:37.587-04:00Senate Committee Approves Pro-Abortion Kathleen Sebelius For Health Secretary<div align="left"><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><img align="left" height="92" src="http://www.lifenews.com/sbel.jpg" width="105" />Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) --</b> A Senate panel today approved the nomination of pro-abortion Kansas Gov. <a href="http://www.lifenews.com/nat4869.html" target="_blank">Kathleen Sebelius</a> to become President Barack Obama's health secretary. The Senate Finance Committee voted 15-8 for her nomination and now it heads to the full Senate for a debate and vote. There is no timetable on when the Senate will vote to confirm Sebelius, but political observers expect the Democratic-controlled chamber to approve her. The vote could take place as early as later today or later this week. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Republicans on the committee who voted against Sebelius cited their concerns about her lengthy pro-abortion record. That includes vetoing several pro-life bills and a <a href="http://www.lifenews.com/nat4860.html" target="_blank">close relationship</a> with late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller who has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to support her political campaigns and those of her close allies. "I don't think we'll ever get a pro-life person appointed to that position with this president, but we want to make sure we don't get somebody that has got radical views on abortion," Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, another GOP member, added that he initially thought Sebelius "seemed to be a qualified candidate for the job." </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"However, after learning about her inexplicable omission of donations from the late-term abortion doctor George Tiller, I have to reevaluate my support for her nomination," Hatch said. All of the Democrats on the panel backed Sebelius' nomination along with two Republicans, pro-abortion Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine and Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, who normally votes pro-life but supported the Obama nominee from home state. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.lifenews.com/nat4995.html" target="_blank">Full News Story at LifeNews.com</a></span></div>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-7410119787757748552009-04-22T10:54:00.000-04:002009-04-22T10:54:42.826-04:00The Gathering Marriage StormPosted by <a href="http://www.ncregister.com/daily/author/Tom%20McFeely">Tom McFeely</a> <br />
<div class="newsDate">Wednesday, April 22, 2009 8:48 AM </div><div class="newsDate"></div><div class="float-right" style="width: 370px;"><br />
</div><br />
This video is part of the <a href="http://www.nationformarriage.org/site/c.omL2KeN0LzH/b.3836955/k.BEC6/Home.htm" title="National Organization for Marriage’s">National Organization for Marriage’s</a> new "Gathering Storm" media ad.<br />
<br />
It’s especially timely today, as state legislators in Connecticut may vote today on legislation <a href="http://www.votervoice.net/Core.aspx?AID=274&IssueID=16358&atid=14037&siteid=0&App=GAC&target=true&isVisited=true&targetID=31812519" title="to codify same-sex "marriage" in that state.">to codify same-sex “marriage” in that state.</a><br />
<br />
Last weekend, as CNS reports <a href="http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20090421.htm#head6" title="here">here</a>, Connecticut’s bishops used weekend Masses to urge parishioners to fight the proposed legislation.<br />
<br />
Pulpit announcements read in churches statewide April 18 and 19 called on Catholics to help defeat a Senate bill that seeks to codify the Connecticut Supreme Court’s ruling last October legalizing same-sex marriage. TheConnecticut bishops warned the bill “fails to protect the First Amendment rights of individuals, religious organizations and related societies,” CNS reported.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ncregister.com/daily/the_gathering_marriage_storm/">(Full story at NCRegister.com) </a>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-44794277205641248652009-04-21T18:35:00.000-04:002009-04-21T18:35:02.906-04:00Obamas Spending vs Obamas Spending Cuts - in Pictures<div><div>from Heritage Foundation:<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">According to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/19/AR2009041902009.html">reports</a>, President Barack Obama plans to convene his Cabinet for the first time today, where he will order members to identify a combined $100 million in budget cuts over the next 90 days. Just how laughable is Obama’s latest stunt to try to maintain his “fiscal responsibility” credentials? This graphic from Heritage’s John Fleming might help: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/obamacuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/obamacuts.jpg" width="359" yi="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div>Harvard University economics professor Greg Mankiw’s <a href="http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2009/04/fiscal-responsibility.html">comments</a>:<br />
To put those numbers in perspective, imagine that the head of a household with annual spending of $100,000 called everyone in the family together to deal with a $34,000 budget shortfall. How much would he or she announce that spending had to be cut? By $3 over the course of the year–approximately the cost of one latte at Starbucks. The other $33,997? We can put that on the family credit card and worry about it next year.” </div></div>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-49407782665628395642009-04-01T20:14:00.000-04:002009-04-01T20:14:33.977-04:00Bishop R. Walker Nickless 'Sadness at Notre Dame'<span style="color: #cc0000;">And then there were 9.</span><br />
<br />
<b>Catholic Online (<a href="http://www.catholic.org/" target="_blank">www.catholic.org</a>)</b><br />
<div class="para">This is in violation of the U.S. Bishops teaching that no honors ever be given by our Catholic institutions to those who support and promote the killing of innocent human beings through abortion. This is truly a sad day for the famous university dedicated to our Blessed Mother. </div><div class="para"> </div><div class="para">SIOUX CITY, IA (Catholic Online) - As a part of a larger article written for the "Catholic Globe", the Most Reverend R. Walker Nickless added his voice to the growing crescendo of voices opposing the invitation by the University of Notre Dame to President Barack Obama to address their 2009 graduates and receive an honorary Doctor of Law Degree. The Bishop wrote: </div><div class="para"><br />
</div><div class="para"><b>SADNESS AT NOTRE DAME</b> </div><div class="para"> </div><div class="para">"I know many of you join me in surprise and anger that the University of Notre Dame - which for many is “the” example of a Catholic University - through its president, Father John Jenkins, has invited the most pro-abortion president of the United States not only to give the commencement address this year, but also to receive an Honorary Law Degree. <br />
<br />
"This is in violation of the U.S. Bishops teaching that no honors ever be given by our Catholic institutions to those who support and promote the killing of innocent human beings through abortion. This is truly a sad day for the famous university dedicated to our Blessed Mother. <br />
<br />
"I encourage those who care to write to Father Jenkins and express their displeasure with this invitation. May Father Jenkins have the courage to rescind this invitation and not be afraid of the possible embarrassment by admitting that he has made a bad decision. <br />
<br />
"Catholic institutions of higher learning must always be places where the Catholic values we hold so dearly will always be supported and promoted - not where the culture of death is allowed to be honored or valued. Let us pray for those who work so hard to keep our Catholic institutions truly Catholic in all they do to promote the gospel of life. <br />
<br />
"May this Lent bring us to accept the need for a renewal of our entire faith, and the desire to live only in and through our Lord Jesus Christ, in His Church and in all His holy sacraments! Pray for me, and know that I continue daily to pray for all of you. <br />
<br />
Your brother in Christ, <br />
<br />
<b>Most Reverend R. Walker Nickless, Bishop of Sioux City</b> <br />
</div><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-25911091247525225112009-04-01T17:15:00.000-04:002009-04-01T17:15:13.114-04:00Our Problem is Immorality<span style="color: #cc0000;">Great article by Walter E. Williams. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">My friend David has this great commentary about the article an d has graciously allowed me to include it here in my post:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">'This is an interesting column. It essentially reflects the "philosophy of the human person" taught by the Catholic Church. Each person is possessed of a dignity endowed by God and thus is sancrosanct; he or she can not be transgressed upon or acted upon without consent or genuine "due process". There is more to this view of the human person, but Dr. Williams is on the right "trajectory". . . and it is indeed the source of our manifold societal and governmental problems.' </span><br />
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<a href="http://media.townhall.com/Townhall//ColPics/columnistsWilliams.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.townhall.com/Townhall//ColPics/columnistsWilliams.gif" /></a><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span><br />
<span class="title_authorname" id="ctl00_cphMain_ColumnHeader1_lblAuthor">by <span class="title_authornameBold"><acronym title="Walter E. Williams">Walter E. Williams</acronym></span></span><br />
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<br />
Most of our nation's great problems, including our economic problems, have as their root decaying moral values. Whether we have the stomach to own up to it or not, we have become an immoral people left with little more than the pretense of morality. You say, "That's a pretty heavy charge, Williams. You'd better be prepared to back it up with evidence!" I'll try with a few questions for you to answer.<br />
<span class="title_authorname" id="ctl00_cphMain_ColumnHeader1_lblAuthor"><span class="title_authornameBold"><acronym title="Walter E. Williams"> <br />
</acronym></span></span><br />
Do you believe that it is moral and just for one person to be forcibly used to serve the purposes of another? And, if that person does not peaceably submit to being so used, do you believe that there should be the initiation of some kind of force against him? Neither question is complex and can be answered by either a yes or no. For me the answer is no to both questions but I bet that your average college professor, politician or minister would not give a simple yes or no response. They would be evasive and probably say that it all depends. <a href="http://townhall.com/columnists/WalterEWilliams/2009/04/01/our_problem_is_immorality">(Full story at Townhall.com)</a>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4730098465384633188.post-71950926995876820702009-03-31T16:35:00.001-04:002009-03-31T16:35:00.106-04:00Sebelius Communion ban to apply in Washington<span class="noticia_byline">Washington D.C., Mar 30, 2009 / 05:26 pm (<a href="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/" target="_self">CNA</a>)</span>.- According to the Washington Times, Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington plans to maintain the pastoral request Kathleen Sebelius’ bishop made in 2007 asking her not to receive Communion. <br />
Governor of Kansas Kathleen Sebelius is looking to move to Washington D.C. to become the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Sebelius is President Obama’s second nominee to the post after Tom Daschle withdrew from consideration after it was revealed he failed to pay $140,000 in taxes.<br />
Gov. Sebelius has both political and religious controversy surrounding her, with her local bishop, Archbishop Joseph Naumann asking her to refrain from Holy Communion for her "30-year history of advocating and acting in support of legalized abortion." The archbishop told CNA that he came to the point of asking the governor to refrain from Communion after speaking with her over a two-year period at various levels.<br />
<br />
Upon hearing that she was nominated by President Obama, Archbishop Naumann wrote in his weekly column in The Leaven that "her appointment to HHS is particularly troubling."<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=15526">(Full story at CNA)</a>John Foresmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12402155979956171152noreply@blogger.com0