Rest In Peace Terri Schiavo

No matter how you may feel about whether or not her feeding tube should have been removed; we should all mourn her sorrowful death and pray for her parents and family now.

Go with the angels...

Click on picture for news of Terri's passing.

False and Destructive, On Friendship and Learning the Hard Way.

Every once in a while, when I see a person with a permanent frown on their face or someone being falsely nice; I'm reminded of a person that I'd like to forget about, "a friend", that I'm glad I no longer know...I'm glad because this person was (as far as I could tell) the spawn of Satan.

No, that's too harsh, she wasn't demon-seed, close, she was a cruel person.

Your question at this point would most likely be "Why would you let this person be a part of your life? Why would you call this person your friend?"
The answer: I was lonely in a new town and I needed a friend, any friend.
What I was too naive to know at that time in my life was that the people that I viewed as friends might not have viewed my friendship in the same un-assumed and genuine way that I did...I learned this lesson the hard way.

After I moved to San Diego and took the first job I could get, which was at Starbucks, I found that a girl I was working with seemed to be very friendly with me right from the start.
At the time I didn't have a care in the world except for making a buck and putting gas in my car, so it didn't occur to me that this girl may have a crush on me and I should tread lightly - or - working at Starbucks is just a friendly kind of place where it's just an automatic thing to be friends right away - or - she's just the friendly type and doesn't have any ulterior motives...
Boy, was I wrong.

Through working at Starbucks and knowing this girl, let's call her "Julie", I ended up meeting a friend of Julie's that came in one day for a drink...Julie's friend was Lindsay...Linds and I hit it off pretty much from the start and it seemed like Julie was all about us being together, even to the point that she planned for us to have our first semi-date by going out together with Julie and a bunch of her friends...I thought this was a great idea, of course I did, I had no idea what was going on, I was just happy that people that I'd only just met seemed to be showing a genuine interest in me being happy.

Long story shorter, Linds ended up moving into an apartment with Julie and another friend, so naturally I was at that apartment all the time...I was practically living there because I was over hanging out with Linds so much...

Life was great for a few months and then an unexpected (but really cool) thing happened; Lindsay started to love me and got really comfortable, comfortable enough to unload about all of the things in life that bugged her...it didn't take her long to confide in me that Julie had always treated Lindsay poorly.
I wouldn't know the full extent of how poorly Julie treated her so-called friends until Lindsay came to me one night with a dark cloud over her head and an even darker mood...

It took me almost an hour of quiet comfort and tactfully posed questions until Lindsay opened up to me and told me what was really bothering her.
Linds began to unfold a lifetime of memories and stories, of what I can only call mental-abuse, that was pushed on her by Julie since the time they'd known each other, which had been since they were practically toddlers.
Now, I'm not talking about anything truly serious as far as this sort of abuse goes, but it was serious enough for Lindsay to hold it inside her until she was almost out of her teens before she finally confided in another person that because of Julie's "Friendship" Lindsay felt degraded and small, unintelligent, unattractive and unloved...I held Linds for what must have been almost 3 hours while she cried into my shoulder and let years of private anguish pour out of her.

As much as I would like to say that things improved after Linds and I had this shared moment of healing, I can't; things got worse.
Julie seemed to realize that I had become Lindsay's best friend and so Julie began to treat me differently, coldly...No more buddy-buddy talk while at work, no more questions about how Linds and I were getting along...No more friendship.
What happened next should not have come as a surprise, but as I said before, I was very naive.

1. Julie lied about my work practices to her superiors and I got fired from Starbucks the next day...The war had begun.
2. Julie pitted herself and her new boyfriend (one of my new friends) against Lindsay, myself and the other roommate who was now Lindsay's very best friend...The war was in full swing.
3. Julie lied about me to Lindsay in an attempt to break us up...Revenge had become the rule of the day.
4. Julie lied to Lindsay's friends and family about our relationship and told everybody that I was an abusive, alcoholic and that she feared for Lindsay's safety...Character assassination was now common place.
5. I found out months later that Julie had told all of my friends and customers from work that I was in love with her and that Lindsay had stolen me away from her by being a slut...Unbelievable.

Inspite of everything that happened, Lindsay and I stayed strong, we eventually cut ourselves off completely from Julie and anyone that knew her or came in contact with her, we got our own place and a few years later we got married...And there you go.

Now, I could call Julie a lot of foul and hurtful names to show you how I feel about her and how she treated Lindsay, me and every other person that knew her...but I'm all cursed out when it comes to Julie...Instead I'm telling you this story to make a simple point that I'm still learning...

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

PostSecret

Bored at work a few weeks ago, searching for meaning on the internet...I found it in the scribbled notes of anonymous confessors.
See the truth of the human soul revealed here.

Terri Schiavo, Part 2

I want to bring a few important questions to the top of the pond here...because I think they're being missed and in missing them maybe we're missing a very fundamental issue hidden inside this story.

1. Why did Michael Schiavo order a full stop to all rehabilitative exercises?
I've read reports from hospice nurses that said that Terri was able to eat Jello, chew and swallow it...and Michael said (paraphrased) "Don't feed her that way, that's therapy, put the feeding tube in."
If she could eat jello, she could gain the necessary nutrients to live, isn't that right?
If Michael Schiavo hadn't ordered a full stop to all rehabilitation would Terri be in much better shape today? And would she be able to discuss her wishes personally?

2. If the rehabilitation that was happening, before Michael Schiavo put a stop to it, was working...Could she still be rehabilitated now?
Shouldn't we at least try?

3. Is Terri in pain?
From what everybody is saying, I'm hearing that "No, she's not in pain, she can't feel anything at all"...than why, OH WHY, can't we just leave her be?
She's not comatose folks.

4. There have been numerous offers from several people of several millions of dollars, that if Michael Schiavo would let go of his guardianship; Terri would receive the best care until the day she died of natural causes, no tax payer would pay another dime of support, Michael Schiavo could marry the girl he's been living with and has kids with, Terri's family would be able to visit her anytime they want AND Terri could continue the rehabilitation that was stopped so many years ago...Why can't this be an option?

Why are we in more of a hurry to let Terri Schiavo die than we are to put a convicted murderer to death by lethal injection?

Her eyes are open...She has a soul...She is not on life support...If you put food in her mouth she would chew it and swallow it.

If there is a scintilla of hope, why are we so eager to pull the plug?
Something is wrong here.

Terri Schiavo

If you've watched the news at all in the last few days you've more than likely seen one or two news pieces on a woman named Terri Schiavo who is the victim of a (supposed) heart attack that left her in a (supposed) vegetative state where she must be fed through a feeding tube in the side of her torso.

Terri Schiavo's life has been the subject of much debate and protest for several years and now the debate and protest is starting up again because Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo, is trying once again to have her feeding tube removed so that she will die.

Now, I can't say that I know a great deal about this whole situation and I've only been able to read both sides of the story very briefly and can only say that in regard to whether Terri Schiavo's feeding tube should be removed; my opinion is no, it should not.
I'll give you the quick and dirty details and you can form your own opinion after reading up on them...

- Here is what Michael Schiavo and his lawyers have to say that supports their crusade to remove Terri's feeding tube - and in effect - kill her.

1. Terri is in a PVS (Persistent vegetative state)
2. Many doctors have said that there is no hope for her
3. Removing her tube will be a natural and dignified way to die

- Here is what Terri's family, friends and supporters have to say in rebuttal to these claims...

1. Terri's behavior does not meet the medical or statutory definition of PVS.
Terri responds to stimuli, tries to communicate verbally, follows limited commands, laughs or cries in interaction with loved ones, physically distances herself from irritating or painful stimulation and watches loved ones as they move around her...None of these behaviors are simple reflexes and are, instead, voluntary and cognitive...Though Terri has limitations, she does interact purposefully with her environment.
2. All of the doctors that were assigned to review Terri's condition were assigned by Michael Schiavo and none of them met with Terri for more than 45 minutes total (at the most) - and independent accounts from doctors and medical professionals that were not assigned by Michael Schiavo that have met with Terri and reviewed all information available about her current state have all agreed that Terri is responsive and knows what is going on around her; and is not in PVS.
3. Removing Terri's feeding tube would cause Terri to dehydrate and starve to death...read here about the effects of dehydration and starvation and decide for yourself if it is a humane, natural or dignified way to die.

Here are a few (as of yet unconfirmed) pieces of information that I've heard from radio talkshow callers who refused to identify themselves but claimed to be very close to this whole situation and also very knowledgeable concerning the major players in this whole sordid affair...

1. Michael Schiavo claims that he awoke at around 4:00am in the morning for "some unknown reason", got out of bed and heard "a thump" in the hallway, when he went to find out what the sound was he found his wife in a "lifeless state"...
2. Reports from doctors that examined Terri shortly after the incident (that left her in her current state) pointed out that there were two hairline fractures in Terri's neck-area that are consistent with a car accident or a physical blow from behind...Michael Schiavo is legally Terri's guardian and has total say over the documents that explain this information - he has declined to allow anyone to see these documents since they were first written by those doctors.
3. Terri initially went through a great deal of rehabilitation to which she showed great response...when Michael Schiavo learned that Terri was going to start going through speech therapy in order to regain her speech; Michael Schiavo as Terri's legal guardian put a stop to any and all processes of rehabilitation despite the protests of her family and friends who were seeing great progress from the small amount of rehabilitation that had already taken place.
4. Judge George Greer has been trying all along to help Michael Schiavo in the effort to (in effect) kill Terri Schiavo - Judge George Greer is legally blind and can not even read the court documents that are presented to him, they must be read to him by the bailiff or other court staff...
5. Michael Schiavo worked for Judge George Greer as a registered nurse several years before Terri had the "accident".
6. The Sheriff who presided over the area (and may still) where Terri and Michael Schiavo lived - is a close and personal friend of Judge George Greer.
7. Michael Schiavo has made it very clear that his desire is to have Terri's remains cremated immediately following her death and that no autopsy will be performed - As Terri's legal guardian this is his right.
8. Michael Schiavo has been offered sums of money exceeding several million by several different private citizens and public institutions to relinquish his guardianship over Terri and give up his crusade to remove her feeding tube and let her die.
He has declined every offer without explanation or deliberation.

- Why is Michael Schiavo in such a hurry to let Terri die?

- Why will he not relinquish guardianship?

- Why does Michael Schiavo and his lawyers say that Terri is a vegetable when she shows a clear and well documented response to outside stimulation and closeness of loved ones?

- Why will he not release all medical records to the public regarding Terri?

- Why is Judge George Greer so motivated to help Michael Schiavo kill Terri?

- Why hasn't there been any investigations into any of the claims regarding Michael Schiavo's personal character, private actions and public crusade to kill a living, breathing, responsive human being?

*

*

More importantly, why not let her live?

*
*

Read more here...Terri's Fight, Jews for Life, The Empire Journal, CNS-news, CNN, FOXnews

Cardinal blasts 'Da Vinci Code'

According to this article - A top Catholic cardinal has blasted "The Da Vinci Code" as a "gross and absurd" distortion of history and also said that Catholic bookstores should take the bestseller off of their shelves because it is full of "cheap lies."

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who is the archbishop of the northern Italian city of Genoa and a close friend of Pope John Paul, went on to say "(the Da Vinci Code) aims to discredit the Church and its history through gross and absurd manipulations, this seems like a throwback to the old anti-clerical pamphlets of the 1800s," he said. "You can find that book everywhere and the risk is that many people who read it believe that those fairy tales are real, I think I have the responsibility to clear things up to unmask the cheap lies contained in books like that."

Cardinal Bertone's comments are significant because until the Pope named him archbishop of Genoa in 2003 he was the number two man at the Vatican's most powerful department - the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Bertone is the archbishop of the northern Italian city of Genoa and a close friend of Pope John Paul.

***
I'm not going to post any *spoilers* just in case some of you have not read the book yet, but let's just say that the Cardinal's main beef has to do with a few of the main plot lines of the story as well as the way that a certain Catholic based group called Opus Dei is portrayed.
If you'd like to know more, I'd suggest you read the book; I think it's an excellent read.
***

Here's my reason for posting this story...

1. What kind of fairytale island does this Cardinal live on that he doesn't know the difference between fiction and fact? And (in my opinion) can not determine for himself whether or not he is helping or hurting the Christian faith by encouraging tough questions...should we all be sheep that don't bleet at all? It sounds like the Cardinal has exposed his greatest fear...again, only my opinion.
2. Is the Christian faith SO FRAGILE that it can't take a little healthy dissent and some honestly posed questions - whether posed from a fictional novel or not?
3. On all this whiny nonsense by the Caridnal; isn't it kind of too late to tell people not to read this book? After all, twenty-five million copies of the book have now been printed, in 44 languages, and there is no end in sight for the success of this book. Booksellers expect that "The Da Vinci Code" will remain a best-seller well into 2005 and with a planned film version starring Tom Hanks due out in 2006 should bring in even more readers!
4. What's the point! Doesn't this guy get it? Rant pending...Cardinal Bertone...with all due respect, It's fiction! FICTIONNNNN!!!...it's supposed to be fantastic, outlandish, interesting and controversial - otherwise how could anyone be interested in it?

When asked on his website whether or not Dan Brown was a Chritstian he responded...
"Yes. Interestingly, if you ask three people what it means to be Christian, you will get three different answers. Some feel being baptized is sufficient. Others feel you must accept the Bible as absolute historical fact. Still others require a belief that all those who do not accept Christ as their personal savior are doomed to hell. ...I consider myself a student of many religions. The more I learn, the more questions I have. For me, the spiritual quest will be a life-long work in progress."

And here are a few excerpts from Dan Browns Official website's Common Questions page...

Q. HOW MUCH OF THIS NOVEL IS TRUE?
A. "The Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of fiction. ..."

Q. IS THIS BOOK ANTI-CHRISTIAN?
A. "No. This book is not anti-anything. It's a novel. ..."

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CLERICAL SCHOLARS ATTEMPTING TO "DISPROVE" THE DA VINCI CODE?
A. "The dialogue is wonderful. These authors and I obviously disagree, but the debate that is being generated is a positive powerful force. ..."

***

WWJD?

I think Jesus would have enjoyed this fine work of fiction and it probably would've been on his Book of the Month Club between the writings of Mahatma Gandhi and the Dalai Lama...

***

C'mon Cardinal Bertone, you don't need attention this bad...let it go...it's just a novel, it can't hurt you!

The Mark of the Who?

Somehow this story sounds strangely famliar...

I'm not saying anything, I'm just saying it's there...

Who knows what I'm talking about?

On Patriotism and Love of Country

I was listening to a radio talk show hosted by Michael Savage recently when the topic of conversation turned toward Patriotism...what it is, what it is not and what it means in America today.

While I was listening to the talk show a Marine from Camp Pendleton called in...
The Marine proceeded to name a laundry list of the counties that he had been in for extended periods of time over the last 20 years for reasons of conflict or peace keeping...

At first the Marine seemed to be long winded and full of himself while naming his own exploits and I almost turned off the radio from my annoyance - but that's when the Marine came around to his point and I stayed my hand from the dial...
The Marine that started by saying that he'd been around the world and experienced the best and worst that this world has to offer ended by saying that he'd never found any place on earth that captured his heart and soul the way that the United States of America does...

At that point in the conversation the hardened warrior on the other end of the phone started cry openly...

Now, I don't know about you...but when a grown-ass-mans-man chokes up and starts to cry on a nationally broadcast radio show because he's trying to make a point about how much he loves his country...let's just say that I was right there with him - and you should be too.

I love this country...I love where it came from, its roots in a Godly lifestyle and high moral ground. I get choked-up and misty-eyed when I hear the national anthem at a ball game and when I see fireworks spread across the sky in celebration of our nations freedom from tyranny.
I have great hope and also great fear for its future...I want to protect it and what it stands for...however I can find to do that.

Now, I'm not planning on enlisting or anything, don't worry mom, but I do feel a deep sense of pride for this place and I feel like it's worth fighting for to protect and nurture...if for nothing else, for my as-of-yet-unborn children...

So, in any way that I can find to show my Patriotism, I'll strive to do it.

Patriotism: Love for or devotion to one's country - Love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it.



When was the last time you actually thought about the words that make up our national anthem?
Read the words, don't hum the tune, read it line by line...just appreciate the reason it was written and enjoy the simple poetry.

***

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!



Play Ball.

Around the World in 66 Hours

Congratulations are due to Steve Fossett for doing what others thought too difficult or near-impossible, yet again...

This time Fossett flew the circumference of the earth on a Solo Non-Stop flight...

Fossett took off from the Salina Municipal Airport in Salina, Kansas at sunrise, flew around the globe and landed in the same spot he'd taken off from only 66 hours before...Amazing!


Fossett taking off from Salina, Kansas

The airplane that Fosset flew was called the GlobalFlyer and it consists of three hulls attached to a 114-foot wing that measures more than half the wingspan of a Boeing 747.
Twin "boom" hulls on either side of the cockpit hull each carried almost 5,500 pounds of fuel.
On top of the plane's 7-foot cockpit is a single jet engine.


Fossett flying over the Grand Canyon

Fossett experienced a few moments of panic halfway through the flight when concerns arose that the specially built airplane that Fossett was flying seemed to be running much lower on fuel than it should have been at that point during the flight.
According to some reports the only reason that Fossett was able to complete this amazing journey was by a tailwind that practically pushed his airplane over the length of the Pacific Ocean - thereby not using as much fuel as was necessary to complete that leg of the flight...Crazy.


Fossett flying over the Pacific on a wing and a prayer

This last incredible accomplishment is one of many for Steve Fossett.

In 2002, Fossett became the first solo balloonist to circle the globe nonstop, despite an on-board fire and dangerous winds.


Two years later, Fossett and his crew made the fastest circumnavigation of the world on a sailing ship...Just 58 days.


As Clive Cussler would say "Here's to Adventure!"

The Divided States of America

In a ruling that shocked many American citizens, myself included, 5 out of 9 Supreme Court Justices ruled recently that no person who has committed a crime before the age of 18 could be condemned to the death penalty for that crime.

Big deal? Yes.

What this means is that any person that who has been on death row for the murder of innocent life is as of now released into the general jail population and will not face the ultimate punishment for their most-heinous of crimes against humanity.

Free Pass? Yes.

Here's some quick facts...
* There are 74 people on death row in the US for crimes they committed when they were under the age of 18. Of those 74, 29 are in Texas and 14 in Alabama.
* Since 1976, 22 people have been executed in the US for crimes they committed as juveniles, 13 of them in Texas, where George Bush was governor from 1995 to 2000.
* Nineteen states allow the execution of juvenile offenders.

Here's a very short list of some of the scum that will NOT pay the price for their crimes and will most likely be paroled if the ultra-liberal advocacy groups have anything to do with it...

******
Jose Ignacio Monterrubio was 17 years old when he and his older cousin, Sixto Monterrubio, raped (repeatedly), beat (unrecognizable), stabbed (dozens of times) and then strangled a female classmate from Rivera High School in September 1993. The two men buried the body of 16-year-old Carla Villarreal in a shallow grave near the airport.
Carla Villarreal's mutilated body was found one month later - her parents could not recognize any part of her.
******
Jose Alfredo Salinas, was 17 on July 28, 2001, when he and two others shot 20-year-old Geronimo Morales in a carjacking and left his 21-month-old daughter, Leslie Ann Morales, strapped in her carseat in a tall grassy area outside Mission, where she later died of dehydration and exposure.
******

John Lee Malvo, who turned 20 last month, was 17 when he and sniper mastermind John Allen Muhammad, 53, went on their deadly rampage in 2002 that left 15 people dead. John Lee Malvo will not face the death penalty in any future trials, thanks to the Supreme Court ruling.
******
Michael L. Jones, now 22, was 17 when he and a 28-year-old man killed Maneeka D. Plant, 24, and Cedric U. Reinford, 30, on Nov. 21, 1999.
******
Patrick Lewis Cook, Robert Benton Miller and Michael Shepherd were all under 18 when police say they pulled a gun on Megan Liebengood, 18, as she was getting groceries out of her car on Sept. 15, 2004. One of the juveniles reportedly asked the others if he should shoot Liebengood. When he got no answer, he shot her in the head.
******
Martin Soto-Fong was 17 when he fatally shot Frederick Gee, 45; Huang Ze Wan, 77; and Raymond Arriola, 32, at a market in June 1992.
******
Levi M. Jackson was 16 when he killed 40-year-old Patricia Bauerlin during a carjacking.
******
Christopher Simmons, now 28, was a 17-year-old high school student in 1993 when he and 15-year-old Charles Benjamin burgled a house in St Louis where the owner, Shirley Crook, was at home and recognized Simmons. Simmons tied Shirley Crook up, took her to a nearby river and threw her off of a bridge to drown. Simmons was caught after he bragged to friends about what he had done. A jury sentenced him to death.
******

Have I made my point without even stating it?

These are 8 stories out of 74.
74 stories of heinous and evil actions carried out on innocent people by young men who knew what they were doing when they did it and should therefore (imo) bear the full brunt of the law, both moral, ethical and judicial...except...now Justice has lost its teeth and these young men may yet be free to kill and rape again someday.

Let's take this to the extreme for a moment, it's not that much of a stretch...

Imagine for a moment that all of the worlds Terrorists, Murderers, Rapists and Gang members are aware of what occurs in this nations court system and also let us assume that these same cretins are aware that the system can now be taken advantage of to the point that any Terrorist can plot and carry out as many terrible acts of murder as their heart desires and kills as many innocent people as their twisted minds can imagine and admit to it all in the end - and they will never face the justice they so rightly deserve and be executed - as long as they've done all of these heinous acts before they've turned 18.

On that same token, a 17 year old male could video tape himself kidnapping, raping and killing any number of under age girls, stand before a judge, jury and God and admit to the whole thing and say in a sane mind that he'd do it all again if they'd let him go...and he still wouldn't be put to death for his crimes against humanity...

This must tell you that something is wrong with our Supreme Court Justices.



I would go so far as to say that our Supreme Court has been hijacked by some of the most liberal minds that our nation has produced in the history of our great country.
If you want to open your eyes to who that hijacker is, read up on Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Look into the decisions that have been made by her urging since she was appointed as a supreme court justice by our nations most liberal President - Bill "BJ" Clinton...
The decision to raise the age of accountability for murderous crimes is Ruth Bader Ginsburg's latest triumph over morality, ethics and decency...read up on her and you'll see what I mean.

I don't know what to say, I don't know what my point is right now either.

I guess I'm just hurting somehow and upset that so many peoples lives were taken from them by these trolls and now those peoples families have to go through more pain from knowing that their loved-ones murderer will not pay for their crimes - and that breaks my heart...I guess that's my point.
It just doesn't seem right.